Reading for June 30: John 3:18-21

18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." John 3:18-21 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• Why do some people seem to love the darkness?
• What do you need to do to let more light into your life?
  

Comment:

This passage answers a common criticism of Christianity: that it is not "fair" that we say there is only one way to be saved and that everybody else gets condemned to Hell. However, we see here that the condemnation comes from a condition that is inherent of the condemned person himself. It is not the result of God withholding salvation but instead is man refusing salvation because of their love of sin. This love of sin keeps them in the dark and away from the light (i.e. Christ, see John 1:4-9). Therefore, they condemn themselves to Hell.

Verse 21 then goes on to tell us about the ones who do believe. They are described as performing "deeds" in the light. Believers hate sin and love righteousness so they are not adverse to the light; in fact they prefer it over darkness. While in the light a believer "does the truth" because with this faith that they now possess they can perform "deeds" that are "done in God." We will see eventually in John (Chapter 15) that these deeds or fruit as it is sometimes called, are evidence of salvation. So, salvation is shown by (but not the result of): belief, hatred of sin, and bearing good fruit.

Reading for June 29: John 3:13-17

Friday, June 29, 2007

Reading for June 29: John 3:13-17

John 3:13-17 NASB

No one has ascended into Heaven, but He who descended from Heaven: the Son of Man. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
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Comments:
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The most recognized and memorized Scripture in all the Bible is John 3:16. It encapsulates the Gospel message in full. But, for many Christians, it has become all too familiar. And, for the non-Christian, it has often become just a Christian mantra that has little or no meaning to anyone outside of the Bible belt.
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Here is today's challenge: Read this verse with freshness. Listen to the message and deepen your appreciation for the depths of God's love and the redemption available through Christ.
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For God so loved the world: The Creator of all existence expressed His desire for all of humanity to know Him personally. In this we see the greatest gift: love.
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that He gave: God initiated the invitation for man to know Him. It was not man's idea or even man's search for God that revealed the truth of Who God is. It is only by God revealing Himself to man.
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His only begotten Son: There is a uniqueness in Christ. He is the only One that ascended to and descended from Heaven. This speaks to Jesus' coexistence with God and reveals His equality with God, which is fully expressed in Him being God. There is no other that can even claim with evidence this fact of Christ.
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that whoever believes in Him: an open invitation that is only limited to our response to the nature of who Christ is. There is a cost of beginning a relationship with God, and it is believing what God has revealed about Jesus through the Bible. Many believe in Jesus but not what the Bible teaches us about Him. Some want Him to be a prophet or a teacher. others want Him to be a moral man or an example to follow. As noble as these are, it is not what the Bible teaches about Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God; the Word that was with God and that is God; He is God in human flesh. He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End. He willingly laid down His life and then took it back again.
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shall not perish: Through His death and resurrection, those who believe in the Christ of the Bible will not experience the final death. It is appointed once for all to die and then be judged. But not all will perish. Life eternal is what man was created for. All people will face eternity. But some will not perish. This conversely means some will perish. This is permanent and total separation from God. There is no equating the harshness of this reality. It is consignment to Hell and punishment that is only chosen by rejecting the love God so provided for all through Christ.
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but have eternal life: Life in its fullest and perfect sense. We now are looking in a mirror dimly and do not see clearly what greatness lies ahead for those in Christ Jesus. Life in the presence of God Christ Jesus the Holy Spirit. As unexplainable as Hell, Heaven holds for those in Christ the promise and reality of eternity with life.
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God so loved us that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost, not to point people to separation but to a lasting relationship with Him. The Gospel message is truly the most amazing love story ever told. Have you shared john 3:16 with someone you love lately? Recite it today to a friend or family member. Allow God to use a fresh view of His message to change your life and others around you.
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John

Reading for June 27: John 3:9-10

Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these
things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? John 3:9-10

Comments:

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All people in all times have asked the questions at some point in their lives, "What is life about? Is there anything after this life?" It is the quintessential question of existence. And, God has used these questions to call man to Himself. The true answer to these questions leads people to eternity in Heaven.

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People have come up with many possibilities for "what it takes" to get to Heaven. Of course, not everyone believes in Heaven as the final destination of man but everyone believes in something. Different cultures call that "something" different things (e.g.: nirvana, reincarnation, spiritual bliss, even annihilation) but the search for eternity is in every person. God has provided the true answer and Jesus tells Nicodemus that the truth lies in the Scriptures.

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For Nicodemus, the Scripture would have been what we know as the Old Testament. In His love for mankind God used Moses, David and many others to write down His revelation. Man could not reconcile with God so throughout the Bible we are shown that God has reached out to man. Sin is revealed and men are called to repentance. As a teacher, Nicodemus should have known this clearly but, like so many today, he misinterpreted the Scripture. Today, there is also the problem that people do not know the Scripture.

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Mark 12:24 says, to the Sadducees "Jesus said to them, Is not this where you wander out of the way and go wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?"

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The answer to eternity is in Christ and is revealed clearly in the Bible. If you call yourself a new creation in Christ, a Christian, you are required to know what you believe. We also have the instructions on how to live now in that same Bible. I am surprised how often people find it amazing what is in the Bible. Jesus asked, "...you do not know these things?" We must read, study and dig in the Scripture so we know what we believe.

