Sunday Morning Podcast | The Moody Church

In this passage from John 13:1-17, we see a profound demonstration of Jesus' servant heart. This scene takes place during Jesus’ last meal with the disciples. It's Thursday evening of Holy Week, just hours before his crucifixion the following day. As the story unfolds, Jesus washes the disciple's feet. It’s moving and touching to us today, but in first-century Palestine it was, shocking, radical, and scandalous.   The story shows us three characteristics at the very heart of Jesus: The Humbling Servant: Jesus knows that the Father has given all things into His hands, and that he's the greatest person in the room. But what does he do? He takes off his garments, wraps a towel around his waist, and washes feet. He willingly, voluntarily, and humbly takes on the role of the lowliest slave. The humility demonstrated by Jesus is humbling for us. The Cleansing Redeemer: There are dimensions to this foot washing that Peter can't accept. So, Jesus shifts his response to Peter from physical cleansing to spiritua

On Easter we traditionally look at one of the Gospel accounts of that glorious morning when the disciples discovered the empty tomb and realized that Jesus had risen from the dead. But this Easter we break with tradition.   In this sermon we explore at an event that took place just a couple weeks prior to Jesus’ own resurrection when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. It’s a story that shows us the three significant points about the resurrection of Jesus and its relevance for us today: the resurrection near, there, and here: The Resurrection Near: Jesus is the key to resurrection life. This is an audacious claim; Jesus doesn’t say that he has the keys to resurrection life, but that his is the resurrection life. Either he’s raving mad or he’s lying through his teeth; or, he is exactly who he claimed to be. The Resurrection and the Life come near to us in the person of Jesus. The Resurrection There: Jesus is the key to resurrection life beyond death. When most of us think of death, we either deny it or

As we begin Holy Week, this passage in John gives us four vivid portraits of Jesus. The last moments of Jesus’ public ministry recorded for us in the Gospel of John. These four portraits are unmistakably vivid so that everyone may know just who this Jesus really is.   The King of Israel: Our 1st Portrait of Jesus comes from the out-of-town crowds who traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. We see Jesus riding into town on a donkey. What on earth is Jesus doing here? Kings don’t ride adolescent donkeys. Donkeys are service animals for grunt work, bearing burdens, hauling refuse. Kings don’t ride donkeys! Jesus rode this young donkey to make a statement, and to fulfill a prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. Because Jesus is the King of Israel! But he did not come as the people expected. This King comes not to crush his enemies, but to be crushed by them; not to mow them down, but that they might mow him down; not to strike, but to be struck; not to pierce, but to be pierced. The Savior of the World: Our 2nd

One of the scariest realities in the Gospels is how close you can be to Jesus and miss him entirely. Chapter after chapter, we see that Jesus was right there with the Pharisees, but they missed Him. He was calling, but they didn't hear Him. He was shining in glory, but they didn't see Him.   These stories are a warning. You can be moral. You can be religious. You can go to religious gatherings. You can give to the poor. You can do good. You can be well thought of. You can hang around authentic disciples, listen to the finest sermons, and even hold a leadership position.   You can be that close to Jesus and still miss Him entirely. His glory can be right there in front of you, and you don’t even see it.   On the other hand, there’s Mary, who, as we’ll see in this passage from John, in loving abandon, lavishly anointed Jesus’ feet with a priceless perfume in adoration, gratitude, awe, and worship of Jesus.   Everyone can meet the same Jesus, but there can be wildly different responses. Mary truly encoun

This passage is one of the most gripping and glorious scenes in the Bible as Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead.  This story ends in glorious clarity of Jesus’ powerful love, but it begins with cloudy gloom and disorienting confusion.   This story opens and Lazarus is gravely ill, and so they call for Jesus. They expect Jesus to drop everything and come save his friend. But that’s not what Jesus does, and they are disoriented.   Have you ever been there? Have you ever prayed your guts out only to find yourself disappointed with God?   What do we do when God doesn’t make sense?    Ten anchors for the soul when God doesn’t make sense.   God is working always for His glory and our good. God will sometimes lovingly disappoint us. Jesus gladly risks his life for his friends. Nothing is beyond hope in the hands of Jesus. Jesus is life from beyond the walls of the world. God weeps with us. Doubt is a natural companion to grief. God’s ways are not our ways. Resurrection is just

