This Sunday at Grace Community Church I plan to preach from John 13 and the account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Two messages will emerge. One is that Jesus’ ultimate act of service was on the cross where he secured the forgiveness of our sins...
An arresting phrase at the beginning of John 13 communicates a wealth of truth and encouragement about the love of Christ. We are told that Jesus, “… having loved his own who are in the world, he loved them to the end.” The setting of these words is the...
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1 In these simple words, the Apostle Paul gives us a command to obey and a pattern...
When my daughters were in high school, they played on the soccer team. Game after game we parents would sit in the stands and shout out encouragement. Our team needed a lot of encouragement. When the game wasn’t going our way, one sweet, upbeat, optimistic parent...
I hope you will not be confused Sunday when we consider the Triumphal Entry a week after we celebrated Easter. If you are not familiar with the Gospels and the way the church marks the high points of Jesus’ ministry, here is a quick overview. At...
This Good Friday and Easter weekend, let’s gather around Jesus and hear what he is saying to his church. Have you ever noticed how many times Jesus is at a table or a feast in the Gospels? One of his great signs in the Gospel of...
While working on a sermon, I often come across something that I know is not the main point of the passage, but that is important and helpful. I know that what I have found won’t be the main message of the sermon, but I want...
One of the most difficult things to trust is that God’s timing is for his glory and our good. The basis of this trust is the relationship we have with God. By grace through faith in Christ, God is our Father. We are his children. He...
“My sheep hear my voice,” Jesus said (John 10:16, 27). Well, I am one of Jesus’ sheep, but I admit that hearing his voice has been a topic of much consideration and confusion for me. The thought of hearing a voice in my ear telling me good things...
I wonder if Jesus’ teaching on the good shepherd in John 10 seems relevant to today’s church. With all the challenges we are facing culturally, politically, and theologically, the image of a shepherd holding a furry little lamb doesn’t appear to hold much by way of instruction...
