"Beyond Expectations"
Mark 11:1-11
March 28, 2010
Question: Why are so many bad things done in Jesus name?
Answer: Like the crowd on Palm Sunday, we hear what we want to hear and not what Jesus is saying.
What He "Said"
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, He sat on it.
Mark 11:7
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9
"Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness--who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until He comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is His. He will tether His donkey to a vine, His colt to the choicest branch; He will wash His garments in wine, His robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, His teeth whiter than milk.
Genesis 49:8-12
What They "Heard"
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
Mark 11:9-10
"That's not true!" they said. "Tell us." Jehu said, "Here is what he told me: `This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel." They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!"
2 Kings 9:12-13
Now the crowd that was with Him when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that He had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet Him. So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!"
John 12:17-19
The Stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless You. The LORD is God, and He has made His light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
Psalms 118:22-27
What He Did
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, He went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Mark 11:11
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see Me again until you say, `Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
Matthew 23:37-39
Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not Mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself." He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die.
John 12:30-33
The crowd spoke up, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can You say, `The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this `Son of Man'?"
John 12:34
"But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Matthew 16:15
Soil Preparation
Mark 4: 1-20
March 21, 2010
Question: Why don’t people to Christ and what can be done about it?
Affirmation: In order others to hear the Gospel we have to speak by the power of the Holy Spirit and they have to listen.
Secret
He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, "`they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!' "
Mark 4:11-12
And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
Ephesians 1:9-10
The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:26-27
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" He said, "Go and tell this people: "`Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.' Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?"
Isaiah 6:8-11
But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.
Psalms 115:4-8
Speaking
"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. Mark 4:3
The farmer sows the word. Mark 4:14
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:2
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death He was going to die.
John 12:32-33
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
1 Peter 1:23
Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."
Matthew 9:37-38
Soil
Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Mark 4:15
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Luke 8:12
Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
Mark 4:16-17
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19
Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:21-24
Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop--thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
Mark 4:20
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Luke 8:15
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.
1 Timothy 2:1-6
Family
Mark 3:31-35
March 14, 2010
Question: How can we Christians act so unchristian?
Affirmation: We must get beyond our fear and truly follow Christ, and we will therefore show we are part of His family.
Fear
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
Mark 3:20-21
For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.
John 7:5
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Then Jesus’ mothers and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call Him.
Mark 3:31
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
Following
He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
Luke 8:21
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
James 2:18
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:13
Family
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Both the One who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
Hebrews 2:9-11
Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
Romans 8:17
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Acts 1:14
Unforgiven?
Mark 3:20-30
March 7, 2010
I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."
Mark 3:28-29
The Forgivable
Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will turn back to You. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness.
Psalms 51:11-14
Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown Me three times." And he broke down and wept.
Mark 14:70-72
"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
Luke 22:31-32
"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. In my obsession against them, I even went to foreign cities to persecute them.
Acts 26:9-11
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:12-14
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
Luke 12:10
The Unforgivable
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in Me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
John 16:7-11
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 6:4-6
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Acts 5:3
Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
Acts 5:9
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 3:19
The Offer
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7-9
The Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:17-18
"I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns Me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.
Luke 12:8-9
It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later He spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:6-11
Psalm 22
March 29, 2009
What does Jesus mean when He cries "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
David’s prophecy of Jesus’ passion helps explain its power.
Prophecy
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently with greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
I Peter 1:10-11
Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did His body see decay.
Acts 2:29-31
Passion
My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? Why are you so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning?
Psalm 22:1
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
II Corinthians 5:21
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Hebrews 2:9
Power
For He has not despised or distained the suffering of the Afflicted One; He has not hidden His face from Him but listened to His cry for help.
Psalm 22:24
The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise Him – may your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth will remember and turm to the LORD, and all the families of the antions will bow down before Him,
Psalm 22:26-27
Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn – for He has done it.
Psalm 22:30-31
"Who Has Believed"
Isaiah 53
March 22, 2008
Who has believed what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?
