Pastor Feagin from Bethel Independent Methodist Church in Temple joins us as a guest preacher.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kind of moral difference does the Spirit make? Are we sinners who are just forgiven, or saints who just occasionally sin? Romans 7:14-25 has a complex interpretive history, but reveals the deep moral struggle we all feel, and reminds us we never progress past being sinners who need the gospel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesus tells a parable exposing the silliness of making moral comparisons, and the radical relativity of all human righteousness. Once we opt out of the righteousness rankings game, and stop being so disappointed in the sinfulness of sinners, we're freed up to instead find ways to show our fellow sinners mercy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scripture contains a complex anthropology wherein humans are creatures of great dignity, but also great depravity. How does this complex picture interact with the high anthropology of modern culture wherein humans are seen as easily optimizable algorithms of improvement, goodness, and development? And why is it important we always remember Jesus was known as the friend of sinners?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John's gospel account begins with a big, majestic view of Christ who is the Word made flesh, who was with God in the beginning, and who is the light of the world. John's gospel account ends in chapter 21 with this rather intimate conversation on a beach with one of his disciples. John completes his gospel account by reminding his readers about the good news of the gospel... specifically that this really big, majestic, amazing God desires an intimate relationship with each one of us.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John's account of Easter morning reminds us that the Easter story is not a perfect story told perfectly by perfect people for perfect people, but an unthinkably gracious story told imperfectly by imperfect people for imperfect people that testifies to the unthinkable graciousness of a perfect God.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter is generally considered the leader of the disciples. He got to see all of Jesus' miracles, hear his teaching, experience his transfiguration... he even walked on water for brief moment. Peter, more than most, knew and experienced Jesus as God. Yet, in Jesus' darkest hour, Peter still failed Jesus by denying him three times. Make no mistake, in that moment, Peter failed at following Jesus. I think this is part of the reason why so many of us feel like we can relate to Peter. At times we may all feel like failures. We all fail at following Jesus sometimes. However, failure can also teach us some really important lessons and we can choose how we respond to failure in our lives.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesus claims to be the true vine, the one who gives life. He calls us the branches which means our purpose is to bear fruit in our lives that glorifies God and points others to him. But we can't do this on our own. We have to abide in the vine if we want to bear fruit. This means spending time in the quiet place, alone with the Father, like Jesus did time and time again.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jesus' disciples are troubled by several things that have just happened. So in Chapter 14 of John's gospel, Jesus tries to comfort them by reminding them of some things to focus on when they feel troubled. It is solid advice for all of us who seek to follow Jesus with our lives because at times we will all feel troubled in this world.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a close friend of Jesus' dies, Jesus goes to the man's town and raises him from the dead. You might say that this is Jesus' most "miraculous miracle" up to this point in his ministry. In doing this, Jesus builds the faith of his followers and reminds us that we can bring him glory even during the difficult seasons in our own lives. It's also a reminder that no matter what we go through in this life, the story ends with "Resurrection."

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.