Fixed on Jesus

The scripture lesson is Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:7-11.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS FROM GETTING BORING YOU MUST KEEP YOU HEART AND YOUR EYES FIXED ON JESUS.

 One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.  --Psalm 27:4

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
    preserve my life according to your word. --Psalm 119:37

IF WE WANT OUR FAITH TO REMAIN FRESH:

1.  It is about relationship, not religion.
     Religion is "doing things."  Jesus loves you; His gift to you is free!
2.  It is about growing, not arrival.
     Jesus loves us, growing is key.  See others through the eyes of grace as Jesus sees us.
     None of us have arrived; we are all in this journey together.
3.  It is about commission, not consumption.
     We are called, equipped, and empowered to participate in the mission, just as the disciples were.

A STRONG FAITH IS A FAITH THAT IS SHARED.

A sure way to get bored with Jesus:  try to hoard Him to yourself.

When is the last time you shared your faith?

Jesus plus nothing!

It is Jesus and only Jesus who can satisfy. 

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

In the Flesh

The lesson is from Luke 24:38-49 in which Jesus, following his resurrection, appears to those assembled in a closed and locked-from-the-inside room.  They were terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost.

Jesus made himself known to them.  They did not need more fear, they needed more faith.  He spoke to them, "Peace be with you."

Jesus shows up in their fear, in their disappointment, in their distress, and speaks peace!

Jesus brought them hope, and joy tagged along!  These followers were in dreadful fear that they would be arrested for being Jesus's friends.  The danger still existed, but now, Joy!

Jesus can handle the questions, the doubts; and He will handle them IN HIS TIME!
Following Jesus has its fair share of mysteries.

Of all the world's religious leaders, Jesus is the only one who defeated death in His own power.

Trusting Jesus is worth whatever risks are involved. 

The resurrected body of Christ was fitted for Glory.  Never had there been humanity on the other side of Glory.

We are meant to be here with Him and one day to be there with Him!  Christ had conquered death and in Him we live.

 Everything is dying, but in Christ we are set free from the law of sin and death!

Hallelujah!

The grave is no longer a destination, but only a doorway for those who are alive in Christ.

HE MADE A WAY OUT SO WE CAN ESCAPE THE PENALTY OF DEATH.

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

Telly Fone!

Had just finished the soup, two bites of sandwich left.  Phone rings.  *sigh*

"Hello."

"Mmf mff mmmfmf."

"What?  I can't hear you!"

"This is Greg from XYZ National Opinion poll."

"I have an opinion-- I'd rather finish my supper!"  *click*

To the wife, "I suppose if they hook one out of fifteen it's worth their time.  But most people are probably not as rude as I am.  Oh, well, I've earned the right.  Anyone who's lived 83 years is entitled to say what he thinks."

Wife:   "Mmmf, mf mmrmf."

Burning Hearts

A few notes on Johnnie Blair's sermon this morning.

The scripture passage is Luke 24:13-35 in which two men, acquaintances of Jesus, were walking along the road to Emmaus, despondent over the death of Jesus.  A man overtakes them, walks with them, teaches them from the scriptures.  He stops to break bread with them and reveals that he is Jesus, then disappears from their view.  They run back to Jerusalem with this word.

The discussion:  Jesus is missing.

Their hope:  had died with Jesus.

Why did they not recognize Jesus?  It was not the glaring light in their eyes, but the darkness in their souls.

Knowing about Jesus does not mean we truly know Him.

These men had experienced it all, but they had missed everything.

Having information about Jesus does not mean you have faith in Jesus.
     All the information in the world will never make up for a  lack of faith!

Before their minds could comprehend their hearts had to be changed.

The world says, "Seeing is believing."  No!  Believing is seeing!

Two places Jesus reveals himself to us today:
1.  In the Word.
      Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.  --Romans 10:17 NIV)
      
 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. --Hebrews 4;12 (NIV)
Make your life available to the Word.  Faith is weak because we do not spend enough time in the Word.

2. In community. 
       For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. --Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

The body of Christ is the primary place for Christians to be known.
 ________________________________________________________
Jesus is missing.  We wonder who took Him.
     He is wanting to be found.  He has made every resource available to make Himself real in your life! 

       

Because He Lives

I Can Face Tomorrow!

The scripture lesson is Luke 24:1-12 in which we see the women, followers of Jesus, go to the tomb to prepare the body of the crucified Jesus.  They find the tomb empty!

Snippets from the morning message:

1.  We have a hope that matters!

2.  Christ is enough!

3.  The Power of the Resurrection:  Jesus raises us from death to Life!

  “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:  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.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  Romans 10:8-10 (NIV)

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Easter Sunday morning

Happy Easter!