Many of us love watching a big entrance. The celebratory performances leading up to the start of ballgame is half the fun of going to the game. Growing up I loved seeing the starting line-ups announced for the Chicago Bulls. As a young teenager, I would dream of being there in person. What child did…
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead He is found in Bethany where Lazarus lived and there He attended a dinner that was held in His honor. Perhaps the dinner was to celebrate the raising of Lazarus. At the dinner, Martha is serving the guests while Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus. While…
Have you ever been at a place in your life where you just had enough? Too many things have piled up. The burdens are too heavy. You feel pressure coming from all sides. No matter what you do, it seems as if you can never win. Just as soon as you think things are on…
We have reached a climatic point in our study of the Gospel of John. The raising of Lazarus is the final sign given to the Jewish people before the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. There are two cycles of miracles or signs seen in the Gospel of John. At the beginning of the Gospel…
James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”[1] Which is the greater sin: doing something evil or not doing something that is good? Sin is not just the bad things that we do. Sin is also the good things that we fail…
We have seen John 10:2-21 how the Good Shepherd gives, knows, provides, protects, and unites the sheep. In John 10:22-42, the focus is now on the sheep. Here we find that the sheep: believe, are known, follow, live, and are secure. The setting is at the feast of dedication. “Like the earlier Tabernacles Feast, this…
Working as a Shepherd was a common occupation in the middle east. The people of Israel knew all too well the workings of keeping sheep. Jesus uses this common practice to teach a very valuable lesson to the people. He compares and contrasts the work of the good Shepherd versus the work of the hireling…
There are countless stories of how one person can make a difference. It is fascinating to read the stories of people who, if it were not for their actions and achievements, the world would be completely different. Many lives have been completely changed due to the impact of one person. One such person that made…
Have you ever had the responsibility of leading someone who is blind? Years ago, I worked with a man at a radio station who was blind. On occasion, I would drive him places and he would hold on to my arm as I guided him around. As a blind man, he had to trust me…
I have some relatives that are lost without Christ and that breaks my heart. I know people that claim to be believers in Christ and yet, they are living in rebellion and that brings great sorrow to my heart. When I see the wickedness of the world, it disgusts me and I pity them. When…
Have you ever had the feeling of impending doom? You don’t know what it is, but you just feel like something bad is on the horizon. There are many stories of people who had such experiences. Some say it’s a premonition; a warning of something to come. In Jeremiah 4:5-18 we see the announcement…
As you study the Gospel of John you will find that there are seven “I am” statements made by Jesus. Those “I am” statements include: Though not counted among the seven “I am” statements, there are seven claims made by Jesus in John 8:32-59. These claims came as Jesus continues a discussion with the Jewish…
We live in a world of virtual reality. We escape the realities of life by creating our own reality through a virtual world behind the screens of our devices. One can be whoever he or she wants to be with the stroke of the keyboard or the swipe of a phone. However, no matter how…
Many years ago Dr. Gary Chapman became known by his classic book on the five love languages. It is said that everyone has a love language. We accept love and communicate love in different ways. The five love languages identified by Dr. Chapman include: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and…
It is in this special time of year that we celebrate the coming of our Savior to the world. One of the ways we remember the meaning of this time of year is by lighting the advent candles. Advent is basically a four-week period of time counting down the days until Christmas. The word ‘advent’…
Pastor Chris Noland 