Sunday Message Notes
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Key Scripture: John 10:22-11:44
John 10:22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
John 10:31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
John 10:34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
John 10:39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
John 11:1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.
30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Jesus Put His Reputation on the Line with His Claims
10:25 The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name
10:37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
11:4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.”
Lazarus’ resurrection was verifiable proof.
Jesus claimed, “I AM the Resurrection.”
Jesus makes massive promises in John’s gospel - especially promises about giving people life…
John 10:10b…My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
When the pressure heats up in John 6 and the crowd abandons Jesus - He asks the disciples if they’re going to leave and Peter says John 6:68b…“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”
John 20:31 these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?
John 11:25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?
When life causes us to ask these questions we’re often dissatisfied with the answers because we’re asking for a logical answer to an emotional question!
Observations about the Unfair Things in Life.
God Is Able to Bring Something Good Out of It
It Grows an Eternal Perspective within us
The Good Moments in Life Should Remind Us of Eternity.
The Bad Moments in Life Should Remind Us of Eternity.
3 . We Learn Things We Can’t Learn in the Good Times
Jesus is with us.
In all of this - please remember that Jesus is not waiting on the sidelines.
John 11:35 Then Jesus wept.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)
Observations about the Unfair Things in Life.
God Is Able to Bring Something Good Out of It
It Grows an Eternal Perspective within us
We Learn Things We Can’t Learn in the Good Times
Matt 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Reflection Questions:
How has Jesus proved Himself in your life?
How Has God Caused Something Good to come out of the worst situations in your life?
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Key Scripture:
Acts 2:46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity
1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing
1 John 1:7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Yearly Themes:
2021 - Faithful & Effective
2022 - Beyond Sunday
2023 - Continuing What Jesus Started
2024 - Build & Belong
Word of Life Mission Statement:
Lead Individuals to Become Faithful & Effective Followers of Jesus
Core Values:
Embrace the Essentials
Commit to stretch
Build the Community
Live on Mission
"To be in Christ is to be in community. The Christian life cannot be lived in isolation, for we are called into the fellowship of believers. The church is not an optional addition to faith; it is the very context in which faith is lived out and nurtured…
The church is not merely a collection of individuals who share a common belief. It is the new community of the Spirit, the people of God called to live as a sign of the kingdom. In this community, we discover our true identity, for we were created for relationship—with God, [and] with others…the Christian community is sustained not by obligation but by love. Just as Christ laid down his life for others, so too are we called to embody self-giving love. This love is the glue that binds the church together and the sign that we are truly God’s people.”
- Dr. Stanley Grenz (Quotes from ‘Theology for the Community of God’)
John 15:15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.
What happens when you have people in your life?
Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Jude 1:20b - …build each other up in your most holy faith
Galatians 6:2a - Carry each other’s burdens
You belong because you matter - you build because you want others to know they belong.
Church is not perfect - but it’s still God’s plan.
To Truly Build & Belong We Need both the ‘Official’ and the ‘Unofficial’
What’s the official and unofficial?
Official - Church programs
Unofficial - Things that can’t be scheduled or planned.
Matthew 13:3 He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4 As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5 Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!
Matthew 13:18 “Now listen to the explanation of the parable about the farmer planting seeds: 19 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message about the Kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts. 20 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 21 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 22 The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. 23 The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
Problem
Don’t understand
Shallow roots
Worries
Effect
Enemy snatches away
Persecution
No fruit
Remedy
Understanding
Deep roots
Relief
Church’s role
Teach - Romans 15:14b, Colossians 1:28 , 2 Timothy 2:2
Disciple -
Help - Galatians 6:2, 2 Corinthians 8:14a, Acts 2:44-47
Our Responsibilities for Us to ‘Build & Belong’
Teach
Disciple
Help
3 Ways to Help Build & Belong:
Take the Initiative
Invest Time
Make it a Priority
1 Thessalonians 5:11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 John 4:21…He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.
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Key Scripture: John 9:1-10:21
The Healing of the Blind Man
Why is there a Conflict? / The Absurdity
John 9:1 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” 3 “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.
