The Good Shepherd

Conrad Hilario

Mark 10:45

Through the story of the Good Shepherd, we see what God's leadership looks like in our lives and how we should lead others. This is contrasted with the characteristics of a bad shepherd. Four things we learn about God's leadership are: 1) He wants a personal relationship with those who follow Him; 2) He leads by example; 3) He is continually involved in our lives; 4) His leadership is characterized by self-sacrifice. Are we going to commit to living as servant leaders as Jesus did?

The Good Shepherd

Scott Risley

Ezekiel 34:22-23

Jesus is the good shepherd, and he demonstrates his love and care for us as his sheep by laying down his life for us, pursuing and knowing us personally, and including all kinds of people in his flock. Furthermore, Jesus promises to never lose us once we are in his care, and he allows us to be a part of his shepherding work by acting as spiritual leaders for others.

Abraham's Life of Faith

Jeff Gordon

Genesis 12:1-4

In the book of Galatians, Paul continues to defend a life of faith as opposed to the Law. He reminds the believers in Galatia that both their salvation and sanctification never had to do with the Law, but were a result of the Spirit's work in them. No one can be made right with God through trying to keep the Law, and even Abraham was blessed solely because of his faith. As Abraham received a blessing for his faith, so now believers can receive the Holy Spirit through faith.

Jesus on the Cross

Ryan Lowery

Psalms 22:1-22

On the cross, Jesus cried out three things. Jesus demonstrates God's love as he prays for those cursing him in the midst of his suffering. He also quotes Psalm 22 in order to show that things are going exactly according to God's plan. Finally, he proclaims that the work of atonement is finished. We are left with the task of telling others about his sacrifice.

Faith vs. Law

Jeff Gordon

Galatians 2:16-20

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul argues the case that the Christian life is about faith rather than following the Law. He argues that we are justified by faith, and that because of this we are sanctified on the same basis: the work of Christ.

The Light of Life

Dennis McCallum

John 8:12-59

Jesus interacts with the Pharisees again and compares himself to the Light of the World, as opposed to the darkness and confusion that the Pharisees were living in. Jesus warns the Pharisees clearly while also trying to communicate with the multitudes of people gathered around them. They argue back and forth, with the Pharisees and some of the people listening still missing the point that apart from Jesus, they are in complete darkness and alienation before God the Father. Others, on the other hand, come to believe in Jesus, who instructs them to continue on in his word. Jesus came to offer real freedom for those enslaved to sin through his work on the cross.

The Way People See Jesus

Ryan Lowery

Matthew 26:34-35

Before Jesus' resurrection, there were five reactions to him: 1) the religious rulers questioned his authority; 2) the disciples were not prepared to suffer for the truth; 3) Herod viewed him as a novelty; 4) Pontius Pilate refused to make a decision; and 5) the thieves crucified with him either rejected him or gained salvation. Today, Jesus is still a polarizing figure.

The Last Supper

Ryan Lowery

1 Corinthians 11:23-25

As they eat the Passover meal, Jesus gives it a new meaning for his followers. Jesus teaches that he will suffer, and that he will not eat a Passover meal again until the true meaning of passover is fulfilled. The point of communion is to how Jesus broke his body and shed his blood so that we can be reconciled to God, and formed together into a community of love. Unfortunately, Jesus' disciples were too busy thinking about themselves to think about his sacrifice.

The Bread of Life

Dennis McCallum

John 6:22-69

After feeding the multitude, Jesus approaches the crowds and calls out their attitude for following him to receive temporal blessings. Jesus explains he is worth pursuing because he offers eternal life to those who believe. Jesus then shows how he is the Bread of Life, a metaphor showing the he is the ultimate source of fulfillment in our lives. People need to consider if they will look to Jesus to meet their needs or try and run their lives by themselves. It's important to note that this passage is not describing communion or needing to replace Jesus with human priests, based on the text itself, along with the historical, conceptual and theological context.