Have you ever heard or used the expression, “If you thought that was good you should try ________.”  It usually occurs after you have experienced something that you thought was great and another person is saying that something else is even better.  The phrase is often met with skepticism.  I remember going to an amazing steak restaurant in Chattanooga called St. Elmo.  I was raving about it and this phrase was uttered to me.  I tried the “better” place and wasn’t impressed.  I’m certain that the disciples felt this way when Jesus used a similar phrase with them.  He said it will be better for them when He leaves so the Advocate can come.  I can imagine Peter saying, “No chance Jesus.”  Let’s look together at the passage found in John 16. 

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

This is the third straight chapter where Jesus references the coming of the Holy Spirit.  He wants the disciples to know that He is not leaving them alone but He is leaving them with power, strength, and an Advocate.  The reality is that they are better off.  There were times when Jesus was away from His disciples.  They became afraid, did the wrong things, doubted, and in general struggled.  The Holy Spirit on the other hand never leaves us.  The disciples would have the spirit with them always!  This is an incredible blessing that I think we sometimes take for granted.  When we allow the Spirit to guide us we have God’s direction leading us in our life.  Jesus did indeed have something even better for us. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

There are some passages of scripture that we all love and others that are a little bit harder to swallow.  For example I love the beginning of John 15 but the ending isn’t quite as much fun.  I am a person that loves to be loved.  I am a self-proclaimed approval junkie.  I know deep down that I only live for an audience of one and God’s approval is the only approval that I need.  Yet there is that inner tug to be liked and accepted.  That’s why I don’t particularly enjoy the end of John 15 where it talks about being hated by the world.  Let’s look at Jesus’ words together today.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.

Jesus certainly knew what it was like to be hated by the world.  He experienced this in a variety of ways during His time on earth.  He is reminding us that when we live the kind of lives that He calls us to live we will probably experience the same type of hatred.  We will ruffle feathers and upset some people.  It is easy to fall into a type of Christianity where we simple fit in with the culture but Jesus calls us to more.  He calls us to be salt and light.  While salt and light do lots of good and beneficial things they both can also irritate.  Jesus often irritated with His teaching and life and we are called to do the same.  I pray that Jesus would give us all the strength to be salt and light in a world that needs it even if that means we are disliked by some. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever been asked to sum something up in one word?  Sometimes it is a complicated concept and coming up with one word is tough.  When it comes to God and the Bible one word stands out over and over, love.  Let’s look at some of Jesus’ words about this found in John 15.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

As Jesus prepares to leave His disciples He wants them to know the things that are of the utmost importance.  He has already summed up the Law by saying love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.  He has demonstrated love for others throughout His time on earth.  Now He tells them to remain in His love and to love each other.  In John’s later letter he even says, “God is Love” I John 4:8.  I think if there is a one word summary of what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus it is clearly love.  Now it might be simple but it certainly isn’t easy.  We tend to be naturally prone toward selfishness and love is putting others before yourself.  We live in a world that can be divided and divisive but God calls us to love our enemies which is not easy at all.  Today make it a point to go out of your way to show someone love in a special way.  After all Love is why we are here!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever seen a tree that had tons of fruit?  Fruit doesn’t happen by accident.  It is a result of a healthy tree that has everything that it needs to produce the fruit.  Fruit is the natural result of a healthy tree or plant.  The same thing is true in our spiritual lives.  Jesus has given us everything that we need to produce fruit.  Spiritual fruit ion our lives is the natural result of a healthy spiritual life.  Let’s look at Jesus’ words about this in John 15.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Jesus is telling us that the closer we remain to Him the healthier we will be and the more fruit that our lives will produce.  I’m sure we all can relate to times in our life where we have felt spiritually dry and as a result, not very fruitful.  Times when God has produced fruit in our lives are times when we have been closer to Jesus.  Seek to spend time today and each day in the presence of Jesus and watch and see the fruit that He produces in and through your life.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had to leave family or friends and said something like, “Don’t worry _______ will be here with you.  You will have a good time, they will keep you safe and it will be even better.”  I remember the first time I had to leave my kids.  It was difficult but I knew that they would have a great time with their grandparents and do lots of fun stuff.  I knew they would be safe and I knew that I was ready for a break, lol. Jesus doesn’t need a break from us but that is essentially what Jesus says in John 14 and again in John 16 when He promises us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look at His words to us together today.

