Love You Mean It
Mar 11 - Apr 1, 2018
Complete Love of Jesus (Easter)
April 1, 2018 • Dr Charles Kyker
Clearly, God has been on mission from the beginning. Jesus, the Son of God, was born into this world to carry out an assignment that only He could accomplish. He came to heal, proclaim the Good News of God’s love, and point to the coming Kingdom. But Jesus Christ did more than show the way to salvation, He became the Way to salvation when He took our place in death by dying on the cross – and ultimately, rising from death on the first Easter Sunday!
Deciding to Love
March 18, 2018 • Dr Charles Kyker
To say, “Love you, mean it” requires action and tough choices. It’s easy to say we love, but difficult to live it out when our flesh and surrounding culture says it’s okay to demonize a person with whom we disagree. Friends tell us we should follow our heart and focus on numero uno. Yet, Jesus does not give His child that advice. Jesus will always push His child beyond his or her limits when it comes to real love. “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you” (Luke 6:27-28). So the question is, do you love like Jesus? He loves to death.
Baptism
March 18, 2018 • Dr Charles Kyker
When John preached in the wilderness his message was simple yet strong. He preached “that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven… One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized” (Luke 3:3, 21). Many people coming to faith for the first time ask honest questions like, ‘Why is it important to be baptized?’ and ‘Is baptism essential for salvation?’ John’s simple message of repentance coupled with Jesus’ example of obedience give us insight. Jesus did not need to repent of sin, but His humility and willingness to identify with those who were turning from sin pleased God the Father. We know this because the voice spoke from heaven and said: “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy” (Luke 3:22b).
Love You, Mean It
March 11, 2018 • Dr Charles Kyker
When we encounter Jesus, we move either toward God or away. Scripture speaks of men and women who meet Jesus and move toward God. Jesus finds Peter, James and John fishing—they immediately leave their nets to fish for men. Jesus asks the woman at the well for a drink of water—she begins telling others about the Living Water. Saul of Tarsus is blinded by the Risen Christ on his way to persecute Christ-followers. Soon he becomes Paul and begins proclaiming Christ’s message to the world—LOVE YOU, MEAN IT.