In our Home Liturgy Teaching this week we will be studying 1 Peter 1:3-9. Peter draws our attention to the great salvation we have in Christ. Jesus secures for us a living hope in our future inheritance in Him. Such hope empowers us to endure suffering. More than just endurance, this hope assures us that God uses such trials to strengthen our faith and glorify His name. Grasping this truth fully leads to a surprising and inexpressible joy
March 15th // Home Liturgy
For the first Sunday of no gathering in light of COVID-19, we reflected on John 10:1-42. It’s encouraging how relevant this passage of scripture of text is for our current crisis. In this passage we read two more "I am" statements of Jesus. "I am the good shepherd" and "I am the door." Jesus uses imagery that is central to the heritage of Israel to show that he is the promised Messiah; the shepherd-leader of God's people. Just as sheep return to their shepherd through the door of the sheepfold, those who believe in Jesus enter into a loving, protecting relationship with God. If Jesus is our Shepherd, we have no reason to fear in the midst of any crisis. He will never let us go.
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Coronavirus & The Church
I Was Blind, Now I See (John 9:1-41)
A man born blind receives miraculous healing from Jesus. His blindness was not a result of any particular sin, but a part of God's plan to display the power and grace of Christ. Instead of glorifying God for this work, the religious leaders continue to oppose Jesus and ridicule the healed man. This account is a picture of the gospel: those blind to spiritual realities are given sight through Jesus Christ.
The Truth Will Set You Free (John 8:31-59)
In this passage we see that Jesus alone can give us the true freedom we need, because he alone possesses the truth that frees us. Jesus shows us that such freedom doesn't come to us by any earthly heritage, but by faith in Christ, the great "I Am". Only the gospel sets us free, and if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed!
Light of The World (John 8:12-30)
In this passage Jesus gives his second, “I am” statement- “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” As the religious leaders continue to question his identity and authority, Jesus shows us that we have good reason to believe His testimony. As we embrace him as the light, we must also beware of spiritual darkness that blinds us from the truth.
What About John 7:53-8:11?
Rivers of Living Water (John 7:1-52)
As Jesus continues to teach about the grace of God offered in the Gospel we see numerous different responses. His own brothers don’t believe him. Some are curious while others are confused. The simmering hatred of the religious leaders continues to grow, while Nicodemus seems to be growing in his understanding of Jesus, coming to his defense. In the midst of varying opinions of his identity, Jesus again gives a clear invitation; “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
The Gospel of Grace (John 6:41-71)
This Sunday we will be in John 6:22-40. Jesus continues his discourse on the bread of life, hearing and answering objections from the crowds. Jesus reveals how the Father sovereignly works to bring his people to Jesus and keep them until the last day and the Spirit gives life to the flesh. Salvation is a work of God from start to finish. Only those who believe, feasting on the bread of life, will live forever. Will we, like the hearers of Jesus in this passage, turn away from him? Or will we, with Simon Peter, embrace even the most difficult teachings of Christ, knowing that he alone has the words of eternal life?
The Bread of Life (John 6:22-40)
In this passage, Jesus speaks directly to the crowds who were awed by his many signs, including the feeding of the 5,000. As Jesus teaches, he directly confronts selfish motives and points his hearers to the proper response to his work: belief. To believe in Jesus is to receive the bread of life and have our souls eternally satisfied.