John 5:16-18 (God Works)

So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. But Jesus replied,“My Father is always working, and so am I.” So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with…

John 5:14-15 (Sin)

But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. (John 5:14-15) Read: 1 Samuel 13:1 – 14:52, 1 Chronicles 9:35-39 Relate: Sin. When the woman…

John 5:8 (Rise)

Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” (John 5:8) Read: 1 Samuel 1:9 – 4:11 Relate: I’ve been mentally going through a list of people Jesus healed in the gospel. One after another it seems there is a common thread. Each and every time, the person being healed, or the one interceding for the healing,…

John 4:37-38 (Digging and Reopening)

You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.” (John 4:37-38) Read: Judges 3:31 – 6:40 Relate: Isaac spent a lot of time digging wells and it was all for…

John 4:35-36 (Ready)

You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! (John 4:35-36) Read: Judges 1:1 –…

John 4:25-26 (I AM)

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!” (John 4:25-26) Read: Joshua 12:7 – 15:19 Relate: All the right roads lead to this moment. Every great journey leads to this destination. Jesus felt compelled to go…

John 4:23-24 (What Is Truth?)

The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24) Read: Joshua 10:1 – 12:6 Relate: Jesus said that the Father is looking for those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. I want to…

John 4:21 (No Place)

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. (John 4:21) Read: Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12, Joshua 1:1 – 2:24 Relate: This week I had the privilege of going to an ARC conference (ARC = Association of Related Churches) down…

John 4:19-20 (Two Mountains)

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” (John 4:19-20) Read: Deuteronomy 31:30 – 32:52, Psalm 90 Relate: Questions. Sometimes our questions might be big. Sometimes they might…

John 4:13-14 (Never Thirst)

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Read: Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 Relate: This morning I had a mug of dark roast coffee before leaving the…