Light, 27 April 2025
Light
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
April 27, 2025
1 John 1:1-10
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: We need to confess our sins and step into the light of Christ.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:5-10
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
Our world is filled with contrasts, whether it’s sweet and savory, up and down, David and Goliath, or Wolverines and Buckeyes! There may be no greater contrast than light and darkness.
My name is Kirk and today we’re beginning a new series going through the first epistle—or short letter—of John. You may recall last fall we went through 2nd and 3rd John, but this one’s quite a bit longer and we needed more time to explore it together.
Most scholars believe John the apostle wrote it—along with 2nd John, 3rd John, the Gospel of John, and the book of Revelation. He knew Jesus personally, as did his brother James. It was written between 90 and 100 CE after the wrote his gospel. He likely wrote it while living in the city of Ephesus in modern day Turkey, one of the most incredible places I’ve been privileged to visit. Like many New Testament writings, the prevailing message is to avoid heresies and remain faithful to the scriptures and their subject, Jesus Christ. You will frequently see the themes of truth and love throughout.
Today we’re talking about light…and darkness. One of my favorite experiences on the subject came when I was a child at Walt Disney World. After I got over my fear of roller coasters—a story for another time—I was excited to ride Space Mountain. Who has ridden it? It’s a wild and exciting ride for one reason…it’s in the dark! By definition, you can’t see in the dark, which means you cannot anticipate the ups and downs, the zigs and zags. It clearly fits the definition of a thrill ride.
But if you were ride Space Mountain with the lights on, the thrill would be greatly diminished. Darkness can be disorienting. It can cause injury, fear, and panic. This is true for physical and spiritual darkness.
In the beginning—the very beginning—everything was dark until God said, “Let there be light” in the third verse of the Bible. Genesis continues…
God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:4-5)
John begins his gospel by writing,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
John’s first epistle begins somewhat similarly…
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4)
This is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the way, the truth, the life. John is writing an eyewitness account. He knew the Messiah personally, one of the King’s three closest friends. He reveals the purpose writing 1 John is complete joy. We could all use more of that!
The introduction is complete, and we now come to our scripture reading text for today.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
John heard it. Now he declares it. God is light. Total light. No darkness.
Hundreds of years earlier,
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)
And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:19-20)
That’s serious light! God is light, both physically and spiritually. Perhaps someday we will be able to meet God face to face as Moses desired. What is clear in our text is God is light.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (1 John 1:6)
Just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s true. One of my many flaws is I can be gullible. I’m getting better, but I can be too trusting, believing someone really has ocean-front property in Kansas they will sell me at a good price! And a Nigerian prince e-mailed me to say he’s giving me millions of dollars to pay for it!
People lie! They deceive others. Sometimes they deceive themselves. We can walk in light or darkness. We can know Jesus…or say “no” to Jesus. We all know the right answer on Sunday morning, but this idea of fellowship with God is not a one-and-done proposition. No relationship works like that. They need to be cultivated.
I may be married to Heather, but if I neglect her, eventually we won’t have much of a marriage.
You can call yourself a Christian, but if you aren’t regularly spending time with the LORD, you won’t experience the fellowship He desires.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
Here’s a good “but!” This verse is loaded! If I wrote this, I would say, “If we walk in the light, we have fellowship with God,” but that’s not what it says. We have fellowship with one another when we walk in the light, when we follow Jesus. John also says it’s the blood of Christ that purifies us from…ALL sin. Hallelujah! Followers of Jesus are related by blood…the blood of Jesus! Again, I say hallelujah!
In case his message is not clear, John restates the contrast between light and darkness.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
You sin. I sin. We all sin. We are not to boast in our sin. That would be another sin—pride! We aren’t to shrug our shoulders and say, “What’s the use?” Sin leads to death, and death is not something we should ever pursue, even though it’s inevitable.
Think of it this way—even Michael Jordan missed shots…more than half of them, actually (he shot 49.7%). But how many did he try to miss? Zero! He knew he would miss sometimes, but always tried, always did his best.
Followers of Jesus are called to righteousness, holiness, godliness. The Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome temptation, but we have a role to play. As the late Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.”
We sin. We need to acknowledge it. We need to admit it. And…
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. I urge you to commit it to memory. What a promise! Thank you, Jesus! That’s why Jesus died and rose from the dead…to offer forgiveness and purification for all of our sins. In case you missed it somehow, John says again,
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
So What?
We all sin and fall short of God’s standard of perfection. He doesn’t grade on a curve.
We need to
a. Confess our sin
b. Receive God’s forgiveness
c. Get back into the light, walk in the light, do life with Jesus
What does that look like? You’ve already taken a great step this week by devoting this hour to God…to worship, prayer, fellowship, and study of God’s Word. Will you walk in the light the rest of this week? Will you surrender your will to the LORD? Will you spend time with God? Will you reach out to others? Will you love your neighbor as yourself?
It’s a new day. It’s a new week. It’s a new opportunity to say “yes” to Jesus, to seek first his Kingdom, his glory, his righteousness. When you fall and sin, don’t let satan fill you with shame. Get up and keep running the race, keep your eye on the prize, keep following Jesus. He created the light. He is the light. Amen!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
April 27, 2025
1 John 1:1-10
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: We need to confess our sins and step into the light of Christ.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:5-10
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2)
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)
Our world is filled with contrasts, whether it’s sweet and savory, up and down, David and Goliath, or Wolverines and Buckeyes! There may be no greater contrast than light and darkness.
My name is Kirk and today we’re beginning a new series going through the first epistle—or short letter—of John. You may recall last fall we went through 2nd and 3rd John, but this one’s quite a bit longer and we needed more time to explore it together.
Most scholars believe John the apostle wrote it—along with 2nd John, 3rd John, the Gospel of John, and the book of Revelation. He knew Jesus personally, as did his brother James. It was written between 90 and 100 CE after the wrote his gospel. He likely wrote it while living in the city of Ephesus in modern day Turkey, one of the most incredible places I’ve been privileged to visit. Like many New Testament writings, the prevailing message is to avoid heresies and remain faithful to the scriptures and their subject, Jesus Christ. You will frequently see the themes of truth and love throughout.
