Introduction: The sermon title might seem a bit strange at first. What are backwards blessings? The last half is probably more self-explanatory as we all probably see that we live in an upside down world! But in our Scripture today, Jesus pronounces some blessings and woes to two groups of people. Yet,…

Introduction: Do you remember having a really important decision to make? Maybe it was a big move. Maybe it was an important job change. Maybe it was an important health decision. Whatever the decision was, it was overwhelming. Making the wrong decision would likely result in a bad outcome. And you felt…

Introduction: In our justice system, a person has to raise his or her right hand as they give an oath asserting that they are going to speak the truth. The right hand is a symbol of power and authority as well because around 90% of people are naturally right-hand dominant. As I thought through this interchange…

Introduction: I am by no means a master woodsman. Our very own Jonathan Bowling has some impressive skills in this area. But I do know one thing from experience. Cutting along the grain is much easier than cutting against the grain. When chopping a piece of wood into two pieces, you can chop across the…

Introduction: Church: He is risen! He is risen indeed! Today we are going to go through one of my favorite chapters of the Bible - Isaiah 53 . There are many reasons that I love this chapter. One is that it shows God’s omniscience - or that He is all knowing. It speaks in vivid detail of crucifixion.…

Introduction: Today’s message focuses in on some further inquisitive questions from religious leaders and others into why Jesus did what He did on earth. We expect this out of the Pharisees and Scribes and religious elites. But what is unexpected is that the disciples of John join in on the questioning…

Introduction: It has been said in the past that the church is the only fellowship in the world where the one requirement for membership is the unworthiness of the candidate (repeat). What a statement, Church. Wouldn’t churches across the world look a little differently if this was how we truly viewed…

Introduction: As we begin today’s message, we will be seeing an account that involves a paralytic man. We are not told details about how long he was paralyzed or what caused his paralysis. But we are able to observe that he is unable to get around other than being carried on a bed by his friends. It…

Introduction: There are two groups of people that struggle to come to Christ. One group is prideful and denies their need for Him. Oftentimes they even deny His existence despite the proof that is all around them. This group seems to grow by the day. But the other group is in just as bad of a situation.…

Introduction: So many people live their entire lives asleep. No, they don’t close their eyes and nod off as they walk around. But they are clueless about what is truly going on around them. They do not see God working in this world. They are oblivious to the spiritual warfare going on around them. They…