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When people search out the answers to life, they will face their own humanity and the degradation of their own actions. We are a fallen creation with no self help to being right with God. Unless we are born again through the blood of Christ we have no hope now or in the future. We can point people to the answer. Through knowing Scripture and through providing copies of the Bible to others, God will continue to call man to Himself. Get into your Bible and share what you learn with others.

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John

Reading for June 26: John 3:4-8

4 Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
John 3:4-8 (NKJV)

Comments:

Nicodemus responds to Jesus with basically the same question we left with yesterday: "How can one be born again?" You can see by the way Nicodemus ask the question that he is way off in thinking; he is stuck using physical laws and circumstances to try and understand what Jesus had said. When he heard born, he immediately reflected back on the first birth, the birth of the flesh. Jesus redirects to the spiritual realm with His next statements.

Jesus again gives him a condition that must be met before he can enter the kingdom of God. This time Jesus puts it like this, "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Before it was "must be born again," now it is "born of water and the Spirit;" so to be born again must mean to be born of water and the Spirit. But what does that mean to be born of water and Spirit?

The water part is the most difficult to answer, there lots of ideas about what is meant here, but I think (supported by a lot of people much smarter than me) that the water represents an act of cleansing. In the Old Testament, water was used on many occasions to represent spiritual renewal and cleansing. A good example of this is Ezekiel 36:24-27. In that passage, God tells the nation of Israel that He will sprinkle clean water on them and they will be clean, that they will have a new heart, a new Spirit within that will cause them to walk in His statutes (read the passage, it's amazing). So, when Jesus says we must be born of water, He is saying we need to be cleansed by God's clean water. Then once that cleansing takes place, our desires change so we are then, and only then, able to fully summit to God in repentance. But, like I said, what is meant by "born of water" is a bit of a controversy so dig into that yourself and see what you come up with.

The second half of Jesus statement is more clear; to be "born of the Spirit" most definitely means that an interaction with the Holy Spirit is required prior to anyone entering into the kingdom. If you go back to the passage in Ezekiel (and many others), you can see that it is the Spirit that is ultimately responsible for changing a person's heart. With this in mind reflect back to what we read at the end of chapter 2, remember how Jesus does not "commit" Himself to those that "believed in His name." Now we can speculate why that was; they had not been cleansed. Their heart was still full of sin and unsuitable for Jesus and the kingdom of God. The same is true for Nicodemus, he thought that the externals of his life were good enough, but Jesus explains to him that much more is required; it has to be something internal.

This internal/external thing is what Jesus is talking about when He says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Flesh can only affect flesh, it takes God, as The Spirit, to change one's spirit, that is one's inner being.

This stuff is hard, I know, but Jesus knew that it would be hard for us to understand. That is why He gives us verses 7 and 8. Just like the wind, the Holy Spirit cannot be controlled or completely understood, but also just like the wind, when the Spirit works there is undeniable and unmistakable evidence.

These things that Jesus is teaching Nicodemus, and us, are just the beginning of the story. This is telling us what has to happen before we can enter into the kingdom. It shows us that it is our own sin that is keeping us separated from God. It leaves us in a state of need, the need for salvation, the need for a savior.

Reading for June 25: John 3:1-3

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
John 3:1-3 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• If someone asked you how could they see the kingdom of God, what would you tell them?
  


• Had Jesus asked Nicodemus the question He asked of the disciples in 1:38, "What do you want?' what do you think he would have answered? (question from page 33 of our book)
  

Comments:

Over the next two weeks we will cover chapter 3, which is a great chapter that is filled with amazing truths that help us understand our relationship with Christ. The first half of the chapter is Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus; the last half covers John the Baptist's last testimony regarding Christ. No matter where you are in your walk with Christ this portion of God's word will bring you closer to Him if you will only let it.

We begin with an introduction to a fellow named Nicodemus. He was a Pharisee, which means that he was part of group that was very ritualistic and thought of themselves as religiously pure according to OT law. He was also a ruler of the Jews, which probably means that he was a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was like the Jewish Supreme Court. All of this is important because it shows us that Nicodemus was a well educated religious guy. He knew his scripture and he lived as he believed the scripture taught.

Therefore, because of his knowledge, when he seen Jesus performing miracles and heard His teaching, he knew that there was something special about Him. So, he waits until it is dark, where no one of his groups can see, and he approaches Jesus. He doesn't really ask any questions, he just states what he believes as fact, "we know that You have come from God as a teacher." Jesus, knowing what was in Nicodemus' heart and where he stood in an eternal sense, answered a question that Nicodemus did not even ask (at least not out loud). Nicodemus' beliefs were based on what Jewish tradition had taught him; he believed that he was qualified for heaven based on his Jewish heritage and his keeping of religious rites. Jesus knew this is where his heart stood, so now He is going to correct him.

Jesus says to him, "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Let's start at the end with, "he cannot see the kingdom of God;" Why can he not see the kingdom of God? He can't see the kingdom of God because his sin makes him unsuitable for the kingdom. He can't see it because he is dead in his sin. This would be a surprise to Nicodemus because he thought that he was doing everything right: he was from the right blood line (Jewish) and he performed all the right rituals required by his religion. However, it did not matter how much he did, he could never see the kingdom because he is still dead; he cannot with any ritual or with any claim to heritage bring himself new life.

