Live Church

As Christians we must maintain an eternal, gospel-centered perspective in their engagement with politics and culture, praying for leaders and speaking the truth in love, without compromising their allegiance to Christ's kingdom.

Continuing the conversation that we started, we will look at the final three ways to ensure you go to Hell.  These three reasons are at the heart of everything opposed to the Gospel, and they are the heart of every unconverted person.

Jesus makes a habit of drawing criticism and scorn from the self-righteous religious teachers of His day. In yet another confrontation with the Jewish elites, Jesus revels to them that they will die in their sin. They are so foolish they can’t even imagine that being a possibility, even coming from the mouth of the Judge of all Creation. Their rebuttals sets up Jesus to give them four ways to ensure a person goes to Hell. This is the first one.

The sun produces light and provides conditions to sustain life, yet men still die.  Though it’s puts off light, it ultimately simply reflects the glory of the Creator, the real Light of the World.  The manifest presence of God is the very thing that will kill us unless we have a mediator, and thanks to the grace of God we do, in the Lord Jesus Christ.  God’s presence is now safe and exactly what we need… to provide eternal life.

Jesus' dealing with the woman caught in adultery teaches us many things in regards to handling sin.  As it turns out, to pick up a rock to throw at someone else often requires us to sin in the process.  Let's look at how Jesus, the only one worthy of throwing a rock at the woman, chooses compassion and forgiveness, even considering He knew what that would cost Him personally.

The boldness of Christ intersects with a hostile crowd once again.  Jesus encounters multiple different reactions from individuals in the Temple during the Feast of Booths. Their responses demonstrate how the world responds to the teachings of Jesus.

This text in the Gospel of John shows an interesting interaction between Jesus and his earthly brothers.  His brothers, not yet converted, demonstrate what it important to the world.  The here and now.  Jesus on the other hand, submitted to the Father's will and timetable, will not budge when it comes to what the priority is.  The world's pursuits and the Lord's ways meet in an inevitable collision that will also occur in your life as a believer... that is if you don't look too much like the world already.

The closing of Jesus' powerful discourse following the miracle of the feeding of the 5000 and walking on water, Jesus makes a call for action.  What we see in the crowd is 4 different responses from 3 different people.  Using the Parable of the Sower, Pastor Josh breaks down how unbelievers, false Christians, and real Christians respond to the Gospel.

Jesus' discourse continues as he uses intense physical metaphors to describe the very real spiritual process of accepting Christ and His sacrificial work on the cross.  Drawing life from anything but Christ will leave you empty and will ultimately bring death. 

This sermon, based on John 6:35–50, contrasts the unbelieving crowd with true disciples by showing their differing responses to Jesus’ miracles and teaching. While the crowd sought physical bread and miracles for personal gain, true believers recognized Jesus as the Bread of Life and worshiped Him. Pastor Josh emphasized that salvation is entirely God’s work—repentance and faith are gifts from Him—and that all whom the Father gives to the Son will be kept and raised up on the last day. He challenged listeners to examine their lives for the fruit of genuine faith, to rest in the assurance of God’s sovereignty, and to pray fervently for the lost without carrying the crushing burden of trying to save them themselves. Ultimately, the message called for wholehearted worship of Christ, not for His blessings, but for who He is.