Who Do You Say I Am?

Jim Leffel

Mark 8:27-37

Jesus asks his disciples, "Who do people say I am?" In the ensuing discussion, Jesus teaches the implications for following him and why doing so is worth it. This involves a personal choice to let him lead our lives and to go through suffering. The investment of having a relationship with God and living for Him is worthy of our soul. This is what gives us satisfaction and the abundant life.\r\n

The Afterlife

Dennis McCallum

Ephesians 1:9-10

If there is nothing after death, then this life is meaningless. God has offered us salvation from death through Jesus' death on the cross and He has been working this plan since man first sinned. God wants us to join Him in Heaven for eternity, and all we have to do is accept His free gift of salvation.

The Non-Negotiables

Dennis McCallum

Romans 6:4

Paul emphasized the importance of the Gospel message to the Corinthians, that Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected which demonstrates that he was God and had paid for sin. All we have to do to be made righteous in God's eyes is to accept Jesus' death and resurrection as a payment for our own sins. Nothing should be added or removed from the Gospel that Paul preached.

Beginning: John the Baptist

Jim Leffel

2 Corinthians 5:21

After many years of silence from God, John the Baptist comes as a messenger to announce the coming of the Messiah, a fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah 40 and Malachi 3. His message was a need for repentance and forgiveness of sins, and many people came to be baptized by him. He tells the people that though he baptizes with water, the One coming after him will baptize with the Holy Spirit. While water baptism is only a symbolic cleansing done in recognition for the need for forgiveness, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of forgiveness provided by Christ's death.

The Cross

Dennis McCallum

Psalms 22

In the paramount event of all of human history, Jesus Christ is convicted and crucified. Predicted in Psalm 22 and fulfilled in the gospel accounts, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of humanity. How will we choose to respond to him?

Two Rich Guys

Dennis McCallum

Luke 19

The accounts in Luke 18 and 19 present two men in contrast. First, there is a rich man who approaches Jesus as a good teacher, thinking he has done enough good to earn salvation. He leaves grieved, however, because Jesus challenges his good deeds. The second man, Zacchaeus, eagerly goes to meet Jesus despite being known as a sinner. He repents before Christ and receives salvation in his humility. In response to this story, we are faced with several questions: will we trust that Jesus is the Messiah, not just a good teacher, liar, or lunatic? And will we walk away from Jesus sad or with joy?

The Good Samaritan

Dennis McCallum

Luke 10:25-37

To be saved, we must follow the entire Law perfectly all the time or we must place our trust in Jesus to fulfill the Law for us. A religious leader, wanting to lower the standard of the Law to a level he could attain, asks Jesus who his neighbor is. Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, demonstrating that every person is a neighbor we are called to love, even if they are our worst enemy.

God's Strategy in Human History

Dennis McCallum

Romans 9-11

What are God's plans for humanity and the means to His ends? God communicates throughout the Old and New Testaments that righteousness before God is bestowed on those who have faith, not those who devote themselves to rules or works. All are called to specifically put their faith in the culmination of God's law, Jesus Christ. God shifts His work to spread this message beyond the Israelites, specifically to non-Jewish people; but will come back and fulfill His promises to the Jewish people.\r\n

Can There Be Only One Way to God?

Gary DeLashmutt

John 14:6

Religious relativism is a self defeating view, the idea that there is no objective truth is an objective truth claim. The religions and beliefs of this world are diverse and contradictory. We should search for truth through our experience of the world around us and based on what we can know.