Sunday Message Notes
Who Started Following Jesus and Why?
John 1:35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Who Started Following Jesus? 1. People Searching for Answers
John 1:35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
Who Started Following Jesus? 2. People Invited by Others
John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
Who Started Following Jesus? 3. People Who Weren’t Looking
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.
Who Started Following Jesus? 4. People with Doubts
John 1:45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”
Who Started Following Jesus?
1. People Searching for Answers
2. People Invited by Others
3. People Who Weren’t Looking
4. People with Doubts
John 1:38b…“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “COME AND SEE,” he said.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “COME, FOLLOW ME.”
John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF,” Philip replied.
John 1:51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Genesis 28:10 Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. 12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
18 The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. 19a He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”)...
“To see “heaven open,” which was every Jewish apocalyptist’s dream, is to receive a vision of otherworldly realities… Jesus is the “new Bethel,” the place where God is revealed, where heaven and earth, God and humanity, meet, just as he is the new temple and the new proper place of worship. In fact, Jesus is the very culmination of all of God’s revelatory expressions, providing a fullness of divine self-disclosure of which even Jacob could only dream; and these disciples, who as of yet know little of what awaits them, will soon be witnesses of revelation far exceeding that received by any Israelite in previous history. Moreover, the expression “heaven open and God’s angels ascending and descending” also seems to convey an image of the “uninterrupted communion between Jesus and the Father””
G.K Beale & D.A. Carson - Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
John 1:51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Daniel 7:13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Who Started Following Jesus?
1. People Searching for Answers
2. People Invited by Others
3. People Who Weren’t Looking
4. People with Doubts
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 1. He’s a Teacher Worth Listening To
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 2. He’s Different
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 3. He Fulfills Our Most Significant Hopes
Everybody Wants Jesus Even If They Don’t Know It
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 4. He Invites People to Go Somewhere
John 1:38b…“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “COME AND SEE,” he said.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “COME, FOLLOW ME.”
John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF,” Philip replied.
John 1:42b…Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter” [the rock]).
Why Did People Start Following Jesus?
He’s a Teacher Worth Listening To
He’s Different than the World Around Us
He Fulfills Our Most Significant Hopes
He Invites People to Go Somewhere
Why Did You Start Following Jesus?
Why Would Someone Else Start Following Jesus?
John 1:38b…“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “COME AND SEE,” he said.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “COME, FOLLOW ME.”
John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF,” Philip replied.
John 1:49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
It’s Impossible to Overestimate Jesus
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus?
John 20:31…these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 1:19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” 24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” 26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” 28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
John 3:23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.
because there was plenty of water there
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.
We Are Invited to Share John the Baptist's Obsession with Jesus
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus? 1. He Promised Jesus Would Solve Our Biggest Problem.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. 9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. 10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
Isaiah 53:7b..He was led like a lamb to the slaughter…
John 1:29b… “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
…“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus? 2. He Helped People Leave the Past Behind
John 1:32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus? 3. He Told Them that Jesus Would Do the Impossible in the Lives
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus?
1. He Promised Jesus Would Solve Our Biggest Problem.
2. He Helped People Leave the Past Behind
3. He Told Them Jesus Would Do the Impossible in the Lives
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
His life brought light to everyone
to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another
God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ
How Does John the Baptist’s Preparation shape how you think about Jesus?
What would Change if you were obsessed with Jesus the way John was obsessed with Jesus?
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
Luke 10:33 Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion.
This week was One Day Sunday, and we heard a great message from Guest Speaker Jeff Anderson, all about the great work Convoy of Hope is doing around The World.
571,000 children fed every school day. Goal to feed 1,000,000 by the year 2030
48,000 women and girls empowered
30,000 farmers trained
86 disaster responses
66 countries served
Thousands have come to know Jesus
Word of Life is a strategic partner with Convoy of Hope. We go to work every day and we take one day of those wages and give that money to help the poor and those in need.
One day is your heart dialing into what Jesus is doing in the world.
We have the opportunity to be kinder and show compassion to those around us.
The world needs what we have, and we really need to have what the world needs.
