It is finished. Three simple words – three words, on which your fate rests. On Calvary, Jesus completed the work that He was sent to do. What was that work? And what does it mean for you? That will be the focus of today’s study from John 19. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Did Jesus … Read More Read More
“What is truth?” That was Pilate’s question. It was a great question – too bad he didn’t wait for an answer. Pontius Pilate asked Jesus a number of things in John 18 – and was befuddled by Christ’s responses. We will consider their unique conversation in today’s study. Questions We’ll Address: A) Who was Pilate, … Read More Read More
Peter said that he loved Jesus. Peter said that he’d die for Jesus. But on the night of Christ’s betrayal, Peter denied Him three times. So, what do we make of Peter’s failure? What do we make of his weakness? And how did Christ respond? That will be the focus of today’s study in John … Read More Read More
Lanterns, torches and weapons. The men who sought Jesus were heavily armed! That’s what rebels do – they arm themselves for battle. Meanwhile, Jesus waited patiently. In a sense, the events of John 18 are a microcosm of mankind’s history. Specifically, our ‘armed rebellion’ against a loving and patient God. We’ll consider that rebellion (and … Read More Read More
You are not alone. You have a divine ‘intercessor.’ And when life gets hard, the Son pleads your case to His Father. But what does He say? What does He ask for? That will be the focus of today’s study in John 17.
Jesus, 1. The World, 0. It wasn’t even close. Herod, Pilate, the devil, and all the Pharisees could not stop Christ’s victory. They didn’t even delay it. In John 16, Jesus said He had overcome the world – but what does that mean for you and I as believers? That will be the focus of … Read More Read More
Some believe the world is a ‘neutral’ place. But they’re wrong. The world is filled with light and shadow; good and evil, angels and demons. The world is not neutral. It is spiritually polarized. And that’s just what Jesus told His disciples in John 15.
Picture a branch. If that branch is on the ground, it’s dead. A severed branch bears no fruit. However, if that same branch is connected to a tree or vine, it’s alive. In John 15, Jesus says that the same is true of us. Specifically, He tells us to ‘abide’ in Him (as a branch … Read More Read More
Who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do? In John 14, Jesus promised that the ‘Holy Spirit’ would appear after His departure. “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth.” – John 14:16 Jesus also said that … Read More Read More
Fear overwhelmed the disciples. Huddled in the Upper Room, Jesus had talked about His coming death, the presence of a betrayer, and of the dark days to follow. The men were shaken. But, sensing their anxiety, Jesus gathered them close, saying “let not your heart be troubled.” Dark days would soon give way to hope … Read More Read More
Unthinkable. In John 13, the Creator washed the feet of people that He created. And moments later, one went out to betray Him. The Lord Supper was filled with several shocking moments like these. We’ll consider two of them in today’s study of John 13:1-17.
God’s voice boomed from Heaven. Did the people listen and obey? No. They dismissed it as ‘thunder.’ Many say they’re waiting for proof of God and His plan, asking for a clearer revelation from on high. Yet when He answers, guess what? They ignore Him. What about you? This will be the focus of today’s … Read More Read More
Jesus wept on Palm Sunday. While others shouted ‘Hosanna’ and laid down palm branches, Jesus wept. But why? Because He knew something the others did not. In today’s study, we’ll consider what that was. Speaker: Rev. Dr. Toby Holt Text: John 12:12-19
Motives matter. For example, some people pursued Christ with good, positive intentions. But others (like Judas Iscariot) had selfish or wicked motives. What are your own motives in coming to Christ? Is it for His glory and interests, or for yours? That will be the focus of today’s study in John 12.
