This week we’ll see Jesus perform His first sign or miracle, in which He turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Then He’ll go up to Jerusalem for Passover and, while there, He’ll get angry with those who are profiteering off people at the temple. He’ll drive out their animals with a whip of cords, pour out the changers’ money and overturn their tables. The notes and audio recording are both in place below.
Today we begin the Gospel of John. This Gospel differs somewhat from the first three, as it was written later and used by John to fill in some gaps in the life of Jesus that the others had not included in their stories. While all four Gospels tell of the miracles Christ performed, John spends more time on the teaching or events that took place in conjunction with the miracles. In so doing he fills the miracles with meaning.
Jesus is introduced to us as the Word, who was with God and was God from the beginning – a testimony to the deity of Christ. We’ll also meet John the Baptist, Christ’s relative, who declares Him to be “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Both John the Baptist and Nathanael, an early follower of Jesus, quickly conclude that He is the “Son of God.”
Listen: John01.mp3
Read: John01.pdf
This week we’ll finish the Gospel of Luke, reading his last chapter, and getting his take on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We’ll see the women visiting the empty tomb, finding angels instead of a dead body. Jesus will appear again in Jerusalem and commission His followers to take a message of repentance and forgiveness to all nations. Finally, He will lead them out to the Mt. of Olives and be carried up into heaven. “See You later, Jesus!”
Listen: Luke24.mp3
Read: Luke 24.pdf
I love to tell the story of when Horizon Central first got started – specifically how we acquired Old School #18. Many have been encouraged by hearing it. I’m encouraged just remembering it.
Before that day, Horizon Central was a group of people in a home fellowship that met in the Fletcher Place neighborhood of Indianapolis. The group was associated with the larger Horizon Christian Fellowship on the NE side – pastor Bill Goodrich. For the record, John Colón was leading the group and it met in the home of Scott and Tracy Murphy. They were praying about and looking for a way to begin a church nearer to downtown – one that would focus more on the people and needs near the center of the city.
So one day in November of 1997, the Indianapolis Public Schools held an auction to sell off some of the buildings which they had closed that year. Horizon had noticed School #18 in Fountain Square and thought it might fit their vision. They sent some guys over that day to bid on it.
They went to the auction equipped with somewhat more faith than money, but not a whole lot of either, really. As the going price for #18 went up they bid more money than they had. The bidding continued, so they dropped out, stopping at the limit of their faith. Eventually the building was sold. Oh well. Nice try anyway. God must have another plan.
Then the man that bought it gave us the building! And we’re still here, 10 years later. God did have another plan – one that teaches us that His resources are always greater than our own.
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Central Reflections 