I AM the Vine

April 23, 2023 • Caleb Martinez • John 15:1–5

Most of us know what a life of following Jesus should look and feel like, and yet most of also know we aren’t fully experiencing this life. While we want to be people defined by our fruit of love, joy, and peace, we’re often more acquainted with the bad fruit of anxiety, fear, and idolatry. The simple reason for this is that we haven’t learned how to abide in Jesus.

When Jesus compares himself to a vine and calls us his branches in John 15, he’s inviting us to live a constant life of redirecting our minds, hearts, and bodies to him. By being in close intimacy and proximity to Jesus, we slowly take on the characteristics of Jesus. And the more characteristics of Jesus we take on, the more fruit we produce. This is the process of abiding.

I AM: Way, Truth, & Life

April 16, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • John 14:1–6

Where we once found hope and meaning outside of ourselves in the church, the city, or the market, today we’re left to create our own hope and meaning from within ourselves. We follow our hearts and feelings, no matter the cost to ourselves and those around us. But where society says choice is now the highest value, tolerance the highest virtue, and denying yourself is the new unforgivable sin, how should Christians respond? What hope does Jesus offer? In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%2014, Jesus makes another countercultural claim about himself: that he alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Each of these statements is a direct counter to the values and virtues of today. Only in Jesus do we have access to God. Only in Jesus do we experience true reality. And only in Jesus can we have life and life to the full. To respond to the way of the world and live in a way congruent with these claims of Jesus, we practice self-denial.

I AM the Resurrection & Life - Easter Sunday

April 9, 2023 • Trey Van Camp • John 11:1–44

John 11 is a story of resurrection. But it isn’t Jesus’ resurrection. Just before he’s handed over to the Roman authorities to be crucified, Jesus brings his friend Lazarus back to life from the grave. In doing so, he demonstrates both his power over death, and his sympathy in the midst of it. This story reminds us of the authority Jesus has over the grave, but it also reminds us of the severity of our sin. Death is the result of our rebellion against God and his Kingdom. Yet despite our guilt, God still heals us. The resurrection of Lazarus points forward to the resurrection of Jesus, and also to our resurrection. The message of Easter is that like Lazarus, we are dead in our sin and broken from the source of life. But also like Lazarus, Jesus forgives us and promises to one day resurrect us too. John 11 CSB

I AM the Good Shepherd

April 2, 2023 • Jay Stovall • John 10:11–18, Ezekiel 34:1–16

In https://biblia.com/bible/csb/john%2010, Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd.” In doing so, Jesus clams several things about himself. First, it Jesus makes a claim about the character and nature of God. As shepherd of the sheep, Jesus is the one who protects, guides, and nurtures His flock. Secondly, Jesus is a “good” shepherd. The Greek word translated “good” describes something true, wholesome, good, and beautiful. As a good shepherd, Jesus stands against that which is wicked, mean, evil, and unloving. And not only is Jesus good in character, he’s also good in action. His ultimate act of love is to lay down his own life for our own good. Lastly, if Jesus is our shepherd, we are his sheep. Without a shepherd, we’re vulnerable to false teaching and to our own sin. But by communing with Jesus daily, we learn to distinguish his voice and follow his way to life.