Today we’re talking about light…and darkness. One of my favorite experiences on the subject came when I was a child at Walt Disney World. After I got over my fear of roller coasters—a story for another time—I was excited to ride Space Mountain. Who has ridden it? It’s a wild and exciting ride for one reason…it’s in the dark! By definition, you can’t see in the dark, which means you cannot anticipate the ups and downs, the zigs and zags. It clearly fits the definition of a thrill ride.
But if you were ride Space Mountain with the lights on, the thrill would be greatly diminished. Darkness can be disorienting. It can cause injury, fear, and panic. This is true for physical and spiritual darkness.
In the beginning—the very beginning—everything was dark until God said, “Let there be light” in the third verse of the Bible. Genesis continues…
God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (Genesis 1:4-5)
John begins his gospel by writing,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
John’s first epistle begins somewhat similarly…
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:1-4)
This is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the way, the truth, the life. John is writing an eyewitness account. He knew the Messiah personally, one of the King’s three closest friends. He reveals the purpose writing 1 John is complete joy. We could all use more of that!
The introduction is complete, and we now come to our scripture reading text for today.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
John heard it. Now he declares it. God is light. Total light. No darkness.
Hundreds of years earlier,
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)
And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:19-20)
That’s serious light! God is light, both physically and spiritually. Perhaps someday we will be able to meet God face to face as Moses desired. What is clear in our text is God is light.
If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. (1 John 1:6)
Just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s true. One of my many flaws is I can be gullible. I’m getting better, but I can be too trusting, believing someone really has ocean-front property in Kansas they will sell me at a good price! And a Nigerian prince e-mailed me to say he’s giving me millions of dollars to pay for it!
People lie! They deceive others. Sometimes they deceive themselves. We can walk in light or darkness. We can know Jesus…or say “no” to Jesus. We all know the right answer on Sunday morning, but this idea of fellowship with God is not a one-and-done proposition. No relationship works like that. They need to be cultivated.
I may be married to Heather, but if I neglect her, eventually we won’t have much of a marriage.
You can call yourself a Christian, but if you aren’t regularly spending time with the LORD, you won’t experience the fellowship He desires.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)
Here’s a good “but!” This verse is loaded! If I wrote this, I would say, “If we walk in the light, we have fellowship with God,” but that’s not what it says. We have fellowship with one another when we walk in the light, when we follow Jesus. John also says it’s the blood of Christ that purifies us from…ALL sin. Hallelujah! Followers of Jesus are related by blood…the blood of Jesus! Again, I say hallelujah!
In case his message is not clear, John restates the contrast between light and darkness.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
You sin. I sin. We all sin. We are not to boast in our sin. That would be another sin—pride! We aren’t to shrug our shoulders and say, “What’s the use?” Sin leads to death, and death is not something we should ever pursue, even though it’s inevitable.
Think of it this way—even Michael Jordan missed shots…more than half of them, actually (he shot 49.7%). But how many did he try to miss? Zero! He knew he would miss sometimes, but always tried, always did his best.
Followers of Jesus are called to righteousness, holiness, godliness. The Holy Spirit gives us power to overcome temptation, but we have a role to play. As the late Dallas Willard said, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning. Earning is an attitude. Effort is an action.”
We sin. We need to acknowledge it. We need to admit it. And…
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible. I urge you to commit it to memory. What a promise! Thank you, Jesus! That’s why Jesus died and rose from the dead…to offer forgiveness and purification for all of our sins. In case you missed it somehow, John says again,
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)
So What?
We all sin and fall short of God’s standard of perfection. He doesn’t grade on a curve.
We need to
a. Confess our sin
b. Receive God’s forgiveness
c. Get back into the light, walk in the light, do life with Jesus
What does that look like? You’ve already taken a great step this week by devoting this hour to God…to worship, prayer, fellowship, and study of God’s Word. Will you walk in the light the rest of this week? Will you surrender your will to the LORD? Will you spend time with God? Will you reach out to others? Will you love your neighbor as yourself?
It’s a new day. It’s a new week. It’s a new opportunity to say “yes” to Jesus, to seek first his Kingdom, his glory, his righteousness. When you fall and sin, don’t let satan fill you with shame. Get up and keep running the race, keep your eye on the prize, keep following Jesus. He created the light. He is the light. Amen!
Resurrection Sunday! 20 April 2025
20 04 25 Filed in: Sermons | The Chosen Suppers
The Loud Supper: Resurrection Sunday
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Chosen Suppers
April 20, 2025
John 16:20; 20:1-20
Series Big Idea: The Chosen depicts profound scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Big Idea: Jesus, the Risen One, turns our deep grieving into rejoicing.
Scripture Reading: John 16:16-20
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” (John 16:16)
At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” (John 16:17-18)
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:19-20)
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Welcome to Easter Sunday!
My name is Kirk, and I realize that might not have seemed like the most obvious video clip to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The Last Supper? That happened Thursday!
But leading up to that Upper Room—where Jesus shared the Passover meal with His followers—so much had already unfolded. It was there that He modeled servant leadership by washing the disciples’ feet, identified His betrayer, Judas, and taught profound truths about God’s Kingdom. In that sacred space, Jesus told His friends:
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20)
When Jesus spoke of grief turning to joy, He was describing something God has been doing since the very beginning—and still does today.
We’ve all been there. Maybe it was the heartbreak of a close game. The sting of election results. A dreaded call from your boss—or worse, the doctor. Maybe it came in the form of a late-night phone call or an unexpected knock on the door. Grief.
I get it.
I’ve stood beside my dad and mother-in-law as they passed away. Our family has endured estrangement, mental illness, hospitalizations, and a host of other challenges. And since February, I’ve attended more funerals than I have in any other year of my life.
