Rumors were circulating about Jesus. Some people said He was John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Some might’ve also said he is a crazy man, a quack, or an inspired, brilliant teacher. They were asking the same question that we ask today. Who do we think Jesus is? How we answer that question lays out the foundation of our faith. In this message, we will be challenged as Jesus asks, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Do you want to be made well? How many people caught in a troubled marriage refuse to seek counseling? How many people caught in the cycle of drug abuse feel desperate about their lives but won’t seek help because it might require change? People abuse their bodies and die early rather than change to a healthier lifestyle to live longer. People abuse their souls and watch those souls wither and perish rather than plug into the regenerating power of God’s love. Jesus knew that there are times when we are ill, and he asked us, “Do you want to be made well?” This is the focus of today’s message.
From time to time, Jesus used something to create something more. For instance, He used water to make wine. He used a fish’s mouth, to deliver a coin to pay Caesar’s tax. He fed a crowd of 5,000 by accepting a boys lunch that had been offered to him. Can these miracles still happen today? Pastor Fred will address that question in a message titled, “Foodini.”
The people mutter, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” And they were right. Zacchaeus was a sinner of the worst kind. He had gotten rich from collaborating with invaders and by fleecing his neighbors. So, his neighbors regarded him as human filth. His name became a sneer on the lips of fellow Jews. He was a standing joke. But for some reason, Jesus chooses to dine with the most hated man in town.
There is not an age at which we magically mature. A person may turn 21, be able to drink, vote, and move out on their own, but it doesn’t mean they are mature. Adults can act like children with behavior such as selfishness, tantrum-throwing, impatience, name-calling, bullying, gossiping, overdramatizing, shirking blame, and problems with impulse control. The apostle Paul saw much of this go on in the church in Corinth. So, he calls on Christians to mature in their faith. We will explore this portion of scripture in a message titled “Spiritual Grownups.”
Some Christians believe if God wants us to do a certain thing, he will open a door for us; if God doesn’t want us to do it, he will shut it. This sounds simple and true, but many times it is not. There are times when God calls us to walk through adversity. Moses discovered this when he was asked in retirement to go back to Egypt and free the Hebrews from slavery. Jesus called us to love our enemies, forgive those who hurt us 7×70 times, and much more. In a message titled “Swim Upstream,” we will contemplate God’s tendency to not go with the flow but to struggle upstream against the current of life.
Happy Father’s Day to the men who helped raise children! During Jesus’ day, children were accorded a low status in society. They were sometimes seen as property. The Disciples thought the children were a nuisance and tried to keep them away from Jesus, but Jesus would have none of that. We will look at His priority for children in a message titled, “Not a Nuisance.”
Some people think that the Church is similar to a cruise ship. It’s all about the church meeting their needs. And, if the cruise ship doesn’t measure up, they’ll go looking for one that does. But this isn’t a biblical view of the church. The perspective is more like another ship. Can you guess which one?
Sometimes Christians can come across as self-righteous. They can develop a holier-than-thou attitude. This attitude turns people off to the Christian faith. Jesus saw this and compared the self-righteous Pharisees to the washing of a dirty cup. So how can we avoid the trap the Pharisees fell into when they thought they were living out their faith effectively?
The people you choose to be close to can be your greatest spiritual asset or be your most significant liability if they are destructive. You may have toxic relationships in your life. You may be thinking about somebody right now who is toxic. In this message, we will talk about how to deal with toxic people.