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Weekend Preview – Eating Flesh, Drinking Blood, and Baby Dedication

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Ok, sorry, for the horrific title to this post.  This coming Lord’s Day (6/19/16), there are a couple of things getting teased out.

First of all, we’ll continue working our way through John’s Gospel (in John 6:41-71) learning about the controversy around Jesus as the bread from heaven.  Much of this had to do with Jesus speaking that unless we at His flesh and drink His blood, we can’t have eternal life, which is a very wild way to describe something.  I’d say on the one hand, this is more than Lord’s Supper for those who might go there.  Taking communion doesn’t save you (after all, we’re not saved by works, lest we should boast according to Ephesians 2:8).  If this was merely about observing Passover meal, disciples wouldn’t have left him (see John 6:66).  Rather, this has to do with placing our faith in Jesus alone, as was explained in this helpful post from Desiring God.

eatflesh-drinkblood-abide

Another part of our gathering this Sunday will be a Baby Dedication during the morning service (which happens to be Father’s Day).  We use this commitment language that we’ve adapted from Sojourn.  Here’s how it goes:

The Home:

  • Parents, will you commit to trust God’s promises made to you and your children in His Word?
  • Will you commit to seek God, and seek gospel change in the way you live and parent your children?
  • Will you commit to discipline your children and show them grace?
  • Will you commit to teach God’s Word to them and live out the Gospel in your home?
  • Will you commit to pray for them and teach them to pray?
  • Will you commit to partner with this church community, seek their help and accountability, and lead your children to do the same?

 

Answer if these are true of you: “We will with God’s help.”

 

The Church:

  • Parents, look around you. You are not alone.  This is your community of faith.  Crestview, will you commit to seek God and seek gospel change in the way you live before these children?
  • Will you commit to pray for these children—that they will grow to love Jesus and trust in Him?
  • Will you commit to teach them the gospel through both your words and your example?
  • Will you commit to partner with these parents—holding them accountable and confronting their sin?
  • Will you commit to pray for them and encourage them as they face the trials of parenting?

 

If so, please read the following:

“With joy and thanksgiving, as Christ’s church, with God’s help, We promise to love, encourage and support you as you follow Christ and train your children in the faith.”

Pray.

 

So, we’re anticipating a great Sunday morning this coming Sunday at Crestview.  I hope you’ll join us.  Thanks.

Weekend Recap – Bread of Life

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My 6/12/16AM sermon, Bread of Life from John 6:22-40, is now online (we also discussed this in Small Groups).  You may wonder what Jesus meant by such a statement and part of what I tried to do in this sermon was to unpack what Jesus was saying.  There were all kinds of applications about coming and believing in Jesus, the nature of eternal life as Jesus raises up those who have been given to Him in the last day, and events simple worship that emerges from hearts who are dialed in to all the realities about Jesus that are revealed in this passage.  I hope it helps give you some kind of hope in these days.

Gospel Friday – Bread Of Life

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This coming Sunday, I’ll be beginning 2 weeks of preaching on the amazing narrative found in John 6:22-71.  This is where Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Life.

What does this mean?  Well, there are probably lots of things that need to be said to unpack this, but I like the simple statement found in John 6:35:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Responding to the Bread of Life, then, means coming to Jesus to have your hunger and thirst satisfied.  This comes as you believe in Him.  Today, then, as you think about the Gospel and realities found in the amazing good news of Jesus, who came for you, remember that you have come to One who is able to satisfy all that you need fully.  He’s your Bread of Life.  Praise Him for that reality today.

Weekend Recap – Jesus Is Enough

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I enjoyed an amazing Lord’s Day yesterday, 6/5/16.  My sermon, Jesus Is Enough, was from John 6:1-21 — amazing stories about Jesus feeding 5000, withdrawing from crowd, and walking on water — and highlighted the fact that Jesus Is Enough for all of our needs.  I hope you find the sermon encouraging and it helps you deepen your trust in Jesus.

Another highlight of the day was teaching Ross King’s song Hallelujah For The Cross.  I hope it encourages a love for the Gospel in the people of Crestview.

Weekend Recap – Hearing and Believing

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“If Jesus were alive today, He’d…” so begins the meta-narrative that so many in our culture espouse.  And, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever has spoken.  My sermon from John 5:19-47 entitled Hearing and Believing is now online (preached on Sunday, 5/29).  Part of what I get at is that if Jesus were alive today, He’d be just as out of step with the culture as He was with first century culture.  Why?  Because what He had to say had to do with who He is and how we respond to Him.  So, do you hear and believe Him?  I hope this sermon helps you understand why you should do this.

Weekend Preview – John 5 (Jesus’ Defense)

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You may have questions about Jesus, who He is, what He’d say or do today.  But, have you considered what Jesus actually said?  In the passage we’ll explore this coming Sunday, Jesus helps connect why He does what He does with who He is, how it relates to Him being from the Father, and what it means for us.  There’s an excellent summary in v.24.  Read John 5:19-47.  Be prepared to hear what Jesus thinks.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24 ESV)

Weekend Recap – Seeking To Kill Jesus

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My 5/22/16AM sermon, Seeking To Kill Jesus from John 5:1-18, is now online (we also discussed this sermon in Small Groups).  The point of this text is showing the increasing hostility between Jesus and the religious leaders.  The healing of an invalid on the Sabbath was the vehicle chosen to further the hostility.  At any rate, I hope this sermon helps you and you’re able to connect into God’s love for you through His Son.

Weekend Preview – Killing Jesus

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This coming Sunday, May 22nd, we will continue working through the Gospel of John and getting into John 5:1-18.  This Gospel moves quickly to that last week of Jesus’ life.  And, the plot builds in substantial ways in John 5.  Specifically, we learn why the deeply religious wanted to kill Jesus.  I hope you’ll come to see why religious wanted to kill Him and what this means for your life and mine.