Many of us like Jesus—who he was, what he did, how he loved others—but we struggle with his claims of deity. These are edgy claims that catch everyone off guard. What are we to do with Jesus’ unexpected, extraordinary claims?   In this passage from John 10, we find four dimensions of the unexpected that reveal the heart of Jesus: Unexpected Feast: The setting of the story begins at the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, and themes of this feast are themes of confrontation: blasphemy, consecration, light, and worship. These are the very points of contention in the conversation that Jesus has in the story with the Pharisees. The irony is that it is the Pharisees who are in fact blaspheming, because by refusing to acknowledge God’s own son revealed before their eyes, they are blaspheming Jesus. Unexpected Clarity: The unexpected feast leads to unexpected clarity. Responding to requests for clarity about his words, Jesus identifies two pillars of his witness—his words and his works. Jesus then makes an unmi

One of the unique features of the Gospel of John is the attention he gives to the seven “I AM” statements Jesus uttered. In each of these seven statements, Jesus is recorded as saying the phrase ego eimi – “I AM”. This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew YHWH, meaning “I AM Who I AM” from Exodus 3:14. These are purposeful statements hinting at Jesus’ deity.   In this passage from John 10, Jesus gives us two more “I AM” statements: “I am the Door of the sheep,” and “I am the Good Shepherd.” What on earth does He mean?   Pastor Philip explored three insights into Jesus as our Good Shepherd:   1) The Shepherd’s Provision: In this analogy, Jesus is the Shepherd and we are the sheep. This may seem unflattering, because sheep are notoriously vulnerable animals. But the point for us today is that sheep need a shepherd to thrive, and we need a Shepherd to thrive as well. A Shepherd provides three important things for us: significance, security, and satisfaction. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who offers the good

The book of John is a curated collection (events, interactions, and dialogue) written so that the you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that by believing you may have Life in His name.   In John 9, the author is again curating the story so that we would more clearly see the person of Jesus. We see four refractions of Jesus as the Light of the World. Each of these refractions shed light on who Jesus is and who we are as well.   The Parable of the Light: The story begins with a man born blind, and the disciples ask if his condition is a result of personal sin. Jesus responds by saying “I am the light of the world…” So, we have a man who can’t see any light in this world, and Jesus about to enact a kind of miraculous parable to illustrate what it means that He is the "Light of the World," and how some eyes will be opened while other eyes are closed. The Polarization of the Light: The people cannot believe their eyes that the man is healed, and the healing creates polarized views of who Jesus i

In this passage from the end of John 8, we catch a glimpse of Jesus' amazing glory. There are three glorious offers he gives us, but each has a tough reality that we must face. Because when the Son breaks through, we’re either drawn to his beauty or blinded by the light, there really no room in between.   Jesus offers Freedom to those who admit their bondage. There are two groups of people here; those who admit they’re slaves to sin, who look to Jesus to set them free; and those who insist they’re actually free, when they’re really not. Sin always looks like freedom until it’s too late. Sin always enslaves us in the end. Jesus offers freedom, but there’s a catch: freedom only comes when we admit our bondage. So we must ask ourselves: do we really want to be free? Jesus offer a Father to those who own their devilry. In all of this, Jesus is making an appeal. He's saying: "You’re living in enslavement to sin, and you’re under the power of the devil. But I’m here that you might have life! I’m here to set y

Fear is a regular emotion in our lives. When God often leads us into fearful situations, and we feel overwhelmed, how should we respond?   In this story from Genesis 32 about Jacob and Esau, we see three biblical ways we are to respond to fear.   Rely on God: In the midst of our fear, don’t forget that God is faithful. The test of our dependance on God is seen our practice of prayer. Realign Your Perspective: Our natural tendency towards self-preservation builds walls between ourselves and other. Instead of self-preservation, the gospel calls us to self-denial. Respond to His Voice: Are we listening to our own voice, the voice of the world, or are we listening to the voice of God and living out of the inner transformation that he has done in our lives?   Genesis 32

