The Arrest and Trials of Jesus – John 18

The purpose of John’s Gospel is to show who Jesus is. The emphasis is not necessarily on the things that Jesus did while on this earth. Rather, the focus is on showing or proving that Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world. We come now to chapter 18 which records the account of the…

The Intercession of Jesus – John 17

  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.…

A Test of Faith – Genesis 22

  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…

Principles for every disciple – John 16:16-33

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…

Promise and Provision – Genesis 21

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…

What if I have no desire?

  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…

The Holy Spirit – John 14:15-31 ; 16:7-15

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…

Let not your heart be troubled – John 14:1-14

  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…

Abraham & Abimelech – Genesis 20

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…