Podcasts about scripture john

This message is an honest, powerful reflection on what it means to live with God in the tension between Eden and eternity. Through personal story, global perspective, and deep biblical truth, we're reminded that from before creation to the end of time, God has always desired to be with us. Guest teacher Freddy Williams shares his own journey of recovery, gratitude, and return to preaching after more than a decade—including a stroke and a season of silence. He unpacks Peter's denial and restoration to show us a God who meets us in our shame and restores us with grace. Whether you're walking through failure, doubt, or just the chaos of life, this message is for you. You're not too far. Your story isn't over. God knows you—and still wants you.

Today's Scripture: John 21:24-25Sometimes it's not enough for us just to move forward in life. We want to move forward faster… stronger… better than someone else.When comparison starts to take the wheel of our life, it doesn't just distract us from the most important things right in front of us. It can actually define us, if we let it.

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

In today's message, Pastor Mark opens one of the most beloved verses in all of Scripture — John 3:16 — to reveal the breathtaking depth of God's love. Far from being a simple slogan of faith, this verse unveils a God whose love is richer, stronger, and more personal than we can imagine.Pastor Mark walks us through three powerful truths:God loves us in spite of His omniscience. He knows everything about us — every weakness, every failure — and yet His love remains unwavering.God loves us in spite of His omnipotence. With all power in His hands, He chooses compassion over condemnation, mercy over wrath. God loves us so we can join Him in His omnipresence. Through Christ, we are invited into His life, His presence, and His mission — not just someday, but right now. Tune in as we explore what it means to be fully known, fully seen, and fully loved by an all loving God.

How do you talk about kindness? Depending on the context, the Greek word can be translated as fitting, pleasing, honest, or compassionate. How do you talk about a word with that kind of lexical range? The answer is you can't do it abstractly. You have to look at a kind of relationship that combines all those traits. The kind of relationship that combines them is friendship. And nothing is more humanizing and life-changing than friendship.  John 15 is a unique passage about friendship. It tells us 1) the character or nature of friendship, 2) how you forge friendship, and 3) where you get the power for friendship. This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on May 9, 2010. Series: The Real Signs of the Spirit. Scripture: John 15:6-15. Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

Daily Dose of Hope November 14, 2025   Scripture – John 21   Prayer: Holy and Merciful God, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every morning.  Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you and your Word.  In these next few moments of silence, help us be still and know that you are God...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  Happy Friday! As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we walk through John 21 and conclude the Gospel of John.    In today's passage, the resurrected Lord appears to the disciples who are out fishing.  At first they don't know it's Jesus, but when they recognize him, they rush to the shore.  Peter jumps in and swims to get there faster.  It's a happy reunion.  After another miracle of abundance (an amazing catch of fish and no net ripping), the disciples find Jesus on the shore ready to cook some breakfast.  One note here - Jesus' resurrection was a spiritual and physical resurrection.  If you recall, he could enter locked rooms without going through the door but he also ate food and needed nourishment.  Jesus did not appear to them as a ghost but as a real human being.    This is the narrative in which Jesus and Peter reconcile.  It's my guess that Jesus has already forgiven Peter for his denial but we can assume Peter has all kinds of pain and mixed feelings associated with his betrayal.  It's time to address these inward feelings of shame and brokenness.  Jesus has big plans for Peter so this healing needs to happen now.  And it does, but in a way that only Jesus can do it. In a series of three questions, possibly correlating to Peter's three denials, Jesus arranges a miracle in the heart in Peter.  Three times, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?"  Peter then has to say out loud, "You know I do, Lord."  With each cycle of questioning, we can begin to see Peter's shame lift.  Jesus didn't doubt Peter's love but maybe Peter did after his failure before the crucifixion.  An unspoken forgiveness takes place and Jesus reinstates Peter to do what Jesus has called him to do – shepherd the people of God.  But at the same time, Jesus is still calling Peter to do something very, very hard.  In verse 18, Jesus makes it clear that continuing Jesus' mission and leading his people will eventually lead Peter to his own death.  In verse 19, Jesus refers to how Peter will lay down his life.  Jesus knows this won't be easy for Peter and he says that Peter will have to go where he doesn't wish to go.  Jesus is reinstating Peter here but he is also vouching for his integrity.  He is telling the others that Peter does, in fact, have what it takes to lead the flock.   This final chapter in John brought to mind several questions for me: -Is there someone with whom you need to reconcile?  Pray about how to handle that situation. -Is there someone in your life that needs forgiving? -Is Jesus calling you to do something hard?  Are you avoiding it?  Why? -What has been your biggest takeaway from the Gospel of John?  How has it been different for you from the other Gospels?   Have a great weekend!   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

