Wednesday Night Gathering

A Study in the Book of Acts

Pastor Dave Ashburn

💡 A Living Parable: Spiritual Sight and Blindness (John 9)

CLICK HERE for Graphic Outline

Join us as we dive into John chapter 9, exploring the dramatic story of Jesus healing the man born blind, which the sermon frames as a "living parable". This passage beautifully illustrates profound spiritual realities, God's sovereign grace, and the stark contrast between true spiritual sight and wilful blindness.

• Inconvenient Compassion: Discover how Jesus, amidst hostility and danger (they had just picked up stones to throw at him), went out of his way to show compassion to the blind man. Compassion often requires self-sacrifice and is rarely convenient.

  
  

• Providence in Brokenness to Display Glory: Jesus explains that the man's blindness was not a result of his own sin or his parents' sin, but rather so "that the works of God might be displayed in him". The brokenness in our lives can become a showpiece for God's grace and healing work, like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken ceramics are mended with gold to highlight—not hide—the cracks.

  
  

• Salvation Imaged: The healing process—Jesus making mud with spit, anointing the man's eyes, and sending him to wash in the Pool of Siloam ("which means sent") —is a powerful image of salvation. It reveals both sovereign grace (Jesus pursuing the man who didn't ask) and human responsibility (the man's obedience/belief to wash).

  
  

• Grace on Trial: See the tragic and unbelievable response of the neighbors and the Pharisees who, instead of celebrating a great miracle, put grace on trial by focusing on religious standards and questioning if Jesus broke the Sabbath.

  
  

• The Power of Fear: The parents' fear of being "put out of the synagogue" (ostracized from the community) led them to deflect and refuse to confess Jesus as the Christ. We are challenged to consider what fears keep us from unrestrained obedience.

  
  

• He Who Believes Truly Sees: After being cast out by the religious leaders, Jesus "found him" and revealed his identity: "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you". The man's response—"Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him" —is the final validation of true spiritual sight.

  
  

Scripture Reference: John 9:1-41

This sermon was given on Nov 2, 2025

🔔 Subscribe for more messages on the Gospel of John and other powerful teaching!

Wednesday Night Gathering

A Study in the Book of Acts

Pastor Jeff Scott

Persecution, Hell, & The Gospel: Unpacking the Tension in John 8

Sermon Graphical OutlineDive into a powerful message that examines the intense drama of John chapter 8, where Jesus confronts his enemies with the radical truth of his identity and the eternal stakes of belief. This sermon explores the downward spiral of rejection Jesus faced and connects it directly to the reality of persecution for Christians today.In this message, we cover:The Downward Spiral of Rejection : Witness how Jesus' opponents moved from theological debate to name-calling—labeling him a Samaritan (a "half-breed apostate") and accusing him of having a demon. This highlights a strategy to diminish influence when argument fails.Matters of Life and Death: The Reality of Hell : Jesus' willingness to endure abuse is rooted in the high stakes of his message: deliverance from eternal death. We explore the biblical teaching on hell, including Jesus' descriptions of it as unquenchable fire and outer darkness. We break down the three specific consequences of hell: punishment, destruction, and banishment.Grace in the Face of Blasphemy : Despite the intense hostility and blasphemy he received, Jesus extended an invitation to life. The message stresses that the world's enemies and persecutors are the mission field , and Christians are called to demonstrate grace, even to those who hurt them.The Power of Christ's Word : What does it mean to "keep my word" and "never see death"? We clarify that the first command of Christ is belief (faith alone - sole fide) , which then expresses itself in good works.The Climax: "Before Abraham Was, I Am" : The sermon builds to Jesus' climactic declaration of his pre-existence and deity, connecting his presence on the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) to Abraham's prophecy that "The Lord will provide".The Light is Chased Away : The message concludes with the tragic, yet temporary, rejection of Christ—the glory of God being chased from the temple —and the triumphant promise that he is undeterred, returning to Jerusalem as the Lamb of God to secure life for all who believe.Scripture Reference: John 8:48-59

Key Theme: Jesus' identity as God, the reality of eternal death, and the mission of extending grace to those who persecute.If you are struggling with the reality of persecution or wrestling with the eternal consequences of life and death, this message offers clear, biblical truth and powerful encouragement.#Sermon #John8 #Persecution #Hell #TheGospel #ChristianLife #JesusIsGod #BibleTeaching

True Disciples: Love, Live, and Remain in the Word (John 8:31-47)

What is the mark of a true disciple? In this deep dive into John chapter 8, we explore Jesus's challenging words to those who had believed in him: "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples" (John 8:31).

This sermon emphasizes the "big idea": True disciples love, live, and remain in the Word. We look at how salvation is by grace through faith alone, but this saving faith is validated and proven out by a life where the Word of God is resident—a communion that follows union with Christ .

