1 John 3:16-24 NRSV

1 John 3:1-10 NRSV

John 4:43-54 Gracious Healing Summary: We live in a world where we can take care of many things from far away. We can order food from our phones, pay our bills online, and even go to school on the internet. But Jesus powerfully healed a boy without ever going to his house! Why? Because he is God, and he wants us to trust him as our Savior. Let's think about it together: Outline: 1. God is gracious with our imperfect faith 2. God tests and stretches our growing faith 3. God gives the gift of life when we trust His Son Verse: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b) Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. It seems that Jesus left Samaria for his home region of Galilee because he desired to minister to those who did not truly believe in him as the Messiah. They welcomed him, but only because of his previous miracle in Cana (vv.43-44). How might this temptation manifest itself in your own life at times, to be devoted to Jesus for the good gifts that he gives, rather than loving Jesus himself? 2. What does the miracle of Jesus healing the official's son show us about Jesus? 3. How does Jesus stretch and test the man's imperfect faith? How might he be doing this in your own life?

John 4:31-42 A True Feast Summary: Have you ever been so distracted by doing something you love that you forgot about the time, maybe even forgot to eat? Or maybe you were so intent on doing something so important that you forgot about other things? Today we're going to see Jesus, so passionate and involved with his ministry to save people that it was like food and drink to him. God wants us to see Jesus in this way, and then follow in his path to help others believe in Christ. Let's think about it: Outline: 1. True food 2. An urgent task 3. A beautiful harvest Verse: John 4:34 “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Sermon Text: Daniel 1 Sermon Title: Hyphenated Lives Points in Sermon: 1. Exile and Expulsion 2. Echoes of Exodus 3. Extradition Memory Verse: And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. (Daniel 1:7)

Living Water, Part 3 John 4:19-30 Summary: What is worship? Is it just something we do on Sunday morning? Is it an emotional high? Is it a set of actions (like singing, praying etc)? It is possible for us to go through the motions and not really worship at all. Today as we listen in once more on Jesus' conversation with the woman at the well, let's think about true worship: Outline: 1. True worship is not just about where – it is about whom and how we worship 2. True worship is from our hearts that thirst for God 3. True worship is with our minds that know the truth Verse: John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Questions for devotions and family worship: As you study John 4 again, why do you think this conversation eventually led to Jesus and the woman speaking about worship? What does all this have to do with “living water?” Evaluate your own worship. Is it in spirit? In truth? Is there both “heat and light?” Is it from the heart as well as with a mind saturated with the truth? Where do you need to grow?

Wisdom and the Christian life James 1: 1–8

John 2:1-11 The Best Comes Last Reverend Dr. Jason Pickard Assoc. Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Seminary – Escondido Introduction I. The Story II. The Sign III. The Woman IV. Six Stone Jars Conclusion “… But you have kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:10b)

John 4:16-30 Living Water, Part 2 Summary: Did you know that God is seeking after you? He is seeking worshippers who are spiritually thirsty. Last week we saw Jesus speaking with a woman about her spiritual thirst. Let's listen in on the conversation again, and see that Jesus is on a mission to quench her thirst and make her a worshipper: Outline: 1. Jesus will not give up on us until we see our true thirst 2. Spiritual thirst can be quenched as we become worshippers 3. Our true thirst can only be quenched by Jesus Verse: John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. What are the deepest parts of you that you don’t want to come out? Of what are you most ashamed that Jesus wants to deal with today? 2. What are the ways in which you seek satisfaction in something other than Jesus? If your soul is made to desire Jesus, what other things tend to fill the void instead for you? 3. As you study John 4 again, why do you think this conversation eventually led to Jesus and the woman speaking about worship? What does all this have to do with “living water?”

Psalm 91:7-16 NRSV

John 4:1-15 Living Water, Part 1 Summary: Have you ever been really, really thirsty? Jesus felt this too, after a long journey. Today we'll hear in John 4 about a time when Jesus asked a woman for a drink of water, and he used it as an opportunity to talk about spiritual thirst. You see, Jesus' saving love is like living water that can satisfy our spiritual thirstiness. Let's think about it: Outline: 1. A relentless mission 2. A profound need 3. A bottomless well Verse: Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10) Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. Based on her response to Jesus, how would you describe the spiritual state of this woman? 2. Why does Jesus use the analogy of water and thirst to describe his work of salvation? 3. What are the ways in which you have tried to quench your spiritual thirst? Have they worked?