4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5 But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!
8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!”
But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” 10 They asked, “Who healed you? What happened?” 11 He told them, “The man they call Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash yourself.’ So I went and washed, and now I can see!” 12 “Where is he now?” they asked. “I don’t know,” he replied.
13 Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, 14 because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. 15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”
16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.
Misunderstanding and Fear
John 9:17 Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” 18 The Jewish leaders still refused to believe the man had been blind and could now see, so they called in his parents. 19 They asked them, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he now see?” 20 His parents replied, “We know this is our son and that he was born blind, 21 but we don’t know how he can see or who healed him. Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. 23 That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him.”
Do You Want to Be His Disciple
John 9:24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” 25 “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” 26 “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” 27 “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” 28 Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29 We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”
Compelling Argument & A Strange Response
John 9:30 “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. 32 Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it.” 34 “You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.
The Man’s Response to Jesus
John 9:35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” 37 “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” 38 “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. 39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.
None so blind as those who will not see.
16th Century British Proverb (John Heywood)
Additional Scriptures:
Jeremiah 5:21 Listen, you foolish and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear.
Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people
Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
Three Choices to Make:
Who do you follow?
Who do you listen to?
Who do you trust?
Someone to Follow
John 9:39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” 40 Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” 41 “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. 10:1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
1. Who Do You Follow? The One Who Opens Blind Eyes Or Those Who Are Willfully Blind?
The Promise of True Life
John 10:6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
2. Who Do You Listen To? The One Who Promises Life Or Those Who Steal, Kill And Destroy?
Jesus says: My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
A Commitment to Protection
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
3. Who Do You Trust? The One Who Sacrificed His Life For You Or Someone Who Runs At The First Sign Of Trouble?
The Savior Who Goes Willingly
John 10:16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
"The cross was no accident. Jesus’ death was not the result of a panicked cosmological engineer. The cross was not a tragic surprise. Calvary was not a knee-jerk response to a world plummeting toward destruction. It was not an unexpected peril. No, it was a calculated choice…Jesus died on purpose. No accident. No unforeseen turn of events. No surprise. The cross was in the heart of God before the world was ever created.”
Max Lucado - ‘He Chose the Nails’
Romans 5:8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV)
What’s Our Response?
John 9:19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Three Choices to Make:
Who do you follow?
Who do you listen to?
Who do you trust?
Three Considerations:
What happens when you listen to the wrong voices?
What happens when you trust untrustworthy people?:
What happens when you follow the wrong people?
Gen Z isn’t leaving faith behind. They’re leading a revolution…They’re not asking, Is Christianity true? They’re asking, Does it work?
—How Gen Z Is Leading a Spiritual Awakening by Emily Brown (Relevant Magazine)
Reflection Questions:
1. Who do you follow? The one who opens blind eyes or those who are willfully blind?
2. Who do you listen to? The one who promises life or those who steal, kill and destroy?
3. Who do you trust? The one who sacrificed His life for you or someone who runs at the first sign of trouble?
WATCH MESSAGE HERE
John 8:31-59 - Three Observations from this Confrontation Between Jesus & the Religious Leaders
They Didn’t Think They Needed Jesus to Receive What Jesus was Promising
Nobody Likes Being Told They’re Wrong
They Hated Jesus Because They Understood Perfectly What He Was Saying
Key Scripture
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.[h] 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”
52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’[i] 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am![k]” 59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
1. They Didn’t Think They Needed Jesus to Receive What Jesus was Promising
John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
Additional Scriptures: Genesis 12:2, 3b, 15:5, 17:6b-7
John 8:53 Are you greater than our father Abraham?...56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
2. Nobody Likes Being Told They’re Wrong.
John 8:34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared.
“No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. 41 No, you are imitating your real father.”
They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.”
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! 44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
3. They Hated Jesus Because They Understood Perfectly What He Was Saying.
John 8:49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”
52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ 55 but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” 59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
Three Lessons from this Confrontation Between Jesus & the Religious Leaders
We Need Jesus to Receive What Only He Can Promise
We Can Only Grow When We Freely Acknowledge Our Faults
Trust the Tough Truth From Jesus Because His Love is Unquestioned
Reflection Question:
Where do you back down when confronted about your faith?
