By nature, we are all selfishly driven. Our needs and our desires take priority in our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies. From birth we cry out to have our needs met. A baby’s cry communicates the need for food, coddling, cleaning, or relief from other discomforts. We do not like to be uncomfortable nor in conflict with self, others, or situations. We like to have our hungers filled, our minds at peace, and our hearts at rest. Our egocentric orientation sets us up as the audience of our devotion. The ill-directed attention on ourselves places our lives on a kingly throne that we are not worthy to sit on and requires responsibilities that were are not adequately equipped to fulfill.

Jesus said to the Samaritan woman he met at the well, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). It appears that the proper response should be “Give me this water.” Jesus is quick to expose her self-focused heart. He knows that she does not truly know who he is, because if she did know, she would not be focused on herself. If she did truly know that he was the Christ, the son of God, she would be humbled by his gracious presence. She would fall down on her knees if she knew the great act of love, mercy, and grace that he extended to her, by his presence. She would bow humbly before the King of kings and Lord of lords who, “gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph.5:25-27).

Once one knows that Jesus is the gift and the giver all attention and admiration become Christocentric - solely focused on Jesus the Christ. If Jesus is Lord, worship him. The Lordship of Christ will lead you to a life of submission, a life of sacrifice, service, and salvation. As Lord Jesus will sanctify you by the Spirit, cleanse you by his blood, and anoint you for service in his kingdom. At the name of Jesus the true disciples will worship the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. To him be all glory, honor, and praise.     -- Bryan Johnston

      At a Ladies Workshop on April 8th, Judi, Christa (perhaps others?) gave a devotional talk which was truly remarkable to the ladies attending. It was recorded by my daughter on video, and it is SO GOOD that we'd like to share it with everyone. Again, it is not a pulpit sermon, but a video recording from a Ladies Workshop Meeting on April 8th. Clicking the *Download* link will take you to YouTube to watch it. This is her life story, how she met and overcame many trials and tests still stayed close to God. (Since I don't have a "Videos" section, I placed it in "Sermon Downloads" for now. It is truly inspirational - check it out.)

      Our bodies are made up of sixty-percent water. We need water to live. It is recommended that we drink 8-12 glasses of water every day. Our bodies are sustained and our thirst stays quenched if we consume those 8-12 glasses of water throughout the day. If we are involved with physical activity, it is important to drink before, during, and after the activity in order to avoid dehydration. It is said that if one waits until he or she is thirsty to have a drink of water, it is often too late. He or she is already dehydrated. Are you drinking enough water each day? What are you filling up on to quench your thirst?

      Jesus met a Samaritan woman at a common watering-hole in Samaria. Jesus makes himself known and engages her in conversation. His interest in her was a shocking encounter. She needed to quench her thirst and provide water for her livestock. The woman was filling up only on things she knew. To her determent and the determent of all the human race, she would never be completely satisfied by drinking only the water from the well. Sadly she was unaware of any other eternal source of life. The Samaritan woman would have to continue filling up day after day in order to stay alive.

      Jesus says, “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14). The woman responds, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty” (John 4:14). What is the drink that the Lord is offering? What is the proper response to this invitation that the Lord has given? The desired response is to believe in the Lord and to present yourself in worship as a sacrifice to God. The thirst-quencher is life “with” the living Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah. We will not be satisfied until we are in constant communion with the giver of life. Drink deeply, often, and regularly of the Lord. --Bryan Johnston

     The resurrection of our Lord was a moment in history that has forever shaped and formed life thereafter. In John’s gospel account Mary was at a loss when she could not find the body of Jesus at the tomb. Jesus graciously revealed himself to her as the risen Lord. Jesus’ plan after his resurrection was not what Mary nor the disciples had in mind after his appearing. He said, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’ (John 20:17). Jesus says, “Go and tell.” Mary leaves and announces to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). Jesus then appears to all the disciples and says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).

     The life of the risen Lord continues today through his church. The risen Lord is revealed to the world through the living body of Christ. The death, burial, and resurrection lifestyle is seen in the life of the church. The church shows love, mercy, forgiveness, patience, kindness, and grace. The church is a community that with the resource of God, and the Holy Spirit, provides everything needed for life. The church is a family that will provide support and belonging to those longing for connection. The church is where we express our love for God and love for others. The church is where we do life, where we worship, serve, grow, and mature as children of God.

     John says, “But these things are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Do you believe? Do you want life? We hope that you can see the evidence of the resurrection living in his church. We hope you will choose to experience true living, resurrection living. Jesus is alive and he is living in his church. I can see it, I hope you will choose to be a part of it as well.

Bryan Johnston

Bryan's sermon for April 9, 2017 has been recovered and posted for online listening or download. It had been previously delayed due to technical issues. With any sermon, just go to the Sermon Downloads section and click the name of the lesson in the list. To listen online, click the picture of the cardboard box at the bottom of the description. To save it for later, RIGHT-CLICK (most browsers) and choose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." to save it to your computer. It is an OUTSTANDING lesson!