Cumberland Trace Church of Christ (Formerly Lehman Ave Church of Christ)

"Tackling Taboo Texts" by Hiram Kemp

May 19, 2024 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

 Tackling Taboo Texts - (Romans 1:16-20) 

• Letting Go of Lying - (Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:25)
• Making Sense of Modesty - (1 Timothy 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:3-6)
• The Disaster of Drunkenness - (Proverbs 20:1, 23:29-35; Ephesians 5:18)
  • “We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is.” - World Health Organization (January 2023) 

  • Research suggests that even one drink per day could change the structure of your brain. Even light-to moderate alcohol use was associated with changes to the brain, including a reduction in overall brain volume. Over time, drinking can shrink the gray matter in your brain, which can affect your cognitive, emotional and motor functions. Researchers found that 
    the changes became more significant as people drank more alcohol. Going from 1-2 drinks was associated with changes that were similar to 10 years’ worth of aging in the brain. - Dr. Judith Overton (April 2024)

     

  • If I Never Drink…
     • I will never influence my spouse or my children to 
    drink.
     • I will never influence anyone else to drink.
     • I will never hurt my influence through developing 
    that vice.
     • I will not become an alcoholic.
     • I will never get drunk.
     • I will aid myself in obeying the command to be 
    sober-minded.
     • I will avoid the sting and bite of alcohol and the 
    heartbreak it often brings.
• Fleeing Sexual Sin - (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
• Evaluating Entertainment - (Psalm 101:3; 1 Thess. 5:21-22)
• Approving Abominable Acts - (Romans 1:32)

 

Duration 41:39

"Are There Limits to Fellowship with Those Who Believe in Christ? " by Neal Pollard

May 19, 2024 - Sunday AM Sermon

ARE THERE LIMITS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CHRIST? 
(2 Corinthians 6:14-18) 
Introduction                                                                                                                    Neal Pollard 
 
A. _________% Of The World Population Considers Itself ____________________ 
 
B. In Our Text, Paul Uses _________ Different Words For _____________________ 
 
C. Just Because Someone _________ To Be A _________ Doesn't ________ Them One 
 
D. Our Text Provides 4 Principles To Guide Us In Who To Fellowship: 
 
I. WATCH YOUR _________________________ (14-15) 
 
  A. Paul Uses Several Synonyms For ______________________ 
 
  B. What's The Point Of This? 
 
     1. We are not to be __________ with those the Bible calls ___________________ 
 
     2. Those who don't ________ to Jesus' authority aren't submitting to His ___________ 
 
     3. None of this means we should be anything less than ________________ 
 
II. UNDERSTAND YOUR _____________________ (16) 
 
   A. We Are The _______________ Of The Living __________________ 
 
   B. What Does That Mean For Us? 
 
       1. It isn't biblical for us to think of ourselves in terms of _________________ 
 
       2. It isn't biblical for us to refer to ourselves in ___________________ ways 
 
       3. It is biblical for us to think of ourselves only as _____________________ 
 
       4. It is biblical for us to attempt to fulfill Jesus' prayer for ________________ 
 
III. OBEY YOUR __________________ (17) 
 
IV. APPRECIATE YOUR ____________ (18) 
 
Conclusion 
 
A. ___________ Is A Beautiful Thing!

 

Duration 32:40

"Jeremiah: Exalted of Jehovah" by Phil Hartnady - Part 11

May 19, 2024 - Sunday AM Bible Class

 

This quarter Phil Hartnady leads a study of the book of Jeremiah. 

 

Jeremiah

• the weeping prophet
• forsake / forsaken X 24
• backsliding / backslider X 13
• return X 47

Key verses: 3:25, 6:13-16, 7:23-24, 7:28, 10:23, 20:9, 31:31-34

Key Chapter: 31, the coming of a Messiah that will bring a new covenant.

