John 5:31-47 "Cultivate Love"

As Jesus finishes up his defense against (and accusation upon) the religious leaders, he ends by telling them they don’t actually believe in the Bible they think they obtain life by. The evidence of this is a lack of God’s love in their hearts and failure to recognize God in their midst. The Bible is meant to give us eyes through which to see, but sometimes we only see the Bible through man made lenses. One of the main witnesses that we have read and understood Scripture properly is that God’s own love has begun to grow within our own hearts. Is love what is being cultivated within you? 

John 5:16-30 "Breaking Sabbath"

In this passage, Jesus makes a clear break with the religious establishment of his day. This group has convinced themselves that God wants what they want and cares about what they care about. The lack of compassion in their hearts is clearly evident to all but themselves. Jesus discerns that it is time to ‘break Sabbath’ and thereby break through the façade of the evil they call religion. True religion is always to become more like the loving Father above who is exemplified in Jesus Christ.  

Teen Challenge 2015

Listen to testimonies and song from our friends at Western Michigan Teen Challenge.

John 5:1-15 "Do You Want to Get Well?"

“Do you want to get well?” seems a silly question to ask someone who has been disabled for 38 years. Yet this is exactly the question Jesus asks a man who is lame and laying on his mat. In order for spiritual healing to take place we need to both recognize our brokenness and desire wholeness. Not everyone wants to be made whole. Do you want to get well? 

John 4:43-54 "Signs"

Jesus leaves Samaria for Galilee and we discover that the “lost” Samaritans were more receptive of Jesus than the “Chosen” Jews. The Samaritans were waiting for one who would bring answers. The Jews were waiting for one who would fulfill their expectations. The Samaritans had on ‘signs’ but they formed a relationship with Jesus. The Jews had many ‘signs’ but never realized that the ‘signs’ were meant to lead them to the person. The call is a call to believe in Jesus, but what exactly does that mean? 

John 4:27-42 "Food"

In this week’s message, Jesus reveals that spiritual food is more important than physical substance. Jesus’ food is to do the will of the Father, which is to reconcile the world to God. Jesus does this by pouring out God’s love & grace on all people, drawing them to himself. Jesus himself becomes our food; what sustains and nourishes us. We are nourished by the knowledge of his love and by growing in that love for both ourselves and humanity. 

John 4:1-26 "Water"

In this week's passage we meet a woman who has been searching, but not finding. She has given up hope. Her well is dry. Then she meets Jesus beside Jacob's well and is offered the one thing that will bring her life: Water. Living Water which will create a spring within her own spirit so that wherever she goes, this water source will go with her.