God With Us - Kid Sermon

Delivered by Pastor PJ at Cross of Glory on November 1, 2009.

Series: Making It Thru (Psalm 23)
Scriptures: Psalm 23:1-4a; Revelation 21:1-6; John 10:10-16

I brought something to show you today. Here it is. (Hold up invisible sword) This is my special sword. It looks kind of like that. (Point to picture of sword) Can you see my special sword? You can’t?!? Well just because you cannot see it does not mean that it is not there. Let me show you.

Here is a banana. This is just a regular ordinary banana. It has never been opened before. (Show banana) I am going to cut this banana into three pieces with my special sword. Do you think I can do it?

Would someone be willing to hold the banana while I cut it? (Pick volunteer) You have to be careful because my special sword is very sharp. Alright, here I go. I’m going to cut the banana into three pieces. (Swing sword and cut) Hiiiyah! Hiiyah! Did it work? Did I cut the banana in three pieces? What, you can’t see the cuts?!? Well, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean its not there. Volunteer, would you open the banana and see if it is cut into three pieces. (Volunteer opens banana to reveal it is cut in three pieces – contact me for secret.)

Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean it is not there. At church we talk a lot about God being with us. We can’t always see that God is with us, can we? Well just because we can’t see God, doesn’t mean God is not there. In our Bible readings for today we heard that God, the One who made everything, is always with us – in the good times and the bad. Even if we can’t see God, we can be sure that God is always with us. God is always with you and always with me.
Let’s pray. Would you repeat after me? Dear God … thank you … for always being with us … even when … we can’t see you … In Jesus’ name we pray … Amen.

For You Are With Me - Adult Sermon (Click to watch)

Delivered by Pastor PJ at Cross of Glory on November 1, 2009.

Series: Making It Thru (Psalm 23)
Scriptures: Psalm 23:1-4a; Revelation 21:1-6; John 10:10-16

(click on title to watch video of sermon)

Last week we talked about names, so I wanted to share with you a funny story I heard about names. True story: A pastor I know has a man in his congregation who is getting a new dog. His family picked out a beautiful German Shepherd. The man decided to name his dog The Lord, so that if anyone asks, “Whose dog is this?” he can reply, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” I thought that was cute!

Over the past several weeks, we have been studying Psalm 23, the famous poem which starts out, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” We have been studying this Psalm verse by verse, piece by piece, in order to see how God helps us make it through the challenges and stresses of life.

One advantage to studying a passage of Scripture piece by piece is that we notice little details that we might not notice with a quick read-through. This is especially true with our verse today. In verse 4 of Psalm 23 a really significant shift happens. It is so subtle that we can almost miss it. But we don’t want to miss it, because it reveals the most important way God helps us make it through.

I am going to read Psalm 23, verses 1-4, one more time. The words are up on the screen. See if you can notice the shift. “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.” Now we move to verse four. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me.”

A significant shift happens in verse 4. Two major things change. One change is a change in conditions. In the first three verses, life is pretty good – the sheep have everything they need, they rest in green meadows, they are led beside peaceful streams on right paths. Things are going really well, wouldn’t you say? But in verse 4 the conditions change. It’s not such smooth sailing anymore. The green meadows and peaceful streams become the darkest valley.

You may have heard this translated the valley of the shadow of death. The poem was originally written in Hebrew, and the word used here is: tsalmaveth. It can mean “shadow of death” but it can also have a broader meaning like “deep shadow” or “deep darkness.” Imagine being in the shadow of a gigantic mountain. Or … imagine being in a haunted house.

This past Thursday, after our Coffeehouse worship service, we took some of our teenagers to a haunted house put on by one of our members. The haunted house was very scary. The location alone was enough to freak you out. It is a big barn in the middle of nowhere surrounded by bare, gangly trees. Spooky! There were lots of creepy characters and startling sounds outside and inside the house. But the scariest parts of the haunted house, by far, were the parts where we had to walk in complete darkness. Several times we found ourselves in pitch black corridors. We couldn’t see anything! We did not know what to expect. We did not know what lay ahead. We did not know where to go or what to do. Did I mention it was scary? I went through the haunted house with four teenage guys who are all around my height – big, tough guys. And we were all clinging for dear life to each others’ sweaters as we inched our way through the deep darkness.

