Illuminate Community Church

7/15/18 - Tender Justice - John 8:2-11

In Old Testament times, attorneys didn't really exist in Israel. Defending the accused was such a sacred duty that the judge refused to delegate the work to anyone else. The judge himself served as the defender of the accused. The Jewish Encyclopedia gives insight: “attorneys at law are unknown in Jewish law.” Their legal code required judges to “lean always to the side of the defendant and give him the advantage of every possible doubt.” However, things had changed by the time of Jesus. The Pharisees were in power and they were not just. Instead of using the law appropriately, they manipulated it for their purposes and their primary purpose was to ensnare Jesus. To do this they entrap an adulterous woman and bring her before him. Outwardly Jesus is between a rock and hard place. But in reality this is never the case. Will he side with Moses and declare the death penalty, or will he prove to be the gentle man he says he is? Will he exercise justice or compassion? He does both because he is Jesus. In the middle of the text is the popular statement, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." These words are misunderstood and therefore misused. Jesus isn't saying that only perfect people can judge. That would have no affect on the Pharisees. Instead he says to them they have no right to judge because in this very moment they are guilty of breaking the law. In other words, hypocrites don't get to sit in the judge's seat.

7/8/18 - The Spirit and the Water - John 7:25-52

We've all felt the sting of rejection. Jesus knows the pain. In John chapter 5 we see the religious leaders reject him, in chapter 6 most of his disciples leave. In the beginning of chapter 7 we see his family refusing to believe in him. In 7:25-52 we see his own people question his credentials. Through all of the scorn Jesus stays on mission when in the middle of a massive gathering for a Jewish holiday, he raises his voice and shouts, "Come to me! Believe in me! Living water will flow from your heart!" This "living water" is a reference to the Spirit of God. God giving His people His Spirit. This is a radical distinctive of Christianity. Christianity is not just right doctrine or a social vision for the world, it is above all, a relationship. It's a direct experience with the love of God and the power of God found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Peter explains it this way. 2 Peter 1:3-4 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness, (we don't need to search for it anywhere else) (and here's how we get it) through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Peter says Christians are partakers of the divine nature - WOW! That's not some humanistic New Age statement. It's referring to the Spirit of God residing within the hearts of his people. Notice the Spirit's impact – you are able to "escape the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." This gift of the Spirit is made possible by the death of Jesus. Do you have that gift? It's available to you and John explains how.

7/1/18 - The Will to do God's Will - John 7:1-24

The Cost of Discipleship - John 6:60-71 - Who is Jesus? - Pastor Jason Fritz

You've probably noticed that it's easy to get swept up in the crowd mentality. Mob psychology is very powerful and it causes us to act without thinking. Perhaps you've even seen this in yourself. It's not hard to get carried away by the tide of culture. You don't even have to put forth an effort. Simply step into the current and you're floating along. This is what Jesus experienced not long after feeding several thousand people. All but a few were following him for what they could get out of him. So when Jesus calls the people to something deeper, they begin to leave. In this moment you can sense the tender heart of Jesus as he turns to Peter and asks, "Do you want to leave also?" Peter's response is the bare minimum and yet it is profound. "Lord, to whom shall we go. You have words of eternal life." Dietrich Bonhoeffer said this: "Discipleship is not an offer that man makes to Christ." He's right. Discipleship is the high calling from Jesus to live a life of reckless abandon for the Kingdom of God!

"The Bread of Life (The Everlasting Life Diet)" John 6:25-59; Pastor Jason Fritz

Jesus Feeds the Multitudes - John 6:1-15 - Pastor Jason Fritz - Who is Jesus?

In John 6:1-15 we read John's account of Jesus feeding the 5000. In this story, we see how God can use what little we have and turn it into something beyond our imagination.

The Witness of Jesus - John 5:30-47 - Pastor Jason Fritz - Who is Jesus?

As we continue our "Who is Jesus?" series in a study of the Gospel of John we see Jesus claim to be God and point to John the Baptist as His witness confirming this, yet the religious leaders rejected Him.

"Jesus is God... So What?" John 5:19-29; Steve Johnson

"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am - John 8:58" - Marvel at His works - Trust in His power - Honor His authority Check out Phillipians 2:1-11

Jesus Heals a Lame Man at on the Sabbath - John 5:1-18 - Pastor Jason Fritz -Who is Jesus?

In John 5 we read of the account of Jesus healing a lame man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. Jesus did this to make a statement about the man made laws that the religious leaders had put upon the people.

"The Power of Your Testimony" - John 4:27-42 - Who is Jesus? - Pastor Jason Fritz

"How much do you have to hate someone to not proselytize?" - Penn Jillette Jesus is an evangelist. The motivation for evangelism is love. If Jesus is Who He said He was, then a private faith is cruel.