Additional Scriptures:
Luke 9:23. Jeremiah 17:9; John 8:31b, 32, 51; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3b;
Key Scripture
“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News…” Col 1:21-23 NLT
“You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.” Col 1:21-23 MSG
CENTERED in COLOSSIANS
Christ Centered Living (1:1-2:5)
Threats to Christ Centered Living (2:8-23)
Living a Christ Centered Life (3:1-4:6)
Christ Centered Living (1:1-2:5)
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…”Col 1:9-10 NIV
“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12 NLT
Threats to Christ Centered Living (2:8-23)
Watch what you take in
Remember the work Christ has done in your life
Be mindful of what God has cut away or removed from your life.
”As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Proverbs 26:11
Living a Christ Centered Life (3:1-4:6)
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you…” Col 3:3-5 NLT
4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
“There is nothing too great for God’s power or too small for His love.”
“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all… but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that, I still possess.” — Corrie Ten Boom 1892-1983
5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. NLT
“Walk in the wisdom of God as you live before the unbelievers, and make it your duty to make him known.” Colossians 4:5 TPT
Conclusion
-Christ Centered Living (1:1-2:5)
Living a life worthy of the Lord… pleasing him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in our knowledge of him.
-Threats to Christ Centered Living (2:8-23)
Highlighted watching what we take in and remembering the work that Christ has done in our lives.
-Living a Christ Centered Life (3:1-4:6)
Putting to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within us… putting on our new nature… praying and making the most of opportunities around unbelievers.
Reflection Question:
Is your life centered in Christ?
Additional Scriptures:
Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 26:11
Key Scripture
Romans 8:38-39 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.(NLT)
“Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.” — Assemblies of God 16 Fundamental Truths
2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (NLT)
God’s love is both Unconditional and Transformational.
Ephesians 3:16-20 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (NLT)
We Are Rooted in His Love and Growing in His image.
Point 1. Rooted in His Love
To be rooted in God’s love, is to be secure in His love
To not only hear that God loves you but to truly believe in your heart that He loves you
Point 2. We Desire to please our Father by Becoming More Like Him
Because of the love God has for me, because of what Jesus has done for me I want to please Him.
Point 3. We Understand it’s a Process
Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, is a process that will not be achieved fully until Jesus comes back.
The Three Phases of Salvation
Justification - Put right with God through Faith in Jesus.
Sanctification - Process of being made holy (more like Jesus) continues all of life.
Glorification - To be made perfect (like Jesus) after death.
We have been saved (Justification).
We are being saved (Sanctification).
We will be saved (Glorification).
Point 4. We live in His Freedom
God wants us to live in Freedom
We can carry sin from our past before we said yes to Jesus but now we are free from that sin and now we are slaves of God, we have chosen willingly to submit ourselves to God and to be obedient to Him.
“True freedom is not the liberty to do anything we please, but the liberty to do what we ought; and it is genuine liberty because doing what we ought now pleases us.” - John Stott
Conclusion
Rooted in His love- We have to believe that God loves us.
We Desire to please our Father by becoming More Like Him- when we believe and know in our heart we are loved by God and his plans for us are good.
We Understand it’s a process- The process of becoming like God is an ongoing process that will not be completed until Jesus returns.
We Live in His Freedom- The more we are rooted in God’s love, the more we desire to please God and become like Him, and the more we commit to the process, we will find ourselves living more free every day.
We are all a work in progress.
If we were all rooted in God’s love, we would believe that God’s plans for us are good.
That God wants us to live in a way that helps us to live whole rather than pick up guilt, pain and shame along the way from our own sins.
If we all joined God in the process of helping us walk in His purpose and in the calling He has for us by ridding ourselves of the things that get in the way we would walk in Freedom.
When we recognize that we have a sin problem and we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and to work out those things that are holding us back from becoming like God we will become free of shame.
When we are obedient to God and allow the Holy Spirit to work on us, we will find ourselves more free than we were last year, or the year before that, or 6 months ago, 3 months ago or even a month ago.
