August 2020:
Rev. JT Overby
August 3-7 | Luke 21-24 | John 1
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Dr. Craig Bowers
August 10-14 | John 2-6
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Dr. Kevin Calhoun
August 17-21 | John 7-11
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Jonathan Norton
August 24-28 | John 12-16
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Rev. JT Overby
August 31 | John 17
August 7, 2020
by JT Overby
Read John 1
The first 18 verses in John’s Gospel are so important to the rest of the Gospel. Each word is carefully crafted and chosen because it will be part of a larger theme that appears through the book. Take note of key points in those verses and look for them in John and you will be greatly blessed! Let’s focus on one key theme.
What does John mean by calling Jesus the Word? First, it means that God is a communicating God. He is a God who reveals Himself. We only know what we know about God because He has revealed it to us. God is transcendent and infinitely above us in every way, and we could know nothing about Him if He first didn’t reveal who He is. But Scripture tells us we have a God who delights to reveal Himself to us. We don’t have to live like pagan worshipers, always trying to guess what pleases their gods. Our God speaks to us!
Second, it means that Jesus perfectly reveals who God is. Do you wonder how God the Father feels about you? Do you think of Jesus as warm and near, and the Father as cold and distant? Jesus is one with the Father. He perfectly reveals who the Father is. As Jesus is to us, so is the Father to us. What grace!
Lastly, in Jesus being the Word, we know that in God’s Word is life. We are created by the Word of God and sustained by the Word of God. Jesus perfectly holds us together. While we feel like life is falling apart, Jesus, by his gracious Word, holds us together.
In John’s Gospel, what does Jesus reveal to us about who He is? ________________________________________________________________
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What does He reveal to us about the Father? ________________________________________________________________
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How does He give and sustain life by His very Word in this Gospel? ________________________________________________________________
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Keep a watchful eye to see those gracious truths!
August 14, 2020
by Craig Bowers
Read John 6
Let’s focus today on verse 48, “I am the bread of life.” That’s a very simple, yet profound statement. Food is a basic necessity of life. We cannot live long without it. Bread represents the nourishment we need to be able to have life. Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (Verse 51)
Recently my wife, who is an excellent cook, prepared an incredible meal. Roast beef, roasted potatoes, fresh green beans, thick gravy, and carrots. I really enjoyed this delicious meal. Yet, the very next day, hunger returned. The food I ate was tremendously satisfying at the time. I was content until the next afternoon. However, it is impossible for a single meal to satisfy you for days, weeks, or months.
Jesus teaches us that all of humanity has a hunger in the soul. The things of the world may satisfy us for a short period of time. But within a short while we are off seeking the next fulfilling thing. Why? Because nothing can meet the deepest hunger of the human heart but Jesus. He is the “bread of life” because He is the creator of life. The only way to be truly satisfied in life is to know Jesus. If you are not satisfied or fulfilled with Jesus, it isn’t on Him. It’s on you!
When you have an authentic relationship with Jesus, your soul is satisfied. He meets the longing you have to be loved, cherished, secure, accepted. He is the only one who can fulfill your hunger for purpose. Your walk with Him meets the deepest need for the adventure of faith. As you partake of Christ, your desires change. You change. He is all you need.
Application:
How satisfied is your soul?
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What does that say about your relationship with the Bread of Life?
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August 27, 2020
by Jonathan Norton
Read John 15
Back in April, Pastor Craig wrote his John 15 devotion on the first 11 verses, and he answered the questions about how we glorify God and prove to be His child. Today we will focus on verses 12-17. The chapter begins in the vineyard, and now we go to the throne room. Tomorrow we will talk about the battlefield.
In today’s passage Jesus gives the command to love one another as He has loved us, and He calls us His friends. When we examine the command to love others as Jesus loves, there is one critical point to notice - the command is in the present tense. We are to keep loving each other daily, not just at Christmas, Easter, or birthdays. We are to love one another sacrificially and consistently, on good days and bad.
Now notice that two times in these verses Jesus calls His followers His friends (vs. 14 & 15). Remember Abraham was called the “friend of God” in 2 Chronicles 20:7 and James 2:23. Like Abraham, those of us who are Christ followers have access to the revelation of God when we believe in Him and trust Him as our friend. I think most of us would admit that we have many acquaintances, but few close friends. Isn’t it incredible to know that the God of the universe is our closest friend? He demonstrated the greatest type of love in that He laid down His life for us (v. 13). How comforting it is to know that our friendship to each other and to the Lord is not perfect, but His friendship to us is perfect. We know that emotions get involved, but we must realize that real Christian love is an act of the will. It is treating others the way God treats us. Our friendship with Jesus involves our love, our knowledge of His commandments and our obedience. Dr. Oswald Sanders says, “each of us is as close to God as we choose to be”. Our challenge as His friends is to be near the throne, listening to His Word, and enjoying his presence. Remember what joy it brings His heart when He sees His friends loving one another and obeying His commandments