You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20b)
From the very beginning, God has been in the business of turning grieving into rejoicing. We see it over and over in the Old Testament. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, God still promised that one day the enemy would be defeated (Genesis 3:15). Abraham and Sarah rejoiced with a miracle child—at age 100! Job, Jacob, Joseph, Ruth, David—all of them could tell you stories of heartache turned to celebration because of God. The psalmist put it beautifully:
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)
The process was rarely instant. It often involved mystery, loss, and waiting. But throughout Scripture, God’s heart is revealed: to bring joy out of sorrow, hope out of despair.
Let’s return to that Upper Room, portrayed in the clip from The Chosen. Jesus said:
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20)
Jesus knew what was coming. His death wasn’t an accident; it was part of God’s plan to bring us forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life.
Many of you know “the rest of the story,” as the late Paul Harvey used to say. Jesus died on Good Friday, but He conquered sin and death—and rose again on the day we call Easter Sunday.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (John 20:1-2)
The story unfolds with panic, confusion, running disciples, and an empty tomb. But then…
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (John 20:16)
Grief turned to joy in an instant.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20)
Death was defeated. Joy triumphed.
Jesus, the Risen One, turns our deep grieving into rejoicing.
I know—we all want to skip the grieving and get straight to the joy. But even in the process, in the waiting, in the heartbreak, God is at work.
Think about this:
Last year, the world celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day—the decisive battle that turned the tide of WWII (June 6, 1944). This year marks 80 years since VE-Day—the final surrender and total victory (May 8, 1945).
Easter is like D-Day. The decisive moment. Everything changed.
VE-Day is coming—when all grieving ends. And until then, Jesus, the Risen One, continues to transform sorrow into celebration.
Revelation gives us a glimpse of that future:
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:6-7)
This is what the future holds for every follower of Jesus—endless celebration, perfect peace, eternal joy, a loud supper filled with delight and rejoicing.
But like any invitation, you must respond.
Jesus is calling you. He’s inviting you.
He offers forgiveness, purpose, peace, and life. He’s waiting for you to say, “Jesus, I give you my life.” When you take that step—when you surrender—you begin an incredible journey of hope, transformation, and joy. You become a new creation. You experience resurrection power!
But so many people today are missing it. Either they’ve never heard the story, or they’ve chosen to ignore it.
Don’t miss it.
Jesus, the Risen One, turns our deep grieving into rejoicing.
God’s love is real. His power is real. His peace is available—right now. No matter what you’re going through, He sees you. He’s working even when you can’t see it. Easter proves that your story is not over.
The next chapter may just hold the breakthrough you’ve been praying for.
And one day, grieving will be no more. Only joy.
That’s the Victory Day we’re waiting for. And it’s coming.
So What?
No matter what you’re facing today, there is hope. Jesus turns deep grieving into rejoicing. He turned the horror of the cross into the glory of an empty tomb. He transforms death into life. He changes your name—from sinner to saint.
That’s Easter. That’s Jesus.
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Credits: some ideas from The Chosen and Outreach, edited by ChatGPT
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Chosen Suppers
April 20, 2025
John 16:20; 20:1-20
Series Big Idea: The Chosen depicts profound scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Big Idea: Jesus, the Risen One, turns our deep grieving into rejoicing.
Scripture Reading: John 16:16-20
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” (John 16:16)
At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” (John 16:17-18)
Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:19-20)
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Welcome to Easter Sunday!
My name is Kirk, and I realize that might not have seemed like the most obvious video clip to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The Last Supper? That happened Thursday!
But leading up to that Upper Room—where Jesus shared the Passover meal with His followers—so much had already unfolded. It was there that He modeled servant leadership by washing the disciples’ feet, identified His betrayer, Judas, and taught profound truths about God’s Kingdom. In that sacred space, Jesus told His friends:
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20)
When Jesus spoke of grief turning to joy, He was describing something God has been doing since the very beginning—and still does today.
We’ve all been there. Maybe it was the heartbreak of a close game. The sting of election results. A dreaded call from your boss—or worse, the doctor. Maybe it came in the form of a late-night phone call or an unexpected knock on the door. Grief.
I get it.
I’ve stood beside my dad and mother-in-law as they passed away. Our family has endured estrangement, mental illness, hospitalizations, and a host of other challenges. And since February, I’ve attended more funerals than I have in any other year of my life.
You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20b)
From the very beginning, God has been in the business of turning grieving into rejoicing. We see it over and over in the Old Testament. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, God still promised that one day the enemy would be defeated (Genesis 3:15). Abraham and Sarah rejoiced with a miracle child—at age 100! Job, Jacob, Joseph, Ruth, David—all of them could tell you stories of heartache turned to celebration because of God. The psalmist put it beautifully:
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)
The process was rarely instant. It often involved mystery, loss, and waiting. But throughout Scripture, God’s heart is revealed: to bring joy out of sorrow, hope out of despair.
Let’s return to that Upper Room, portrayed in the clip from The Chosen. Jesus said:
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (John 16:20)
Jesus knew what was coming. His death wasn’t an accident; it was part of God’s plan to bring us forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life.
Many of you know “the rest of the story,” as the late Paul Harvey used to say. Jesus died on Good Friday, but He conquered sin and death—and rose again on the day we call Easter Sunday.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (John 20:1-2)
The story unfolds with panic, confusion, running disciples, and an empty tomb. But then…
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (John 20:16)
Grief turned to joy in an instant.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20)
Death was defeated. Joy triumphed.
Jesus, the Risen One, turns our deep grieving into rejoicing.
I know—we all want to skip the grieving and get straight to the joy. But even in the process, in the waiting, in the heartbreak, God is at work.
Think about this:
Last year, the world celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day—the decisive battle that turned the tide of WWII (June 6, 1944). This year marks 80 years since VE-Day—the final surrender and total victory (May 8, 1945).
Easter is like D-Day. The decisive moment. Everything changed.
VE-Day is coming—when all grieving ends. And until then, Jesus, the Risen One, continues to transform sorrow into celebration.
