The Bread of Life

Scott Risley
John 6:14-69

Jesus performs miracles to show God's power and point to deeper spiritual truth. His claim, "I am the bread of life" was misunderstood and didn't meet the expectations of the disciples or the crowd that followed him. The disciples wanted to influence and significance while the crowd wanted their physical needs met. Properly understood, Jesus' message means we will experience hunger until we come to him. He knows our deepest need for spiritual life and can meet it if we choose to believe in him.

Feeding the 5000

Scott Risley
John 6:1-13

Jesus teaches his disciples three lessons through feeding the five thousand: 1) God wants availability over ability; 2) God works through weak people; 3) feeders get more food. God's blessings always prove to be much greater than our abilities.

Feeding the Multitude

Dennis McCallum
John 6:1-14

Jesus is with his disciples near the Sea of Galilee with a great multitude of people come seeking him. When Jesus presented his disciples with the opportunity to feed them, two attitudes from his disciples appear. The first comes from Phillip, who left God's power out of the scenario, and was simply looking to how he on his own could feed the people. The second, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, demonstrates the inadequacy to perform the work, and what little he does have he presents to Jesus. Jesus takes the loaves and fish presented by Andrew feeds the multitude so they are satisfied and even have leftovers. These attitudes are similar to the attitudes Christians can have today when attempting to be used by God, and as we look to move to love others, we ourselves are satisfied.

Jesus' Pattern

Dennis McCallum
John 1:6-51

At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the first person John recounts testifying about Jesus is John the Baptist, who pointed people to Jesus once he began His earthly ministry. Jesus gathers followers (disciples) as He begins his earthly ministry. This is the pattern in which Jesus accomplishes God's work, by developing spiritually mature people to independently do God's work once he leaves. Both Jesus and John the Baptist modeled humility and pointing people towards God and His forgiveness.

The Cost of Discipleship

Ryan Lowery
Luke 14:27-33

While God's love is a free gift, it is a costly decision to be a disciple. It requires following Christ over comfort and possessions. It also means choosing God over certain familial obligations. Finally, being a disciple requires a denial of distractions that hinder our focus or pull us off course.

Who Do You Say I Am?

Ryan Lowery
Isaiah 52:13-54:1

Jesus turns the attention of his disciples to a crucial question: who is Jesus? Christ puts himself over and above a prophet or a good teacher. Instead, Jesus fulfills many Old Testament prophecies to prove that he is the Christ. Every person has a choice to be saved, and then to entrust their lives to Jesus by becoming his disciple.\r\n\r\n

The Truth Will Set You Free

Jeff Gordon
John 8:31-59

Jesus teaches that the sin nature enslaves people while following his truth sets people free. To have freedom in this life means to become Jesus' disciple and follow his teachings. The religious leaders were not able to understand Jesus' message because of their pride. As a result, they believed Satan's lies. The only way to counter lies is with the truth. Freedom is a result of following the truth.

I Am the Bread of Life

Jeff Gordon
John 6:30-71

Jesus claims he is the bread of life and whoever believes in him will never hunger or thirst again. He miraculously feeds a crowd of more than five thousand by using his disciples' availability rather than their ability. Though they were tired and challenged by the task, the disciples had twelve baskets of food left over for themselves after distributing food to the crowd. Jesus meets their needs as they follow him. After being challenged to seek eternal life through Jesus rather than seek temporal food for a meal, some people desert him and others follow. What response will you have?

Sermon on the Plain - Part 1

Ryan Lowery
Luke 6:12-26

Jesus teaches about four blessings for the poor, hungry, weeping, and ostracized; as well as four corresponding woes for the rich, fed, laughers, and popular. Jesus is teaching a paradigm of reversal: that a disciple who adopts God's values will gain fulfillment, while one who adopts material values will end up with sorrow. Those who sacrifice these selfish values now will receive great joy in heaven.