Sermons and classes from our weekly church of Christ services
Episodes
Saturday May 18, 2024
Saturday May 18, 2024
April 21, 2024 - Sunday 9:30 MPR 4 Speaker
Speaker: Vince Daugherty
“What Young People Bring to Jesus”
Negative things teens bring to the table:
- Pick and choose what to pay attention to in the Bible.
- Teens like to have it their way.
- Rebellion.
- Teens like to be counter-cultural at times.
- Drama.
- Think they have it all figured out.
- Shame.
- Guilt.
- Questions/doubts.
- Hurts.
Need to remember that as you are growing up, you won’t be perfect and you will make mistakes, and that is okay! Even people that we read about in the Bible made mistakes; they failed; they came up short. Actually making mistakes, having guilt and shame can be good teachers in life. Psalm 25:1-7. Your brains aren’t even fully physically developed until age 25, so it’s inevitable - you will mess up, but you will get through it. It’s not about falling down, but it’s about getting back up. Read this when you mess up – Psalm 51. David wrote this psalm after he messed up royally. Admit when you make mistakes. Learn from your mistakes.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. It’s better to ask questions to learn which can help strengthen your faith. Remember doubting Thomas in John 20. Jesus gave Thomas evidence. Don’t put off asking questions. If you let questions and doubts fester, then that little bit of questioning and doubt can cause your faith to suffer.
Teens have a lot going on. Matthew 11:28-30. Think about prayer and what it does. I Peter 5:6-7. Jesus cares for you.
Positive things that teens bring to Christ:
- Youth.
- Energy.
- Confidence.
- Opportunities/possibilities.
- Desire for belonging.
- Responsible.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 and 12:1. You are young and you need to rejoice in this. Teens have many stresses in life, but it seems like as you get older, the stress can go up (even with good things). So, rejoice in being young.
As a youth, you have opportunities and many possibilities. Acts 2:17. Young people typically have dreams, visions for their lives. There are endless possibilities as to what you can do.
Even the most rebellious teens want to belong. Ephesians 2:11-13. At one time, you were without hope, apart from Christ, but with Christ - you have a built-in family. Remember the times that you felt all alone, but in Christ, you are never alone. Ephesians 2:19-22.
What should we be working toward as youth? 1 Timothy 4:12. Work toward consistency. Sometimes older people look at the teens and just think they don’t have it all figured out - they are inconsistent. Teens should show up anyway - be consistent, even if they mess up at times. Don’t give anyone an excuse to look down on you. Be an example.
Philippians 4:8. Seek out the good in the world and you will find good. Think about the things that are lovely and praiseworthy.
2 Peter 1:5-7. Add to your faith. You aren’t just baptized and then that’s it. Keep adding to your faith. Continue to grow in your faith.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdlEMlF541I
Duration 41:28
Saturday May 18, 2024
Saturday May 18, 2024
April 21, 2024 - Sunday 9:30AM Auditorium Speaker
Speaker: Mike Vestal
John 17 -
The High Priestly Prayer
17 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
"The Lord's Prayer" - Best prayer ever prayed.
Jesus is praying - His hour had come - John 12:23-27; John 13:1, John 17:1
"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"
Prayer is how Jesus steered his life while he was on earth. Prayer is measured by its length, but its depth and breadth.
- John 17:1-5 - Glory. The glory of God should be at the forefront of your prayers.
- v6-12 - Security. To be kept by God. To keep God's word.
- v12-19 - Sanctity. Holiness / godly character. - John 17:17.
- v20-23 - Unity.
- v24-26 - Eternity.
- v1-5 - Jesus prays for himself
- v6-19 - Jesus prays for the apostles.
- v20-26 - Jesus prays for those who will believe the word.
The setting of the prayer - Jesus looked up.
He had been waiting for this.
He addresses God as his father - unique relationship.
John 17:3,4 - The Lord wrote his own epitaph. This verse is who Jesus is.
John 19:30 - "It is finished"
John 17:5; Gal 6:14-17; Gal 3:13; Eph 3:20-21; The church glorifies God in Jesus. Luke 24:26
Jesus prays for the apostles. Jesus told God that they have kept his word. Then he committed them to God's car.
Sanctity / Holiness: Heb 12:14; 2 Cor 7:1; Jesus prays that the apostles be sanctified and holy.
The world. "Isolation is not an option" and neither is accommodation.
We need to have a biblical theology of the engagement - a mission.
- Our mission is to glorify God, to tell others and to strengthen others.
Jesus prays for those who would believe - (v20-26)
- Jesus was praying for and thinking of us.