Revelation gives us a glimpse of that future:
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:6-7)
This is what the future holds for every follower of Jesus—endless celebration, perfect peace, eternal joy, a loud supper filled with delight and rejoicing.
But like any invitation, you must respond.
Jesus is calling you. He’s inviting you.
He offers forgiveness, purpose, peace, and life. He’s waiting for you to say, “Jesus, I give you my life.” When you take that step—when you surrender—you begin an incredible journey of hope, transformation, and joy. You become a new creation. You experience resurrection power!
But so many people today are missing it. Either they’ve never heard the story, or they’ve chosen to ignore it.
Don’t miss it.
Jesus, the Risen One, turns our deep grieving into rejoicing.
God’s love is real. His power is real. His peace is available—right now. No matter what you’re going through, He sees you. He’s working even when you can’t see it. Easter proves that your story is not over.
The next chapter may just hold the breakthrough you’ve been praying for.
And one day, grieving will be no more. Only joy.
That’s the Victory Day we’re waiting for. And it’s coming.
So What?
No matter what you’re facing today, there is hope. Jesus turns deep grieving into rejoicing. He turned the horror of the cross into the glory of an empty tomb. He transforms death into life. He changes your name—from sinner to saint.
That’s Easter. That’s Jesus.
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
Credits: some ideas from The Chosen and Outreach, edited by ChatGPT
King Jesus: Palm Sunday, 13 April 2025
13 04 25 Filed in: Sermons | The Chosen Suppers
King Jesus: Palm Sunday
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Chosen Suppers
April 13, 2025
John 12:12-19
Series Big Idea: The Chosen depicts profound scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Big Idea: We can kill or crown King Jesus.
Scripture Reading: John 12:12-19
Hosanna! Hosanna! Save us now!
Welcome to Palm Sunday, the day in which Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. When I was a child, it was a fun day to wave palm branches and dance around, but there’s more to this story than a parade. This is a story about kings, power, politics, expectations, and hope.
If you’ve been reading through the Bible with us this year, you encountered the book of 1 Samuel last week. Israel has been following God…or they’re supposed to be following God! Samuel is chosen by God to be Israel’s judge, not just presiding over court cases, but serving as a prophet (1 Samuel 3:20) of the LORD. Chapter 7 tells us
Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. (1 Samuel 7:15)
What a responsibility! The people are not satisfied, though. They want a king like the other nations, rejecting God as their king. Samuel warns them sternly this is a terrible idea.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)
Saul, David, and Solomon are the first three, followed by a variety of very evil kings…and some a few leaders. None could compare, of course, to the wisdom, perfection, and benevolence of God. Every one of Israel’s kings left her disappointed…just was they were warned.
Some of the Old Testament kings did bring moments of peace and prosperity for Israel, but they were all temporary. Often, the kings inspired more war, even dividing the Jews into a northern and southern kingdom. If only the people listened to Samuel and continued to allow God to lead them as king.
Every one of Israel’s kings left her disappointed. They were always surrounded by enemies, living in fear of invasion, acquainted with death. Thousands of years later, the fact remains: every king that has come along has always left us longing. The same is true for presidents and prime ministers. No matter how passionate you are about this president, the last one, or the next one, they will disappoint us. They will fail us. They will make terrible decisions. This even applies to religious leaders, pastors, Christian celebrities. This is because we are all sinners. Although many are quick to blame God for the problems in this world, they are all the result of our sin which God has given us freedom to commit
Every king that’s come along has always left us longing. Except one.
Last week we said,
We need Jesus, the bread of life. Only he can satisfy the deep hunger of our souls.
Likewise,
We need Jesus, the King of kings. Only he can win our deepest battles.
Moments ago, we watched a clip from The Chosen, an interpretation of the scene. Here it is straight from the Bible.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. (John 12:12)
It’s Passover time. It’s a little like Homecoming. Everybody’s in town. There are meals and celebrations, though this one is unique. Rumors have been spread about a miracle man who might be the promised Messiah. He has super powers, healing the sick, feeding crowds, and even raising the dead.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13)
Palm branches were the nation symbol of the Jews. This language echoed Psalm 118:
LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. (Psalm 118:25-26)
The people wanted independence from Rome, and they were hoping…seeking… demanding that Jesus would save them.
He would save them…and us…or at least make salvation available. But they would discover days later his ambitions were not theirs. Kings ride war horses. They come with power and might. So imagine their surprise when King Jesus enters on…a donkey?
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:14-15)
Servants ride donkeys, not kings. The prophet Zechariah hundreds of years earlier wrote,
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
When King Jesus returns, he will be on a white horse (Revelation 6:2; 19:11). But the mission of his first coming to earth involved something far different than force and valor.
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. (John 12:16)
I take great comfort in knowing I’m not the only one who can be clueless, forgetful, or just plain…dumb! But you have to admit, this is not a normal entrance for a normal king.
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. (John 12:17-18)
I can only imagine the excitement in the crowd. What will he do next? As you might imagine, there were fickle fans, devoted followers…and fearful enemies.
When King Saul learned David would someday become king, he felt threatened and tried to kill David. Repeatedly. When Roman leaders heard about the king of the Jews, there was obvious concern. When the religious Pharisees saw their followers flocking to Jesus, they were clearly upset.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” (John 12:19)
This was a political scene.
This was a social scene.
This was a religious scene.
There was not one, uniform opinion about Jesus. He was controversial then…and he’s controversial today.
The events of Palm Sunday were orchestrated by Jesus himself. Matthew’s account in chapter 21 makes this clear. He not only fulfills ancient prophecies, he will ultimately deliver a message…crown me or kill me.
So What?
As you may know, the scene changes dramatically days later. Whether the members of the crowd are the same or different, they will yell, “Crucify him.”
I want you to feel the tension of Palm Sunday. It’s not all happy. What follows won’t be, either. Here’s the challenge:
Who is your king? Who is the leader of your life? Maybe you are obsessed with American politics, crying tears of joy or sorrow every four years. Perhaps you are led by your friends or family members, trying to fit in and please those around you. Most of us understand the temptation to make ourselves king or queen, doing whatever makes us feel good, regardless of how it impacts others…or God.
