Garden City Christian Union Church Sermons
Web Site: Garden City Christian Union Church
Total Sermons: 50
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It is Finished But It Isn't Over
As we get to John 19:17 and Jesus is finally crucified we get to the heart of God's working with man. Here as Jesus says in verse 30 is the purpose for His coming into the world. One word in the Greek, tetelestai, signals that His mission has been accomplished. We read it in these words in our English Bibles, "It is finished!" These are the most important words ever uttered in all of human history. But we must ask, "What was finished?" What was God's plan, Jesus' mission?
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No King But....?
As we look closely at Jesus' trial in John 19, it was not He who was demonstrating guilt but those who had brought Him there. The pharisees and the officers of the Temple were committing the treason of which they accused Him to Pilate. Only rather than Caesar, they were committing treason against God Himself! We often consider our circumstances and forget our own allegiance to God. As with the Jews and Pilate who both had their issues to deal with, we too can get caught up in the moment, make rash decisions and even deny our God in the process. It is at these times that our true colors show. How do you handle your trials in life?
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False Prophets
False teachers and prophets have been around for millennia. Moses warned Israel about them just before they crossed over into the promised land. Peter, John and Jude warned the infant church that they were coming and that they should be on their guard. Today with the proliferation of media and the lax standards of the American church we have not lost the need to be on our guard against them. How do we as Christians view false prophets? What should our response to them be?
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Can You Handle the Truth?
Ever notice how sometimes we can get so wrapped up in our own situation that important things get pushed aside? As Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate in John 18:28 it is at dawn and the Jews are pushy and anxious. Pilate is probably dragged out of bed and thrust into the middle of this tense situation. The Jews are ready to be done with Jesus, a mere troublemaker as they see Him through their eyes. (Eyes that are blinded by their personal and national welfare and their positions of power.) Pilate does some investigation and concludes that Jesus has really done nothing wrong yet due to the pressure of the situation he ultimately yields to the will of the Jews. What is it in your life that keeps you from recognizing the Truth of who Jesus is and yielding yourself to that rather than to your own situation?
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In The World
As Jesus prays for all who would believe through the words of the Disciples He says some amazing things, like "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." What? You mean to tell me that Jesus does not want me to have an easy life with no worries? Really?
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The Will of God and The Wickedness of Man
As I read through John 18, the fourth verse stood out to me as I read, "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward " Here is Jesus in the garden praying with His disciples after their Passover meal. He is facing a Roman cohort who is coming to take Him away where He will be mocked. beaten and crucified. In the face of this impending doom the words, "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward" are staggering in their import. Jesus simultaneously confronts the wickedness of man and the will of God as He steps out of the shadows to drink the cup that the Father has given Him. Jesus willingness to suffer on behalf of those who have rejected Him and that fact that that very wickedness will fulfill the plan of God and accomplish the salvation of wicked men is so profound that it is amazing and should evoke our joy and gratitude.
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Glory and Joy
As Jesus prays for His disciples in John 17, He is appealing to the Father to empower all that He has said to them on the preceding chapters (13-16) and as we listen in on that prayer He is telling us what He desires the fruit of that teaching and praying to be. He begins with Glory, for Himself to be glorified in accomplishing God's plan of redemption and in turn that the Father would be glorified through Him. Then that the joy that He put into redeeming men from sin would fill them and reflect back to the Father. The Wesminster Shorter Catechism states this clearly in its first question and answer; "What is the chief end of man?" "Mans chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." Jesus heartily agrees with this sentiment as He prays not only for the eleven disciples who were there that day, but (vs 20) for all those who would believe in Him through their word.
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Life is Good
Before Jesus went to the cross He promised His disciples that they would suffer persecution. As He was confirming the promises of the Gospel to them on the eve of His crucifixion this was among them. As Americans we are truly blessed in the sense that our founding fathers came from a culture of persecution and protected us from a lot of that kind of thinking as they framed our country's governing documents. I some sense though having been protected from it we have become soft and impure. Looking through the history of the Church, this and other promised that Jesus made to his disciples and through them to the Church, we should recognize how good we have it as we see Jesus' words fulfilled all around us.
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The Vital Connection
As Jesus draws near to the cross, He encourages His disciples so that they will continue to believe in the face of difficult times. IN John 15 He begins to draw a line in the sand and tell them that their being Jewish is not enough to be God's people. It is not about their religion or their heritage but they must have a vital connection to God through Him. He is the "true Vine" and they are the branches and the way to know that they are truly in Him is by the fruit that is produced in their lives. How's your fruit?
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The Promise of Peace
As Jesus concludes His discussion with His disciples while sitting at the table after the Last Supper, He encourages them because they are about to go through a very dark hour. He is about to be taken from them and they still do not realize that His tragic death is imminent. He gives them a solid foundation upon which to base their faith in this coming trial of their faith. As we endure our own trials it is helpful to go back to these foundational principles that we may find His peace!
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