WWME Week 1 - 4 Slides.

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five3challenge: John 18

"Jesus was sold out for some silver"

Judas, one of the disciples who betrayed Jesus for a little money, led the soldiers to arrest Jesus. He knew exactly where Jesus was, because normally he would have been with him...

Judas had witnessed all the same miracles, healings, teachings, and awesome acts of compassion as the rest of the disciples, but his heart had not warmed toward Jesus... all he saw was the money...

Before we are too hard on him, I think we need to ask ourselves a hard questions. Judas betrayed Jesus for silver... what is my price?

What are the things that I am so swayed by, that I would "sell out" and deny Jesus, betray Jesus or Abandon Jesus for.

~For some it is popularity and acceptance... they will do anything to fit in, including abandoning the person they know Jesus wants them to be, or even pretending like they are not followers of him so people will not make fun of them.

~For others it is success and money... they will do anything to get ahead in school or life... even ignoring God to get better grades or work longer hours...

~For others it is pleasure... they will do anything for the next rush... be it sexual, drug related, alcohol and partying... it doesnt matter as long as it brings a moment of fun...

~For some it is relationships... they will do anything to have a boyfriend or girlfriend... even if it means being with someone who pushes their morals or doesn't care about God...

~Still others have other reasons...


How about you... where are you the most tempted to sell out and walk away from loving Jesus, even though you have already learned so much about him?

five3challenge: bookmark for week 4

five3challenge: John 12 (Part 2)

"Jesus was an awesome performer"

John 12:37 says,

Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.

Why?

Why after such clear evidence did so many people still reject Jesus. What after "seeing for themselves" did people who witnessed the miracles first hand still not turn to follow Jesus?

There are many reasons I am sure, but one basic one is at least true.

They did not want to.

You know, this is true still today. Some people raise all kinds of objections to faith, God, the bible, Jesus, etc... but really these are just a smoke screen for their own desire to not believe.

Why would someone not want to believe in Jesus?

That is simple... if you believe in Jesus... then you have to live like you mean it... You have to let him be the God of you life and you have to serve him...

Thoughts?

five3challenge: John 12

Jesus smelled really good...sometimes...

Not long after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus is having dinner at his house. At the dinner Mary, Lazarus sister, took some very expensive perfume and poured on Jesus feet. Then with her own hair she wiped his feet.

As many have pointed out... this perfume was most likely intended for Mary's wedding, but following Jesus raising of Lazarus... life would never be the same for Mary

Even if she married, she would never get over knowing that she had met the One who had power of Death.

She had experienced such wonderful things in Jesus... that all the treasures of life were now secondary... even human love.

She was ruined for Jesus...

But Jesus was so fragrant that the whole house was filled with the smell...


Have you been ruined for Jesus yet? What crazy things have you been moved to do simply because you love him so much?

five3challenge: John 11:37-57

Jesus was the LIFE of the party!


When Jesus showed up to late to save Lazarus, many people murmered about him, saying things life,

"Could not the one who opened blind men's eyes, save this man?"

Even Lazarus' sisters were disappointed that Jesus had not done more...

But Jesus was not swayed by the opinions of others... he knew what would bring the most glory to his father, and it was not healing this time. It was Resurrection.

Jesus told Mary (11:25-26),

"I am the resurrection and the life.
Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

So at Jesus command, the people present removed the stone that covered the grave of Lazarus, and when Jesus prayed to his father, Lazarus rose. He had been dead for three days.

Why let him die and then resurrect him?

"Father... I have said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

Jesus was trying to help his followers to understand who he was and to trust him no matter what. After all... if he could raise the dead, what could possibly not be possible for him.

How much do you trust him? Has it occurred to you what he is capable of?

Roots Series: Connection (prayer)

We were made for connection with God.

Once, in the garden of Eden, this connection was face to face as the first humans walked with God...

after the humans disobeyed God their connection with him was broken. This connection could only be re-established by the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross.

Now the connection is available to everyone who follows Jesus. Still many choose to segment their faith to only certain areas of their life.


This means that God is more than a Genie, and prayer is more than simple "wishes."

Prayer is communicating with God.


We were designed for constant connection with God, but often we forget about him for long stretches of our day, week, or life.

If we really want to know him and follow him, then we must learn to establish a constant connection with him.

Whats the the bottom line?

