Duplo: Jesus is Life

Intro:

Good morning River Church Family and Friends. Thanks for joining us for Church Online. I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter - even if it was a little different.

Also, I just want to mention that we are thinking about you. We are praying for you. I’m personally praying for you throughout the week.

We believe prayer works.

It’s not some wish we throw out to an invisible God and hope something magical happens.

It’s not a religious duty to show how spiritual we are.

Prayer is talking to God Almighty, who is alive, who loves us, and who desires a relationship with us. And He asks us to pray - to ask Him for our needs. And on top of that - He has the power to answer those prayers. And so we are having those relational conversations with God… about you… throughout the week. Asking Him to bless you, protect you, and provide for you.

And if you have a specific prayer request, there is probably a link you can follow in the comments. Or, you can go directly to our website, riverchurchct.com, and click on the icon “prayer,” to submit your prayer requests. There are also people from TRC moderating the online conversations during the streams who can take your prayer requests as well!

We want to pray for you. I want to pray for you. Some of you have my personal number and text me prayer requests. I love those and take those seriously. I have an entire whiteboard in my office where I list those requests and pray for them every time I’m in the office.

Whether it’s thru text or by submitting a prayer request, we are here for you. We are praying for you!

And, let me ask: Pray for me! I need your prayer too! Thank you in advance!

Also - Maybe you notice something different this morning. We have not changed our logo, but we do want to honor our healthcare workers… so we’ve put up a little heart to say thank you and we’re praying for you.

Well, this morning we were supposed to be starting our next phase of the Lego series as we learn how to Grow in Christ. But, I wasn’t ready to move on from Jesus. So, I’m adding a week to our Duplo series - where we have been studying God - studying the Trinity!

Last week, on Easter Sunday, we talked about Jesus as Savior. The week before we talked about Jesus as Lord. This week, we are going to look at Jesus is Life.

Earlier, we sang a song called The Way by Pat Barrett. It’s based on a verse we find in John 14, when Jesus says...

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Here’s the thing: After Men’s LG yesterday, I was finishing up my sermon and I got this sick feeling to my stomach. I couldn’t do it. Let me be real with you… It was too fake.

There was a lot of reasons why I felt this way, but it came down to this:

What kind of life is this? I’m supposed to preach on Jesus giving life, yet I’m not sure I’m applying the principles I’m preaching because life right now stinks for me

I don’t do production ministry well. My gift is in relational ministry. When I can sit with someone. When I can be present. When I can talk about the hard things or questions of life.

So, I was walking around and talking with God in the office! And it came to the point where God was like, “Get rid of the sermon and go home.”

So I did. When I got home, Janelle asked me, “Did you finish.” I told her what happened and added, “I think God wants me to just go up there and preach!”

She’s like, “Eh.. are you sure?”

You’re telling me!

I’m the hardest on myself!

But I was reminded of Zech 4:6 where it says, “God’s work isn’t accomplished by human might or power, but by His Spirit.”

I was reminded that the Spirit leads me (us) into all truth.

And that He promises to give me the right words, at the right time.

So, here I am this morning. And I’m just going to preach and see what God does. I have studied this passage. I have a few notes. But I am relying fully on the Holy Spirit.

Body:

Jesus is the Way.

First and foremost, this is speaking about Jesus being the way to eternal life. Salvation from sin comes by grace thru faith in Jesus Christ alone. There is no other way to get to the Father (who is in heaven).

But there is also an application for our daily living. And as I was having my discussion with the Lord yesterday, I was reading this passage and asking, “God, what do you want me to say? What did this mean to your disciples? What does it mean to us?”

Actually, I felt like the disciples! If you read this passage, you’ll see Jesus is teaching about how He was going to lay down His life. How this way all part of the eternal plan of salvation. And the disciples were like, “I don’t get it!”

And so when Jesus says, “I am the way...” He’s saying it in the context of “You don’t need to know where you’re going. You don’t need to know the way, as long as you’re following me! Because I know where I’m going. And if you’re following me, you’ll know the way!”

And I don’t know about you, but I look at life right now and I think:

I have no idea where we are going.

I have no idea what the world will look like.

I have no idea what the church will look like after this.

And yet, if you’re following the news or hopping on Facebook, there seems to be an awful lot of people who seem to know the way. The government seems to know the way we should live. The people on Glastonbury Community board seem to know too. Our family and friends post about the way we should go.

It has me thinking, “I must be a special kind of stupid. I have don’t know the way we should go! I’ve never lead my family through anything like this. Let alone, I’ve never lead a church thru anything like this!”

