AnotherJohn.Com

  Acts 19:1-10 Cessation is a Christian doctrine. It says the spiritual gifts of the apostles ceased after their work. That is, prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues did not continue after the apostolic age. People wonder why we don't often see the miracles and signs today that we read about in Acts. One answer is cessation. Now, if you believe the gifts are still available to the church today, you lean more toward continuationism. The gifts continue. In Wesleyan terms, cessation and continuationism are doctrines of a "less essential nature." They're not anything we should let our disagreements divide us over. In today's text from Acts 19, we might see a way we can harmonize both ideas, albeit incompletely. Paul came across a group of disciples. Someone had baptized them "into John's baptism." In other words, someone told them about the need to repent and recognize God's redemptive act in Jesus. Great! But Paul asked about the Holy Spirit, an...

  Acts 10:44-48 Some time ago, I did some research and registered on an academic website. I was looking for resources on John Fletcher, the early Methodist leader. That search and registration put my name into a system. Since then, I've gotten emails, almost daily, asking if I'm "the John Fletcher that wrote...." Apparently, there are some pretty smart and gifted John Fletchers out there. Each time I see the email subject line, I think to myself, "No, I'm not that John Fletcher. I'm just me." Did anyone with Peter have that kind of thought about themselves? Peter said things like, "God shows no partiality," and "that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:34; 43). I imagine someone thinking, "yea, but not me. He's talking about other people." But Peter had learned the lesson himself. The forgiveness of sins and abundance of life God promises is for all people. Even people...

  Luke 4:38-44 The incarnation of Jesus only means as much to us as we're willing to share it. That is, if everything we celebrate at Christmas is true, that God came to us in the form of a child, that reality must become a part of our shared experience. We share the experience of  God with us  in worship, of course. But we're also called to share that experience beyond our sanctuaries and holy meeting places. When many of us Christians talk about sharing, our first thoughts go to sharing a message. Something we know about who Jesus is and what he did. Now, yes, we have a message. Jesus is Lord is a powerful affirmation. Plus, how can anyone believe in Jesus without hearing of him (Romans 10:14)? But the incarnation was more than a message, wasn't it? It was the beauty of seeing God's grace and truth with our own eyes. You and I weren't there to see and hear Jesus tell stories or perform miracles--I would've loved to see the reactions when he flipped tables. Sti...

  Jeremiah 36:1-10 A.W. Tozer noted, "What is needed desperately today is prophetic insight. Scholars can interpret the past; it takes prophets to interpret the present." Reflect more on that quote and you can discern what prophecy is. It's not fortune telling. Instead, it's understanding and seeing how what's happening today may impact us later. Not everyone can see that, mind you. Most of us are comfortable with what is. Maybe that's why there's always a tense relationship with our prophets. Stephen spoke prophetically and his hearers killed him. He asked, "which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute" (Acts 7:52)? Jesus said something similar (Matthew 23:30). Ask Elijah the prophet about this reality (1 Kings 19:10). Even Bob Marley wondered, "How long shall they kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look?" The forces of power and authority don't want to hear from God. That is, of course, unless God speaks to thei...

 Watch on YouTube Stay blessed...john Day 1: Satan Binds, But the Spirit Releases Scripture Reading:  Luke 4:1-14 Devotional:  The essential theme of today's reading is the freedom that comes from God's Spirit. As we examine Luke 4, notice that Jesus enters the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit and emerges empowered by the Spirit. Jesus, though tempted by Satan, does not succumb to the binding that Satan attempts. Instead, Jesus embodies the release brought by God's Spirit. As believers, we are also called to live beyond the bonds that the world or our own limitations try to impose on us. Reflection Questions: What sorts of "wilderness" experiences have you faced, and how can they be opportunities for spiritual empowerment? In what ways do you feel bound by your circumstances, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to release you? Additional Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 3:17 John 8:36 Day 2: Faith Without Chains Scrip...

  Isaiah 61:1-7 As a pastor, I'm guided by Ephesians 4. The reminder there is that the Holy Spirit has equipped the church. Among all God's saints, some carry the designation as apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher or pastor. Whatever the title, the work is the same. To "equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." So, if you've ever wondered to yourself (or to someone else) why I did what I did, I guarantee you I thought it was a good way to equip you. And what is the work of ministry? What does it mean to build up the body of Christ? Most of us can't help but think of getting more people to show up Sunday morning. While there is nothing wrong with that desire, let me point you to more ancient signs of ministry and growth. In Luke 4, Jesus officially begins his ministry by reciting a passage from Isaiah. The portion he shares in the synagogue that day is powerful enough. He declares God's Spirit has prepared him to brin...

