Saint John Community Church

Pastor John Choi continues our series, "Famous Last Words."

“One of the most powerful words that Jesus declared before dying on the cross was, “It is finished.” Find out exactly what “it” was, and live the way Christ paid with his life for you to live!"

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series, "Famous Last Words."

Christ’s fifth word uttered from the cross is just one word in Greek.  In English it’s three.  “I am thirsty.”  The spotlight is not only on Christ’s suffering, which was intense, but on Christ’s humanity.  The fact that Christ was fully human serves to highlight just how intense his suffering really was.  In the mix of that Jesus cried out for something to drink.  Just as you and I get thirsty, Jesus did as well.  In this case Christ’s thirst was borne out of a tremendously excruciating circumstance.

In effect, Christ’s call for something to drink reinforces the fact that we have someone who identifies with us.  In effect, Jesus knows how we feel.  His is not just sympathy, but empathy.  The great thing about Jesus though is that he not only empathizes with us but seeks to meet our every need.  He’s the One who said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.  As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”  (John 7:38)

Pastor John Choi continues our series, "Famous Last Words."

Christ’s anguish on the cross cannot be overstated.  It was real in every way.  Christ not only suffered physically but did so spiritually as well.  After all, he took on the sins of the world.  In the mix of that we find Jesus uttering these famous last words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  This fourth word spoken from the cross is offered directly to God.  It is an intimate plea on the part of Christ asking God to help him make sense of the seeming desolation he was experiencing in his most desperate hour.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” is a direct quote from Psalm 22:1 where David expressed his heart in the mix of the vicious and prolonged attacks of his enemies.  Most of those who heard Jesus quote that verse would have been well-aware of the rest of that Psalm.  As Psalm 22 plays out a hopeful word emerges, “You who fear the Lord, praise him!  All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!  Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!  For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.”  (Psalm 22:24)

Regarding Christ, God would have the last word and that word was one of hope.  Sins would be forgiven, eternal life would be offered, and on this side of the cross and Christ’s resurrection we can do no other but praise him.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series, "Famous Last Words."

The so-called third word of Christ spoken from the cross is a word to both his mother, Mary, and his beloved disciple, John.  The word he speaks is a word of support.  Jesus essentially asks John to look out for his mom.  Christ wants to make sure her needs are well taken care of.  As the scripture reports, John was more than willing to oblige.

While Christ’s third word from the cross is his most intimate, it is a word for each of us.  It is a word that also calls on us to care for one another.  Not only are we to care for those closest to us, but those who reach beyond that circle, particularly those who are unable to care for themselves.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series, "Famous Last Words."

This week we consider the world as it is.  We find ourselves yet again at Golgotha.  Jesus is being crucified between two common thieves.  One hard-heartedly joins in with the crowd hurling his taunts to the One who is being crucified next to him.  The criminal to the other side of Jesus comes to his support.  This man’s heart is humble and ready to receive.  He even asks Jesus to “remember him when he comes into his Kingdom.”  What follows is the promise of eternal life.

We see on Golgotha a microcosm of the world.  On one side of Christ we see those who are hard-hearted and can do no other but offer their derisions his way.  On the other side are those who with humble hearts are ready to receive the hope and promise of eternity.  We see not only the world at Golgotha, but ourselves.

We’ll be talking about such things this week as we gather for worship. We’ll be studying from Luke 23:39-43 where we find Jesus saying, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

Pastor Tom Grieb concludes our series, "Core Values."

This week we consider what it means to be Family-Focused.  In this regard we are saying about ourselves that “we desire to come alongside families both at home and at church in supporting, nurturing, and encouraging growth in Christ.”  We understand that the church complements what goes on at home regarding the spiritual nurture of all concerned, particularly our children.

Saint John has always stood alongside our families to help nurture our children and youth.  We recognize we are in a partnership of sorts.  Teaching our children well is a high calling both for parents and the church.  We’d do well to recognize that and do everything in our power to live that out—at church and at home.

Pastor John Choi continues our series "Core Values."

In the Bible we see that those who were often viewed with contempt were those whom Jesus told his followers to care for and value. Who is Jesus asking you to care for and value today? Find out more this Sunday as we continue with our series on Core Values and focus in on being mission-minded.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series "Core Values."

We continue our present sermon series on Core Values.  We will be talking this Sunday about being community-oriented.  In that regard we’re asserting that “we seek to be in fellowship with one another and involved in the community around us, all in the name of Jesus.”  We do community together as a part of church, so we can be community in the life of the world.  Building community at church is important, but only to the extent that we find ourselves building community in the world.

In talking about being community-oriented we will be studying from Romans 12:9-21.  There we find the Apostle Paul offering some “rubber meeting the road” ideals designed to help us live as a part of the church community and the community at large.  Let me encourage you to read through this important passage and consider what God may be speaking into your life.  And in doing that consider what you need to do about.

Pastor John Choi continues our series "Core Values."

Salvation found in the death and resurrection of Christ cost us nothing, but did you know that following Christ as his disciples will cost you everything? Join us this Sunday as we continue our series on Core Values, and find out what we really should be about.

Pastor Tom Grieb continues our series "Core Values."

Setting one’s core values is an important exercise.  Doing so, helps to ground us in who we are and, better put, who God is making us to be.  As a church, we are in the thick of considering those core values that help define who we are as a community of faith.  Living out those characteristics that reflect God’s good work in our common life together will help us be all the more effective in our community and beyond.

To be Biblically-based is a recognition of the authority of scripture, as well as the foundation it provides for life.  It is a recognition as Paul writes in II Timothy 3:16-17 that “all scripture is “God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”  God’s breathes life into his Word, just as he breathed life into humankind at creation.  God’s Spirit brings life into scripture and you and I would do well to live into that as we view God’s Word as both authoritative and foundational for life.