John 3:22-36 He Must Increase Summary: What does it mean to be humble? Someone who is humble does not want to think they are better than others. Today we will hear God's Word teach us about John the Baptist's humility. John said about his relationship to Jesus:

John 3:16-21 The Path to Eternal Life Summary: There is no greater love than the love that moved God to give his Son Jesus to pay for our sins. Today we'll see God's love in John 3:16. His love is so wide and deep that he gave us Jesus, and by believing in Him we can have eternal life. Have you put your faith in Jesus? Let's think about it: Outline: 1. God's great love 2. God's certain judgment Verse: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. In what sense does God love the world? How is God's love described to us in John 3:16-18? Do you believe that God loves you? 2. How do verses 18b-20 describe God's judgment? Why can it be said that people

John 3:9-16 Whoever Believes Summary: Have you ever asked, what does it mean to be a Christian? Have you ever really thought about it? A man named Nicodemus talked to Jesus one night long ago about these things, and there we find out what it really means to have eternal life. Let's think about what Jesus said: Outline: 1. Ask the question 2. Trust the source 3. See the Gospel 4. Hear the Gospel Verse: John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. Have you ever been totally confused with Jesus's words like Nicodemus was? What did Nicodemus do? What did you do? 2. According to Jesus' own words in vv. 11-13, why should we trust what he says about eternal life, or anything? 3. In this passage Jesus relates the episode in Israel's history (Numbers 21:4-9) when God sent serpents upon the people when they grumbled. Why does Jesus compare himself to the bronze serpent that Moses made (John 3:14-15)? How does this illustration help us understand the Gospel? 4. How is John 3:16

John 3:1-8 You Must Be Born Again Summary: When a mom has a baby, we often say that she has

John 2:13–25 The Lord of the Temple Summary: Did you know that there are times when Jesus got angry? Jesus was gracious and merciful, but he also had holy anger against sin. Today let’s see that in action when Jesus saw people misusing God’s temple: Outline: 1. Jesus has holy zeal for God’s honor 2. Jesus is the true temple 3. Jesus is perfect in knowledge and wisdom Verse: John 2:17 “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

John 2:1-12 The Giver of Joy Summary: Jesus did many miracles during his ministry to show us who he is and what his kingdom is like. His first miracle came when Jesus changed water into wine at a wedding feast. What does this show us about Jesus and his kingdom? Let's think about it: Outline: 1. Jesus is sovereign son of God 2. Jesus is the giver of new wine 3. In Jesus, kingdom, the best is yet to come Verse: John 7:37 (ESV): If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink… Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. Why did Mary come to Jesus at this wedding when they ran out of wine? Why do you think Jesus answered her the way he did? 2. Why did Jesus have the servants use stone jars used for purification to fill with water? How might this reveal what Jesus was coming to do? 3. John tells us that this miracle revealed Jesus’ glory. What does this show us about the glory of Jesus? 4. What does this miracle show us about our future in Jesus’ kingdom?

John 1:43-51 Stairway to Heaven Summary: Have you ever been on a ladder? Sometimes a tall ladder is scary, but it helps us get to places that would otherwise be too high. We use a staircase for the same reason. In today's sermon passage, Jesus calls himself a stairway! This sounds strange to us, but when Jesus called more followers (Philip and Nathaniel), he spoke of the day when Jacob (Abraham's grandson) saw a stairway leading to heaven with angels on it. Why would Jesus use this image to describe himself? Let's think about it: Outline: 1. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's promises 2. Jesus is the all knowing God 3. Jesus is the stairway to heaven Verse: John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. How might you describe Nathaniel from this passage? What do we learn about faith and following Jesus from Jesus' interactions with him? 2. What leads Nathaniel to believe in Jesus as the Messiah? How might that help to establish or strengthen faith in Christ for you? 3. Why does Jesus use this image from Jacob's ladder to describe himself? How does this shape our understanding of Jesus and the path to eternal life? How can this help you worship and serve Jesus this week?

Mark 16:1-8 NRSV

Mark 16:1-8 He Has Risen! Summary: He is risen!! Today is one of the best days of the year! We celebrate this great news today: Three days after Jesus died, he rose from the dead! Because this is true, we have salvation and hope. Everything God promised is true! Let's think about this great moment from Mark's Gospel today: Outline: 1. The news no one believed 2. The mercy we too can receive 3. The truth that leaves us speechless Verse: Mark 16:6b ... You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. Questions for devotions and family worship: 1. Why do you think that no one believed Jesus' own statements that he would rise from the dead? How does Mark 16 show the women's slowness to believe? 2. What do we learn from the words of the angel in this text? What does it tell us about Jesus and his heart of mercy for his disciples? 3. Why do you think Mark's Gospel ends so abruptly? Why were the women so afraid? How can we square their silence recorded here with their testimony to the disciples recorded in the other Gospels? What might this show us is the true response to Jesus' resurrection?