Walking in Truth

You've probably heard someone make the argument that you can't legislate morality. A law against murder doesn't turn someone's heart away from wickedness. Ultimately, they will find another way to carry out their anger. Just as our laws today cannot make someone moral, the Old Testament law could not make someone righteous. Today Pastor Johnny shares with us that the Old Testament is not a waste of space in our Bible. It's a vital and necessary beginning, to point us toward our Savior, Jesus.

Jesus is better. Everything that took place in the Old Testament: all the law, the kings, and the prophets serve to show that Jesus is better. Where the Old Testament shows imperfection, Jesus is perfect. Even those who served as a type of Christ fell short, but Jesus is better. Today, Pastor Johnny shows us that because Jesus is perfect, we can trust him. He's the perfect priest, the perfect king, and the perfect prophet, even to this day. Jesus is all we need today, and he is all we will ever need in the future.

The Bible says that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. While that might bring to mind an image of a passive, placating God, that's not an accurate view at all. The peace Jesus brings you has the power to calm you in the midst of trouble and bring life in the face of death. Jesus' peace in you gives you the power to forgive when you are met with hate, and it allows you to take courage when you are afraid. Today Pastor Johnny encourages us that Jesus' peace is not just a nice concept, it's a real and active part of our lives.

An engagement ring is a promise. It doesn't signify that maybe one day you will get married. It's not a sign of wishful thinking on the part of the giver. It's a promise that you will be married. As Pastor Johnny shows us today, God has given every believer a spiritual engagement ring. When you come to faith, you are sealed with a promise of your coming inheritance. It's not wishful thinking. It's not “I hope so.” Your hope is a confident expectation in what is to come because the one who promised is faithful.

There are difficult passages in the Bible. Some may be difficult to understand and others may be difficult to accept and live out. What do you do when faced with such a text? Ignore it? Look up what your favorite author has to say about it. Today, Pastor Johnny teaches you how to read and interpret difficult passages for yourself. Today's message is a sobering one for those who never really knew Christ. But it is a message that you can interpret, learn from, and put into practice in your own faith journey.

Nobody wants to be misunderstood. You wouldn't desire to read an article in the newspaper that completely misrepresents what you said. We want people to interpret our words in context, in the way they were intended. God wants the same when we read the Bible. Today, Pastor Johnny shows us the importance of interpreting the word of God accurately. Without proper groundwork for reading and interpreting the Bible, you can find yourself very far from what God intended to say in his word.

Babies are completely dependent on others to show them the way. They have to be taught everything: how to talk, walk, eat, and even sleep. But eventually, they need less and less from their parents as they become self-sufficient. Every parent wants to raise healthy, functioning adults. God wants his kids to grow up too. Today Pastor Johnny shows us that it's possible to remain a spiritual baby long after becoming a Christian, but that's never the goal. Spiritual maturity is a choice. Will you grow in it today?

Have you ever been plagued by analysis paralysis? You have the decision to make, so you spend countless hours researching, comparing, and weighing all your options...but you never actually get around to making the decision. Sometimes, the same thing can happen spiritually. You can know that you need to make a change and you can hear your pastor preach about it week after week. But as Pastor Johnny teaches today, you have to actually do the work of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is not passive.

Everybody has to grow up. No one goes to school still drinking from a bottle. It would be ludicrous to think you could go to college still needing a diaper. You would never think to have your mom spoon-feed you when you live on your own. In the physical realm, all of these scenarios are completely unheard of. And yet, many still act like this spiritually. Pastor Johnny reminds you today that you must grow up, not just grow older. Spiritual maturity should be increasing in the life of every believer.

The Bible teaches that each believer has a place in the body of Christ. Some are ears, some are legs, and others are hands. The ear can never do the work of a hand and the legs can't take the place of the ear. Everyone has a place and a purpose, given by God. Others' gifts may seem more glamorous or important, and you may even find yourself envious of others. Today, Pastor Johnny encourages you to do the work God has put in front of you. Don't worry about what others do, just follow the path God has laid.