In this sermon, we explore Jesus' second "I Am" statement: "I am the light of the world." This important metaphor helps us unpack Jesus' true identity. Light is a theme that runs clear across the pages of Scripture, from very beginning to very end. It’s within this biblical narrative, this arc of light, that we begin to see the brilliance of what Jesus is doing here in John 8.   The passage is broken down in three parts:   1) A Dazzling Claim: In the ancient world, light was a much bigger deal than now. Without lights, the darkness wasn’t just inconvenient, it was deadly dangerous. Light equals warmth, protection, guidance, and hope. Light is life. So when Jesus says “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life, ” He is saying, essentially, “I am life itself.” If you want life – true, real, abundant LIFE – follow Him.   Jesus is the new glory cloud blazing the way of life. He presents himself as the light, the fiery glory cloud come to lead

Few stories of Jesus are more iconic, gripping, or tender than that of the woman caught in adultery. It’s a story that’s brutally honest, a story of undeniable humanity, a story brimming with redemptive hope, and a story that reveals the forgiveness and love of Jesus in an unforgettable way.   In this sermon, we explore three key points.   1) A Clever Trap: The scribes and Pharisees thought they had Jesus cornered in a trap, but Jesus knew that something was amiss. Would He choose to cruelly uphold the law or compassionately break the law?   2) A Brilliant Escape: Jesus didn't take the bait, but instead turned the spotlight of conviction upon the accusers' own sinfulness. Jesus didn't pretend that the woman was innocent, and He didn't deny the Law of Moses, yet He compassionately stood up for her against their corrupt and unjust motives.   3) A Transforming Love: In His response to the woman, Jesus demonstrated six liberating moves. Jesus separated the sin from the sinner. Jesus called out her si

The most interesting people tend to have both consistency and creativity wedded together. This dynamic pairing is embodied by Jesus.   In this sermon, we explore six unexpected glimpses of Jesus' personality: Unexpected Timing (vs. 1–13) Jesus is operating on His Father’s timetable. Jesus arrives precisely when He means to, not a moment too late or too soon. Unexpected Intentions (vs. 14–24) Jesus’ teaching is from His Father. Jesus’ motive is His Father’s glory. Jesus’ work is accomplishing His Father’s will. 3) Unexpected Origins (vs. 25–29) Jesus comes from the Father. Unexpected Destiny (vs. 30–36) Jesus will return to the Father. Unexpected Offering (vs. 37–39) Jesus offers fulfillment of the Spirit in himself. Unexpected Division (vs. 40–52) Jesus is pushing them to the brink of a decision.   Takeaway: What will you do with this Jesus?   John 7:1-52   To watch the sermon Q&A, click here. 

This week we come to the first of the seven "I Am" statements of Jesus in the Book of John. In each of these analogies, Jesus is revealing to us something profound about himself.   In this sermon, we look at Jesus' statement that "I am the bread of life." This logic of this statement is broken down this way: Bread=Life, Jesus=Bread, and so Jesus =Life. He is essentially saying, without me there is no life at all.   As we work our way through this passage, we'll see eight (8) insights into this "Life" that Jesus offers us in himself. Life in Jesus is spiritual and eternal (vs. 22–27) Life in Jesus comes by grace through faith in Christ (vs. 28–35a) Life in Jesus offers lasting satisfaction (v. 35b) Life in Jesus is as durable as he is faithful (vs. 36–40) Life in Jesus requires a divinely transformed heart (vs. 41–46) Life in Jesus is death-defying and eternal (vs. 47–51) Life in Jesus is offered in his all-consuming sacrifice (vs. 52–59) Life in Jesus is humbling (vs. 60–71)   These eig