The Gospel of John Week 20 Scripture: John 14:31 - 16:3. Our study of the evening of Jesus' Passover meal with His disciples continues.  In our opening verse of John 14:31 we read, "Come, let us go."  Pastor shares an ancient Christian tradition that states Jesus met with his disciples in the upper room in a location in the southwestern corner of the city of Jerusalem on the Western Hill.  Using tradition, archeological discoveries, writings from Jewish historian Josephus, and some holy speculation, Pastor puts together an amazing picture of Jesus and His disciples walk to the Garden:     ⁃    It was an evening walk.     ⁃    To get there they would have moved through the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives where the Garden of Gethsemane was located.     ⁃    On the way they would have passed the Temple     ⁃    According to Josephus the Temple was 150 feet tall and on the face of the temple was a massive golden grapevine with clusters of grapes made out of solid gold. The clusters stood about 6 feet high.     ⁃    What is known from rabbinical writings is that during the great feasts, (like this one at Passover) massive torches were placed in the courts of the temple. There were 4 of them and they stood 75 feet high with multiple containers of oil for each.     ⁃    They provided a tremendous amount of light in the temple and could have been seen throughout the city. So as we read, "Come, let us go," we move to the first words of chapter 15, "I am the true vine."     ⁃    And Jesus and His disciples are actually seeing the massive golden grapevine on the face of the temple as they walk. These are absolutely startling and dramatic words.     ⁃    These words would have been more significant to them then than they are to us today. What Jesus' disciples would have thought of was that the people of Israel are compared to a grapevine in the Hebrew Scriptures and they would have thought of Isaiah's Song of the Vineyard. (Isaiah 5) an analogy of what God intended the nation of Israel to be. And now Jesus is saying He is the vine. Jesus is saying He is everything that God intends for His people to be. With this analogy Jesus is saying that He is the One who gives life to the people of God. It is only by being connected to Jesus that we have life and forgiveness and hope because He is the Messiah. Unless we receive Him as such, judgement will come. As Pastor takes us through verses 1-2 of chapter 15, he shares what he personally believes and that is that the translators have possibly not translated accurately. He goes on to share that the Greek word translated in English to "cuts off" has two meanings and the correct meaning may not have been used here, that the meaning "to raise to life up" (the second meaning)should have been used.  Pastor brings in the actual care of grapevines by a good gardener and that non-producing vines are lifted up off the ground by the gardener so they can receive more light and are not cut off. Pastor makes a solid argument that the text is better translated as: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He lifts up every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." This is all happening just hours before He will be arrested and He is making sure His disciples understand these truths. He goes on with more truths of praying in His name, loving one another and He repeats Himself. Why? Because not only did they need it repeated, but we need to hear these truths over and again. Jesus wants to make sure and re-share these fundamental truths to anchor His disciples and us in the good times and in the difficult times. Jesus goes on with more truths:     ⁃    As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you.     ⁃    Remain in My love.     ⁃    Keep His commandments (not to earn His love, but because we have His love)     ⁃    He calls His disciples His friends     ⁃    He tells them whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.     ⁃    He tells them the world will hate them as it hates Him     ⁃    He talks of persecution, but that there will also be those who will listen. So He encourages them to speak His words and tell others. We will have difficulties in this world be we know He is with us, and He loves us!     ⁃    He shares that the Holy Spirit is coming. The Advocate. The Comforter, The Consoler. And that they will need the Holy Spirit. Then Pastor shares the story of Jacob DeShazer. It's a powerful testimony of how God changes our hearts with His Word and uses our changed hearts to impact others. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Daily Dose of Hope November 13, 2025   Scripture – John 20   Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. Even though you are incredibly mighty and take care of us in such fundamental ways, we struggle to stay focused on our faith.  Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts.  Help us take a moment of silence and remember who you are...Holy Spirit, speak to us today.  We want to hear your voice.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we walk through John 20.  Let me start by saying this.  The resurrection of Jesus is the most critical event in our faith; we could argue it was the most critical event of all time.  Jesus wasn't simply resuscitated.  He wasn't just alive in a spiritual way. It wasn't his ghost that showed up in that room with the disciples.  Jesus was dead with no pulse, no heartbeat, wrapped in grave clothes and laid in a tomb, AND then he became alive again in a totally real, physical sense.  Death to life.  That is huge and that is what today's passage discusses with lots of great detail. It starts with an empty tomb.  Mary Magdalene heads over to the tomb on Sunday morning. We know from other Gospel accounts that she wanted to properly prepare Jesus' body for burial, as the Friday tomb situation had been rushed. It's then she saw that the stone had been removed. She goes to get Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved (most likely John, the author). They rushed to the tomb. Jesus' body was no longer there but the strips of cloth used to wrap his dead body were still present.    John went inside. He saw and believed. Think about those words. He had been walking with Jesus for three years. John saw miracle after miracle, healing after healing, feeding after feeding. But none of it made sense. It now makes sense. What Jesus said would happen has happened. The cross did not have the final word. Jesus Christ defeated death and darkness. He overcame the world.   Jesus then appears to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples, and then specifically to Thomas, who said he needed to see the scars himself to truly believe.  Jesus knew that his dear friends would be feeling thoroughly defeated and they needed his presence.  The Holy Spirit was not yet here and they needed to see his physical body to have the peace that only Jesus can bring.  He also wants to encourage them to continue his mission.  Nothing is done.  One of my favorite verses is John 20:21, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And then he breathes on them so they receive the Spirit.  They won't fully receive the Spirit until Pentecost but I think they got a taste of God's Spirit right here, enough to empower them and encourage them to keep on keeping on.    The transforming power of God was at work then and is still at work today! The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives within us as believers. There is power in that, friends! We are resurrection people. We believe that what was dead can be brought to life. We believe that we are new people in Jesus Christ. We believe that we are raised with Christ. We believe that there is so much more to this world than meets the eye. How have you seen resurrection power at work in your life? Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 12, 2025   Scripture – John 19   Prayer: Holy God, You are a God of order and a God of purpose.  The world may seem chaotic, but you are not.  You have ordered your world with perfection.  Help us trust you.  Lord, fill us with your perfect peace.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  As most of you know, we have been walking through the Gospels and will soon walk through Acts.  Today, we begin John 19.    Our passage begins with Jesus before Pilate.  Even Pilate, the Roman official, recognizes that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Pontius Pilate is an interesting guy.  He knows that Jesus hasn't done anything wrong, certainly nothing worthy of execution, and he truly wants to free Jesus.  The text indicates that Pilate is somewhat scared of Jesus. He tries to placate the Jewish leaders.  He has Jesus flogged.  He offers to release Barrabas, a noted insurrectionist, thinking for sure they would rather have Jesus set free rather than a murderer.  But that isn't what happened. And Pilate isn't willing to stand up for what he knows is right.  His own role in Jesus' death lands him a mention in the Apostle's Creed, the most famous and oldest Christian Creed.  Think about it, for two thousand years, Christians around the globe have been declaring that Jesus died under Pontius Pilate.    Bottom line:  The Jewish officials are desperate to get rid of Jesus. They are blinded by fear, jealousy, and contempt. In an attempt to get Pilate to cooperate with their plans, they threaten to report him to Caesar. After all, Jesus claimed to be king and anyone who made such a claim would be considered a threat to the emperor. The great irony here is that the Jews are essentially presenting themselves as better Roman citizens than Pilate, the Roman official. When it's convenient for them, they are happy to use the pagan Roman government to get their way. They will sacrifice their own ethics to ensure that Jesus is killed.   The thing about sacrificing our ethics is that it's a slippery slope, is it not? These Jewish officials were probably very pious men. They thought they were doing the right thing. Afterall, Jesus was saying blasphemous things and he didn't follow their rules. They needed to step in and take care of it. But gradually their dislike of Jesus became hate. They so badly wanted him gone that they were willing to do anything, break their own laws, disobey Torah, simply to get rid of him. They were willing to do anything, no matter how shady it was or low they had to go.   Has your hatred of another person ever made you compromise your own values? We think we are so much better than these Jewish officials but I think sometimes we are just like these Jewish officials. Dig deep today, friends. Examine your own heart. The remainder of the chapter is pretty powerful.  Jesus carries his own cross to the place of his execution.  The soldiers cast lots for his clothing.  He breathes his last breath without any of his bones being broken by the soldiers.  They pierced his side with a spear.  Lots of prophecy being fulfilled here.   Finally, two faithful Jewish men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, take Jesus' body and place it in a tomb.  Not a lot can be done to prepare the body for burial because it's Friday afternoon and the Sabbath is upon them.  Things will have to wait.  But things may look a lot different on Sunday morning.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope November 11, 2025   Scripture - John 18:19-40   Prayer: Lord, Let us start by thanking you for a new day.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the one who was, and is, and is to come.  You are all powerful and all knowing.  We give thanks for your love and wisdom.  We give thanks for your presence.  Help us, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts.  Help us set aside distractions and listen to what you have for us today.  In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...Jesus, we love you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are finishing up John 18.   Jesus has been before the Jewish high priest and the Jewish ruling council.  They can't stand him.  They not only feel threatened by him, but they are appalled about how he speaks of forgiving sins and being like the Father.  They physically assault him.  They want him to die but they don't have the power to execute him under Roman law.  They have to take him to the Roman governor, who happens to be Pontius Pilate.  As you will see, Pilate does not find Jesus to have done anything worthy of death at all but he is scared of the Jewish leaders.  We could go in a lot of different directions with this.  But I want to focus on a portion of verses 37-38, ...Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." "What is truth?" Pilate asked... Jesus came to testify to the truth.  Pilate questions if there can be truth.  The Greek word for "truth" is aletheia, and it means something like "divine revelation."  It literally means "what can't be hidden."  The Hebrew word for "truth" is emeth, which means firmness and immovability. This is such an important discussion because we live in a world in which people are still searching for truth and meaning.  There is an idea that it's okay for you to have your truth and me to have mine.  But yet, that only works up until a point, until our disagreements become really fundamental.  Here is some truth for you: Truth is not relative, nor does it change from person to person.  Truth can be offensive to some because they simply don't like how it makes them feel.  The reality is that many things can have some truth but there is only one TRUTH.  For believers, TRUTH is Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 reads, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  When Jesus says, "I am the way," he doesn't say "I am a way." How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here.   He is basically saying, don't go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!"  Jesus is the map that leads us to all truth.  If we really believe this, this fundamentally changes how we think about the world.  If Jesus is truth, then everything he said throughout the Gospels is true.  It means he came back from the dead and will return to judge all people.  It means he is God.  Do you believe this?  Do you?  I'm pressing this point a bit, I know.  And it's for a reason.  Because if we really, really believe Jesus is truth, then this one fact will inform every other piece of our life.  It will affect how we treat others. It will affect how we worship. It will certain affect our priorities. It will change how we spend our money. It affects what we think about during the day. It will change how we talk to people. We will think about sharing Jesus a lot more. We will think about Jesus a lot more in general.  We will pray more.  We will read the Bible more.  We will become more deeply devoted to God because he is Truth and nothing else in the world is. Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 10, 2025   Scripture - John 18:1-18   Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today in humility and awe.  You are a good God.  You, who put the stars and planets in motion, also created us.  You care about the most minute details of our lives.  You have numbered the hairs on our head.  Thank you for loving us.  Thank you for caring so much.  Help us be put even a small reflection of your love toward those around us.  More of you and less of me, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently in the book of John, as we walk through the whole of the Gospels and the book of Acts.  Today, we start John 18.   We start in the Garden.  Unlike Mark's Gospel, Jesus does not plead that the cup be taken from him.  Rather, he steps forward and boldly declares that he is Jesus of Nazareth, the one they are looking for.  The Garden of Gethsemane is a common place.  He is not hiding and he is not apprehensive.  He offers himself in place of his disciples who are there with him.  He affirms the anti-violent path given to him by God and rebukes Peter when he cuts the high priest's slave's ear off.  Jesus will not allow anyone, including Peter, to deprive him of his role in God's victory.  Jesus knows he is innocent, he knows this is unjust, but he also knows it is necessary so he will do what must be done, not for his sake but for ours.   I always wonder what Judas is thinking in this moment.  Does he have a sense of satisfaction?  Or, is there part of him that has regret?  Does he see Jesus' innocence and begin to see what he has done?  I don't think we will ever know but I can't help but wonder.  Judas was a complicated character and if we are honest, we've all been Judas at one time or another.  We have all betrayed Jesus.   Speaking of betrayal, we also get to read about Peter's first denial of Jesus to the servant girl in the high priest's courtyard.  The first of three, of course.  What was going on in Peter's head?  We know he had to be scared to death.  Was he praying?  Had he forgotten everything Jesus taught him?  Was he trying to figure out how to just get out of the situation alive?  I mean, he was Jesus' very best friend.   More tomorrow.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