Prayer is about connection with God... it is mysterious... through it we enter into relationship with the invisible world that surrounds us all the time...

Some questions to consider about this topic:
1. . How connected do you feel with God?

2. What are your current habits regarding God's prayer? What keeps you from talking with God, and developing that connection? What has worked for you?

3. What would help you to stay connected with God all the time? Is there a prayer equivalent to text messaging or IM?


4. How do you think you could begin to grow a rhythm of prayer in your life?

5. If you really believed that whatever you prayed for would come true in 30 seconds... what would you pray for first? Second?

five3challenge: John 11

"Jesus sometimes got a little weepy."

In John 10:22-40 Jesus was almost stoned for claiming to be one with the father, or in other words... Jesus claimed to BE GOD HIMSELF...

After the crowd tried to stone him, Jesus retreated out of the region around jerusalem and went back to the Jordon where John used to baptize before he was imprisoned and executed.

Not long after Jesus arrived, word comes in John 11 that his good friend Lazarus is really sick and will most likely die. The problem is that Lazarus lives back near Jerusalem where the mob just tried to stone Jesus.

This point does not escape Thomas and the disciples. In 11:16 Thomas says, "great, lets return with Jesus so that we also may day" This could be taken many ways, but I think it might be sarcastic, and that Thomas is pointing out how foolish such a return would really be.

Regardless, they do return, but not until Lazarus has already died...

When Jesus finds out, he weeps.

What do you think we learn about Jesus... and God... that he sometimes cries? Why do you think he cried in John 11?

five3challenge John 10

"Jesus is awesome with Sheep"

John 10 is all about how Jesus is the good shepherd. To understand what this means , you sorta have to understand shepherding... which not a lot of people do...

So... back in the Day... like way back BC style... people made there living as shepherds... they would watch over other peoples flocks and make sure that they did not wander away...

In this passage, Jesus is basically saying that we are sorta like his sheep. We are his flock if you will.

Here is what is the most cool. Jesus sheep follow his voice. The recognize it when they here it and they do what it says.... because they remember that their good shepherd has led them to the best grass to eat and water to drink... that he has protected them from lions and bears... that he has taken care of them when they were sick... Jesus loved his sheep and so they loved him... and followed his voice...

Whose voice are you following?

five3challenge: John 9

"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

This is the question that Jesus asked the previously blind man that he healed in John 9.

This phrase, son of man, comes from the old testament and often refers to the expected Messiah, or savior of Israel.

The blind man was confused and responded, "who is he?"

When Jesus revealed that it was He himself who was the Son of Man.... the previously blind man, worshipped him and told him that he "believed!"

When the Blind man realized who Jesus was, worship and faith were his immediate response.

Worship is more than singing songs... it is a recognition of the superior nature of Jesus to us. Worship is admitting that God is God... and we are just humans... we owe him our devotion and affection. Often worship would involve falling on your face or covering your eyes.

When is the last time your truly worshipped God with all that you are?
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Happy Turkey Day!!!

Hey everyone, Happy turkey day! I hope you eat lots of fat turkey and stuffing and have a good time with your family.

Just thought I would share with you my personal connection with turkeys.

I grew up in Tremont, a small town in Illinois. Tremont had an annual festival called the turkey Festival where we set world records for how many turkey sandwiches people ate.

Now, because turkeys we so big in tremont, our school made out maskot a turkey.... We were the Tremont Turks.

You can imagine how much teams loved to play us...

"Roast the Turks"

"Gobble up the turks"


And it only got worse.

So... go ahead and eat your bird but just don't make fun of the Tremont Turks!

five3challenge: John 8:31 - 59

"Jesus just is..."

This is one of my favorite sections in John.

Let me point out just a few of really cool things he says:

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

This passage is pretty straight forward. It is those who really try to do what Jesus tells us to that are his students, or disciples. When we follow his teaching, we live the best kind of life and experience a freedom that many never do. What kind of freedom?

Truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Often people think that Jesus is trying to keep them from all the fun things in life... but the truth is that all those "fun" sinful things that go against his word are traps. They promise fun, and sometimes they even deliver, but as soon as you start, the also come with chains. The chains are the consequences which may not come immediately but will come eventually. And many of these behaviors also can be addictive... enslaving us to our desires!

truly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I am!"