We will Grow in His Image, when we are rooted in His love.
Reflection Question:
Where do you need to receive God’s love today so that you can grow more deeply into His image?
Additional Scriptures:
John 14:26; Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2: 4-10; Romans 5: 8-11; John 3: 16-7; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 4:21 -32; Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-17; Philippians 3: 12-14; Romans 8: 21-25; Hebrews 12: 1-11; Hebrews 4: 12-13; Romans 6: 20-22; 2 Corinthians 3: 16-18; Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5: 16-26; Romans 8: 1-4;
Key Scripture
John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
13 The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.”
14 Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. 15 You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. 16 And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. 18 I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.”
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” 20 Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.
21 Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.”
22 The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?”
23 Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. 24 That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”
25 “Who are you?” they demanded.
Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. 26 I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” 27 But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father.
28 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. 29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” 30 Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
The best way to appreciate the doctrine of the Trinity is through John’s Gospel. In John’s Gospel, the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is revealed as three distinct persons in perfect unity as the one true God.
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent "I AM," the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit…The terms "Trinity" and "persons" as related to the Godhead, while not found in the Scriptures, are words in harmony with Scripture, whereby we may convey to others our immediate understanding of the doctrine of Christ respecting the Being of God, as distinguished from "gods many and lords many." We therefore may speak with propriety of the Lord our God who is One Lord, as a trinity or as one Being of three persons, and still be absolutely scriptural.
— The Assemblies of God Fundamental Truths ( www.ag.org/Beliefs )
Jesus is the Light and Life
John 8:12b…“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
TO KNOW THE SON IS TO FIND LIFE
We’re all searching for something - we’re searching for our hearts and souls to find rest - the deepest cry of humanity cannot be fulfilled with anything less than a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father and we find all this in Jesus.
—Pastor Tom Wood
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE?
"It’s not what you say that determines who you are. It’s what you do. What you do, and how you act—that’s the true expression of what you believe…Your actions reveal your beliefs far more clearly than your words ever will."
— Dr Jordan B. Peterson
If You Believe That Jesus Is Who He Says He Is, The Only Logical Response Is To Follow Him With Everything.
All that we’re searching for is found in Jesus.
What you believe determines the course of your life.
If you believe that Jesus is indeed the savior of the world - that belief should affect every single aspect of your life.
Reflection Question:
Are you living what you say you believe about Jesus?
Additional Scriptures:
John 7:34a; John 12:42a, Acts 15:5a; John 8:16b; John 8:19b; John 8:26b; John 8:28b; John 7:37-8; John 12: 46; John 1:4; John 10:10; Ephesians 1: 3; Proverbs 15:16; John 20:31; Ephesians 3:19
Key Scripture
John 8:1 Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
11 “No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Similarities with the Prodigal Son:
Someone guilty in obvious sin
Someone guilty because of pride
Shocking amounts of forgiveness
For the woman in the story she wasn't met with anger and judgement and condemnation - but instead a chance to move on from what had been. And that remains the heart of God for me, you and everyone else. His grace is beyond measure and His ways are higher than my ways and His love endures forever. - Pastor Tom Wood
Two Lies About The Grace Of God:You Have To Clean Up Before You Come To Jesus
Jesus Doesn’t Care if You Stay Dirty Forever
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Two Truths About The Grace Of God:
You Don’t Have To Clean Up Before You Come To Jesus
Jesus Loves You Too Much to Let You Stay Dirty Forever
Repentance is a positive because it’s filled with hope that the future can be different from today.
He has set us free and is committed to showing us what living in freedom truly is!
Ephesians 2:1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Reflection Question:
Are you judging with a measuring stick you would never want used against you?
Additional Scriptures:
Leviticus 20:10;Deuteronomy 20:22; Luke 15 ; Luke 18:9-14; Romans 5:8; Luke 23:32-43; Romans 6:23a, Matthew 7:2b
Key Scripture
John 7:14 Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.
16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”
20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”
21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
25 Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? 26 But here he is, speaking in public, and they say nothing to him. Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? 27 But how could he be? For we know where this man comes from. When the Messiah comes, he will simply appear; no one will know where he comes from.”