  Luke 5:33-39 I was in a meeting with several other pastors. One of them began talking about someone they once knew from their church. What was impactful was that the pastor hadn't mentioned the congregant's name. And I had forgotten we both served the same church. As it turned out, who the pastor was speaking of is who came to my mind as the pastor's story unfolded. With great joy I remembered the person they were talking about. I could affirm everything said about that beloved saint. So much so, I've included a story about them in a sermon before. That saint is no longer with us. But their witness is. Who knows what people will choose to recall about us, either before we die or after. Hopefully, though, we'll have shown everyone enough of the love of God that it'd be impossible not to mention our faith in Jesus and his love. Disciples have reputations, after all. They always have. In the 18th century, calling someone  Methodist  implied they were too enthusia...

  1 Corinthians 1:3-9 The preacher stood before the congregation and said, "There's good news and bad news. The good news is we have all the money we need to meet our budget. The bad news is it's still in your pockets." That's an old preacher joke. I'm not sure I've ever told it before. But what if I told you your church already has everything it needs to be faithful and fruitful? Would you believe me? Could you believe me? No joking! Your church has what it needs. Of course, I'm not talking about money. We put ourselves into these financially tight situations. I'm not sure God will always get us out so easily. Besides, for most churches, more money won't solve our issues. It's a mere band aid. But what we do have is what God promised. The Holy Spirit. And the Spirit continues to steer our hearts and minds toward a more Christ-like focus. There's a line in the opening of 1 Corinthians that caught my attention today. Paul says to the Cor...

I couldn't help but think of the old Cheers theme song as I prepared for this message. We still don't have a spot like that. We have places we like to go, but I still can't ask the waiter for "my ush."  Watch on YouTube Stay blessed...john Day 1: Finding Your "Spot" with Jesus Reflection: Pastor John talks about always wanting a "spot"—a familiar place of community and comfort. Reflect on how Jesus can be that "spot" in your life, a place of safety and joy amidst the uncertainties. Scripture Readings: Psalm 91:1-2 Matthew 11:28-30 Questions for Reflection: What are your "spots" of comfort in your daily life? How can you invite Jesus into those spaces? How does your relationship with Jesus provide a sense of belonging and community? What practices can you incorporate to make your time with Jesus a familiar and cherished "spot"? Day 2: Jesus Among Us Reflection: Jesus participated in the community...

  Romans 12:9-21 So much about our faith in God and discipleship comes down to choice. First, and foremost, of course, we understand that God has acted. The Lord is Creator of all. In Christ, God has redeemed us and the Holy Spirit sustains us. Everything begins and ends with the Alpha and Omega. Even still, we choose to believe that. We choose to accept the reality of those truths. As we choose to live in imitation of Christ, we make other choices every day. Choices about what kind of follower we're going to be. What priorities we will pursue. And how we will live out our love for God. Yes, there are commandments. God expects obedience. But there is always choice. Remember Joshua's famous line: Choose you this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). Romans 12 outlines this faith choice. It opens with a reminder of God's mercy and a call to respond to who we know God is. If we do, there is a transformation that can take place in our minds. And the Holy Spirit guides us to l...

  Jeremiah 3:19-25 Here's how The Message translates Jeremiah 3:23: "All that popular religion was a cheap lie, duped crowds buying up the latest in gods." People often criticize translations like The Message Bible. I suppose paraphrasing scripture doesn't sit well for some. But I appreciate the attempt to connect our modern understandings to ancient hearts and struggles. What we discover is that we're not all that different. People are people and people will be people. The NRSV translates the same verse like this: "Truly the hills are a delusion." And the NKJV says, "Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills." Would you have picked up on the idea of popular religion from those readings? Without further study, I wouldn't have. So, what is the point of the text? The people, seemingly, recognized they had turned from God's way. They understood what God wanted from them and even for them. But they sought another way of being. It...

  Acts 8:18-24 There's kingdom work. And there's church work. When those two combine, faithful and fruitful ministry grows. To be sure, though, you can have one without the other. Everyone knows the modern church is experiencing a dilemma. Communities around our local churches have changed in ways we didn't prepare for. At speeds we tried to ignore. The larger culture has moved away from the church at its center. That has impacted church attendance, church programming and everything else in between. Often, we talk about these changes and dilemmas in terms of loss. Indeed, time and circumstances have changed much in our lives, personal and communal. And that can hurt. That's a reason to appreciate scripture's notion of pruning. Maybe we aren't losing as much as God is pruning away. When God prunes, it's for our growth. So, now, as God's church, we find ourselves wondering what to do next. One thing we must be certain to do is learn to distinguish what is ...

  Luke 11:33-36 "Good eye!" That's the encouragement echoed countless times around Little League ballparks. You hear it when a batter doesn't swing at a bad pitch. Never mind that, often, they don't swing because they're nervous or scared. But the idea is your good eye kept you from swinging at a bad ball. You still have a chance to make a good play. I have no idea what kind of athlete Jesus was. But he had something to say about having a good eye. "If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but if it is unhealthy, your body is full of darkness" (Luke 11:34). This wasn't a random bit of spiritual wisdom. The Lord directed it to a growing crowd filled with a generation he called "evil." Why? When he healed a mute person, some people responded with amazement. Others, though, said he was the possessed person. And they demanded another sign from heaven (11:15-16). Jesus told them something greater than what happened in Nineve...

 Someone sent me the pilot episode of The Promised Land Series . It's hilarious. Think The Office meets Moses. I didn't even finish watching before I sent it to a few people I thought might enjoy it. So far, only the pilot episode is available. I'll be looking forward to a full season. Check it out: Stay blessed...john

  Psalm 106 Psalm 106 offers a national confession of sin. "Both we and our ancestors have sinned" (106:6). Reaching through his peoples' history, the psalmist acknowledges what we read in scripture. Israel is full of contradiction. Saved by God only to turn from God. For about thirty verses, the psalmist recounts various episodes of this. It's a reminder that Israel's faithful memory was always short. The psalmist also includes God's faithfulness in this confession. Even though the nation proved unfaithful, "for their sake he remembered his covenant (100:45). God will always show compassion. What is missing, though, is a telling of the psalmist's sin. Yes, he includes himself and the people he knows now among those who have sinned. But he only reminds us of Israel's past sin. He never fills us in on how he and his people have sinned today. Or has he? We don't need his record of wrongs laid out before us to know they're probably in line wi...

It's been quite some time since I've done a Music Monday.  So, let me stop talking about how long it's been and share a song with you. It's called "God Does" by The Red Clay Strays. Watch on YouTube Stay blessed...john

Who knew I'd be preaching about Y2K all these years later? I hope that doesn't make me one of them old preachers 😧😂 I will say I didn't call back the looking-out-the-window gesture at the end. The point would've been to acknowledge the church's struggles. Yes, we have struggles and we have faith and we have struggles. So, it would've been a good way to tie together the entire message. Well, that's what happens when you're still learning how to preach. Stay blessed...john Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube   Day 1: Remembering Identity Devotional Thought: Reflect on your identity as a beloved child of God. At baptism, we receive not just a ritual, but a transformation that envelops us in God’s love and claims us as God's own. This is an identity that we carry throughout our lives, regardless of our circumstances or personal doubts. Reflection Questions: How does knowing you are a beloved child of God affect your daily life and dec...

  Judges 4:1-16 Deborah, the prophet, seems to call into question the course of Barak, the military leader (Deborah 4:9). The prophet told Barak to take his men into battle and the enemy's army would fall. Barak responded, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go" (4:8). So, we assume "the course" Barak took was to only follow Deborah's charge if she went with him. He would still be victorious over his enemy. But "the honor" of the battle would go to someone else, a woman who drove a peg through the enemy's head. Now, let's question Barak's response and reflect on whether it was faithful or not. Was he showing trust in Deborah's calling and faith in God? He didn't say he wouldn't go to battle. Only that Deborah had to go with him. Or was he doubting what God said through her? That would suggest Deborah took the greater step of faith by going with Barak. Maybe it was both. Perhaps he ques...

  1 Corinthians 2:1-10 Apparently, you could've discounted Paul's presentation. But you couldn't deny the power he preached. By his own admission, the apostle didn't go to Corinth to  wow  anyone with his words. He didn't prop himself up as the prominent teacher and Christian so many of us regard him as. Instead, he kept making tents, and relied on the "demonstration of the Spirit and of power" God gave him. And what was the result? There's no denying that a church grew. Yes, that church would grow to have issues. Big ones, too. After all, it wasn't a perfect church like yours. But the church was growing. The church would keep growing if it kept its focus--or refocused--on the proclamation Paul gave them: Jesus Christ and him crucified. Now that's a presentation. No matter what the world thinks of Jesus, the world thinks of Jesus when they see a cross. That's God's wisdom on display. Yes, Jesus came to teach us the marks of God's ki...

  Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 I've always enjoyed a good movie. Well, not always. At one point, I learned something that disillusioned me for a bit. Apparently, there are six, maybe seven, basic story plots. Consider any movie or novel genre you want. No matter how different the characters seem or what's unique about the setting, we've already seen it. The story itself is not new. It's following a basic, human story telling trajectory we've heard in every story. That made watching movies a little boring for me. You already knew what was going to happen once you figured out which plot it was. Well, whatever plot structure it falls into, I started watching movies again. I learned to love hearing new takes on the old stories. We all do. That's why we keep watching and reading. Now, that's part of the joy of watching--seeing what a creative mind can do with something we already know. I've met a bunch of Christians who aren't quite fond of the book of Ecclesiaste...