THis statement is given when Jesus is trying explain to some skeptics who he is... He has always existed... he just is...

five3challenge: John 7:53 -8:11

The Bible is a complicated book.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The New testament was written in Greek. The whole bible was translated into Latin at some point.

The Bible is also a collection of shorter stories. Each story has its own history and ended up in the Bible in different ways. I think that history has proven the 66 books that we currently have to be the most reliable.

That said, from time to time there would be minor differences in two different scrolls containing the same book.

John 7:53 - 8:11 is one of the biggest and most famous examples of this. It simple is not in many of the ancient copies of John.

What does this mean? Well, it is interesting that almost all modern versions of the Bible set the passage apart somehow. The NIV uses lines to mark it off from the rest of the text.

I think that many people feel that this account of the adulterous woman is a true account. Even though many scholars believe it is true, many feel like maybe it was added to John later than some of the other material.

Really we cannot be sure, which is why it is left in the Bible even though we are uncertain about its origin.

What is really neat about the Holy Spirit is that he is the one who guides us to all truth. And he has used this passage and many others in the Bible to speak to people throughout history.

When we read the Word and let it really fill our hearts and minds, it changes us.

What questions do you have about the Bible?

five3challenge: John 8:1-30

"Jesus was really shiny!"

Jesus being the Light of the World is a important theme in the Book of John.

It first shows up in John 1

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it.

In John 8:12 he says this,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Jesus illuminates the right path for all to see, but only those who believe in him actually see it. When we follow him, he lights up our way so that we can live the best kind of life. He also gives us wisdom when our lives are confusing, and brings us light and hope in the darkest moments of life.

His light also shines in the dark places of our life and points our where we still have sin and doubt. When the light hits our shameful areas, we have the opportunity to embrace it, and confess our sins, or to turn away from the light and try to hide our sins.

But... whoever follows Jesus must walk in the light... even when the light reveals how sinful we are, God's grace is enough to help us to change and come back to the right path.

five3challenge: John 7:25 - 52

"Jesus is a rocking energy drink!"

One day while attending a festival Jesus makes a surprising statement...

"On the last and greatest day of the Festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

This passage has always intrigued me. The living water is talking about the Holy Spirit. This means that Jesus is better than Monster Energy drinks. Energy drinks give you lots of energy, but eventually they run out... But Jesus is better because once you drink of him, the energy never stops flowing.

How to comment on the posts...

Some people have been having trouble figuring out how to comment on the blog... so I wanted to make a little tutorial.









Step one: Click the on the word "comments"










Step two: Select the option "Other"

~Then type either your first name... or a nickname (PS you can ignore the web page line)














Step Three: ~Write your comment in the box
















Step Four: Push "Publish Post" and watch the magic happen

five3challenge: John 7:1-24

People wanted to kill Jesus.

Seriously... he had a way of pushing people to the edge...

Often he had to be cautious about where he traveled because there were so many people trying to kill him. Even Jesus own family were often frustrated with Jesus and sometimes even tried to tell him what to do.

Imagine that...
Jesus had brothers... who thought they could push him around too...
All of these people had their expectations of what the world should look like... of what Jesus should act like... or what church services should be like....

And into all of this infuriatingly unmet expectation... Jesus exhorted everyone saying, "

"Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly."

Feast chart
Tabernacle info

five3challenge: week 2 & 3

Hey because we do not have nexus on the 20th due to turkey day, this weeks book mark has reading for two weeks. Check it out.

New Pics of Service Project last weekend.

Check out the new photo's

five3challenge: John 6 (part 2)

Jesus even disappointed his closest friends.

After the crowds desert him in John 6, Jesus turns to his disciples and asks them some hard questions.

They respond,

"This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?"

So then Jesus asks the Twelve,

"You do not want to leave too, do you?" ... Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

There is some disappointment in Peter's reply. He could have said, "no way you are the best, we love you"... but instead he sorta says, "hey... we really don't have a choice... we are sorta stuck with you"

And so are we. Jesus is the incredible creator God of the universe, but he does not bend his identity and plan to us. Sometimes things we really want are not part of his plan. Sometimes he is not "exciting" to us. (this is more a reflection of us than it is of him... we desire and love things like iPod's but not the God who died for us... sorta wierd)

But he is the amazing Son of God who has the words of life.

We have no where else to go.