Fellowshipmtz

John 3:1-9

Nicodemus comes to Jesus with what he understands to be true.  Jesus "answers" with information Nicodemus does not understand -- "unless one is born again [from above] he cannot see (or enter) the kingdom of God!"

Psalm110

Our church's own Dylan Ackley returns to the pulpit to teach/preach Psalm 110 (the Old Testament passage quoted more often than any other in the New Testament).  The "LORD" (God the Father) welcomes King David's "Lord" (Jesus, the Son of God) to "sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool."  Rich theology with important applications!

Jesus leaves Cana and continues on to Jerusalem for Passover. There, he finds the merchants and coin dealers conducting business in the temple which leads to Jesus clearing out the establishment and prophesying about his own resurrection. His actions and proclamation lead us to consider the right attitude of worship following Jesus' example, as well as the eternal hope he offers us as the truer and better temple.   

The prologue of John claims Jesus is the Word. Jesus will prove his identity through seven signs in his public ministry. The first occurs in today's passage at the wedding in Cana. Jesus turns water into wine so we explore what this says about both his character and his death.   

John 1:35-51

In John's gospel, Jesus's first spoken words are: "What are you seeking?"  That question is as relevant today for moderns as it was in the first century!

John 1:29

What is the significance of the Messiah being likened to a lamb?  What does John mean to convey when he says the world's sin has been taken away?

The first 5-7 minutes are missing  from the audio.  During those opening minutes John the Baptist was reintroduced to those listening.  What did John think he was announcing when he said what he did in verse 29?  It seems evident from the Gospels that John did not understand Jesus, the promised Messiah, was coming to die on a cross as a sacrifice for sins.  From prison, John sends several of his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are the Coming One, or are we to look for another?" (cf. Matthew 11:2ff ;  Luke 7:18ff)

John 1:29-34

"Who is this John?" -- that's what the Pharisees in Jerusalem wanted to know, and so they dispatched a group of priests and Levites to find out!  John denies he is the Messiah (Christ) or Elijah, or "the Prophet."   So who is he then?  John calls himself the "voice crying out in the wilderness" as the prophet Isaiah foretold.

This sermon finishes exploring John's prologue. The text describes what it means for Jesus to be the source of eternal life and how he shines the light of salvation into spiritual darkness. We especially considered how God personally and visibly took up residence among his people in the form of Christ. 

We began the Gospel of John today. It is our plan to go through the entire book from beginning to end. In this sermon, we looked at how the Apostle John is a credible witness to the life of Christ. We also began to discuss Jesus as the Word in John's prologue and noted the purpose of this gospel is for us to know the Son of God alone provides true life. 

Luke 24:36-49

This is the third resurrection scene in Luke's gospel (chapter 24).  On Sunday evening Jesus *appears* to a larger group of followers who are gathered together in a locked room (for fear of the Jews).  He makes it clear He is not a mere ghostly presence.  He is very real -- and that is not without significance!