This is the idea behind verse 4. A scary shift is happening in the psalm. There is a change in conditions. Life was good, things were going really well, the pastures were green and sunny, and then, all of a sudden, the sheep find themselves walking through deep darkness. Maybe you have experienced a scary shift like this in your life. Life was good, things were going really well, and then, all of a sudden, you found yourself in deep darkness, not knowing what to expect, what lay ahead, where to go, what to do. Maybe your plans didn’t work out the way you had hoped. Maybe you were given a bad medical report. Maybe you lost your job. Maybe you found yourself way over your head in debt. Maybe you sunk into a spiral of depression. Maybe you realized that you have an addiction. Maybe you learned some troubling news about your child. Maybe you are in a relationship that is struggling. Maybe you are burnt out. Maybe you found out that someone you care about is very sick or that someone you care about passed away. You could each probably add your own scenario. These are scary times and it can feel like we are walking through deep darkness.

Yet, in the midst of this deep darkness, we have really Good News. Another shift in the psalm is taking place – a wonderful shift. If the first major change was a change in conditions, then the second major change is a change in relations.

I am going to put Psalm 23 back up on the screen. Notice how David talks about God in verses 1-3: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.” Here, David is talking ABOUT God – the Lord, he, his. Now notice the language in verse 4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for You are with me.”

Did you notice the change in how David relates to God? In this verse David is no longer talking ABOUT God anymore. Now he is talking TO God. In his deep darkness, David discovers that God is with him. And not just with him, but with him in a close and personal way. The “he” in verses 1-3 gives way to the “You” in verse 4. David announces, “I will fear no evil. For You are with me!”

This is the central Good News of the Bible and the most important way God helps us make it through: God is with us! In Cross of Glory, we procliam this Good News a lot. But if you are a real person with real struggles, you probably have had some serious questions about this Good News. Let’s be honest. The moments when we find ourselves walking in deep darkness are often the moments when we feel like God is NOT with us. In fact, it can feel like God is nowhere to be found. So, what does it MEAN that God is with us? And how do we KNOW that God is with us?

Let’s start with the first question: What does it MEAN that God is with us? One way the bible answers this question is by telling us that God is with us like a shepherd is with their sheep. We’ve talked a lot about this over the past few weeks, but let’s explore it a little further.

Take the analogy of walking through the darkest valley for example. Sheep really have this experience. With the approach of autumn, early snow settles on the highest ridges, forcing the flock to move down to lower (Walk down steps) and lower elevations. By the time the cold weather passes, the pastures in the lowest elevations are bare. The shepherd then leads their flock up to the deep grass of the hillside. This is a long, dangerous journey filled with dark valleys, flooding rivers, rock slides, poisonous plants, ravaging predators, and horrible storms. Not every shepherd took this journey. A hired hand, for instance, was not willing to take this risk for sheep that belonged to someone else. A good shepherd, however, was prepared to make this journey with their sheep. In fact, a good shepherd never took his sheep where he had not gone before. The shepherd always went before the sheep to learn the lay of the land. The shepherd became familiar with the dangers so that he could lead the sheep safely through. Then, the shepherd led the sheep in paths where they would find refreshment and sustenance. In case of danger, the good shepherd would lay down their life to protect the sheep. David himself took on lions and bears to protect his sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-35).

It is no surprise that one name Jesus used for himself was the Good Shepherd. God came to earth in the person of Jesus and experienced everything that we experience. He went before us, so that he could safely guide us through. Jesus took on the worst the world can throw at us, eventually laying down his life for us so that, even in death, he can safely lead us through.

On our journey, God is with us like a good shepherd. God goes before us, lays his life down for us, provides for our needs, and guides us safely through. Another psalmist, who lived centuries after David, experienced this Good News. Her name is Franny Crosby.

Franny was born in 1820. At six weeks old, she caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes. The family physician was not available, and the doctor who came in his place recommended a treatment of mustard paste. Have any of you ever gotten mustard up your nose or in your eyes? Let me tell you, it burns! The botched procedure left Franny blind. Talk about walking in a deep darkness. Then at the age of one, her father died. Fortunately, Franny’s mother and grandmother raised her in a community of faith. In her deep darkness, just like David, Franny discover the Good News that God is with us like a good shepherd. She went on to become one of the most prolific hymn writers of all time, writing over 8,000. 8,000! Some of her beloved hymns are “Blessed Assurance,” and “To God Be the Glory.” We can hear hints from Psalm 23, verse 4, in many of Franny’s hymns.