Discover the profound and practical implications of abiding in the Word:

• The Superiority of God's Word: The Psalmist finds a glory in the Word of God that even surpasses the majesty of creation . The Word is described as perfect, reviving the soul; sure, making wise the simple; and pure, enlightening the eyes.

  
  

• Freedom vs. Slavery: Jesus teaches that sin brings slavery, but the words of Christ bring true freedom—a freedom that transcends political or national liberation, setting us free from eternal death and sin.

  
  

• The Litmus Test of the Word: The Word of God is the ultimate test of belonging. Jesus makes it clear that if his Word finds no place in you, you are not of him, regardless of your religious credentials or heritage. We discuss how fruitlessness is not spiritual immaturity, but an indication of no spiritual life at all.

  
  

• Loving the Word Applied: We explore the difference between those who intellectually like the Bible and those who are broken by the Word when it is applied to their sin, like anger, lust, or love of money.

  
  

Ultimately, what you do with the words of Christ shows you to whom you belong. Let the Word of God not just be information, but the very vehicle that shapes your communion with God.

Scripture References: John 8:31-47; Psalm 19; Matthew 13 (Parable of the Sower); Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 2; 1 John 4:20

Keywords: True Discipleship, Abide in the Word, John 8, Salvation, Grace Through Faith, Assurance of Salvation, The Word of God, Freedom in Christ, Slavery to Sin, Psalm 19, Christian Life, Fruit of the Spirit, Nathan Smith.

Wednesday Night Gathering

Series: Acts

Teacher: Pastor Mike Crump

Our Brokenness. God's Grace. | Colossians 3:1-4

In this message, we dive into Colossians 3:1-4 to explore the profound truths of our identity in Christ and how that fuels our daily lives.

We start by acknowledging the universal reality of our brokenness and the expectation that God's grace provides healing and wholeness. This wholeness is a process called sanctification—God's work of making us more like Jesus.

The question then becomes: Is this process passive or active? We define discipleship as our intentional participation in God's work of sanctification in our lives and the lives of others.

Key Takeaways:

• Our Knowing Fuels Our Doing: Our obedience flows best from a deep understanding of who Christ is, what He's done, and who we are as a result. The sermon overviews Colossians 1 and 2, highlighting Christ's preeminence and definitive victory on the cross—He is the image of the invisible God, and in Him, all things hold together.

  
  

• A New Life, A New Focus: Since we have been raised with Christ, we are instructed to seek the things that are above and set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth. This requires sacrificing what comes naturally, acknowledging that we have died with Christ, and our life is now hidden with Him in God.

  
  

• The Power of Hope: Our hope rests in the future—when Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. This ultimate hope should be the driving force of our obedience and motivate us to live a life fully devoted to Jesus.

  
  

• Putting Sin to Death: We are called to actively put sin to death, treating it with a severity that eradicates it before it overwhelms us. Conversely, we are to intentionally put on certain virtues like kindness, humility, forgiveness, and love, which bind the body of Christ together in unity.

  
  

Are you intentionally participating in what God is doing to make you more like Jesus?

Scripture references discussed:

• Colossians 3:1-4 (main text)

• Psalm 51:17

• Psalm 147:3

• Psalm 34:18

• 1 John 3:2

• 2 Corinthians 3:14-18

• Romans 12:1-2

• Romans 5:1

• Romans 5:8

• Colossians 1:9

• Colossians 1:15-20

• Colossians 2:13-15

• Galatians 2:20

• Psalm 3:3

#Brokenness #GodsGrace #Sanctification #Discipleship #Colossians #NewLifeInChrist #ChristianLiving #IntentionalFaith

The Light of the World and True Freedom

Sermon Outline: https://jesus-light-freedom-s3gu6dd.gamma.site/

In this powerful message, "Jesus is Light & Freedom", we dive into the life-changing claims of Jesus Christ in John 8:12-32. This sermon starts with the dramatic account of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery and moves into His revolutionary declaration: "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life".

Pastor Nathan first considers whether John 1-11 are actually part of the scriptures and how we can discuss the subject without losing faith in the Word of God.

Are you walking in spiritual darkness or bound by sin? Discover the kind of true freedom that only Jesus offers—a freedom from sin and death that is eternal and transcends all earthly, political, and circumstantial bondage. Jesus is more concerned with setting your soul free than with your external circumstances. This is the Light of Life that guides us to be holy, righteous, and to enjoy the very presence of God.

Key Takeaways:

• What it means to follow Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12).
• Understanding the eternal and transcendent nature of freedom in Christ.
• The difference between biological and spiritual heirs of Abraham (Discipleship).
• The life-or-death choice: believe in Jesus and live, or die in your sin (John 8:24).

🔥 CALL TO ACTIONIf you have not yet confessed Christ, stop playing the Christian game and cry out to Him in prayer today. Believe, and Jesus pays your debt of sin on the cross.

📖 READ ALONGJohn 8:12-32