Hunger is a universal experience. So is thirst. And so is seeking to find food and drink in times of need.

Importantly, God made us creatures who need food and drink. And he did this not only because that is how organisms live, but that’s how God works. In other words, by giving us thirst, hunger, and the experience of seeking physical satisfaction, God is teaching us something about himself.

God is our spiritual food! In John 6, this comes to the forefront as seekers cross the Sea of Galilee to find Jesus and fill their stomachs. Only in this case, Jesus exposes their errant seeking and he in turn leads them to seek food that will not perish.

Indeed, so many of our sins, follies, frustrations, and setbacks are caused by not knowing how to live on Christ, to feed on Christ, and to delight ourselves in Christ. But on Sunday, we will learn from Jesus how to come to Jesus and how to find food and drink for our souls.

So read John 6 to prepare for Sunday and don’t forget Sunday is also Mother’s Day. So do something nice for your mom and come to church to worship Christ.

As the Lord allows, I will see you Sunday!

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions: John 6:22-40
Why are the crowds seeking Jesus? (vv. 22-26)
What is the food that does not perish? (See also Isaiah 55:1-2)
What is the work of God? (vv. 28-29)
Evaluate the request for a sign, and the crowd’s use of Scripture (vv. 30-31). How does Jesus correct them? How does this mirror the conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4?
Consider Jesus’ teaching in verses 35-40. How does this parallel what Jesus taught Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman? What is Jesus revealing about himself?
How should we respond to Jesus? How can we respond to Jesus?
Does this teaching give us more or less confidence in evangelism?
What else do we learn about God and our salvation in John 6?

It’s not easy being a sheep. You are not in charge of your own life. You are in constant need of protection. You don’t always know where your next meal will come from. And you are easily injured, downcast, or exploited by others.

Such is the life of a sheep.

And yet, here we are. In the Bible, God’s people are sheep. Not mustangs. Nor dolphins. Nor canines. But sheep.

We are not the fastest, nor the smartest, nor the best friend of man. Instead, we are people desperately in need of a Shepherd to lead, feed, guide, and protect us. And thankfully, in Christ, we have such a Good Shepherd.

This Sunday, we will pick up this Shepherd theme again in John 6. Even more, as we watch the disciples struggle in the storm before Jesus walks on the water, we will dig deep into what it means to be a follower of Christ.

As you have time, read John 6. And if you want to see some of the background texts for John 6:16–24 take a look at Isaiah 43 and Psalm 107.

I am hopeful that Sunday’s message will help make sense of many struggles in our lives and will offer us much grace to embrace our sheepiness as we follow the Good Shepherd.

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions: John 6:16-24

1. How does knowing the background of the Exodus (Exodus-Numbers) play a key role in understanding John 6?
2. What does this background teach us about Christ? What is the main point of the chapter?
3. John 6:16–24 functions as more than a transition from one place to the next. What do we learn in these verses?
4. How does John 6:1–15 relate to John 6:16–24 and vice versa? In what ways is Jesus like Moses? In what ways is he not like Moses?
5. If Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10), how does John 6 teach us to follow him?
6. In your own life, how have you seen God lead you into danger, only to rescue you?
7. Why is it important to understand that part of God’s good shepherding includes danger, affliction, and scarcity?
8. What have you learned about God through your various dangers, toils, and snares?
9. If and when you don’t feel God’s presence, what should you do?
10. What other questions or encouragements does John 6 give you?

Have you ever sat down to dinner, and when you were finished, there was more leftovers at the end than food at the beginning?

This Sunday as we continue in the Gospel of John we will see the great sufficiency of Jesus as he feeds the 5,000. While familiar to many, this sign performed by Jesus should fill us with awe and cause us to marvel at the great all-sufficiency of our Lord. I invite you to read John 6:1-15 in advance, and pay attention to the details.

I look forward to gathering with you this Sunday as we gather to worship our risen Lord!

Pastor Ben
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Discussion & Response Questions
John 6:1-15
Why does Jesus withdraw from the crowds (vv. 1-3, 15)?
Why do you think Jesus tests his disciples? How do they respond to this test?
Notice the details: Why would John mention the Passover? The amount of grass?
How does this event compare with the feeding of Israel in the wilderness following the Exodus? See Ex 16; Num 11; Ps 78; Ps 105.
Given the miraculous provision for the crowd, why would Jesus care about the leftovers?
How does the crowd respond to this sign (vv. 14-15)? How does this compare to 5:46-47?
Why does Jesus reject the crowd’s attempt at king-making?
What truths about Christ does this event reveal?
How ought we to respond to these truths?

He is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

On Sunday we will take our service, our songs, and our celebration outside to rejoice in the resurrection of Christ. Come join us at 10:00am, as we gather in our parking lot to declare to the world that Jesus reigns and that our Lord saves.

