How do you know?
That is one of the questions that John wants to help answer for us and in our hearts in this letter. Ten times in this letter, he states: “This is how you know...” He wants us to be sure and to know that we are remaining in God and walking in the light.
Today, as Pastor Chris officially begins his ministry here, we apply some of John’s tests to our own hearts as we study 1 John 2:3-14.
We have been drawn into fellowship with God. At the same time, our fellowship with one another continues to deepen. But that can only happen when we walk in the light and not in the dark, i.e., when we live authentic and confessional lives. 1 John 1:5-2:2
John opens his first letter with two crucial things. First, he identifies himself as a first-hand witness of Jesus and all that he did. He saw him. He touched him. He heard him. All with his own eyes, ears and hands.
From then on, Jesus had made it John’s mission to declare the One who is Life and Light to the world. John did this so that we may have fellowship with each other and fellowship with our God. Here is John’s goal for this letter:
“I write this so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:4
The death of Jesus left a nasty scar on the hearts and minds of his followers. The scar tissue was so deep it was hard to believe that he had risen. Things happen in our lives that make it hard to believe that Jesus has conquered death and lives and rules eternally. The scar tissue runs thick and deep. One thing cuts through the tissue and helps us to see clearly. Luke 24:1-12.
An Easter sunrise sermon on Psalm 135.
A Good Friday sermon on Psalm 132.
A Holy Thursday reflection on Psalm 131.
When Jesus was dying and after he died, there were many different responses, just like there were a variety of responses to his entry into Jerusalem. Some mocked him. Some grieved, not understanding what was going on. Others saw this happen and believed in him. God, grant that we remember his death with faith and hope. Luke 23:39-56.
A midweek Lenten devotion by Seminarian Ryan Halter on Psalm 130.
Labels are often nasty things, especially when other people label us. They label us as this or that. They characterize us as this or that. Jesus was labeled, too: “This is the King of the Jews.” He was labeled as the One who would take our sin, take our death, and take our punishment. So that we might have a new label: Forgiven! (Cf. also Colossians 2:13-15). We'll be looking at Luke 23:32-38.
A sermon by Pastor Nate on Psalm 128.
He should have been crucified. He should have been hung on that cross. I’m talking about Barabbas, of course. He deserved every bit of the pain of that cross and more of God, in heaven. Yet, there was a substitute for him – Jesus! What a miscarriage of justice! What an improper use of power on Pilate’s part, making Jesus a pawn so that he might keep control of the people. Yet, Jesus stood in for Barabbas and us too! We deserved every bit of the pain of the cross and more! Yet, Jesus took our place! He stood in for. He was abandoned. He was rejected by God and the people. All this so that we will not be abandoned. All this so that we will not be rejected. Luke 23:13-25
A sermon by Seminarian Stephen Gerling on Psalm 127.
I wonder how Jesus felt when his own people mocked him and rejected him. I wonder what he felt as people nailed him to the cross and rejected him. We ponder these things because we just don’t know how Jesus felt. But we do know how we feel when people mock and reject us. We do know how we feel when we are spurned and turned away by people. We also know this. Jesus was unafraid to step to the cross and endure its pain because he knew two things: 1) He knew that he was the Son of God. This had been affirmed to him (at least) twice before. 2) He knew that his rejection meant our acceptance by God. Our rejection by people will still hurt, yet we know that we are not and will not be rejected by our Father in heaven. (cf also Isaiah 53). Luke 22:63-71.
A midweek devotion on Psalm 126.
The Scriptures share countless stories of failure on the part of the followers of Jesus. Peter fell asleep. Judas betrayed him. The disciples ran when Jesus was arrested. Peter denied him. We aren’t so different. If we were to tell the stories of our failures, the list would be long. Our memories are often scarred by the memories of our sins. Yet, Jesus rises to meet the betrayer. Jesus rises to embrace the cross. He leans into it because he knows that his cross means that our record is clean and erased. As a result, we have a new name. Luke 22:47-62.
A midweek devotion on Psalm 125.
Luke 22:24-46 – The Weight of Responsibility
More was asked of Peter than he could possibly do. He was given a weight of responsibility – first for his brothers and then for Jesus himself. The weight was too much! Peter buckled under the pressure even as Jesus gave the command and made the request. Yet, Jesus did not leave Peter under the burden. Jesus carried Peter’s burden and ours, too.
An Ash Wednesday sermon on Psalm 124.
A huge part of the Israelites' lives before the Lord, and their commitment to him grew out of their attention to the Lord. We cannot rally the family or set out on any journey together unless we are giving our full attention to the Lord and his Word. Our festival joy doesn’t just grow out of finishing projects, but from the Lord and in his Word, where we find that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”