So what can Nicodemus do? Well, he can't do anything. In order to see the kingdom, he needs new life; he has to be "born again." What Nicodemus didn't understand was that there was nothing he could do to cause his new birth, the same way that the little baby growing in my wife's belly right now has no say or can do anything that will result in his birth neither can Nicodemus cause his new birth.

That begs the question then, how is one born again? Well, Nicodemus ask that very question and tomorrow we will see that question and Jesus' answer.

Reading for June 23: John 2:21-25

21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:21-25 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• What is the difference between your belief in Jesus and the belief of the many that believed during the feast?
  

Comments:

In verses 21 and 22 we get the conclusion to the cleansing of the Temple scene. John is sure to tell his readers that Jesus was referring to Himself when He said "Temple". John also gives a flash-forward to see that even though the disciples did not understand immediately, they did once Jesus had risen from the dead. He says at the end of v22 that after Jesus' resurrection "they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said." This means that after God's redemptive plan was completed with Jesus' resurrection the disciples were able to connect the dots going all the way back to Old Testament prophecy.

The final 3 verses in chapter 2 are very important; they are important because: (1) what we learn here prepares us for what Jesus is going to teach us in the next chapter and (2) it describes a problem that is rampant in churches today. It begins by telling us that Jesus stayed in Jerusalem during the Passover preaching and performing miracles. Many that observed these things "believed in His name." However, verse 24 tells us that even though they believed in His name "Jesus did not commit Himself to them." Why? Because "He knew all men," meaning that Jesus knew what was really going on in their hearts. In other words, they only had a superficial belief so Jesus did not have faith in their faith.

This tells us that God requires more than just a knowledge of who Jesus is (chapter 3 is going to tell us what more we need). Many, many people think that just because they say they believe that Jesus did what He says He did, that means that they are saved. Unfortunately, they are catastrophically wrong. Remember even the demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 8:29&30, Luke 4:41, Acts 19:15, James 2:19), so there has to be more to it than simple belief. So I have a request, right now before you do anything else, examine yourself. Is your salvation genuine? If you have any questions about it talk to someone you trust as soon as possible. This is not something to put on the back burner, handle it now.

The other aspect to these verses is the display of the omniscience of God. Jesus knows all men and does "not need man's testimony," meaning He knows automatically without anyone telling Him. This is a characteristic of God, not a prophet, not an angel, not a good man; only God. Also, isn't great that even though He knows our sinful hearts He still loves enough to save us.

Reading for June 22: John 2:17-20

17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?"

19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"

John 2:17-20 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• Have you encountered someone misinterpreting God's word (intentionally or unintentionally) before? What did you do?
  

Comments:

In today’s passage we see Jesus’ first recorded interaction, during His public ministry, with the Jewish leaders; as you read this and future interactions pay close attention to how the Jews respond to Jesus because it is a good picture of how unbelievers respond to Jesus today.

As we seen yesterday, Jesus had just cleansed the Temple so now the Temple attendants wanted to know by what authority He was acting. They were not asking in an attempt to obtain information but in an attempt to challenge His power. By asking for a sign, they were suggesting that anyone who can do as He had done should be able to perform some kind of miraculous sign; otherwise, He was a phony. The Jews show by asking for a sign that they missed the point entirely. They were focused on who has the power, the right to control the Temple, instead of right and wrong and the importance of the Holiness of God. This is a usual hang-up for today’s unbelievers as well. A lot of the time, they are unwilling to give up control of their lives and completely ignore the fact that they are living in opposition to God. They try to convince themselves that they have the right to live how they want to live and no one should be able to tell them what they can and cannot do.

Jesus responds to their request for a sign with an intentionally difficult to understand proclamation. He tells them to “destroy this Temple , and in three days I will raise it up.” I say this was “intentionally difficult” because Jesus here is making this statement for His disciples not for the Jewish leaders so He is intentionally cryptic. He wants His disciples to look back on this statement and realize that He was being prophetic, which according to verse 22, they did. We will see later that He does the same thing with parables. The failure of unbelievers to understand Jesus’ message is a theme that runs throughout John’s gospel.

The Jews respond predictably, saying that it would be imposable to rebuild the Temple that quickly. Of course they thought Jesus was referring to the building called the Temple , not Jesus' actual meaning which was that He Himself is the Temple . The Jewish leaders were using fleshly or worldly knowledge to try and understand Jesus, instead of what is required – spiritual knowledge. The question is: where does that spiritual knowledge come from?

Reading for June 21: John 2:12-16

12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.
Jesus Cleanses the Temple 13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” John 2:12-16 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• How is Jesus’ “anger” different than the anger of most people today (road rage for example)?

Comment:

After the wedding in Cana, Jesus and His follows went to Capernaum for a brief stay and then to Jerusalem to celebrate The Passover. While in Jerusalem, He visits the Temple and finds something that really upsets Him. What He finds is people selling animals to be sacrificed to travelers (at inflated prices) and people changing money (with an unfair exchange fee) so travelers could pay the Temple tax with an acceptable currency. This upsets Jesus so much that He makes a “whip of cords” and runs the people and animals out, admonishing them as they went. Why the outburst? Because the irreverence of the people toward His Father’s house was unbearable. Jesus could not allow that kind of disrespect to continue unchecked.

