Did you know Jesus is looking for room? He's looking for empty space in your life--in your heart. So do you feel empty? Maybe God has carved out that emptiness so that he can put His new life there. He's looking for room to be born in an old, stinky manger: our hearts.

Judas takes life; he commits suicide. Mary gives her life; she is a living sacrifice. Suicide or sacrifice. We must choose one or the other. We must take life or give life. What did Mary know and how did Mary give? Why was she so happy?

(This is #36 in our series)

John 12:3 "Mary, therefore, took a pound of expensive ointment...and anointed the feet of Jesus..." Mary can't save the world like Jesus does, but what can she do? She can love Him extravagantly as He saves the world. When I think I have to save the world like Jesus, I live like Judas. But when I worship, I live like Mary, extravagantly, freely, and without limit.

(This is #35 in our series)

John 11:53, "From that day on they (the Jews) plotted to put Him to death." All those old Jews hid themselves in hell. But God was arranging a crash—the crash. Perhaps every crash in this world is an invitation to surrender our dark little universe of control and feel the wildly ecstatic, free and unbounded feelings of God.

(This is #34 in our series)

Mary cries, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother Lazarus would not have died." And what does Jesus do? "Jesus wept." Greek gods don't weep. Does Yahweh weep? Buddha philosophizes, Moses and Muhammed cite law, psychologists psychologize, theologians theologize, politicians politicize, and Jesus weeps.

(This is #33 in our John series)

God owns everything, but on the cross God gave everything. He can do anything, but He chose to do nothing so you can do everything. He is more glorious than anyone, and on the cross He emptied Himself to be glorified in you. God gets what He wants, and He wants you. God is love, and He gave Himself for you.

(This is #32 in our John series)

Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." So how do you know the voice of God? The Voice of God is a person. He's bigger than all creation, yet He makes Himself as small as a manger. He speaks your language, and He is closer to you than your next breath.

(This is #31 in our John series)

If you've ever wondered if there is method to the madness, then this message is for you. Frances Forgione, Pastor of Congregational Life takes us through our vision statement here at the Sanctuary.

"Jesus spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud." So why saliva? Why spit? God will find a way to isolate you from the crowd so that you're not one more uniform mindless product of the crowd. He'll get you alone so you'll choose Him alone.

(This is #30 in our John series)