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John gives us a clear and distinct thesis in John 20:30-31. We can summarize John’s thesis in one word: believe. He says, “I’ve written this book, including these particular signs, so that you might believe.” In the course of twenty-one chapters, John will answer three questions: (1) What do we need to believe? (2) What does it mean to believe? (3) Why do we need to believe? There are seven signs in John’s account of the gospel (what he calls the things that “are written”) to help us answer these questions.

John the Baptist pointed to the one who can fulfill our greatest hopes and satisfy our deepest longings. What does John mean by calling Jesus “the Lamb of God”? At the center of the Passover celebration (Exodus 12) was the sacrifice of a lamb, which served as a reminder of God’s deliverance of Israel from captivity in Egypt when the death angel passed-over the homes where blood was applied. The Passover lamb links the two key events of biblical (and human) history that mark the theological focus of each Testament. God has provided a lamb for deliverance, a sacrifice for sin, a perfect substitute, and complete satisfaction. Are you pointing other people’s attention to Jesus? People need hope and long for satisfaction. What opportunities exist for you to tell people about Jesus?

The eternal Son of God, "the Word" (John 1:1-3, 14), took on flesh and lived among us. He ate our food, breathed our air, walked our paths, suffered, and died. He was full of grace and truth. God's gracious disposition towards sinful humanity was most clearly seen in his sacrificial death for us. Not only do we have life in Christ, but we can know the joy of having the same mind of Christ as we follow his example (Philippians 2:1-7).

On Sunday, we learned from Daniel 6, how Daniel's habit and dependance on God through prayer enabled him to live faithfully as an exile. We, too are exiles — citizens of Heaven who live in a sin cursed world. As exiles in this world, Daniel 6 teaches us that we must cultivate a life of prayer for three reasons:

• To live with faithfulness to our calling and to the word of God (vs. 1-5).
• To live in communion with God (v. 10).
• To live with victory over trials.

It's often easier for us to believe God's sovereignty when things go well in our life. But, when things go bad, when there is lying and mistrust, and betrayal and death, then our confidence in God's invisible purposes starts to get shaky. In Acts 1:15-26 we learn the ugly and tragic story of Judas's betrayal and death was actually part of God's invincible purposes in accomplishing salvation. The Scripture had to be fulfilled and God can be trusted to provide everything we need to be witnesses of Jesus.

What truths and realities lay behind and motivated the first century Christians into the risky and courageous obedience of spreading the message of Jesus to the ends of the known world? In Acts 1:1-14 we learn about the launchpad of Christianity. The launchpad of Christianity is uniquely built by God on the historic fact of the resurrection of Jesus, the priority of God’s kingdom, the empowerment of God’s Spirit, and the humble prayer dependence of God’s people.  

On Sunday we looked into the exciting story book of Acts. The death of Jesus is a main emphasis in the book, but even more so is the importance of the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples spread the message of Jesus far and wide. But, they did more than speak about Jesus. The message of Jesus was accompanied by the honest, gentle, cheerful, and courageous lives that compelled the attention of their cities. Acts shows us that while the mission Jesus gave his church is big (go and tell the world!) God is sovereignly at work in and behind it all. God grants repentance, appoints people for eternal life, and opens people to respond to the gospel with faith. A firm belief in God’s Sovereignty is exactly what encourages the Christians in Acts to engage in evangelism. Will you pray for God to use our study in Acts to encourage us, challenge us, and change us?

The picture of a shepherd with his sheep is a beautiful image of our relationship with God. Thankfully, the metaphor is not a cowboy rounding- up cattle, or a bookish theologian merely providing right answers. We don’t need to be driven like cows and we desperately need more than accurate information. We need the experiential loving care of a good shepherd. In Jesus, we have a good shepherd who cares for his sheep by leading, providing, protecting, and laying his life down as a sacrificial Lamb for sinners (John 10:11-15). “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall never lack what I need.”

In Luke 15, Jesus teaches a trilogy of parables. In each parable, something is lost (a sheep, a silver coin, a wayward child). In each parable, there is also great rejoicing (the shepherd, the woman, the father). In the third parable, the wayward son returns home and is joyfully received by and restored to the father. The older son, however, who remained geographically near is also distant from the father, and Jesus does not say whether he was ultimately restored to a close relationship with the father, or not. It’s designed to make us wonder. The father meets both sons in their need — he sees the younger son far off and runs to him, and he notices the older son is not in the house so he goes outside to entreat him. The unconditional love of the father is what is highlighted as he relates with both sons.

To younger wayward children, the invitation is to come home to the father. He is watching and waiting to receive you. To older children who have remained geographically near the father through religion or morality (Luke 15:1-2), the invitation is to come inside with the father. In both cases, the need is to be rightly related to the father. Thankfully, Jesus truly is a friend of tax collectors and sinners!

In Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8, we learn how the early church worked through internal controversies about religious convictions on disputed matters. Instead of dividing and polarizing around our specific convictions, the welcome we have received by God in Christ enables us to live in peace and serve together in love. The gospel of Jesus enables us to study the Bible together, worship together, and fellowship together so that we "may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 15:6).

In Philippians 4:15-23 we learn about the importance, the joy, and the promise of financial ministry partnership. The Christians in Philippi did more than support Paul's efforts to advance the gospel. Their gifts would actually be a means God would use to provide them a reward of increased spiritual fruitfulness. In addition, as they give, they can trust God to provide for their needs in accordance with his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

King Solomon enjoyed honor, fame, and extraordinary wealth as arguably one of Ancient Israel's greatest kings. While everyone bowed to him, there was one person to whom he bowed — his mother, Bathsheba (1 Kings 2:19). In Proverbs 1 Solomon specifically warns the reader not to forsake their mother's teaching. Motherhood is one of God's ordained means to teach children in the "fear of the Lord" (Prov. 1:7).

In Ephesians 4 we find three attributes or attitudes that are necessary to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace - humility, gentleness, and meekness.

It's important to understand unity does not hinge on uniformity or unanimity. Nor does disagreement demand disunity. Doctrine rightly divided does divide, but it should divide between believers and unbelievers, between false teachers and teachers of truth — not between Christians who land on different yet faithful interpretations of scripture (where different interpretations are understandable and permitted because they are not fundamental core doctrines). Sadly, some doctrines divide that shouldn’t divide. First Timothy 1:1-7, “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, (different doctrine, not false doctrine but different. Non-essential, heterodox teachings — teaching logical extensions of truth as truth itself).

Let us renew our commitment to be walking with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

In Philippians 4:10-14 as Paul gives thanks for the ministry partnership of the Christians in Philippi he writes about a secret he has learned. It is the secret of Christian contentment — learning how to be content whether experiencing a little or a lot, whether facing plenty or poverty. Paul explains the only way this is possible is through the strength found in Christ (Phil 4:13). 

In Psalm 86, David cries out to God with a heart distressed by trouble and anguish. Yet, woven through this cry are confessions and celebrations of God's graciousness, goodness, and steadfast love. The attributes of God provide David comfort, joy, and thankfulness even though he faces times of trouble. In this prayer David shows how God wants us to pour out our hearts to him and to rely on his perfect character.