John 17 records the intercessory prayer of Jesus for His disciples. As a way of introduction there are a couple of things to make note of. First of all, this intercessory prayer is what is referred to as the High Priestly prayer of Jesus. It is unsure as to where Jesus prayed this prayer.…
Genesis 22 records one of the most intriguing accounts in Biblical history. This is the account of Isaac being offered as a sacrifice and God providing a substitute. As we study this passage, there are several things to make note of. God tested Abraham (v. 1-2). The King James text says that God did…
Our text provides the final words in Jesus’ upper room discourse. The last supper was ending, Judas has already betrayed Jesus, instructions have been given to the disciples, and now Jesus gives them one more word of encouragement. In this passage, we see two basic principles for every disciple of Jesus: the principle of joy…
This is a sad day for America. We have lost one of our spiritual pillars. Billy Graham has gone home to be with the Lord at the age of 99. The impact he had on our nation and the world is so great that we will never realize the extent of it. Countless numbers of…
Have you ever prepared for a visit from a guest and they ended up not showing up? There was a lot of preparation involved: cleaning, cooking, etc. Then the guest never shows up. How does that make you feel? Have you, as a leader, ever given someone a task to do and they did not…
We talk a lot about the need to grow spiritual. We encourage one another to read our Bibles everyday and to engage in a meaningful prayer life. We challenge one another to be involved in the work of the church. We put a strong emphasis on witnessing and engaging our community. But, what if…
As Jesus instructs His disciples prior to His death on the cross, He teaches them concerning the Holy Spirit. Anytime you begin a study on the Holy Spirit, it is important to clarify what the Holy Spirit is not. The Holy Spirit is not a feeling. The Holy Spirit is not an ‘it.’ It is…
In John 14:1 Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled…..” Jesus was telling His disciples to not be troubled over the things He had shared with them concerning His death. After He tells Peter that he will deny Him three times, Jesus tells him to not be troubled. Why should the disciples not…
We come to a rather surprising event in the life of Abraham. We find Abraham being deceitful and living a lie. We see him faltering in his faith and trust in God. He takes matters into his own hands. Abraham is the believer. He is the one who should have the upmost integrity. However, in…
Have you ever been betrayed by someone you love? Has there ever been someone who turned out to not be who you thought they were? We have all experienced betrayal in one way or another. Here in John 13:21-38, we see the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. As we study this passage, there are several…
Pastor Chris Noland 