Here is an excerpt from her hymn Hold Thou My Hand:

“Hold Thou my hand; for then, O loving Savior, No dread of ill shall make my soul afraid. Hold Thou my hand, and closer, closer draw me to Thy dear self—my hope, my joy, my all. Hold Thou my hand; the way is dark before me without the sunlight of Thy face divine; but when by faith I catch its radiant glory, what heights of joy, what rapturous songs are mine! Hold Thou my hand, that when I reach the margin of that lone river Thou didst cross for me, a heavenly light may flash along its waters, and every wave like crystal bright shall be.”

If this is what it means to say God is with us – that God is with us like a good shepherd – then how can we KNOW God is with us? I’d like to share three things that can help us know God is with us.

One way we can know that God is with us is by getting to know the Bible. Several months ago I told you about a friend of mine that had cancer in his throat. Well our friend passed away. At his funeral, one of the Scriptures was Psalm 23. They picked this passage, because our friend carried it around with him in his wallet. It reminded him that God was with him. Before his surgeries, before his treatments, and even before his death, he would tell his family, “I hope you are thinking of Psalm 23 because that’s what I’m thinking of.” While his funeral was filled with lots of tears, it was also filled with lots of joy and hope. His family and friends knew with confidence that the God who was with him in life lead him safely through death and was with him in new life.

We can know God is with us by getting to know the Bible. God promises again and again throughout the Scriptures that God will be with us. At the very beginning of the Bible, God is with the people in the Garden of Eden. When God establishes a covenant relationship with people, God says, “I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people,” (Leviticus 26:12). Our second reading gave us the end of the story. It doesn’t describe a picture like the Left Behind series, where people are sucked away into outer space. Rather, it is a picture of God coming down to live and be with us. And what a day that will be when God finally removes all sorrow, crying, pain, evil, and death forever! God is the beginning and the end. He promises to be with us at the beginning and the end and every day in between. We can know God is with us by getting to know the Bible. There are lots of different Bible studies and small groups at Cross of Glory, as well as resources on our website, that can help us with this.

Another way we can know God is with us is by getting to know other believers. Sometimes others can help us see God’s presence in our lives when we can’t see it ourselves. Our second reading was a vision that God gave to John. God told John to write this vision down and share it with others who were struggling. When we struggle we often have a hard time seeing anything but our fears and problems. It’s helpful to have another pair of faithful eyes to help us recognize how God is with us.

This was true for my cousin Sheree. Sheree is a missionary who serves as a doctor in Honduras. In a day she sees over 100 patients in her clinic and performs countless life-saving procedures. There are still days, however, when the overwhelming needs and fatigue sap her energy and cause her to focus on her failings and failures. She wonders if God is with her. It was during one of these times when Sheree’s friend came to visit. Her friend was able to see what she couldn’t and reminded Sheree of all the miracles God had done, the triumphs she achieved, and the privilege she has of serving such an amazing God. We can know God is with us by getting to know other believers. Becoming a member of Cross of Glory and participating in our programs and events is a great way to get to know other believers.

The third way we can know God is with us might sound like a no-brainer. In addition to getting to know the Bible and getting to know other believers, we can know God is with us by getting to know God. The author of our Psalm knew God in a personal way. In our Gospel Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,” (John 10:14).

This past week was a really crazy, busy week. I hardly got to spend any time with my wife. During weeks like this it can feel like my wife doesn’t exist. For real! I’m sure she feels this way about me some weeks. The same is true with God. When we don’t spend any time with God, it can feel like God doesn’t exist. But, in this case, we are the ones who moved away, not God. The more we get to know God through spending time worshiping, reading the Bible, talking with God, and listening to God, the more we know God is with us.

What ever deep darkness we walk through, God is with us. So I’ll ask the most important question you’ll ever be asked: Do you know God? I really like the way that Dr. S.M. Lockridge asks this question. So we’ll close with a video of his words. (Watch “That’s my King!”)



Let’s pray. God, you know us and are with us like a good shepherd. Help us to know you are with us, especially when we walk in deep darkness. Meet us in our times of worship, Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Help us make it through.

Meaning of Names - Kid Sermon

Delivered by Pastor PJ at Cross of Glory on October 25 & 29, 2009.

