Episodes
Some reject Jesus because He doesn't dance to their tune. Since Jesus didn't fulfill the expectations of the Pharisees, they rejected Him. But Jesus didn't reject them. Jesus willingly went to the house of a Pharisee named Simon and accepted his hospitality. Dr. John teaches that this social occasion became a lesson on grace and gratitude. Even the enemies of Jesus were invited to grace. Jesus, Unexpected Encounters: We think we know people. We put them into boxes of our expectations and then treat them accordingly. Jesus is different. He responded not to stereotypes, but to people. He reac...
John the Baptist pointed to Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. But later John began to doubt. Dr. John teaches that those doubts evaporated as John saw Jesus, heal the lame, open the eyes of the blind and speak good news to the poor. John the Baptist witnessed the outbreaking of God's Kingdom though the compassionate ministry of Jesus. The Kingdom was evidenced by mercy and power. It still is.Jesus, Unexpected Encounters: We think we know people. We put them into boxes of our expectations and then treat them accordingly. Jesus is different. He responded not to stereotype...
Who takes note of a widow, alone and helpless, walking in the funeral procession of her only son? Jesus does. With compassion He sees the pains of death. With power He commands life back from the dead. Dr. John reminds us that all who are weighted by misery can hope in the power and compassion of Jesus. Our tears are temporary. Jesus, Unexpected Encounters: We think we know people. We put them into boxes of our expectations and then treat them accordingly. Jesus is different. He responded not to stereotypes, but to people. He reached out to those who were on the periphery of cultural accept...
We tend to label people into categories and are then surprised when they act in a manner we didn't expect. Jesus' encounter with a Roman Centurion proves that our classifications are false. This Roman soldier contributed funds to his "enemies," cared for a common slave and looked to Jesus for help. In the encounter, not only do we see the soldier tearing down cultural walls, but Jesus reached across them in response to faith. Jesus, Unexpected Encounters: We think we know people. We put them into boxes of our expectations and then treat them accordingly. Jesus is different. He responded not...
As creatures of time, the clock never moves more slowly than when we are in pain. In troubles we pray for immediate help and releif. But often God delays. Today Dr. John echoes David's prayer, "How long?" Walk through through this Psalm and discover David's secret to hope and perseverance. 2023 Highlight Reel: Good things are repeated. When it comes to sunsets, birthdays, and smiles, one is not enough. This series of messages are highlighted from past broadcasts and are worth our attention again. Listen as Dr. John addresses the person of Jesus Christ, the gift of the Church, personal ques...
Israel's wilderness journey was a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. The repeated evidences of God's care were peaks, impossible to deny. But the complaints and grumblings were lowpoints of trust. Today Dr. John teaches of a thirsty nation turning against Moses and challenging God Himself. They dared God and tested Him out of anger and doubt. By grace, God reveals Himself mighty and merciful, but He need never prove Himself to any man. 2023 Highlight Reel: Good things are repeated. When it comes to sunsets, birthdays, and smiles, one is not enough. This series of messages are highlighted ...
In today's message, Dr. John teaches that since the Church is the Body of Christ, it is the visible representation of Jesus on earth. Therefore, the Church has a physical presence with a street address and a presence in heaven as well. Dr. John teaches on the invisible, universal Church which is one in Christ, holy through the Spirit, inclusive of all who have faith in Jesus and commissioned with purpose by the Father. 2023 Highlight Reel: Good things are repeated. When it comes to sunsets, birthdays, and smiles, one is not enough. This series of messages are highlighted from past broadcast...
We can trip over a curb or broken pavement in the sidewalk. We may fall but then rise to continue our journey. In today's message, Dr. John echoes Jesus' words to the disciples. "You all will fall." They all protested, but every one of them fell. Of the 12, eleven repented and rose to continue their journey of faith. We are foolish to think we can predict our response to a crisis of faith. We lean closely upon the grace of our Lord. 2023 Highlight Reel: Good things are repeated. When it comes to sunsets, birthdays, and smiles, one is not enough. This series of messages are highlighted from ...
At times, we speak of the deity of Jesus as a way to make a point. We bear witness to others that Jesus is God, so we point to the Scriptures. Dr. John reminds us today from Hebrews that the deity of Jesus is more than an apologetic. It is the hope and comfort for us all in the midst of trial and persecutions. 2023 Highlight Reel: Good things are repeated. When it comes to sunsets, birthdays, and smiles, one is not enough. This series of messages are highlighted from past broadcasts and are worth our attention again. Listen as Dr. John addresses the person of Jesus Christ, the gift of the ...
