The Cross and the Crown

In this session, John tackles the use of Psalm 100 by God's people throughout past generations, showing how it applies to our lives today.

The book of Jonah explores the deep level of God's sovereignty, mercy, and our own need of grace. Functioning as a microcosm of the Bible's overarching storyline, how does this short book challenge us to examine our own hearts as we explore the character and work of God in His world? 

The book of Jonah explores the deep level of God's sovereignty, mercy, and our own need of grace. Functioning as a microcosm of the Bible's overarching storyline, how does this short book challenge us to examine our own hearts as we explore the character and work of God in His world? 

The book of Jonah explores the deep level of God's sovereignty, mercy, and our own need of grace. Functioning as a microcosm of the Bible's overarching storyline, how does this short book challenge us to examine our own hearts as we explore the character and work of God in His world? 

The book of Jonah explores the deep level of God's sovereignty, mercy, and our own need of grace. Functioning as a microcosm of the Bible's overarching storyline, how does this short book challenge us to examine our own hearts as we explore the character and work of God in His world? 

Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount are rarely difficult to understand. They are diffult to digest. As Jesus' sermon unfolds, he takes on the issue of marriage, divorce, and remarriage. How can a robust understanding of the meaning of marriage help us digest Jesus' teaching on this tender topic? 

Jesus aims at the heart of sin in order to heal the heart of the sinner. Going to the heart of the commandments, he now takes on lust. What are the roots and consequences of lust? Only One has not faltered. 

In the first of the "You've heard it said... but I say..." passages, Jesus takes on the topic of anger. 

What should we make of Jesus' claim that he came not to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil them? What is the relationship between the believer and the law in light of Jesus' claims? 

What does Jesus mean when He refers to believers as the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden? 

What does Jesus mean by "blessed?" What are the promises given to believers within the Beatitudes? Who has the authority to grant such blessings and promises to people? 

In Matthew 5:10-12, we read that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed. Indeed, there is an immediate call to rejoice. How is this possible? Is Christ commanding something that he wasn't willing to enter into himself? 

How is Jesus the perfect peacemaker? What does it mean to be a peacemaker? What is peacemaking not? Why does this mark the life of the believer and what impact might it have in the world today? 

Purity of heart is a mark of believers in Christ. What does Jesus mean by "purity of heart?" How does this harmonize with the entire catalogue of Beatitudes? How is this purity of heart both a present reality, a growing reality, and a future hope? 

Why is mercy is standard mark of the believer in Christ? What does it mean that the believer is to be merciful? How does mercy relate to the other Beatitudes? How do we cultivate mercy in our lives where we find ourselves lacking? 

In this session, we will examine what it means to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We will look within the Sermon on the Mount itself and consider what Scripture as a whole says about the truth of this next Beatitude. 

What does "meek" mean? How are believers to live in light of Christ's meekness? What does Jesus mean when he says the meek shall inherit the earth? In what ways are we blessed both now and forever?

"Blessed" and "comforted" have the first and final word over those who mourn. How can this be? What does Jesus mean by mourning? What are Scriptural examples of what it means to mourn over our sin? 

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? What does it not mean? What are Scriptural examples of what it means to be poor in spirit? What does Jesus mean by calling us blessed? What is the kingdom heaven? 

How do the Beatitudes shape and define the Christian life? How are we to read the Kingdom truths given by the King? 

In this introduction to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, we explore the themes, tension, and grace that innundate this 2,000 year old masterpiece.

After the healing at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus makes radical claims as to his relationship with the Father. This draws the rage of many in the crowd. What is it about Jesus' words that create such tension? 

How does Jesus' interaction with the man at the pool of Bethesda continue the flow of John's narrative, while providing the groundwork for his discourse with the religious leaders in chapter 5? What can we learn about the nature of the relationship between the Father and the Son?

What do we make of Jesus' exchange with the royal official at the end of John 4? How does working from the definition of faith in Hebrews 11 help clarify our interpretation of this interchange? 

What does Jesus' interaction with the woman at the well tell us about our Lord? How do the stories of Nicodemus and the woman at the well fit into the larger framework of John's gospel, Scripture, and history as a whole?