Series: Making It Thru (Psalm 23)
Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; John 10:1-9

All of us have a name. But did you know that all of our names have a special meaning? For instance my son’s name is Ayden. Do any of you know what the name Ayden means? (Use candle lighter to make a little fire). The name Ayden means little fire. Let’s do some more boy names. Have you heard the name Matthew? The name Matthew means God’s gift (show picture of a present). Or how about Ethan? Have you heard that name? The name Ethan means strong. Can you show me your big, strong muscles?

Since we did boy names, we should probably be fair and do girl names too. Have you heard the name Sarah? The name Sarah means princess (show picture of princess). Or how about Jessica? Have you heard that name? The name Jessica means rich (hold up money).

In our Bible reading for today we heard that God’s son is named Jesus. Do you know what the name Jesus means? The name Jesus means God saves or God helps. Jesus’ name lets us know that God will help us if we ever need help. Is there anything you need help with?

If we ever need help, we can always ask for help by praying to God. Let’s do that right now. Would you repeat after me? Dear God … Thank you for Jesus … and thank you for helping us … We ask for your help … today … In Jesus name we pray … Amen.

For His Name's Sake - Adult Sermon (Click to watch)

Delivered by Pastor PJ at Cross of Glory on October 25 & 29, 2009.

Series: Making It Thru (Psalm 23)
Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; John 10:1-9

(click on title to watch video of sermon)

Last week my wife and I were watching the news together. The meteorologist came on to report how our weather was going to get really cold. And the meteorologist’s name? It was Amy Freeze. I thought, “Really? The weather woman’s name is Amy Freeze, and she’s telling us how cold its going to get? Really?” I could not get over how closely her name coincided with what she was doing.

This made me wonder if other people have names that coincide with what they do. I discovered that there are – lots! In fact, there is even a word for this occurrence. The word is aptronym. An aptronym is a name that is especially suited to the profession of its owner. The picture on the screen is a perfect example of an aptronym. This is a Jamaican sprinter and three-time Olympic gold medalist named Usain Bolt. Other notable, high profile aptronyms belong to world champion surfer Layne Beachley, education secretary Margaret Spellings, and former NASCAR driver Lake Speed.

Today our sermon series brings us to the greatest example of aptronyms that there is. Our sermon series is called Making It Thru. We have been studying Psalm 23 verse by verse, piece by piece, in order to discover how God helps us make it through the challenges and stresses of life. In the first three verses we have already discovered a lot about how God helps us make it through by providing us with guidance, comfort, restoration, and rest to name a few. If you’ve missed any of these, you can find them on our sermon blog and sermon podcast. Our verse for today explains why God does all this for us. We are told that God does all this – the guiding, comforting, restoring, refreshing – God does all this: “for his name’s sake.” Apparently what God does is connected with God’s name.

We sometimes use different names and titles for God when we pray, like “Merciful God” or “Gracious God.” Well throughout the Bible we find many different names and titles for God. When we explore the various names and titles for God in the Bible, it is incredible how closely God’s name coincides with what God is doing. God’s actions are true to God’s name. It is the greatest example of aptronyms there is!

Today we are going to explore some of the different names and titles of God that we find in the Scriptures. If you look at the last page of your program you will find an outline that you can fill in as we go along. There are more names and titles than we could ever cover in one sermon, so we will focus on fifteen names – five from the Old Testament and ten from the New Testament. This is not merely an academic exercise. By learning and reflecting upon the names and title of God we learn how God helps us make it through. God’s name closely coincides with what God is doing in our lives and world. God’s actions are true to God’s name.

Are you ready? Do you have your outline and a pen? Ok. Here we go. Let’s start with the Old Testament. In the Old Testament we often find compound names for God. The first part of the name is Jehovah, which is the Hebrew word for Lord. The second part of the name is a descriptive word or an action word. For instance, one compound name for God in the Old Testament is a name we have heard a lot over the past few weeks: Jehovah Ra-ah. You might be more familiar with the English translation: “The Lord is my Shepherd,” (Psalm 23:1) In our first slot you can write in Jehovah Ra-ah, and in the space beneath it write, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

Another name for God in the Old Testament is Jehovah Jireh, which means “The Lord will provide.” From the very beginning of God’s relationship with people, God has tried to convey the Good News that God is our provider. And from the very beginning people have had a hard time trusting God to provide. There are moments, however, when we get it. This verse from Genesis is one such moment. Abraham had many experiences of God’s provision. God first called Abraham to leave his home, his security, everything he knew, and travel to a land God would show him. Abraham followed and God came through, providing for him every step of the way. God told Abraham and his wife Sarah that God would provide a child for them. They were very old and couldn’t see how that was possible, but God came through and provided a son for them. Then God told Abraham to take his son Isaac and make a sacrifice to God on the mountain. Abraham thought that he would have to kill his son as the sacrifice. Many people back then believed that God was angry and required human sacrifices to be appeased. But once again, God came through. God provided a ram for the sacrifice. At that moment, Abraham was so overcome with joy that he named the place Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord will provide (Gen 22:14)!

