Welcome to the Reformed University Fellowship at UNCW Podcast! Each week, we will post the messages from our RUF Large Group meetings at UNCW. This year, we're examining the Gospel of John to learn about the words and work of Jesus.

It’s very possible to be doing the right things, but for the wrong reason. This is one of many times in the gospel where you have the outward appearance of great religious success, and a true culture changing moment, and Jesus cuts right through pious appearances. He asks some pointed questions that cut to the heart— to the place where our deepest longings, hungers and desires are. And Jesus asks– what are you really looking for?

This passage reminds us that everybody is hungry, in a deep and profound way. And our hunger is beyond mere physical needs– as Augustine would say, “our hearts are restless.” And Jesus wants to satisfy us– by first revealing the inadequacy of what we think we want, and then by graciously offering us what we really need.”

(*Many thanks to Brian Habig, Melissa Kruger and Matt Howell for their insightful teaching on this passage– most of the illustrations in this sermon came directly or indirectly from them!)

QUOTES: 

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”― C.S. Lewis 

“I believe Jesus is saying here, in so many words, "Please relax; just trust me; my Father is giving you, right now, by his Spirit, through my very speaking to you, by the power of my simple Words to you, the desire and ability to trust me. Out of this fundamental trust will come whatever other good works I will from time to time command you to do. But square one, the will and the work of God that you want to fulfill is simply to trust me as the One God Sent. This is the root out of which all other fruit naturally grows. Please plant this root: please trust 'the One That One Sent." —F. Dale Bruner

““it is very possible to have Christ-less Christianity, to do the actions of Christianity and not go after Him …  Jesus essentially says this, “I do not come to earth to dispense a gift from the Heavenly Father. I am the gift. There is a god, he lives in heaven, and he sent you a gift— but it’s not the thing that you carved out to make the hunger and thirst go away. I AM the gift.”— Brian Habig