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.
May 1, 2013
This is what Jesus told his newest follower, Nathaniel, after the disciple expressed amazement at Jesus over a little thing. Jesus was essentially saying, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” (Forgive the slang, but wanted to drive home the point). Jesus used unusual language in this prophecy: “angels ascending and descending…” The reference would’ve been easily recognized by his Jewish disciple though, as it clearly refers to Jacob’s ladder vision (Gen.28:12). Jesus was saying, “I am the ladder between heaven and earth,” follow me and you’ll see it.
April 30, 2013
Many of His own people did not receive Jesus, “but” those who did were born again as children of God. We recognize many races and cultural differences among humanity, but to God, we are either His children through Christ, or children of Adam. All of Adam’s kids are born spiritually dead due to the sin nature that they inherit. But to those who “receive” Christ, there is a new nature imparted, reconciling them to God and bestowing on them eternal life. The question that matters is not, “what have you done with your life?” but “whose child are you?” Have you been born again through receiving Christ?
April 7, 2013
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John 3:1-21
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easter, gospel
Pastor Gary Combs continues the 4-week series “Evangelium: What the Gospel Is… And Isn’t” with this message from John 3. This message shows how the encounter between the religious Pharisee named Nicodemus and the Lord Jesus reveals the distinctive nature of the gospel contrasted with religion. Because while religion attempts to work from the outside-in, the gospel does its work from the inside out. Or as Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.”
March 24, 2013
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John 12:12-19
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evangelism
Pastor Gary Combs concluded the 6-part sermon series entitled “Loving Our Jerusalem” with this Palm Sunday message from John about how to tell the story of God’s love. This message is a powerful explanation of the gospel for the one seeking to believe. It is also an excellent training message for those who would learn a simple way to share the gospel.
January 20, 2013
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John 8:23-32
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discipleship
Pastor Gary Combs continues the series entitled “Healthy for Life” with this message from John 8:23-32 on the importance of growing up and being mature in our believing. If healthy things grow and if Jesus grew in wisdom, then Christians should be growing in wisdom, in knowledge and understanding too. In other words, as we follow Jesus, we can grow up to maturity in Christ’s wisdom.
June 2, 2012
Peter learned that loving Jesus means more than words. Singing love songs to Jesus is good. But the worship that Jesus calls us to means that our love for Him looks like love for His sheep. Jesus still asks, “Do you love me?”