Sermon Reflections from Jesus is Grace | Alex Hardt | April 7, 2024
 
As Pastor Alex preached from Luke 15 this Sunday, I caught a vision of the many facets of Jesus’ character.  Our God has many attributes to who He is.  Some are ones that are for him alone like- sovereign, creator, Savior, glory, Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient and others are ones that He has in perfection but desires that we emulate like love, mercy, justice, goodness, kindness, compassion, patience, etc.  From the parables in Luke 15 and Jesus’ actions we can learn much about our Lord.

As Pastor Alex noted, Jesus began by confronting the narrow minded thinking of the religious leaders.  Luke 15:1-2 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”   The religious leaders were criticizing Jesus for associating with known sinners.  Their idea was that their sins were small in comparison and they were more worthy.  However, Jesus showed by his actions and words that He is impartial.  He loves all sinners and desires that all would come to repentance and faith.  2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The first parable Jesus told the crowd was of the lost sheep.  The shepherd loses one sheep and leaves the 99 in search of the lost. His conclusion in verse 15:7  “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”   This attitude shows Jesus’ incomprehensible love.  It is a love beyond our understanding.  Alex put it this way, the pursuit of the lost.. is a reflection of the Father’s love for His children. We do not understand that kind of full love that would lead Him to send his only son to die on our behalf.  John 3:16 says it this way, “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   God’s love is complete and beyond our understanding.  Thanks be to God for His great love for us!

The second illustration Jesus told the crowd was of the woman who had 10 silver coins and had lost one.  She went in search of this lost coin and like the lost sheep she rejoiced when she found it.  Luke 15:10 “ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” This speaks of God’s great joy when someone turns to Him and accepts Jesus as their Savior and Lord by his infinite grace.  His joy at our turning to him shows His kindness that we do not deserve.  His grace is favor that is undeserved. He gives it freely, feels His joy freely and we did nothing to earn it.  The joy of redemption is the restoration of the lost by the GRACE of God! Thanks be to God for His marvelous grace towards us!

The last parable in this series is the story of the prodigal son.  The son who takes his inheritance and squanders it recklessly.  When he comes to his senses in the depth of despair, he realizes at that the servants in his father’s house are better off than he is.  He returns home and his father unexpectedly welcomes him home and prepares a feast of celebration.  Jesus was trying to explain the concept of mercy and forgiveness.  The father is merciful and forgiving towards anyone who repents and turns to Him.  Without Him, they were lost and now they are found.  They have moved from death to life which is what we do in Christ through our faith in Him.  Alex’s statement is so true, only the compassion of the Father can turn sinners into repentant citizens of heaven!

The other son who had worked diligently all those years was upset over the father’s welcome feast.  However, the father shows understanding and wisdom when he tells the other son in Luke 15:31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”   The son who stayed has had the benefit of the father’s love and care all those years and has a full inheritance plus time with the father.  The father desires that the other son understand the love, joy and compassion towards the lost when they come home.  They were dead and now are alive.  Ephesians 2:4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”  Thanks be to Jesus for His amazing Grace towards us!

Linda

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Sermon Reflections from Feasting on God's Word | Dean Honnette | November 12, 2023

This week Pastor Dean Honnette, shared from the passages of John 6:26-49 about feasting on God's word.  Crossroads not only feasted on God's word but on food as we indulge in a potluck after worship.  In the Gospel of John, particularly in chapters 6:26-35, 47-49, we encounter a powerful metaphor that Jesus uses to convey profound spiritual truths—the metaphor of feasting on the Bread of Life. This imagery not only resonates with the physical act of eating but goes beyond, inviting believers to partake in the sustenance that transcends the physical realm—the Word of God.

To appreciate the significance of Jesus' words, it's essential to understand the context. In the preceding verses, Jesus miraculously feeds the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, showcasing His divine power. The crowd, amazed by this sign, seeks Jesus not for the eternal truths He embodies but for more physical sustenance.

Jesus responds by redirecting their focus from temporal needs to the everlasting nourishment He offers. He declares, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst" (John 6:35, ESV). This sets the stage for a deeper exploration of feasting on the Word of God.

Feasting on the Bread of Life:
Spiritual Sustenance:
Jesus challenges the crowd—and by extension, every believer—to recognize that physical sustenance is fleeting. The Bread of Life, however, provides spiritual nourishment that endures beyond the constraints of time and circumstance. Just as we eat daily to sustain our physical bodies, we are called to partake in the Word of God regularly for the well-being of our souls.

Deepening Relationship with Christ:
Feasting on the Word of God is not a passive act but an active engagement with Christ. In verse 47, Jesus states, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." Believing in Christ involves more than intellectual assent; it is a relational commitment. The act of feasting on His Word deepens our understanding of who Christ is and strengthens our connection with Him.

