Sermons by Fr John Wells
Jesus Heals a Man Blind from Birth: why is there suffering?
Traditional Jewish thought said suffering was due to sin. There are various answers as to why we suffer which are usually insufficient. Does God care that we suffer? What, if any, is God’s role? What is Jesus’ role in our suffering?
Got Living Water? Have an encounter with Jesus like the woman at the well
The woman at the well left a changed person–she found Living Water. How do we get Living Water so we can be the person Jesus see us as and not who we think we are?
Nicodemus comes at night to ask Jesus about being born from above
“Night” in the Gospel of John signals the condition of those who want to believe but have difficulty believing. Jesus said that “whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Being born again does not depend on our faltering faith but on the grace of God so that we are born from above. It is a gift that we have to receive.
Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness tells us about our freedom
God allows his creatures freedom to chose His way or ours. In how he faces his temptations in the wilderness, Jesus does not use his power to do what human nature would want, but sets an example of faith and trust in God. Our temptations should not be seen as an obstacle, but a means to strengthen our faith to choose life and not death.
Jesus shows us what following the law really looks like: read the instructions and listen to the Spirit
God gave us his law so we would know how to follow his ways. We tend to put our own meaning into them. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us not just the law, but the intent behind the laws–to show us how to live as God meant for us to live. We are God’s workmanship created to love and serve God and love and serve others.
Be Salt: Live in such a way that people who know you come to know your God
For the people in our lives that do not know God: are we telling them about Jesus? The Christian life is not just about living and walking the walk, but we are to also talk the talk. Make a difference day by day: be salt and light to those around you.