Gospel for life with Nathaniel Timmermann

You can live in the light. You can live in the truth.

Even the Bible does not always seem to tell the truth or the facts. Did Jesus tell the truth? There is a lot that we need to investigate and search out. But there is a depth to the truth that we cannot imagine. Darkness fell on Jesus so we can always have the light of truth. John 8:12-20

Questions give clarity to avoid a crisis

Life is filled with tough questions and difficult, dangerous situations. God provided a tabernacle for the people to provide security and safety for their difficult journey. Jesus is the true tabernacle for safety and security on our trip. Ask the tough questions and find that every path in life leads to him. John 7:1-52

Stop, sin.

Jesus meets a man paralyzed for 38 years. He doesn't just heal him. He stops sin in its tracks. Will we? If he has stopped sin, will run the other way and keep away from sin? John 5:1-15

We might not feel good. He will fill us with good.

I marvel that the woman talked to Jesus about so many problems in her life and still went away saying, Come and see. That's not how we tend to feel. Jesus might not always make us feel good. But he will give us something different than we can get anywhere else. The gospel will fill us up, even if we don't always like the fact that we need it. John 4:1-26

Not just a better you, a different you

Religious people often have the impression and give the impression that God wants better people. It's true Jesus teaches basic principles and truths to live better lives. That isn't the main thing. Chiefly, Jesus wants us to have a new life. A different life. John 3:1-17

Only Jesus gathers people to God

The temple was established by God as a way to get near God. Jesus came in and rejected the conveniences it offered in an attempt to help people get God's gifts. None of it could get people close to the holy, consuming God. What are we relying on to get us close to God? Do we have anything better to keep us in the presence of the holy, good God? Jesus offers a better temple in John 2:13-22.

Come to the party. Enjoy the party. Be part of the party.

This new world that Jesus gives us is not only or primarily a world of rules, codes of conduct, regulations, and ways to live a better life. It is first and foremost a world of grace, where God in Jesus pours out his good gifts to us to cover over our embarrassment, shame, and disgrace. We see that wonderfully at Cana in a wedding. John 2:1-11

Live in the light. Reflect the light.

God gives us a new world in Jesus - a world of connection (love), creation, reconciliation, justice, and forgiveness. Jesus reveals God's light to lead us into this new world. He directs us to hope, peace, a future, and forgiveness. That is where we live, and that is what we reflect. 
Isaiah 8:14-9:4

I want God’s world

Big businesses want to offer us a very specific world. A world driven by consumption and dopamine hits from trivial pursuits. The devil wants to offer us a world of self-gratification. God offers us a world defined by connection, reconciliation, truth, justification, and forgiveness. John 1:35-42

Love has come down

There is really only one gift of true love for this world - Jesus. If you feel the pressure to love everyone around you well enough that they can finally enjoy life again, let his love be the love of their (and your!) life.

Merry Christmas

1 John 4:2-12