Transformative Power:
The Bread of Life has transformative power. Just as physical food sustains and energizes our bodies, the Word of God has the capacity to renew our minds and transform our lives. As we internalize the truths found in Scripture, we become more Christ-like, experiencing the renewing of our hearts and minds.

Eternal Promise:
Jesus emphasizes the eternal dimension of feasting on the Bread of Life. In verses 48-49, He says, "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat of it and not die." Unlike the manna in the wilderness that sustained temporarily, the Bread of Life ensures eternal life for those who partake in it.

Feasting on the Bread of Life is an invitation to a continuous, intentional engagement with the Word of God. It goes beyond a casual reading; it involves a deep, transformative relationship with Christ. As we feast on the Word, we find sustenance for our souls, deepen our connection with Christ, experience transformation, and embrace the promise of eternal life. May we approach the Word of God with a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied by the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Pastor Alex

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My friend Cheryl has chosen Romans 12:2 as her favorite verse. This is one of the most well-known and quoted verse in the book of Romans for good reason. Here are verses 1-2:   Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
​
Starting with Therefore, Paul is saying because of all I have said in the previous 11 Chapters this is how God's wants you to live. Paul has told us in Romans 1:16-17 of the power of the gospel leading to God's righteousness.  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” In Romans 3:22-23 that faith comes through Jesus and no one is righteous on their own "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." In Romans 5:1 Paul concludes that we are justified by faith. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," I particularly love Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." In Romans 7 we hear of Paul's own smuggles with his sin nature but he reaches another conclusion in Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, In Chapter 8 Paul tells us we are son's of the Father (14), coheirs with Christ (17), all things in our lives God can work for good (28), and nothing can separate us from the love of God (37-38). Paul tells us in Romans 10: 9-10 that confession of Jesus as Lord will bring about salvation. " If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Given all these facts about God and what He has done for us Paul reaches the conclusion stated in Romans 12:1. Think about God's mercy towards us and commit yourself to a life of loving Him sacrificially. It will be pleasing to God.

In verse 2, Paul goes on to tell us that we need to let God transform our body and minds so that we will not be led astray and seduced by the world's motives and standards. When your mind is renewed through faith in Jesus you will be able to discern what is worldly and stay away from it. You will be able to test things against His Word of truth, pray for discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit and call upon the name of Jesus for help. Then you will be able to walk with Jesus doing what is pleasing to God and aligned with His will. Faith in Jesus is the key to this transformation.

Thanks Cheryl for pointing me to this verse. I can see how you use this verse to give you strength to reject world culture and seek alignment with God's Word. Leaning on God's mercy, clinging to Jesus and using His Word to lead us in life will lead us to pleasing God.
Linda

October 5, 2022 following Alex Hardt’s sermon of October 2.
 
Pastor Alex spoke on a subject that is near and dear to my heart this last Sunday, God’s Word. He lead us to see that God’s Word is the greatest love story ever written as it speaks of God’s love for us and His immeasurable sacrifice of sending His one and only Son to die in our place to redeem us from sin.
My thoughts have drifted into Why did God provide us with His Word? There are a few reasons I came up with (I know there are more): guidance “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105, hope “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word”. Psalm 119:114,  joy “Your statutes are my heritage forever;  they are the joy of my heart.”  Psalm 119:111, peace “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165,  love “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.” Psalm 119:107 

• Without God’s Word, we would not be confronted with our sinful nature, Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. 
• Without God’s Word, we would not know of our need for a savior and the penalty of our sin and God’s offer of redemption, Romans 6:23 “ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• Without God’s Word, we would not know of God’s provision of a Savior in Jesus. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  
• Without God’s Word, we would not know the way to Jesus and faith in Him.  Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• Without God’s Word, we would not know how God wants us to act towards Him and how to treat others, Matthew 22:37-39   Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

This list could go on and on as to the many things we know because of His Word to us.  We know about God and His character, the future He has planned for us, our home in heaven, our empowerment through His Holy Spirit in our lives, the power of His Word plain and simple to transform us. 

I remember when one particular individual gave their ‘story’. They said that they came to faith
by reading the Word of God. I believe it was their encounter in the book of John that brought them to salvation. 

God’s Word has power as it is God’s Word written which we can liken to God’s spoken Word when He spoke the
world into existence by His Word. He has the power to create in us a new character in Him.

• Take care to love and revere God’s Word
• Read His Word
• Pray His Word to align your heart to His will
• Memorize and meditate upon His Word  

So that you will be complete and equipped for every good work!
Linda

SERMON LINK
Why? God... | Can I Trust the Bible?
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Sermon series, "Can I Trust the Bible." Today Alex Hardt teaches from 2 Timothy 3:15-17

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