What happens when Jesus changes everything about you? In Week 1 of our series Follower – Learning from the Life of Peter, Pastor CJ Ward unpacks John 1:35–42, where Jesus meets Simon and gives him a new name — Peter. In one encounter, Jesus transforms his identity and sets the tone for what it means to follow Him. Scripture: John 1:35–42 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Ezekiel 46:9 | Romans 2:4 In this message, you'll discover: Why every follower of Jesus experiences real change. How to surrender control and trust what God wants to transform. The difference between letting Jesus change “something” and letting Him change “everything.” Why open hands are the posture of a true follower. ️ You can't encounter Jesus and leave the same. Watch now and ask the question: What if Jesus changes everything? #FollowerSeries #NewLifeGillette #CJWard #JesusChangesEverything #Discipleship #LifeOfPeter Chapters (00:00:00) - What Does It Really Mean to Follow Jesus?(00:03:41) - The Bible is Odd(00:06:04) - The Strange Life of Simon(00:10:15) - Jesus Changes Everything About All of Us(00:15:34) - Could You Tell Who Was A Skater Or A Pretender?(00:18:06) - Does God Need Everything Changed in Your Life?(00:24:51) - "I Want to Change Everything"(00:29:47) - Will I Let Jesus Change Anything About Me?

Today's Scripture: John 21:15-23Jesus transforms our past fails and redeems them into opportunities to be a leading follower in your life, your marriage, family, work and ministry

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Scripture:  John 8:7, Luke 23:34, Philippians 2:12-18The Pulse ExperienceSermon:  The Mind Of Christ Part 6Pastor Jay MaceSunday, November 9, 2025https://linktr.ee/thepulsewinfield

Daily Dose of Hope November 7, 2025   Scripture - John 17   Prayer:  Dear Holy God, Your love is amazing.  Thank you for the way you care for us.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, help us focus on you...Lord Jesus, help us set aside every distraction and take this time to lean on you.  We want to hear your voice.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily bible reading plan.  We are currently in the book of John as we walk through the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into John 17.    In our passage, John 17, Jesus is praying, out loud, with the disciples around him.  There is a lot of substance here.  You probably noticed that there are three sections to Jesus' prayer, the prayer that God will glorify Jesus, a prayer for the disciples, and a prayer for all believers. Unlike the Lord's Prayer which offers a model for prayer, this prayer is more instructive to the disciples about who they are and who Jesus is to them.  What might it have been like for the disciples to be seated around a table with Jesus as he prayed out loud for them?  Think about what it's like when someone prays out loud for you.  It changes your experience of the prayer.  It makes it very, very personal.    One interesting aspect of this prayer is that Jesus starts by giving a clear definition of eternal life and it isn't the typical one.  He says, ...this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. That seems rather simple - eternal life is to know God and Jesus. How does Jesus' definition here change what we imagine in this life?   Really, the whole prayer paints a picture about what it looks like to be in relationship with God.  What does it look like for the disciples to be in relationship with God?  What does it look like for us, as the believers who have come after them?  We are to be in unity with God but also in unity with one another.  In fact, the way the world will know that Jesus was sent by God is because of the love and unity of his followers.  Considering the disunity of the body of Christ now and in the past, this just makes me cry!   I was at a conference this past week in which the opening speaker mentioned this specific prayer by Jesus regarding Christian unity.  He said it had been his study and prayer focus for several months now.  He confessed that it used to really bother him because Christians have failed so miserably at being unified.  But after this time of prayer and study, he came to the conclusion that Jesus would not pray something that wasn't possible.  And that makes sense.  It's not in Jesus' character to set us up for failure.  Just because something is difficult does not mean it's impossible.  But it is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us as God's people.  It's going to take a lot of humility and repentance too!!!   What are your thoughts?  Is Christian unity possible?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