 

Jeremiah - weeping prophet - prophesied in Judah (Southern Kingdom) 7th Century BC. This book represents, like others, Gods timeless call to man to trust in him and not in themselves. He lived about 100 years after Isaiah and began his ministry about 626BC lasting until 586BC (60 years). World powers at his birth were Assyria and Egypt, and both were subdued by Babylon in his lifetime. Isaih saved Judiah from Assyria, Jeremiah tried to save them from Babylon, but was not successful. He foresaw Babylon's fall (51:64). Israel (Northern Kingdom) already carried away by Assyria, now Judiah stands alone. Jeremiah helps last good king (Josiah) in reformation of kingdom when book of the law is found. Josiah slain by Pharaoh Necro in 608BC, evil kings reign and hate Jeremiah. In 606 BC, Babylon conquer all, taking captives from Judah (including Daniel). 

 

Jeremiah was young, devoutly religious, tenderhearted and uncommonly bold and courageous, one of the greatest preachers of his time. He foretold the fall of Judah to Babylon, and the return after 70 years of bondage. He spoke of the coming of "the Lord, Our Righteousness" (22:6, 33:16).

 

Lessons from Jeremiah:

• The problem of sin: 2:13, 5:30-31, 6:13, 3:25, 6:15, 7:4-7, 7:28
• The wages of sin: 13:9-10, 18:1-11, 19:1-15, 24:1-10
• God's plea... Amend your ways: 13:15, 3:12, 26:13
• Coming of a New Covenant: 31:27-34
• Personal Responsibility: 31:29-30

 

Duration 41:11

"The Importance of Remembering God" by Neal Pollard

May 12, 2024 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

"The Importance of Remembering God" - (Deuteronomy 8)  

• Disobedience keeps us from remembering God - (11)
  • "Beware"
• Getting comfortable keeps us from remembering God - (12)
• Pride keeps us from remembering God - (14)
  • "Can I be taught?" - (Proverbs 9:10)
  • "Can I be corrected?" - (Proverbs 13:1)
  • "Do I seek God?" - (Psalm 10:4)
• Giving ourselves credit for our blessings... (17)
• Replacing God with someone or something else (19-20)
• "Remember me"

 

Duration 26:08

"Hannah: A Pattern of Godliness" by Hiram Kemp

May 12, 2024 - Sunday AM Sermon

 

Hannah: A Pattern of Godliness -  (1 Samuel 1-2) 
 
Introduction: 
1. Each year our world sets aside a ___________ to honor ______________. 
 
2. Throughout _________ God highlights faithful __________ who _________ godliness. 
 
3. During the days of the ___________ we are ___________ to a __________ ________  
 
    whose son changed Israel’s __________________. 
 
4. __________ life was not _________, but she didn’t allow her _________ to ________ 
 
    her ____________. 
 
5. Her _________ life is not just an __________ for __________, it’s a _________ for us  
 
    ______________. 
 
I. Prayed in _______________ of __________________  (1 Sam. 1:10, 1:15-16) 
 
II. _______________ Vows __________ to the _____________  (1 Sam. 1:11, 1:27-28) 
 
III. ______________ her ___________-given ____________  (1 Sam. 1:21-22, 2:18-19) 
 
IV. ______________ God’s ______________ (1 Sam. 2:1-9) 
 
V. ______________ for her ______________ (1 Sam. 2:20-21) 
 
Conclusion: 
1. __________ is only ________ briefly in _________, but her _________ is _________. 
 
2. ___________ serve as __________ and God lifts up __________ for this __________. 
 
3. She ___________, _____________, ____________, and she was _______________.

 

Duration 36:25

"Jeremiah: Exalted of Jehovah" by Phil Hartnady - Part 10

May 12, 2024 - Sunday AM Bible Class

 

This quarter Phil Hartnady leads a study of the book of Jeremiah. 

 

Jeremiah

• the weeping prophet
• forsake / forsaken X 24
• backsliding / backslider X 13
• return X 47

Key verses: 3:25, 6:13-16, 7:23-24, 7:28, 10:23, 20:9, 31:31-34

Key Chapter: 31, the coming of a Messiah that will bring a new covenant.

