Longing

Ricky Bobby likes that 8lb 6oz baby Jesus in a diaper. His son likes ninja Jesus fighting off evil Samurai, Cal likes tuxedo T-shirt Jesus, and each and every one of us have fashioned an image of God that we are most comfortable with. We are longing for a Jesus that will meet our own needs and expectations when He is offering us so much more.

The Trade

“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has…

Different Sheepfolds

I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:16) Read: 2 Kings 19:1-37, 2 Chronicles 32:24-31, Isaiah 37:1-38 Relate: “What religion are you?” I get that question a lot when talking to…

The Gate

Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:6-7) Read: Isaiah 18:1 – 23:18 Relate: In the west, we live in a culture full of individualism. In other parts of the world the group, the collective whole,…

Sheep

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they…

Sneaky Thieves

 I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! (John 10:1) Read: Psalm 120 – 123, 125, 126 Relate: Anne Rice, author of Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana along with a plethora of vampire…

Choosing Blindness

Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.” “Why, that’s very strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from? We know that…

Desperate

“But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” (John 19:26-27) Read: Psalm 105 – 106 Relate: The only thing worse than being wrong is insisting…

προφήτης

Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” (John 9:17) Read: Psalm 1-2, 10, 33, 71, 91 Relate: προφήτης. For those of us that can’t read Homer in the original, those squiggles should…