On Sunday, we will return to John 5:25–29 to consider the three resurrections you need, and the one resurrection you don’t. If you know someone who needs to hear the gospel message, this Sunday would be a great time to invite them.

Come early. Dress warm. And bring your camping chair. We look forward to worshiping the risen Christ with you on Sunday.

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions
John 5:25-29
What kind of resurrection does Jesus identify as already happening (i.e. the “hour . . . is now here”)?
What is the relationship between hearing and resurrection?
What has John revealed about eternal life so far? (John 3:15-16; 3:36; 4:14; 4:36; 5:24)
What does verse 26 teach us about the life of the Son?
How else have we see the Son’s life in the Gospel of John? (See John 1:4, 5:21)
What kind of resurrection does Jesus identify as future (i.e. “an hour is coming”)?
How is Jesus’ resurrection essential to all these realities?
How should we respond to these truths?

Who do you listen to? And how well do you listen?

An honest answer to those questions will tell you a lot about who you are and who you will be in five, ten, or fifty (thousand) years.

Few things are more important than the voices that we will listen to. And few gifts are more precious than men and women who testify to the grace of God in the gospel. If you are listening to others who speak of Christ, point to Christ, and help you follow Christ, you can know these are not just good friends, they are gifts from God.

This Sunday, we will consider a similar line of thought as we listen to five “witnesses” who all tell us something about Christ. At a time when Jesus' identity was in question and his actions were inviting opposition, Jesus turns to a host of witnesses who declare that he is the true Son of God, to whom we should listen and obey.

Just the same, if we listen to these witnesses today, we will be in a good position to learn who Christ is and how to follow him. On Sunday’s that’s exactly what we will consider.

To get ready, take time to read John 5, especially verses 30–47. And pray that God would give us hearts to receive Christ and believe on him.

For His Glory and your joy,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions
John 5:30-47
How does Jesus describe his relationship with the Father?
Does Jesus bear witness about himself?
How is one’s testimony validated?
What should we learn from these witnesses who bear testimony about Jesus?
a. John (vv. 33-35)
b. Jesus’ Works (v. 36)
c. The Father (vv. 37-38)
d. The Scriptures (vv. 39)
e. Moses (vv. 45-47)
How did they respond to these witnesses?
What is Jesus communicating about his glory (vv. 41-44)?
How should we respond to these witnesses?

Sermon Introduction

There’s a reason that serial TV shows start out by saying, “Previously on ….” It’s been a week since you saw the last episode, but in order to follow the plot, you need to remember what happened at that warehouse, what was said at that table in the restaurant, and that Max made a significant discovery. If you don’t remember these things, tonight’s episode won’t make any sense.

I don’t want to compare Scripture to a TV series, but I do want to point out the importance of following the story line of Scripture. As we study through the gospel of John on Sunday mornings, we see why it is good to “binge,” to simply read a book of the Bible in one sitting. When you read a book in one sitting, it’s easier to remember what has happened and relate it to what you’re currently reading. It’s easier to follow the story or the argument.

As we think about John 5:19-29, we can remember that John starts his gospel by showing that the Son of God was sent by the Father into the world to bring life and light. The One who was promised long ago has finally come. Jesus then begins to gather His people; He chooses His disciples. They attend a wedding, where Jesus performs a miracle and presents Himself as the perfect, sufficient bridegroom. This bridegroom imagery is picked up in John 3 and comes to fruition at the well in Samaria (John 4). Throughout, Jesus has been illustrating the insufficiency of the OT cleansing rituals and even worship in the Temple as He emphasizes that these don’t bring life, but Jesus does. Jesus shows His magnificent life-giving power by healing the nearly dead son of an official and then healing a man who had been sick for 38 years. Moreover, by healing him on the Sabbath, Jesus highlights not only the Pharisees’ toxic legalism but also the fact that He is “lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5). In John 5:19ff, it’s time in John’s gospel to hear from Jesus a fuller explanation of who He is and what it is that He’s doing.

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we look into these magnificent words of Jesus that not only highlight His life-giving power but also give us amazing insights into the nature of God Himself!

May God bless our time together as we seek a greater knowledge of our Lord.

Bruce Forsee

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Discussion & Response Questions
John 5:18-29
How does Jesus describe his relationship to the Father?
Why does the Father show the Son what he is doing? How ought we to respond to these works?
What does Jesus teach about life, judgment, and honor? What is the relationship between life and judgment?
Notice that Jesus says “an hour is coming, and is now here” (v. 25). Do you remember this from John 4:23? What is Jesus communicating by saying this?
How is the hour that is now here (v. 25) different from the hour to come (v. 28)?
What is different between the “hearing” in verses 24-25, and the “hearing” in verses 28-29?
What is the significance of the title "Son of Man" in verse 27, and why does Jesus use this title here?
What does Jesus teach about the relationship between his words and life?
How ought we to respond to these truths about the Father and Son?

Sermon Introduction

Where do you find rest?