 

Jeremiah - weeping prophet - prophesied in Judah (Southern Kingdom) 7th Century BC. This book represents, like others, Gods timeless call to man to trust in him and not in themselves. He lived about 100 years after Isaiah and began his ministry about 626BC lasting until 586BC (60 years). World powers at his birth were Assyria and Egypt, and both were subdued by Babylon in his lifetime. Isaih saved Judiah from Assyria, Jeremiah tried to save them from Babylon, but was not successful. He foresaw Babylon's fall (51:64). Israel (Northern Kingdom) already carried away by Assyria, now Judiah stands alone. Jeremiah helps last good king (Josiah) in reformation of kingdom when book of the law is found. Josiah slain by Pharaoh Necro in 608BC, evil kings reign and hate Jeremiah. In 606 BC, Babylon conquer all, taking captives from Judah (including Daniel). 

 

Jeremiah was young, devoutly religious, tenderhearted and uncommonly bold and courageous, one of the greatest preachers of his time. He foretold the fall of Judah to Babylon, and the return after 70 years of bondage. He spoke of the coming of "the Lord, Our Righteousness" (22:6, 33:16).

 

Lessons from Jeremiah:

• The problem of sin: 2:13, 5:30-31, 6:13, 3:25, 6:15, 7:4-7, 7:28
• The wages of sin: 13:9-10, 18:1-11, 19:1-15, 24:1-10
• God's plea... Amend your ways: 13:15, 3:12, 26:13
• Coming of a New Covenant: 31:27-34
• Personal Responsibility: 31:29-30

 

Duration 37:10

Equipped 2024 - "Jesus is Lord" by Dan Winkler

April 21, 2024 - Sunday 6:00PM Auditorium Speaker

 

Speaker: Dan Winkler

 

 

John 20 -

The Resurrection

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 

 

Jesus Is Lord

Rom 1:3, 4 -raised from the dead

Jn 21 – the resurrection is the most consequential event in the history of the world. With this He IS the son of God and the Christ and better be your Lord.

Lord – found 41 times in John, 14 of them are in Ch 20-21

Goal in reading the passage Jn 20:1-30 > Pay particular attn to the word(s) SEE, SEEN, SAW

Blecco – see with the eyes

Theoreo – connect the dots/question

Orao – see with the mind’s eye “aha” or lightbulb moment

               Jn 20:1 – see with the eyes

               Jn 20:5 – see with the eyes

               Jn 20:8 – AHA – now he understood he must rise

               Jn 20:12 – connect the dots

               Jn 20:14 – connect the dots

               Jn 20:18 – AHA

               Jn 20:25 – AHA

               Jn 20:29 - AHA

2 Observations

• Proof of the resurrection
• Power of the resurrection

Proof of the Resurrection

• 4 lines of evidence at the tomb

1. At the tomb

               The graves stone 20:1-2, a stone would be extremely large , 20 men would not have been able to move it.  It had been TAKEN AWAY. Matt, Mark, and Luke all say rolled way while John says “taken” or carried. Explain the movement of the stone without a miracle. The tomb was also sealed and two Roman guards were placed.

2. The Grave Clothes

V5 the linen cloth

V7 Face covering was folded

3. The Body

There wasn’t one

4. Graves unspoken message

The AHA

V10 they went back to their homes. Picture John going home and telling Jesus’ mother (Acts 1) Mom and former unbelieving brothers are there.

Evidence away from the tomb. (12) post resurrection appearances – 4 are in Jn 20-21  (20:16, 20:19-23, 20:26-29, 21:1-25)

Power of the Resurrection in our lives today

               1Pet 1:3 – to be with Jesus in Heaven, b/c of resurrection you and I can look forward with confidence that you will go to Heaven. He is your redeemer and his blood is effective b/c he was raised from the dead.

               1Pet 3:20-21 – baptism saves us b/c of the resurrection of Jesus. Forgiveness happens in the heart of God and in His forgiveness you are NEW…because of the resurrection.

 

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1iAf7hQ-MQ

 

Duration 49:55

Equipped 2024 - Singing Workshop by Andy Baker

April 21, 2024 - Sunday 3:00PM Auditorium Speaker

 

Speaker: Andy Baker

 

Throughout the entire Equipped Workshop, Andy Baker lead singing. On this last day of the workshop, Andy gives a class for song leaders.

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCBL-3oFIfc

 

Duration 2:14:23

 

Equipped 2024 - "Behold the Man" by Scott Cain

April 21, 2024 - Sunday 10:30AM Auditorium Speaker

 

Speaker: Scott Cain

 

John 18-19 -

Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” ⁵ They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ⁷ So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” ⁹ This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) ¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶ but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

¹⁹ The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” ²² When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” ²³ Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” ²⁴ Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

Jesus Before Pilate

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” ³² This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

My Kingdom Is Not of This World

³³ So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” ³⁷ Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

Jesus Delivered to Be Crucified

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. ² And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. ³ They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” ⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” ⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” ¹³ So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” ¹⁶ So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus, ¹⁷ and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, ²⁴ so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,

“They divided my garments among them,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

So the soldiers did these things, ²⁵ but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The Death of Jesus

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus' Side Is Pierced

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. ³⁵ He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. ³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Jesus Is Buried

³⁸ After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. ⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

 

"Behold the Man"

3 Perspectives

• Those immediately involved
• The hasty heresy
• The aged apostle - John writes from an older man's perspective.

Behold the man bound - (John 18:1-12)

• John recorded eyewitness evidence.
• Jesus was betrayed by one of his own.
• Jesus was bold - He didn't run and hide.
• Jesus was benevolent.

Behold the man blamed - (John 18:13-27)

• Jesus was unfairly scrutinized.
• Jesus was shunned by Peter.
• Jesus was sound - maintained presence of mind through it all.

Behold the man blameless - (John 18:28-40)

• Jesus was accused
• Jesus has authority
• Jesus was acquitted - He was declared innocent but this was all about politics.

Behold the man beaten - (John 19:1-16)

• Humiliation
• Humanity
• Humiltiy

Behold the man bleeding - (John 19:1-16)

• He was loathed.
• He was learing
• He was loved. - John 15:13.

Behold the man buried - (John 19:1-16)

• Murdered
• Mortality
• Momentary - John 22 - He was risen.

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUGHlFvRa18

 

Duration 45:57

Equipped 2024 - "The Jesus Who Welcomes You Home" by Glen Hitchcock

April 21, 2024 - Sunday 9:30AM MPR 1 Speaker

 

Speaker: Glen Hitchcock

 

The Jesus Who Welcomes You Home - John 21:9-19

• Unique Insights
  • There are unique insights into the thinking of the disciples in that unusual period between the resurrection and establishment of the church in Acts.
  • No one, not even the disciples of Jesus, understood what God had accomplished in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
  • There was a period of 50 days when God’s greatest success seemed a failure from the human viewpoint.
  • Passover and the days of unleavened bread being completed, the disciples had no need to stay in Jerusalem – they went home.
• GOOD NEWS, JESUS WELCOMES YOU HOME!
• JESUS WELCOMES US WHEN
  • Overtaken By Separation & Loneliness, 1-2.
  • Our Best Efforts Result In Emptiness, 3-5.
  • Our Vision Is Not Always Clear, 5-14.
  • Our Failure Is Undeniable, 15-19.
• When Overtaken by Separation & Loneliness, 1-2.
  
  • • The disciples were greatly discouraged after the crucifixion, and despite several post-resurrection appearances there seemed to be lingering doubts among some.
    • The anxiety of separation & loneliness did not force them to quit.
    • They came in Galilee in obedience to Jesus’s command (Matt. 28:10)… “to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
    • Question? Do You Think the Disciples Were Being Tested?
• When Our Best Efforts Result In Emptiness, 3-4
  • These men were fishermen, and perhaps they needed food and money to provide for their living expenses. Their night labors apart from Jesus proved to be unproductive.
  • Truth: “Until one can clearly see Jesus, our labors are in vain” (John 15:4-5).
  • Jesus Welcomes The Weary and Heavy Laden, (Matt. 11:28-30) in contrast to the Wicked and Lazy (Prov. 13:4; Matt. 25:26).
• When Our Vision is Unclear, 5-13
  • The disciples come in before dawn with no fish, Jesus--whom they do not recognize--directs them to cast on the right side - they catch 153 large fish.
  • The catch is large enough to make John identify the Man on the shore, and he tells Peter, v-7.
  • Peter, dressed in his undergarments alone, jumps in and immediately heads to shore, v-7.
  • There, Jesus has cooked a meal for them and welcomes them to break their fast and eat, v-12.
  • These 7 disciples know who Jesus is; the dawn breaks, and they eat breakfast with Jesus, vs. 12-13.
• When Failure is Undeniable, 15-19

