Sermons from Ascension Lutheran Church, RPV

Jesus said "I AM the Resurrection and the Life." He demonstrates this by raising Lazarus from the dead. 

This week we discuss Jesus sign and wonder of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  This miracle put him in the crosshairs of the religious authorities and began the path to the crucifixion. 

Jesus said, "I AM the good shepherd." He lays down his life for his sheep. When he calls, if we know him, we hear his voice, and follow him. 

Jesus said, "I AM the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved. "  Jesus is the only way to the Father. Yet, God desires all to be saved. God is also just. He always does what is right. It is our task to carry God's love to the world and point to Christ.   

This week we study the story of the man born blind. Jesus heals him but ruffles the feathers of the religious leaders of his day. Jesus reminds us that our physical afflictions are not the result of our sins or the sins of our parents. But God demonstrates his love for us by providing healing. 

Jesus said, "I AM the light of the world." The light of Jesus lives in us. Let us carry Jesus' light and love into the world. 

"I AM the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty," Jesus said. But the crowds were still looking for physical bread. They did not understand that Jesus was offering himself as true food. From a crowd of over 5,000, only twelve remained. What in our lives is keeping us from receiving the true gift of Jesus each day? 

This week we discuss the miracle of Jesus walking on the water. He identifies Himself as the I Am of the Hebrew Bible, as he calms the chaos of the sea and brings the disciples to dry land. 

This week we discuss Jesus' feeding of the 5,000. Jesus provides for us abundantly, giving us what we need. 

Jesus finds a man by the pool and asks him if he wants to be healed. In healing this man Jesus picks a fight with the temple leaders about the use of the law. We see how Jesus fulfills that law and sets us free. 

We are looking at the 7 signs and wonders and the 7 "I AM" statements in the gospel of John. This week we looked at the healing of the Royal Officials Son found in John 4:43-51. 

Our first summer sermon study of the Gospel of John, where we discuss the seven signs and seven I Am statements of Jesus. This week we begin with an introduction to the Fourth Gospel and the first sign, the miracle at the wedding at Cana where Jesus changes water into wine. 

The Holy Spirit points to Christ, through prayer, worship, scripture and the church. 

When Jesus ascended, He poured out His Holy Spirit,  creating the Body of Christ in His church to continue the work of the Kingdom. We are a blessed amalgam of spirit and flesh. Our messy bodies are a part of God’s good creation. 

Loneliness is a major cause of physical illness in our society. Jesus tells us to do unto others what we want them to do to us. Therefore, reach out to someone you know who lacks social connections and invite them to church! 

The Spirit of God was present from the moment of creation, in the burning bush, the Tabernacle, the Temple, and the Incarnation. Now the Holy Spirit dwells in all believers as the members of the Body of Christ spread God's love throughout the world. 

Jesus' resurrection changes everything. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus revealed to the disciples how the Hebrew Scriptures pointed to him as the Messiah. 

The ripples of history point back to something  happening circa 30 AD. No matter  your religious perspective, a significant event occurred the day after Passover that year. The most reasonable explanation is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead and the world was never the same again.

As we are pursued by God, he surprises us. The Resurrection is a sign of his great love for us. 

Jesus fulfilled over 300 Messianic prophecies during his life. Some were not under his control, like the place of his birth in Nazareth. But he intentionally fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah when he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on Palm Sunday. 

God pursues us with His redemptive love.  

Life is full of pain, uncertainty and constant work, But God walks with us. He knows the impact of sin and enters into life with us.

God is not just an awesome engineer, He is a wonderful artist. He created the world full of pleasures for us to enjoy. God delights in us as we enjoy His creation.

God's sacrificial love pursues us. "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father." 

The first sermon in our Pursued series. Not only does God welcome us as the Father welcomes the Prodigal Son, God also pursues us as the lover pursues the beloved.