The Gospel of John Week 19 Scripture: John 14:6 - 31. As we continue with more of the evening of Jesus' last day with His disciples, we see Him sharing important teachings with them.     ⁃    that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life     ⁃    that He is the only way to the Father     ⁃    the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate     ⁃    that He's going way for a wile but will come back     ⁃    that they are not to be troubled      ⁃    that they are not to be afraid     ⁃    that He is sharing all of this so that when it happens they will believe. In John 14:26 Jesus tells them, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." Pastor shares that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an "it." The Holy Spirit is a living being - not a force - and that the Holy Spirit lives in the hearts of believers. Jesus then tells them, in verse 27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  Pastor shares a personal testimony about the Holy Spirit teaching him the meaning of, "Do not be afraid." Do not be afraid, means don't even imagine the things that cause you fear! The One saying this is the One who loved us enough to die for us, He's the One who endured hell on the cross for our sins and He's the One saying, "don't sweat this!" Can you imagine how much that meant to the disciples that night, but also in the days, months and years afterwards as they came to understand Jesus was risen, ascended, coming back and had given them a mission to carry out.   Jesus is still telling us these same words today, we do not have to live in fear - we are to walk in His peace. In verses 30 - 31 Jesus says, "I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me." The prince of the world is the devil, but Jesus is telling them that the devil has no hold over Him!  Soon they will see Jesus arrested, beaten, crucified and put in a grave. They will be devastated, but Jesus is telling them in advance that HE is in control - not the devil - Jesus says the enemy has NO hold on Him.   He tells them He only does what the Father tells Him (and so He will go to the cross) and Jesus tells them, "My peace I give you, fear not!" for the devil has NO control over me! 1 Corinthians 2:8 says, "None of the rulers of this age understood it (God's wisdom/God's plan for salvation), for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."  Even when it looks like the devil has won - God triumphs! God flips what looks like disaster and turn it into salvation! Today the battle goes on, BUT THE WAR IS WON!!! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Daily Dose of Hope October 6, 2025   Scripture – John 16   Prayer:  Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!  We magnify your precious and powerful name.  How often we forget how mighty you are.  You created all.  You created us.  Thank you, Lord, for who you are.  Most of all, thank you for loving us with all our flaws and brokenness.  In all we do, in who we are, help us to be more like you.  We pray for humility, mercy, and compassion.  Help us see others through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen.`   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope daily Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are going through the book of John currently as part of our deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are taking a look at John 16.   Jesus starts by telling the disciples that he is teaching them all of this because things are going to get hard.  He wants them to know just how hard.  Not only will Jesus be arrested and killed, but the disciples themselves will experience persecution.  I'm not sure that this has crossed their minds.  Remember, they are still thinking that Jesus will establish an earthly Kingdom that will overthrow the Romans.    Jesus reiterates that he will be going away, there will be grief, but then there will be joy.  He uses the analogy of a woman having a baby.  There is lots of pain during childbirth but when the child comes, it's all worth it.  There is so much joy in holding that new baby.  So Jesus says that the disciples will have tremendous grief but then they will have tremendous joy.  They question him, of course, because they really don't understand.  This is still very confusing to them.  This doesn't fit their idea of what it supposed to happen.    But the final verse of this chapter is one of my favorites and definitely worth memorizing.  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."   Jesus knows that they don't get it and that the next few days are going to be excruciating.  Really, the next few years will be hard.  But we live in a broken world.  He didn't come to take away pain and suffering.  In fact, he says that in this world, we will have trouble.  Expect it.  But because of Jesus, we can actually have peace in the midst of trouble. We can have the kind of peace the world does not offer, a peace that only makes sense connected to Jesus.  Jesus is the one who conquered death, he overcame evil, he won victory over Satan.  Because of his victory, we also can experience victory.  Because of his resurrection, we also can experience resurrection.  All the troubles of this world won't go away for us, but we can get through them.  Jesus can make a way when their seems to be absolutely no way.  He can bring peace to our chaos.  He is the one who overcame the world.  And that, my friends, is such great news.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope November 5, 2025   Scripture – John 15   Prayer:  Almighty Father, You always know what is best for us.  Thank you for that.  We are sorry for the ways that we resist.  Help us to want what you want for us.  Help us to want to be patient, to want to be kind, to want to be obedient.  Conform our will, Lord,  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  As most of you know, we are right in the middle of a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into John 15.   The Scripture that we read from John 15 is incredibly powerful.  Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."   Jesus is talking to his followers about how to walk closely with him, essentially what it means to be a disciple.  What is a disciple? A good working definition, for our purposes, is  an apprentice, someone who wants to learn all they can from another person so they will do what they do and become like them.  To be a disciple of Jesus, that means we have to actively learn about Jesus, know him, become like him.   And this Scripture gives us a really important clue as to what it means to be a disciple of Jesus.  A disciple remains in Jesus. Older translations use the term abide. To remain or abide in Jesus means not simply to have said yes to Jesus, but to have a connection with Jesus, we are in union with him, we stay with him, we rest in him. Let's think about this. The presence of Jesus is always with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is always there, but we tend to move away from him. Jesus is saying here, remain in me. Stay close to me, stay connected to me, stay in conversation with me. How do we do this?  Well, through prayer, reading Scripture, worship, and other spiritual disciplines. If we don't pray, if we don't read the Bible, if we don't worship, we will not feel connected to Jesus. We are not remaining in him and the result will be evident. We will feel dry, parched, alone, we will start to gradually make choices that don't represent who we are in Jesus, the world will begin to seep in, gradually, so gradually sometimes that we don't even notice.   I've used the teacup example before.  If you drink tea (and use teabags), then you are either a dipper or a steeper.  If you dip that teabag in the water, you go up and down and up and down and the tea never gets that strong.  A lot of people are like that with faith.  They are dippers.  They dip into prayer and dip out of prayer.  They dip into Bible study and dip out of Bible study.  They dip into church and dip out of church.  But Jesus wants us to be steepers.  He wants us to steep in prayer, Bible study, and worship.  He wants us to soak in his presence so we are like really strong tea.   Now, part of abiding is to acknowledge that we need Jesus and are totally dependent on Jesus. Think about this---the branch is totally dependent on the vine. Without the vine, the branch is useless, lifeless, powerless. Sap flows from the vine to the branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients that make it grow. And believers receive the "sap" of Christ's grace through our life-giving connection to him. Intentionally remaining in Jesus is recognizing that we can't do this life alone. We need Jesus. I need daily, sometimes hourly, times of prayer to abide with Jesus.  How are you doing abiding in Jesus?  (Use a scale of 1 to 10 right now to assess how well you abide in Christ, 1 being not at all and 10 being totally soaking him in all the time).   Let's take a look at the next part of the Scripture, John 15:5-8, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."   So we can see the other characteristic of a true disciple is producing fruit.  When we abide or remain in Jesus, then fruit should be the natural result.  Resting in Jesus makes us changed people – our attitudes are different, our behavior is different, it's noticeable.  We are more patient, more kind, more loving, more generous, more gentle; basically, we look more like Christ.  We bear fruit not by squeezing it out of ourselves but because we are extensions of the vine, pruned by the gardener.   Think about a grapevine.  I've never been very successful growing grapes in Florida but most of us have seen a grapevine at some point.  They are typically grown on a trellis.  They have to be pruned and trimmed by the gardener in order to produce new healthy branches that bear fruit.  If you don't prune, then you are going to have a lot of leafy green but it won't produce new branches that bear fruit.  It will look good but it won't produce anything.  And the point is of course, not simply to look pretty on the trellis, but to actually produce some fruit.   Of course, our purpose is not simply to look good, to look Godly or righteous, but to ACTUALLY produce fruit.  So, God may need to prune us to ensure that happens.  I used to be afraid of God's pruning, but I've found in my own life that God prunes me because he loves me. He wants to remove those things in my life that are hindering my spiritual growth.  This could mean bad habits, bad relationships, things that are toxic, generally anything that is getting in the way of me becoming the person God wants me to be. Sometimes God removes things directly (like he simply removes something from our life like a relationship or a job or you name it – think of something God removed and in retrospect, needed to remove from your life).  Other times, God convicts us so that we will make the move to remove whatever it is that is creating a wedge in our relationship with him.    Think about your relationship with God right now.   What has hindered you from bearing more fruit or bearing fruit at all?  Fears and insecurities from your past?  Selfishness? An unhealthy attachment to stuff? Unhealthy friendships, unhealthy behavior patterns?  Complacency, being too comfortable, laziness, fatigue, lack of passion? Whatever it is, acknowledge it now.  God wants better for you.  He wants to walk closely with you.  In fact, God wants HIS best for you.  He wants you to live a fruitful, abundant life.  Do you want that?  Really, do you?    Let's spend some extended time in prayer, asking God to reveal himself to us right now.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 4, 2025   Scripture - John 14:15-31   Prayer: Holy God, We come before you today rejoicing in your powerful name.  Thank you for who you are and all you do.  Thank you for loving us.  Help us gather our scattered thoughts, help us set aside distractions, and truly focus on you right now.  In these next few moments of silence, Lord, we want to hear your voice...In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, a devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive of the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we finish John 14.   We have just read about how Jesus has washed his disciples' feet, shared a Passover meal with them, and even predicted their denial.  Now, he has moved into this long extended time of teaching.  He wants them to understand what is coming.  Jesus is saying, there are confusing, hard days ahead. In fact, over the next few chapters, he warns them of this several times–things are going to get really tough. Jesus knows that in a few short hours, he will be arrested in the garden, his trial will soon begin, and cross is looming large. He is preparing them for what's to come...He won't be with you them body anymore—but will send the Holy Spirit (he calls the Spirit the Advocate, which comes from the Greek word Paraclete meaning the helper, the one who comes alongside).   Jesus basically says this is what I promise that Spirit will do in your life: The Spirit will constantly be with you and constantly be guiding you, leading you, teaching you, reminding you of all the truths I have taught you. In fact, you can think of the Holy Spirit as a gift.  You can think of the Spirit as my presence with you always.  And if my presence is with you always, then even in the midst of confusion and trouble, you can have peace. It's the Holy Spirit that will allow you to experience a special kind of peace that is only possible connected to Jesus; it's a peace the world absolutely does not offer.  How incredible.    Jesus then tells them he has to go away.  Remember, they really don't understand any of this.  It's going to take time, reflection, and perspective, and the Holy Spirit, for this all to really come together for them.    But it's worth mentioning that 50 days later, in Jerusalem, in another room, the believers are gathered together, hiding and waiting, not really sure what's going to happen...when the Holy Spirit shows up and fills the believers.  This changes absolutely everything.    While we will talk more about Pentecost when we cover Acts 2, I do want to talk a bit about the Holy Spirit today.  What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?   Assures believers that they belong to God. I can't tell you how many I've counseled that worry that they haven't really been accepted by God. They have asked for forgiveness and said yes to Jesus Christ, been born again, but there is something within themselves that still makes them think they aren't deserving or that God doesn't want them or love them. The Holy Spirit, working within us, has the power to assure each of us that yes, God has accepted us and adopted us as his own.   Romans 8:14-16, For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children.   Galatians 4:6, "And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father."   Helps us become more Christ-like, more holy. It is the Holy Spirit's job to produce Christ-like character in you. When we talk about the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out, this is what we are talking about. This process of changing us to be more like Jesus is called sanctification. You can't reproduce the character of Jesus on your own or by your own strength. New Year's resolutions, willpower, and best intentions are not enough. They will only get us so far. It is the Holy Spirit that has the power to make the changes God wants to make in our lives.   Philippians 2:13, God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.   When we hear the phrase, "the power of the Holy Spirit," many people think of miracles and intense emotions. But most of the time, the Holy Spirit's power is released in our lives in quiet, unassuming ways that you aren't even aware of or feel. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we have done something wrong, The Holy Spirit often nudges us, sometimes with "a gentle whisper" and other times with a not so gentle whack to the head.   Strengthens Our Faith.  It is through the power of the Holy Spirit within us that our faith grows stronger and stronger, even in the midst of hard circumstances.   Ephesians 3:16-18, I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.   I love this imagery of roots going down deep into God's love to keep us strong. How deep are your roots? Are they shallow?   When we are weak, when we don't know the words to say, the Holy Spirit prays for us on our behalf, kind of holds us up if you will.   Romans 8:26-28, And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.   Do you need deeper roots? Is your faith wavering? Spend some time asking the Holy Spirit to help.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope November 3, 2025   Scripture - John 14:1-14   Prayer:  Almighty Father, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every single morning.  How grateful we are that we can start afresh and anew each day.  Forgive us for the many times we fell short, for when we weren't loving, for when we were easily angered, for when our patience wore thin. Today, help us represent you well.  In all things, may we be reminded who and whose we are.  We are yours.  In Your Name, Amen.   This is the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we begin John 14.    This is a phenomenal passage.  I know I say that a lot but it truly is.  It's a text we often hear read at funerals because it provides a tremendous amount of comfort that God has truly prepared a place for us in heaven.    In this text, there is a great interaction between Jesus and Thomas.  The disciples are experiencing a lot of anxiety.  Jesus has just told them he's going away but he is trying to reassure them.  Jesus is like, I'm on my way to get your room ready.  I'll be coming back to get you, trust me.  But anyway, you already know the way.  And Thomas is like, "Umm…actually, I don't know the way, is there a map or something?"  And that's when Jesus says, "You do know the way because I am the way.  The only way to get to my Father is through me."  And he reiterated what he has been teaching them, "to know me is to know the Father.  If you have seen me, then you have seen the Father."  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  As the passage progresses, Philip is included in the conversation.  Again, there is this focus on, "If you know me, then you know the Father."  When Jesus says, "I am the way," he doesn't say "I am a way." How the Greek sentence is constructed makes it absolutely clear and irrefutable that Jesus is making an exclusive claim here.   He is basically saying, don't go looking to anyone else to point you in those directions, because I am the only one who can!"  Well, that feels pretty exclusive, doesn't it?  Yes, it is.  And exclusivity makes a lot of us feel uncomfortable.  So much so, that many people, including Christians, pastors, and scholars, try to find a loophole here.   People want to discount the validity of the Gospel of John, they want to find a problem in the Greek, you name it.  Yes, John was written later than the other Gospels but scholars believe that it is still accurate and authoritative.  John was written for the purpose of demonstrating that Jesus is the son of God and that is what he does.  Thus, he makes this very exclusive claim that Jesus is the only way to the Father.  But the Scripture I just read isn't the only one.   What other Scriptures point to the exclusivity of Jesus?   1.     John 3:16-18 (Jesus speaking to Nicodemus),  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.  2.     John 3:36 (later in the conversation)- Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. 3.     Acts 4:12 (Peter, speaking before the Jewish ruling council) –  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." 4.     Rom. 10:9 – If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 5.     I John 5:12 - Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.   And there are many others but I'm going to stop there for now.  I do believe in looking at the full narrative of Scripture – if we look at all of the Bible – it points to Jesus as the way to heaven.  I've searched to see if the Bible allows for other options, possible openings, that might allow for another way and I haven't found any.  There are some things in the Bible in which there is tension – it says this but it also says this – and we have to really dig and pray and interpret.  But there isn't tension here at all --- Scripture clearly points to Jesus as the Son of God, the fulfillment of God's promise from Genesis to Revelation, and the only way to the Father, the only way to receive salvation, the only way to heaven.    And that makes logical sense to me.  Why would Jesus have voluntarily died on a Roman cross for us if he was just one option among many to provide a way to be saved?  If there were other ways to receive salvation and get to God, then why would Jesus even need to do all that?  Why would Christians throughout the ages have needed to stand their ground and lose their lives?  Why would Christians around the world today be risking their lives to follow Christ?  Some may say they are disillusioned but I personally don't believe so.  If we believe that Jesus rose from the dead, proving his divinity, proving he is Lord of all – then that means we have to also believe everything he said.  We can't pick and choose.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Today's Scripture: John 21:1-14Learn from our Leader how to breathe in the Spirit, how to use the Sword of the Spirit, how to have conversations that help seekers with questions find answers they need in a relationship they trust—so they can get in Jesus' boat with us.

