Michael Holloway
June 9, 2024 • Michael Holloway • John 11:1–6
When Jesus’ friend Lazarus was sick, he waited to go heal Lazarus until after he had already died. As believers, we often struggle to reconcile our difficult circumstances with the love that God has for us. But God’s purposes are often greater than we can understand. He allows us to go through things that only He can help with—for our good and His glory.
What is that to You?
March 20, 2022 • John 21:20–25
When Jesus had revealed the cost Peter would pay for following Him, Peter noticed another disciple also coming to follow. Peter immediately asked Jesus, “What about this man?”. Many times we tie our obedience to The Lord to what will or won’t happen to others. We ought to heed to the same response Jesus gave to Peter when He said, “What is that to you? You follow Me.” The circumstances of other people’s lives must have no bearing on whether or not we follow Jesus in faithful obedience to His call. Why do you follow? JOHN 21:20-25 LUKE 15:25-32 JOHN 21:22 PROVERBS 4:25-27 JOHN 21:22 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: PROVERBS 14:30 (NLT) HEBREWS 12:1-2
Receive The Holy Spirit
January 30, 2022 • John 20:19–23, Luke 24:40, Luke 24:45–47, Acts 10:38–43, Acts 16:18
When Jesus appeared to the apostles after His resurrection, He commissioned them to accomplish the mission of the gospel. He promised they would be sent forth in the power of The Holy Spirit. He also told them that they would forgive and retain sins of people. All of this would be accomplished primarily through the preaching of the true gospel and continues to this day. Are you on this mission operating with Holy Spirit power?
It Is Finished
December 19, 2021 • John 19:25–30
At the cross, Jesus uttered His final declaration when He said, “It is finished.” When He died, He finished the wrath of God for all who will believe. He finished the separation between God and man created by sin. He finished the power of death and furnished evidence of the resurrection to come by raising dead saints to life at the time of His death and resurrection. All people will respond to his truth by either believing in Him or rejecting Him. JOHN 19:25-30 MATTHEW 27:45-46 MATTHEW 27:51 HEBREWS 9 HEBREWS 10:19 MATTHEW 27:51-53 1 CORINTHIANS 15:22-26, 50-57 MATTHEW 27:54 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 REVELATION 616 1 THESSALONIANS 1:10 ISAIAH 53:6 ISAIAH 59:2 JOHN 5:28-29 REVELATION 21:3-4 LUKE 23:48
Two Criminals
December 12, 2021 • John 19:17–22
Two criminals were crucified on either side of Jesus. As the crowds mocked Him, both criminals joined in the mockery. Despite the venomous hatred of Jesus, He declared from the cross, “Father, forgive them.” In the final moments of his life, one criminal repents and turns to Jesus asking for entry into His kingdom. In an instant, Jesus promises, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” Everyone will respond to Jesus. There will be no middle ground or escape. How have you responded?
Barabbas!
November 28, 2021 • John 18:39–40
At the trial of Jesus, the crowd was offered a choice. Pilate asked if they wanted a notorious murderer named Barabbas to be released from consequence or Jesus. Despite Pilate’s insistence that they choose Jesus, the crowd overwhelmingly called for Barabbas to be released. One may wonder how this moment affected the life of Barabbas. Only we can answer such a question, as we are all Barabbas. TURN-TO REFERENCES: JOHN 18:39-40 MARK 15:6-10 MARK 15:11-15 ROMANS 3:10, 23 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: JOHN 3:19 ISAIAH 5:20 EPHESIANS 2 ROMANS 5:8 ISAIAH 44:22 JOHN 18:39-40 MARK 15:6-15 MARK 15:11-15 ROMANS 3:10, 23
In Tribulation
November 14, 2021 • Todd Deering • John 16:33
The bible says that "In this world you will have tribulation", but how can we truly have joy when things are falling down around us? Does God control the good things and the bad? These are some of the tough questions that Job had many thousands of years ago and we still have the same trouble that he did. Let's take a look at the account of Job and see what we can learn about how to handle tough times and how to truly have peace in our hearts through any struggle.