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”…  25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We are not like Kevin McCallister in Home Alone.  Jesus didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves.  He left us with the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.  He encourages us, advocates for us, teaches us, is always with us, and leads us in the truth.  We need to all learn to lean into the great gift that we have been give which is the Holy Spirt.  The more we grow in our relationship with God and the more that we be still and take time to listen.  The more we will benefit from having the Holy Spirit within us.  Take time today in prayer and just listen.  Allow God to speak to you through His incredible gift to us all. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

The last few days of Jesus’ time on earth He teaches the disciples a lot.  Let’s look together at the first of those teachings found in John 14. 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus makes it plain to the disciples that He is the way to the Father and that He and the Father are one.  Even after three years with Jesus Phillip is struggling with this.  He wants to be shown the Father.  Jesus lets him know that if He has been paying attention he has seen the Father.  Jesus has been doing His work and teaching His words the whole time.  Jesus shows us what the Father is like by how He speaks and lives and acts.  As followers of Jesus we are called to do the very same for the world today.  Others should see what Jesus is like by how we live, speak, and act.  We cannot do it as well as Jesus obviously, but He calls us to be His representatives here on earth.  May we all be filled with Him and represent Jesus well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had someone who was close to you let you down or betray you?  It is an awful feeling to know that one of the people closest to you would turn their back on you.  Jesus experiences this not just through Judas but the reality is that all of the disciples, with the possible exception of John, abandon Him as He is being tried, tortured, and crucified.  Let’s look at the account found in John 13 where He tells them what will happen. 

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

It would have been one thing for the disciples to simply flee because of self-preservation while Jesus was going through everything that He did for us.  Jesus, unfortunately, knew it was going to happen.  He knew that money hungry Judas would trade Him for some silver.  He knew that big, bold Peter would deny even knowing Him three times.  He knew the others would head for the hills and I’m sure many of them had “Peter” moments as well.  This must have been tough for Jesus especially knowing that this was His group.  This was who He was counting on to carry on His work once He was gone.  Jesus spends the next several chapters of the book of John imparting last precious bits of knowledge to encourage the disciples for what’s next.  Perhaps as we walk through that this week we will be encouraged for what God has next for us as well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had a friend or loved one do something to really serve you?  There is something special about someone doing something out of the ordinary just to show how much you mean to them.  Jesus does this at His last meal with His disciples.  Let’s look at the account from John 13 together today. 

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Jesus does this not only as a way to show His love for the disciples but also as a way to teach us how to love and serve others.  If anything, culturally the disciples should have offered to wash Jesus’ feet.  This is why Peter objects at first.  Instead Jesus, the leader, the Messiah, humbles himself and washes their dirty feet.  He is showing us that we need to humble ourselves and serve others.  This is the heart of Jesus’ ministry showing love to others who don’t deserve or expect that. Samaritans, lepers, tax collectors, women of ill repute.  Jesus was constantly loving those who others overlooked.  Perhaps you won’t wash anyone’s feet today but look for an opportunity to humble yourself and serve someone else who might not be shown lots of love by others. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Throughout the gospels the reactions to Jesus are mixed.  The religious leaders for the most part dislike Him from day one.  The people are curious and amazed and go from wanting to follow and worship Him, to making Him King, to claiming He comes from demons.  After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead people are really starting to follow Jesus and those who were there are sharing the news.  This makes the religious leaders even more determined than ever to kill Him.  Let’s look together at John 12 to see what happens next.  

Palm Sunday just makes everyone’s opinions on Jesus grow all the more.  Those who love Him are ecstatic.  Those who want Him gone now form a clear plan to get rid of Him.  Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy week and also the beginning of the end of Jesus’ time on earth.  It is also the coming together of God’s plan to redeem His people forever.  Today take a moment and reflect on all that God has done so that He could redeem you.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Value is an interesting concept.  People value the things that are most important to them.  That’s why it is often said that you can tell what is most important to people by looking at how their money is spent or where their time goes.  Such is the case with the story found in John 12. Let’s look at it together today.  

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

For Mary there was not a second thought about pouring the nard on Jesus’ feet.  The fact that it was worth a year’s wages didn’t matter.  Jesus was the most important thing to her and she was showing what she valued.  Martha was serving because that is how she showed value to others and that is what she was really good at.  Lazarus was spending time at the table with Jesus and His disciples because that was of value to him. (plus he is probably just glad to be alive at this point).  Judas, we know doesn’t really value Jesus.  Perhaps he really wants top give to the poor but more likely, as the treasurer of the disciples he just wants a piece of the money for himself.  The question for us today is what do we value most?  Does the use of our time, talents, and treasure reflect this?  Lazarus gave Jesus his time.  Martha gave Jesus her talent.  Mary gave Jesus her treasure.  They all did this because to them, Jesus was of first importance.  I pray that for all of us we would pour into what we value most and that would be Jesus.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave