By Prairie Bible Church
Prairie Bible Church is a non-denominational, Christian church located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Our mission is; "Help people grow their faith through a simple, authentic representation of Jesus' love
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The podcast currently has 333 episodes available.
Message: Hope in the Midst of Despair
Scripture: Ruth 1:1-5
When you are gone, how will people remember your relationship with Jesus? Will you have a legacy of faith or a legacy of unbelief? When Jesus healed Lazarus, the authorities had a choice: embrace Jesus as the Christ, or reject him once and for all. They made the tragic decision of rejecting Jesus – they fixed their decision to kill him. The religious authorities’ story is a tragedy – a terrifying example of the result of rejecting Jesus when He clearly reveals Himself to us. How will your response to Jesus be remembered? You can either be a good example, or a fearful warning.
Take-Home Message: My response to Jesus determines how I will be remembered.
Message: The Plot to Kill Jesus
Scripture: John 11:45-57
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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Message: Purpose in our pain
Scripture: John 11:28-44
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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Jesus often makes us wait to see His miracles. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but He did not do it right away. Jesus waited two days after hearing that Lazarus was ill to go to him. Lazarus was in the tomb four days before Jesus raised him. Jesus waited until many Jews had gathered to console Mary and Martha before healing Lazarus. Jesus made them wait.
God is seldom early, but He is never late. He is always on time! If we had all of the information that God had, we would understand His timing. But we don't, and that means we need to trust Him. When Jesus makes us wait, may we say with the Psalmist, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Ps. 27:13-14)
Take-Home Message: Jesus makes me wait so that I may believe.
Message: I Am the Resurrection and the Life
Scripture: John 11:17-27
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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Can you remember a time in your life when people that you loved, treated you in a way that didn’t “feel” loving?
o How did you respond?
The story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus is one of the most powerful in the Bible!
o But there’s more to the story and first meets the eye. This passage deals with two things that people experience everyday:
§ The fact that Jesus loves us.
§ And the fact that we often don’t understand that love, in the moment!
John 11:5-8
o Now Jesus LOVED Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard Lazarus was ill, He STAYED two days long in the place that He was. Then after this, He said to His disciples; Let us go to Judea again. And the disciples said; “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you and you want to go back there again?”
§ On the surface, Jesus’ behavior did NOT seem loving, but to the disciples, it at least seemed logical. Going to Lazarus would have been dangerous!
· Neither of those things was true, however! He WAS being loving and there was nothing to FEAR!
o They just didn’t understand.
Are you willing to trust Jesus, believing that He loves you? And are you willing to follow Him, wherever He may lead?!
o That’s exactly what He’s asking of each of us every day!
Message: “Understanding Love”
Scripture: John 11:1-16\
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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You cannot say that Jesus was only a good man. He did not leave that option open to you. Jesus is either God, or a really bad man who claimed to be God. But we know that Jesus was not just a good man. We know and openly confess that Jesus is who He claimed to be: God.
Jesus said, “before Abraham was, I am.” He said, “I and the Father are one.” He is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.” He is the Word made flesh. He is worthy of the same honor, praise, worship, glory and majesty as the Father and the Holy Spirit. And we unashamedly lift high the name of Jesus as God at Prairie Bible Church.
Take-Home Message: Jesus is God.
Message: The Divine Son
Scripture: John 10:31-42
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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Theme: The Most Important Thing
Scripture: John 10:22-30
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but what does that mean? There is more than one word for “good” in Koine Greek, but the two most common are agathos and kalos. While agathos focuses on “useful”, kalos focuses on “beautiful” and “excellent.” Kalos denotes a captivating and attractive character. Jesus is the beautiful and excellent shepherd that attracts and captives us!
What is it that makes Jesus so attractive and captivating? His love. Jesus’ love for His sheep was demonstrated so beautifully that it should attract us to Him. Despite the grisly nature of the cross, there is something incredibly beautiful and captivating about it. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Take-Home Message: The Good Shepherd loves His sheep.
The Good Shepherd…
Message: I Am the Good Shepherd
Scripture: John 10:11-21
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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v The thing that sets Jesus apart from ALL others is this:
o He has come to give LIFE… Life abundant!
v Jesus often uses cultural analogies/illustrations to teach eternal truths.
o The eternal truth that Jesus is teach in this passage is that HE is the only way to God!
v Cultural analogy/illustration #1 (vs. 9)
o I am the “door” of the sheep…
§ Eternal truth;
§ Anyone who enters by me will be saved!
v Cultural analogy/illustration #2 (vs. 10)
o The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy (False Messiahs)
§ Eternal truth;
§ I came to give life abundant!
v It is the human condition to gravitate towards a self-centered life.
o “Life abundant” is not self-centered, but Christ-centered!
Message: “Life Abundant”
Scripture: John 10:7-10
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
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The world Jesus entered was filled with false leaders. The spiritual leaders of the nation had become self-interested. Rather than caring for the people, they fattened themselves. They were self-appointed and self-righteous. Jesus entered their world and said, “I am the Good Shepherd.” He was appointed by His Father as the true leader of God’s people. He is the Chief Shepherd to which all other leaders of God’s people must submit.
If we are true sheep, we will follow Jesus, the True Shepherd. Following Jesus means having a personal relationship with Him and being led by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. Jesus calls us by name and tenderly guides us as we listen to His voice. How do we discern His voice from the voice of a stranger? Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn. 8:31-32).
Take-Home Message: True sheep follow the True Shepherd.
Introducing John 10
Message: The True Shepherd
Scripture: John 10:1-6
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
Prairiebible.org
The podcast currently has 333 episodes available.