  • “Character is built on the debris of our despair.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Painful Conversation, 15-19

  • Perfecting Of Character

  • Present Concern

  • Plan Of Christ  

• Four Basic Realities Concerning Failure
  • Decisive. There are a hundred ways in which one can be declared a failure, but few in which one can be called a success.
  • Distortive. A feeling of failure in one area of endeavor often distorts meaning in all other areas.
  • Depressive. Societal stress on the significance of failure is so powerful that any failure produces a sense of defeatism which can lead one to unquestionably define one’s whole life as a failure.
  • Diminishing. The common result of failure in any endeavor is the disconnect of personal initiative, drive, self-confidence, and determination.
• PAINFUL CONVERSATION, 15-19

  • To appreciate the awkwardness and painfulness of the moment for Peter, remember a few facts:

    • The night of the betrayal Peter had emphatically declared that even if everyone else deserted Jesus, he would not desert Jesus. He then did desert Jesus at the arrest.
    • Later, as he returned to the Jewish proceedings, 3 times he denied Jesus. Luke 22:61 states that upon the third denial that Jesus looked at him, he remembered Jesus' prediction, and he went into the night weeping bitterly.
    • Luke 24:34 states that the Lord soon after the resurrection appeared to Peter, but no information is given regarding this appearance and what was said.
    • The first recorded interaction between the risen Jesus and Peter, following the resurrection, is John 21.
• PAINFUL CONVERSATION

  • 1.On the betrayal night, Peter before all the disciples had emphatically declared that he would not desert Jesus. In John 21, before 6 of those same disciples, Jesus begins to question Peter concerning his devotion.

    2.Three times Peter denied the Lord; three times the Lord now asks Peter if Peter loves Him.

    • Can you sense the pain, and the awkwardness Peter must have felt?
    • Jesus is not being cruel; Jesus knows that Peter must find his open commitment and resolve again.
    • Peter must face what he has done, and he must face how he feels about Jesus!
    • Jesus in essence, asked Peter, “Peter, where are you in OUR relationship?” (He made Peter state where he was).
• PERFECTING OF CHARACTER

  • HERE IS A PROCESS RARELY EVIDENCED BY SOCIETY

    While Peter is fishing in the debris of failure and despair, Jesus is pruning his character for faithfulness and devotion!

    • Jesus is totally unconcerned about what Peter has done; Jesus is only concerned about where Peter is in his feelings for and devotion to Jesus!
    • Jesus did not question Peter about the denial.
    • He did not ask him if he had learned his lesson.
    • He did not ask him how he felt about what he had done
    • He did not ask for some statement of repentance.
    • He did not lecture Peter on what he had done.
    • Jesus did not say, “Peter, I told you so.”
    • He did not tell Peter that from now on, you better believe anything I say!
    • He did not dwell on how weak Peter was or how badly it hurt to hear Peter’s denials.

  • Jesus wanted to know one thing and one thing alone — “Peter, do you love me?”

    • How it hurts for someone you have loved dearly to have reason to question your love!
    • How it must have hurt for Jesus to even feel the need to ask.
    • Lesson to remember, “We are never defeated unless we give up on God.” (Ronald Reagan). Jesus didn’t give up on Peter & Peter didn’t on God!

    Jesus had the same job for Peter to do in John 21 that He had for Peter before that last night. Jesus planned on using Peter to do the work He originally committed to Peter.

  • The Fact That Peter Had Failed Had No Bearing On Jesus’ Plans For Peter.

    • If Peter still loved Jesus, his failure had changed nothing.