Scripture:  John 13:5, Philippians 2:1-8The Pulse ExperienceSermon:  The Mind Of Christ Part 5Pastor Jay MaceSunday, November 2, 2025https://linktr.ee/thepulsewinfield

We will examine Jesus’ guidance to the disciples regarding the gift of The Spirit. For the disciple, a purposeful life is a Spirit-filled life. We will consider the role of The Spirit in our lives and ways this passage can serve as a guide for reflection on our discipleship. (Scripture: John 14:15-17)

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Candid Catholic Convos 11.2.25   A weekly program produced by the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pa.    Title: Called By Name: Preparing for the Priesthood Show Description:   Deacon Drew Heidelbaugh sits down with us to discuss how he discerned his vocation and the mental gymnastics that went along with it.   Scripture: John 21:15-17 Saint Spotlight: St. John Vianney  

SCRIPTURE- John 6:44 - "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."REFLECTION- SarahMUSIC- Extension by Oblivion- Concert Friday: Humble My Heart by Steph Macleod (Lyrics below)NOTES- Blog: What is All Saints' Day? Understanding the Catholic Feast and A Call to Holiness by Jackson JonesPRAYER OF LETTING GOTo You do I belong, O God, into Your hands I surrender my life. Pour out Your Spirit upon me that I may love You perfectly, and serve You faithfully until my soul rests in You.LYRICS TO CONCERT SONGHumble my heart Humble my heart Humble my heart Humble my heart  O, Lord you break the heart of sin You still the waves that rage within Rolling back the rising deep With gentle words of love you speak  When lost inside the silent pain When doubt comes slowly, creeping in When I'm sinking like a stone So sure that I am still alone  You humble my heart Humble my heart When fear keeps me far from an answer And I can't tell the light from the dark You come like the storm that you silenced  And humble my heart Your power and mercy reveals who You are  And humbles my heart  And even in the face of truth I doubt it all and fall far from you Still you reach beneath the waves And love so relentless heals my faith   It humbles my heart Humble my heart When fear keeps me far from an answer And I can't tell the light from the dark You come like the storm that you silenced  And humble my heart Your power and mercy reveals who You are   You wrap me in power and mercy of truth I'm lifted from shadows to stand here with you  I'm drenched in your kindness, your love and your grace As it pours from the heavens, You dwell in this place  Oh, you wrap me in power and mercy of truth I'm lifted from shadows to stand here with you  I'm drenched in your kindness, your love and your grace As it pours from the heavens, You dwell in this place  Oh, humble my heart Humble my heart Humble my heart Humble my heart  When fear keeps me far from an answer And I can't tell the light from the dark You come like the storm that you silenced  And humble my heart Your power and mercy reveals who You are  Your mercy reveals who you are Your mercy reveals who you are And humbles my heartWritten by Don Chaffer, Leslie Jordan & Steph Macleod

Jesus, take my knotted-up faith and unravel it. Keywords: Rules; expectations; save; Savior; rescue; protection; seek. Scripture: John 3:16-17       Resource: Conversation with Jill and Derick Dillard on More Than Small Talk with Holley Gerth, Suzanne Eller, and Jennifer Watson. 