If the king has come, we must say no to all others. Practically, when all is said and done, perhaps the greatest and most impactful way to hold allegiance to Jesus as the king is to create space for deep worship of him as king. It’s hard to long for other kings when we’ve busied ourselves with elevating and praising the one who truly is king. We’ve done it by examining the scriptures. We declare it through our generous giving of our finances, the volunteering of our time, the devotion to share the good news with others.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Credits: some ideas from The Chosen and Outreach
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Chosen Suppers
April 13, 2025
John 12:12-19
Series Big Idea: The Chosen depicts profound scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Big Idea: We can kill or crown King Jesus.
Scripture Reading: John 12:12-19
Hosanna! Hosanna! Save us now!
Welcome to Palm Sunday, the day in which Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on a donkey. When I was a child, it was a fun day to wave palm branches and dance around, but there’s more to this story than a parade. This is a story about kings, power, politics, expectations, and hope.
If you’ve been reading through the Bible with us this year, you encountered the book of 1 Samuel last week. Israel has been following God…or they’re supposed to be following God! Samuel is chosen by God to be Israel’s judge, not just presiding over court cases, but serving as a prophet (1 Samuel 3:20) of the LORD. Chapter 7 tells us
Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life. (1 Samuel 7:15)
What a responsibility! The people are not satisfied, though. They want a king like the other nations, rejecting God as their king. Samuel warns them sternly this is a terrible idea.
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)
Saul, David, and Solomon are the first three, followed by a variety of very evil kings…and some a few leaders. None could compare, of course, to the wisdom, perfection, and benevolence of God. Every one of Israel’s kings left her disappointed…just was they were warned.
Some of the Old Testament kings did bring moments of peace and prosperity for Israel, but they were all temporary. Often, the kings inspired more war, even dividing the Jews into a northern and southern kingdom. If only the people listened to Samuel and continued to allow God to lead them as king.
Every one of Israel’s kings left her disappointed. They were always surrounded by enemies, living in fear of invasion, acquainted with death. Thousands of years later, the fact remains: every king that has come along has always left us longing. The same is true for presidents and prime ministers. No matter how passionate you are about this president, the last one, or the next one, they will disappoint us. They will fail us. They will make terrible decisions. This even applies to religious leaders, pastors, Christian celebrities. This is because we are all sinners. Although many are quick to blame God for the problems in this world, they are all the result of our sin which God has given us freedom to commit
Every king that’s come along has always left us longing. Except one.
Last week we said,
We need Jesus, the bread of life. Only he can satisfy the deep hunger of our souls.
Likewise,
We need Jesus, the King of kings. Only he can win our deepest battles.
Moments ago, we watched a clip from The Chosen, an interpretation of the scene. Here it is straight from the Bible.
The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. (John 12:12)
It’s Passover time. It’s a little like Homecoming. Everybody’s in town. There are meals and celebrations, though this one is unique. Rumors have been spread about a miracle man who might be the promised Messiah. He has super powers, healing the sick, feeding crowds, and even raising the dead.
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Blessed is the king of Israel!” (John 12:13)
Palm branches were the nation symbol of the Jews. This language echoed Psalm 118:
LORD, save us!
LORD, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. (Psalm 118:25-26)
The people wanted independence from Rome, and they were hoping…seeking… demanding that Jesus would save them.
He would save them…and us…or at least make salvation available. But they would discover days later his ambitions were not theirs. Kings ride war horses. They come with power and might. So imagine their surprise when King Jesus enters on…a donkey?
Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:
“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.” (John 12:14-15)
Servants ride donkeys, not kings. The prophet Zechariah hundreds of years earlier wrote,
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9)
When King Jesus returns, he will be on a white horse (Revelation 6:2; 19:11). But the mission of his first coming to earth involved something far different than force and valor.
At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. (John 12:16)
I take great comfort in knowing I’m not the only one who can be clueless, forgetful, or just plain…dumb! But you have to admit, this is not a normal entrance for a normal king.
Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. (John 12:17-18)
I can only imagine the excitement in the crowd. What will he do next? As you might imagine, there were fickle fans, devoted followers…and fearful enemies.
When King Saul learned David would someday become king, he felt threatened and tried to kill David. Repeatedly. When Roman leaders heard about the king of the Jews, there was obvious concern. When the religious Pharisees saw their followers flocking to Jesus, they were clearly upset.
19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” (John 12:19)
This was a political scene.
This was a social scene.
This was a religious scene.
There was not one, uniform opinion about Jesus. He was controversial then…and he’s controversial today.
The events of Palm Sunday were orchestrated by Jesus himself. Matthew’s account in chapter 21 makes this clear. He not only fulfills ancient prophecies, he will ultimately deliver a message…crown me or kill me.
So What?
As you may know, the scene changes dramatically days later. Whether the members of the crowd are the same or different, they will yell, “Crucify him.”
I want you to feel the tension of Palm Sunday. It’s not all happy. What follows won’t be, either. Here’s the challenge:
Who is your king? Who is the leader of your life? Maybe you are obsessed with American politics, crying tears of joy or sorrow every four years. Perhaps you are led by your friends or family members, trying to fit in and please those around you. Most of us understand the temptation to make ourselves king or queen, doing whatever makes us feel good, regardless of how it impacts others…or God.
If the king has come, we must say no to all others. Practically, when all is said and done, perhaps the greatest and most impactful way to hold allegiance to Jesus as the king is to create space for deep worship of him as king. It’s hard to long for other kings when we’ve busied ourselves with elevating and praising the one who truly is king. We’ve done it by examining the scriptures. We declare it through our generous giving of our finances, the volunteering of our time, the devotion to share the good news with others.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. - When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Credits: some ideas from The Chosen and Outreach
Bread of Life: The Least Supper, 6 April 2025
07 04 25 Filed in: Sermons | The Chosen Suppers
The Least Supper: Bread of Life
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Chosen Suppers
April 6, 2025
John 6:1-15, 25-71; Exodus 16
Series Big Idea: The Chosen depicts profound scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Big Idea: We need Jesus, the bread of life. Only he can satisfy the deep hunger of our souls.