The next name on our list is Jehovah Rophe, which means “The Lord heals.” The story from which this name comes gives us a beautiful picture of God’s healing work in our lives. God had just freed the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. Finally they found water, but the water was bitter and undrinkable. Moses, their leader, cried out to God for help. God showed Moses a piece of wood. When Moses through the wood in the water, the water became sweet and drinkable. God then proclaims to the people, “Jehovah Rophe. I am the Lord, who heals you,” (Ex 15:26). What a neat picture of God’s healing. God can take a situation and turn it around. God can bring something sweet from something bitter. God can bring something good from something bad. That’s what the Lord our healer can do!

Fourth on our list is Jehovah Nissi, which means “The Lord is our banner.” This is a military image, but we might be able to relate to it with an image from a parade. In a parade each organization or group will have a banner. Supporters will rally behind the banner and follow. The people of Israel found in God someone they wanted to rally behind. With God they were able to overcome their obstacles and gain victory over their enemies. So they said, “Jehovah Nissi. The Lord is my banner. We rally behind the Lord and follow God,” (Ex 17:15).

The last name we’ll look at from the New Testament is Jehovah Shalom, which means “The Lord is Peace.” Gideon was the one who used this name for God, and it was spoken at a time that was anything but peaceful. Armies invaded the land where the people of Israel were living. The armies ruined their crops and killed their livestock. Gideon had some great questions for God. He said, “If you are with us, then why did this happen to us? Where are all the wonders that our fathers told us about?” In other words, “God why aren’t you doing anything?” God replies, “I am doing something. I am sending you to establish peace in the land.” Gideon responds like everyone responds when God calls. He says, “Who me? My clan is the weakest and I am the least in my family.” God, however, was able to ease Gideon’s doubts about himself and his fears about the future. Gideon experienced such a profound peace with God that he built an altar and called it, “Jehovah Shalom. The Lord is Peace,” (Judges 6:24). With God’s help, Gideon went on to establish peace in his land and for his people.

Let’s stop for a moment to reflect on these remarkable aptronyms. Remember God’s name closely coincides with what God is doing in our lives and world. So when we feel lost and in need of direction, we can look to Jehovah Ra-ah, our Shepherd. When we are worried about not having enough to pay the bills or to finish the job or to be there for those who need us, we can rely on the One who always comes through: Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. When we find ourselves in a bitter situation or find that we ourselves are bitter, we can turn to Jehovah Rophe, our Healer – the one who can bring sweet from bitterness, good from bad. When we are facing obstacles or challenges that seem insurmountable, we can rally behind Jehovah Nissi, our Banner, our Victory. When we are lacking peace in our minds, in our families, in our workplaces, in our country, or in our world, we can seek help from Jehovah Shalom, our Peace. God does all this for us “for his name’s sake.” Can I get an “Amen?” Alright, and we’re just getting started!

In the New Testament, we are introduced to Jesus. Jesus, as we heard in our second reading, has the name above all names. It is the name above all names because it reveals the Good News that God saves, that God helps us. On your outline next to Jesus, you can write “God saves” or “God helps.” But we find lots of other names and titles given for Jesus in the New Testament. Many of them are found in the Gospel of John. John’s Gospel is well known for the “I am” statements. Remember how in the Old Testament there was a pattern for God’s name: it started with Jehovah (or Lord) and then continued with a descriptive or action word? The same thing happens here. In John’s Gospel Jesus describes himself by saying “I am,” and then adding a descriptive or action word. I went through the Gospel of John and picked out every instance where Jesus uses an “I am” statement. The Scripture references are on your outline. Again, it is incredible how closely God’s name coincides with what God is doing.

