Hope requires three things: a goal, a path to reach that goal, and the belief that we can. When we see the things that are wrong with our lives and our world, we will respond with hope if we learn to ask the question "what then should we do?" None of us can make the needed changes alone, but the operative pronoun is "we." And when we ask the question, Jesus will answer. 
Photo by Evan Dennis on Unsplash

The Hope of Doing

Join us the next 7 weeks as we explore life lessons that can be found in the stories of murder in the Bible. Week 3, we are diving into the story of John the Baptist.

01-26-25 Only Murders in the Bible (Steve Higgs, Minister)

After a bit of catching up, I delve into Mark 1: The beginning of Jesus's ministry. Spirits abound in this chapter of all kinds, Holy Spirit, evil spirits, angels, Satan, etc. What's it all about?

347: Spirits Of Mark 1

             This week, the religious leaders question Jesus as to whose authority He was operating under as He cleared out the temple and taught the things that He taught. Jesus responded to their questions with a question of His own and His question to them exposed their lack of faith in Him as Messiah, and their lack of belief in the One True Living God, Yahweh.  They were paralyzed by his questions because it forced them to reveal their true unbelief in God’s Word. 

SWAT Bible Study  3/19/25  Mark 11:27-33  A Question Of Authority

Are you making your life story about yourself, or are you pointing others to Jesus? In this sermon, Jer explores John 1:19-28, where John the Baptist is questioned about his identity by religious leaders. Despite the crowd’s attention and speculation that he might be the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet, John repeatedly deflects, insisting he is simply a witness pointing to Jesus—the true source of light and life. The message challenges believers not to become the center of their own narratives, but to live in humility, using every opportunity to make Jesus known through their words and actions. By following John’s example of selflessness and service, the church is called to elevate Christ above all, supporting and growing together as a community focused on proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah and hope of the world.

John 1:19-28 || The Backstory of John

Jer begins by celebrating new church members, encouraging all believers to use their gifts to bless the church, drawing from Matthew 28’s call to make disciples. The message dives into John the Baptist’s role as one who always points to Jesus, emphasizing that true purpose and affirmation come from God, not people. Through John 1:29-34, the sermon explores how John’s purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus through baptism, calling people to repentance, and recognizing who we are, what we deserve, and the “grace upon grace” given by Christ. Jer warns against isolating oneself from Christian community and stresses the importance of active participation in church life, both for personal spiritual health and for building up others. Ultimately, the sermon concludes with the proclamation that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, encouraging believers to find their identity and hope in Him, live faithfully, and worship together as they walk in this purpose.

John 1:29-34 || Behold the Lamb of God

In his sermon, Ryan, one of the church elders, focuses on the significance of baptism in the Christian faith. He pauses the ongoing study of John’s Gospel to address the meaning, importance, and historical context of baptism, emphasizing that it is not about the individual but about Jesus—symbolizing our union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. Ryan explains three types of baptism: proselyte baptism (for Gentiles converting to Judaism), John the Baptist's baptism (a call to repentance), and Christian baptism (instituted by Jesus). He clarifies that the church practices believer’s baptism—reserved for those who profess faith in Christ—and traces its roots in the Anabaptist movement through church history. Unlike infant baptism, the church offers baby dedications, underscoring the communal responsibility to nurture children in faith. Ultimately, Ryan urges believers who have not been baptized to consider this act of obedience as a profound public declaration of what Christ has already accomplished inwardly, pointing unambiguously to the glory of Jesus.

John || Baptism

John 1:35-42 || Follow the Leader

John 1:43-51 || Come and See

Did you know that John the Baptist saw his life’s purpose fulfilled not by gaining followers, but by pointing everyone to Jesus and saying, “He must increase, but I must decrease”? In this sermon, Ryan, one of the elders at Shore Church, walks through John 3:22-36, reminding us that John’s deep joy and mission was not self-promotion, but magnifying Christ. The passage underscores that Christ is above all—He is not just a great teacher or prophet, but God Himself, sent by the Father, and the only source of eternal life. The sermon explores the idea that belief in Jesus as the Son of God is the key to receiving eternal life, while rejection leaves us under God’s wrath. Ryan encourages us to reflect on our response to Jesus, to marvel at God’s sovereignty in salvation, and to let these gospel truths shape our lives and witness.

John 3:22-36 || Receive and Believe

We're a growing family journeying together to be more like Jesus.  You can check out our weekly messages here!

Welcome to the sermon feed for Abiding Peace Lutheran Church: Journey of Faith. We would love to have you with us for worship, but if you can't join us on Sunday mornings, we hope these messages bring the challenge and grace of the gospel to your life.

This podcast is recorded in my car as I drive to work. I do it this way so that I can work through ideas organically without the luxury of a Bible or any other books to fall back on. This way I know how I sound when I talk on these subjects and I can listen back to what I said and see the path and progression of my own theology and understanding of Jesus. I do not edit so as to keep discussions as raw and real as possible, although I do pause from time to time, like when I recently spilled my coffee or when I get a call.

New tracks tagged #johnthebaptist