What’s interesting to me is that those activities that had become so despicable probably began as noble attempts to help people. It would have been too difficult for most people to bring sacrificial animals with them over great distances so the Temple provided a service to help them. Also, those traveling from other areas would have money that was of a different currency that would not be accepted at the Temple for payment of the Temple tax, so again a service was provided to help those people. The problem came when sins such as greed got in the way and turned these helpful services into disgraceful exploitations.

This sort of thing is still occurring today in our churches. From the “televangelist” making bogus claims in order to scrape in a few million more so he can build a bigger house to the friendly softball game that becomes so competitive that teams have to be kicked out of the league. These things are disgraceful to God because they dishonor what is His. We know how Jesus responded to this issue; the question is how are we going to respond? I’ll leave that question open for discussion.

Reading for June 20: John 2:9-11

9 When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. 10 And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"

11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:9-11 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• In what ways has Jesus "turned water into wine" in your life? – taken the common and ordinary and made it into something special? (from page 27 of our book)
  

Comment:

So far for this miracle from Jesus we have seen the setting, the situation, and the solution; now we are going to see the results. We pick up today with the servants taking water out of the large pots to the head waiter. The verses today say that the head waiter after tasting called for the bride-groom to ask why they waited to serve the good wine after the poorer wine. He was confused because the custom was to serve the best wine first, then the lesser; but when he tasted the new, it was likely the best wine he had ever tasted (since it was created perfectly by Christ Himself) so he wanted to know why it wasn't served first. The chosen wine had ran out, it did not perform as it was suppose to, so Jesus used what was remaining (the water) to supernaturally produce a wonderful product, that would bring glory to Him. The water could not give any glory because it was just water, plan ineffective water. The water's "goodness" came from what was done TO it, not what it was in essence.

You have probably picked up on the fact that I'm not just talking about water and wine here. This event is a perfect picture of our own transformation as Christians. The old wine represents the Jews, they were ineffective at glorifying God, and their usefulness had "run out." The water is us prior to conversion, raw material for God's use. The new wine is us converted, made perfect by Christ, even better than the previously chosen. As the new wine God receives all the glory because it is His righteousness that is in us that makes us acceptable, nothing in our own essence. In fact, our own essence is rejected (no one wanted just water).

God's word is amazing with levels of complexity that I don't think we can ever fully understand, but it is important to remember that this recorded miracle is not just a parable it was an actual event. It occurred, and its occurrence amazed those that witnessed it. That is why in v11 it says this was the beginning of signs that manifested His glory. However, the use of the word "signs" indicates that this display was more than just a show of power, but also that the acts themselves had a deeper meaning (one example discussed above). The disciples were able to see that deeper meaning, which led to a deeper faith and a closer following.

So what are the results? Jesus is glorified and the disciples' faith grew stronger.

Reading for June 19: John 2:5-8

5 His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

6 Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.

7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it. John 2:5-8 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

What is the solution for sharing Christ?

Comments:

We are right in the middle of a three day look at Jesus’ first miracle. Yesterday, we saw the setting and the situation. Today, we are going to see the solution.

Mary having great faith in her son and Savior tells the “servants” at the wedding to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. This is necessary because Jesus is a stranger to them and His request will seem a little unusual to those who do not know Him as the Son of God. We can relate to this today by looking at how hard it is to talk about the things of God with unbelievers. They (the unbelievers) have a hard time grasping the amazing things that God has done because they don’t know God the way we do. This usually results in a denial that these things exist or ever happened. Therefore, the solution is not to argue with them about those particular things, but instead introduce them to Jesus, who will open their eyes so they can see the truth as it is.

Then Jesus tells the servants to fill up six large waterpots with water (120 to 180 gallons total). They follow these orders, filling them to the brim. “To the brim” is important because: (1) it means the pots were full so there was a lot not just a little, and (2) there was no room to add anything besides water (i.e. nothing that could make water taste like wine). After the pots were filled, Jesus simply tells the servants to take some to the head waiter and they did. Jesus did not need a fancy ceremony, or magic words, or a special potion; He simply created with a thought; something no human will ever be able to do.

So, the solution to the problem was simple: Jesus.

Reading for June 18: John 2:1-4

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 3 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine."

4 Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." John 2:1-4 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• Has God ever had to "put you in your place" when you tried to drive instead of follow?
  

Comment:

We have finally made it to the second chapter, and in this chapter we will be learn about two very significant events: Christ changing water to wine and Christ cleansing the Temple. Today's passage gives us the introduction to that first miracle. The setting is at a wedding in Cana; Mary, Jesus, and His disciples (likely Andrew, John, Peter, Nathanael, and Philip) are there. The situation is that the family throwing the wedding had run out of wine; this was apparently a big deal in those days. Mary, who appears to have some sort of supporting job at this wedding, takes on the task of trying to correct this problem by approaching her son Jesus. Remember that up to this point Jesus had not performed any miracles; however, she went to Jesus looking for a miracle. His response to her seems a little startling at first glance but careful inspection takes the edge off a little.