But you know who does know the way? God. I’m reminded of this through the stories about the Israelites leaving Egypt:

When God was leading them out of Egypt, they came to the Red Sea with no way to go! But God knew a way!

Psalm 77:19 NLT

Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters— a pathway no one knew was there!

When God was leading them into the Promised Land, He told them...

Joshua 3:4 NLT

Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don’t come any closer.”

They didn’t know where they were going, but God did. And the same is true today!

It doesn’t matter if you know the way as long as you’re following the one who does. Like Jesus told His disciples, “Follow me!”

If we focus on Jesus, we know the way. And that way will lead us to life - to the abundant life!

Jesus is the Truth.

The next thing Jesus said is, “I am the truth.” There are a lot of voices right now trying to get us to follow their truth. One unfortunate consequence of our current quarantine is it has forced everyone onto social media, because it’s one of the few ways we can communicate.

That’s a blessing! You wouldn’t be listening to this sermon if it were not for social media. But it can also be a curse. Because on social media, just like a lot of people seem to know the way, they also seem post as if they know the truth! Specifically, how you should act or feel about the quarantine...

The weather has been pretty nice lately (except for the unexpected snow yesterday). Kade and I have started throwing the football around - get an early start.

You have heard me talk about this before… Kade is small, not strong, and not speedy. But the boy he is smart, shifty, and catches everything. He’s a perfect slot receiver. That’s where he’s gifted! That’s where he shines. But 4th grade football doesn’t use that position often. So, Kade has to play elsewhere… like defense.

There are some kids that are built for defense. Like Mason, who is probably watching now. When Mason hits you - you fall down. He’s a big strong kid.

4th grade practice.

Kade is not that kid!

Mason crushes kids (that’s how he’s built). Kade gets crushed when he’s outside his element.

Some of you are homebodies and are crushing this. Staying at home is your speciality. You’re built for it!

Others are going thru this quarantine and it’s crushing us.

And if you’re stuck on social media, having to read everyone’s version of truth - how you should feel about this time - you’re going to go crazy. On this emotional-rollercoaster!

Stay inside and shut up - What’s wrong with you!

We shouldn’t be inside! It’s wrong!

And depending on the type of person we are, we’re probably being crushed by other people’s truth. But let me give you gospel truth: Jesus is the truth. And only He gets to determine how we should feel during this time!

If you’re not doing okay because you haven’t given someone a hug in 29 days (Shannon) - that’s okay! You don’t have to like that.

If this is your specialty - God bless you! Do your thang!

Either way, let me give you permission to be true to who God create you to be. And then seek Gods word for direction, because it’s only His word that brings life, quarantined or not. Healthy or sick. Rich or poor.

John 1:4 NLT

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

Jesus is the truth. And His word is truth. And His Word brings life. If you’re going to listen to anyone during this time, get into God’s word and listen to Him. Because He is the truth!

Jesus is the Life.

Imma be real with you. I’m an introvert. You’d think staying inside is where I’d flourish! But this quarantine is hard for me. I don’t like to talk. I don’t like to be the center of attention. But I love being with people. I love going places.

And like I mentioned earlier, as I’m grinding through each day, I’m thinking, “What is this! This isn’t life!”

If you feel the same way, if life feels off, and you’re a Christian, then let me challenge you by something I believe God convicted me of.

Jesus said, “I am the Life.”

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Life is not about personal freedom. Life is not about possessions. Life is not about ideal circumstances. Life is found in a relationship with Jesus.

Because let’s not forget, stress, financial problems, loneliness, worry, isolation was all happening before Covid.

For the Christian, if life feels off during this time, it may be an indication that our relationship with Jesus - who is our LIFE - is off.

I know during this time, I’ve been consumed with trying to figure out how to do church online (a good thing!). I’ve been working our to get our finances in order (good thing!). I’ve been working hard to stay connected with our church family and community (good thing!). But what I haven’t been doing is spending time with Jesus.

I looked at my phone stats yesterday:

16.5 hours on social media.

14 hours on movies.

2 hours on the Bible App.

I’m throwing myself under the bus to make a point. When life doesn’t feel right, it’s directly connected to our relationship with Jesus. Because Jesus is the Life!

Response:

I’m gonna close today simply:

If you need to know the way you should go in life - follow Jesus. He is the way!

If you need to know the truth about you should live - listen to Jesus. He is the truth.

And if you want really live life the way it was meant to be - follow Jesus. He is the life!

Jesus promises to give both abundant life (now) and eternal life (later) to all how are willing to follow Him. Our part is to turn away from our sin (our willingness to follow ourselves or others over God) and put our trust in Jesus. Because true life happens when we’re in relationship with Jesus.