September 1, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 21:1–17
Every great story has an epilogue. This is the epilogue to John’s great eyewitness account to Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection. In it, he shares a great story of forgiveness. Peter had done the unthinkable. After telling Jesus he was ready to die for him he swore three times to other people he never even knew Jesus. Peter was desperate for forgiveness and reconciliation and Jesus was more that willing to offer it. John sets out on a quest to share with the world that Jesus was God’s one and only son, and the only true messiah. He starts with a thesis statement and uses the entire book to prove it is correct. It is a great book to share with our friends and family that they too may also believe.
Jesus Reinstates Peter
Jesus is Raised to Life
August 18, 2024 • Justin Scarberry • John 20
Jesus had predicted his death and his resurrection several times in the Gospel of John and it happened exactley as he said it would. John was an eyewitness to all of the things written in this book. Most importantly he was an eyewitness that first morning and saw the empty tomb. He also saw that evening in the flesh. Some of Jesus’ first words to his disciples after the resurrection were “peace be with you.” How can we experience peace in this world amongst so much chaos?
Jesus is Raised to Life
Jesus Crucified
August 11, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 19:23–39
Jesus speaks several things here on the cross, each one with significant meaning a purpose behind it. John, the author of this gospel, was an eyewitness to these things. He was there at the cross and saw the spear that was thrust into Jesus’ side. He tells you this for two reasons; that you may know for certain that Jesus was dead not passed out. And that you may believe he is the son of God. Two of the Jewish leaders did believe. They did recognize Jesus as the messiah. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are ready to pledge their public believe in Jesus.
Jesus Crucified
Jesus Questioned
August 4, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 18:28–40
The religious leaders of the day were corrupt and refused to deal fairly with Jesus. They were threated by his authority and feared they would lose their positions of power. Do we sometimes fear what it would mean to allow Jesus complete control of our lives? Governor Pilate is no friend of the Jews and knows they have handed Jesus over to him out of jealousy. Pilate is conflicted, he must choose what to do with Jesus. We must choose what to do with Jesus. Commit to him fully or reject him.
Jesus Questioned
The Prayer of Jesus for Believers
July 28, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 17:13–26
The night before Jesus was tortured and crucified, he is focused on his church. He not only prays for the group of disciples that is following him currently, but he also prays for all who will believe. It’s amazing that his focus is on this more than what he will face tomorrow. Jesus does not pray that the Father would take His disciples out of the world so they might not suffer. He prays that they are protected from the evil one whose desire is to turn them against Jesus. Jesus is focused on completing the mission and becoming the sacrifice for all of mankind’s sin, and also expresses a desire for His church to be with him forever in the presence of His glory.
The Prayer of Jesus for Believers
The Advocate
July 21, 2024 • Justin Scarberry • John 16:1–15
Jesus spends a great deal of time teaching about the Holy Sprit in these verses. Often we look at the book of Acts for scripture on the Holy Spirit but Jesus give a clear definition here of WHO the Sprit is and what his roll is. Jesus reveals that the Holy sprit is a person, not a force or power. Jesus refers to the Holy Sprit as “he” ten times in this passage. We can see today that some in the church are over focused on the Holy Sprit and some never teach on the Holy Spirit. We must not ignore teaching on this important person. Jesus gave us so much in the verses to discover about the roll of the Holy Spirit.
The Advocate
The True Vine
July 14, 2024 • Henry Lawson • John 15:1–17
Jesus uses a uses a beautiful agrarian metaphor to give insight into the trinity. Vine keeping was a way of life in that culture and it was a great way to help the disciples understand not only Jesus’ relationship to the Father but our relationship with Jesus. Jesus explains that staying connected to Him is crucial to the believers walk. It is not enough to confess Jesus and go about our own way, we must stay connected to Him in order to bear fruit.
The True Vine
The Way, The Truth, The Life
July 7, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 14:1–14
These verses take place at the tail end of the last supper. John does not mention the institution of communion but records a monologue from Jesus about the events that are about to unfold. Here he explains that he is the only way to salvation. Jesus prepares his disciples for life without him. He explains that it is necessary for him to leave but he will also return.
The Way, The Truth, The Life
The Hour Has Come
June 30, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 12:20–36
Jesus had previously mentioned that He had “other sheep”, “not of this pen.” He was referring to the gentiles. Now here in this week's passage we see that “some Greeks” were seeking Jesus and wanted to hear from Him. Immediately after that, Jesus says that His “hour has come.” We see that all along Jesus has had a plan to redeem the whole world not just the Jewish nation. Also Jesus was deeply troubled at the thought of bearing the weight of mankind’s sin. But he stood firm in His resolve to complete his mission and become the perfect sacrifice for sin.
The Hour Has Come
The Good Shepheard
June 23, 2024 • Henry Lawson • John 10:1–18
Jesus makes several “I am” statements in this passage. He says “I am the gate.” He also says “I am the good shepherd.” He is using some imagery that would have been well understood by shepherds of that day. We need to learn a little about context so that we might understand what he means. Jesus said that he came that His followers may have life and life to the full. What did he mean exactely? Are we seeking to have a “full life” through Jesus or are we looking for life somewhere else?
The Good Shepheard
Living Water
June 16, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 7:37–52
Jesus makes an incredible statement and the crowd is torn over who he is. They must make up their own minds about who Jesus really is. We must make up our own minds on who Jesus really is. He cannot be just a “good” person. If Jesus said these things and he was not the messiah than he was lying and deceiving the people. -Nicodemus makes his second appearance in John’s gospel here. It appears he disapproves of the religious leaders condemning Jesus before he is thoroughly investigated. Nicodemus must make up his mind about who Jesus is too.
Living Water
The Bread of Life Part 2
June 9, 2024 • Justin Scarberry • John 6:41–57
The key to understanding this tough passage is to look at the context of the entire lesson Jesus is trying to teach. Previously Jesus fed the crowd of five thousand. The people we chasing him down now so that he could continue to provide that food for them. Jesus explains that they are too concerned with the physical and need to become more aware of their spiritual need. Physical food on earth will never fully satisfy. And it certainly won’t provide for our number one need, salvation.
The Bread of Life Part 2
The Bread of Life Part One
June 2, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 6:25–40
In his gospel John reveals that Jesus made seven “I am” statements. This is the first iconic “I am the bread of life” statement. The people were chasing Him down not because they believed in His power to bring them salvation but because he could be the one to provide food for them and make their lives easier. We need to ensure we are not doing them same. We do not follow Jesus so he can make our lives easier.
The Bread of Life Part One
Jesus Has the Authority
May 26, 2024 • Pastor Phil Burdoin • John 5:16–30
Born Again
May 19, 2024 • Shawn Kennedy • John 3:1–19
Jesus made it clear that there was no birth right to heaven. He said that “no one” is born into the kingdom of heaven, you must be born again. Nicodemus was convinced that his standing was right before God because of his background and status. Are we sometimes fooled into the same thinking? Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Believe in Jesus and nothing else is where salvation comes from.
Born Again