"Women" was a polite form of address but it was not intimate. It is thought that this was Jesus signaling to His mother that their relationship had changed from son to Messiah. This also would signal the beginning of His public ministry. The statement, "what does your concern have to do with Me" also signals a change in relationship; no longer did His earthly relationships determine His actions.

Happy Father's Day, fathers

Reading for June 16: John 1:48-51

48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"

Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." 51 And He said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Comments:

This passage finishes up the introduction to the first disciples. In it we see Nathanael witnessing Jesus' omniscient abilities, which allows Nathanael to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus basically tells him that he hasn't seen anything yet. When He refers to "angels of God ascending and descending," He is referring to Jacobs dream in Genesis 28:12. In his dream he sees a ladder extending to heaven and angels of God are ascending and descending. The ladder represented a connection from heaven to earth, so Jesus is saying that He is the ladder, the link, between heaven and earth. He is the mediator for man, for God.

Reading for June 15: John 1:45-47

45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46 And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

Philip said to him, "Come and see."

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" John 1:45-47 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• Do you have or have you ever had any preconceived notions that prevent or prevented you from fully summiting to God?
  

Comments:

OK review time: First we meet John the Baptist who was sent from God that introduced two of his disciples (Andrew and John [?]) to Jesus. Then we seen how Andrew after learning about Jesus rushed off to tell his brother Simon (Peter) that they had found the Messiah. Next, Jesus found Philip and called him to follow. Therefore, so far we have met John the Baptist, John the Apostle, Jesus, Andrew, Simon Peter, and Philip. And we're not even through the first chapter yet!

In this passage we add Nathanael to our list. Nathanael was told about Jesus by Philip, who like Andrew, couldn't keep the good news to himself. Nathanael is called Bartholomew in the other three gospels. It is thought that Bartholomew was likely his surname (Bar-Tolmai or son of Tolmai). We don't know much about him, but one thing we can conclude is that he must have known the Holy Scriptures because of the way Philip introduces Jesus to him. Philip and Nathanael both knew from studying the law and the prophets that a Messiah was going to come. Nathanael, however, was skeptical because of preconceived opinion about who he thought the Messiah should be, he did not believe that the King of kings world come from such an insignificant town as Nazareth. Philip's response is perfect; we see that he is going to be a great disciple of Christ. He uses basically the same words that Jesus used at their first meeting (v39), "Come and see." He doesn't try to make a fancy argument, he just uses God's word to take him to Jesus.

Jesus' response to Nathanael is to describe Nathanael's character before He even talks to him. He first calls him "an Israelite indeed." What He is saying here is that Nathanael is not just a Jew on the outside but a "true" Jew based on his heart. Paul speaks about this concept also later in the New Testament, saying that it is not rites and rituals that make the person a genuine Jew, but instead what is important is what is inside the person. This is important because: one, this shows that Jesus knows our inner thoughts and external actions. Two, this shows that Nathanael was dedicated to knowing God already before meeting Jesus.

Next Jesus says, "in whom is no deceit." This points to Nathanael's bluntness and the fact that he would approach the examination of Jesus as the Messiah without deceptive motives. Again, Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves before he even meets us.

New Link

I put a new link under the Link sidebar (below the Prayer List). It's to a site called Discerning Reader, which is a great site to get good book reviews from a Christian standpoint. They mostly review Christian books, but occasionally there will be a secular book talked about. Check it out and find you some good summer reading.

MP3 of Sunday's Sermon

As promised, here is the link to that wonderful sermon by Rev. Ron Barker:
http://www.lancastersbc.org/message.asp

Which of the 4 are you?

Reading for June 14: John 1:43-44

43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. John 1:43-44 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• How did Jesus "find" you?

Comments:

Even these two simple verses can teach us something about Jesus. Notice that Jesus had a plan, He knew where He needed to go and when. He wanted to go to Galilee, for what reason we can't be sure, but we know that once He was there He performed His first recorded miracle (changing water to wine). We also see that Jesus knew, beforehand, who His disciples were; the verse says "He found Philip," implying that Jesus intentionally sought after a pre-chosen Philip. Philip is unaware of Jesus prior to this encounter but Jesus knew him and sought him. Isn't it great to know that God knew us and had a plan for us even before we knew Him?

Bethsaida was a fishing village on the northeast shore of the Sea of Galilee. According to v44 Philip, Andrew, and Peter were all from Bethsaida; however, Mark 1:29 says that Peter (Simon) and Andrew were living in Capernaum, which is another fishing village on the Sea of Galilee. So what, you might be saying. The reason I bring it up is because this could be brought up by opponents of the Bible as an inconsistency, but like most apparent inconsistencies, this can easily be explained. John states that the brothers, Andrew and Peter, were from Bethsaida and Mark just says that they had a house in Capernaum. It is not too much of a leap to say that the brother were born in Bethsaida but later moved to Capernaum. If someone tells you the Bible has errors and is inconsistent ask them to show you where. Not only will you be able to correct their error but you will have a great opportunity to tell them about the God of the Bible and the amazing thing He has done for them.

Reading for June 13: John 1:40-42

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.
You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). John 1:40-42 (NKJV)

Discussion Questions:

• Verse 42 says that Andrew brought Simon Peter to Jesus, what are some ways that you can take unbelievers to Jesus?
  
