January 1, 2017 | 1 John 2:7-17 |
Are you one of the 45% of Americans who make New Year’s Resolutions each year? Check out our New Year’s Day sermon for 2017 to learn how to view resolutions from an eternal perspective.
January 1, 2017 | 1 John 2:7-17 |
Are you one of the 45% of Americans who make New Year’s Resolutions each year? Check out our New Year’s Day sermon for 2017 to learn how to view resolutions from an eternal perspective.
December 5, 2016
Many search for the fountain of youth. Yet, eternal life is not found in a fountain, nor a serum or medical procedure. It is found in Christ alone. Eternal life is in the Son of God. He is the Son that was given “unto us” (Isa. 9:7). He is the “only begotten” that God has given (John 3:16). Do you wonder how to know whether you have eternal life? Do you have the Son? Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Got Jesus? Got life!
December 2, 2016
Many start life’s race well, but finish poorly. But I want to finish this life well for Christ. Don’t you? What is the secret to finishing well? “Abide” in Christ. Stay close. If you wander, come back. If you stray, return. If you sin, repent. Keep short accounts. “Abide.” Which is to stay, to live and walk in constant fellowship with Jesus. This is not working or earning. It is remaining. It is clinging continuously to the One who saves and keeps us. It is depending on Him for all things and being satisfied in Him at all times. If we stay in constant fellowship with Him, we won’t be ashamed when He returns. He has done the heavy lifting, declaring, “It is finished!” There is no earning, nor striving for us to do. Yet, we must continually abide in Him to finish well.
December 3, 2015
Love gives. That’s the proof of its authenticity. And those who claim to be children of God are to exhibit this proof. Do you see a brother in need? Don’t “shut up” your heart. Living in this world it’s easy to become hard hearted, but John tells us to live with open hearts and open hands towards those in need. Does the love of God “abide” in you?
December 2, 2015
Do you ever ask questions of God like, “Why is this happening to me?” The apostle John answers saying not everything has been “revealed” yet, but one thing we can be sure of is that “we are children of God” and we shall “be like” Jesus. That’s God’s goal for us as believers. He is making us like Jesus. “Beloved,” whatever suffering or difficulty you may be going through today may be endured by keeping this end in sight. God is at work in His children, conforming them to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).
November 30, 2015
The apostle John opened his first letter as he did his gospel, and as Moses did the Torah, with the phrase: “the beginning.” Also, similar to his gospel, John referred to Christ as the “Word” (Greek: λόγος, logos). In John’s gospel, he spoke of the Word’s divine preexistence and agency in the beginning of creation, but here in John’s first epistle, he spoke of the beginning of the Word’s earthly ministry. In regards to his gospel, John surely spoke by faith and inspiration because he was not present to witness creation. But in his epistle, he clearly wants the reader to know that he was an eyewitness to Christ’s entire ministry. John, speaking of himself and of the other apostles, said, “We heard, saw, closely examined and touched Him.” John essentially said, “We witnessed the whole thing… the miracles, the crucifixion, the resurrection and the ascension…so, you can trust our account and believe!” That’s why John wrote. He wrote so that we might believe.
November 8, 2015 | 1 John 4:11-18 |
Jesus promised that those who received Him would experience abundant life, full and overflowing. Are you experiencing this life today? Or do you ever feel empty and powerless? Do you dream of living a life of fulfillment, a life filled with passion and purpose? In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could abide in Christ by being continually filled with His Spirit. We can experience the abiding life of Christ within us by being continually filled with His Spirit.
November 1, 2015 | 1 John 1:5-2:2 |
Do you ever feel distant from God? Does the shame and guilt of sin ever make you feel this distance? As if God is far away? Who do you think moved? What do we do as Christians when we sin? In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could know and experience God’s ongoing forgiveness as those who were adopted into His family. We can know and experience God’s ongoing forgiveness in our lives.
October 25, 2015 | 1 John 5:11-15 |
Do you have proof that you are a citizen of heaven? Do you have confidence that you are a citizen of God’s Kingdom? Many people struggle with doubts in this area. Wouldn’t you like to be sure? In the apostle John’s first letter, he told his hearers that they could have assurance of salvation by receiving and believing in Christ Jesus. We can be sure of our salvation by receiving and trusting in Christ Jesus.
December 4, 2014
What the apostle John here calls “proof,” the apostle Paul calls a “guarantee (deposit, earnest, pledge)” (Eph. 1:14). Paul spoke of how the Holy Spirit seals our salvation, giving us inward assurance of salvation. But John is more concerned with what this mutual abiding looks like outwardly. He says that the one who lives in the Spirit and has the Spirit living in him, will testify that Jesus is the Son of God with his lips and have the love of God for others in his actions. The outworking of the Spirit living in us is evidenced by our testimony about Jesus and our love of others.