​The event that we are going to read today is of a woman who was forced into Jesus' presence. I can tell there are some people here who identify with being forced in front of someone. Some of you were forced to go to church growing up.

You are married to a spouse who forces you; you feel forced to be here. Some of you are younger; you are living with your parents, and they force you to come. Those of you that are dating someone. You were not coming to church until this relationship started when she said, “Do you go to church?” and you looked at her and said, “I do now.” So, if you feel forced, you will be able to really identify with the woman in this event.

If you come today willingly and have been before, I ask you if you can listen to this as if you were hearing it for the first time. 

It is found in the gospel of John, the eighth chapter, starting with verse one: “Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives but early the next morning He was back again at the temple. A crowd soon gathered and He sat down and taught them.” 

The Bible tells us that everywhere Jesus went there was a crowd. People wanted to hear Him teach; people wanted to be around Him; they wanted to see Him. This crowd adds to the drama of everything that is happening here. With this event, the more people that are around, the juicier it gets.

They were so concerned about the external, and Jesus was concerned about the internal. There was often tension. 

Now, two thousand years ago, things have not changed all that much. When it comes to adultery, there must be two involved. Right? She is by herself. Where is the guy in this story? Sleeping in? Reading the paper?

Did he slip out of the back when the intruders scared the camels and they barked? Why is he not there? It really does not matter. Because the religious leaders who brought this woman really were not concerned about justice at all. 

This happens in today’s church…They did this; do not look at me. Because if they were concerned about justice, it would have been man and woman. That was the Law. They were not concerned about that at all. In fact, this woman was meaningless. She was an object; she was a pawn.

She was the bait to catch a bigger fish. And she was well chosen bait too because Jesus had a reputation among the Pharisees of being the champion of women. I must imagine these religious leaders were smug and prideful at this point. “We have got Him!” They are high fiving each other.

Surprise! Notice it would have been quite easy for Jesus to move into the role of judge, but He does not. He avoids that role. I do not think the religious leaders and the Pharisees counted on the fact that Jesus was putting people before practices. They had not gotten their arms around His central message yet, which was to love one another, not to law one another. His brilliant response broke the dilemma. Are you not glad that Jesus sees what we cannot?

Make Every Day Count!

Easter is the most important day on the Christian calendar because the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, from the dead is the most important event in the history of this world and the entire universe. To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, “It’s what the whole story has been about…” He was placed in a borrowed tomb and resurrected on the third day. He walked among the people for 40 days and ascended into heaven, and He will come back for those who trust Him as Savior and Lord of their lives. Now that is some great news!

This coming Sunday we are starting a new sermon series. It is called “Extra, Extra Read all about it”! Extra! Extra! Read all about it! A cliché stock phrase from the 1890s through the 1940s used to denote breaking news! I have great news for you today. Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for our sins. The cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning. His birth was so there would be His death. The incarnation was for our atonement. He was born to die so that we might live. And when He had accomplished the purpose He had come to fulfill, He summed it up with a single word: “finished.”

In Matthew we see the life-transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ. True faith leaves all to follow the Savior. The question from Matthew to you is,  “Have you heard Jesus’ call?”  Will you follow?

Do not be afraid to follow Jesus. You will never regret starting down the “Jesus Road.”  You will only regret that you waited so long to do it.

Make Every Day Count!

​What is holding you back from following and serving God? I have found that fear is a major, often primary, factor preventing Christians from fully following Christ, manifesting as fear of sacrifice, failure, rejection, or the unknown. While not the only cause, it serves as a significant obstacle to obedience and, in the context of evangelism, it is cited as a top reason for inaction. 

​Have you ever thought about the fact that you have enemies? These are dangerous, vicious enemies who will use any method to defeat you in your Christian life. Within minutes after you made your decision you found these enemies already at work: either you are tempted to commit some sin, or you had a moment of discouragement. To be sure, everything is exciting and thrilling just after you have made your decision for Christ! But it is also natural to have doubts, problems, questions, temptations, discouragements, and even difficulties.

​True revival happens when we gain a right view of God, a right view of self, and a heart for the world. Knowing who God is calls us into action for His name. Studying God's character is not an abstract discipline for a select group of gifted Christians but the responsibility of every believer. When we see who God is, we must respond. We must go, full and filled from the forgiveness we have received in Jesus Christ.

Have you ever stopped and thought about how your perspective would be different if you saw yourself the way others see you? But more importantly, how does God see me? I have talked with people over the years, and I have heard people say, “Most of my life I have never felt quite enough -  not pretty enough, not outspoken enough, not listened to enough, just not enough, always feeling less than adequate.” 

​How are you spending your life? Are you WASTING it? Or are you INVESTING in it? Do you want to make a difference in the place you live? Do you want to make an impact on the state and area you live in? Do you want to make a difference in the United States? What about the world? I hope you have answered YES!

​When you hear the word Revival, what comes to mind? Maybe you associate the word with a church service that takes place under a big tent with fiery preaching. You may think of revivals as spiritual movements that have occurred in other places but never as part of your own personal experience. You think about a time in your life when your faith had grown stale but was suddenly awakened to become fresh and new. Or you think in terms of the word's explicit meaning: "restoration to life, consciousness, vigor, strength."