Daily Dose of Hope October 31, 2025 Scripture – John 13:18-38 Prayer: Abba Father, We come to you today, grateful for your love and care in our lives. Thank you for your presence and your peace. Help us to gather our scattered thoughts and set aside distractions so we can focus on what you have for us today. In the next few moments of silence, Lord, help me be still and know that you are God...We give you all the glory, Lord Almighty. Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church Bible reading plan. As most of you know, we have been going through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish up John 13. In John's Gospel, there is an extended text about Jesus predicting Judas' betrayal. When asked who will be the one to betray him, Jesus says the one he dips the bread and offers it to. Jesus then dips the bread and gives it to Judas. He tells Judas to do what he is going to do and do it quickly. I often wondered why the disciples didn't notice this interaction more. They seem someone oblivious and lost in their own thoughts. Maybe they each wondered if they could be the one to betray their Master? John writes of a point in which Judas allows Satan to enter him. He had previously been influenced by Satan but now he has allowed the devil to have his way with him. At first, he opened the door a little. Then, he just opened the door wide. The devil had been feeding him lies, and Judas started believing them, totally and completely. The devil tempted him with money, and Judas found 30 pieces of silver more valuable than the God. Jesus told Judas that joy was to be found in sacrificially serving others, but Judas believed that Satan's way of putting self first was better. We recently went to a clergy training on deliverance, led by Pete Bellini, a professor at United Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. It was absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend Dr. Bellini's books. But one of the things that Dr. Bellini said was that we as Christ-followers cannot be possessed by Satan. We belong to Jesus so we can never totally belong to Satan. But we can become oppressed. We can open the door to the demonic through various means, i.e. porn use, messing with occult-related activities, and when we do so, demons can attach themselves to us. Satan can oppress certain parts of us. We may not even be aware of it. That is when deliverance is necessary. So, was Judas possessed or oppressed? Did he know Jesus? Did he believe? I don't know if we will ever know this side of heaven. Most of the scholars I read said they thought he was totally possessed by Satan at the end. Who knows? I would love your thoughts. Let's move on in our passage. Verses 34 and 35 are really incredible, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." It's as if, in two sentences, Jesus has summarized all his teachings to his disciples. And they aren't easy because they center on how we love one another. If we were to take these verses and look at church history, we would wonder if we were looking at the same faith. Christian history has done horrific things in Jesus' name. I think he must weep and mourn at this. Everything Jesus did was about teaching others to love and serve each other. And somehow, this got terribly corrupted. As we keep reading, Peter makes a very bold, ambitious claim that even if everyone else fell away and disappeared, he would not. Jesus doesn't mince words. He tells Peter that he will betray Jesus three times by that night (or as the text says, by the time the rooster crows two times). But Peter, and all the others, insist that they will follow Jesus even until death. I've thought about this a lot. At this time, the disciples still don't understand Jesus' ministry or purpose. They think they will follow him no matter what but we know what happens. They all scatter once Jesus is arrested. Peter does deny him three times in just a few short hours, consumed with fear for his own safety. When push came to shove, they weren't quite as invested in Jesus' mission as they thought. But then things changed. After the resurrection, the disciples were changed in fundamental ways. Peter, who was initially impulsive and fearful, becomes strong and bold, a superb leader in the early church. After experiencing both the risen Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit, their whole outlook on life is transformed. And all of them, except for John, are martyred for the Gospel. They do end up following Jesus to their own earthly death, just not in the timing they expected. I've asked this question before but it's worth repeating - would you follow Jesus to the point of giving up your life? If you were being tortured and persecuted for your faith, would you stay faithful to Jesus or would you give in to the pressure and deny Christ? It is not outside the realm of possibility that such a situation could exist for us. Afterall, it does exist for Christians all over the world. Reflect on this and spend some time in prayer. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

