May 1, 2015
John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be the “Lamb of God,” a fulfillment long anticipated by God’s people. Every Paschal lamb that was slain with its blood spread over the doorway, not only brought to their remembrance God’s deliverance from Egypt, but pointed to a future promise of their ultimate rescue from sin and death. As Abraham told his son, Isaac, “God will provide a lamb.” And so, He did. There is no more need for sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice was the deposit that made all the previous ones good. We are now able to place our faith into the One who paid it all. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the One who delivers those who believe from sin and death.
December 21, 2014
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John 1:29-37
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christmas
Pastor Gary Combs concludes the three-part sermon series, “The Three Gifts,” with this message on the gift of myrrh. In this message, based on the book of John, Jesus was presented as the one who came as a perfect sacrifice to pay for all our sins, John the Baptist called him the “Lamb of God.” When the disciples of John heard John’s declaration they decided to follow Jesus. We can decide to follow Jesus too. We can give Jesus the gift of myrrh by recognizing him as the Lamb of God—God’s perfect sacrifice for our sin.
October 26, 2014
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John 17:2-17
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discipleship, generosity
In this conclusion to our 7 Habits of Growing Christians sermon series, Pastor Jonathan Combs helps us understand why and how to build the habit of selfless service in our lives. Christ gave us the perfect example of selfless service, and it is through his power that we can serve others in this way.
June 2, 2014
After Jesus’ resurrection he appeared to his disciples many times. On his third appearance he asked Peter three times whether he loved him. Certainly this must be connected to Peter’s denying Jesus three times before his crucifixion. In this manner Jesus helped restore their relationship, giving Peter the opportunity to renew his pledge of love, even reminding him of his earlier promise that he was willing to die for Jesus. Our pledge to love Jesus even unto death is of no value without Jesus helping us to keep our relationship. When we make a commitment to Jesus, as Peter learned, he helps us to keep it. Jesus loves us and it is the power of his love that enables us to love him back. Coincidently, this OYB reading falls on June 2nd, my anniversary. On this day 35 years ago, Robin and I committed to love one another until death do us part. We have kept that promise so far and we give Jesus all the credit for empowering us to not only keep loving, but to love one another more and more deeply as the years roll on. Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Perhaps the most important question we will ever answer.
June 1, 2014
Jesus encouraged his disciple Thomas to stop being “faithless” and to see and believe. Thomas saw the risen Lord and believed. Early church history indicates that Thomas carried the gospel to India and was martyred there. Thomas saw the words of Jesus come to pass as three thousand believed in Jerusalem at Pentecost and many more thousands across the Roman empire and even to the East in India believed without seeing the risen Savior. Today, those of us who believe are among those who are blessed, for we have believed without seeing. At least not yet. For Thomas, seeing preceded believing. For us, believing came first, but seeing will soon follow.
May 28, 2014
Jesus prayed for those that would believe in him both present and future. That includes us! The prayer found in Matthew 6 that begins “Our Father” is referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer,” but really it is the Lord’s model prayer, for he gave the prayer as an example of how to pray. The prayer found here in John 17 is the best insight into the Lord Jesus actually praying. This is how he poured out his heart to the Father. He prayed specifically for us that we would be one with one another and with God. He prayed for our protection from the evil one. He prayed for us to experience his glory. And we know that the Lord Jesus isn’t finished praying for us. He sits at the right of the Father continually interceding for those who belong to him (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1).
May 24, 2014
Our greatest apology to the world is that we love one another. Intellectual arguments for creation, philosophical proofs for truth, and existential equations of reason are all helpful. But our most powerful persuasion is love. Loving one another we will “prove to the world” that we are disciples of Jesus.
May 23, 2014
The one who leaves Jesus and his disciples to go “out into the night” will hurt Christ and his church, but in the end will be the one most harmed by that decision. That is what sin does. It caused Adam to hide in the shadows of the garden from the Lord. It caused Saul to search for answers under cover of darkness from a medium. Sin always leads to separation. Sin goes “out into the night” to do its work. But the righteous walk in the light of day. They do not leave the Lord’s table. They stay even when the Lord rebukes as he did Peter saying, “Satan has asked to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you.” Don’t give into sin’s pull. When the Lord speaks of washing feet, suffering and dying for him, stay. It will seem easier and perhaps even beneficial to leave the table. Yet, no matter how difficult the Lord’s Word is for you, stay at the table. Do not go “out into the night.”
May 21, 2014
This was Jesus’ reply to Judas when he accused Mary of wasting an expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet that could have been sold to help the poor. Judas sounded pious as he judged Mary’s offering as wasteful. Yet, Jesus knew their hearts. He accepted Mary’s offering as appropriate worship from a pure heart. But he rebuked Judas knowing his was the heart of a thief and a betrayer. Jesus commented that the poor would “always” be around, but that this opportunity to worship Jesus would not. Poverty is the result of sin in this world. No amount of money can completely eradicate poverty. Yet, no one who has received the treasure of God’s Son can ever be poor again.
May 20, 2014
The shortest verse in the Bible is one of the most revealing. Did Jesus cry because Lazarus was dead? No. He knew he was about to raise him from the grave. I think he cried because Mary cried. He was sympathetic to her loss and grief. But mainly, I think he cried because he hated death. As the Life, death was anathema to his very being. He was so angry about the death that man’s sin had wrought that a sound like a snorting horse escaped his lips and tears fell down his cheeks. As he angrily approached Lazarus’ tomb, he commanded them to “roll the stone away!” Life said to Death, “Come forth!” And Lazarus was raised up and walked out of the tomb. Oh the depth of Christ’s passion for us! Oh the great love he has that he would take our death, so that we could receive his eternal Life.