Not of This World
November 7, 2021 • John 18:28–37
Jesus was asked at the trial if He was the King of the Jews. He responded by saying that His kingdom was not of this world but of another realm. This is why His servants would not rise up and fight. If the disciples of Jesus’ day did not fight for an Earthly kingdom, we should not either. Rather His mission and therefore ours as believers is to testify to the truth. The truth about God, mankind, sin, redemption and the judgment to come. TURN-TO REFERENCES: JOHN 18:28-37 JOHN 18:36 JOHN 6:15 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-11 JOHN 18:36-38 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4 2 CORINTHIANS 11:2 1 CORINTHIANS 2:4-5 ROMANS 1:16 JOHN 5:24 JOHN 10:27-28
At a Distance
October 31, 2021 • John 18:12–27
The gospels tell us that Peter followed Jesus at a distance once He was arrested. Many times we as believers put distance between ourselves and Jesus. We often do this because of our fear, love of the world and our love of sin. Like Peter, we are able to repent under the merciful grace of God and remove the distance between us and the Savior. JOHN 18:12-27 JOHN 9:20-23 JOHN 12:42-43 1 KINGS 11:1-4 LUKE 9:57-62 ISAIAH 59:2 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 26:58 MARK 14:54 LUKE 22:54 GALATIANS 1:10 1 JOHN 2:15 MATTHEW 6:24
The Sword And The Ear
October 17, 2021 • John 18:10–11
When Peter drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, Jesus told him to put the sword away. After healing Malcus, Jesus assured Peter that if needed, He could appeal to His Father for the help of legions of angels. We often cut people with our words and actions. When we do this, we don’t trust in the justice of God, we ruin our witness to the lost, and we hurt the ones Jesus came to save. TURN-TO REFERENCES: JOHN 18:10-11 MATTHEW 26:52-54 JOHN 18:26-27 LUKE 22:49-51 LUKE 9:51-56 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: PSALM 64:3 PROVERBS 12:18 PSALM 54:1 PSALM 82:3-4 ROMANS 12:19 LUKE 5:32
Where I Am
October 3, 2021 • John 17:24–26
Jesus prayed that His desire would be fulfilled for us to be where He is and to behold His eternal glory. It is through His love and grace alone that believers will be with Him. Apart from Him, mankind is destined to be separated from His presence, outside of His Heaven, and under His wrath.
In Unity
September 26, 2021 • John 17:20–23
Jesus prayed for all true disciples to be perfected in unity. The Bible teaches that this is a unity of mind, love, spirit and purpose. The unity of the church is the platform of it’s witness. When we drift from the mission we allow room for division which results in a failed witness to the lost. Join us as we examine the ways Jesus calls us to unity. JOHN 17:20-23 PHILIPPIANS 2:2 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-13 PHILIPPIANS 2:2 COLOSSIANS 3:12-14 PHILIPPIANS 2:2 COLOSSIANS 3:10-11 PHILIPPIANS 2:2 PHILIPPIANS 1:27 ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: COLOSSIANS 3:2 MATTHEW 22:37 PHILIPPIANS 2:3 JOHN 13:34-35 ROMANS 10:12-13
Keep Them
September 19, 2021 • John 17:11–12
Jesus asked the Father to keep the disciples in His Name. He asked for them to be kept from the evil one and to be set apart in the truth. It is not up to us to keep ourselves redeemed by good works and religion. The Word of God promises that believers will be strengthened against evil but not removed from it. Without the presence of His Word, our lives are inadequately prepared to withstand the schemes of the devil. JOHN 17:11-12 JOHN 17:14-15 LUKE 22:31-32 1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-11 JOHN 17:16-17 PSALM 119 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: JOHN 3:16 JOHN 6:39 PSALM 41:9 MATTHEW 7:21 1 JOHN 2:19 MATTHEW 6:13 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 HEBREWS 4:12 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
In a Little While
August 1, 2021 • John 16:16–22
Jesus said, “A little while , and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” While the disciples would weep and lament at the crucifixion, the world would mock Him. But the tables would soon turn on those that opposed Him. The Word of God still warns people today who stand in mockery rather than repentance. JOHN 16:16-22 JOHN 7:33-34 JOHN 12:35-36 JOHN 13:33 JOHN 14:16-20 JOHN 16:20-22 MATTHEW 27:39-42 ISAIAH 2 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE: ROMANS 8:9 GALATIANS 4:6 2 PETER 3:3 2 TIMOTHY 3&4 2 CHRONICLES 36:16 1 THESSALONIANS 5:3