On the night of his arrest, Jesus promised to send his disciples the Holy Spirit. Who is the Holy Spirit, what does the Holy Spirit do, and why is the Holy Spirit so important? This Sunday Michael Bouterse continues our series on Jesus’ “Last Lesson” by unpacking what John 14:15-31 says about the Holy Spirit.
More
This Sunday we come to John 15, and with it, the second half of Jesus’ last lesson. As He takes His disciples outside the Upper Room and into the streets of Jerusalem, Jesus shifts His focus from how to cultivate private communion with Him to how to bear witness publicly in the world. What’s the secret to bearing fruit faithfully in a world that is often hostile to Christianity? According to Jesus, it’s abiding in Him, the true vine. Join us as Michael Bouterse unpacks what abiding means and how we can represent Jesus effectively in our twenty-first century world.
More
In the second half of his last lesson, Jesus teaches the disciples how to represent him in the world—and that this involves a cost. Should we choose to follow him, Jesus warns we’ll encounter pushback, rejection, and hostility; and in the face of such persecution, it’d be tempting to turn back. Yet rather than drive us away from Jesus, the world’s hatred can actually bring us closer to him than ever. Join us this Sunday as Michael Bouterse continues our “Last Lesson” series by looking at Jesus’ teaching in John 15:18-16:4 on Christian witness in a hostile world.
More
Before Jesus closes out his last lesson, he leaves his disciples with a stunning, significant promise. Despite the trials and tribulations they will face in his absence, they will have unbreakable joy. The reason, says Jesus, is that his departure changes everything—for the better! This Sunday Michael Bouterse speaks on John 16:4-33 and Jesus' explanation of how his return to heaven opens up whole new avenues of relationship between the disciples and the Trinity—and the result is joy and peace in the world.
More