Psalm 90 ends with five prayers for those who have squarely faced the trouble of life and have found God. Each of these prayers arise out of faith, out of the joyous discovery that trouble is not the last word; instead trouble has been the pathway of discovering GodFacing Trouble and Finding God: The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrestle with – injustice and death. We struggle with wrongs that go unpunished. We are not immune to the fact a...
In in this portion of scripture we will see Moses reflect on sin, the anger of God and the trouble that we all face.Facing Trouble and Finding God: The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrestle with – injustice and death. We struggle with wrongs that go unpunished. We are not immune to the fact and fear of dying. Listen as Dr. John opens these Psalms with insight from a heavenly perspective. We will face troubles, but God is in them.
Psalm 90 teaches us how to pray, how to come to terms with our sins and how to come to terms with an altogether righteous God. It comes with a request that God would favour us all the days of our lives, but what’s even more significant, it contains a great note of happiness.Facing Trouble and Finding God: The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrestle with – injustice and death. We struggle with wrongs that go unpunished. We are not immune to t...
We are never facing reality if we are not facing eternity! As long as our lives are consumed by what is seen, we will struggle to have faith in the the things that will be. Facing Trouble and Finding God: The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrestle with – injustice and death. We struggle with wrongs that go unpunished. We are not immune to the fact and fear of dying. Listen as Dr. John opens these Psalms with insight from a heavenly perspect...
We are studying Psalm 73. In it, we will discover a man by the name of Asaph who so doubted his faith, that in his own words, he almost lost his footing and became an unbeliever. Psalm 73 tells us how he found faith after it had almost disappeared.Facing Trouble and Finding God: The Psalms never side step difficult issues of life. With candor and clarity, these poetic songs describe what is going on in our hearts. Psalm 73 and 90 speak of two central questions we wrestle with – injustice and death. We struggle with wrongs that go unpunished. We are not immune to the fact and fear of dying. ...
It's the secret to learning the piano, running a marathon or having a successful marriage. It's called "endurance." One scale at a time, keep your legs moving and offer love and grace each day. Endurance means to keep consistent over the long haul. That applies to our spiritual walk as well. Dr. John offers three keys to endurance of our faith, by which we persevere into glory. Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of Hebrews does not. The Old Covenant is mandatory to ...
Our culture suggests that sin is a small matter with minimal consequence. God doesn't agree. Today, Dr. John speaks of a warning from Hebrews that jars us. It is a message of hope, not because it makes sin small, but because the truth guides us on a path of life.Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of Hebrews does not. The Old Covenant is mandatory to understand the New Covenant. These two great promises must be held together. In this 10-message series from Hebrews, Dr...
A hypocrite wears a mask. It's a mask that hides defaults and conforms to surrounding expectations. In playing a role, hypocrites live fragmented lives. In Jesus, believers can abandon their masks. The grace of forgiveness and His new life in us allows us to drop pretence and live authentically. We are free to draw near to Him, press on with confidence and experience genuine love in community. We become real.Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of Hebrews does not. The...
If we can't be good, we try to appear good. We do and say the right things to mask our internal failures. But appearing good can never replace obedience. Nothing replaces our need to do the will of God. It's an impossible task for us. But Jesus always does the will of the Father. Through Him, our requirement for obedience is fulfilled. Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of Hebrews does not. The Old Covenant is mandatory to understand the New Covenant. These two great...
It's our default to manage our lives. We try to control the direction and outcomes of our thoughts, words, and deeds. We even try to manage our sin problem by fixing it, balancing the bad with the good or trying to outrun our sin with a fresh start. Dr. John teaches that we can't manage our sins away. Even the sacrifices of Old Covenant could not solve the problem of sin. Only a perfect Saviour has the power to put an end to sin.Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of ...
Modern sensitivities would want to shape Christianity into a bloodless code of morality. The Bible prohibits it. Christianity is founded upon, "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins." Listen as Dr. John teaches about the necessity of not just Jesus' death, but the shedding of His blood. By that sacrifice, we are forgiven.Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of Hebrews does not. The Old Covenant is mandatory to understand the New Covenant. These t...
Distract. Deny. Desensitize. These are the ways many cope with guilt and shame. On our own, we have no remedy to silence our guilty conscience except distract, deny, desensitize. But God has the answer. Today, Dr. John teaches on the grace of a clear, cleansed conscience. It is found in the sufficiency of Jesus. Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The author of Hebrews does not. The Old Covenant is mandatory to understand the New Covenant. These two great promises must be held t...
