“For the Word of God is alive and active.” – HEbrews 4:12
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Jesus & the Teacher – John 3:1-21
CS Lewis said that Christ came not to simply make nice people; he came to make new people: “For mere improvement is not redemption…God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men of the old kind but to produce a new kind of man. It is not like teaching a horse to jump better and better but like turning a horse into a winged creature.” Many people think that deep down we are all decent people, and…
Jesus & the Temple – John 2:13-25
Many people picture Jesus as someone who would never confront or challenge anyone, but would only affirm everything about us. But a Jesus who affirms everything about us is a “Jesus” of our own making, which ultimately is nothing more than our own reflection in the mirror. This passage teaches us that Jesus confronts false, corrupt religion, and that he establishes true, pure religion as the true Temple – the true reality of “God with us”.
Jesus & the Wedding – John 2:1-12
Many people think that this life is a thriving party – full of joy – and that Jesus came to put an end to that: that Jesus came to bring stern serious strict rules which exist solely for the sake of repressing and ceasing enjoyment in life. But this passage teaches us that this world is not a thriving party, but a dying party: joy dissipates and inevitably runs out, and that Jesus came to restore joy – abundant and superior joy…
Jesus & the Followers – John 1:35-51
This passage shows us that 1) Jesus is meant to be sought, 2) Jesus is meant to be found, and 3) Jesus is meant to be followed. The question for all of us is the same question Jesus asked of his initial followers: “What are you seeking?” And, the call for all of us is the same call Jesus issued to his initial followers: “Follow me.” Have you sought out Jesus? Have you found him? Are you following him?
Jesus & the Witness – John 1:19-34, 3:22-30
John the Baptist’s ministry pointed towards Jesus and prepared people for his arrival. This text confronts us with some crucially important questions. Are you prepared to meet Jesus? And, if you have met Him, does your life point to yourself, or, like John, does it point people towards Jesus?
Jesus & His Own – John 1:1-18
[The beginning of this sermon was not recorded] This text is John’s famous prologue, which tells us 3 things about Jesus: 1) Who he is – the eternal, fully divine, Son of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us; 2) Why he came – to bring light into darkness and life into death; and 3) How the world responded – ultimately, there are only 2 responses to Jesus: acceptance or rejection. Though he came to “his own” who should have recognized him,…
A Downcast Spirit – Psalm 42
The Psalmist shows us what it looks like to have, and struggle through, a downcast spirit. The Psalmist 1) thirsts, 2) listens to himself, and 3) talks to himself. He recognizes that God is the only thing that satisfies his spiritual thirst, but nevertheless feels distant from him. He lets his emotions speak, but doesn’t let them have the last word – instead, he speaks God’s truth back into how he feels and resolves to continue to hope in and praise…
The God who Never Slumbers – Psalm 121
This Psalm teaches us of 1) our need for divine help, and 2) the nature of divine help. We are completely needy and dependent upon God our creator. And, He “never slumbers nor sleeps” in his watching over of his people, but is fully engaged and attentive to them and their needs. He is never absent, even in the dark times of life, and we can be assured that he is always bringing about our ultimate good, and keeping us from ultimate…
When the Ungodly Prosper – Psalm 73
Have you ever wondered if following Jesus is worth it? In Psalm 73, the Psalmist observes around him ungodly people who prosper in life, and he is tempted to envy them: they have it better, easier, and happier. He looks at his own life, and wonders if he he has been faithful to God in vain. The Psalmist moves from a certain conviction (v1), to a (seeming) conflicting reality (2-15), to a changed perspective (16-28).
Redemption & Restoration – Ruth 4
In this chapter we see Boaz initiating and securing Naomi & Ruth’s redemption, at great cost to himself. We also see Naomi’s restoration, who went from full to empty, back to full again. These, though, are just dim shadows in comparison to the redemption and restoration we find in Jesus. Finally, we see the resulting family tree of King David, who himself points ahead to King Jesus. In Matthew chapter 1, we see Jesus’ family tree, which includes outsiders and…
An Opportunity Seized – Ruth 3
In Ruth 3, we see 1) a Change of Heart (in Naomi), 2) a Bold Move (by Ruth), and 3) a Gracious Response (from Boaz).
An Outsider’s Welcome – Ruth 2
Henri Nouwen wrote that loneliness is one of the most widespread diseases of our time. There are many who are looking for a home, a family, a place to belong, yet often this evades us in our world. In Ruth 2, Ruth enters onto the scene of Israelite society – in every way an outsider, yet Boaz notices her, welcomes her, meets her needs, and shows great kindness to her. The church should be a community of Boaz’s to a world of Ruth’s.…