The View From The Tomb (John 20:1-10)
Easter Sunday Sermon: The View From The Tomb (John 20:1-10)
Nate HoldridgeMarch 31, 2024
Jesus’ Transfiguration Initiated an Important Conference (Mark 9:4-13)
This meeting on the mountaintop was an encouraging preview, but it was also an important conference. Jesus met there with Moses and Elijah. It had been centuries since both men…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 2, 2023
The Son Who Came To Make Sons: Where He Arrived From (Galatians 4:4b)
The book of Galatians is one of Paul's earliest works. In it, he combatted the idea that faith plus works lead to salvation. He warned his audience about the danger…
Nate HoldridgeDecember 6, 2022
Behold One Another (John 19:26-27)
During the six hours of torment on the cross, Jesus spoke sparingly—to his Father, those around him, the thief next to him, and, here in John 19, to his mother…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 28, 2022
Pruned by the Father (John 15:2)
When Jesus referred to "every branch that does bear fruit," he was alluding to all true believers. Every true believer in Christ is cleansed and pruned by the Father so…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 11, 2022
Working on Team Jesus (Mark 6:7-32)
Our passage today will end with this statement: the apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught (Mark 6:30). It is one of only…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 10, 2022
When Jesus Moves Slowly (Mark 5:21-43)
We know believers are called to "put on...patience" (Colossians 3:12). We know the Bible is filled with related words -- long-suffering, endurance, steadfastness, and waiting. But this waiting with patience…
Nate HoldridgeJuly 27, 2022
Dealing With Chaotic Times (Mark 3:7-19)
Many parts of this week’s passage are familiar to us. Jesus is presented as being famous far and wide. People from everywhere all come to see Jesus. We know why…
Nate HoldridgeJune 1, 2022
Jesus Has Authority Over All Invisible Forces (Mark 1:21-28)
Every person has guides who help them navigate life. All of us have authoritative voices that help us decide how to live. What the disciples of Jesus would quickly begin…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 9, 2022
You Are Called to Be His Disciple (Mark 1:16-20)
Now we come to the location which the first half of Mark's book centers around, the Sea of Galilee. In those days, and sometimes in the Bible, it was also…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 2, 2022
His Message: Jesus Is the King of the Kingdom (Mark 1:14-15)
With the beginning of Jesus' preaching ministry, we have a conclusion, of sorts, to Mark's introduction. He had said, "The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of…
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 23, 2022
His Introduction: Jesus Is God Breaking Through (Mark 1:9-11)
After setting the stage and telling us about John the Baptist, Mark immediately takes us to the inauguration of Jesus' earthly ministry. (6 Minutes/1600 Words)
Nate HoldridgeFebruary 9, 2022
Jesus Is the Culmination of God’s Plan (Mark 1:5-7)
Mark uses what most assume to be hyperbole to describe John's popularity. He said, “All the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 26, 2022
Jesus Is the King We Should Follow (Mark 1:2-4)
Mark rarely quotes from the Old Testament Scriptures. When he does quote them, it is only the characters of the particular episode -- usually Jesus -- quoting them. (3 Minutes/800…
Nate HoldridgeJanuary 19, 2022
What Assurance Produces – A Fitting Conclusion (1 John 5:21)
John has warned throughout his whole letter of the danger of following the spirit of the antichrist. He's told us Jesus is God the Son who came in the flesh,…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 9, 2021
What Assurance Produces – Conviction (1 John 5:18-20)
In the final stretch of his letter, John used the phrase "we know" a few times to recap everything he's taught up to this point. There's John again, certain and…
Nate HoldridgeNovember 2, 2021
What Assurance Produces – Prayer (1 John 5:14-17)
Good doctrine leads to healthy action, and John believed his teaching would lead his audience to a life of confidence before God. And this is how he approached the end…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 26, 2021
Outworkings and Witnesses of the Gospel’s Truthfulness – Three Witnesses (1 John 5:6–12)
