In this first half of the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, we are left to wonder about Jesus/God's timing. Jesus intentionally delays his trip to assist his friends that are described more dearly than another others in the gospel. His I Am statement continues to build is "divine credentials" in announcing His ultimate victory over darkness, sin and death. Finally, We note once again how Jesus seems to intentionally disclose significant theological developments to women in the Gospel...
Feb 08, 2022•34 min
Last week, we looked at the theme of kingship through the lens of the magi/Herod story in Matthew 2. That theme of kingship and kingdom continues today as John and Tanya read the Sermon on the Mount for us. (Be sure to listen to their reading in the podcast adjacent this won.) In this podcast of the sermon that followed, we will focus in on a single sentence: "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well." Since we are still in the first days of...
Jan 12, 2022•23 min
In recent discussions of John's Gospel about Jesus role as The Good Shepherd (and our Christmas Shepherd theme this year), we noted the importance of recognizing the Shepherd's voice. The best place to familiarize yourself with the voice of Jesus is in His magnum opus, His sermon on the mount. We step into a New Year together by listening together to Jesus' monumental teachings in the Gospel of Matthew . Wife and husband team, Tanya and John, take us through. To investigate this most important o...
Jan 12, 2022•16 min
We reflect on Jesus' Kingship in our time together as we look at the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2 . This week holds the traditional celebration of their visit on Epiphany (January 6), which will mark the end of the 12 Days (and thus Season) of Christmas. Matthew draws our attention to several comparisons: the magi seek the new King in order to worship Him; Herod seeks the child in order to destroy Him. Jesus is born King, as decreed by God and manifest in the universe; Herod gains the position...
Jan 04, 2022•30 min
We reflect further on Jesus' incarnation - God made flesh - through the lens of themes introduced by our "visiting speaker," who told the Christmas story from a shepherd's point of view last Sunday. The chief feature of Jesus' birth is it's humility, but in that we find the assurance that His rescue is available to all people - not just those of certain station or birthright. We also are given the chance to uniquely relate to Him in His humanity, as He relates to us in ours. He is the king in di...
Dec 28, 2021•30 min
We gather in the darkness of 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve and hear 10 scripture readings that describe the arc of God's plan to redeem and rescue us through the sending of His Son. We sing Christmas carols, and take part in a parable that teaches us how much we are loved AND how much we are needed to be the carriers of His love to others. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here ....
Dec 28, 2021•51 min
We see the story of Jesus' birth through the lens of an old shepherd in the fields outside Jerusalem. From meeting an angel to meeting the Savior of the World, it's a big day for old Salul. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here .
Dec 21, 2021•34 min
Today's podcast is best heard after reading the two scriptures we shared at the barn together that morning. Zephaniah 3:14-17 (NLT) and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-5:2 NIV set the context for our discussion. With those themes ringing in our ears, we find a parallel between Jesus’ observance of the Feast of Dedication in John 10 (a/k/a Hannukah) with Advent. Both are traditions that arose after the writing of the Scriptures (the story of Hannukah is not in the Old Testament), and Jesus and His disciples ...
Dec 14, 2021•33 min
In today's service, we complete what's considered the first half of the Gospel of John today as Jesus teaches in the temple during the Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah. We'll unpack the meaning behind that feast - a relatively recent development in Jesus' time not codified in Mosaic law, but just as present in the minds of Israel if not more so. Today we'll walk further with Jesus into His continued reference to Himself as Shepherd (and us as sheep) that flows from the prophets Ezekie...
Dec 08, 2021•35 min
Pat shares a message on our relationship with God as our father. As we walked side by side with Him in the garden, He walks with us in the form of the Holy Spirit. He shares His work with us not because He needs our help but because He enjoys our company, and His desire is to be in close relationship with us through all the adventures of life. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here ....
Nov 30, 2021•35 min
Our walk through the Gospel of John takes us to Chapter 10 today, where Jesus identifies Himself as The Good Shepherd. In doing so, He identifies us as His sheep, triggering all the beauty and power of centuries of psalm and prophecy regarding God shepherding His people (particularly Ezekiel 34 and Psalm 23 , but also several others). As we listen to Jesus' voice, He shows the way forward and protects us from the thieves, bandits, and wolves that would seek to do us harm. He leads us into an abu...
Nov 22, 2021•31 min
We continue our journey through the Gospel of John and look at Chapter 9 through the eyes of the man born blind . In this dramatic narrative sermon, we experience with him both the constant fear of the unknown and seen along with the joy of first sight. We are drawn into awareness of things we take for granted, and of the layers of spiritual sight we are called to live in. As he rejoices in the varieties and vividness of color around us, may we delight in God's imaginative design of life around ...
Nov 16, 2021•37 min
We are looking at the broad context of scripture today in our lesson. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever; but human beings are certainly not. As we look over the arc of scripture, we see how God has engaged numerous people groups and cultures across the millennia in a way that was meaningful to them, and THEN influenced them in their thinking and practice in order to bring them to a new place. Call it planetary sanctification. These processes can be seen as Yahveh waits until...
Nov 11, 2021•34 min
It is perhaps ironic that yet more unplanned synchronicity arises today (it’s Halloween) as our walk through the Gospel of John ( 8:31-59 ) brings us to some of Jesus' most pointed words about the devil and his role in our lives. "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him... When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) We often are subject to his whispers as he lies to us and tells us we are ...
Nov 01, 2021•35 min
We often give the religious leaders of Jesus' time a bad rap. We call them opportunists just out for their own glory and honor. But what about guys like Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and even Paul, who were on a genuine search for truth? Unfortunately, the world does that with "the church" as well. Many people have been wounded by "the church", and unfortunately, we all suffer the backlash. Does Jesus require justice? Or, does he require mercy? Join us as we take a look at how Jesus used the l...
