Jonah 1:1-3a ~ Running from God

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Text: Jonah 1:1-3a
Title: Running from God
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

An angry prophet. A fearsome and hated enemy. An overwhelming storm. And a surprising message of a merciful God to his people. The story of Jonah is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible. It is also one of the most misunderstood. Many people, even those who are not religious, are familiar with Jonah: a rebellious prophet who defies God and is swallowed by a whale. But there’s much more to Jonah’s story than most of us realize. As we begin our study of Jonah, we encounter a prophet, like many of us, running away from a God he doesn’t fully understand.

John 11:1-16 ~ Deciding Moments

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Text: John 11:1-16
Title: Deciding Moments
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The last sign occurs in Bethany, at a tomb, as the crowd and Jesus grieve over the death of Lazarus. But then the stone is rolled away and Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb and back into life. Both we are the crowd are left with one simply decision: what will we do with someone who can raise even the dead?

John 9 ~ Suffering and Gospel

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Text: John 9
Title: Suffering and Gospel
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The sixth sign occurs on the Sabbath Day as Jesus meets a man born blind. Suffering was common in the ancient world, death, disease, and disability were simply an expected part of life. Still today, we struggle and we suffer. As Jesus confronts the suffering of our world, what might we learn from him to better witness to the hope of the gospel in light of the suffering of today?

John 6:16-24 ~ Calm in the Storm

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While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The fifth sign occurs immediately after the feeding of the 5,000 near the time of Passover. The disciples are caught up in a storm on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus comes to them walking on the water. Jesus still comes to us in the midst of the storms of life bringing calm and rescue to those in need.

John 6:1-15 ~ Delivered to Life

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Text: John 6:1-15
Title: Delivered to Life
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The fourth sign occurs once again near the time of passover, but this time Jesus is in the wilderness on the far side of the Sea of Galilee. The crowds gather again looking for signs and wonders in order to believe. But there is no food for the crowds. Jesus takes 5 loaves and a few fish and turns them into a feast revealing himself as the new Moses who can lead us to the true promised land of resurrection and eternal life with God.

John 5:1-15 ~ How Would You Answer?

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Text: John 5:1-15
Title: How Would You Answer?
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
This week we look at the third sign of Jesus as he heals an invalid by the pool of Bethesda. There are so many differences to the reaction of this man to the one from last Sunday. If you look closely at this account there seems to be a number of questions that arise. Then there are questions about questions and well, think about this if you will; If Jesus asked you “Do you want to get well” what would be your answer? What is John’s account of this event trying to tell us?

John 4:43-54 ~ Take Him at His Word

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Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The second sign occurs once again in Cana after Jesus returns from celebrating the passover in Jerusalem. The crowds gather looking for signs and wonders in order to believe. But one man comes to Jesus begging for his own sons life and he takes Jesus at his word. Before he sees the sign and wonder, he believes and his boy is healed. We can often be tempted to come to Jesus because of what we can get from him, but even greater things can be done with our lives when we take him at his word.

John 2:1-11 ~ Let the Party Begin

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Text: John 2:1-11

Title: Let the Party Begin

Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower

As we begin a new year, God begins a new thing in Jesus. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The first sign occurs at a wedding in Cana. Partway through, disaster occurs. They run out of wine, but Jesus saves the day by turning ritual water into wine. What does it tell us that Jesus’ first miracle was not healing the sick or raising the dead, but turning water into wine? Perhaps Jesus is inviting us to a party we the likes of which we have never seen and letting us know that this time the drinks are on him.