- Apr 10, 2022Come and See Part 5: The Triumphant Entry (Mark 11:1-11)
Come and See Part 5: The Triumphant Entry (Mark 11:1-11)The city of Jerusalem explodes in adoration for Jesus. They accept him as the Messiah and Savior. They lift him up on the donkey of peace and they lay down their possessions at his feet. This is the most correct response ever to the most famous person who ever lived. But have we forgotten that he still lives. Have we lost sight of the fact that we no longer need to wait for him to arrive, he's here... in our hearts through His Holy Spirit. We can worship him anytime, and should worship him all of the time. We must worship him as he deserves. So, how are you worshipping him? How are you carrying the king of peace with your life? How does your daily actions reveal that Jesus is the famous one? What might you need to change about how you live in order to be a better representation of Christ's fame? What are you laying down at the feet of the messiah? What possessions have you given him? Are you tithing and giving offerings in honor of him? What are you holding onto that you should lay down for his fame? How are you vocally declaring his fame? Are you so quiet that those around you have never heard you praise him? Would those who know you know that you think Jesus is the most famous person in your life? Have you ever praised Jesus in public? How can you do a better job of vocally lifting up your savior? Does your worship of Christ show others how famous He is? Jesus is the famous one and he is worthy of your praise!
- Apr 3, 2022Come and See Part 4: The Trial of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:1-26, Luke 23:1-25)
- Mar 27, 2022Come and See Part 3: The Prayer In Gethsemane (John 17, Luke 22:35-46)
Come and See Part 3: The Prayer In Gethsemane (John 17, Luke 22:35-46)When we see Jesus praying in the garden in Luke 22:35-46 and John 17, we see five specific things we should take so seriously that we set aside time to pray for them daily; 1) The temptation of the flesh, 2) The Will of God, 3) The Glory of Christ, 4) The Purity of the Church, and 5) The Salvation of the Lost. Click the link below to hear the entire sermon.
- Mar 20, 2022Come And See Part 2: The Last Supper (John 13:1-30, Matthew 26:17-35)
Come And See Part 2: The Last Supper (John 13:1-30, Matthew 26:17-35)In order to celebrate this occasion, where God passed over the Israelites, the Hebrew people would have a huge celebration, a huge meal, and a public sacrifice of a passover lamb. Jesus wants to celebrate this special day with his disciples because he is about to be the final passover lamb. In one day he is going to give his life as the ultimate passover lamb, that whoever would believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. And so, around the passover table Jesus gives his disciples, and by extension us, four different ways we can respond to Him as the lamb of God who passes over those covered by His blood. We can respond in humility and serve others. Or we can respond in unbelief and betray him. We can respond in worship and remember him through communion. Or we can respond in fear and deny Him. The point is this; How we see Jesus determines how we respond to His sacrifice!
- Mar 13, 2022Come And See Part 1: The Gospel of Death (Luke 11:29-32)
Come And See Part 1: The Gospel of Death (Luke 11:29-32)
Look with me at the very first time Jesus reminds his disciples that He is going to die and rise again. Let's look at Luke 9:21-22, Mark 8:31-33, and Matthew 16:21-23. One thing of note here is that Peter, representing the disciples, rebukes Jesus, saying that this can't be. This of course is a knee jerk reaction because Peter loves Jesus and cannot bear the thought of losing Him. I think we may have reacted the same way. Jesus responds by saying, “get behind me Satan.” Peter is not thinking of this from a Godly perspective knowing that this is God's plan, but from a human mindset bent on his selfish desires.
And, this is where we come in today. When we think of death, we often are not thinking of God's plan, but our own selfish desires. We obviously don't want to die, regardless if it is in God's timing. And, we will do anything we can to avoid it. But, in the midst of our selfish never ending pursuit to preserve our lives here, we are missing the fact that God has a greater purpose and plan for our deaths. Just as he had a plan for the death of Christ, he has a plan for our deaths. We never talk about death in a good way do we? But what is promised to those who die in Christ? Aren't we promised resurrection? Aren't we promised eternal life?
