Sermons | Local Church in Wabash, Indiana | Bachelor Creek

In John 6, Jesus takes five small loaves of bread and two small fish and miraculously feeds thousands of people. Jesus shows himself to be the Bread of Life, the only One who can satisfy hungry souls. What’s even more incredible is that God uses us–our whole selves devoted to Him–to accomplish His plans. It’s been said that you may be the only Jesus someone ever sees. The challenge is to bring what we have to God and trust Him to provide, because a little in God’s hand goes a long way.

In John 5, Jesus encounters a man who has been unable to walk for 38 years. He asks a question that seems like it should have an obvious answer: “Do you want to get well?” Upon closer inspection, perhaps it’s not so obvious. Like the man at the Pool of Bethesda who is paralyzed and unable to walk, we too have limitations–physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. Jesus asks us the same question: “Do you want to get well?"

In John 4:46-54, we find the second sign of Jesus: healing an official’s son. The official begs and pleads Jesus to heal his dying son. Any parent can identify. We would sacrifice anything for our children. Jesus shows generous grace in healing this man’s son. What’s most significant is the journey of faith for this official. He comes to Jesus in a panic, but he moves to a confident faith. True faith in Jesus takes us from crisis to calm.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus’s ministry is centered around 7 miracles or “signs” that reveal God’s glory. The first sign takes place at a wedding in Cana as Jesus’s miraculously turns water into wine. This sign demonstrates that God shows up in the ordinary moments in life and pours out more than enough grace for us. We also see that Jesus is the best wine that’s saved for last. Like the disciples, the only proper response is to believe.

With man, healthy marriages are nearly impossible; with God, healthy marriages are more than possible. The key is found in mutual submission, which Paul discusses in Ephesians 5:21-33. Any relationship - marriage, dating, friendship, etc. is best built around God in Christ.

What is love? That question surfaces in books, movies, music, and everyday life. We all want love, but our view of love is often distorted and confused. Before we can accurately love the people in our lives, we must first understand where love originates and experience love ourselves. Scripture plainly states that God is love and has shown us His love in the most incredible way imaginable.

What is love? That question surfaces in books, movies, music, and everyday life. We all want love, but our view of love is often distorted and confused. Before we can accurately love the people in our lives, we must first understand where love originates and experience love ourselves. Scripture plainly states that God is love and has shown us His love in the most incredible way imaginable.

Who’s your ONE? Like a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep in search of the one who is lost, Jesus pursues lost people today, and implores us to have the same burden for the lost people in our lives. Like the four men carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat to Jesus in Mark 2:1-12, we need to bring our “ONE” to Jesus because He’s only One who can forgive their sins.

Something special happens when people come to the table for a meal. The table turns strangers into neighbors and enemies into friends. In Luke 22:14-20, Jesus shared a meal with His twelve disciples that we know as the Last Supper. The people gathered together that night had different personalities, circumstances, weaknesses, and failures. Despite that, Jesus still gave them a seat at the table, and Jesus pulls out a chair for you, too.

Research shows the number one reason we don’t get to know our neighbors is a fear of what makes us different. In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a well who was different than Him in many ways, but that interaction revealed there are some universal human longings that we all thirst for, no matter who we are. Most importantly, only Jesus is the living water who can quench our thirst.