Oct 25, 2021•34 min
We're be smack dab in the middle of John 8 today, where Jesus delivers the second of His universe-changing I Am statements: "I Am the light of the world." In claiming so, Jesus takes upon all the imagery of light in scripture, especially the prophecies of Isaiah and, of course, from John's own prologue . His light is the source of all life, just as our sun is of physical life. His light shows the way ahead and clears away the darkness and the fear that comes with it. And as His followers, His li...
Oct 18, 2021•38 min
John 8:2-11 We come upon a story in our walk through John today that is powerful in its simplicity and message. When the Pharisees drag a woman before Jesus in the temple in order to test him, they think to be following the Law of Moses. However, that Law dictates that both man and woman who are offending be punished. So from the outset, their attempt at bringing a charge against Jesus points to their own biases without saying a word. The way Jesus responds calls to their minds their own sinfuln...
Oct 11, 2021•31 min
The Gospel of John is taking us into Chapter 7 , where Jesus draws onto Himself even more deeply than before the role of the temple, and where He amplifies the wondrous message He'd already given to the woman at the well in Samaria in John 4 . "Let anyone who is thirsty, come to Me," He cries out, promising rivers of living water to those who believe. What a promise! We will only be able to scratch the surface of Jesus' profound promise, but we hope you can come along on the journey with us. To ...
Oct 04, 2021•38 min
Further reflection on Jesus' hyperbolic statements in John 6 that point to His being THE source of life. It is difficult for us to hear Jesus' words without imposing upon their meaning the sacramental traditions that developed later, but when John records Jesus' statements in the chapter, there is no communion meal in that context at all. However, John's account of Jesus' death has Him sacrificed at the same time as the passover lambs, and the focus of communion on passover's themes of celebrati...
Oct 01, 2021•7 min
We are continuing our study of Jesus' first "I Am" statement in the book of John: "I Am the bread of life." Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John is "chock full of Jesus!" As He tries to take His disciples deeper, including the ones that want to make Him king, Jesus doubles down His language about being God's bread from heaven. Bread is the "staff of life," seen as the basic necessity for survival along with water. Just as Jesus similarly used water in John 4 with the Samaritan woman (who needed to dr...
Oct 01, 2021•31 min
Last week, we heard Jesus feed 5,000 with a handful of barley loaves and a couple salted tilapia. He can and does transform whatever we bring to Him and uses it for the good of His kingdom. This week we will see Him walk on water and hear His conversation with those 5,000 who follow Him to hear a little more from Him but who also are hoping for another meal. ( John 6:16-40 ) In response, Jesus shares His first "I Am" statement. There are 7 in John, and with them Jesus claims at the same time His...
Sep 20, 2021•39 min
We return to our study of John’s Gospel today and look at the remarkable story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with just a few barley loaves and a couple of fish. (John 6:1-15) This is the only miracle of Jesus that appears in all four gospels, and John adds some important detail we will explore together. The overriding message, though, is that when we surrender what we have to Jesus - especially our abilities and gifts - He will do powerful things with them that are a blessing to the community ar...
Sep 14, 2021•40 min
Have you ever been told to go somewhere you did not want to go? Have you ever been asked to do something you didn't want to do? Have you ever felt God was not near? Have you ever felt that God just won't leave you alone? Join us as we look at the story of Jonah. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here .
Sep 07, 2021•37 min
Jesus’ sojourn in the Samaritan village ( John 4:1-42 ) continues to serve as a touchstone as He moves onto Galilee and then Jerusalem and ministers in both places. In dealing with and healing both a Roman official’s son in Galilee and an aged lame Jewish man in Jerusalem , Jesus’ displays of power are to draw people into a deeper understanding of His identity. The Samaritans quickly came to the conclusion that Jesus is the Savior of the World, without the need for miraculous proof. The others n...
Aug 24, 2021•33 min
Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is so full and multi-layered, we revisit their conversation today, having only scratched the surface last week. Jesus is clearly and intentionally pushing back against the stringent norms of first century Hebrew AND ROMAN culture. He entrusts to this woman of another race the most profound teaching of His ministry yet, and chooses her of all His prior options (most notably, His male apostles and also the highly-positioned scholar, Nicodemus). T...
Aug 17, 2021•33 min
We continue our walk through the Gospel of John today and look at Jesus' remarkable interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well in Chapter 4 . Jesus not only speaks with her, but engages in a depth of meaning in their discussion not yet seen in His ministry, even in his nighttime chat with Nicodemus in the previous chapter. Jesus' disregard for societal norms that would keep Him from even speaking with such a woman (a Samaritan, a woman, and shall we say morally questionable), much less rev...
Aug 11, 2021•31 min
As we return to the Gospel of John this morning, Jesus has a clandestine chat with Nicodemus. We find ourselves in Nicodemus' sandals as he has difficulty understanding the deep spiritual truths Jesus shares with him. We take courage from Nicodemus' journey, though, for John will mention him twice more in the course of his Gospel, and we know that Nicodemus completed his journey from darkness to light. The whole new world that Jesus' lays before him is promised to us as well, as are the lives th...
Aug 03, 2021•35 min
No matter how far you may wander, you are never out of range of God's strong, loving arms. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here .
Jul 27, 2021•31 min
Last week we talked about being caught off guard by a blind spot. Blind spots can be dangerous until they are identified. Once they have been identified, they are only dangerous if we choose to ignore them. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here .
Jul 22, 2021•39 min
Have you ever been caught off guard by a blind spot in your car? Blind spots can be dangerous until they are identified. Once they have been identified, they are only dangerous if we choose to ignore them. To investigate this most important of stories further, go here .
Jul 22, 2021•42 min