Scripture Reading: John 13:21b-30
Who was it? That clip from The Chosen doesn’t reveal it, but our scripture reading tells us.
Why did Judas do it? Nobody knows for sure. Some possibilities include financial greed, forcing Jesus’ hand at launching a political revolution, anger over Jesus’ ministry methods, the fulfillment of prophecy, and being possessed by evil and Satan’s influence.
There might be another reason, but first, we must go back… way back!
In Exodus 16, God feeds the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
In the desert, the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’S hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:2-3)
Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” (Exodus 16:4a)
Later, we’re told:
The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (Exodus 16:31)
This is not the only example of God feeding people with bread. One of the most famous stories in the Bible is known as the feeding of the five thousand… plus!
The people were hungry after following Jesus. Simon Peter said,
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9)
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated, as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (John 6:10-11)
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:12-13)
Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:14-15)
We’ll see this attitude again on Palm Sunday. The Roman government was oppressive, and many hoped Jesus would seize power and overthrow it. But that was not his mission.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” (John 6:25)
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” (John 6:26)
The people weren’t interested in following God. They wanted free bread.
We all have a deep hunger for the bread of this world, don’t we? The things and the stuff of this world?
There are things we need—clean water, food, shelter, daily bread. But as we noted in our last sermon series, we often want more. More money. More recognition. More…
Jesus continues,
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)
They responded,
“What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (John 6:30-31)
This harkens back to Exodus 16.
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32-33)
The bread of God—you can’t buy this at the corner bakery.
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” (John 6:34)
Then Jesus declared,
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Are they satisfied? Are they excited? Hardly.
At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” (John 6:41-42)
The people were never satisfied. They wanted more bread. And they weren’t the only ones who rejected Jesus, the bread of life.
From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:66)
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. (John 6:67)
Simon Peter answered,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
Then Jesus replied,
“Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (John 6:70-71)
He meant Judas, who would later betray him.
Now back to our opening question: Why did Judas betray Jesus? Could it be that he was thinking only of his stomach? He wasn’t interested in the things of God but in the things of this world—bread, thirty pieces of silver. He sacrificed eternal life for the Least Supper.
So What?
What do we truly need? Our stomachs need bread and water. But what about our souls? Our souls need forgiveness—
· Forgiveness for our idolatry, greed, and betrayal of God.
· Forgiveness for our disobedience, indifference, and hypocrisy.
We need Jesus, the bread of life. Only he can satisfy the deep hunger of our souls.
The contrast between Simon Peter and Judas is stunning. Both were at the table with Jesus in John 13. Both had been with Jesus. Both betrayed him. But while Simon Peter took hold of the bread of life and was restored—over a meal—Judas’ actions led not only to Jesus’ death but also his own.
As we come to the table today, will you take hold of the bread of life? The crowds were impressed with Jesus, but they weren’t willing to follow him. They wanted Jesus on their terms, not God’s. They wanted to fill their stomachs, but only Jesus can satisfy the soul’s deep hunger.
True peace and contentment can’t be bought at Walmart… or Panera! You won’t find it climbing the corporate ladder, graduating with honors, marrying your dream spouse, or gaining fame. It is only found in Christ.
Will you follow Jesus, the bread of life?
Credits: some ideas from The Chosen and Outreach
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
The Chosen Suppers
April 6, 2025
John 6:1-15, 25-71; Exodus 16
Series Big Idea: The Chosen depicts profound scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
Big Idea: We need Jesus, the bread of life. Only he can satisfy the deep hunger of our souls.
Scripture Reading: John 13:21b-30
Who was it? That clip from The Chosen doesn’t reveal it, but our scripture reading tells us.
Why did Judas do it? Nobody knows for sure. Some possibilities include financial greed, forcing Jesus’ hand at launching a political revolution, anger over Jesus’ ministry methods, the fulfillment of prophecy, and being possessed by evil and Satan’s influence.
There might be another reason, but first, we must go back… way back!
In Exodus 16, God feeds the people of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
In the desert, the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’S hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:2-3)
Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you.” (Exodus 16:4a)
Later, we’re told:
The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (Exodus 16:31)
This is not the only example of God feeding people with bread. One of the most famous stories in the Bible is known as the feeding of the five thousand… plus!
The people were hungry after following Jesus. Simon Peter said,
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” (John 6:9)
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were seated, as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (John 6:10-11)
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:12-13)
Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch?
After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:14-15)
We’ll see this attitude again on Palm Sunday. The Roman government was oppressive, and many hoped Jesus would seize power and overthrow it. But that was not his mission.
When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” (John 6:25)
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” (John 6:26)
The people weren’t interested in following God. They wanted free bread.
We all have a deep hunger for the bread of this world, don’t we? The things and the stuff of this world?
There are things we need—clean water, food, shelter, daily bread. But as we noted in our last sermon series, we often want more. More money. More recognition. More…
Jesus continues,
“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:27)
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28-29)
They responded,
“What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (John 6:30-31)
This harkens back to Exodus 16.
Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32-33)
The bread of God—you can’t buy this at the corner bakery.
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” (John 6:34)
Then Jesus declared,
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35)
Are they satisfied? Are they excited? Hardly.
At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” (John 6:41-42)
The people were never satisfied. They wanted more bread. And they weren’t the only ones who rejected Jesus, the bread of life.
From this time, many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. (John 6:66)
“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. (John 6:67)
Simon Peter answered,
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)
Then Jesus replied,
“Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (John 6:70-71)
He meant Judas, who would later betray him.
Now back to our opening question: Why did Judas betray Jesus? Could it be that he was thinking only of his stomach? He wasn’t interested in the things of God but in the things of this world—bread, thirty pieces of silver. He sacrificed eternal life for the Least Supper.
