Jesus Changes People

The secret to spiritual growth – whether it’s personal or congregational – is actually no secret. Spiritual growth happens as we learn to remain and abide in Jesus. Tactics and strategies are no subs…

In terms of following Jesus, obedience isn’t optional. “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” For each of us, the real test is whether we will be obedient even when doing so is difficult or …

John 14 begins with a promise that is often used at Christian funerals – Jesus is preparing a place for us. This promise of heaven confuses one disciple, who asks, “Lord, we don’t know where you are …

During the same meal, Jesus makes two startling announcements. Judas will betray him and Peter will deny knowing him. In both cases, Jesus has just washed their feet even though he knows what they wi…

Jesus knows that his appointment with the cross is fast approaching. He uses the occasion of his last Passover meal with the disciples to teach them what love looks like – it looks and acts like a se…

Fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, this section begins with a startling statement: “Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him.” Many conte…

We’ve learned more about Jesus in John 8:12-12:36, but if we don’t do something with it, then it hasn’t really been helpful information. Ken and Mike discuss different ways that will help you put int…

Discipleship is the process of becoming more like Jesus. But what does this involve? According to Jesus, it involves several shifts. First, we must love his life more than we love our own. This is at…

It’s almost time for the Passover festival in Jerusalem and Jesus decides to stay in Bethany with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. The family decides to host a dinner in honor of Jesus. During the meal, Ma…

Jesus receives word from Mary and Martha that their brother, Lazarus, has become ill. In a verse that doesn’t always get noticed, John simply writes, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (…

The Pharisees weren’t able to recognize the activity of God because they were more concerned with maintaining their traditions. This encounter with the Pharisees leads Jesus to teach about what it me…

This story highlights two interrelated ways of thinking that create conflict and harm. The first attitude is our need to assign blame. When Jesus and his disciples encounter a blind man, the disciple…

This section of John deals with the nature of truth and how Jesus is the embodiment of truth. Several times Jesus will say, “I tell you the truth.” John introduced us to Jesus in chapter one as “full…

We’ve learned more about Jesus in John 6:16-8:11, but if we don’t do something with it, then it hasn’t really been helpful information. Ken and Mike discuss different ways that will help you put into…

While there is some debate among translations whether this section of Scripture is original or not, it certainly fits with how Jesus treated people. The religious leaders have found a lady who commit…

The religious leaders don’t like having their hypocrisy pointed out and try to seize Jesus. John’s explanation as to why they are unable to do so is theological: his hour had not yet come. In other w…

Jesus is facing the hostility of the religious leaders and the unbelief of his brothers. The Jewish leaders were no longer simply annoyed by Jesus; they were actively looking for a way to kill him. J…

After the crowd began to leave, Jesus turns to his twelve apostles and asks,  “Do you want to leave, too?” In this question, we get a glimpse into the humanness of Jesus – he really wanted to know if…

Jesus recognizes that the crowd has followed him for the wrong reasons. It’s not because of his teaching, but because he fed them. Jesus seizes upon this as an opportunity to teach about the cost of …

The disciples were initially afraid when they witnessed Jesus’ demonstration of his power over nature. Once he identified himself, they were willing to take him into the boat. This story serves as a …