Sermon Notes

Colossians 3:16 | Ephesians 5:19-20

Part I – Hebrew Soul

Foster: “Blessing is jubilant praise, praise raised to its highest point.”
יהוה – YHVH – Name, not station – “tower” (Pr. 18:10) in vulnerable relationship. Compare/contrast to “Abba” in Lk. 11:2, Rom. 8:15, Gal 4:6
נַפְשִׁי – napheshi/nephesh – throat: breath/life/inner self/essential being
וְכָל־קְרָבַי – v’chal k’ravai - all of my midst/insides – core. Vertical Alignment – In worship, we make ourselves subject to the object of our praise (as in outset of Lord’s Prayer – Hallowed)!

“Flavors” of Worship

Exaltation for Who He is: powerful, majestic, superlative,… (Ps 99:1-3)
Thanksgiving for what He’s done for you/us (Ps 103, 105; 1 Chron 16:8)

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John 20:1-10

The First Day of the Week

Just as before the crucifixion, the Beloved Disciple (“John”) prepared us with means for understanding by recounting Jesus’ last conversations with this followers, so now, after Jesus’ death and burial, John helps us step by step to grasp what happened.

He records his own memories, experiences of others around him. He leads us through the process of the transformation of faith, what it means to enter the world defined by Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection. So much they didn’t understand at first!

He does not want us to make it too easy, simply believing some facts. Yes, there are facts. Events happened. Their reality forced them to realize that the world was different from what they had thought.  Everything changed: past, present, future,
the center and purpose of life, the power for transformation, the very core of life.

It was the first day of a new creation. Like that first Sunday morn when out of the darkness God said, “Let there be light!” Jesus had finished the work of the old creation on the sixth day, Friday; lay in the tomb on the seventh day. Sometime before dawn of that Sunday, the event happened, preparing for light to dawn.

What Mary Magdalene Assumed

John focuses on Mary’s experience and testimony. She, like Peter and the B.D. had been with Jesus, believed in him, followed him devotedly, no doubt trusted all that he said, would still be at his side if he were alive, but…. Death was the end of all hopes. Read the rest of this entry »

Genesis 45:1-8

This is the sermon preached by Jason Isbell on July 25th.  There are no notes for this week.

John 19:30-42

Turmoil at the foot of the Cross

When Jesus says, “It is finished” and dies, we might hope for a reverent silence.
Not so here. Friday. Thousands of Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the temple. Evening when Sabbath/Passover begins is near. Hanging corpses pollute everything (Dt 21:23).  Leaders want the crucifixions over, the bodies removed. Crucifixion often took days to kill. Breaking the legs with a heavy mallet so that body weight would speed death was a mercy. Both insurrectionists were broken.

Jesus already appeared dead. A soldier does his job, ramming a spear up through Jesus’ ribs, probably to his heart. Fluid and blood flow out. Jesus is definitely dead. Read the rest of this entry »

John 19:16-30

The Strange Narrative of Jesus’ Death

We’ve been waiting for this scene – the “hour” – but now we read it; it’s unexpected, anticlimactic. Like “had him flogged” (v1) – we want details. It says “they crucified him,” but then turns away to other things: the notice over his head, the soldiers with his clothes, his mother, his thirst. We want to see it, feel it. Nails through the hands, thud of the hammer, Mary’s face, the thrill of horror. We want to be moved!

This narrative is not here to make you cry. That’s not hard. It’s hard to take hold of a life at a deep level and change it, bring it out of one world into another. John thinks/ hopes he has trained us through the Gospel to look deeper, see more, believe.

The Battle Over the Sign

What is happening in these events? What we see/hear? What the High Priest/Pilate does? The sign bears a charge neither believes – “King.” They use it in fear, venom, sarcasm. The blindness of the obvious actors points us to the true actor – we see!

Remember Nathanael (Jn1): From Nazareth? Son of God, King of Israel, Son of man.
Remember the donkey colt (Jn12): Hosanna, King of Israel. One man must die. Read the rest of this entry »

On Sunday July 4th, the worship team at the Manhattan Church of Christ sang the song “Redeemer” during worship.  DJ Vila is the guest soloist and Larry Mudd introduces the meaning and power of the song in the context of the worship service.  We hope that this meditation and song blesses your day.

Click to download:
Redeemer – mp3

John 19: 1-16

Jesus Before Pilate – Ridicule and Truth

We’re in the dramatic contest between Pilate and the high priests over Jesus: 8 scenes.

1.The HP insists on Jesus’ guilt and need for execution. Pilate refuses, contempt.
2. Pilate questions Jesus: King of the Jews? Not from this world. Testify to Truth.
3. No crime (you’re incompetent). Shall I release your King. No. Give us Barabbas.
4. Pilate, frustrated & angry, flogs Jesus, decks him out as king–robe, crown of thorns– humiliates him. Power, disdain for Jews; truth about Jesus. Pilate’s fight is with HP. They don’t want Jesus. I’ll give him to them anyway, with a message: King of Jews. A kingdom not from this world doesn’t matter. Truth not backed with force is nothing.

“Behold, the Man!” Read the rest of this entry »

John 18:28-40

Jesus Before Pilate – the Game of Power

John takes us inside the strange, dramatic Roman trial that swirls around Jesus.
The high-priestly aristocracy, in charge of Passover, their big day, appointed by Romans but fearing/hating them and especially the Prefect, Pontius Pilate.
Pilate was described by Agrippa as a brutal, cruel man who despised the Jews. He worked with Caiaphas as high priest, but did as little as possible that he wanted.

The high priests’ power is in temple & religious rites: They won’t go into the Praetorium. The governor’s power is in political force, the greatness of Rome: Don’t bother me. They share mutual contempt, trying to use each other. Jesus is a tool they use.

Jesus doesn’t make sense to either. Pilate can tell he’s a nobody. But the high priests want him executed in Rome’s way – crucified – and right at Passover. Strange! Pilate has no compunction about swatting Jesus. But should he help the high priests?  Pilate goes back and forth between the religious leaders and Jesus.

They are just being themselves, but God is also accomplishing his purpose in them. Read the rest of this entry »

John 18:10-27

Following Jesus into the Enemy’s Lair

In the garden Jesus gave himself up, in spite of Peter’s defense. Jesus is bound and led away. Jesus had told Peter he could not follow him now (13:36), but Peter wanted to follow Jesus. He and “another disciple” follow to the house of Annas.

Annas was the first high priest appointed by the Romans in a.d. 6. He served 10 years until a new Roman governor, Valerius Gratus, replaced him. Annas remained patriarch of a powerful high priestly family. All five of his sons served as HP, but most successful was his son-in-law, Caiaphas (HP a.d.18-36). Appointed by Gratus, Caiaphas served through the governorship of Pontius Pilate (a.d.26-36). John refers back to his statement about one man dying for the people–prophesying more than he knew. This Roman-appointed family of priest controlled the temple throughout Jesus’ ministry. It was their authority Jesus confronted when he made a whip and drove the animal sellers and money-changers from the temple (2:14-22). Read the rest of this entry »

Luke 11:1-13

LEVELS OF PRAYER EXPERIENCE

Basic Level prayers: assemblies, grace, bedtime. Remain tied to the safe dock v. moving past the harbor into the great depths of God (Chambers’ Utmost, June 8).   Emergency petitions, quid pro quo theology: insert prayer, receive answer.  I turn the crank.

JESUS’  PRAYER LIFE

11:1 is 6^th time – 3:21 (baptism); 5:16 (post-crowds); 6:12 (all night before choosing the twelve); 9:18 (before status check, “Who do people say that I am?”); and 9:28 (transfiguration).

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