Luke 10:33 Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion.
Do you want to be part of what Jesus is doing in the world?
What will happen if I do not help?
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
John 5:24b…I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
John 5:24b…I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
1 Corinthians 1:18 The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are lost and dying. But it is God’s power to us who are being saved. (NIRV)
Matthew 28:6a He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
He is not here…
…for He has risen…
Romans 6:4 For we died [to sin] and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
…just as He said.
Matthew 16:21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things…He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
Mark 9:30 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, 31 for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”
Luke 18:31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
2 Corinthians 5:17b …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18a And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ…19a For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.…20b God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 6:1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
1. The Message of Jesus is a Message of…RECONCILIATION
anyone who belongs to Christ
brought us back to himself through Christ
God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them
this wonderful message of reconciliation
2. The Message of Jesus is a Message of…HOPE
anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person
The old life is gone; a new life has begun
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
3. The Message of Jesus is a Message of…URGENCY
We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
this is a gift from God
As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:20b…We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”...6:1b…we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
2 Corinthians 5:17b …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Matthew 28:6a He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
How Important is the Promise to Go From Death to Life?
How Does Jesus's Message of Reconciliation, Hope & Urgency Change My Perspective?
www.BethlehemStar.com
Luke 23:44 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Darkness fell across the whole land…the light from the sun was gone.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
John 20:31…these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Isaiah 55:10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Matthew 12:34b…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (NKJV)
Matthew 12:34b…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (NIV)
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
It’s Impossible to Overestimate Jesus
John 1:6a God sent a man, John the Baptist…
John 1:6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
John 1:11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 BUT to all who believed him and accepted him
John 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Who is included in these promises? …all who believed Him and accepted Him (John 1:12b)
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:12b…the right to become children of God
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:13 They are reborn…a birth that comes from God…
2 Corinthians 5:17b…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:14b…[He] made his home among us…
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:14c…we [will see] His glory…
GLORY = The observable qualities that demonstrate God’s unique significance, power, splendor and superiority.
“The glory of God is such that if it could be taken away, then He would no longer be God. Human glory—wealth, success, reputation, etc.—may be taken from us, but it doesn’t affect our humanity; but God cannot be God without His glory. For this reason He is jealous about it; people must not infringe upon it. The intention of God is that humanity and all creation should give glory to Him - meaning we acknowledge the glory He has and respond accordingly. We must not seek glory in our wisdom, strength, success, or riches, but rather in our relationship with the Lord. Those who boast must “boast of the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31). This is well summed up in the Westminster Shorter Catechism; “Man’s chief end is to glorify God.” We must not try to take the glory that belongs to God alone.”
Dictionary of Theological Terms
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:16b…[we receive] one gracious blessing after another.
Standard Definition of Grace - “The unmerited favor of God”
John 1:16b…[we receive] one gracious blessing after another.
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:18b…[He reveals] God to us
Hebrews 10:20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
What Are Believers Promised?
John 1:12b…the right to become children of God
John 1:13 They are reborn…a birth that comes from God…
John 1:14b…[He] made his home among us…
John 1:14c…we [will see] His glory…
John 1:16b…[we receive] one gracious blessing after another.
John 1:18b…[He reveals] God to us
If You Believe That Jesus Is Who He Says He Is,
The Only Logical Response Is To Follow Him With Everything
John 20:31…these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
How have you underestimated Jesus?
Have you considered if you accept and believe in Jesus?
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
John 1:14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:17b…God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. NLT
Paul's use of the body metaphor to speak of the Christian community in Corinth implies that he believes that God the Holy Spirit [imparts] to each Christian community all the gifts and graces it needs to be what it ought to be. In addition, the lists of gifts in this chapter strongly suggest that God gives not only abilities but also persons as gifts to the community, whether apostoles, prophets, teachers, or others. But does God still do all these things for the ekklēsia today? We can certainly affirm that God provides amply for the modern Christian community…
- Ben Witherington (Conflict and community in Corinth)
Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. NLT
"Once again Paul emphasizes continued building. The aim of this entire process is that the church should become God's "dwelling", a frequent term in [the Old Testament] to denote the divine resting place either on earth or in heaven. Formerly, God's earthly abode was thought to be on Mount Zion and in the Jerusalem temple. Now he makes his home in the church. All this is achieved not only by us but also in the Spirit.”
