My 11/27/16AM sermon, Resurrection Realities from John 20:1-18, is now online.  The narrative of this passage is Jesus rising from the dead.  Peter and John learn that He has risen and run to the tomb to check things out.  They examine the evidence and respond by believing.  Jesus then interacts with Mary Magdalene, addresses her doubts, and sends her with a mission to tell the others that He’s alive.  The sermon got at the reality of the resurrection and how it compels us to engage in mission.

I hope it encourages you.

We enjoyed an amazing Sunday at Crestview yesterday celebrating Jesus’s death and having a Thanksgiving service together.   In the morning, I preached from John 19:16b-42 on Jesus’s Death.  Jesus prepared to die, triumphed through death, and did actually die.  This is something we are to respond to by believing.  And, for those of us who do believe, there is great comfort for us in His love while dying.  He also, in actually dying, further qualified Himself as our faithful High Priest by facing death for us.

In the evening, we gathered together for our church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner.  This special gathering is always a highlight of our church year.

My 11/13/16AM sermon, Pilate’s Problems from John 18:28-19:16a, is now online.  This sermon teased out some of the ways that Jesus posed a big problem for the Roman governor, Pilate.  The sub-theme of this sermon might be: how Jesus poses a problem for our relationship with the kingdoms of this world.  And, while I do hit at some applications related to politics, this sermon is about Jesus being sentenced to death (and being handed over by His own people).  After being betrayed, arrested/tried, and denied, the religious leaders come to Pilate to get Jesus killed.  Pilate has Jesus flogged, mocked, and works out the charge of His being the King of the Jews.  So, I hope you’ll listen and that this sermon helps you.

My 11/6/16AM sermon, Betrayed, Tried, Denied from John 18:1-27 is now online.  This sermon began our pointing to the end of John’s Gospel in what is known as the Passion Narrative.  The Latin word for suffering is where we get our English word “passion” so theologians have used this term to describe the events of Jesus’s suffering.  Specifically, this passage shows Jesus being betrayed by one of His disciples, being arrested and tried by the high priest, and being denied by one who promised he’d die for Him.  So, the sufferings of Jesus were many as His hour had come and He willingly endured these for sinners like you and me, for the Father’s glory and out of love for us.  I hope this sermon encourages you.

Each time we come to the Lord’s Supper table as a congregation, we try to confess our faith using a profession of faith.  I found this one from Coram Deo Church and we used it this past Sunday (they call it Profession 18).  Listen to how it showcases Jesus as prophet, priest, and king.  Definitely appropriate words as we come to celebrate the work of the Son.

We confess and affirm together
that Jesus Christ is the
cornerstone of our faith.
He is our chief prophet and teacher
who perfectly reveals to us
the will of God.
He is our only high priest
who has set us free from
Satan, sin, and death
by the one sacrifice of his body.
And He is our eternal King who governs us by his Word and Spirit,
and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.
We hope in Jesus alone,
And confidently await His return,
When every knee will bow,
in heaven, and on earth,
and under the earth,
And every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,

To the glory of God the Father.

My 10/30/16AM sermon, Jesus Prays from John 17:1-26, is now online.  The sermon bridged Jesus loving His followers in the Upper Room with the Passion narrative.  And, apart from the amazing insight we get from eavesdropping on Jesus praying to His Father, Jesus prayed so that His followers (and us) are moved with confidence.  I hope the sermon encourages you.

My 10/23/16AM sermon, Sorrow Turned to Joy out of John 16:16-33, is now online (with Small Group Questions).   Life this side of heaven is filled with all kinds of sorrow upon sorrow.  We often wonder where we can turn or what kind of practical help there is for such things.  And, Jesus speaks in this moment to give encouragement and show how what He will do on the cross and His resurrection with transform the sorrow into joy.  I hope this sermon encourages and moves you.

My 10/16/16 sermon continuing my series in John’s Gospel is now online.  The sermon is entitled So Long, Farewell from John 16:1-15.   The big idea is receiving encouragement from Jesus in the prospect of His leaving this world.  He encourages His disciples to expect resistance, trust Him, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s work in them.  I hope it encourages you.

Had a busy weekend at Crestview with a men’s gathering Saturday night…

And, on Sunday night, we had our annual church picnic.

These are just a few of the shots I got.  It was encouraging to unwind with some fellowship.