Grace’s Latest Messages
What Jesus Wants For You (John 16:25-33)
What do you think God wants for you?
No, that's not a typo. We usually think about what God wants from us. And that's worthwhile to think about. But in this week's message we're going to see Jesus describe what God desires for us through Christ.
This week at Grace we'll finish up our series on John 14-16. The last section (John 16:25-33) includes rich and thought provoking descriptions of what Jesus wants for his disciples, both then and now.
I'm glad we come to this passage this Sunday because it's Pentecost, the Sunday when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. As we've talked about earlier in these chapters, the Spirit is proof of God's presence with us and his being "for us."
Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- John 16:25-33
From Sorrow to Joy (John 16:16-24)
The other night Becca and I watched the final episode of the NBC drama series, This is Us.
(Don't worry - there won't be any spoilers below).
I'm not sure if you watched this show or not, but it's goal seems to be to make people cry. Every episode. For six seasons.
What was interesting to me about the final episode was how they attempted to bring joy out of sorrow from a secular perspective. They clearly wanted to end on a happy note, while honoring all the grief and loss the characters had gone through. But without God or the hope of the gospel, the end result was a series of trite cliches (well-acted, beautifully shot, and musically enriched, sure, but still cliches) about finding meaning in the little things in the midst of sorrow.
This week at Grace, we're going to look at John 16:15-24, where Jesus promises his disciples that their sorrow would be the root of their future joy in a concrete and real way because of what he would do on the cross.
Hope to see you Sunday at Grace as we explore how the cross in our source of hope and joy in the midst of sorrow, too.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. If you'd like to know more about what's going on at Grace, I'm trying out a new monthly newsletter with ministry updates on the church called "Inside Grace." You can see the first issue here and let me know what you think or if you'd like to be on the recipients list in the future.
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
- John 16:16-24
Jesus and the Holy Spirit (John 16:4b-15)
This week at Grace, we're going to look at Jesus' provocative statement that we're better off without him (John 16:5-15).
How could that be? Wouldn't you give anything to be able to switch places with the first disciples and see the feeding of the five thousand, the raising of Lazarus, or hear the sermon on the mount firsthand?
How could we be better off without Jesus here?
Jesus' answer in this week's passage is that the Holy Spirit makes his physical absence not only endurable but preferable.
Let's talk Sunday about why that is.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
- John 16:4b-15
What To Do When They Don't Like You (John 15:26-16:4a)
How does the rejection of other people impact you?
Are you someone who can easily shake it off, or do you brood over snide comments, rolled eyes, and derisive laughter?
I wish I could say I have thick skin but more often I'm in the second camp. It's painful to have people (especially those people close to us) disdain those parts of us that are most precious to us, especially our faith. Whether it's a family member, a friend, or a romantic interest, being scorned and shamed hurts.
In our passage this week at Grace (John 15:26-16:4), Jesus helps us prepare for the rejection of others as a result of our Christian faith.
Jesus knew that his first disciples, as well as all of us who followed him, would face the same painful experiences he did.
Let's look at the resources Jesus gave us to prepare for living in a conflicted world.
Look forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
- John 15:26-16:4a
The More You Know (John 15:12-27)
If you had the choice to enter a love story or a hate story, which would you choose? If you said, “hate story” I’d be concerned about you.
The fact of the matter is we don’t have a choice. As followers of Jesus we enter both. But we’re not alone to navigate these stories.
John 15:12-27 is about love, hate, and help. Read it through a few times before Sunday and you’ll be better prepared to hear it with others.
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
- John 15:12-27
Living With Jesus (John 15:1-11)
What is it like to live with you? What do people who interact with you regularly become like? Do you rub off on them, even change them?
This week at Grace we're going to look at John 15:1-11. In it, Jesus describes himself with another of his "I AM" statement (which are tentposts of Jesus' identity in John); in this one, Jesus says, "I am the true vine" and that we are his branches. When we abide in him (that is, live in him), it changes who we are. Through connection with him, we are able to bear fruit we never could otherwise.
So, how do we do that? And what does "fruit" look like? Let's talk about it together on Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
- John 15:1-11
I Believe in Jesus...Now What? (John 14:12-31)
I'm writing this the day after Easter Sunday, and I must admit, I'm a little bummed out. The hard-boiled eggs have (thankfully) all been found, my Easter bonnet has been put away for another year, and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!" is all but a faint memory in my head.
Now what?
And it would be easy for me to say, "cheer up, Chris. Only 36 weeks until Christmas!" But that seems a little superficial, especially after hearing Jesus's words that He's "the way, and the truth, and the life." How shall we live in light of those profound words?
Join me this week at Grace as we dive into John 14:12-31 in our "Now What?" series. I believe we'll get a clearer picture of what life could look like in light of Christ's resurrection and ascension.
He is (still) risen!
-Pastor Chris
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
- John 14:12-31
The Hope of Easter (John 14:1-11)
This Sunday is Easter, the celebration of the most pivotal day in history - when Christ conquered death not only for himself but for all who believe in him.
I've been thinking a lot this week about why Easter matters so much to us. Not the holiday itself (though I love a good Cadbury creme egg as much as anyone), but the event of Jesus' resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:3, Paul makes clear that there is no gospel without the resurrection.
For Easter this year we're beginning a new series from John 14-16 called, "Now What?" Because Jesus anticipated his own death and resurrection, he prepared his disciples (and us) for what life could be like afterward.
These three chapters from John are profound, challenging, and rich. Jesus shows us why his resurrection matters for our relationship to God, how it brings life to us, and what is possible now as a result.
I'm eager to explore them with you over these next couple of months in order to live as people of the resurrection.
Looking forward to celebrating with you on Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. We'd love for you to come to any of the three Easter services (8:00, 9:30 and 11:00). We're expecting that the 9:30 AM service will be the most heavily attended, so if you'd like to help create space for visitors (or you just like more elbow room) consider coming to 8:00 or 11:00 AM.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
- John 14:1-11