So What?
What do we truly need? Our stomachs need bread and water. But what about our souls? Our souls need forgiveness—
· Forgiveness for our idolatry, greed, and betrayal of God.
· Forgiveness for our disobedience, indifference, and hypocrisy.
We need Jesus, the bread of life. Only he can satisfy the deep hunger of our souls.
The contrast between Simon Peter and Judas is stunning. Both were at the table with Jesus in John 13. Both had been with Jesus. Both betrayed him. But while Simon Peter took hold of the bread of life and was restored—over a meal—Judas’ actions led not only to Jesus’ death but also his own.
As we come to the table today, will you take hold of the bread of life? The crowds were impressed with Jesus, but they weren’t willing to follow him. They wanted Jesus on their terms, not God’s. They wanted to fill their stomachs, but only Jesus can satisfy the soul’s deep hunger.
True peace and contentment can’t be bought at Walmart… or Panera! You won’t find it climbing the corporate ladder, graduating with honors, marrying your dream spouse, or gaining fame. It is only found in Christ.
Will you follow Jesus, the bread of life?
Credits: some ideas from The Chosen and Outreach
Habits, 30 March 2025
30 03 25 Filed in: Sermons | Master Your Money
Habits: Five Biblical Principles
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Master Your Money
March 30, 2025
Luke 12:16-21
Series Big Idea: We can find freedom in our finances through God’s Word.
Sermon Big Idea: Our habits create our lives, for better or worse.
Habits. They create our lives, for better or worse. What are some of your good habits? What are some of your not-so-good habits?
The word habit derives from the Latin words habere, which means "have, consist of," and habitus, which means "condition, or state of being” so it makes sense that author James Clear in his bestselling book Atomic Habits declared, “You are your habits.”
Today’s we’re finishing our series Master Your Money. We began by saying there is hope for your finances, no matter your current reality. Then we talked about the heart and how our behavior follows belief. In week three, we talked about financial health and the things we can do with money. Today we’re looking at habits and five biblical principles that will help us shape our future.
There are five biblical money management habits:
Spend less than you earn
Give generously.
Avoid the use of debt.
Plan for financial margin.
Set long-term goals.
Two weeks ago, we talked about live, give, grow, and owe. I want to revisit it and look at how they can lead us to financial freedom. After all, we can find freedom in our finances through God’s Word, which includes more than 2000 verses on money and possessions. We need to develop good habits in our lives to Master our Money.
To review, the live principle is spend less than you earn. God owns it all. We are His stewards. We begin with a budget. Many believe a budget restricts freedom, but it actually creates it. If you’re in debt, this is especially important since you don’t want to go further in debt, which will always occur if you spend more than you earn. Simple.
We begin by giving generously. Many give their leftovers, spare change, whatever they have at the end of the month. I suppose that’s fine when it comes to Girl Scout cookies or supporting a child’s field trip, but I’m talking about biblical generosity. The Old Testament principle was the tithe, 10%, which is a good place to start.
I realize for those of you not used to giving, ten percent might seem like a lot. Start with 5%. Maybe you need to start with 1% but start giving. Even if you don’t think you can afford it, take God at His word.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
It can be scary to trust God, but He never fails. You can’t out give God. I’m not asking you to take a leap of faith, but a step of faith. Once you start giving and move to percentage giving, level 3 is sacrificial giving.
Let me say again this is not a fundraising pitch. We’re not in a capital campaign and our bills are being paid thanks to the generosity of many of you. This is about you taking a faith-filled risk and seeing how God responds.
Owe obviously speaks to debt. Ideally, avoid it at all costs…because there are costs associated with debt, and they are high.
I read recently our nation’s debt is more than $36 trillion and the interest we are paying on that debt…for fiscal year 2023 our government’s interest expenses totaled almost $900 billion! What do have to show for nearly a trillion dollars? Nothing!
I know your debt’s not that high, but many of you are paying a fortune in debt expenses. If that’s you, logically pay down the debts with the highest interest rates…usually credit cards. Repay other debts next and repay your mortgage last, if you have one. There are tax reasons for this, and the rate is usually lower than other loans.
Grow is about maintaining margin, saving for emergencies and then God-given goals. Rainy days will come…I promise! If you don’t have an emergency fund, you will someday have a financial emergency! Proverbs 30 says to pray for daily bread, but elsewhere in Proverbs 6 we’re advised to set aside some money for the future. Plus, investments can generate income through interest, dividends, and appreciation.
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants. (Proverbs 27:23-27)
Pay attention. Plan. Save. Things break!
On the other extreme of debt, tragically, many hoard money. Some of you don’t have months of living expenses saved up, you have years or even decades of wealth…for what?
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ (Luke 12:16-17)
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ (Luke 12:18-19)
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:20)
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)
How much is enough? You can’t take it with you! “You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead.” – Randy Alcorn
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
I must admit it can be challenging to know how much is enough. What about investments? What about leaving an inheritance? Is it wrong to have money? No, but it is a sin if your money has you!
Several years ago, I was at the National Pastor’s Convention in San Diego. The late Tony Campolo was doing a Q&A and a gutsy person asked how he could talk about serving the poor while staying in a nice hotel. I was on the edge of my seat! I’ve felt guilty for buying things like another pair of shoes when there are people who walk barefoot. Heather and I own two cars while many have only a bicycle. Tony replied by quoting the ancient wisdom of Solomon:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)
Campolo said something like, “There is a time to be with the poor and a time to be with the rich, a time to suffer and a time to enjoy comfort.
What an answer! My paraphrase is don’t feel guilty, but be grateful and generous.
Part of that generosity may be with your wisdom. Some of you need help with your finances. Some of you are able to help. I would love for you to let me or the office know if you need help or are able to help. We’re working on several projects over the next several months to help those of you in trouble get the help you need.
As I said in week one, virtually every one of us is rich…compared to the rest of the world. How will we steward and use the gifts we’ve been given for God’s glory?