Listen, we can't get to the resurrection of Christ without the cross, and we can't get to glorified life promised to all believers without dying first. Get this, God has a great plan for your death, for the death of a Christian always brings new life. A lack of fear from death born from a hope of rising again in Christ is a powerful testimony that the lost cannot ignore. That is why today, I invite you to come and see the good news of your dying in Christ, the Gospel of Death.
- Mar 6, 2022More Like Jesus Part 9: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
More Like Jesus Part 9: The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)If the Great Commandment tells us our purpose then the Great Commission tells us our strategy. The most effective way to love God with all of our being is to obediently go and make disciples of all nations. The most effective way to love others as ourselves is to compassionately go and make disciples of all nations. There is no greater way to show God or people that we love them then to share the eternal life giving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Feb 27, 2022More Like Jesus Part 8: The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34)
More Like Jesus Part 8: The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34)So, what is our first and second greatest jobs in this life? What are our two primary purposes on earth? Loving God and Loving People. How you respond to the first, loving God, will determine how you respond to the second, loving people. When you obey the second, it proves that you have truly embraced the first. And, we can use the 10 commandments as a guide to do both of these, but as Jesus makes it clear, all of the scriptures depend on these commands. The word of God is our guidebook on how to accomplish these. Yes, it will be a difficult and lengthy process, but at the end of our lives, we will be judged based on whether or not we did these well.
- Feb 20, 2022More Like Jesus Part 7: The Way The Truth And The Life (John 14:1-14)
More Like Jesus Part 7: The Way The Truth And The Life (John 14:1-14)When we look to Jesus we may be tempted to look at him as a helper, a comforter, or merely a friend who offers helpful advice. And, while Jesus fulfills all of these roles through the Holy Spirit, He is so much more. In a world filled with Billions of people searching for eternal life, Jesus is the way. To all of those looking to find a definitive answer to what is right and what is wrong, Jesus is the truth. For all of those people trying to figure out whats the purpose and meaning of this life is, , Jesus is the life. Jesus fulfills all of our physical and spiritual needs and Jesus also fulfills all of our philosophical needs. For all of our questions about purpose and meaning, right and wrong, life and death, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and The Life!
- Feb 13, 2022More Like Jesus Part 6: Depending on the Great I Am (John 8:12-59)
More Like Jesus Part 6: Depending on the Great I Am (John 8:12-59)
In Exodus Moses comes across a sight so astounding that he literally can't believe his eyes; a bush on fire but is not consumed. He goes over to investigate and discovers that the bush also speaks. It tells him to take of his shoes because he is standing on Holy Ground. You know the story right? The bush, who Moses now recognizes as God, tells him to go and free the Israelites from the Egyptians and after reluctantly agreeing, Moses has one last question; who do I tell them sends me. Basically, God, what is your name? And God tells him, I Am that I Am. Tell them I Am sends you!
In John 8:58 Jesus uses the exact same phrase speaking of himself. Jesus is the I Am because Jesus and God are the same. In fact Jesus uses the “I Am” phrase several times in the book of John to show that he is God, but also to let his followers know that they can depend on him. As we saw last week in John 6 Jesus says “I Am” the bread of life. In John 8 he says “I Am” the light of the world. In John 10 he says “I Am” the good shepherd, the door to the sheep. In John 11 he says “I Am” the resurrection and the life. In John 14 he says “I Am” the way, the truth, and the life. And in John 15 he says “I Am” the true vine. All of these sayings use symbolic language to help us recognize that our assurance, our credence, our hope, our faith, our reliance, and yes... our dependence can be placed in no other than Jesus Christ.
- Feb 6, 2022More Like Jesus Part 5: Bread That Satisfies (John 6:22-71)
More Like Jesus Part 5: Bread That Satisfies (John 6:22-71)
The application is simple. How much do you desire and depend on Jesus to sustain you and satisfy you? Do you find that Jesus is the meal, or that he is simply a side dish? Do you find your joy in the things of this world? If Jesus wasn't a thing in your life, how would that change your life? Another way of asking that is this... if Jesus were a single building block in the tower of your life would removing it cause the whole thing to fall down? If not, you aren't depending on Jesus enough! I dare say, you aren't depending on him enough to even be saved.