Last week, John told us of three outworkings of the gospel in our lives -- love, obedience and belief. Today, John will give us three witnesses to the gospel's truthfulness.…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 19, 2021
Outworkings and Witnesses of the Gospel’s Truthfulness – Three Outworkings (1 John 5:1–5)
John knew the truthfulness of the gospel message and watched Jesus' life, and heard His teaching. He witnessed Jesus' death and resurrection and had seen the gospel flood the world…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 12, 2021
How God’s Love Is Perfected in You – Agree With God About How Love Works (1 John 4:19–21)
First, we must recognize all our love is a response to His. We love because He first loved us (19). So God's love comes first to us before it goes…
Nate HoldridgeOctober 6, 2021
How God’s Love Is Perfected in You – Let Love Have Its Perfect Work in You (1 John 4:17–18)
In this section of 1 John, we are learning to let God's love have its perfect work in us (1 John 4:13-21). Last week we considered the importance of growing…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 28, 2021
How God’s Love Is Perfected in You – Know the Trinitarian Love of God (1 John 4:13–16)
When John wrote his gospel, he used a fascinating title when speaking of himself. He called himself, often, the disciple whom Jesus loved. (7 Minutes/1700 Words)
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 21, 2021
The Origin of Truth and Love – 3 Tests for Messages You Hear (1 John 4:2-6)
Last week we considered the importance of not believing every message we hear, but testing them to see if they are from God (1 John 4:1). Today we will look…
Nate HoldridgeSeptember 7, 2021
The Origin of Truth and Love – Test Messages You Hear (1 John 4:1)
John thought of God like a great mountain from which life flows. He is the source of life. Love and light and truth and righteousness all flow from Him. (4…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 31, 2021
A Healthy Heart Before God – A Basic Description of the Uncondemned Heart (1 John 3:23-24)
John has been helping us learn to deal with our hearts when they condemn us (3:19-20). He has shown us what happens when God sets our hearts free of condemnation…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 24, 2021
A Healthy Heart Before God – Results of a Heart Free of Condemnation (1 John 3:21-22)
Last week we spent some time thinking about how to deal with a condemned heart. And now John moves on to recount some of the results of a heart free…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 17, 2021
A Healthy Heart Before God – How To Deal With a Condemned Heart (1 John 3:19-20)
At this point in his letter, John knew his readers were ripe for feelings of condemnation. He'd written to them about believing in Jesus, obeying God, and loving other Christians.…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 10, 2021
How To Love God’s People – Part 3 (1 John 3:17-18)
Today, in part three, we will look at the last two lessons, followed by some applications of the entire passage of 1 John 3:11-18. This passage gives us practical help…
Nate HoldridgeAugust 3, 2021
How To Love God’s People – Part 2 (1 John 3:13-16)
Today, we will look at the third, fourth, and fifth lessons from the passage 1 John 3:11-18, on how to love, especially how to love God's people. (7 Minutes/1700 Words)
Nate HoldridgeJuly 27, 2021
How To Love God’s People — Part 1 (1 John 3:11-12)
In our last few studies of 1 John, we celebrated the glorious truth that God loves us so much that He decided to call all believers His children. In this…
Nate HoldridgeJuly 20, 2021
You Are God’s Child — Who We Aren’t: With God’s Enemies (1 John 3:7-10)
John was clear: whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. From the beginning of the devil's rebellion against…
Nate HoldridgeJuly 13, 2021
You Are God’s Child — We Will Become Like God’s Son (1 John 3:2-6)
The thought is astounding. One day, God's children will **be like** Jesus **when He appears** (2). This incredible fact follows John's logic well. If believers are born into God's family,…
Nate HoldridgeJuly 6, 2021
You Are God’s Child — Who We Are: God’s Sons and Daughters (1 John 2:28-3:1)
We were created to have dominion, God said. The idea was beautiful and simple. By His sovereign will, God created. He spoke things into existence. His Word divided water and…
