There is a change in how fathers are portrayed between the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the New Testament the hearts of the fathers turn to their children and the hearts of the children turn to their parents.

Part 6 of “The Church Is __________.”  As ambassadors of the King, go and declare the King’s message, “be reconciled to God through Christ.”

Part 4 of The Church Is ______________ .

Part 3 of The Church is __________ – Family is the most common way the Church is described in the Bible.

The church once held a prominent position in the makeup of American society, but it no longer receives much respect. It is only as we see the church as God sees it that we can appreciate its true value. In our passage, the Apostle Paul sets forth a vision of the church that ought to inspire us with its preciousness in God’s sight.

Thomas seems to be the patron saint of our skeptical age. He had to see the risen Jesus with his own eyes before he would believe. But when he does see Jesus, he makes a powerful confession.

Where does that leave us? Jesus calls blessed those who believe without seeing, for by believing in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, we can have eternal life.

Part 4 of Following Jesus to the Cross – In his Easter account, John makes a point of referring to Jesus’ greeting to his troubled disciples: “Peace be with you.” This is more than a mere greeting; it is a declaration of a new reality—a reality that flows from Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. This morning we want to see and to embrace this “Easter Peace.”

Part 3 Following Jesus to the Cross – This morning as we follow Jesus to the cross, we come to his trial before Pilate.  We will consider the various actors in this dramatic scene, and ultimately, we will see how it involves us–for we joined in condemning Jesus, and in his trial, we stand condemned.  But in the grace of the gospel, Jesus’ death issues in our justification before God.

Part 1 of Following Jesus to the Cross – The redeeming work of the Messiah is more than just a provision for the forgiveness of our sins.  It is nothing less than a victory over the powers of evil in the world.  In a culture that is reawakening to the reality of evil, our gospel passage shows what evil looks like with a human face.  And the face we see there is our own.

Part 7 of Great Themes in Discipleship – Our love of choice and the choice Jesus gives us.

Part 6 of Great Themes in Discipleship – Throughout history, the Word of God has had transforming power, and that is no less true today.  This is a fundamental truth that we dare not neglect:  The Word of God empowered by the Spirit of God brings the life of God into our lives.