    Jesus was completely unconcerned about past failure; he was concerned only about future service and unselfishness. “A series of failures may culminate in the best possible result.” (Gisela Richter)

    • Peter’s failures in his denials had not destroyed his ability to accomplish the Lord’s purpose in his life.
    • Jesus wanted to make an apostle out of a man who had failed.
    • Jesus wanted to use this man who failed to preach the first gospel sermon to the Gentiles.

  • There was no reason for those divine plans not to come to pass if Peter still loved Jesus and was not ashamed to admit it publicly. For this to happen:

    • Peter had to accept his failure. He could not offer excuses for his failure.
    • He had to accept responsibility for his failure.
    • He had to put his failure in the past.
    • Peter had to accept forgiveness. He needed forgiveness for what he’d done.
    • He had to be open to the forgiveness and to welcome the forgiveness.
    • Peter had to accept the task the Lord wanted him to do. He could not let feelings of unworthiness keep him from doing the work.
    • He could not let feelings of embarrassment or shame keep him from it.
    • He had to believe he could do what the Lord wanted done.
    • Peter had to have enough faith and love to recover his commitment and devotion – and try!
• PRESENT CONCERN

  • Peter Underscores A Truth We Need To Freely Admit.

    • It hurts to submit to the Lord’s use after we fail. Why? The realities of failure cause us to fish in our own despair! Satan feeds us the bait and we can’t get off the hook!
    • When we make a bad mistake, when we really blow it, it is much easier to hide; to build a big, defensive wall of elaborate excuses; or to pretend nothing really happened.
    • Everyone finds it humiliating to face unnecessary failure. We believe before the failure that we were better persons than that.[Fishing in our despair]
    • We were confident we were good enough people that we would not do something like that.
    • We had respect for ourselves. Then to make a mistake which we knew we should not make truly humiliates us.
    • In that humiliation, we feel like we ought to fade into the background rather than getting involved in God’s service.

  • IT IS HUMBLING TO FAIL

    • We are not as strong as we surely were. We cannot trust our own strength as much as we thought we could. [The first problem of Self, not sin]
    • We become keenly aware of OUR total dependence on the Lord.
    • It hurts to serve after failure because it is hard for us to take our eyes off the mistake.
    • Commitment after failure often does draw others attention. There will be some who are skeptical. Yet, no one will be as aware of our mistakes as we are.
• THE PLAN OF CHRIST

  • Take Careful Note Of What He Did

    • Three times He asked Peter if Peter loved Him, and every time He asked Peter to do the work the Lord had planned for him. [This Pointed to the Future NOT the Failure]
    • Jesus had said, “Peter, if you love Me, I want you to do the work I have prepared for you.”
    • Loving Jesus means putting the failure behind and getting on with the Lord’s work. Learn from failure but move on to faithfulness – “Welcome” to the future.
    • The whole situation was so painful to Peter, he could not stand it. He confessed he loved Jesus, but that was not enough.
    • It was as though Peter was saying, “Lord, please don’t ask me anymore; You know me--in fact, You know all things, so You must know I love you!

  • The 3rd time grieved Peter so much he resorted to the oldest tactic of man; he asked, “What about him?” talking of John. Vs. 20-21.

    • Jesus reply in essence was this: “My plans for him are of not real concern to you.” - “Right now, he is not the issue,” vs. 22.
    • “I expect you to do what I know you can do,” v-22 “follow me”
• A POWERFUL LESSON FOR US “WELCOME”
  • • Our failures have no bearing on the Lord’s plans to use our lives if we have love enough for Him to recover from the failure.
    • For the Lord to achieve His will after our failure, We Must:
• The Jesus Who “Welcomes” Us
  • We All Fail, Remember: Our failures do not mean an end to the Lord’s plans to make use of us!
  • Let us not be defined by our failures but by our faithful devotion to serve the Risen Savior Who Welcomes us!
  • The only time you can’t afford to fail is the very last time you try!
  • So quit taking Satan’s bait while making Jesus wait! Commit to the cause of Christ now! Matt. 11:28-30.

 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU_TWtlSDKc

 

Duration 41:04