The Divine Story of Jesus and You: Introducing the Word

South Bay Community Church

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The Divine Story of Jesus and You: Introducing the Word

June 23, 2024 • Minister Douglas Ericsson • John 1:1–18

Sermon Quick Summary

We are continuing our miniseries “The Divine Story of Jesus and You.” Last week, Dr. Stan Long started this series by exploring essential elements of God’s story including the opportunity to interview God through God’s self-revelation in scripture. Jesus asked the Disciples two key questions: (1) what do the people of the world say about Jesus, with a multitude of answers. (2) Then in each of the gospels Jesus asked the disciples who do you say that Jesus is? The disciple Peter responded that Jesus is the Christ of God (See Matthew 16:16, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20, and John 6:69). This series explores these two key questions: Who is Jesus? In what ways does Jesus affect our world and us today? In this series, we are utilizing a booklet covering the life and teachings of Jesus based on scripture, spanning from the birth and childhood of Jesus to His last 40 days. This booklet is available for free at www.plusnothing.com.

Jesus is an unavoidable figure in history. To do justice to any evaluation of Jesus, one must listen to those who walked with Jesus and knew Jesus personally. This booklet gives us the primary documents to understand who Jesus is. Through this series, we will discover afresh who Jesus is and examine how Jesus intersects with our story both personally and for society as a whole.

The scripture text for today from John 1:1-18 is a prologue that introduces the main themes and foreshadows events that are to follow. It is vital to grasp the life and teachings of Jesus. The central figure, Jesus, is the WORD. The WORD is the crucial figure to understand the world, God, truth, grace, darkness, light, and becoming a child of God in reconciliation and right relationship with God and neighbors. The WORD is the key to our life journey.

More from The Divine Story of Jesus and You

Your Divine Love Story

September 22, 2024 • Pastor Tammy Long • Psalm 139:1–18

Sermon Quick Summary Pastor Tammy Long returned from her summer sabbatical and shared how God has provided immense blessings. Psalm 139 1-18 is the Yes and Amen to the sabbatical experience and the message God has for you today. For many of you, some verses in Psalm 139 are familiar. As one of the most personal expressions in scripture, Psalm 139 is an intimate psalm of David’s insight and experience with God’s divine love story: God knows me (verses 1-4). God’s hand of blessing is wonderful for me and even too great for me to understand (Verses 5-6). God is always with me (verses 7-12). God Has a Plan (Story) For Me (vv. 13-16). God loves me (Verses 17-18). Our response should be to love God back with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

The Divine Story of Jesus and You: The Great in The Commission

September 15, 2024 • Pastor Rev. Troy NIchols • Matthew 28:16–20

Sermon Quick Summary The scripture text for today is from Matthew 28:16-20 (Section 6.10 of our booklet on the Life and Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth): “16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” While the Great Commission in verse 19 can seem overwhelming, it is essential to see the greatness of God within it. In Matthew 28, we find reminders of God's Presence, Power, and Personal Invitation, which provide the foundation and strength for our commission. Verse19 starting with “Therefore”, prompts us to look back and understand the context. Before this moment, Jesus was betrayed, crucified, and resurrected, fulfilling His promise in Mark 14:28: "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." This shows us that Jesus always shows up, even amidst chaos, highlighting God's Presence in the Commission. Verse 18 reveals God's Power; the Greek word used here is Exousia, which signifies not just power but also the authority to use it. This reminds us that Jesus is in control of both the spiritual and physical realms, reinforcing the Great God's Power in the Commission. Jesus offers a Personal Invitation in verse 20: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." This assures us that we are never alone; God is with us, guiding and supporting us in this mission. Understanding the greatness of God in the Great Commission transforms it from a mere duty into a revelation of God's ongoing presence and power. The Greatness of the Commission lies in knowing that our Great God is with us every step of the way.

The Divine Story of Jesus and You: When God Disappoints Us

September 8, 2024 • Reverend Doctor Stanley Long • John 18:1–11

Sermon Quick Summary The scripture text for today is from John 18:1-11 (Section 5.42 of our booklet on the Life and Teachings of Jesus of Nazareth). We will be looking at the story of Joe as an example of a Christian man’s disappointment with God. Judas and Peter had disappointments with God with some similarities to Joe’s story. The question to you is: has God ever disappointed you? Let’s explore what to do when we are disappointed with God’s behavior not being what we expect: (1) Always choose faith over fear. (2) Always trust that God is in control on the throne, remembering that it is the sovereignty of God that is the source of your sanity. (3)There is awesome power in patiently waiting. (4)You must look for lessons learned. (5)There is amazing power in gratefulness to God. (6)You must get ready for the turnaround as God transforms us on the inside for outward action in this world.