Why Do You Follow Jesus?

 

This morning we meet a man who comes to Jesus with questions. The answers he receives are at the same time both simple and confusing. But in the dialogue with Jesus Nicodemus finds that while there are compelling reasons to follow Jesus there is only one life changing reason.

 

(John 2:23-25 NIV)  "Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man."

 

(John 3:1-21 NIV)  "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of ...

<< MORE >>

Housecleaning!

 

Today we examine an event in Jesus’ life inwhich we see a side of Jesus not often considered. Most of the time we think of Jesus as meek and mild mannered, always being kind and gracious to everyone. Even when mocked and spit uponHe simply turned the other cheek. So how do we reconcile that understandingwith the events of John chapter twowhenJesus seemingly loses it and goes berserkin the Temple?

 

(John 2:13-22 NIV)  "When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market?!" 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." 18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority ...

... << MORE >>

... << MORE >>

... ... << MORE >>

<< MORE >>

Played: 38 | Download | Duration: 00:33:10

This morning we start a new series in which we will walk through the book of John.  The book starts with the familiar phrase “in the beginning.”  In the first chapter we learn a great deal about Jesus, who He is, why He came and how everything, including new life, begins and ends with Him.

 

(John 1:1-18 NIV)  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

 

6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

 

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known."

Digging Deeper

 

1.  What happened “in the beginning” (Genesis 1:1-2:3)?  Who created the universe?  When you think of Jesus do you think of Him as “creator?”  Why or why not?  Consider the following verses:  Hebrews 1:1, 10-12; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; John 1:1-5 (think about the use of the word ‘light’ in this passage). Does that change your answer?  Does it change how you think about Jesus?

 

2.  Read John 1:1-18 slowly and carefully.  As you read it, write down every quality John mentions that describes the Person of Jesus.  What can we learn about Jesus just from this passage?

 

3.  What was the response to Jesus coming into the world (John 1:11)? Was that everyone’s response? What happens for those who “receive Him?  (John 1:5, 9,12,13,16 and 17)? What does it mean to “receive” Him?  Have you?

Resurrection & Redemption

Today is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the reality of His resurrection that demonstrates the power of God to bring life out of death, victory out of defeat, light in the midst of darkness and hope in the midst of dispair. for two thousand years God's people have declared: "Christ is risen; He is risen indeed."  In that declaration we find our hope.

Mathew 27:57-61
Makr 16:1-13
John 20:24-29
Ephesians 1:18-21

Digging Deeper

1. Read John 20:10-18 and Luke 24:36-43. Compare the reactions of Mary and of the disciples. What was their faith like?  What were their reactions to the risen Lord?  When you think of the reactions to the risen Lord?  When you think of the resurrection which of thes4e reactions best describes you?  Why?
2. Write down a brief (1-2 sentences) summary of the Gospel of Christ. In other words, what is the gospel?  Now read 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. In this passage Paul gives the definition of the gospel. What are the elements of the gospel - what things does he list?  Which (if any) of these did you leave out of your original summary? Why is each of these elements crucial to the gospel?
3. The power of the resurrection is available to us today (Ephesians 1:18-21). Why do you think so many Christians seem to live their lives in defeat, or despair, seemingly without hope?  What is there in your life that needs to be redeemed - to be defeated or changed?  What will you do about that?

... << MORE >>

Sermon:  The Paradoxical Process of Forgiveness

 

We have examined in depth what forgiveness looks like, how God has demonstrated forgiveness, and the many reasons why we must pursue forgiveness; today we examine the practicalities of forgiveness. What does it look like in the real world? How do we move from unforgiveness to forgiveness? How do we forgive without enabling someone else’s sin?  How DO we forgive?

 

(Matthew 18:15-17NIV)  ""If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

 

(Matthew 5:43-48 NIV)  ""You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? ...

<< MORE >>

Why Should I Forgive Them?

We have learned that forgiving someone means that "when that person has hurt or offended me I choose to wipe out that offense, treating it as  if it never happened, and releasing them from any ongoing obligation to make it right, even when that costs me personally."  Why would we do that?

Ephesians 4:31-5:2 (New International Version)

<< MORE >>

<< MORE >>