Discovering the Path to Eternal Life

Easter is more than just a holiday; it’s the story of Jesus bridging the gap between Earth and Heaven. He walked among us, performed miracles, taught profound truths, faced crucifixion, conquered death, and ascended to Heaven. Today, I aim to address the most crucial question anyone can ask:

What is the Way to Heaven?

In a world that often preaches self-belief, the path to Heaven isn’t found in ourselves. Belief in God is the key. Despite our efforts, our sinful nature renders us incapable of meeting Heaven’s standards. Even a lifetime of perfection couldn’t undo the sins we’ve already committed.

Understanding Sin and Redemption

Sin isn’t just about committing egregious acts; it encompasses any deliberate deviation from God’s plan, whether it’s harming ourselves or others. Trying to justify ourselves as “good people” falls short because God sees through our façade. We can’t deceive the ultimate Judge.

The Sacrifice of Jesus

The beauty of Christianity lies in Jesus taking our punishment upon himself. Just as someone can pay a speeding ticket fine on our behalf, Jesus bore the consequences of our sins on the cross. His sacrifice offers us redemption.

Illustrating Redemption

Imagine standing before Judge Judy, facing the consequences of your actions. Yet, just as she’s about to pass judgment, she declares you free because someone else paid your fine. That’s akin to what Jesus did for us on the cross.

Visualizing Redemption

Using a coffin as a metaphor, we illustrate the gravity of sin and the promise of salvation. Buried under layers of dirt, dead, and deprived of air, we’re powerless to save ourselves. However, Jesus offers us new life and forgiveness through his death and resurrection.

Embracing Salvation

Salvation isn’t earned through merit but received as a gift of grace. Our faith in God, not our deeds, secures our place in Heaven. We humbly accept this gift, acknowledging our inability to save ourselves.

Accepting the Gift of Eternal Life

By accepting our limitations and placing our trust in God, we ensure our eternal destiny. The empty cross symbolizes Jesus’ victory over death and the assurance of our salvation. Saying “yes” to Jesus means embracing new life and eternal joy with him.

An Invitation to Transformation

As an invitation to embrace this truth, we offer a symbolic gesture. Fill out the card provided, acknowledging your need for God’s grace. Then, approach one of the coffins in the room to signify the death of self-reliance. Receive the cross as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, and say “yes” to the transformation he offers.

Easter isn’t just about commemorating Jesus’ resurrection; it’s about experiencing our own resurrection through faith in him. Take this opportunity to affirm your commitment to Christ and embark on a journey of eternal significance.

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In this teaching, Jesus. Week 14, we hear Pastor Mike talk about Jesus doing something none of us could imagine enduring, and in his humanity, He couldn’t have done it. So how did He do it? How did Jesus endure the cross?

Everyone has felt it. Every student, parent, and leader has felt the urge to quit. “I’m not smart enough. No one will help me. I don’t have enough money. I’m too shy. I’m too ugly.” Maybe you want to quit your marriage, job, or something else. Quitting is Easy. Perseverance is hard.

You might have to work harder or fail more times than others. You might have to be more disciplined or read slower than others. You might not be as smart, pretty, or wealthy, but

God has given you everything you need to do what He created you to do.

JESUS. WEEK 14 TEACHING TEXT

Matthew 27:26-37

²⁶ So Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

²⁷ Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters^[a] and called out the entire regiment. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. ²⁹ They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” ³⁰ And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. ³¹ When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

³² Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,^[b] and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. ³³ And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). ³⁴ The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.

³⁵ After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.^[c] 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. ³⁷ A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

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In this teaching, Jesus. Week 9, we hear Pastor Mike talk about when Jesus healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath.

Most people complain about things in their lives that they’re not actually willing to change. I’m overweight. I’m poor. I’m depressed. I’m lonely. I’m childless. So ask yourself:

Would I actually like to get well?

I don’t want to be stressed anymore, but I can’t give up Netflix. I don’t want to be addicted, but I also don’t want to give it up.

So when Jesus asked the guy at the Pool of Bethesda “would you like to get well?” the guy gave an excuse (John 5:7). I’m not sure this man was open to hearing about other possible ways to be healed. He had one idea of how the healing would go, and Jesus’ way was different.

So what is your excuse?

We all do it: “I believe God heals marriages, but not mine. I’m done with my marriage.” “I believe God heals addictions, but I kinda like mine.” “I believe in tithing, but here’s why I don’t tithe. I’m different.”

God’s promise of salvation isn’t that He’ll forgive your sins and then leave you screwed up and broken. Jesus wants to make you whole.

A terrible idea that is destroying lives right now is the idea that people don’t change. It’s not Biblical. It’s not logical, and it’s incredibly depressing. You’re not stuck the way you are, but here’s the problem:

You can’t change yourself. You need God. He’s the creator, the owner. If your goal is to be rich, you might get rich, but you’ll be miserable. If your goal is to get sober, you’ll be sober and depressed. Seek God first, and He’ll give you what you need.

JESUS. WEEK 9 TEACHING TEXT

John 5:1-18

Jesus Heals a Lame Man

5 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. ² Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,^[a] with five covered porches. ³ Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches.^[b] 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

⁷ “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

⁸ Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

⁹ Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, ¹⁰ so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”

¹¹ But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”

¹² “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.

¹³ The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. ¹⁴ But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” ¹⁵ Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

¹⁶ So the Jewish leaders began harassing^[c] Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. ¹⁷ But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” ¹⁸ So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

Did you like this message, Jesus. – Week 9? Check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

In this teaching, Jesus. Week 8, we hear Pastor Mike talk about the beatitudes and how God blesses outsiders. In Jesus’ teaching, he isn’t saying He won’t bless insiders, but statistically, they are less likely to receive His blessing.

A vessel becomes valuable when its contents
are valuable.

We’ve got a world of people assigning value to people and to themselves based on their beauty, their wealth, their power, or the number of followers on Instagram, but it’s all meaningless. We’re all going to die, and

Without God our bodies are worthless.

But if God is in you, your value cannot be measured. If God is in you, you are infinitely valuable.

We are all called to give everything to each other. Christians are vessels who choose to surrender their agendas to be used by God. We’re the vessel, and when He is in us, we have value.

Jesus. Week 8 Teaching Text

Matthew 5:1-12

The Sermon on the Mount

5 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

³ “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,^[a]
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
⁴ God blesses those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ God blesses those who are humble,
    for they will inherit the whole earth.
⁶ God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,^[b]
    for they will be satisfied.
⁷ God blesses those who are merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
    for they will see God.
⁹ God blesses those who work for peace,
    for they will be called the children of God.
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

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In this teaching, Jesus. Week 6, we hear Pastor Mike talk about Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine. Jesus turned water into wine because he wanted to honor His mother. Mary, Jesus’ mother asked him to do this so as a Jewish man he followed the 5th commandment and honored his mom. The second reason was to keep the party going.

What are we going to do in Heaven?
In Matthew 8:11 we read we will …feast in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus. Week 6 Teaching Text

John 2:1-11

The Wedding at Cana

2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. ³ The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

⁵ But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, ⁸ he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

⁹ When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. ¹⁰ “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

¹¹ This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

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In this teaching, Jesus. Week 4, we hear Pastor Mike talks about Jesus being tested by the satan in the wilderness and when Jesus spent some time in Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and cast out a demon from a man. We can learn from Jesus on how we should respond when we face devils.

1. Respond with the Truth of Scripture.
2. Don’t be a victim.

Jesus. Week 4 Teaching Text

Luke 4:1-13

The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,^[a] 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.

³ Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’^[b]”

⁵ Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. ⁷ I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

⁸ Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
    and serve only him.’^[c]”

⁹ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! ¹⁰ For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you.
¹¹ And they will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’^[d]”

¹² Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’^[e]”

¹³ When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Luke 4:31-37

Jesus Casts Out a Demon

³¹ Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. ³² There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.

³³ Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil^[a] spirit—cried out, shouting, ³⁴ “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

³⁵ But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.

³⁶ Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” ³⁷ The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.

Did you like this message, Jesus. – Week 4? Check out more of our Sunday teachings here.

In this teaching, we hear Pastor Paul talks about the birth of Jesus.

Jesus. Week 1 Teaching Text

Luke 2:1-7

2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. ² (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. ⁴ And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. ⁵ He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. ⁷ She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Did you like this message, Jesus. – Week 1? Check out more of our Sunday teachings here.