• If Jesus was to give you a descriptive nickname to describe your character what would it be?
  

Comments:

Yesterday we began to look at the opening steps of discipleship by observing the step by step progression of the two disciples. So here is a quick review: first they repented of their sins (they were disciples of John the Baptist and repentance was the essence of his teaching), next they were introduced to the Lamb of God, and then they followed Him and sought to learn more about Him. Today, we get the next step, evangelism. Andrew's first action after discovering that he had met the Messiah was to tell someone. He knew that news that good had to be shared, so he immediately became an evangelist. The only requirement for the job was that he knew the truth about who the Messiah was. He did not know every detail of God's plan; he did know, however, that the Savior of the world had come and was seeking followers, this had to be told. Another important note about this is that Andrew's first mission field was his own family and notice Andrew did not just tell Peter about the Messiah, "he brought him to Jesus".

It is in this passage that we get to meet Peter. His birth name was Simon but Jesus gives him another name, a nickname if you will. Jesus calls him Cephas, which is Aramaic for stone (Peter is from the Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone). This new name was likely puzzling to those who knew Simon because we learn as we read about him that his personality is anything but "rock" solid. However, God knows that Simon will become a foundational leader in the coming Church so He (Jesus) gives him (Simon) a name to reflect the character that God will shape him into.

Reading for June 12: John 1:37-39

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, "What do you seek?"

They said to Him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), "where are You staying?"

39 He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). John 1:37-39 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• What do you seek?
  

Comments:

Once the two disciples met the Lamb of God they did the natural thing, they followed Him. They did not wait until it was convenient for them. They did not look around to see who was watching. They did not let their hang ups prevent them from following the Son of God. Then Jesus speaks.

The first words of Jesus recorded in John's Gospel is a question, and what an important question it is. "What do you seek," He asked, not because He did not know (He knows all things) but because He wanted them to contemplate the answer. Their response is a little puzzling on the surface but a little digging and placing in context sheds some light. The response, "Rabbi (Teacher), where are You staying," is more than them asking where His house is. They are courteously asking for some extended private teaching time and acknowledging their willingness to become permanent disciples. The lesson for us is plain: after our decision to follow Jesus, our next response is to search the ways of God, to learn as much about Him as we can. And if we come with a prepared heart, honestly seeking Him, He will respond to us the same way He responded to Andrew and John, "Come and see," He'll say. This is an invitation "to come and gain from Him an insight into the mind and purpose of God Himself" (quote from Tasker, The Gospel According to St. John). Quite amazing if you think about it.

Another thing to notice from this passage is the comment on the time, "now it was about the tenth hour." This is evidence that the other disciple with Andrew is John. How else would the author know this kind of detail?

T-Shirts

The idea is being thrown around about getting some new Team Joy T-shirts. However, we are having trouble deciding on a color. Our last shirts were gray with the Team Joy logo on the back (the same logo that is at the top of this page). So here is where you come in: please either comment or email me (treyknight1@yahoo.com) the color you think it should be. We could possibly make more than one color if the demand is high enough. If you don't vote then the color will be picked by John, and nobody wants that!!!

What a great Lord’s Day

I don't think I can think of a Sunday that has been as exciting a day as today. From start to finish, the day has been packed with Spirit-filled worship, Scripture-based teaching, and Christ-centered fellowship. The day started with a great Sunday School lesson where we looked at the Deity of Jesus (with an amazing and sad video [is there a link John???]). Then the worship service began with a wonderful time of worship through music (great job those of you on the praise team, and especially Pam and David). After the music we heard a message from Rev. Ron Barker; one of the best sermons I've heard in a long time. He used 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 to describe 4 types of people in the Church: the "natural man" (unsaved), the "infant" (new Christian), the "Spiritual man" (the person whose mind is always on the things of God), and the "fleshly man" (those who have gotten out of the fellowship with God because they have placed their trust in themselves instead of God). My brief synopses does not do it justice, I will post a link to the MP3 once it is available if you missed it or want to listen again. At the end of the service we got the announcement that God has directed the search committee to a candidate to preach a trial sermon. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. The day ended with the kick off to VBS with a church wide cookout and an open house for the new children's worship center. It is so refreshing to the soul to be surrounded by good Christian friends.

Yep, it was a good day!!

Reading for June 11: John 1:35-36

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" John 1: 35-36 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• How do you introduce others to Jesus? What attributes of Jesus do you think are important to first point out to those who do not know Him?
  

Comments:

John is now alone with two of his disciples: Andrew (see v. 40) and another disciple that most scholars think is John the apostle (author of this book). John the Baptist again introduces Jesus by saying "Behold the Lamb of God." It is very interesting to see how John is witnessing to those around him concerning Jesus; to see what attribute of Jesus John focuses on. He has twice now pointed to Jesus' mission of sacrifice for the atonement of sin by calling Jesus "the Lamb of God." We can learn a lot about how we ourselves should approach evangelism by studying John the Baptist. First, he called the crowds to repentance, pointing out that their sin is separating them from God. Then, he introduces them to the "Lamb" that will provide the payment for that sin.

