Liberty Corner Presbyterian Church

“I AM!” One scholar writes: “The phrase harbors within itself the most authentic, the most audacious, and the most profound affirmation by Jesus of who he was.” So, is he “I AM”? It’s the question that must be answered. The truth or falsehood of everything else he said hangs on the answer to this question. We are forced to choose.

We’re all looking for a full and fruitful life. Is there anything that’s essential to finding it and living it? Jesus says there is! He likens himself to a vine and says we’re like branches. Our times and our pace push against that picture of dependence, but it’s the only one that’s essential.

As Bible teacher R.C. Sproul puts it so well: “Eternal life begins in our souls the moment we accept Christ.” Our forever life begins with our physical deaths. We cannot even begin to grasp the meaning of the promise of resurrection for ourselves unless we understand that eternal life begins way before we die.

Jesus’ words are often comforting and easy to accept but not always. They seem sometimes to be limiting and restrictive. Why would our best friend hold us back? Can we see the good in limits we don’t like? Lean in and listen carefully.

Jesus promises ‘life to the full’ and he uses the image of a Shepherd and a Gate to help us see the path to that life. His path is disruptive and difficult, but it is ultimately the only path to what we all desire: 'life to the full.'

No other man in history has dared to say, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus’ declaration is either grandiose or deluded or boastful or preposterous … or true! If it’s true, we need to draw close so we can walk in the light, not in the darkness. Listen carefully as we explore this idea.

The “I AM” statements of Jesus are promises of God. When Jesus said, “I am the bread of life,” he was telling us he is the only one who can truly satisfy and is ultimately the one thing we should hunger for. Jesus’ greatest gift was not the bread that he fed the 5,000 with . . . as awesome as that was. His true gift is that of changed life . . . of abundant life . . . of eternal life. Physical bread is perishable, meaning it will, at some point, go bad, stale, and moldy. . .but the gift of Jesus, who is the bread of life will last forever.

Interruptions - don’t you hate them? They keep us from our chosen path, from accomplishing our chosen tasks. How does God look at interruptions? Consider Jesus and his disciples, bone-tired from doing good, perhaps discouraged by the latest attack of the Enemy. Interruptions may be Opportunities in disguise.

Walk with the Master as He engages a woman with the Good News. His world, in many ways, is not so different from ours, and it’s a world we are called to reach with the Good News. Step back to the first century so you’re more comfortable in the 21st.

Every journey starts with the first step, but the first step is so hard to take! What’s true with a journey is also true with friendships and with opportunities to share the Good News. How can we be set from from the fear of that first step? It’s not as impossible or daunting as it first seems. Listen carefully for the input you need.

We’ve all failed at times to step into an opportunity to share the Good News, even when God has opened the door. That’s frustrating for those who want to be faithful to God and to other people. This message explores the good news about Sharing the Good News.

Tell sombody! We know we ought to do it. We are commanded to do it. We want to do it. But how many of us do it? And why don’t we? This is the first of five messages on sharing our faith. It deals with the underlying motivation that is so often lacking. Lean in, listen and see if God has a message here for you.

In the sacrament of baptism, we become part of God’s family, his covenant people. God is crazy about us! Once we understand that, we are motivated to share that love with others, so that they can be part of the family, too.

“Your Sweet Spot” – Most of us think of sports when that term is used … We say, “She hit it on the sweet spot!” But what if that idea was broadened to include serving Christ? What if each Christ-follower had a sweet spot for serving? Imagine the impact and joy! Lean in as you listen and allow your heart to ponder, “What’s my sweet spot?” And “How can I find it?”

As we look ahead to 2019, let’s do so not just with a set of resolutions that WE need to accomplish or with a list of things WE need to do, but rather, let’s look ahead, expectantly, with hope that we will experience all that God wants to do IN and THROUGH us. Jesus . . . the Word, become flesh . . . God with us . . . is the one who changes everything, and through the story of the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5, we learn how we can live the kind of life that God works IN and THROUGH for his glory.

What happened in Bethlehem is nothing less than an “Extreme Makeover of God” - at least as people understood God. The setting in which He was born says, “Welcome!” Listen carefully and see if you don’t hear it in the depths of your heart. As you do, say, “Welcome!” to Him.

Was Jesus was born of a virgin? The question has been the subject of debate for many years, and people have lined up on both sides in response. What does the Bible say? And what difference does it make. Take time now and listen carefully as you consider this important question and respond to the answer.

Centuries before Jesus was born the Prophet Isaiah spoke of the reason for His coming: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) What a strange reason for God to become a man, but how wonderful a reason once we hear the Shepherd’s voice. Listen carefully and see if you hear a voice beyond Pastor Peter’s.

Here’s an understatement: “Life can be hard!” In fact, it might be better to say, “Life is hard!” That’s especially true as our culture removes its affirmation of our faith. We need handles to grab as the waves rock out boats. “Jesus at the Center” gives us four handles to grab as we deal with the waves of life.