Isaiah 53:1 MSG
Who has believed?
How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 10:14-15
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:16-17
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age?
I Corinthians 1:20a
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"
John 12:37-38
On hearing this Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."
Matthew 9:12
Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
I Corinthians 1:20b
But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
I Corinthians 1:23-24
Who would have thought?
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:6-7
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us – he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.
Psalm 137:8
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Matthew 20:28
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.
I Timothy 1:15
Lamb of God
John 1:29-34
March 15, 2009
Question: How can I understand the Bible when it uses phrases like "Lamb of God"?
Answer: With the phrase "Lamb of God" John the Baptist does, what we should do in our world: Point to Jesus and proclaim Him in a way people today can understand.
Point to Jesus
"Look, the Lamb of God,"
John 1:29
They came to Phillip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir", they said, "we would like to see Jesus."
John 12:21
Jesus answered: "Don’t you know Me, Phillip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father."
John 14:9
To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given to him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of Him.’ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the Bridegroom waits and listens for Him, and is full of joy when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine and it is complete. He must become greater; I must become less.
John 3:27-30
Proclaim who He is
Then the priest is to take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering,
Leviticus 14:12
But with the precious blood of Christ the lamb without blemish or defect.
I Peter 1:19
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live by righteousness; by His wounds we are healed.
I Peter 2:24
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6
Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
Exodus 12:6-7
Abraham answered, "God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering my son." And the two of them went on together.
Genesis 22:8
Personal Testimony
Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven and remain on Him. I would not have known Him, except that the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
John 1:32-34
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look the Lamb of God!"
John 1:35
In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Revelation 5:12
Second Adam
Romans 5:12-17
March 8, 2009
Question: Isn’t Christianity just another way of self-improvement?
Answer: Rather than just trying to fix the human condition Jesus recreates it.
Adam
Designed
So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed it."
Genesis 1:27-29
The man said, "This is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh"…. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, they will become one flesh.
Genesis 2:23-24
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
Genesis 3:8
Destroyed
"You will not surely die,"…For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,"
Genesis 3:4
Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:17
The man said, "The woman You put here with me – she gave me some fruit to eat from the tree and I ate it."
Genesis 3:12
So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.
Genesis 3:23
For
dust you are and to dust you will return.Genesis 3:19
Devastation
For creation itself was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice.
Romans 8:20
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.
Ecclesiastes 1:1
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death,
Romans 6:23a
Jesus
Delivered
But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23b
Who being by very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:6-8
Again the gift of God is not like the result of one man’s sin: The judgment that followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
Romans 5:16
"DNA" of the Holy Spirit
Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." … "So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
John 3:3&8
And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
II Corinthians 3:18
Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:24
Son of Man
Mark 14:53-65
March 1, 2009
Question: The High Priest asked Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
Answer: "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming in the clouds of heaven."
I am
He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."
I Samuel 24:6
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this they picked up stones to stone Him, but Jesus hid Himself, slipping away from the Temple grounds.
John 8:58-59
Jesus answered: "Don’t you know Me, Phillip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father."
John 14:9
Son of Man
What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you should care for him?
Psalm 8:4
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
I Peter 3:18
Sitting at the Right Hand
The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.
Psalm 110:1-2
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go"….
Matthew 28:18-19
Coming in the Clouds of Heaven
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was One like a Son of Man, coming in the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away.
Daniel 7:13-14
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Revelation 5:12
Response
The High Priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What
do you think?" They all condemned Him as worthy of death.
Mark 14:63-64
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Matthew 16:16
"Doubter Welcome"
John 20:24-31
March 30, 2008
Question: How can we get past friend's doubts about the Gospel?
Answer: The only way to inspire belief is to be a believable witness.
Painful Disillusionment
"No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said, " We haven't any idea where you are
going, so how can we know the way?"
John 14:5 NLT
Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go too - and
die with Jesus."
John 11:16 NLT
They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe
it unless I see the nail wounds in His hands, put my fingers into them, and
place my hand in the wound in His side."
