Past the cross

Communion

Read John 6. It tells the story of how Jesus feeds the 5 thousand from 5 loaves of bread and a few fish. Jesus and his disciples retreat to capernaum and people go to look and find Jesus and when they found him they said Rabbi, when did you come here. John 6:26

John 6:26 ESV

26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

You see people were looking to Jesus to fulfill their physical needs

John 6:48–56 ESV

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

There were many that were following him that didn’t understand this.

John 6:66 ESV

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

We fast forward to the last supper with Jesus and he finally brings it all around.

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Announcements

Parenting Conference

Special thanks to IHOP and Nadia Bricco

Seans Book.

Mens group next week here at the church

New womens bible study. Waymaker by Ann Voscamp. 6 week study starting Oct 11th at 6:30pm by Deb Fink.

No Childcare

They need to purchase their own workbook

Tithe’s and offering

What the lord spoke last week

In the worship service last week the Lord spoke to me and told me to take His church past the cross. We read in John 20 how the disciples were behind closed doors after Jesus was crucified and Jesus appears to them.

John 20:19–22 ESV

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

He says peace be with you, showed him his hands and his side which was the physical evidence, told them that the father sent Him and now he would be sending them and then breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

There is more to christianity than just being saved. As we break down each one of these I believe that it will help us go beyond the cross.

What are the Locked Doors in your life

Revelation 3:20 ESV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

I see so many christians that are bound and hiding behind closed doors. Not just physical doors but the doors to a wounded heart. The door to sound reasoning.

It starts with a wound that usually comes from unmet expectations.

You see the disciples were so surprised that Jesus died. They thought that it was suppose to go differently.

because it didn’t go as they thought they retreated behind locked doors and became afraid.

The disciples were afraid of what the Jew would do to them. There was a huge angry mob that just crucified Jesus.

What keeps you from moving past the cross? Is it the fear of failure, the fear of man, the fear of success?

Do you have peace in your life?

Did you know that Fear Not is written 365 times in the bible. One for each day.

Some say it’s easy to not be fearful. Just tell yourself to not be afraid. Tell the story of when I was a kid running up the stairs.

Fear is a demonic form of faith. Both fear and faith require you to believe in something that could happen. One has a God outcome and the other has an evil outcome.

The key to overcoming fear is Jesus. The disciples could have encouraged each other but it took Jesus to appear to them and say to them Peace be with you. We know Jesus as the Prince of Peace. So Jesus literally told them. I am peace and I am with you, therefore you now have peace.

Philippians 4:4–7 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Evidence

When I think of evidence I think about a court case. Evidence is something that is tangible. Something that you can see. Jesus knew that the disciples needed evidence so he showed the disciples and Thomas the scars.

What do you think the best evidence a christian can display?

It’s fruit.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Where has God sent you?

Jesus sends everyone of us out. It’s not our job to question but it’s our job to just say yes. Even Jesus had to learn obedience.

Hebrews 5:8 ESV

8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

You are not at a specific job by accident. You don’t have certain friends just by accident. Your family members are not by accident. Everything is by a grand design.

Have the worship team come up

The Secret Sauce

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”