Category: Sunday Message

The Authority of Jesus Christ

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good evening, again! Here’s is Pastor Alan’s message from December 12th, teaching about John 5:16-47. To listen to this message, click play on the audio player below. Also included is Pastor Alan’s outline and links to verses on Bible Gateway. :)

Background – a question of his authority to heal on the Sabbath. John 5:16-18

  1. Jesus has authority from God the Father. John 5:19-20
  2. Jesus has authority to give life. John 5:21, 24-26, 28-29
  3. Jesus has authority to judge. John 5:22, 27, 30
  4. Jesus has multiple witnesses to who he is and his authority.
  5. The response to the witnesses and Jesus himself.  John 5:40-44

What is our response to Jesus’s call for authority over our lives?

Authentic Belief

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good evening! I finally have a chance to post Pastor Alan’s messages for the past two Sundays. The message below is from December 5th and is based on John 4:46-5:16. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included notes from the message with links to the verses on Bible Gateway. Enjoy!

Why did John write his gospel? John 20:30-31

  1. Healing a Nobleman’s Son
    • John 4:43-45
      • some consider this a Bible contradiction, but Jesus was welcomed not honored; do we want Jesus for Himself or for what He can give us?
    • John 4:46-48
      • the world says that seeing is believing; God says BELIEVING IS SEEING
      • Hebrews 11:1-3
    • John 4:47
      • there will always be a point in our lives when something will hit us that we have no control over.
      • Mark 9:14-29
    • John 4:49-54
      • Jesus is not limited by the necessity of His presence
      • “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
      • Authentic belief abides in Christ and grows in Christ
  2. The Healing at Bethesda
    • John 5:1-9
      • Jesus miraculously healed the man
    • John 5:10
      • outward obedience does not equal inward change/faith
    • John 5:11
      • the ungrateful man threw Jesus “under the bus”
    • John 5:12-14
      • the man was so self-involved, he didn’t even know who Jesus was
    • John 5:15
      • unlike the nobleman, this man never put his faith in Christ
    • John 5:16-18
      • the moment when Jesus & the Pharisees really began to butt heads

Things to note

  1. Obedience isn’t always a mark of saving faith.
    • Three Requirements to be a Christ Follower
      1. be born again
      2. live in dependence on Christ
      3. obey
  2. Not always, but sometimes, sickness can be a direct result of sin (v. 14)
    • 1 John 5:16-17 — habitual, unrepentant sin can lead to physical death
  3. We must be careful not to put our rules above compassion
  4. Jesus is equal to God (v. 18)

Sowing & Reaping

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Hello again! Pastor Alan continued our journey through the Gospel of John today with John 4:27-42. To listen to this message about sowing and reaping, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included is an outline of the message with some of the quotes Pastor Alan shares and links to the verses. Enjoy!

Principles for Sowing & Reaping John 4:27-42

  • “Woe to those who are silent about you. However garrulous they are in general, they are mute about what counts.” -St. Augustine
  • v. 27: The Good News is for everyone to hear and for us to share
    • Women were often the first to share the Good News about Jesus
    • Phoebe: Romans 16:1 — diakonos (deacon/teacher/preacher)
  • v. 28: Do we get so caught up in Jesus that we “leave our water behind”?
  • v. 29a: Invite others to come and see Jesus
  • v. 29b: Be excited about who Jesus is
    • When you’re talking about heaven, at least put a smile on your face. When you’re talking about hell, your normal face will do. -Charles Spurgeon
  • vv. 31-34: Is doing God’s will what feeds you?
  • v. 34b: Complete the work God has sent you to do.
  • v. 35a: Don’t procrastinate!
    • “Get action. Do things. Be sane. Don’t fritter away your time. Create. Act. Take a place wherever you and be somebody. Get action!” -Teddy Roosevelt
  • v. 35b: Opportunities are all around to sow (share) & reap (see results)
  • vv. 36-38: Appreciate everyone’s efforts to share the Good News
  • v. 36: Rejoice in sharing the efforts of sowing & reaping
  • v. 36: Realize the eternal significance of sowing & reaping
  • vv. 39-40: You may be the spark that the Spirit will use to bring many to salvation
  • v. 41: You are telling people about a universal Savior that everyone needs
  • v. 42: Jesus is the Savior of the world.
  • vv. 43-45: Be wise with your sharing — some will believe and some will not.
  • “You are ever active yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need…you welcome those who come to you, though you never lost them. You release us from our debts, but you lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy delight, but is that enough to say of you? Can anyone say enough what they speak of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you!” -St. Augustine

Living Water & Worship

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good afternoon! Pastor Alan continued his series on the Gospel of John this morning by taking us through the first part of John 4, where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included his outline with links to the verses he references in his message and the quotes he shared with us. Enjoy!

Living Water & Worship

I. Everyone has a need to feel as if they belong: John 4:1-7, 16, 27

  • Nicodemus: morally upright — came at night for fear of rejection
  • Samaritan woman: not morally upright — came at noon because she was already rejected
  • Jesus was available to both
  • How open are we to everyone?

II. Everyone has a need to feel satisfied in life: John 4:9-18

  • Ecclesiastes 2
  • Everyone is thirsty and hungry for something that satisfies them.
  • Jesus is more than temporary satisfaction.
  • John 7:37-39
  • “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” -C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

III. Everyone has a need to worship: John 4:19-26

  • It’s not important where, but to whom and how.
  • In Spirit — emphasis on being born again
  • In Truth — the object
  • Examine your heart: why are you coming to church?

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” -John Piper

“Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet.” -Thomas Watson

“My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.” -John Newton

Praying you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

God So Loved

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Good Afternoon! Pastor Alan continued his series on the Gospel of John this morning by finishing up John chapter 3. To listen to this message, simply click play on the audio player below. I’ve also included links to Scriptures that Pastor Alan references in his message (the links will take you to the verses on biblegateway.com). Enjoy!

Scripture References

The Gospel of John

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Thanks be to God, He brought us a pastor to guide our little flock here at Colona. Dr. Alan Brock has joined us and has begun to lead us through the Gospel of John. I apologize for not posting these in a more timely fashion, but here are three of Pastor Alan’s messages on the first few chapters of the Gospel of John.

October 3, 2021
October 17, 2021
October 31, 2021

Unexpected Gifts

by Laurin, posted in Sunday Message

Since we are not able to gather together on this Resurrection Sunday, Pastor Steve has recorded his message for us. A list of Scripture references is also included for your convenience. Please click the play button on the audio player below to hear Pastor Steve’s Easter message.

Call to Worship: Psalm 46

Psalm 46 
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

James 1:17

Galatians 4:4

1 John 3:1

Ephesians 2:8

Hebrews 10:10

Titus 2:11-12

Happy Resurrection Day! God bless you today and every day.