Today, I want to invite you to read the entire chapter so we don’t miss anything in this closing conversation. Chapter 17 completes the interaction that Jesus had with his disciples in the Upper Room. It is fitting that he chose to close with a deep and intricate prayer. I imagine Jesus lifting his head and casting his gaze toward the sky…

December 16, 2014 Tuesday John 15: 1-17 I am always interested and intrigued by the agricultural images that Jesus tends to use in his parables. Even though we know that Joseph was a carpenter and that Jesus followed in his earthly father’s footsteps in the carpenter trade…Jesus never really uses carpenter metaphors in his teaching. About the only time is the teaching…

Our reading of the Gospel of John now brings us to a day about 33 years away from the birth experience with Mary and Joseph in the barn of Bethlehem. Since that initial day, Jesus lived faithfully with his family, walked the roads of Galilee, nurtured his disciples, ate with sinners, and challenged the teachings of the day. And now he sits…

Please take some time to reflect on the first six chapters of the Gospel of John as we prepare our hearts for worship tomorrow. Our Sunday worship will focus on John 13:1-16 ~ Humble Service December 14, 2014 Sunday Third Sunday of Advent Sermon Title “Humble Service” Scripture: John 13: 1-16 John 13:1-16 13Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew…

Do you remember the old camp song called They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love? Can you hum the tune? The song has a line about walking hand-in-hand as a symbol of our united love and service to the world. I love that song. But it always challenges me to ask “Is it really true? Are we really united in…

Be sure to join us tonight for an Advent Conversation in the Fellowship Hall. Be sure to join us today at 2 pm or tonight at 6 pm for an Advent Conversation in the Fellowship Hall. For the evening session there will be a  family friendly light meal will be served beginning at 5:15 with a teaching time from 6:00 to 7:00. Please…

John 10: 10-21 The teaching today comes directly from the lips of Jesus as he instructs his followers about his very inner nature. Do you remember Philippians 2 where we learned that Jesus was the very form of God but he emptied himself and humbly came to earth in human form? As a result, we know that the teaching about the Good…

Have you discovered that there are some mixed messages that arrive during the season of Christmas? In a very unusual way we sometimes tend to teach young children about ‘risk and reward’ rather than about ‘blessing and generosity.’ I am thinking about the old Christmas song that goes; “You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling…

I hope you are refreshed from the weekend and ready to move into a new week with the Word of God. Our Advent theme of  “In The Beginning” is reflected in every event that brings us a fresh start. I hope Monday feels like a fresh start to you! Our reading for today features a powerful image and a beautiful invitation. I…

Third Sunday of Advent Pearl Harbor Day Today’s Sermon: “Amazing Discipleship!” John 5: 19-29 19 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is…

Please take some time to reflect on the first six chapters of the Gospel of John as we prepare our hearts for worship tomorrow. Our Sunday worship will focus on John 5:16-30, Amazing Discipleship! You might want to read about the authority of the Lord and the power to bring life out of death.

Were you with us on Celebration Sunday for the Amazed by God campaign? If so, you might remember hearing Luke’s version of the feeding of the 5000. You might want to look back at Luke’s version in chapter nine so you can compare it with what you just read in the Gospel of John. In John’s account we meet a young boy…

Be sure to join us tonight for an Advent Conversation in the Fellowship Hall. Be sure to join us today at 2 pm or tonight at 6 pm for an Advent Conversation in the Fellowship Hall. For the evening session there will be a  family friendly light meal will be served beginning at 5:15 with a teaching time from 6:00 to 7:00. Please…

Have any babies been born into your family lately? Did the family gather to talk about potential names for the newborn? Every time a child (male or female) is born in our family, I make a pitch for the name to be something simple like Randall William. But no one ever agrees with me! I do know that good biblical names are…

The Gospel of John primarily represents a description of the life of Jesus during his final experience in the city of Jerusalem. The other Gospel accounts (Matthew-Mark-Luke) provide insights into a broader life journey of Jesus. As a result, the setting for today’s reading is in the temple of Jerusalem where Jesus expresses his anger at the way the temple is being…