"Behold the Lamb of God" is also something we as Christians need to be telling ourselves on a regular basis. We need to look intently at our Savior and remind ourselves of the sacrifice that He performed on our behalf. If He would sacrifice His own life for us, is there anything that He would not do. Based on that sacrifice should you be holding back doing whatever He is calling you to do? Charles Spurgeon said it like this:

"Take your eyes off everything else and behold the Lamb of God! You need not see anything else, nothing else is worth seeing, but behold Him. See how He takes your guilt, see how He bears it, see how He sinks under it and yet rises from it, crying, "It is finished!" He gives up the ghost. He is buried. He rises again from the dead because He is accepted of God and His redeeming work is done. Trust Him, trust Him, trust Him!"

The readings for the remainder of the week are going to describe Jesus calling His first disciples, as you read contemplate through prayer and meditation about what God is calling you to do. Behold the Lamb of God, He wants you to be involved in His Kingdom, to be more than just a spectator.

Reading for June 9: John 1:32-34

John 1:32-34

32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." John 1:32-34 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• Are you prepared to bear witness that Jesus is the Son of God? What would you say if you had to testify about Him in court?
  

(there were no questions in the book to match this passage so I made one up)

Comments:

In these three verses John the Baptist tells the crowd and us how he knows that Jesus is the Son of God. God, at some point, told John the Baptist that the One that the Spirit descends down on will be the messiah; who is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This is the sixth time (v.7,8,15,19.32) in this gospel that John the Baptist has witnessed/testified about Jesus being the Christ.

We also see the first use of one of the many titles of Jesus: the Son of God. This title stresses the unique oneness and intimacy that Jesus shares with the Father.

Reading for June 8: John 1:24-31

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

26 John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."

28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water." John 1:24-31 (NKJV)

Discussion Question:

• If Jesus is "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" does that mean that the whole world is saved automatically? If not, how do you resolve this statement?
  

(there were no questions in the book to match this passage so I made one up)

Comments:

Isn't it great how John was able to humble himself even though he had become so well known that the Pharisees were asking questions about him? He repeatedly made intentional statements to take the focus off of what he was doing and put the focus on the reason for what he was doing, the Messiah. One way he does this is by setting the delegation straight on the baptism he was performing and the baptism that the Messiah will be performing. The difference, he says, is that he (John the Baptist) baptizes with [only] water but the Messiah's baptism will be greater. In Matthew 3:11, we see more of what John says: ""I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

The day after John's interrogation, he gets to introduce the crowds to Jesus. He introduces Him as "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." So immediately Jesus' mission is associated with redemption of sin. The concept of a sacrificial Lamb was well known to the Jewish people; they knew that sin and separation from God could only be removed with the blood of a sacrifice. However, the Jews were expecting the Messiah to be a king and a conqueror (in the worldly sense). God, though, in His great mercy wanted to provide salvation to mankind before sending judgment, so Jesus came first as a Lamb. His next coming then will be to judge and to conqueror.

Please Note!!!

There will NOT be a Second Sunday Lunch this Sunday. Since the VBS cookout is Sunday, we will let that be our monthly Sunday meal.

Reading for June 7: John 1:19-23

19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not."

"Are you the Prophet?"

And he answered, "No."

22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"

23 He said: "I am

' The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

" Make straight the way of the LORD,"'

as the prophet Isaiah said." John 1:19-23 (NKJV)

Discussion Questions:

• What do you think John the Baptist means by crying out for the people to "Make straight the way of the LORD"?
  
• What message is John the Baptist sending back to the Jews that sent the delegation to integrate him?
  

(there were no questions in the book to match this passage so I made some up)

Comments:

This passage begins a discussion about John the Baptist, who we met a few verses back. In this opening scene John is confronted by some "priest and Levites from Jerusalem" trying to determine who he is. Because of John's unusual behaviors (see Mark 1:6) and more importantly what he was preaching (a call for repentance and warning of coming judgment) the Jews thought that he could be someone that the Old Testament prophesized about. John goes on to emphatically deny being the Christ, or Elijah, or "the Prophet" (likely referring to the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15-18). Frustrated by John's negative answers, they ask him, "Who are you?" He responds by quoting a prophecy that is connected to John the Baptist in all 4 gospels, Isaiah 40:3 (see Mt 3:3, Mk 1:3, and Lk 3:4). This humble response quickly takes the emphasis off of Him and appropriately places it on the Messiah.

Reading for June 6: John 1:14-18

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'"

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:14-18 (NKJV)

Comment:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us", this principle, The Incarnation, is one of the most fundamental doctrines of Christianity. It means that Jesus is God but also made Himself man. He was both man and God at the same time; He did not put off His deity to become man nor did God inhabit a "man-shell" for a brief period while He was here on Earth. He was both man and God at the same time; do not be fooled by false teachers. This fact has been attacked since the beginning of the Church and still is today. Why has it been so vehemently attacked? Because for Jesus' atonement on the cross to be valid He had to be both simultaneously. If Satan can convince us that Jesus is not who He says He is then our belief is misplaced and our salvation is false.

John even quotes John the Baptist to back up the claim. John the Baptist said that Jesus had come after him (so Jesus was dwelling among them) AND Jesus was before him. If you remember, Jesus was born 6 months after John (Luke 1:26) so to say that Jesus came before John implies Jesus' eternal nature and therefore His deity.

