Expository Insights with Pastor Lyle Wahl

Theme: A Christ-honoring Christmas requires a Christ-centered focus. Mary's Focus on God. Some examples of her inevitable and mounting distractions. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:29, 56; 2:1-5) Some examples of her process to manage the distractions. (Luke 1:29, 38, 46-56; 2:19) Some examples of God's provisions for the distractions. (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-5) Your Focus on God. Expect distr...

Slow Down for Reflection Theme: A Christ-honoring Christmas requires calm consideration. Chaos Strikes. A surprise appearance. (26-30) A startling greeting. (28) A shocking message. (30-37) Chaos Stilled. A process of thorough thought. (29) An acceptance, and obedience to God. (38) A place and time of quietness and reflection. (39-40) Chaos For You This Christmas? Initiate your own process of thor...

Parable of the Ten Virgins Matthew 25:1-13 Theme: Indifference to God's grace is dangerous. A closer look at the parable's story. Some background on marriage celebrations at that time and place. Examining the parable's story. A closer look at the parable's meaning. Looking at the setting and subject. (chapters 24 & 25) The principle lessons. Some basic applications.

Luke 10:25-37 Theme: Believers demonstrate their faith by being good neighbors. Correcting some misconceptions. Being a good neighbor does not make one a Christian. (25-28) A good neighbor does not draw lines to exclude people. (29) Sharpening the focus. What a good neighbor looks like in action. (30-37) The necessity for Christians to be good neighbors. (27-28, 37).

God's Great Invitation Matthew 22:1-14 Theme: The chosen respond to God's gracious invitation. What is a parable? Jesus' message to Israel. God had repeatedly invited them. (2-4) They had repeatedly refused. (2-6) Judgment was coming. (7) God's invitation will go to others. (8-10) Jesus' message to all today. God's grace is great. (2-4) God provides the means of entrance. (...

John 20:1 - 21:25 Theme: The gospel is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes. Written so that you may believe the truth about Jesus Christ. Two essential facts to believe. (20:31) Essential evidence for the facts. (chapters 20 & 21) Written so that you may have life in Jesus Christ. What life? (20:31; 3:15-16; 17:3) The statements. (20:31; 3:15-16, 10:10, 11:25-26, 14:6; 1 Joh...

John 18:1 - 19:42 Theme: Your character determines your destiny. Judas, a self-centered taker. (18:2-3; See also Matthew 26:14-16, 47-50; 27:1-5) Annas and Caiphas, respectable religion. (18:12-27) Pilate, political expediency. (18:28 0 19:16) Peter, an unprepared believer. (18:10-10-11, 15-18, 25-27; see also Matthew 26:69-75)

John 17:1-26 Jesus prays for Himself. He prays for the glory of His mission being completed. (1, 4) He declares the essence of eternal life. (2-3) He prays for His eternal glory to be revealed. (3) Lessons for us: Jesus prays for His disciples. He recounts their nature and progress. (6-16) His specific requests. (11-19) Lessons for us: Jesus prays for all His disciples. His central focus: unity. (...

Theme: God prepares His people to withstand persecution. Persecution is certain. The reasons. (15:18-25; see also Matthew 5:10-12; Romans 1:18-32, 3:9-23, 8:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:3, 9, 3:12; 1 Peter 1:6-9, 4:12) Some examples. (15:18-20; 16:2) Victory is certain. The preparation for victory. (15:19-20; 16:1, 4) The power for victory. (15:26-27). The promise of victory. (16:1)

Who to remember. God. (1, 3) Your God. (2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20) What and how to remember. Keep God's commandments. (1, 2, 6) Remember God's way of leading you. (1, 2-5, 7-9, 12-16, 18) Why to remember. Some dangers of not remembering. (14, 17, 19-20) Some blessings of remembering. (1, 3-4, 7-9, 12-13, 16)

Theme: God produces a bumper crop in healthy believers. God is the source of all real life and fruit. Jesus, the Vine. (1, 5) God the Father, the Vinedresser. (1-2) To be a healthy believer requires: Vital contact with God. (4-7) Loving contact with God. (9) Loving contact with others. (12-13, 17) The bumper crop God produces in a healthy believer. The fruit of effective prayer. (7, 16) The fruit...

Another Helper Who is this Helper? The word Jesus used. (14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7) He is God the Holy Spirit. (14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13-15; see also Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; Matthew 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 13:14) Why does the Holy Spirit come to us? To be with us. (14:16-18; see also Romans 8:9, 14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; 12:12-13; Ephesians 5:18) To carry on Jesus' work. (14:27;...

Calming the Turmoil Within Setting the scene of the turmoil. The scene in chapter 12. The scene in chapter 13. Steps to start calming the turmoil within. Trust in God - personal faith. (1, 6-12) Trust in God - His promises. (1-4) Pray. (13-14) Obey God's commandments. (14-15, 21-24) Rely on the work of the Holy Spirit. (16-17, 26) Receive Christ's peace. (27) Rejoice in Christ's presen...