John 20:25 NLT
Pitiful Witness
A week later His disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them.
Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
"Peace be with you!" emphasis added
John 20:26
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe
in Me through their message."
John 17:20
Powerful Presence
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
John 20:29
"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and even though you do not see Him
now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
1 Peter 1:8-9
"For this is the secret: Christ live in you, and this is your assurance that you
will share in His glory."
Colossians 1:27 NLT
"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
have received a Spirit of Sonship."
Romans 8:15
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is
in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
1 John 4:4
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
Colossians 3:17
"The Difference it Makes"
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
March 23, 2008
Question: What difference does Easter really make?
Answer: In a world running from hopelessness and death, Jesus gives real hope and real life.
Others Grief
"Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded ...
without hope and without God in the world."
Ephesians 2:12
"In the last analysis, it is our conception of death which decides our answers
to all the questions that life puts to us."
Dag Hammarskjold Markings 1954
Christian Grief
"Jesus wept."
John 11:35
"We ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."
Romans 8:23
"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will
rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."
John 16:22
Jesus Gives
"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. I am the
Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."
John 10:11
"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes
in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will
never die. Do you believe this?""
John 11:25
God's Glory
"The glory of God is in man fully alive."
St. Irenaeus
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand upon the earth. And
after my skin has been destroyed yet in my flesh I will see God."
Job 19:25-26
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Philippians 1:21
"I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In the world
you have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is
in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
1 John 4:4
John 12:20-33
"We Would See Jesus"
March 16, 2008
Problem: In a world of false images how can I be sure who Christ is?
Answer: It is only when we see Christ in what He has done that we really see who He is.
Checking out Jesus
"All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing
nothing, but talking about and listening to the latest ideas."
Acts 17:21
"Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ
crucified: a stumbling block to Jesus and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those
whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the
wisdom of God."
1 Corinthians 1:22-24
Illusions of Jesus
"After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say,
"Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing
that they intended to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a
mountain by Himself."
John 6:14-15
"About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied, "He was a prophet, powerful in word and
deed before God an all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed
Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him: but we had hope that
He would be the one who was going to redeem Israel" ... He said to them, "How
foolish you are, and how slow of heart are you to believe all the prophets have
spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter
glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to
them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself."
Luke 24:19-21, 25-27
Really Seeing Jesus
"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, (see Numbers 21:4-9) so
the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone that believes in Him may have
eternal life."
John 3:14-15
"What we see is Jesus who, "for a little while was made lower than the angels"
and now is "crowned with glory and honor" because He suffered death for us.
Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone in the world. And it
was only right that God - Who made everything and for Whom everything was made -
should bring His many children into glory. Through the suffering of Jesus,
God made Him a perfect leader, one fit to bring them into their salvation."
Hebrews 2:9-10 NLT
Hebrews 9:11-15
"Liberator"
March 9, 2008
Question: If "Christ is the answer" what is the question?
Answer: Jesus Christ, by His death on the Cross, has won us a freedom we can never attain for ourselves.
I Corinthians 15:3-8
"Of First Importance"
March 2, 2008
Question: Where do we start in our new ministry together?
Answer: We commit ourselves and this ministry to the proclaiming and living out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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First Importance
"Martha, Martha, you are worried about and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed."
Luke 10:41-42 -
Christ Died for our Sins
"This is love: not that we loved God, but He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1John 4:10 -
He was Raised
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, in His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power working in His mighty strength, which He executed in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1:18-20 -
According to Scriptures
"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the Grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with greatest care, trying to find out the time or the circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the suffering of Christ and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke these things that have now been told to you by those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels long to look into these things." 1Peter 1:10-12 -
He Appeared to Others
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life." 1John 1:1 -
He Appeared to Me
"My prayer is not for them (the Apostles) alone, I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me." John 17:20-21
Action Points:
1. Let us come together to the Lord's Table
2. We resolve to never let anything in our Church become more
important than the Gospel.