“Where are you from?” – It’s not an uncommon question, even if you are just trying to make small talk or are actually curious to know the background of a person. It seems simple enough, but Jesus’ answer to the question is not so simple.

In our scripture today, Jesus tries to tell a group of people where he is from, but they have a hard time understanding his answer. In fact, his explanation just leads to another, more pointed question, “Who are you?” If we look closely, we will see that when Jesus says that he is “from above” it also tells much about who he is.

I’m glad you are part of the Roswell Presbyterian Church faith family and have joined us on this quest to know and follow Jesus, today and forevermore.

We are only a few weeks into this summer, and already this abundant life in Christ is happening here and now. Through our camps, Bible studies, and VBS, it is so clear that God is at work in mighty ways through this church. It is my prayer that through our worship today, we would

In worship today we will continue our sermon series examining the various “I Am” statements that Jesus made in the Gospel of John. Today we will look at “I am the light of the world.” What does it mean that Jesus is the light of the world and how does that call us to be at work in our context and in relationship with others around us? How are we called to be light?

What a great start we had last week to our 2nd Mile for Mission Kick-off! Our guest speaker for the day, Shawn Duncan, shared many insights that will move RPC forward in healthier mission outreach, especially now, as we bring our gifts together to support our local and global mission partners. If you missed any of his presentations, go to https://www.roswellpres.org/serve.

Today, we will make connections with the message from a well-known Bible story and current situations of people we know through our mission partnerships. As we see in the ancient story and in today’s world, God is faithful to help us all go through “fiery” ordeals. Still, we have a responsibility to be ready to face challenges and join with our neighbors so all will experience life and peace.

Special Guest: Zablon Kuria.

Every year at RPC we highlight two seasons to focus on what we can contribute – both financially and through service – to the ministry of Jesus Christ. Today, we kick off one of those seasons called 2nd Mile for Mission. During this season, we will invite you to commit to give to our mission budget that supports our local and global mission partners. We hope to have 100% of the congregation participate!

This grand goal highlights a core aspect of RPC’s identity, namely, that we exist not just for ourselves, but also for others. This is central to who we are because this is the same message that Jesus preached and the life he lived. I pray that you will join me in contributing to 2nd Mile for Mission as we follow Jesus in serving others!

Special Guest: Shawn Duncan, Lupton Center.

Morehouse College:

The Golden Record:

Jimmy Carter:

Blondin:

Michael Jordan:

Podcast Notes:

Humpty Dumpty Nursery Rhyme:

Jack & Jill:

London Bridge:

Blaise Pascal:

Today is Palm Sunday, the first day of the most important week of the Christian year. Over the next seven days, we will take the long journey from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, to his last meal with his disciples, to his crucifixion, and finally to his triumph over death itself. I look forward to walking this path with you.

Podcast Notes:

Jeremy Affeldt

Walker Percy

An Easter Egg

Warren Robinett

Atari

Karl Barth

Steph Curry

James Harden

Kevin Durant

In our passage, it appears that Jesus chooses not to acknowledge someone in need. Can that really be true? Do we have a Savior that ignores people who cry out to him? I wonder if, like the woman in the Matthew passage, each of us has had a time in our lives when we are certain that God was choosing to ignore us instead of choosing to help us. If that is the case, what does that mean for us and what does it say about God? How wide is God’s mercy? Is there room for everyone?

In our everyday lives, where do we see people following the teachings of Jesus? Maybe we observe these interactions at work, or while running errands, or at social events, or other activities.

In our passage today, Jesus tells John the Baptist’s disciples, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:...” These words are followed by mentions of healings and compassion for the people of God. Jesus tells them that his ministry is to those outside the perimeters of society, to those people who need kindness, acceptance and healing. It is not a secret. It’s right there in front of them if they would just pay attention. These teachings have been passed down through generations and are now passed to us. It is our responsibility to pass them on to future generations.

In our busy lives, do we take the time to notice others carrying out the teachings of Jesus? Can we slow down enough to watch for these moments? Do we show kindness and Christ’s love to others we encounter each day? Opportunities are anywhere, at any time, and can be as simple as a smile, a kind word, a quick phone call or email, or even a compliment. As we go about our lives this week, let’s look for others who are following Christ’s teachings. And may others also observe us sharing the kindness and love of Christ in our interactions with God’s people.

Podcast Notes:

Joshua Bell