The Shepherd's Church

This week, we enter into a new section of John's Gospel (Ch. 5-11), which will focus on the growing resistance and rejection that Jesus and His Kingdom will face by the Jews. To begin this section, we will look at the very first betrayal of Christ (in John 5:1-16), we examine how this betrayal took place, and then we will examine what betraying Jesus might look today. 

in John chapters 2-4 we see that there are three ways to respond to Jesus. Yet, only one of these ways leads to salvation. You can respond to Him like the seeker-sensitive Galieans who were always looking for signs and wonders but did not know Christ. You can seek Him like the woke Sadducees, who were consumed with the world and their philosophies, but hated Christ and His Gospel. Or, you can seek...

After an encounter with the Christ, a Samaritan woman drops everything in order to tell people about Him. The same is true for His disciples, who move from deep confusion about Jesus' mission, to growing understanding, and then to missional activity. 2000, years ago these men understood who Jesus was, and what He came to do, and with that understanding, they turned the world upside down. That is o...

What does it mean to be a Christian? In John 4:23-24 we get 5 specific elements, that when added together, give us the most comprehensive and beautiful glimpse of who we are and what we are called to do. Join us this week as week seek to examine this together! 

Sin is like a deadly poison that has been unleashed upon humanity by humanity. Its greatest side effects are shame and spiritual confusion, which render a person incapacitated and alienated from God. This means, apart from divine intervention, there is no cure for our sin, shame, and spiritual confusion. But, that is where Jesus comes in, as we see in John 4:7-26, Christ provides the cure for all...

As The Shepherd's Church enter's a new chapter of our existence, stepping out of an existing church and prayerfully into our own building, there is no better time to review the basics. What should a church commit to do for its people? What should the people commit to do in the church? And how can we be a church that successfully raises up disciples, faithfully preaches the Gospel, and effective re...

This week, Pastor Derrick led us through the beginning of 1 Corinthians, where we examined the roots of a two year old church that quickly fell back into their old patterns of sin. As we learned in this passage, that same danger is present for us today, but the cure is found in verse 9, that "God is faithful". When we know that and remember that we will have a childlike faith and will become a chi...

After spending time in Jerusalem, John records the relocation of Jesus' ministry to Galilee in the north. But, before Jesus arrives in Galilee, He stops for a poignant interaction with a Samaritan woman. Join us this week as guest preacher Scott Griffin leads us to explore John 4:1-10 together. 

John ends chapter 3 with a theological reflection on the supremacy of Christ. He is the supreme Lord who speaks the Words of God, sends the Spirit of God, and brings salvation to the people of God. He is also the supreme Lord who issues forth the wrath of God on all who reject Him. Our Lord is supreme. The question is, how will we respond to Him?

As John 3 comes to a close, Jesus' ministry was growing. John the Baptist's ministry, however, was shrinking. And while his disciples were filled with envy over the success of Jesus' ministry, John himself demonstrated true Biblical humility. He understood the secret of true joy; in all things, Jesus must increase even as he must also decrease. Join us today was we examine the heart of John the Ba...

As the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus ebbed to a close, Jesus warns Nicodemus of the judgment that was not only future for him, but was already here. For anyone who does not believe, Jesus tells us, there is a judgment that only Christ can lift that has fallen upon their minds, hearts, and wills. Join us as we examine that judgment together and look to Christ as the only cure!  

John 3:16 offers the great assurance of our salvation. While we were still sinners, God loved us and sent His Son, so that we would never perish and have eternal life. That assurance is irrevocable! Join us this week as we explore the assurance of God's love in our salvation! 

Though humanity remains in a state of utter inability to save themselves, Christ offers the cure. He is the Lord who condescended to our level. He is the one who bore our curse. And, He is the one who provides us the cure. Check out this weeks sermon on John 3:13-15.

After going to war with the false religion of Jerusalem, Jesus turns His sights upon the deadly epidemic of false faith among God's people. First, He diagnoses it in the crowds, then He demonstrates it in Nicodemus, and ultimately He will die to set His people free from it. Join us this week as we explore what false faith really is and how only Christ can provide the cure! 

Every 4th of July Americans celebrate the birthday of our nation. But as Christians, we must never forget that we belong to a better Kingdom. A Kingdom that was inaugurated 2000 years ago, is still growing, where true peace and healing can be found, and will last forever into eternity. Join us today as we briefly examine these things in light of Philippians 3:20.  

After a quiet small town wedding in Cana where Jesus unveils the Kingdom of God, He then goes to Jerusalem and makes war on false religion. In anger, He flips the tables in the courtyard, make a whip of cords, and then chases the idolators right out of the temple mount. Join us this week as we examine what made Jesus so angry and what this passage means for us today. 

What is the kingdom of God? When did it begin? And how are we to have hope as citizens of that Kingdom? Join us today as we examine how Christ unveiled the Kingdom at a wedding party in Cana and inaugurated it on a hill called Calvary! 

The only comfort that we can ever have comes from belonging to God. We are not our own. We need the Lord to build our house, our life, our cities and our nation. And when we stop trying to clamor for control and rest in Christ, then we will have true rest. Join us as we examine Psalm 127 and unpack these truth's together. 

How does a Christian respond to evil? Do we take up arms, fight fire with fire, evil with evil? Or is there another way? A Biblical way? And if that way exists, what is it? How do we do it? Join us as we look at Psalm 37, which speaks so fully into this! 

There will be seasons in your life where God allows you to walk through a spiritual desert. In those times, there will be many voices who are speaking to you. But only one voice is the voice of truth. Join us as we consider how to navigate the spiritual desert with wisdom and joy! 

What does it mean to have "The Blessed Life"? Who defines it? How does someone get it? Or better yet, once you have it how do you keep it and enjoy it forever? Join us for our very first message in the book of Psalms where we examine the life of blessing! 

In this final sermon on what it means to BE The Church, we consider how we are supposed to be the Church even as we await the return of Christ. Join us as we close out this series in Hebrews 10:23-25. 

What does it mean to be the Church? Well, that question cannot even be answered if you do not understand the Holy Spirit. Literally everything the Church is, does, participates in, and celebrates is infused with His power. In today's message, we will examine seven truths about the Holy Spirit and how He empowers us to BE the church! Join us! 

For us to be the Church, we must love one another with a special kind of love that is authored by God the Father, modeled to us by Jesus Christ, and given to us by His Spirit. And that love will cause us to serve one another in love and be devoted to one another in love. In fact, love is the key ingredient for what it means to BE the Church. Join us this week as we explore it together! 

When Jesus entered the room it changed everything. Thomas the doubter, became Thomas the believer. With five simple but powerful words, "My Lord and my God", Thomas was no longer the skeptic who was consumed with doubts, he was the bold witness who uttered the clearest and most powerful witness ever spoken of Jesus Christ.  Join us this Easter as we look at the powerful effect Christ had on T...