Have you ever scolded someone for being too radical? Maybe they’re young, idealistic and are making plans that you, in your years of experience, know will almost certainly fail. So you step in, clip their wings, giving them what you believe is a much-needed dose of reality. “They’re so immature. So young,” you think toContinue reading “Being radical…right or wrong? – John 5:31-47, Preview”
Tag Archives: Gospel of John
How to know if you are a true believer – John 5:16-30, Part 5
How do you know if you are a true believer? Many people have wondered, and sometimes their wondering has caused anxiety. Some of have said, “Well, we won’t know until we get heaven.” But is that true? Thankfully, no. Jesus says there is a way to know now if a person is a true believer.Continue reading “How to know if you are a true believer – John 5:16-30, Part 5”
How Jesus brings us life – John 5:16-30, Part 4
As we learned in the previous post, Jesus not only disobeyed the law, he said that could do so because he is God. Thus he put himself in a very precarious position. Some of the most powerful leaders in the land want to kill him on what they believe are justifiable grounds. What will JesusContinue reading “How Jesus brings us life – John 5:16-30, Part 4”
Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3
Did you know Jesus was a law-breaker? In fact, he broke the law so much, it got him in big trouble. In the previous post about John 5, verse 16, we read that the religious leaders are persecuting Jesus. When you read that word, “persecute,” don’t think of it as extreme. They’re not whipping him,Continue reading “Why Jesus sometimes disobeyed the law – John 5:16-30, Part 3”
What is the Sabbath? – John 5:16-30, Part 2
What is the Sabbath? It goes back to Genesis chapter 2, verses 1-3. Page #2 of your pew Bibles, so you know this is going back to the beginning. Well, almost. Actually, we’re going back to the story of creation, and we read it described like a week. God creates the universe on the firstContinue reading “What is the Sabbath? – John 5:16-30, Part 2”
Is Chick-fil-A’s decision to close on Sundays really necessary? – John 5:16-30, Part 1
My son will nearly every Sunday on our way home from our church’s worship service ask if we can get Chick-fil-A. If you know about Chick-fil-A, you know that my son is either being very forgetful or joking. I can tell you that he’s not forgetful, at least when it comes to getting Chick-fil-A. Instead,Continue reading “Is Chick-fil-A’s decision to close on Sundays really necessary? – John 5:16-30, Part 1”
What we can learn from Jesus’ ominous warning to a man he has just healed – John 4:43-5:15, Part 5
Jesus heals a man, and then he says something ominous to the man. John 4, verse 14: “Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Woah. What got into Jesus? Why so dark after healing the man? IContinue reading “What we can learn from Jesus’ ominous warning to a man he has just healed – John 4:43-5:15, Part 5”
Has fear kept you quiet about God – John 4:43-5:15, Part 4
In the previous post, we studied John 5:1-6, the story of Jesus’ in Jerusalem, asking a hurting man if he wants to be healed. What does the man want? We find out in verses 7-9. “’Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘“’I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. WhileContinue reading “Has fear kept you quiet about God – John 4:43-5:15, Part 4”
The right response to miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Part 2
It’s early in his ministry years, and after having been away from home for awhile, Jesus is heading home. Will he, like he mentioned in John 4, verse 44, be treated with contempt? Or will he receive a hero’s welcome? John writes this in John 4, verses 45-47: “When he arrived in Galilee, the GalileansContinue reading “The right response to miracles – John 4:43-5:15, Part 2”
Why Jesus said a prophet isn’t honored in his home town – John 4:43-5:15, Part 1
I learned something about miracles in Faith Church’s worship service yesterday. Each week we have a volunteer host/ess, and they guide the service, welcoming everyone, making announcements, leading the prayer time and providing other transitional elements. Yesterday, our hostess, Chris, in her transition to the sermon, talked about how many albums, songs and movies haveContinue reading “Why Jesus said a prophet isn’t honored in his home town – John 4:43-5:15, Part 1”
Engaging Scripture 