Theme: Believers find happiness through knowing and doing. The importance of knowing and doing. Know. (17; see also 10, 13; 12:47-48; Mark 3:35; James 1:22-25) Do. (17; see also James 1:22-25; 4:17) Blessed, happy. (17; see also Matthew 5:3-12; Philippians 4:7-9) Things believers need to know and do. The correct relationship with Jesus. (13-16; 20) The correct remedy for sin. (6-10) The correct at...

John 12:20-50 Jesus enters Jerusalem the week after the triumphal entry. Jesus' teaching on the necessity of His death. (20-36) John's comments on unbelief. (37-43) Jesus' teaching on the seriousness of belief and unbelief. (44-50) Principles for us for every week. Keep your mission and tasks in focus. (20-35, ff.) When difficult tasks or situations trouble you, don't look for an e...

Extravagant Worship Theme: Jesus' extravagant grace calls for extravagant worship. Extravagant worship includes . . . Extravagant love and devotion. (1-3, 7-8; 3:16; 11:28-45; 14:15; Luke 7:47; 10:38-42) Extravagant humility. (3; 2 Samuel 6:12-22; Philippians 2:1-11) Extravagant thankfulness. (1-3; Psalm 136:1-26; Romans 1:21; 2 Corinthians 4:15; Colossians 2:6-7) Extravagant giving. (3; 3:16;...

Preached 20 August 2023 John 11:1-57 The Miracle. Walking through the event. (1-44) Zooming in on the central truth. (25-27) Responses to the miracle. Many believed in Him. (45) Some reported back to the Pharisees. (45) The religious establishment intensified their efforts to kill Jesus. (47-53, 57) Jesus stayed true to His purpose and plan, avoided conflict, and invested in His friends. (54; see...

Preached 13 August 2023 John 10:1-42 Theme: The Good Shepherd provides abundant life for His sheep. The work of the Good Shepherd. He sacrificed Himself for His sheep. (11. 15-18) He calls all His sheep to Himself. (3, 16) The responses to the Good Shepherd. By those who are not His sheep. (25-26, 31-42) By those who are His sheep. (3-5, 7-9, 14-15, 27-29) The benefits to the Good Shepherd's s...

Preached 06 August 2023 John 9:1-41 Theme: Your response to God's light determines your destiny. The negative, downward progression of the Pharisees. They concluded Jesus was not from God. (16; see also 22) They questioned Jesus' miracle. (18) They labeled Jesus as a sinner. (24) They demonstrated their spiritual blindness. (29) They are declared to be unforgiven sinners. (41) The positive...

Preached 30 July 2023 John 8:31-59 Theme: Really believing in Jesus is demonstrated in your life. Believing, but not really believing. Demonstrated by relying on religion and family history. (see 7:2; for setting: 8:33, 39, 53) Demonstrated by still being slaves to sin. (8:31-34, 40, 44) Demonstrated by rejecting some of the truth Jesus gave them. (8:37, 43, 45-47, 58-59) Demonstrated by ultimatel...

Does Jesus Light Up Your Life? Preached 23 July, 2023 Theme: Your belief determines your destiny. The options. Live in the dark. (12, 19, 21, 24; 1-11) Live in the light. (12, 19) The way to living in the light. The only source of light: Jesus. (12) The only means to the light: belief in Jesus. (12, 19, 24, 28, 30)

Preached 16 July 2023 John 7:1-52 Jesus faces some difficult days. Challenge from unbelieving, sarcastic brothers. (1-9) Teaching curious, but self-centered crowds. (14-39) Avoiding attempts to seize and kill Him. (1, 30, 32, 43-53) Some lessons for our difficult days. There are times when it is best to actively avoid conflict. (6-10, 30, 40) Keep speaking God's truth, even in the toughest tim...

Preached July 9, 2023 John 6:41-71 Theme: Replace unhealthy faith with healthy faith to defeat grumbling. Some symptoms of this disease. "We have the answers." (41-51) "It's too difficult to understand and accept what God says." (52-65) Some results of this disease. Discouragement and desertion. (66-67) Discipline. (for example, Numbers 16:41-50) Some of the cure for this d...

Preached 02 July 2023 John 6:22-40 Surveying the setting. The day before. (6:1-20) This day. (22-26) Surveying the flow of events. Jesus exposes inadequate motives and points to the correct motive for those who seek Him. (26-27) Jesus clarifies the way to be true followers. (28-29) The people ask for more signs. (30-31) Jesus declares that He is the Bread of Life. (32-35) The people did not believ...

Preached 25 June 2023 John 6:1-21 Question: How does Jesus related to those who follow Him? Jesus cares and acts to meet their needs. For casual and committed followers. (2, 16-21) For spiritual and physical needs. (5, 18-19; Mark 6:34) Jesus provides generously. At the cost of His own comfort. (Matthew 14:13; Mark 6:31) Beyond what is required. (11-12, 21) Jesus stretches people and involves us i...