This passage ends John's prologue to this book. In these 18 verses he has presented some amazing truth. We seen that Jesus is God, and because He is God he is eternal and the light of the world. We also see that Jesus is with God AND is God, representing the doctrine of the Trinity. Then we come full circle and see the Incarnation and through this Incarnation grace and truth are given to mankind. If you can get these 18 verses down and settled in your heart, then you have developed a strong foundational knowledge of who our savior is.

The discussion questions that are pertinent to this passage are:

• According to vs 18, since we cannot see Him, how can we know what God is like?
  
• In what way has it been true for you, "from the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another"? vs 16
  

Reading for June 5: John 1:6-13

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:6-13 (NKJV)

Comment:

This second passage introduces us to John the Baptist. Now it is important that we keep our Johns straight; we have John the Apostle, John the Baptist, and John the Hess. John the Hess is our fearless Sunday school teacher, who is known throughout the land for his ability to find "volunteers." John the Apostle is the author of the Gospel of John that we are reading. He was one of the original 12 disciples and is thought to have been a close friend to Jesus during His earthly ministry. (All this was laid out nicely by John the Hess last Sunday during class.) John the Baptist is the John that is introduced to us in v6. He is called "the Baptist" in all the other 3 gospels (Mt 3:1; Mk 6:14; Lk 7:20) but not The Gospel of John. He is called "the Baptist" because he was sent by God to baptize repentant sinners in preparation for the Messiah's coming. John the Baptist came onto the scene in Israel after 400 years of no prophets at all. He came boldly and confrontationally preaching against sin and the need for repentance. Verse 7 tells us that he (John) came to bear witness to the light; we know from v4 that this light is the Word, which is Jesus.

We also see in this passage that even though the true Light "gives light to every man", not all received Him (v11). The fact that all have been given the light means that none will have an excuse when Judgment comes, only regret. However, the good news is in v12 and v13; we see that those who do receive Him He gives the right to become children of God. This adoption into God's family comes "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

The discussion questions that are pertinent to this passage are:

• What people are given the right to become the children of God? What does it mean to be a child of God?
  
• Are not all people children of God in the sense that He created us? Acts 17:28 How is this different than being children of God in the sense of vs 12-13 of this passage?
  

Questions from Lesson One

1-      What person in your life has most showed you who God is through how he/ she acted or was?

2-      Who is being referred to as "the Word"? Why doesn't John just use His name? What does it mean that this Person is called "the Word"?

3-      What does John mean when he says, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it"? vs 5 Is it still true that the darkness of the world has not "understood" the light of Jesus Christ? Where do you see this being most evident?

4-      What people are given the right to become the children of God? What does it mean to be a child of God?

5-      According to vs 18, since we cannot see Him, how can we know what God is like?

6-      In what way has it been true for you, "from the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another"? vs 16

7-      In what way is darkness a part of your life, and what can you do to help the light of Jesus penetrate into the darkness?

a.       Darkness is in my own heart or spirit

b.      Darkness is lurking in my future

c.       There is darkness from my past that I do not understand

d.      Other

8-      Are not all people children of God in the sense that He created us? Acts 17:28 How is this different than being children of God in the sense of vs 12-13 of this passage?

Reading for June 4: John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. John 1:1-5 (NKJV)

Comments:

First, this is one of those great passages to commit to memory because there is so much truth packed into those five verses. The "Word," of course meaning Jesus, is eternal ("In the beginning was"), is God ("the Word was God"), is creator of all things ("all things were made through Him"), and is the light of the world("In Him was life, and the life was the light of men").

The greek word used for "the Word" is logos, which means not just a word but also a concept, a thought, or an expression of the mind (reason). So here where John is using logos to refer to Jesus, he is saying that Jesus is expressing the mind, the thoughts of God to us. Matthew Henry says it like this: "The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world."

If you don't have a good study Bible with cross references, here are some verses to start with:
Gen. 1:1, 1 John 1:1, Psa 33:6, Colossians 1:16 , John 3:19

Please add your comments by clicking on the comment button below.

Trey

Use your Ipod or other MP3 player as a sanctifing tool

Did you know that there are thousands and thousands of sermons, bible studies, Christian radio shows in MP3 format on the Internet. This is a great way to use your time in the car, while exercising, cutting the grass, or just working around the house. Anytime that you would usually be listening to music could be used as a time of developing your spiritual knowledge and growing closer to God. Here are a few web sites for you to browse through if interested (the vast majority are free to download):

• Sermon Audio (wide verity of sermons that are well organized but the quality is hit or miss)
• Sermon Index (mostly classics)
• Albert Mohler (Dr. Mohler is the President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has an excellent radio show that you can download)
• Bible Teaching Library (nice site, organized by Books of the Bible)
• Lancaster SBC (messages from our own church)

There are many, many, many more; just do a little searching and you will find them. A note of caution, not everything is good and true, there is a lot of bad stuff out there so if something sounds fishy assume it is and get rid of it.

If you need any help or have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

Oh, to cut some of you off at the pass, this is not a knock on music. I believe that good Christian worship and praise music can bring you closer to God, if done correctly.