September 22nd & 26th, 2021
He [Jesus] came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
—John 1:10
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
—Proverbs 18:24
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends …
—John 15:12-13, 15
The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’
—Matthew 11:19
1. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole
, yet forfeit their
?
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
—Matthew 16:24-26
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
—Psalm 39:5
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
—James 4:14
2. Where are those
of yours? Has no one
you?
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, his woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
—John 8:1-11
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
—Ephesians 2:8-9
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you …
—Matthew 7:21-23
3. But what about
? Who do you
I am?
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
—Matthew 16:13-16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
—John 3:16
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
—John 3:18
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life …
—John 3:36
FILL OUT YOUR CONNECTION CARD HERE
1. Today, I accept Jesus in my life as my friend.
2. I already have a friendship with Jesus.
3. I am not interested in a friendship with Jesus.
4. I am considering Jesus as my friend and you can pray for me.