We are quick to criticize the old once something new arrives. The new car reminds us of how antiquated our old car was! From Hebrews 9, Dr. John teaches on the value of the old covenant, even when the new one has come. The first covenant proclaimed that our sin creates a barrier between us and a holy God. That distance can only be crossed by God's initiative and God's design. Jesus is the only access for sinners to stand before our righteous Creator.Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Cove...
A covenant is a promise. It is the assurance of what will be. So why did God give two covenants to His people, the "Old and the New?" Dr. John teaches from Hebrews 8 to compare the covenants God has made. The new covenant is not a changing of purpose or a contradiction of the old. The covenant made by Jesus in His blood fulfills and enlarges what God had promised at Sinai. The covenant of Calvary grants the assurance of justice and grace.Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ignore the principles and patterns of the "Old Covenant." The a...
Every collector knows that the real item is of more value than a copy of it. The book of Hebrews repeats this central truth. The priestly ministry of sacrifices in an earthly sanctuary are symbols that point to the ultimate ministry of Jesus for us all. Dr. John reminds us that symbols are worthy only if they point us to what is real - the full and sufficient sacrifice of Jesus for our sin. Our confidence for redemption lies in genuine sacrifice and service of our true High Priest - Jesus Christ. Jesus, Our Sacrifice: The God of promises has given two great covenants. Today many tend to ign...
To understand the forest, you can't go tree by tree. Trees vary in size, colour, and structure. Is the forest filled with contradictions? Of course not. We understand the whole by the particulars and the particulars by the whole. The same is true of Bible teaching. We need to understand the specifics by understanding the whole of Scripture. Dr. John presents his last criteria for good Bible teaching. Teaching you can trust rests on the inerrancy of God's Word and embraces the whole of God's truth.Bible Teaching You Can Trust: Too often, Christians evaluate preachers and teachers without und...
It is said that the best way to discern counterfeit currency is to be very familiar with what real currency looks like. If you know the genuine, the false is readily identified. If we are to recognize Bible teaching that is false or imbalanced, we need to be personally familiar with the Scriptures. Today Dr. John calls us to a personal commitment of Bible reading and study of the Scriptures. If we do not have a first-hand taste of the Bible, we can be fed anything.Bible Teaching You Can Trust: Too often, Christians evaluate preachers and teachers without understanding the criteria by which ...
Today’s society seems to be driven by polls. Decisions and direction are determined by the voice of the majority. Polls set political agenda, marketing strategy and community development. But polls must not determine Biblical teaching. Dr. John reminds us that Bible teaching tied to the voice of a generation will become dated. The truth of God's Word is the only sure and reliable guide for life and eternity. Bible Teaching You Can Trust: Too often, Christians evaluate preachers and teachers without understanding the criteria by which they are evaluating. We like them, or don’t like them. So...
Some approach the Bible like a set of instructions for life, emphasizing what we should do. We ought to obey the 10 commandments, slay the Goliaths of our life and remain as faithful as Daniel. Their instruction focuses on our efforts and abilities. But the Bible is about God's grace rather than our efforts. Dr. John reminds us that good Bible teaching is about the actions of God, not the efforts of humanity. Bible Teaching You Can Trust: Too often, Christians evaluate preachers and teachers without understanding the criteria by which they are evaluating. We like them, or don’t like them. S...
If a love letter is all about the thoughts and feelings of the author, you may wonder if the letter is misguided. Shouldn't the letter be about the beloved? Much of today's Bible teaching is like that. Sermons are filled with our own concerns and problems. But shouldn't Bible teaching be about God? Today Dr. John reminds us that Bible teaching you can trust keeps God center stage. The Bible is not a "How to?" manual, but a testament to His glory.Bible Teaching You Can Trust: Too often, Christians evaluate preachers and teachers without understanding the criteria by which they are evaluating...
Psalm 22 was written by David to convey a struggling time in his life. We can identify with his words when we too encounter troubles. Today Dr. John reminds us that the ultimate subject of this Psalm is Jesus Christ. The sufferings of Jesus become not simply a means of sympathy for us, but the deliverance from sin, over death, for all eternity. He is our Saviour. Never Alone: Isolation is a problem in our society. Many feel alone and distant from one another. But when you are in pain, the isolation is accentuated. Nothing makes suffering more difficult than feeling that you must bear it alo...