On the couch? At the beach? On the Sabbath? Or someplace else?

This Sunday we will consider what Sabbath rest means and how to find it. Even more we will see how the healing and rebuking of a lame man promises true rest for each of us.

As with all the promises of the Old Testament, they all lead us to Christ. And so we will see how Jesus is our Sabbath rest this Sunday—and everyday!

Take time to read John 5 and Jeremiah 17, and pray that God might open our hearts to receive his Word this Lord’s Day.

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,

Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions
John 5:1-17
What are the feasts of the Jews?
What do Jesus’ words to the invalid reveal about the situation?
Is faith and repentance necessary for healing? Does this man know and trust in Jesus before he is healed?
Should this passage be used to argue that illness is a result of sin? How does Scripture speak about this?
How does Jesus call this man to repentance?
How should we understand the Sabbath controversy of this story and Jesus’ response in verse 17?
What should we learn from the events of vv. 1-17?
What truths do these verses reveal to us about Jesus?
How should we respond to these truths?

Sermon Introduction
From Cana . . . to Cana. This is how the Gospel of John begins and ends chapters 2–4.

In John 2, we are brought to a wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine and performed his first sign. Now, as John 4 returns to Cana, John concludes his three chapters that all show us how Jesus is replacing the old order with the new. That is, after passing through Galilee to Jerusalem to Samaria, and back through Galilee, we arrive in Cana to see Jesus raise the (nearly) dead to life, and to fulfill all we have seen in John 2–4.

In this healing of the royal official's son (John 4:43–54), we find the second sign of Jesus, one that points to his final sign—his resurrection from the dead. Indeed, in John’s Gospel there are seven signs, and the eighth, the one that begins a new week (i.e., a new creation) is his resurrection. Putting the whole thing together, John 2–4 explains to us how Jesus can raise the dead to life, how he is making a new bride, and how he is giving faith to those who were once dead in their trespasses and sins.

If you want to see how faith comes to life, join us on Sunday, as we look at the work of Jesus raising the dead and granting faith to the living. As we have seen throughout John 2–4, John is doing more than just introducing us to Jesus, he is showing how the Son of God has come to earth to fulfill all the promises of the Old Testament and to bring us eternal life. If that sounds like something you need to hear—and it is something we all need to hear—join us Sunday as we set our gaze on Jesus.

To prepare for Sunday, take time to read John 2–4 and pray that God would give us life. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

For His Glory and for your joy in Jesus,
Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions
John 4:43 - 54
Why is the location of Cana significant to this narrative?
What did Jesus do at the feast? (See John 2:23)
What is the relationship in this passage between signs and wonders and faith?
How is the official’s faith in verse 50 different from his faith in verse 53?
How do you see God use this son’s illness for his glory?
How does the prosperity gospel and faith healing movement distort texts like this? How do we guard against such interpretations?
How does Scripture speak about God’s purposes in illness?
Is healing guaranteed if one has faith?
What is the purpose these signs in the Gospel of John?
How ought we to respond to these truths?

This Sunday we come to the third and final section of Jesus’s encounter with the Samaritan woman.

Already we have seen what Jesus has to say about a new (marriage) covenant and a new (mountaintop) place of worship. And now, we will see what it means that Jesus is the Messiah (v. 25–26) and how the Spirit given to him creates life in all those to whom he gives the Spirit.

To prepare for Sunday, take time to read John 4. And if you want to see some of the background, take time to look at Ezekiel 16–17. In John’s Gospel, Ezekiel often shows up, and John 4 is no different. In bringing a harvest of salvation to Samaria, Jesus is fulfilling the end-times prophecies of Ezekiel. And this Sunday, we will see how God’s long-awaited promise of salvation has come to the world.

As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday and marveling at the God who is our Savior.

For His Glory and your joy in Christ,

Pastor David
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Discussion & Response Questions
John 4:27 - 42
What have you learned about John 4, as you have studied this passage?
How does John 4:27–42 bring Jesus’s encounter with the woman at the well to a close? Consider the way Jesus promised living water (v. 14) and the woman leaving her water jar behind (v. 28).
Is John 4 an example of evangelism for us to imitate? Or is it a message of promises fulfilled? How does that difference impact our reading / applying John 4?
How does the context of Samaria (vv. 24-42) shape this instruction on the harvest? What is the harvest?
How does Jesus’ conversation with the disciples about food parallel his conversation with the Samaritan woman about water?
What is Jesus seeking to impart to his disciples as he instructs them in verses 31-38? Who is sowing and reaping? What is the disciples’ role?
How does the Samaritans’ reception of Jesus in John 4 differ from Nicodemus in John 3?
Why do the Samaritans believe? Consider what we have read in John 3–4.
What is the significance of location for the statement "Jesus is the Savior of the World” (John 4:42)? How does this inform John 3:16?
What applications might we appropriately draw from this text? How should we respond to this text?