- A healthy harmonious relationship with God is possible in Christ.
What brings people together.
- A great and awesome God. - (v26)
- The love within the Godhead is a love that's shared with us.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2bv3d9JVz4
Duration 38:02
Saturday May 18, 2024
Saturday May 18, 2024
April 21, 2024 - Sunday 8:00AM Auditorium Speaker
Speaker: Neal Pollard
John 14-16 -
I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
I Am the True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
The Hatred of the World
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
16 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The Coming of the Spirit
The Spirit in John "You are not alone"
- Appellatives of the Spirit (like names)
- Helper - advocate - mediator - Represents God to us not us to God.
- Spirit of truth - John 15:26; 14:6;
- Jesus makes himself the arbiter of truth. - John 1:14, 1:17, 8:45-46; Mark 13:11; 1 Corinthians 2:12
- Holy Spirit. Isaiah 6:1-3 The Holy Spirit is our helper. He comforts, corrects and strengthens us as he personally abides in us. 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; John 17:17
- Assistance of the Spirit
- In their works - John 14:10-14; Col 1:23
- through revelation - John 14:26, 16:13-15
- through testifying
- Convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement - 2 Cor 5:21
- Assurances of the Spirit - John 14:1, 18, 27, John 16:1, 16:33. Its not wrong to be afraid but when I'm afraid I should trust.
- He will be with you forever John 16:1; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:14-18;
- The Holy spirit dwells in us. Romans 8
- Because the Spirit of God is in us, it gives us identity and Help (26)
- He will bring to you remembrance
- John 14:26; Mark 13:11; 2 Peter 1:20-24; Acts 1:16; 1 Peter 1:11; John 14:26
- He will declare the things which are to some. (15:26)
- 2 Thess. 2; 2 Peter 3; Rev 2:1-22
- He will be with you forever John 16:1; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:14-18;
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN2oz0vrEXg
Duration 40:59
Saturday May 18, 2024
Saturday May 18, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 7:00PM Auditorium Speaker
Speaker: Hiram Kemp
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Based on inspired testimony (1 John 1:1-3)
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Born out of a proper relationship to sin (1 John 1:6-2:2)
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Obeys the commandments of God (1 John 2:3-5, 3:22, 5:2-3)
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Brotherly love as a top priority (1 John 2:7-11)
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Confidently waiting for final transformation (1 John 3:1-3)
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Joyfully assured of eternal life (1 John 1:4, 5:13)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLGuAnUrDQ0
Duration 40:12
Saturday May 18, 2024
Saturday May 18, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 6:30PM Auditorium Speaker
Speaker: Jeff Jenkins
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Jesus turns water to wine
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John 2:1
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To show us the great power of our God
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Jesus heals son of nobleman (John 4:54)
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Bringing into the world a new life
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John heals invalid man sick for 38 years (John 5:
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Feeding of 5,000 (John 6
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Only John records Jesus saying I am the bread of life. I have fed your bodies and I can feed your souls
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Jesus walks on water (John 6)
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Even nature was subordinate to His rule
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Have you felt like you’re perishing and wondered if Jesus is paying attention? Is he asleep?
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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv4vtIDBYLI
Duration 39:20
Saturday May 18, 2024
Saturday May 18, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 3:30PM Tent Speaker
Speaker: Chris McCurley
“Living a Life of Faith Right Now”
“If today was the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today?”
– Steve Jobs
Is the life you are currently living going to get you to heaven?
Would you change anything about your schedule if you knew today was going to be your last day on earth?
John 15:1-11
The secret to life - Abide in Christ. Get this right. It will always be worth it if you abide in Christ. Put God first. Often we think if we are good/do good, then we can earn God’s favor and He will bless us in this life and let us into heaven. But we shouldn’t have a performance-based mindset on life. In reality, we can never do enough and it’s not all about that anyway.
Everything in our society is about productivity.
Work hard – more money – more valuable to society.
School – work hard – get good grades.
As a church, it’s not all about productivity. We cannot work our way to heaven. Don’t be a performance-based Christian. Have faith in God, not faith in religion. In John 15, Jesus is not speaking about productivity, but instead connectivity. Christianity is not as much about rules as it is relationship.
“Fruit production or lack thereof is simply a manifestation of our attachment to the vine.”
The Bible is not a rule book, but a story of redemption.
John 15:12-17
Abide in Me and I will abide in you. This is Jesus’ invitation. Matthew 7:21-23.
John 14:15. Plenty of people are moral, but not necessarily Christians. Rules modify behavior. A relationship with Jesus gives our lives and our deeds meaning.