The Gospel of John Week 18 Scripture: John 13:21-14:6. We pick up with the rest of the story of the Lord's Last Supper that Passover evening. Pastor shares what the layout may have looked like at this meal. Where people were at around the table, that they were reclining vs sitting, that they ate with their right hands and laid on their sides resting their heads in the left hands. As the story continues, Jesus shares that He knows one of His disciples is going to betray Him. John asks who it is that will do that and Jesus says that it is the one I give this bread to. And then Jesus hands the dipped bread to Judas and he takes the bread and leaves. After Judas leaves Jesus says, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once."  What strange words to say after exposing that He will be betrayed….. Why say them? Jesus is going to be arrested, beaten, scourged and die - how does this bring glory?  It's because Jesus is looking ahead, He's looking beyond the immediate to what lies ahead - His glorification. Hebrews 12:2 tells us, "For the joy set before Jesus, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  Jesus' glorification is accomplished in following the Father's will, the path to Victory and in glorifying the Father by doing so.  When Jesus is on the cross the Father is glorified because everything the Father had intended, everything that He had planned is now coming to fulfillment through His obedient Son, Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus goes on in John 13:34-35 telling them to love one another as He has loved them. And then He tells Peter that he will deny knowing Him before the rooster crows. Pastor shares great info on what "rooster crow" is and that it wasn't a rooster crowing, but that was the way they told time. The Romans divided the evening watch into four watches: 6-9pm = evening 9-12am = midnight 12-3am = rooster crows 3-6am = dawn We can see Jesus use these four terms here: "Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'" (Be Awake!) Jesus is telling Peter that sometime between midnight and 3am he will deny knowing Him three times. Then we move into John Chapter 14 where Jesus tells the disciples "Do not keep allowing your hearts to be troubled any longer. You believe in God. Believe in me." When we face troubled times, we believe in God - meaning we are to trust Him. And Jesus is saying believe in Him, Messiah, - trust in Him, He's our Savior..  And then He tells them "I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."  And what the disciples understand from the Jewish scriptures is that Jesus is talking in wedding language.  Pastor shares Jewish tradition around wedding planning and weddings and what we see in the Bridegroom (Jesus) and His bride (the body of believers.) This wedding/marriage talk is Jesus' way of expressing Hies deep love for us. Jesus is the groom and He is calling us to realize how much He loves us. Thomas says, "Where are You going, Lord?" And Jesus says, "I am the way. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Getting to heaven is not about being a good person, because no one is truly good - all have sinned. It's only through faith in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross and His resurrection that we go to heaven. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most "Gentile/Greek" of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Daily Dose of Hope October 30, 2025 Scripture - John 13:1-17 Prayer: Almighty God, we start by pausing before you. Help us set aside the distractions of the morning or the day and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, help us gather our scattered thoughts and think only of you...Help us be still and know you are God. God, we rejoice that we can freely read your Word and we are grateful that you speak to us through it. It's truly a miracle. Holy Spirit, we also invite you to join us as we seek to grow deeper in relationship with you. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, friends, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the Gospels and Acts. Can you believe we have already done a deep dive through Mark, Matthew, Luke, and we are half way through John? I would love to hear about your big takeaways thus far from the Gospels? What is Jesus teaching you? Today, we begin John 13. This is familiar and beautiful Scripture. The time for the Passover meal has come, the disciples are sitting and reclining at the table, and Jesus himself gets up to wash their feet. This might not sound that odd to us but foot-washing was a lowly task in 1st century Palestine. Think about it: their feet were very dirty; the men wore sandals, they walked everywhere, and the roads were filthy with dirt, dust, and animal droppings. Thus, this was the job usually saved for the lowliest of servants. Peers did not wash each others' feet. In Luke's Gospel, the disciples actually start arguing about is the greatest among them; their attitudes certainly indicated that they weren't going to stoop so low as to wash each others' feet. In today's Scripture, when Jesus gets up to wash the disciples' feet, the disciples are shocked. How could he? Of course, Jesus always has something deeper in mind. Jesus is a perfect example of humility and selflessness, which will ultimately be demonstrated in its most extreme form on the cross. This Sunday at New Hope, we will be talking about Christian leadership. This passage is such a powerful picture of the way God intends Christian leadership to be: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (v.3-5) Jesus knew who he was. He understood his relationship with God, so he was free to serve others without worrying about what people thought of him. And, you know, that goes for us too. As Christian leaders, we can do the most lowly task or the most amazing task. Nothing is too high and nothing is beneath us when we are serving other people. I know you have probably met Christian leaders and pastors who have been arrogant jerks and I'm apologizing for them right now. That wasn't the way God intended this job to be. We are chief servants. All of us as Christian leaders, in the church, at our job, at our hobbies, in our homes, we are all to be chief servants, doing our best to imitate the servant leadership style of Jesus. We serve others --- we serve our spouses, we serve our friends, we serve our employees, we serve our neighbors. That doesn't show weakness, it shows strength. Our identity is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ, not in our role or our job. And when we start to get that mixed up, that's when we will get in real trouble. More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope October 29, 2025 Scripture – John 12:20-50 Prayer: Almighty Father, Thank you for a new day and thank you that your mercies are new every single morning. How grateful we are that we can start afresh and anew each day. Forgive us for the many times we fell short, for when we weren't loving, for when we were easily angered, for when our patience wore thin. Today, help us represent you well. In all things, may we be reminded who and whose we are. We are yours. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional/podcast which goes along with the Bible reading plan at New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we finish John 12. In the beginning of today's reading, the Greeks ask to see Jesus. Something I discovered in researching today's devotional is that first-century synagogues welcomed Gentiles. I had no idea; I assumed they were the domain of Jews alone. We know that Gentiles were actually drawn to Jesus. They were outsiders and there was something about Jesus that outsiders flocked to. We are seeing that in this passage. Jesus speaks of his coming exaltation. The hour is coming in which the Son of Man might be glorified. In fact, the Son of Man is the seed who will fall, die, and produce much fruit. He is one who will willingly give up his life for the benefit of others in obedience of the Father's will. Jesus knows his mission. He understands his mission. He doesn't need reassurance here, but a voice from heaven comes to help the divided crowd gathered around him. So, let's go back to the beginning of this passage. The Greeks want to see Jesus. But will they be able to actually see him? How well do we see him? I do want to briefly touch on the rest of the passage. There is a lot of substance here. Jesus says that if someone believes in him, they also believe in the one who sent him. So, if you believe in Jesus, you believe in the Father. Jesus is saying that he is a light that points to the Father. He is, essentially, the image of the invisible God. We can't separate God and Jesus. God is Jesus and Jesus is God. Let's talk a little bit about verse 47, which is often misunderstood. "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world." The purpose of Jesus' first coming was not to judge the world, but to save the world. Jesus' first coming was all about showing us a different way of doing life, dying on a cross for our sins, and offering us salvation. But let's be clear, that doesn't mean there won't be a judgment. Jesus' second coming will be about judgement. Every single one of us will be judged. God will look at the card catalogue of my life and yours and we will see all the appalling things we did. But we will also either be marked guilty or not guilty based on if we know Jesus or not. Where do you land? Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Jesus, I want to know you and be known by you. Keywords: Known; relationship; deeper; faith; intimacy; Jesus.  Scripture: John 1:50 

Daily Dose of Hope October 28, 2025 Scripture – John 12:1-19 Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice in your name today. You are almighty and wise, the Alpha and the Omega. You are the one who was, and is, and is to come. We give you all the glory and praise. Help us now, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you. In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers... In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin John 12. There is a lot going on this chapter. It begins with Mary anointing Jesus with an expensive perfume, much to Judas' dismay. The other Gospels don't name the woman who anoints Jesus' feet, but John says that it's Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha. By doing so, Mary is pointing to Jesus' identity as Messiah King, but also as Servant King. She wipes Jesus' feet with her hair, a lowly position, but one that foreshadows Jesus' own actions at the Last Supper when he washes his disciples' feet and demonstrates love through sacrificial, humble service. Judas was all about the money. Remember, he wasn't complaining about the "waste" because he truly wanted to help the poor but because he was skimming from the money bag. He wanted more money for himself. One more quick comment about this. I once had someone tell me that there was no real need to give to the poor because Jesus himself said the poor you will always have with you. I think most of you know that context is everything. Jesus took care of the poor all the time! He was not telling us not to care for the poor in any way, shape, or form. Rather, in this specific instance, he was responding to Judas' superficial complaint. He knew that Judas didn't care about the poor but about his own pockets. In that moment, Mary was caring for Jesus. There would be plenty of time for her to care for the poor in her community and I'm sure she did because she followed Jesus' example. But there is a time and a place for everything. There is a brief discussion, before the Palm Sunday passage, about the need to kill Lazarus. The Pharisees are getting desperate. It isn't enough to simply target Jesus, they also plan to target Lazarus because he is also getting attention for being raised from the dead. These are men of God whose hearts have grown hard. Fear has a tendency to do that. With that, let's move on to Palm Sunday. As a little girl going to Sunday School, I can remember making palm branches and waving them. Jesus' triumphal entry was described kind of like a parade. Think about parades with their marching bands, large balloons, and dancers. They are often about celebration and national pride. But Jesus' entry into Jerusalem this wasn't that kind of parade, especially as the book of John describes it. Basically, we see Jesus being given a royal welcoming. The other Gospels go into even more detail. The people are laying palm branches down for him. They are running ahead in the streets to give him this royal kind of treatment. This is the kind of welcome that the emperor or a high official of the Roman government would have received. Think of it kind of like the red carpet being rolled out---a sign that a very important leader, the new king, has arrived. While the disciples appear to be confused, some of the Jews in the crowd would have known that this a fulfillment of prophecy. John quotes Zechariah 9:9,Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. All the signs point to the fact that this Jesus is the king. By making this announcement, Jesus knows what this means. His death will be soon. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Scripture: John 14:15-17Resources for a life of following Jesus, every day, everywhere, with everyone.

Jesus, I say yes to your invitation to come as I am. Keywords: Invitation; Jesus; follow; disciple; changed; yes.  Scripture: John 1:43 

Daily Dose of Hope October 27, 2025 Scripture – John 11:45-57 Prayer: Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, We give you all the glory and praise. Thank you for being a God who provides. Thank you for being a God who heals and cares. God, we pray protection over Jamaica and the other Caribbean islands which are in the way of Hurricane Melissa. Be with the people in the path of the storm. Help them find safety. And we pray that the storm will turn in the name of Jesus. May there be as little destruction as possible. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading. We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts. Today, we are finishing up John 11. After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, many believed. In fact, he was getting to be quite popular. As a result, the Jewish leaders were scared of Jesus. That is the bottom line. They were scared that too many people would believe in him and they would lose the limited power they had under the Romans. They think seriously about wanting him dead. The high priest, Caiphas, even says that wouldn't it be better for one man to lose his life rather than a whole nation to be wiped out. Caiphas' words actually have a bit of a double meaning, of which he wasn't aware of at the time. However, John picks up on it. Let's reread verses 51-52, He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. While the Jewish leaders decide it would be better for Jesus to die, they had no idea the enormous truth that they set out to accomplish. They didn't understand Jesus' mission at all. Not only would Jesus' death be better for them, but it would open up salvation to all people, everywhere. The Jewish leaders' vision was much smaller than Jesus' vision of his mission, but it was large enough to allow Jesus to do what he needed to do and accomplish what he needed to accomplish. But what their plans did mean was that Jesus could no longer walk around publicly. He had to be very careful. He knew his time would come but he didn't to rush it. There was still work to be done. Tomorrow, we begin Passion Week. Get ready. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