We must depend on him to be saved and then we must depend on him to live the Christian life everyday. Is that something you are doing? Are you feeding on him every single day or are you a causal if not infrequent visitor to the restaurant of Jesus? How can you make it without Him? I dare say if you can make it without Jesus then you don't know him.
- Jan 30, 2022More Like Jesus Part 4: Belief That Saves (John 3:1-21)
More Like Jesus Part 4: Belief That Saves (John 3:1-21)If we are to share the Gospel, and there is not doubt that we are, then we must share it the way Christ intended us to, boldly and truthfully, We must tell the lost that they need faith and repentance. To believe in Christ means to be living for Christ. Walking away from darkness and walking in light. The effects of your faith will be seen if you truly are in Christ. Preach that!
- Jan 23, 2022More Like Jesus Part 3: The Blessing of Rejection (Matthew 13:53-58, Luke 10:13-16)
More Like Jesus Part 3: The Blessing of Rejection (Matthew 13:53-58, Luke 10:13-16)After being rejected in Nazareth, the city of his childhood, and Capernaum, the city of his adulthood, and after his disciples had endured rejection in Samaria and in the villages... Jesus does something extremely revealing. He prays, praising God and thanking him for who he has chosen to reveal himself to and who he hasn't. This is very different than us who would just be mad at God for who he had not chosen to reveal himself to. He recognizes that he has a gracious will, and then he gives this blessing which has become a comfort to Christians for thousands of years; “come to me all who labor”– all who labor to give the message and preach the Gospel. Come to me all who are bearing the weight of the lost they are trying to reach and I will give you rest.
Listen, we don't worry, fret, or become anxious about those who reject Christ... because it is Christ's burden to carry. We are not responsible for those who are saved, we are merely responsible for doing what Christ has called us to do... and after doing so now we rest in his promise of peace.
How do we find blessing in rejection? Because we know that every time we share the Gospel and someone believes we are blessed in their salvation... and every time we share the Gospel and someone rejects it we are blessed in knowing we've been obedient and are not responsible for that burden any longer. Blessed are the rejected in Christ for they will never be rejected by Christ. Sometimes being more like Jesus means not only embracing the blessings he received but also the rejections he endured.
- Jan 16, 2022More Like Jesus Part 2: Fools for Christ (John 7)
More Like Jesus Part 2: Fools for Christ (John 7)In John 7 the pharisees make it clear to the people that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are on the outside. Although Jesus confirms who He is through His various miracles, and through His amazing sermons and revelations of the scriptures, only those who are willing to see past the uncertainty cast by the naysayers will find him to be the Messiah. Will you? And if so, are you willing to be called a fool for Christ, which is most certainly what the world will call you.
- Jan 9, 2022More Like Jesus Part 1: The Pursuit of Righteousness (Matthew 3:13-4:11)
More Like Jesus Part 1: The Pursuit of Righteousness (Matthew 3:13-4:11)If Jesus is the most important figure in all of history; if He is as Spurgeon says, "the most unique, credible, and undeniable case of the diety of God in human form," then we must pay attention to who he is and how he lived. If there is none like unto him as the Son of God then we have two divine directives; to know him more and to be more like Him.Our 10 week series begins by exploring the two events Jesus had to endure in order to be prepared to launch his earthly ministry; his baptism and his temptation. In looking at Jesus' life through these two events we see how we as believers are to pursue righteousness in everything we do. Spiritual Baptism is the beginning of the pursuit of righteousness. it is sustained through sinless living as we resist the temptations of the enemy.
- Jan 2, 2022Why The Gospels: An Intro To Year of The Gospels (Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31)
Why The Gospels: An Intro To Year of The Gospels (Luke 1:1-4, John 20:30-31)In 2022 we are going to be focusing on the four Gospels. The word "Gospel" simply means Good News and each of the four Gospels presents the good news of Jesus Christ through unique perspectives. But the reason they were written remains the same; to tell of who Jesus is, what he was sent to do, and what our response to that should be. As Luke says to Theophilus, the Gospels are written to us for the sake of knowing Jesus, and thus we must, as Luke, share Jesus to those who don't know him. This is the Good News.