Like all interesting people, Jesus has layers. If we are truly to see Jesus, we need to know all of him. How do we really know Jesus? In this sermon, we'll look at three different layers to Jesus. When we know Jesus, that is ultimately how we know ourselves.   Level 1: The Miracle Worker Jesus displays his power in many ways. Not only is Jesus turning water into wine: he is breaking fevers at a distance and reversing decades of infirmity. Jesus commands authority over all creation; He multiplies bread and fish; He walks upon the seas; and even time and space shift under His influence. Jesus is a miracle worker… but he is so much more than that.   Level 2: The Coming Prophet The people who met Jesus realize that He is more than just of miracle worker. Here is a Prophet like Moses, supernaturally empowered by God, speaking the words of God from the Mountain, and providing bread for the children of Israel in the wilderness. And the disciples see these comparisons even more clearly, because Jesus also cro

Over the five weeks of Advent, we studied God’s Word and looked at the ways that Moses was Holding Out Hope for the coming of Jesus. At Christmas we celebrated the fact that Jesus became flesh to reveal the Father, to become a faithful High Priest, to put away sin and destroy the works of the devil, to give us an example of a holy life, and to confirm and fulfill the promises of God. We've seen Jesus as the Curse Breaker, the Covenant Keeper,  the Law Meditator, and the Sin Atoner. This past Sunday, Pastor Larry McCarthy looked at Jesus as the Promise Fulfiller -- a title that should instill hope.   Pastor McCarthy led us through Joshua 1:1-5 and noted four points in this passage that are ultimately fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah:   There is a promised inheritance There is a divinely appointed Leader There are gifts of grace received by faith There will be great conflict along the way   Joshua 1:1-5

John the Baptist announced Jesus to the world by saying, "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." In many ways, this is THE story of the Bible, the one that makes sense of all the other stories, and connects, undergirds, and unifies them.   In this sermon spanning seven passages from Genesis to Revelation, we explore how this story resonates across all of Scripture. Seven themes: The Missing Lamb (Genesis 22) The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) The Sacrificial Lambs (Exodus 29) The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) The Lamb of God – Jesus (John 1) The Lamb on the Throne (Revelation 5)   Scripture is clear: Jesus is "The Sin Atoner." He has secured an eternal redemption. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself by means of his own blood.   The Takeaway: "It is Finished!" Jesus has done everything to make us right with God through his death and resurrection on our behalf. There is nothing we can add to or subtract from his final, full,

Of all the prophets in all the Old Testament, Moses held the particular distinction of being the Mediator of the Law. God chose Moses to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, and he did so with many miraculous signs that God displayed through him. But Moses was held in highest esteem for his role in bringing down from Mt. Sinai the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments.   Moses held the role of Law Mediator until the coming of the one who could truly and perfectly uphold the law—Jesus. In this sermon, we were able to see that Moses was in fact pointing forward to Jesus, the coming Messiah.   In the Old Testament, Moses stood as mediator of the law, the go-between from God to man. Moses brought the Israelites God's law, and they were to follow it because they were His people.   God's law brought five unique contributions: The law disclosed God's character The law clarifies the standard The law reveals our sinfulness The law provides for atonement The law guides in righteousn

At the end of John 5, Jesus told the religious leaders that they would be held accountable by Moses for “he wrote of me...But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” So for Advent this year, we’re looking at five ways Moses was Holding Out Hope for Jesus’s arrival.   This week we saw Jesus as “The Covenant Keeper,” and we went back 4,000 years to the Ancient Near East where God appeared to a man named Abram and entered into a covenant with him that changed the course of human history.   This sermon answered three questions: Who makes the covenant? God is the guarantor of the covenant. These are His pledges, His promises, His guarantees. God takes full responsibility for the fulfillment of these covenant promises. Who keeps the covenant? Jesus alone is truly worthy of the covenant. It was a covenant guaranteed by God, that must be upheld by a worthy man. Jesus -- fully God and fully man -- is the only one worthy of keeping the covenant. Jesus upholds God’s guarantee, and He

Our spiritual condition is one of being born under the curse of sin. How did that happen, and is there a way out?   In this sermon, we explore our spiritual curse and our hope for a cure: The origin of the curse The effect of the curse The end of the curse   Galatians 3:1-14