October 13, 2013 | John 10:11-18 |
In this 4th sermon in the I AM series, Pastor Gary helps us understand Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd. Jesus laid down his life for us, his sheep. He cares for us, and he is coming again…
October 13, 2013 | John 10:11-18 |
In this 4th sermon in the I AM series, Pastor Gary helps us understand Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd. Jesus laid down his life for us, his sheep. He cares for us, and he is coming again…
October 6, 2013 | John 10:1-10 |
In this sermon, the 3rd in our “I AM” series, Pastor Gary helps us understand what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the door”. How should we respond to Jesus’ outrageous claim to the the unique, narrow, and secure door?
September 29, 2013 | John 8:12-30 |
This is the second sermon in the 7-part series entitled “I AM: How Jesus Answers Life’s Deepest Longings.” This message considers the second of Jesus’ seven I AM statements found in the gospel of John, that Jesus is the Light of the World. In this sermon, we will learn how to follow Christ, know Christ, and believe his claims to shine his light in the darkest parts of our lives.
September 22, 2013 | John 6:25-40 |
This is the first sermon in the 7-part series entitled “I AM: How Jesus Answers Life’s Deepest Longings.” This message considers the first of Jesus’ seven I AM statements found in the gospel of John. The first I AM declaration by Jesus is recorded in John 6:35, where Jesus says, “I am the bread of life.” Here, Jesus is saying that He is the only one that can satisfy our soul’s deepest need for eternal life.
May 18, 2013
Jesus came that we might have life. The Greek word here is ζωή zóé, which speaks of both physical and spiritual life. This life originates with, and is sustained by Jesus, who is Life. “Zoe” life is described both by its quantity (eternal), and its quality (abundant). Receiving Jesus, we receive His life. Many focus on the eternal nature of this life, but miss Christ’s emphasis on its “abundance” for the present. In Christ we are to thrive, living life to the full, bearing fruit, and exploding with vibrance all around!
May 17, 2013
A man who was blind from birth was healed by Jesus. The Pharisees questioned him asking the manner in which he received his sight. His simple testimony was impossible to dispute. “I once was blind, but now I see.” We can learn from this man’s witness. We don’t have to be theologians to bear witness. Just tell others what Jesus has done for you!
May 10, 2013
This is one of seven “I AM” statements of Jesus that John recorded. John loved sevens (the number of completion). In the Greek, Jesus used the emphatic “ἐγώ εἰμι” (ego eimi), which might be translated “I, I am.” To Jewish ears, this was a clear reference to God’s name, “Yahweh” (I AM). As for calling Himself bread, the Jews considered bread the main sustenance of life and the major symbol of both their release from Egypt (Passover bread) and survival in the wilderness (manna). Jesus is the fulfillment of both the manna and the Passover bread. For God gave Jesus to us, so that those who believed and received Him would have eternal life.
May 7, 2013
Jesus described His method of seeing what the Father was doing and then joining Him in His work. There is a great principle of understanding here. Rather than asking God to join you in your plans, begin to look and ask what God is already doing and then join Him in His work. This kind of following means listening and looking before speaking and acting. When we look to join the Father in His work, we begin to follow as Christ did, and as His body, which is the church, should.
May 5, 2013
After the Sycharians had been with Jesus for a couple of days, they expressed their belief no longer dependent on the Samaritan woman who had witnessed to them. Has your believing become independent of your parents or those who taught you? Do you believe because of another’s testimony or because you have encountered the Jesus of the Scriptures? Is your believing your own?
May 3, 2013
Jesus tried to explain being born of the Spirit to Nicodemus by comparing the Spirit to the wind. But Nick didn’t get it. At least not at first. Jesus often used “earthly things” to help explain heavenly ones. Earthly things like: sheep, soil, weeds, wheat, chaff, farmers, sons, coins, fields, barns, houses, rocks, virgins, lamps, banquets, weddings, etc. These things represented greater things. Scientists describe things by subtraction, by autopsy they identify down to the inanimate and unintelligent parts. Earthly things lose their wonder on the mortician’s table. Yet, when Jesus speaks of earth and heaven, those of us who believe, become wide-eyed like a child at God’s creation again.