Redeemer Modesto Sermon Audio

<p>With God, world peace is not only possible, it is already happening. The peace or "shalom" Jesus offers is to bring us to complete wholeness and to extend that peace to those around us.</p>

<p>As we participate in doing justice, we must help others see that Jesus is the Truth. This is true of those we advocate for and those we partner with.</p>

<p>Is the Gospel political? If Jesus is King, that means that Caesar is not.</p>

<p>The combination of biblical justice and righteousness form a picture of what God envisions for his community to look like. Justice must first begin in the church community and then make its way out to the larger community.</p><p><br></p><p>The Bible Project that was shown at the beginning of the sermon can be found at: <a href="https://bibleproject.com/videos/justice" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bibleproject.com/videos/justice/</a></p>

<p>If you are looking for life, look no further than Jesus Christ. Not just life after death, but life today! </p>

<p>How does the resurrection of Jesus change everything?</p>

<p>Can holiness actually be a compelling testimony? Isn't calling people to holiness just a recipe for legalism or judging others? Listen to Jesus' prayer for the consecration of his people, his desire for the unity of the Church, and the testimony it is meant to be to the world.</p>

<p>What if the very thing that you are begging God to take away, is the very thing God is using to prepare you for your greatest harvest ever?</p>

<p>Who is the Holy Spirit and what does he do?</p>

<p>No one enjoys being hated. Yet, Jesus promised that his followers would be hated. How do we reconcile this truth with our desire to be loved by all?</p>

<p>Throughout Jesus' upper room discourse to his disciples, he is constantly telling them that whatever they ask "in his name" the Father will give them. Sometimes that is hard for us to believe, but are we understanding correctly what Jesus means?</p>

<p>There is a beautiful invitation to remain in Jesus and in so doing, produce loving fruit. The fruit is a result of abiding in Jesus' love. This kind of fruit cannot be forced, but instead is a work of the Holy Spirit cooperating with our wills.</p>

<p>What does it mean to abide in Jesus? Abiding in Jesus is so closely connected to becoming a person of love. Loving others cannot be severed from abiding in Christ.</p>

<p>There was a technical difficulty with the cameras, so this sermon is audio only.</p>

<p>Judas seems like a mysterious character in the story of Jesus. There are many theories about Judas, but in the end they are just that, theories. The betrayal, the remorse, and the death of Judas truly are not meant to answer some of our questions, but instead point us to the crux of the story: Jesus.</p>

<p>The story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet is the story of the incarnation. The Lord of the Universe stooping down as a servant to wash his disciples' feet. The story does not end there, though. Jesus then commissions his followers to go and do the same.</p>

<p>It is through death that resurrection comes. Same is true of those who follow Jesus. Although it is difficult to die to oneself, Jesus offers abundant life as a result.</p>

<p>Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem confused both the religious leaders and the crowds as to how Jesus was King. This King, though, came to lay his life down.</p>

<p>Mary recognized how loved she was by God. As a result, she devoted everything to following Jesus. She had a habit of sitting at the feet of Jesus. When criticized she allowed Jesus to defend her.</p><p><br></p><p>Mary had a fragrance of devotion and love for her Savior regardless of the criticism.</p>

<p>As Israel wandered in the wilderness, God showed up in miraculous and everyday ways. In our lives God's work is sometimes obvious and other times it is more ordinary. Regardless, God is on the move. </p>

<p>Everyone has their own Shepherd. It could be the news, social media, an authority figure, or maybe you see yourself as your own Shepherd. Regardless, Jesus offers us an abundant life as our Good Shepherd.</p>

<p>Was Jesus' delay to arrive before Lazarus' death a denial? Or was it a window of opportunity?</p>

<p>Listen to stories of how God is at work in our church family.</p>

<p>Truth and lies are more than simply beliefs. They form us into certain kinds of people.</p>

<p>Part of maturity in Christ is being open to our biases and opinions challenged by Jesus and His Word. </p>

<p>Jesus confused many people. He was not always who people wanted him to be. Not much has changed since Jesus walked the earth. It seems easier to see others' distorted views of Jesus, but could it be that we may not have a full grasp on the beauty and complexity of Jesus either?</p>

<p>God has given us desires for more than this life. These desires are not bad, they simply cannot be fulfilled apart from Jesus.</p>

<p>When Jesus heals a man, it stirs a controversy amongst the religious. Jesus was not afraid of controversy. He was more concerned about bringing life to those who would receive it.</p>

<p>The calling of Moses shows God's pattern of calling to his people.</p>

<p>God's multifaceted love is put on full display at Christmas, but it not start at Christmas. The story of Scripture shows his loyal affectionate love has always been upon humanity.</p>

<p>Joy is to mark the people of God. Ever-increasing joy. Are you experiencing that kind of joy?</p>

<p>Peace or "shalom" in the Bible is more than simply absence of conflict. Jesus has a greater vision to bring wholeness to our relationships with God and others around us. </p>

<p>In a world full of unrest and weariness, how does the gospel of Jesus speak answer this longing for hope?</p>

<p>What does it mean to trust Jesus even in doubt and without all the answers? Signs and wonders affirmed Jesus' power, but we need more than signs. </p>

<p>Jesus' mission is here and now. Some generations he will use to sow seeds and some to reap the harvest. Regardless, Jesus calls his followers to accompany him as he seeks the lost and saves them.</p>

<p>Worship is more than music. It is transformational.</p>

<p>How do we as Jesus followers love well during this election season?</p>

<p>What is mission and what is justice? Do they have to be at odds with one another? Living a deeply formed like of mission and justice means engaging every opportunity to give the love of God to the world. </p>

<p>Is it possible to have a calm and quiet soul as David claims in Psalm 131? Jesus is on a mission to transform our inner life so that we can naturally love him and other people. This process of spiritual formation is a lifelong journey in which our role is to intentionally create space for this inner transformation to take place.</p>

<p>How do we have a deeply formed inner and outer life? In other words, how do we become the kind of people that naturally love God and others?</p>

<p>The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman serves as a crescendo to the narrative that John is writing about in his gospel. The Samaritan people coming to know the gospel and Jesus' renewal reaching beyond the Jews is the beginning of a kingdom movement predicted by all of Scripture.</p>

<p>There is always a danger in reading assumptions into biblical stories. The question is, "Have we added to John’s gospel by making assumptions about the Samaritan woman?" To make it more personal, "How often do we do this to others in our lives?"</p>

<p>Although we do not have much information regarding John the Baptist, one thing is for sure: he was secure in his identity. Our primary identity is being fully loved by God. Seeking for our identity outside of the love of God will always lead us into confusion, lack of satisfaction, and insecurity.</p>

<p>The book of John describes "eternal life" as what the other gospel accounts call "the kingdom of God." Humanity is not in need of better morality, but instead need God to give us new hearts. This is what eternal life or the kingdom of God is all about.</p>