Put God first, please Him by doing good and following rules. Don’t focus so heavily on the rules that you forget the relationship.
Good connection – Leads to good fruit.
What puts your soul in jeopardy is not a lack of productivity but a lack of relationship.
When you are connected to the source (God), you will grow and produce fruit, which is a byproduct of being attached to the vine.
The worst part of hell is not weeping and gnashing of teeth; it’s that God is not there.
The best part of heaven is that God is there.
You’d have to step over the cross of Christ to get to hell; you have to refuse Him.
John 15:9
A life on the vine is the best life, full of love and joy. It’s so much more than a list of rules to check off. Start with the relationship.
We need to allow our relationship with Jesus to drive everything in our lives: Work, school, family, church.
Is what I do the result of who I am with?
We often read the Bible with appreciation and for information, but need to ask ourselves, how does this apply to me?
Is the way I am currently living going to get me to heaven? – a question to ask ourselves often.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6Qe9-BrqU
Duration 34:59
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 3:30PM Auditorium Speaker
Speaker: Wayne Jones
John 13 -
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’
19 “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. 20 Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Wayne reflects on the themes of chapter 13. He does this through breaking down the text into four views.
- The intimacy of the moment
- The supremacy of love
- The illustration of this mandate. The phrase "As I have loved you"
- The growing Gnosticism
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAybu0sG2Nc
Duration 40:10
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 2:30 MPR 4 Speaker
Speaker:Traci Sproule
Stepping into the Bible
Lecture #2: ...You can do it
The Hallway
The Classrooms
The Media Center
The Teacher's Binder
- 5 copies of each binder—one for each teacher
- Intended to give teachers “everything” needed
- Teacher Instruction
- Lesson Plan
- Handwork
- Songbook and flash drive
- Intended to unify our educational efforts
- Intended to ensure consistency
- Intended to be easily adaptable to all ages
The Lesson Plan
- Take Home Review Sheet
- Objective
- Scripture Reference
- Memory Verse
- Lesson Facts
- Review Questions
- Narrative
- Discussion Questions for Older Kids
- Wednesday Night Highlights
- Suggested Songs
The Curriculum
- 16 Semesters
- Customized numbering system: Semester.Session.Lesson
- 280 lessons of original material
- 8 Old Testament semesters (with 1 review semester)
- 8 New Testament semesters (with 1 review semester)
- 2-week mini-session
- Rotation every four weeks
Decisions to Make / Lessons Learned
- This was a whole new way of teaching for everyone involved, including the curriculum, the schedule, the rotation, etc.
- We implemented mandatory Teacher Training
- Every three years: In-depth training for all teachers, explaining of how to teach in this new program
- Before every semester: Teacher Meeting to discuss expectations and answer any questions
- We implemented mandatory Teacher Training
- The rotation of classes every 4 weeks (in a 20-week semester) would mean most of the kids would start classes out of order
- We decided the older kids would go through in chronological order
- We created the timeline bulletin board in each classroom to show where each room fit
- The change from the 13-week quarter system to a 20-week semester system created some issues with the middle school, high school and adult classes that were still on the quarter system
- We decided to change all of our upper classes (middle school, high school and adults) over to the 20-week semester system – divided in half, so that we now have 10-week sessions for our upper classes instead of 13-week quarters
- During the Two-Week Mini-Session, when the children all meet together for review and Bible drills, all of the upper classes meet together in the auditorium for two weeks of an intergenerational Bible class
- The rotation of different-sized children through classes with different-sized furniture creates some difficulty
- We decided to move the furniture from class to class every four weeks
- We have also considered purchasing furniture that would fit multiple age groups
- The rotation of classes every 4 weeks created confusion for the parents to know which classroom their kids were in
- We created magnets for the metal door frames, to make easy (but unobtrusive) room identification
- We had to get used to starting and stopping semesters at seemingly “random” times
- We had to decide how and when to promote our kids to their next grade levels
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUAnFjvP7jM
Duration 41:55
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 2:30 MPR 4 Speaker
Speaker:Traci Sproule
Stepping into the Bible
Lecture #1: If you can dream it...