-Expositor Bible Commentary
Ekklesia- an assembly, a (religious) congregation (Strong’s Concordance)
God’s Value on the Church should Influence the Way I Value the Church
God’s Plan is the Church
Matthew 16:18 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. NLT
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”NLT
Acts1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” NLT
God Works through His Church
Ephesians 1:22-23 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.(NLT)
The church is filled (by Christ) and Christ fills the world completely (through the church). The church receives all that it needs from Christ and participates with him accomplishing his purposes throughout the world.
- Clinton E Arnold (Ephesians: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on New Testament)
Acts 4:32-35 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (NLT)
You Need the Church
Hebrew 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. NLT
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Some believers were giving up "meeting together." We have no way of knowing who these abstainers were; we know no more than that the early church had its problems with people who stayed away from church. It was a dangerous practice for any early Christian to try to live without the support of the community. Perhaps these abstainers saw Christianity as just another religion to be patronized or left alone. They had missed the finality on which the author lays such stress.
The writer goes on to suggest that Christians ought to be exhorting one another, and all the more as they see "the Day" getting near. Most certainly this Day is the Day of Judgment. The main thing is that the writer is stressing the accountability of his readers. They must act toward their fellow believers as those who will give account of themselves to God.
The Expositor Commentary
The Church Needs You
1 Corinthians 12: 27-31a 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31a So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. NLT
Ephesians 4:11-12 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. NLT
The World Needs the Church
Acts 2:42-47 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. NLT
“…just as their worship was daily, so was their witness. Praise and proclamation were both the natural overflow of hearts full of the Holy spirit. And as their outreach was continuous, so continuously converts were being added. We need to recover this expectation of steady and uninterrupted church growth.”
- John W Stott (The Message of Acts)
1. God’s Plan is the Church
2. God Works through His Church
3. You need the Church
4. The Church Needs You
5. The World Needs the Church
Application Questions
Is Church a Priority for You?
Do I only attend church when I have nothing else going.
Is church easy for me to miss?
Would people notice if I stopped attending church?
Are You Connected?
Do I have friends from church that I spend time with?
Am I in a small group, have I done LTFJ?
Do people notice when I’m not there?
Are you being discipled through one of our next steps or someone you have connected with at church?
How are you Intentionally Building the Church?
Are you discipling others? Doing life with people?
Are you on a team?
Are you a member at Word of Life?
Are you tithing?
Are you meeting the needs of others?
mark 6:2 the next sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. they asked, “where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 then they scoffed, “he’s just a carpenter, the son of mary and the brother of james, joseph, judas, and simon. and his sisters live right here among us.” they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. 4 then jesus told them, “a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 and because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 and he was amazed at their unbelief.
revival starts within the church
1. revival starts with repentance
matthew 4:17 from then on jesus began to preach, “repent of your sins and turn to god, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
2. the quest for mercy ends with jesus
1 peter 2:10 “once you had no identity as a people; now you are god’s people. once you received no mercy; now you have received god’s mercy.”
john 1:12 but to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of god.
3. the grace of god exceeds what's reasonable
“father, i have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and i am no longer worthy of being called your son. please take me on as a hired servant.”’
4. the gospel has never been more relevant
matthew 11:28 then jesus said, “come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and i will give you rest. 29 take my yoke upon you. let me teach you, because i am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 for my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden i give you is light.”
5. the grace of god needs to be shared
john 4:39 many samaritans from the village believed in jesus because the woman had said, “he told me everything i ever did!” 40 when they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. so he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 then they said to the woman, “now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. now we know that he is indeed the savior of the world.”
6. desperate people need to know where to go
romans 10:13 for “everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.”
romans 10:13 for “everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.” 14 but how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? and how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? and how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 and how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
revival starts within the church & revival starts with repentance
TOM JJ WOODMARCH 4, 2024
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
Luke 17:11-19. 11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
1, The man noticed he was changed.