28 While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. 29 But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.” 30 Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.
31 Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” 32 When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. 33 But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me. 34 You will search for me but not find me. And you cannot go where I am going.”
35 The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. “Where is he planning to go?” they asked. “Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks! 36 What does he mean when he says, ‘You will search for me but not find me,’ and ‘You cannot go where I am going’?”
37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)
40 When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, “Surely this man is the Prophet we’ve been expecting.” 41 Others said, “He is the Messiah.” Still others said, “But he can’t be! Will the Messiah come from Galilee? 42 For the Scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David, in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born.” 43 So the crowd was divided about him. 44 Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him.
45 When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 46 “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” the guards responded.
47 “Have you been led astray, too?” the Pharisees mocked. 48 “Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? 49 This foolish crowd follows him, but they are ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them!”
50 Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up. 51 “Is it legal to convict a man before he is given a hearing?” he asked. 52 They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself—no prophet ever comes from Galilee!” 53 Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.
In Jesus’ time:
The Temple itself was not only a key part of the worship for God’s people - it was the core part of civic and community life. It was where the presence of God “lived.”
The religious leaders wielded great authority among the people which opened the door for selfish ambition and corruption. The call from Jesus to servant-leadership stands in direct contrast to how the leaders of his day operated.
Strict obedience to the Jewish Law was an important aspect of religious life.
The Old Testament laws and requirements were partly to protect and benefit both individuals and the community, it partly ensured that God's people were distinct and separated from the nations who didn’t follow Him, and there were other laws and requirements that emphasize and show the Holiness of God.
These three things - Temple, Religious Leaders, Obedience to the Old Testament - all take on a renewed meaning because of Jesus.
Since Pentecost , when the Holy Spirit came just as Jesus promised, experiencing God’s presence has become an expected part of a believer's life. Each and every follower of Jesus can seek to experience the presence of God every day. They no longer have to go to the Temple to experience God’s presence.
Jesus is the role model for religious leaders. He came looking for opportunities to serve, not wield authority.
Jesus has fulfilled every one of the commands and requirements of the Law on our behalf. Our relationship with God is restored by receiving His grace.
The promise is that following Jesus means a true transformation in our hearts. Our hearts and minds change and begin to adopt God’s values and priorities. This change happens when we put Jesus first - it’s more than obeying the rules for the sake of obeying the rules could ever do.
"The presence of God is the central fact of Christianity. At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His presence." - A.W. Tozer:
"The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God—that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you." - Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the Presence of God)
Jesus Still Invites Anyone!
Accept Jesus invitation
Come into His Presence.
Follow His example to be a Servant.
Accept His promise of Grace.
Remember that He’s making this invitation to anyone and everyone. People are still finding faith in Jesus and they are deciding to declare their faith, trust and loyalty towards Him. Jesus is still changing lives. Each and every person is invited to come and find life in Jesus!
Reflection Question:
What does Jesus’s invitation to find life in Him mean to you?
Additional Scriptures:
Matthew 20:25, Matthew 27:50, James 4:8, Matthew 23:11, Romans 6:15, Jeremiah 31:33, Deuteronomy 30:6, Isaiah 44:2, Revelation 21:6b,
Key Scripture
Genesis 11: 1-9 At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there.
3 They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”
5 But the Lordcame down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. 6 “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language.After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! 7 Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”
8 In that way,the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.
Babylon represents the place where God’s people are focused on their own needs rather than serving Him. His name and only His name is to be exalted.
What are you building? — Your faith
Who are you building for? — The King of Kings
You bring God glory when you decide to walk with His Son.
What if the reason to build your spiritual life is because others need you step into your calling?
How do you build?
Rest - When you intentionally rest through Sabbath you allow yourself to be transformed.
Others - You need others during your build. When you build with others you get a sense that you belong.
Prayer - Prayer moves God and stops Satan.
Additional Scriptures:
Isaiah 47:6; John 1:14; Psalm 95; Mark 1; Habakkuk 2:3; Philippians 1:6
Reflection Question:
How am I building God’s Kingdom?