So What?
When we had children in the house, we taught them the 10/10/80 principle. Give 10, save 10, and the rest is yours. At some point, that 80 may become far more than you need and you can increase your giving.
I’ve long appreciated the words of John Wesley:
It all begins with our heart. Do we really believe God owns it all? Do we trust Him to provide our daily bread? Have we experienced Jesus’ declaration that it’s better to give than to receive? Are you content? Faith-filled? Wise?
Look at your habits. What’s your next step in your relationship with God…and money?
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Master Your Money
March 30, 2025
Luke 12:16-21
Series Big Idea: We can find freedom in our finances through God’s Word.
Sermon Big Idea: Our habits create our lives, for better or worse.
Habits. They create our lives, for better or worse. What are some of your good habits? What are some of your not-so-good habits?
The word habit derives from the Latin words habere, which means "have, consist of," and habitus, which means "condition, or state of being” so it makes sense that author James Clear in his bestselling book Atomic Habits declared, “You are your habits.”
Today’s we’re finishing our series Master Your Money. We began by saying there is hope for your finances, no matter your current reality. Then we talked about the heart and how our behavior follows belief. In week three, we talked about financial health and the things we can do with money. Today we’re looking at habits and five biblical principles that will help us shape our future.
There are five biblical money management habits:
Spend less than you earn
Give generously.
Avoid the use of debt.
Plan for financial margin.
Set long-term goals.
Two weeks ago, we talked about live, give, grow, and owe. I want to revisit it and look at how they can lead us to financial freedom. After all, we can find freedom in our finances through God’s Word, which includes more than 2000 verses on money and possessions. We need to develop good habits in our lives to Master our Money.
To review, the live principle is spend less than you earn. God owns it all. We are His stewards. We begin with a budget. Many believe a budget restricts freedom, but it actually creates it. If you’re in debt, this is especially important since you don’t want to go further in debt, which will always occur if you spend more than you earn. Simple.
We begin by giving generously. Many give their leftovers, spare change, whatever they have at the end of the month. I suppose that’s fine when it comes to Girl Scout cookies or supporting a child’s field trip, but I’m talking about biblical generosity. The Old Testament principle was the tithe, 10%, which is a good place to start.
I realize for those of you not used to giving, ten percent might seem like a lot. Start with 5%. Maybe you need to start with 1% but start giving. Even if you don’t think you can afford it, take God at His word.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi 3:10)
It can be scary to trust God, but He never fails. You can’t out give God. I’m not asking you to take a leap of faith, but a step of faith. Once you start giving and move to percentage giving, level 3 is sacrificial giving.
Let me say again this is not a fundraising pitch. We’re not in a capital campaign and our bills are being paid thanks to the generosity of many of you. This is about you taking a faith-filled risk and seeing how God responds.
Owe obviously speaks to debt. Ideally, avoid it at all costs…because there are costs associated with debt, and they are high.
I read recently our nation’s debt is more than $36 trillion and the interest we are paying on that debt…for fiscal year 2023 our government’s interest expenses totaled almost $900 billion! What do have to show for nearly a trillion dollars? Nothing!
I know your debt’s not that high, but many of you are paying a fortune in debt expenses. If that’s you, logically pay down the debts with the highest interest rates…usually credit cards. Repay other debts next and repay your mortgage last, if you have one. There are tax reasons for this, and the rate is usually lower than other loans.
Grow is about maintaining margin, saving for emergencies and then God-given goals. Rainy days will come…I promise! If you don’t have an emergency fund, you will someday have a financial emergency! Proverbs 30 says to pray for daily bread, but elsewhere in Proverbs 6 we’re advised to set aside some money for the future. Plus, investments can generate income through interest, dividends, and appreciation.
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
24 for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.
25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
and the goats with the price of a field.
27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
and to nourish your female servants. (Proverbs 27:23-27)
Pay attention. Plan. Save. Things break!
On the other extreme of debt, tragically, many hoard money. Some of you don’t have months of living expenses saved up, you have years or even decades of wealth…for what?
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ (Luke 12:16-17)
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ (Luke 12:18-19)
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:20)
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)
How much is enough? You can’t take it with you! “You can’t take it with you—but you can send it on ahead.” – Randy Alcorn
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)
I must admit it can be challenging to know how much is enough. What about investments? What about leaving an inheritance? Is it wrong to have money? No, but it is a sin if your money has you!
Several years ago, I was at the National Pastor’s Convention in San Diego. The late Tony Campolo was doing a Q&A and a gutsy person asked how he could talk about serving the poor while staying in a nice hotel. I was on the edge of my seat! I’ve felt guilty for buying things like another pair of shoes when there are people who walk barefoot. Heather and I own two cars while many have only a bicycle. Tony replied by quoting the ancient wisdom of Solomon:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build, (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3)
Campolo said something like, “There is a time to be with the poor and a time to be with the rich, a time to suffer and a time to enjoy comfort.
What an answer! My paraphrase is don’t feel guilty, but be grateful and generous.
Part of that generosity may be with your wisdom. Some of you need help with your finances. Some of you are able to help. I would love for you to let me or the office know if you need help or are able to help. We’re working on several projects over the next several months to help those of you in trouble get the help you need.
As I said in week one, virtually every one of us is rich…compared to the rest of the world. How will we steward and use the gifts we’ve been given for God’s glory?
So What?
When we had children in the house, we taught them the 10/10/80 principle. Give 10, save 10, and the rest is yours. At some point, that 80 may become far more than you need and you can increase your giving.
I’ve long appreciated the words of John Wesley:
- Gain all you can – through honest and ethical means.
- Save all you can – by living frugally and avoiding waste.
- Give all you can – by using wealth to help others and do good.
It all begins with our heart. Do we really believe God owns it all? Do we trust Him to provide our daily bread? Have we experienced Jesus’ declaration that it’s better to give than to receive? Are you content? Faith-filled? Wise?
Look at your habits. What’s your next step in your relationship with God…and money?