Nate HoldridgeJune 29, 2021
Walk in Truth – Continue in the Spirit’s Teaching (1 John 2:26-27)
John wants us to, first, consider the season we are in. Second, he wants us to confess Jesus as the Son. Third, and finally, we learn in these verses, he…
Nate HoldridgeJune 22, 2021
Walk in Truth – Confess the Son (1 John 2:21-25)
John was clear. The church he wrote to **knew the truth** (21). They had not partaken in the **lie** floating around at that time (21). And it's a lie still…
Nate HoldridgeJune 15, 2021
Walk in Truth – Consider the Season (1 John 2:18-20)
I want you to think of Joseph in the section of John's writing we are entering into today. You see, when you come to Christ, there is a feeling of…
Nate HoldridgeJune 8, 2021
Love the Father — What Is Our Motivation for Resisting the World? (1 John 2:17)
John has shown us what worldliness looks like. These three temptations have had their way with us for humanity's entire existence. Perhaps you thought of this in looking at all…
Nate HoldridgeJune 1, 2021
Love the Father – What Are the World’s Tactics? Part 3 (1 John 2:16)
So far we have studied the **desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes**. Lastly, John mentions **the pride of life.** Other translations call this *the pride of…
Nate HoldridgeMay 25, 2021
Love the Father – What Are the World’s Tactics? Part 2 (1 John 2:16)
Remember your castle. You want Jesus seated firmly on its throne. But the devil tries to appeal to your sinful desires with the world system he controls. He hopes you'll…
Nate HoldridgeMay 18, 2021
Love the Father – What Are the World’s Tactics? Part 1 (1 John 2:16)
Remember your castle. You want Jesus seated firmly on its throne. But the devil tries to appeal to your sinful desires with the world system he controls. He hopes you'll…
Nate HoldridgeMay 11, 2021
Love the Father – What Is the World? (1 John 2:15)
Sin and Satan wills to use our mortal bodies' passions as a way to take the throne. We must not allow it to occur. Even though, as we saw last…
Nate HoldridgeMay 4, 2021
Remember Who You Are — Young Men: Victorious Over the Evil One (1 John 2:13-14)
Here, after our previous study of the children and fathers, we have the young men. They represent that great middle section of the Christian life. The children enjoy being forgiven.…
Nate HoldridgeApril 27, 2021
Remember Who You Are – Fathers: In Relationship With Jesus (1 John 2:13-14)
Last week, we covered the little children in John's exhortation. In this second group -- fathers -- we have mature believers. (6 Minutes/1400 Words)
Nate HoldridgeApril 20, 2021
Remember Who You Are – Little Children: Forgiven by the Father (1 John 2:12-13)
Nehemiah was a man on a mission. He lived during a time in the Old Testament era when God's people weren't doing well. God had to discipline His people, so…
Nate HoldridgeApril 13, 2021
The Test of a True Believer — The Results (1 John 2:9-11)
Here, we have the final claim of this section. This man says he is in the light, where God is, but hates his brother (in Christ). The reality, John says,…
Nate HoldridgeApril 6, 2021
The Test of a True Believer — Love God’s People (1 John 2:6-8)
Here, we have the next claim. "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked"(2:6). In this assertion, the person who said…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 30, 2021
The Test of a True Believer — Keep God’s Word (1 John 2:4-5)
In 1 John 1, John ordered his writing by recording three claims. He started each with the phrase "if we say," followed by the claim. Here, in this passage, he…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 23, 2021
The Test of a True Believer – An Overview (1 John 2:3)
At this point in John's letter, the readers may have felt he was singling them out. He had written about those who were walking in darkness, denying the presence of…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 16, 2021
God’s Light Produces Real Help for Everyone (1 John 1:10-2:2)
Now, by this point, the claims of those who departed from the church are starting to sound very similar. (6 Minutes/1400 Words)
Nate HoldridgeMarch 9, 2021
God’s Light Produces a Chain Reaction of Grace (1 John 1:8–9)
Here, John shows us God's light produces a chain reaction of grace. We see ourselves honestly, confess our sins, and He faithfully continues His work of sanctification, shaping and molding…
Nate HoldridgeMarch 2, 2021