Sunday Sermons

“To Know Christ and To Make Christ Known.” This is our primary goal as a church. We also declared seven values to show us what this will look like and to know who we want to be as a church. The third value is prayer. We want to be a prayer-dependent church, making it a first response rather than a last resort. Our passionate and humble prayers display our dependence upon him. We want to ask boldly and surrender completely. Current events might have stolen your attention away from this goal and maybe even distracted you from prayer. Now more than ever, let us recalibrate and reprioritize the importance of prayer. Next week: Luke 10:25-37

As we come to the conclusion of John 6, we read two wholly different responses to Jesus’ hard words spoken in the previous section (6:24-59). Some who identified themselves as disciples (or followers other than the Twelve) of Christ decided to turn back and no longer walk with him (vs. 66). To them, Jesus’ words landed like death. Sadly, we read similar accounts today—from celebrities down to our loved ones—those who once identified with Christ decide to turn the other direction and walk away. Right after this, Peter declares the Twelve’s allegiance to Jesus, for he has the words of eternal life. What is our response supposed to be to these accounts? How will you respond to Jesus and his hard words? Next week: Acts 4:23-31

You need to know where you’re going in order to get there. The crowds were looking for Jesus, but somehow lost track of him. Upon finding them again, their motives are quickly revealed by Jesus: they simply got hungry again and wanted him to feed them. Was this what Jesus intended? Did Jesus simply want us to come to him to fill our bellies? No way. Jesus repeatedly declares that he came to give life everlasting to those who receive him and believe in his name. And those that eat of this bread get the true bread from heaven. Next week: John 6:60-71

After making a compelling argument for why he is the true source of life, Jesus withdraws to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, only to be followed by a large crowd. Despite seemingly going away from them, Jesus proceeds to feed the crowd of about five thousand with minuscule morsels of food. Then he withdraws from the disciples only to come back to them in a most miraculous way. We can’t help but ask, “What is Jesus up to?” Though the crowd is ready to make him king after he fills their bellies, they are wanting to do it on their own terms. Instead, Jesus makes it clear that he will reveal himself on his own terms. Next week: John 6:22-59.

To this point in John’s Gospel we have been presented with the various answers to the question, “Who is this Jesus?” In the second half of chapter five, we are brought to a decision point. Will we side with the religious leaders who see Jesus and his claim to be equal with God (5:18) to be blasphemous? Or will we side with Jesus’ own testimony about himself? This question is one we will continue to face throughout or reading of the Gospel, but it is also a question we must face daily as followers of Christ. The case against Jesus is a life or death matter. Likewise, which side we choose is also a life or death matter.

Most Christians will readily agree that Scripture plays an integral role in the Christian life. It is the very word of God! It is profitable for teaching us truth and correcting falsehood. It provides the necessary instruction for living out our faith on a daily basis. This is why our worship gatherings are saturated with Scripture and why our groups are committed to teaching Scripture. We also benefit from reading Scripture one-to-one and individually. Making this value a reality as individuals will dramatically impact us as a church body.

Waiting is hard. Whether you are waiting for your food order to be completed or if you are waiting to overcome a sin struggle, waiting isn’t easy. Many of us are eagerly waiting to see the quarantine mandate lifted! Life in this world is filled with the desire for what is next, often looking forward to something in the future. The hope of Easter brings with it an anticipation of the future as well—to see our present sufferings come to an end. But the Apostle Paul makes clear to us that these present sufferings cannot be compared to the greatness of the glory that will be revealed to us… because of Christ and his finished work.

When things aren’t going how we want, we want to point a finger at God, putting him on trial. When we see pain, suffering, and hardship in the world, people often choose to 1) blame God, 2) deny God exists, or 3) ignore God entirely. In John 5, Jesus dispels these responses. We can’t blame God because the “Father is working” in the world (v. 17). Nor can we deny God exists, for his work is restoring life to this world, just as the lame man experienced. Finally, we cannot ignore God… like the lame man did initially. Jesus made sure this man didn’t ignore what Jesus had done in his life. Let us also not miss his work. Next week: Romans 8:18-25

What if Jesus had never performed any miraculous signs… would you still come to him? For many in John’s Gospel, this was the main draw to him. They wanted (maybe even needed) signs to give him any honor at all. And yet the honor they gave wasn’t true honor. It wasn’t faith that would bring life. However, this wasn’t always the case. In this passage we meet a man who needed life, but not for himself; he needed life for his son. In coming to meet Jesus, he got what he was seeking… and then some. He himself found life in the truest sense.

Next week: John 5:1-18

The question of satisfaction can be thrown at us in many arenas. Were you

satisfied with your shopping experience? Complete this survey for a chance to win a gift card. Were you satisfied with your dining experience? Leave a review online. Satisfaction at a consumer level will vary from person to person. But what about at the spiritual level? Are you ever really satisfied? Too often the answer is no and we seek to find satisfaction from the variety of offerings the world has for us—much like the woman Jesus met at the well. In John 4 we learn that only Jesus satisfies our deepest needs. Further, those who embrace this truth will bring others to him to experience true and lasting satisfaction.