Saturday, January 16, 2010
Jesus Makes the Difference!
JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE!
John 2:1-11
INTRO: John tells us in chapter 20 that he wrote to help people know and believe Jesus as Savior. He chose 7 miracles which he called signs. Here is the first one, a wedding in
THE SCENE
Wedding at Cana, this is near
Jesus mother is there and Jesus and disciples are invited
Apparently a family situation
A usual part of life
THE SITUATION
Mary came and told Jesus they were out of wine.
Jesus seems to dodge any responsibility.
Mary simply told the servants to do whatever he said.
THE SUPPLY
Six large water pots used for cleansing
Jesus had them filled with water
Then some was taken to the head waiter
It became wine better than any other
THE SIGNIFICANCE
Jesus made the difference
The old (cleansing water) replaced with new
He revealed His glory
The disciples believed
Best saved for last
When we come to faith in Jesus, we find that He does indeed make the difference. He is concerned about our every need. Life with Him is better than any life without Him was or could be. The glory of the Father shines on our everyday lives!
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Presented Sunday, January 17, 2010, Greenville (CA) Southern Baptist Church
Pastor Fred D. Kerr fred.kerr@frontier.com
Main outline from John MacArthur
Saturday, January 09, 2010
A MAN WITH A PURPOSE
JOHN THE BAPTIST
A MAN WITH PURPOSE
John 1:6-9; 19-23; 29-30; 3:22-30
INTRO: John the Baptist is a man who appears on the stage of history for a brief period. Even in that brief appearance he was a man with a purpose and went about doing it.
THE PURPOSE ANNOUNCED (John 1:6-9)
A man (his humanity vs.- divinity of Jesus)
Sent from God (divine commission)
To testify about the Life giving Light.
THE PURPOSE ACKNOWLEDGED (John 1:19-23)
John's baptizing caught the attention of the Jewish leaders.
They sent investigators out to see him.
Who are you? Not the messiah!
Elijah? -- "I am not." Prophet? "No."
Then who are you?
A voice crying in the wilderness .
"Prepare the way of the Lord"
THE PURPOSE FULFILLED (John 1:29-30)
Baptism to prepare the way for Jesus to come.
Pointed people to Jesus: "Behold the Lamb of God,
Who takes away the sin of the world."
He prepared people to receive Jesus. He pointed people to Jesus.
Then he withdrew from the spotlight.
A CONTINUING PURPOSE (John 3:22-30)
Two other events of John's life are mentioned.
In John 3 we see his continuing ministry.
Still pointing people to Jesus.
"He must increase, I must decrease."
In Matthew 11, we see the account of his arrest, imprisonment and eventually death.
Sometimes it may seem that our ministry is past.
Never! As long as we live we will continue having purpose as God places us where he wants.
Our first purpose is to hear God's call and come to Him through Jesus Christ. Then we must point others to Him.
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For delivery January 10, 2010, Greenville Southern Baptist Church
Pastor Fred Kerr
Saturday, January 02, 2010
FROM ETERNITY TO EARTH!
WHEN GOD CAME TO EARTH
John 1:1-18
INTRO: This is one of the grandest passages in the Bible. It speaks to both the Greek and the Jewish world about God coming to the earth. We can see it in three segments:
THE DIVINE WORD (vs. 1-5)
The Word was from the beginning
The Word was with God. The Word was God.
The Word was the Creator.
The Word was Life.
The Life gave light and life to man.
The darkness of the world cannot overcome it.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD (vs. 6-13)
A man named John came to bear witness to Him.
He was different from the light.
The Word/Light came to His own people.
Most of them rejected Him
Those who did receive Him by believing on His Name
Received forgiveness and the right to be sons of God
EXPERIENCING THE GLORY! (vs. 14-18)
The Word became flesh and revealed the glory of God
John again testifies about Him
He brought grace and truth to the world
He revealed God to the world
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APPLICATION: God has revealed Himself through Jesus Christ. In Him we know the fullness of God's glory and grace. That is available to all who believe and receive Him. Those who reject Jesus cannot experience God. Will you accept and live in Him? You then will experience Him in your life!
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Sermon for January 3, 2010, Greenville Southern Baptist Church
Greenville, CA, Pastor Fred D. Kerr
