Sunday Sermons

Our vision as a church is To Know Christ and To Make Christ Known. But how does this happen? What is our strategy for helping someone move from not knowing Christ to becoming someone actively engaged in making Christ known to others? This four-week series will focus on the four primary stages of the disciple-making process: Engage, Explore, Establish, and Equip. Each week will focus on each step’s importance to the process and explain what it looks like to be a disciple-making church—and disciple-making disciples.

Our vision as a church is To Know Christ and To Make Christ Known. But how does this happen? What is our strategy for helping someone move from not knowing Christ to becoming someone actively engaged in making Christ known to others? This four-week series will focus the four primary stages of the disciple-making process: Engage, Explore, Establish, and Equip. Each week will focus on each step’s importance to the process and explain what it looks like to be a disciple-making church—and disciple-making disciples.

Now what? After the initial appearances of Jesus to Mary and the disciples—and the initial excitement of Easter morning—now what? Even though Jesus’ crucifixion marked the climax of John’s Gospel with the resurrection marking the triumphant overcoming of death, John didn’t stop writing. There is still more for us to hear. Jesus has more to say. He feeds the disciples, displaying his shepherd’s heart once again. Yet, Jesus also restores Peter back into the fold while also calling him to show his love for Christ by feeding and caring for his sheep. This command remains intact for us as we follow Christ.

Easter Sunday: April 4, 2021

Good Friday

John the Baptist declares Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” who takes away the sin of the world. How could Jesus, the God-man who came down to earth, willingly accept this title? Because it was, believe it or not, for this purpose that he came to earth—to die a sacrificial death to pay for sin. While each Gospel portrays Jesus differently, John’s Gospel uniquely portrays Jesus as the Passover Lamb who, through his trial, flogging, and mocking, is prepared for his sacrificial death. Here in the Passion narrative we see all the necessary preparation in order for our sins to be forgiven. As one without guilt and blemish, his shed blood provides the coverage needed to overcome spiritual death—that is, for those who believe in him.

John 18 marks a significant transition in this Gospel. For the previous seventeen chapters we have heard Jesus speak about “the hour” that was coming. Over twenty times John has recorded mentions of this hour: the hour when he would surrender himself unto death. The question presented throughout John’s Gospel has been, “Who is this Jesus?” When we read of his being bound, betrayed, and denied, we might think that Jesus isn’t all that he claimed to be. That he doesn’t meet our expectations. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Where do you turn when you’re in real trouble? Where can you find refuge when you’re in the thick of hardship? David knew the right place to go—to the LORD. David makes his needs known to God, seeking his mercy and deliverance from his destructive enemies. Psalm 57 clearly displays David’s confidence in the steadfast love and faithfulness of God. The psalm also gives direction for how we should respond when we see God’s faithful love on display. This psalm is a great song to remind us from where our only refuge comes.

Imagine overhearing the prayers of someone specifically praying for you. How would you be impacted? What would it tell you about that person’s hopes for you? How might that affect the way you even pray for yourself? Now imagine if you were invited to listen to that person’s prayers for you. Now the requests he makes of God are no longer private but instead are made known to you on purpose. Jesus’ intentionally prays for—and invites the disciples to listen—to his prayers for them as he prepares to finally go away from them.

Over the last three chapters, Jesus has been giving his final instructions and encouragements to his disciples before he is arrested. In this section, he is letting them in on the immense sorrow that they are about to experience; but not without assuring them of the joy that will follow. It is a lesson to them and us of the courage he intends to put in our hearts based upon his completed work.