Mineral Springs Church of Christ Podcast

God is loving, but sometimes God allows us to go through pain. Continuing his series on the gospel of John, minister Aaron Hill discusses the account of Lazarus’ death from John 11. Some might question why Jesus allowed Lazarus to die. He didn’t have to be in Bethany to heal him, yet He chose not to go. Why is that? Others may ask why He didn’t go directly to Bethany when he learned Lazarus was sick. He could have done that, too, but he didn’t. Why? Sometimes God doesn’t do what He can do. In the case of Lazarus, He waits before He goes. He waits until His friend dies. He waits so that He can bring glory to God. 

Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John as he proceeds through chapter 10. Sometime between chapter 7 and chapter 10, two months have passed. The Jews are now celebrating the Feast of Dedication, what we know today as Hanukkah. They are celebrating freedom, but they aren't really free. They are subjects of Rome. They are wondering if Jesus is really the Messiah. They know Jesus is unique because no one has ever said what He says or done what He does. Yet, they don't recognize Jesus because He is not the kind of Messiah they are looking for. Jesus has plainly declared himself to be the Christ, but they don't believe Him. Jesus declares that His sheep hear His voice, and He has the sheep in His hands to give them life. At the same time, the Jews have stones in their hands to try to take His life. Many voices pull us in many different directions, but it is important that we focus on the voice of the shepherd, the keeper of the sheep.

Minister Aaron Hill begins his lesson today in John 10 and focuses on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is outwardly focused on His "sheep," those who will be saved. He is calling them to save them not just for eternity but for abundant life. Jesus is the one true shepherd, and He gives up all for His sheep to the point of death. However, He does more than just die for them; He takes up His life again for them! His sheep recognize His voice and they follow Him. Sometimes sheep might not understand, but they trust their shepherd and follow Him. The question then becomes this: Will we follow Jesus as the Shepherd of our souls and accept the abundant life that He offers?

When halftime comes in a ballgame, and the team is not performing as expected, the coach has to address what has gone wrong and get the players back on the right track. In much the same way, the author of Hebrews pauses in chapter 6 to get the Christians he addresses back on track. Guest minister Robert Peek uses Hebrews 6:9-12 to show how the letter writer addresses the problems occurring in that church and to illustrate how the same message applies to us.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews go back to doing what they were doing when they first became Christians, to go back to doing what worked for them then, to practice those things that increased their faith and bore fruit. Then he admonishes them to go back to showing the love they had for their brothers and sisters and for each other before they began to suffer persecution. Finally, he reminds them to remember the assurance, the confidence, the certainty that we are right with God and that our salvation is secure. 

All these actions are what coincide with having salvation; they help us finish the course and win the race. Let’s allow these words of encouragement to get us back in the game with renewed faith in action. 

In the story of the blind man whom Jesus heals in John 9, Minister Aaron Hill discusses how God can have a purpose in even the most difficult of situations in life. The blind man has no hope, yet God has a purpose for him. God can change circumstances, and that’s exactly what He does in the life of this man who was born blind. Change, however, can create opposition, and it does in the case of the blind man. The religious elite reject him. His own family refuses to stand up for him, and he suffers persecution because he has turned to Jesus. Listen to see how a man who begins this story not even knowing who Jesus is comes to the point of falling down to worship Jesus.

As Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John, we learn how the Jews did not honor Jesus because they didn't believe He was Who He said He was. They dishonored the Father because they dishonored His Son Jesus. Jesus, however, didn't seek glory from them or from any human being. It is good that He has invited us into His kingdom, but we don't add anything to His glory by accepting the invitation. Jesus tells the Jews that "if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death" (John 8:51) In John 11:25, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." In Christ death has no power over us! Hold onto His message!

In John 8, the Pharisees are persistent in their questioning of Jesus, and Jesus is blunt in His responses to them. He wants them to believe, and He makes it clear that anyone who is in unbelief is under the thumb of the devil. 

As minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John, he explains that being under Satan's influence is not just a Jewish problem. It's a human problem. It was not just a first century problem. It applies in the 21st century as well. Jesus' message to His audience then also applies to His hearers today. 

Now as then, Jesus says to His listeners who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). 

One of the core doctrines of Christianity is belief in the divinity of Jesus. Minister Aaron Hill continues through his series on the gospel of John in the last part of chapter eight and notes that though belief in Jesus' divinity is required of Christians, understanding how Jesus is at once divine and human is not a requirement. We don't have to understand. Lack of Understanding shouldn't keep us from belief. We only have earthly knowledge, and our belief comes through faith in Him. He bluntly declares to the Pharisees who question Him, "unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). If we do not believe, we will die in our sins. It is not necessary to understand all things about Jesus to believe in and follow Him. Why not start the journey today?

When we try to walk without light, we can find our path determined by what we blindly follow. We grab onto anything of substance when we cannot see. Minister Aaron Hill continues his series on the gospel of John in chapter 8, verse 12, in which Jesus declares that He is the light. John follows three themes throughout the book: light, bread, and water. Interestingly, and no doubt intentionally, these three elements are also found in Exodus as Moses leads the children of Israel through the wilderness. The pillar of fire is the light they follow. Manna is the bread they eat, and on more than one occasion, God, though Moses, provides them with water. Jesus is the light of the world. He declares Himself the True Light, and the True Light gives light to everyone. In response, we will either go to it, or we'll flee from it. Which way will we choose?

Guest minister Robert Peek expounds on the book of I John and what John had to say to the church to which he was writing. The Christians to which he wrote were being influenced by gnostic teachers, teachers who were changing the way they view Jesus. The gnostics were affecting the way the Christians there viewed Christ, the way they behaved, and the way they treated each other. It was a different culture and a different time, but might we not learn from their mistakes and apply them to our current culture? Listen to hear what the Christians in John's day faced and ponder similar issues we may face in the world of our time.