What does true gentleness look like — not as weakness, but as strength under control? In this week's Cultivate series message, Pastor Tim Ghali, Interim Teaching & Discipleship Pastor, unpacks the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1–26) to show how God's Spirit cultivates gentleness in us — especially in a world that rewards power, pride, and harshness. Jesus' gentle engagement with the woman at the well shows us how gentleness restores dignity, opens doors to transformation, and reflects the heart of God to those around us. Key Themes: Gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) How Jesus models strength through compassion Restoring others through Spirit-led humility Living gently in a harsh and hurried world

In John 13, Jesus kneels to wash His disciples' feet, showing that true greatness is found in humble service. This message explores what it means to move from knowing to doing, from belief to embodiment. When we follow the example of Jesus, we discover that blessing flows through participation, not just understanding.Join Christ Community Church in Ardmore as we reflect on servant leadership, embodied love, and the peace that comes when we serve others in the rhythm of Christ.If you've ever wondered how to bring your faith into everyday moments—your kitchen, your job, your classroom—this message will guide you toward the kind of love that takes on flesh and blesses others.Scripture: John 13:12-17 Message Theme: Servant leadership, humility, embodied love, blessing through doingVisit us online: https://ardmoreccc.comFollow Christ Community Church: https://facebook.com/ardmoreccc https://youtube.com/@ardmoreccc https://instagram.com/ardmoreccc#ardmorechurch #churchinardmore

Today's Scripture:  John 20:11-31Jesus speaks peace to you so you can share your experiences with others and they can make their own conscious choice to trust Jesus. 

In this heartfelt message, Matthew Balentine shares the powerful story of Peter's journey from denying Jesus to being fully restored on the shores of Galilee. Through John 21, we see how Jesus meets us right where we are—broken, tired, and uncertain—and gently calls us back into fellowship and purpose. This sermon reminds us that grace doesn't push us away; it draws us close. Jesus not only forgives us but invites us back to the table and sends us out again with renewed purpose. If you've ever felt like your failure disqualified you from God's plan, this message will speak hope into your heart.

Scripture - John 8:31-36Thank You for listening!Follow us on Facebook Instagram YouTube Website You can contact us at office@newcovenantaz.orgMaking Jesus Christ the Heart of Every Home.

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Three Lakes Evangelical Free Church

Daily Dose of Hope October 24, 2025 Scripture - John 11:1-44 Prayer: Almighty God and Risen Lord, King of Kings, We come before you today with praise and a sense of awe. Forgive us, for we struggle to keep a focus on you. Help us gather our scattered and distracted thoughts. Help us remember who and whose we are. Holy Spirit, speak to us today. We want to hear your voice. In Your Name, Amen. Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan. We are currently working our way through the Gospels and Acts. Today, we begin John 11. In today's text, we again meet Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This is a family that Jesus loves dearly. Mary and Martha definitely know that Jesus had the ability to heal Lazarus. They request his presence when Lazarus becomes ill. After he dies, they still want Jesus to come. Afterall, when we are grieving, we desperately need those in our inner circle who will offer comfort and give us a shoulder to cry on. The sisters knew that Jesus loved them and their brother, and that alone would have been enough reason for Jesus to come. But it's precisely because he loves this family that we wonder why Jesus didn't rush to their side earlier. We all know, based on his miracle-working skills, that Jesus could have healed Lazarus with the first sniffle. But Jesus stayed. He didn't go anywhere. It was like he intentionally waited before heading out to go see the siblings. But we soon learn that it is precisely because Jesus loves them so much that he waits. He knows that his glory will be revealed in a tremendous way, and it will be one more sign that Jesus is Lord. It isn't surprising that Martha does not hide her disappointment from Jesus. She goes out to meet him an tell him that if he had only been there, then Lazarus would not have died. At the same time, we can see in Martha a faith that is quite strong. Even though her brother is dead, she knows Jesus can still do something. But will he do it? The short answer is yes. Jesus has something much bigger planned. But I do love that we see Jesus' humanity here in a very real way. When an anguished Mary finally leaves the house to meet Jesus, along with all the mourners, Jesus himself is moved to tears. Think about it. Jesus knows that he will raise Lazarus from the dead. That was his whole reason for delaying his visit. But when he sees Mary's grief and the tears of the people around him, he is moved to weep as well. When we see grief around us, when people are sobbing, and you can just feel their pain and anguish, it isn't unusual to begin to cry as well. We can feel the pain of others. It's called empathy. Jesus loved Lazarus, he loves Martha, and he loves Mary. He feels their pain. He is pained that they are having to go through this. And he weeps. But there is also great dialogue here and I don't want us to miss it. Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. There was no refrigeration, no embalming. The body would have deteriorated in that climate. So, Jesus asks the sisters to remove the stone from the tomb where Lazarus was laid. Martha protests that the smell is going to be really bad. But that's when Jesus says this in verse 40, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" Don't we all want to see the glory of God? Don't we want to see the beauty of God's Spirit? Don't we want to see his goodness and his power? It's here that Jesus says if we believe, we will, in fact, see the glory of God. With that, Jesus prays to the Father and then invites Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Lazarus did come out. He was still bound up with grave clothes. Before the body was placed in the tomb, it was wrapped with linen clothes and treated with various spices. And Jesus says to unbind him. Lazarus was alive. How often do we live bound up in grave clothes? We continue to be tied to old, destructive habits and attitudes. Even though we may know Jesus, we still are bound by old patterns of behavior. It's only Jesus that can remove those from us so we can experience new life in him. Lazarus was alive but he still needed to remove the remnants of death. He needed to be loosed. Do you need to be loosed? What aspects of your old life do you continue to hold onto? Blessings, Pastor Vicki

The Gospel of John Week 17 Scripture: John 12:27-13;30, Isaiah 6. Today's study takes us through an insider's view of the final hours before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. We open with Jesus words in John 12:27-28, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” We see Jesus' heart here - In the verses we see Him not as fully God but as fully man - fully human - He is bearing the weight of the world in His soul and in His heart. This is a reminder of just how great His love is for us. The Father in heaven answered Jesus - in verses 28-29, “Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.” To the crowd they thought it was thunder or that an angel spoke! But it was the voice of God the Father. The Father will be glorified through the sacrifice of His Son, by His Son's willing submission to the Father's will. The Father brings judgement on the Son because His love for us is so great that He is willing to take our penalty for sin. We will see Jesus is exalted as He gives up His life and is lifted up (onto the cross) for all of us. We learn in today's study that God's heart desire is to turn people back to Himself. God's heart is to bring healing. In verse 42-43 we read, “Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” Following God no matter the cost, choosing to be right with God instead of right with people… Pastor spends time explaining the timing of Jesus' death in the Gospel of John against the timing in the other three gospels. We take an in-depth look at the Passover Meal and the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus. As Jesus does the feet washing what He's saying is that this is not about mere ritual, this is about relationship with Him that transforms our lives. He's acting out that transformation as He washes their feet.  He says, “you also should wash one another's feet.” We end by beginning to explore Jesus predicting His betrayal by one of the disciples. Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01     ⁃    The Gospel of John study is part five of five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels.      ⁃    The Gospel of John may be one of the most powerful books ever written. Many people have come to faith after reading only this book of the Bible.  Scholarly and archeological discoveries in recent decades give us new insight on details in the Gospel of John. We can now understand it as the most Jewish rather than the most “Gentile/Greek” of the Gospels, and when we do that we see many things that we missed before. Our 2 year study of the gospels is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time!

Two renowned theologians go head-to-head in a rigorous, respectful debate on one of the most discussed passages in Scripture—**John 1:1–18**.