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15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed
2. He Recognized he had an encounter with God
3. He Responded to his encounter
he came back glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.
And he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” 20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
1) Will you allow your encounters to change you?
3) How will you respond …
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
1 John 5: 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for. ((ACCORDING TO HIS WILL))
Prayer is not just important, it is vital
“Prayer is the highest order of business for it links a powerless human to the creative force of God’s sovereign power” Dick Eastman
Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. 1 Chronicles 16:11
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6
Psalm 3:4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one
Prayer is the privilege to bring everything to the One who loves us most
Phillipians 4: 6-7 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Bill Kirk says “Worry is accepting responsibility that God never intended for you to carry”
James 5: 14-15(a) 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well.
Prayer deepens as we practice it
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers,[h] I am there among them.”
Isaiah 55: 11 “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
There is a way to pray that never fails
1 John 5: 13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
Exodus 1:6 In time, Joseph and all of his brothers died, ending that entire generation. 7 But their descendants, the Israelites, had many children and grandchildren. In fact, they multiplied so greatly that they became extremely powerful and filled the land. 8 Eventually, a new king came to power in Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph or what he had done. 9 He said to his people, “Look, the people of Israel now outnumber us and are stronger than we are. 10 We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.” 11 So the Egyptians made the Israelites their slaves. They appointed brutal slave drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labor. They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centers for the king.
Exodus 13:17 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle.
19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear to do this. He said, “God will certainly come to help you. When he does, you must take my bones with you from this place.”
20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. 21 The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. 22 And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.
14:1 Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses: 2 “Order the Israelites to turn back and camp by Pi-hahiroth between Migdol and the sea. Camp there along the shore, across from Baal-zephon. 3 Then Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are confused. They are trapped in the wilderness!’ 4 And once again I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will chase after you. I have planned this in order to display my glory through Pharaoh and his whole army. After this the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord!” So the Israelites camped there as they were told.
5 When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked.
6 So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. 7 He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. 8 The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. 9 The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.
10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”
What to Do When You’re Between an Army and the Ocean?
1. HAVE TRUST
Exodus 14:13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”
2. KNOW THE TIMING
Exodus 14:15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”
Proverbs 15:22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
3. DEMONSTRATE COURAGE
Exodus 14:19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.
21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
4. LOOK AHEAD
Exodus 14:26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.
Genesis 19:26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
Exodus 14:27b…Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea.
5. VALUE FREEDOM
Exodus 14:29 But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Exodus 16:1 Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt. 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. 3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”
Exodus 13:14 “And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them, ‘With the power of his mighty hand, the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the place of our slavery.
What to Do When You’re Between an Army and the Ocean?
HAVE TRUST
KNOW THE TIMING
DEMONSTRATE COURAGE
LOOK AHEAD
VALUE FREEDOM
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What NOT to Do When You’re Between an Army and the Ocean?
Be Lead by Doubt
Misread the Timing
Show Timidity
Long for the Past
Take Freedom for Granted
Parallels with Jesus and the Exodus:
1. Slaves find Freedom
Romans 6:16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. Promises Are Made and Kept
2 Corinthians 1:19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
3. We Escape Judgment
John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.
4. The Challenge to Take Steps of Faith
5. The Opportunity to Leave the Past Behind
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18a And all of this is a gift from God…
6. The Importance of Staying Faithful
Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
7. From Slavery to Freedom
Parallels with Jesus and the Exodus:
Slaves find Freedom
Promises Are Made and Kept
We Escape Judgment
The Challenge to Take Steps of Faith
The Opportunity to Leave the Past Behind
The Importance of Staying Faithful
From Slavery to Freedom
And how do we experience this? How does this stop being nice sounding ideas?
When You’re Between an Army and the Ocean…
HAVE TRUST
KNOW THE TIMING
DEMONSTRATE COURAGE
LOOK AHEAD
VALUE FREEDOM
Luke 22:14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”
Exodus 6:6 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.
1 Corinthians 5:7b…Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.
Luke 22:19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen