First Presbyterian Church, Sterling IL

John 14:1-7 March 29, 2015, Palm Sunday First Presbyterian Church, Sterling, IL Christina Berry Our scripture reading this morning, for this sixth in our series on the I AM statements of Jesus, comes to us once again from what is known as the “farewell discourse” of Jesus. This conversation between Jesus and his disciples takes place when he is in Jerusalem, after the entry into Jerusalem but before he goes to the cross. It is a crucial moment in Jesus’ relationship with the disciples, in which he once again tries to reassure them and help them truly understand who he is. Once again, however, the disciples misunderstand his message. Let’s listen for God’s word to us in John 14:1-7. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, s...

John 15:1-8 March 22, 2015 First Presbyterian Church, Sterling IL Christina Berry John 15:1-8 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don't produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can't produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can't produce fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can't do anything. If you don't remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified when you produce muc...

John 10: 7-18 March 15, 2015 First Presbyterian Church, Sterling, IL Christina Berry John 10: 7-18 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I hav...

John 1:5-9; John 8: 12 March 8, 2015 First Presbyterian Church, Sterling, IL Christina Berry John 1:5-9 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. John 8: 12 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." It was the festival of Succot, and people came to the city from all over. Succot, the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths, was a weeklong celebration. It takes place in the fall, and it is one of the three festivals that called for Israelites to come to Jerusalem, to the temple. The festival commemorates God’s deliverance in the wilderness during the esca...