Florida Coast Church

Before he returned to his Father, Jesus told his followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received the promised Holy Spirit.  About a week later, as recorded in Acts 2:1-24 , Jesus poured on his Spirit on his people, and they began to proclaim the mighty deeds of God in different languages.  After some from the crowd made fun of them, Peter explained that the gift of the Spirit indicated that the...

In our summer series, we will be looking at critical events in the book of Acts, starting with Jesus’ commission of his “sent ones” in Acts 1:1-11 . The goal is for our church to become more like the original Christian church. We first need to reorient ourselves to the task that Jesus gave us for the time between his departure and his return: to be witnesses to the end of the earth.

If you have ever compared your life to someone else’s (who hasn’t?), you need to hear Jesus’ reply in John 21:20-25 to Peter’s curiosity about Jesus’ plan for another disciple. Also in this gospel’s final section, the author finally but partially identified himself. He was one of Jesus’ closest disciples and a reliable eyewitness to everything he reported, so we can know that it is all true.

In a painful conversation with Peter recorded in John 21:1-19 , Jesus asked him three times if he loved him.  Peter answered by declaring his love for Jesus three times.  In response, Jesus charged Peter to take care of his people and to follow him. The question and the charge are for us as well.

In John 20:19-31 , Jesus appeared to his disciples twice, once to commission and equip them and a second time to show himself to Thomas. In response to seeing Jesus, Thomas made an astounding declaration about Jesus, calling him “my Lord and my God!” After this declaration, the author spelled out his purpose in writing this book: for you to believe.

There is a stubborn fact of history that no one has been able to disprove, although many have tried. Jesus’ tomb was empty, and no one has ever produced his body. Hear in John 20:1-18 about the first ones to encounter the empty tomb. Come, see, and believe!

All through the Gospel of John we have been hearing about Jesus’ coming glorification. In John 19:16-42 , we finally reach it and discover that it took place on the cross. In this familiar account, the author of the gospel included fascinating details that point us to the meaning of the death of Christ and the response it requires from us.

Only in John 18:28-19:16 do we find details of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. We hear Jesus’ opponents making statements about him that are much truer than they understood. Putting these statements together, we have a clear although unintentional declaration of who Jesus is and why he came.

In his narration of Jesus’ arrest in John 18:1-27 , John alternated between scenes focused on Jesus who acted in complete control, and Peter who was losing control of himself. We will likely be able to find ourselves in the story in couple of different ways, once because of our similar need and another time because of Jesus’ provision for our need.

After his farewell discourse with his disciples, Jesus prayed his longest recorded prayer in John 17:1-26 . He prayed regarding himself, for his original disciples, and for his later disciples, but his overarching request was for God’s glory. Because God’s glory on earth is tied to how his disciples live, prayer for his disciples to do well is prayer for God’s glory.

Jesus concluded his final discourse with his disciples before his death in John 16:12-33 . He developed previous lessons and added that they would have temporary sorrow that would change into lasting joy. In spite of our suffering in this world, Christians can have joy, peace, and courage, because Jesus has overcome the world.

After telling his disciples that they should love one another, Jesus began preparing them in John 15:18-16:11 to be hated by the world. Even so, he sent them out to be witnesses for him, but not on their own. He also promised to send the Holy Spirit to be the witness who would convince the world about the truth of the gospel.

In a world full of bad news, we are all wanting to hear good news. What we usually receive is good advice, which is welcome but fails to animate our lives. In Acts 10:34-43 , we have an early sermon by Peter, in which he clearly and simple spelled out for us the good news about Jesus.

There is a word that runs through Jesus’ farewell discourse and appears eleven times in John 15:1-17 in one form or another. It can be translated as abide , remain , stay , continue , dwell . As we abide in our homes during the pandemic, we need to remember that we must abide in Jesus to bear fruit, to glorify the Father, and to be filled with joy!

Continuing the final conversation with his disciples in  John 14:15-31 , Jesus told them how to show their love for him and of the gifts he gives to those who love him. His Spirit, his presence, and his peace enable us to live as his followers these days and every day.

After Jesus gave his disciples very troubling news, he told them in John 14:1-14 , “Let not your hearts be troubled.” He went on to say what to do instead and gave them and us three reasons not to be troubled. Although this text is simply the next one in our series on the Gospel of John, it is timely during these days of pandemic.

In John 13:18-38 , we pick up the conversation between Jesus and his disciples over dinner. After he had washed their feet, he announced that one of them would betray him. Once Judas had gone out into the night, Jesus gave his followers of every age the New Commandment: to love each other as he loved us.

During a meal with his disciples in John 13:1-17 , Jesus did something that shattered social norms. He dressed like a slave and performed a task that was beneath most slaves by washing his disciples’ feet. Although he didn’t explain his actions completely, he gave us enough clues to find three important lessons. The first two lessons are about what he can do for us and the third about what we can...

In John 12:27-50 , we have Jesus’ final appeal to the world before spending his final days focused on his disciples. After explaining the meaning of his death, he also explained why so many did not believe in him. Then he summarized his teaching in his last words to the crowds, giving them one final opportunity to believe in him. ( sermon notes )

All of a sudden, in John 11:55-12:26 , Jesus not only permitted but encouraged people publicly to recognize him as king. What had changed? What we have awaited during the whole gospel of John finally happened: his hour to be glorified had come! However, his glorification would be exactly the opposite of what everyone expected. ( sermon notes )

In Jesus’ final sign, recorded in John 11:1-54 , he raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. As a sign, it was not to be a regular occurrence but an extraordinary event that pointed to Jesus as the only source of life from the dead and of eternal life. In the face of death, Jesus expressed anger and sadness even as he exercised dominance. Jesus’ mastery over death should interest all who lose love...

In Jesus’ final public teaching in the Gospel of John ( 10:22-42 ), the people of Jerusalem tried to pin him down. They wanted him to declare openly who he was. In keeping with his indirect public style, Jesus pointed them to his words and works. He also boldly declared, “I and the Father are one.” This statement sent them looking for rocks to stone him, since they thought he was a man who made hi...

After the shepherds of Israel mistreated and kicked out the man born blind in chapter 9, Jesus announced in John 10:1-21 that he is the Good Shepherd. While false shepherds sacrificed the sheep for their own benefit, the Good Shepherd laid down his life for the sheep. The question for us is if we know his voice and follow him. ( sermon notes )

From Old Testament times, the Jewish people knew that only God and his Messiah could open the eyes of the blind. However, over their long history, it had never happened. Therefore, when Jesus healed the eyes of a man born blind in John 9:1-41 , he caused quite a stir. Some rejected the miracle as spurious, but the healed man held firm to what he knew to be true: “I was blind, and now I see.” This...

A constant problem for the reputation of the church is the presence of persons who claim to be believers but deny the faith with their lives. This problem is not new. In fact, in John 8:30-59 , Jesus had an extended argument with some who had believed in him but ended up wanting to kill him. Their lives showed that God was not their father, no matter what they said. Ever since then, there have bee...