Audible Gospel

Jesus knows that everybody has a pervasive inner spiritual hunger. And Jesus says, “Don’t work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal Life.” What He simply means is this; We are all seeking to satisfy a hunger within us that’s very deep, and anything we put there other than Jesus never will satisfy us; only Jesus and believing in Him satisfies our deep inner hunger.

In Galatians 5:22-23 – the “Fruit of the Spirit” text – the NIV translates patience as forbearance and the KJV translates it as longsuffering. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus shows both longsuffering with respect to His imminent suffering and death as well as forbearance with His drowsy disciples.

It is very interesting, and more than a little intriguing, that the disciples, in the midst of a raging storm, were not terrified until they saw Jesus walking on the water. Jesus says quite tersely, “I AM; don’t fear.” Realizing Jesus is the I AM LORD of the universe ultimately rescues us from the storms of life.

By washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus gives us an example of gentleness in service. More than that, the meaning of Jesus’ symbolic action gives us the motivation to serve others in gentleness. And even more than that, Paul’s definition of what it means to walk by the Spirit, that is, to be led by the Spirit, gives us the ultimate power to serve others in gentleness.

Father, send Your Holy Spirit through the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection that we might experience the glory of real and eternal Life today, tomorrow, and forever. We ask in the name of Jesus, the point and purpose of all of Holy Scripture, and the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Augustine famously said, “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in You, O Lord.” We live in an anxiety ridden and world weary time. What would give us deep satisfying rest that resides in the very center of our being, that brings rest to our soul?

In John 4, Jesus knows that this Samaritan woman is thirsty. How so? Everyone here today, every person you will cross paths with during the coming week, every individual on this planet is thirsty for a LIFE that is worthwhile, significant, meaningful, substantial; a life that has present and eternal value.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, three of Jesus’ disciples saw His unveiled glory. In our John text for today – John 3:16-21, 36, we also see the unveiled glory of Jesus, that is that “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” over to the cross. In Him, the Father’s dearly beloved Son, we experience a ‘no condemnation’ verdict today and forever.

Jesus tells Nicodemus, a very moral person of outstanding character, "You must be born-again."

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ miracles are called signs. Jesus miracles are indeed telltale signs of something very significant about Jesus, other than simply His divine power to do miracles. If Jesus’ miracles cease to be a sign signifying something about Him, and simply become an end in themselves, they produce a false and spurious faith, what I am calling, "miracle faith."

Father, as You sent Your Son into our world to be our Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world; now send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to transform us from the inside out through the message of Your dear Son’s death and resurrection. And, as the Holy Spirit has made us His temple when we were baptized into Christ’s body and we were all made to drink of one Spirit, enable us to see each...

Father, send Your Holy Spirit through message of Jesus’ being lifted up to draw all people to Himself as the Source of self-giving and Life-giving love. May we rejoice in that today, tomorrow, indeed, forever. We ask in the name of Your beloved Son, our crucified Lord, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

As we begin a New Year, let us ask the most basic question of all: Why do we become disciples? How do we become disciples of Jesus? What does it mean to be a disciple?

The most incredible promise of the Scriptures is: Immanuel, that is, God is with us. One scholar claims that every time the name Yahweh occurs –literally I AM; translated as the LORD – the is with us is understood; thus, this promise is given in the Old Testament over 900 times. And it is only truly fulfilled with the birth of Jesus.

Because “the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us,” our ordinary life becomes extraordinary, not in withdrawing from the world; rather, by becoming more engaged in loving and serving others as the way in which we thus love and serve God.

Baptism and the Lord’s Meal – are they just signs or are they sacraments? A sign is just a way of speaking or reminding ourselves of God’s love with a symbolic action. A sacrament is a means by which God comes to us in a personal and; thus, powerful way.

Father, this Christmas season, send Your Spirit to help us – individually and as a Christian family – to speak to our friends and family who are not yet in Christ, who have not yet experienced the glory of His love. We ask in the name of Jesus, Your beloved Son, our crucified Lord, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Father, send your Holy Spirit to reveal the glory of Your goodness,Your grace, and Your compassion in Jesus’ death and resurrection. We ask in the name of Jesus, Your dear Son and our crucified Lord, the Same who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen!

Being a child of God and a member of God’s family is not a matter of being a member of God’s chosen Old Testament people nor is it something I can acquire by my effort nor is it the consequence of being a member of the human family; rather, it is the result of a new birth, what is commonly called being “born again.”

Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

O God, the helper of all who call on You, have mercy on us and give us eyes of faith to see Your Son that we may follow Him on the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

O God, Your divine wisdom sets in order all things in heaven and on earth. Put away from us all things hurtful and give us those things that are beneficial for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Lord Jesus Christ, whose grace always precedes and follows us, help us to forsake all trust in earthly gain and to find in You our heavenly treasure; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!

Merciful Father, Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!