Year: 2023
Peace and Good Will In Jesus – Luke 2:1-20
We like to think of the Christmas season as a time of peace among men. We hear messages to that effect every year at this time. Interestingly, since I was a kid, I have enjoyed going out for a walk in the neighborhood on Christmas eve. Everything is so peaceful…
Jesus: The Great Divider – Jn. 7:32-53
Peace and unity are noble ideals, but are they possible to achieve in this world? Get two people in a room and they are bound to disagree on something – no two people agree 100% of the time. The fascinating thing is to consider the types of things that divide…
Who Is Jesus, Really? – Jn. 7:1-31
During every election season we have the polls to look at. Within the polling data are the undecideds. These are people who haven't decided who they are going to vote for at the time the poll is taken. Likewise, poll any assembled group about Jesus and you'll get a variety…
The Living Bread Part 2 – Jn. 6:53-71
Jesus declared himself to be the Son of God. That he was. He also declared that he was the "way, the truth, and the life." He made many declarations about himself and his mission, declarations that made people mad. But none of the things he said were quite as offensive…
The Living Bread Part 1 – Jn. 6:22-52
There has long been a debate within Christianity about how important our works (or actions) are compared to simply believing. In other words, how much do we contribute to the salvation process vs. what Jesus puts into it? After salvation, how much of our work and effort goes into being…
Bread, Fish, & Leftovers – Jn. 6:1-21
The story of Jesus feeding the 5K is one of the most well-known stories in all of the Bible. Even the lost world is familiar with it. The curious thing is that the miracle Jesus performed in this particular instance was not for the benefit of the thousands of hungry…
Everybody Believes in Something – Jn. 5:32-48
Do you remember Frank Zappa? He was a spaced-out musician, writer, and artist known for the bizarre. My guess is that he wasn’t a Christian believer. But even he was capable of demonstrating wisdom from time to time. As a case in point, Zappa once said, “Everybody believes in something…
Like Father, Like Son – John 5:19-31
You've heard the phrase 'like father, like son'. We sometimes use it in a positive sense but, more often than not, we use it in a negative sense. We use it when we see someone behaving poorly, just like his father before him. But in Jesus' case, the phrase is…
Lessons from Bethesda – John 5:1-18
Do remember hearing stories from your parents and grandparents; stories of things that framed their lives? I don't remember many of them myself, but the ones I do remember are memorable to me for a reason. They have served as life lessons for me; they continue to do so. I…
What the Harvest Looks Like – John 4:31-54
Evangelism is one of the tasks Jesus has given the Church. Evangelism isn't our purpose, by the way, but it is an assigned task nonetheless. So, what does it look like? What does it involve? Does evangelism always involve verbally explaining the gospel and inviting people to get saved? No.…