The Dream
- Congregation: Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ
- The congregation has a strong history of children’s Bible classes
- We desired and talked about writing our own curriculum for years
- Finally, the dream became more than just a dream
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December 2009 - The Initial Meeting: An Idea Sparked
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January 2010 - The Concept Presented: A Curriculum Adopted
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Mid 2012 - The Elder Challenge: A Target Set
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January 2013 - The Teaching Begins: A Work in Progress
- August 2019 - The Curriculum Finished: A Dream Realized
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The Development: Envision
- We wanted a curriculum that truly fit our needs
- A program that would teach the Bible
- A program that focused on Bible education over entertainment
- A complete program that was not a collection from various sources
- A consistent direction, format and appearance throughout
- A reusable program that would not become outdated over time
- An engaging program that got the parents involved at home each week
- We wanted an immersive experience
- From the moment the kids entered their hallway
- When they walked into their classrooms
- We wanted just a few weeks in each classroom to keep them engaged
- We wanted a complete teaching resource
- Something that would make it easier for our teachers to prepare
- Something that would make it easier for our teachers to teach
- Something that would make it easier for members to agree to teach
- Something that would guarantee consistency of lessons from teacher to teacher
The Development: Evaluate
- We evaluated our Media Center
- Loaded with teaching resourced created and developed for over 40 years
- Space enough for designing and storing room decorations
- We evaluated our classroom arrangement
- Classroom space would allow for five teaching rooms, plus one other room
- Divided our children’s classes (Age 3 thru Grade 5) into five age groups
- Age 3-4, K, Grade 1, Grades 2-3, Grades 4-5
- We evaluated key people
- First, we developed a curriculum development committee
- Then, we developed small auxiliary committees (2-3 people on each one)
- Classroom Decoration Committee
- Hallway Committee
- Teaching Resources Committee
The Development: Execute
- The Curriculum Committee – Writing “Stepping into the Bible”
- We sat down as a group, with open Bibles, and identified Bible lessons to teach
- We ended up identifying 280 Bible lessons to be part of the curriculum
- We decided to do away with the 13-week quarter system
- We wanted the children to rotate classrooms (in Bible scenes) on a frequent basis
- We decided that each age group would be taught in each classroom for four weeks
- Each classroom represented a particular division of Biblical narrative
- Four lessons were grouped together to be taught in each room
- We called these 4-week teaching rounds, “Sessions”
- We decided that we would rotate every four weeks through the five classrooms
- Each age group would have an opportunity to be taught in each classroom
- The total time for these rotations would be 20 weeks, which we called, “Semesters”
- Finally, an internal “writing” committee began creating each lesson plan
- Each lesson plan was intended for all age groups – tailored by the teacher to their specific class
- Each lesson was written to contain specific and consistent elements:
- Objective
- Scripture Reference
- Memory Verse
- Lesson Facts
- Review Questions
- Narrative
- Discussion Questions for Older Kids
- We sat down as a group, with open Bibles, and identified Bible lessons to teach
- The Classroom Committee – Creating the Environment
- Design and decorate FIVE classrooms for each semester, with each classroom representing an immersion into one of the 4-lesson sessions
- Create some kind of picture-based timeline in the room
- Realized a need for time between semesters to change each classroom
- Created the 2-week mini-session
- For two weeks, the children’s hallway was blocked off for the rooms to be changed out
- All of the children (Age 3 thru Grade 5) met together in our multipurpose room
- A special team was created to coordinate the 2-week mini-session for the kids
- The Hallway Committee – Immerse Upon Arrival
- Transform the entire hallway where our children’s classes meet
- Bible stories to come alive on the walls, covering every square inch
- Tell the story of the Bible from one end of the hallway to the other
- Include some 3-D elements coming out of the walls
- The Teaching Resources Committee – Reinforcing the Lessons
- Each classroom to be stocked with visual aids to help enhance teaching the lesson
- Ample selection of handwork for the children that corresponded to the Bible lesson
- Songs that would fit and reinforce each lesson
- Make Wednesday nights special, providing additional lesson reinforcement
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9beg5Z6iD0
Duration 40:40
Friday May 17, 2024
Friday May 17, 2024
April 20, 2024 - Saturday 2:30PM Tent Speaker
Speaker: Jeff Jenkins
- There is a lot of times in John where Jesus says I am
- Jews were the only people who had only one God. So many over groups worship more than one god or idol.
- Psalm 16:24
- Jews believed anyone who asked you to worship other Gods should be put to death. So when Jesus says I am he is falling into this scrutiny.
- There are some stuff days in life. What will keep you going in these times.
- Jesus is the light of the world
- Although Jesus is not still on the earth physically, Christians still share his light to others.
- John 18. Jesus is claiming to be God.
- John 10. Jesus is the good shepherd.
- John 14. Jesus claims to be the only way to get to God
- Ephesians 2:12 describes what we were like before Christ
Speaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPDt5PPZ5M8
Duration 39:10