Son-Rise Christian Church, Marshfield, MO

Jesus: The One Who Influences the Influencer

Nicodemus has an impressive résumé. He’s a Pharisee, respected for their devotion to and knowledge of the Mosaic Law. He’s a member of the Sanhedrin, the esteemed ruling council of the Jewish people. He also is regarded as Israel’s teacher- the one you go to for answers. However, in John 3, Nicodemus is the one with all the questions. He goes to Jesus for answers. What he finds is THE Answer, not just answers to life’s questions, but the answer to life itself.

Mysticism

6 of 10 Christians believe in and engage in mystical practices that not only go against a Christian worldview, but often times are expressly forbidden in Scripture. Though they promise a connection to the spiritual, God has already revealed the best way to connect to Him.

Scariest Verses in the Bible

There are certain passages of Scripture that make us gulp. That make us pause, or speed up and skip on ahead, because we don’t want to think about the implications of what they mean. One of the scariest passages in Scripture is found toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Three verses who’s implications should make you tremble, at least a few times in your life.

Faithfulness

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in a world is that is quite content with broken vows, and will accept the flimsiest excuse for unkept promises. Our culture says that if something becomes inconvenient or it no longer suits you, then just quit. Leave. Move on to the next thing. But we have been saved by a faithful Savior to serve a faithful God who’s put His faithful Spirit in our hearts to make us a faithful people.

Goodness

Our version of good is what makes us happy- what gets us closer to our goal. What’s good is what’s good for me. However, when Paul writes “the fruit of the Spirit is…goodness,” he has in mind something much richer, much deeper, and much fuller than we do when we say, “This is good cake, Today was a good day, I’m doing good. They’re good people.”