John 19:23-42 • The Cross Speaks

Follow Me!

This Sunday we are wrapping up the book of John —unpacking the beautiful chapter 21. The title is “Follow Me!” Jesus says this to Peter in a sweet moment of restoration, after Peter’s tragic denials of his Rabbi on the night of Jesus’ arrest.   The key thing is—this isn’t the first time Jesus told Peter to follow Him! Three years earlier, Jesus told Peter to follow Him, and He’d make Peter a fisher of men.   Peter needed to hear this again. Perhaps even, again and again.   What about you? Are you in need of restoration? Have you fallen out of step with Rabbi Jesus? Do you need to pray, as King David did, Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation? ~Jeff

Get Off The Fence!!!

GET OFF THE FENCE!!! This is the title of the message for this Sunday. Where am I going with this? We’ve heard some really great messages from Pastor Jeff these past couple of months. How are you doing with the application part? I’ve been asking myself the same question. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit your ways to the Lord; trust Him and He will act.” Do you see where I’m going with this? Are you ready to see God act in your life? Our time together this Sunday will be spent reminding ourselves of the purpose of the Bible, what Pastor Jeff has been teaching us from the Book of John, and how we can apply it. We’ve been learning a lot on Sunday mornings…so much great teaching. But it’s time for a brake check as we pause and consider a spiritual growth point or two for our lives as a result of what we’ve heard. Our time in church is wasted if we walk away unchanged. The result of our time in the Word should find each of us maturing spiritually, better trained and ready to do God’s work for His glory and kingdom. Are you ready? We’ll find out! See you in church. In His Grip, Scott

John 20 • He Must Rise!

Our dear friend and brother Kelvin Carboni went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, May 13. His daughter Cindy wanted Kelvin’s church family to know of his homegoing; please pray for her in her grieving and as she deals with the matters of his passing.   When we think of the glories of heaven, being able to see Jesus face-to-face is surely our greatest expectation. But consider our brother Kelvin, who was unable to see and had no concept of eyesight here on earth—the very first thing he ever sees is the face of Jesus! And just imagine hearing those longed-for words, Well done, My good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Master.   I love that we can say with confidence that GOD HEALS, and our brother Kelvin has surely been healed—healed of his cancer, healed of his blindness. That God used physical death to accomplish this healing doesn’t diminish the miracle one bit! Because, for the child of God, death here on earth is just opening a door to the next chapter—heavenly life in the presence of God. Because for us, death is just “graduation,” or “leveling up” to real life; moving into the real life in glory God has been preparing us for.   This Sunday, we will be having a “second Easter” morning, as we study John 20 and the meaning behind Jesus’ physical resurrection from death and the grave. Prepare your heart by thinking of these words…   John 20 8       So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.  9       For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.   Be comforted as you grieve and say your good-byes to Kelvin. Think of him fondly—rocking out with the angels on his new heavenly keyboard, with a voice unaffected by cancer, strong and unfaltering!   Peace and Blessings, ~Jeff

John 19:23-42 • The Cross Speaks

The Cross speaks to our greatest needs in life. We have much to unpack in this most critical passage of the entire Bible!

Pilate Should Have Known

One may almost feel badly for Pontius Pilate. Almost. He faced pressure on all sides. There was no easy solution to the Jesus problem. No matter what he did, he was bound to make a blunder that could cost him his job, or even his life. But he ends up making the worst choice of all in what seemed like a no-win situation—instead of saving Jesus’ life, he turned Him over to His blood–thirsty enemies for a horrific execution. And this has defined Pilate’s legacy for all of history—indeed for all of eternity! If only Pilate had known what we know now—those things we should keep in mind whenever we face a hard decision—things we so quickly and easily forget! See you Sunday! ~Jeff