He let him die. That’s what the people were thinking. Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, and rather than go to him, He let him die. But that’s not what happened, was it? Instead, Jesus permitted a difficult situation in order to bring about a miraculous outcome. We will consider that outcome in today’s study … Read More Read More
What makes a ‘good’ shepherd? He doesn’t run when the wolves come. In John 10, Jesus faced all sorts of ‘wolves.’ From Pharisees, to Romans, to the Devil himself, Jesus was always in grave danger.But so were His sheep! And so, instead of running, Jesus faced the evils of this world on their behalf. Then, … Read More Read More
She was guilty. No doubt about it. As the woman stood before Jesus, no one defended her actions – not even her. She was guilty. So what would Jesus do? That’s what they all wondered. The Pharisees had set this whole encounter up to trap Jesus. How would He deal with her sin and her … Read More Read More
Some things are hard to believe. Others are hard to accept. At the start of John 6, thousands pursued Jesus. By the end, few remained. What happened to the rest? The short answer: they heard Jesus talk, and they didn’t like what He said. They could not accept His difficult teachings, and so they left. … Read More Read More
It was late. The people were hungry. Thousands had followed Jesus out of desperation. They were sick, hurting, and now starving. And as Jesus looked out at the crowds, He had compassion. In today’s study, we’ll see how He responded. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Why did the people follow Jesus? B) Why didn’t they … Read More Read More
“Do you want to be made well?” That was Christ’s question of the sick man. It is also Christ’s question of you. Do you want to be made well? And what do you want to be made well from?This will be the focus of today’s sermon from John 5. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What … Read More Read More
Surprising. Shocking. Scandalous. Jews and Samaritans were NOT supposed to interact. Their mutual hatred went back generations. And yet, here Jesus was, not only talking with this woman in John 4 – but asking her for water. What was this encounter all about? Questions That We’ll Answer: A) What was the history of the Samaritans? … Read More Read More
To Nicodemus, it seemed like crazy talk. But to Jesus, this was serious business. If God’s people are to be saved, we must first be ‘born again.’ So what does that term mean? And how does it happen? In today’s study, we’ll dive into the critical topic of regeneration. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) Who … Read More Read More
It wasn’t just a miracle – it was a sign. In John 2, Jesus attended a wedding. And at this wedding He performed His first recorded miracle (turning water into wine). So, what was this miracle really about? As we’ll see, it pointed forward to the cross – even if no one knew it at … Read More Read More
John the Baptist had one job. John came to prepare people to meet Jesus. Specifically, he would ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah had foretold. But the people wouldn’t listen. John would be a voice crying in the wilderness. He would be misunderstood, and eventually killed. And the same would … Read More Read More
Christianity: rooted in history, backed by eyewitnesses. In John 1, the author skips the greetings and goes straight to the heart of the matter: he and others saw, heard, and observed the Messiah. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” he declared. In today’s study, we’ll consider the historical facts that support our … Read More Read More
Jericho had massive walls. It didn’t matter. There are no walls that can deter God’s Wrath. And there is no army that can stop those who serve Him. In Joshua 6, we will study both points in one of the most famous (and faith-building) passages in Scripture. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) How big was … Read More Read More
No. Other. Name. As he felt the Sanhedrin’s angry gaze, Peter stood firm. There’s no other name, there’s no other door, there’s no other way by which fallen sinners can be reconciled to God. Not two. Not ten. Just one, Peter declared. Jesus Christ is the singular means of salvation. Questions That We’ll Answer: A) … Read More Read More
The world is trying to remake you in its image. Will you let it? In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that the world is intent on creating worldly people. That’s what it does. It wants to conform you and I to its own priorities. However, Paul tells Christians that we are NOT … Read More Read More
Genesis started in a GARDEN. It ended in a COFFIN. In Genesis 1, things were looking great. God had created the world, and said that all He had created was good. But things got dark in Genesis 3. Following man’s sin in Genesis 3, a roller coaster of depravity followed. In Genesis 4, Cain killed … Read More Read More
They meant it for evil. But God used it for good. In Genesis 45, Joseph’s brothers stood before him – brothers that had once sold him off to slave traders, and then told their father that he was dead. They had acted wickedly! And in a ‘twist of fate,’ their lives were now in his … Read More Read More