The first “I am” statement appears in chapter 4. Jesus is talking with a woman who is gathering water during the hottest hour of the day so she would not run into anyone else. We don’t know why, but we discover that she has had five husbands and the person she is living with is not her husband. So perhaps she wanted to avoid the looks of disapproval or the feelings of embarrassment and shame. But she bumps into Jesus and they start talking about spiritual things. She says to Jesus, “I know the Messiah is coming.” The Messiah was someone the Jews believed God would send to set them free from their trouble and bring back together the broken pieces of their lives. Jesus looks the woman in the eyes and says, “I am the Messiah,” (4:25-26).

In chapter 6 we find the next “I am statement.” Jesus has just fed the 5,000 with bread and fish, and from that point on crowds follow him looking for more food. Jesus says to them, “The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world … I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst,” (6:33, 35).

The next “I am” statement is found in chapter 8. A woman is caught in adultery. The religious leaders drag her out in public and bring her before Jesus to be stoned. Jesus says, “All right, stone her. But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!” Slowly her accusers begin to walk away. When no one is left to condemn her, Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” Then Jesus turns to the people in the crowd and says, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life,” (8:12).

This brings us to our Gospel reading for today, in which Jesus says, “I am the gate for the sheep.” Gates were not so much to keep sheep in as they were to keep other things out, like predators, thieves, and robbers. Gates made the pen a safe place for sheep. In some cases, shepherds would act as the gate for their sheep by lying across the opening of the pen. The temple in Jesus’ day was not a safe place for all people. If you were poor or ill, the temple was not a very welcoming place. One da, in the temple, Jesus healed a man who was born blind. The religious leaders made a big stink about it. Jesus responded by saying, “I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep. All others who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures,” (10:7-9).

Not long after that, Jesus said, “I am the Son of God,” (10:36). People in his day had a hard time understanding how Jesus could be both human and divine, but Jesus needed to be both in order to be our Savior. He needed to be fully human so that he could fully understand what we are going through. And he needed to be divine so that he had the power to save us and help us make it through.

The next two “I am” statements are “I am the Good Shepherd” and “I am the resurrection and the life.” We are going to discuss these in more detail next week when we talk about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. But they speak of Jesus’ power over sin and death and the hope we have for this life and the next.

The final two “I am” statements were given to Jesus’ closest disciples shortly after he explained that he would soon die and go to the Father. His disciples wanted to know how they could make it to the Father and how they could make it through life. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me,” (14:6). He follows this up with an analogy about vines and branches. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing,” (15:5). He explains, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love … I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you … You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name,” (15:9, 12, 16).

What wonderful aptronyms! Each of these names and titles closely coincides with what God is doing in our lives and world. When our lives are broken, when spirits are broken, when our families are broken, when our self-esteem is broken, when our bank account is broken, we can look to Jesus, our Messiah to set us free and put the broken pieces back together. When we feel that God-shaped hole in our lives and are hungry for more, we can turn to Jesus, our bread of life. When we are stumbling because of harmful behaviors and patterns, we can look to Jesus, our Light. When we need a safe place or a place where we can belong, we can rely on Jesus, our Gate. When we are facing our own death or the death of a loved one, we can trust in the Son of God, our Resurrection. And every single day we can stay connected to Jesus, Our Vine, our Way, Truth, and Life. God does all this for us “for his name’s sake.” Can I get another “Amen?”

These aptronyms are incredible, but there is something cooler than knowing the names of God. It is knowing that God – the one with the name above names – this God knows your name and mine! In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that the Shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out (John 10:3). Jesus is calling us by name (say some names), saying I want to be your Shepherd, Provider, Healer, Victory, Peace. (Say more names) I want to be your Messiah, Bread of Life, Light of the world, Gate, Resurrection, Vine, Way, Truth, and Life!

I am going to close by singing a snippet of a song from Tommy Walker. As I sing, I invite you to hear God’s voice calling your name. (Sing “He Knows My Name.”)

God is calling your name. Sheep hear the voice of their shepherd and follow. If you’d like to follow God, pray this prayer along with me: “God … you have the name above all names … I trust you … to be true to your name. I follow you … with my heart … my soul … my mind … and my strength … In Jesus name I pray … Amen.”

He Guides Me in Right Paths - Adult Sermon (Click to watch)

Delivered by Dan Murtaugh (member of the Preaching & Assisting Team) at Cross of Glory on October 18 & 22, 2009.

Series: Making It Thru (Psalm 23)

(click title to watch video of sermon)