August 10 devotion - Sermons

John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (NIV)

As a preacher of the Gospel, I put a lot of time, research, and effort into creating and writing a sermon. I try to make it both a teaching instrument, as well as a challenging one. The whole purpose of a sermon, in my opinion, is to draw someone closer to Christ. In today’s cosmopolitan world, this is not a given, even among church folks. People have so many different sources of information that it is very easy to get distracted from our Christian Gospel roots and dabble in other faiths which, although they may have some good points, actually lead people away from Christ.

            The ending of the Gospel story of the woman at the well finishes with her people becoming completely convinced that Jesus is the Savior of the entire world. They no longer need to be persuaded by her testimony; they have reached that life-changing moment for themselves. This is exactly the point of conversion that every preacher hopes their sermons will attain. It occurs when the preacher’s words become real, when the power of the Gospel actually enters the hearts and minds of the hearers of God’s Word.

            So long as I live and am able, I will continue to preach and write about the Gospel in the hope that someone, somewhere, and at some time, will make that connection to Jesus. In my opinion, it’s absolutely crucial for every person to make that decision; and it’s eternally necessary for those who want to be with Christ beyond this world.

Point to ponder

Have I accepted Jesus as the Savior of the World? If so, how do I display my faith in Him alone?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, life is beautiful and wonderful, a time and space to enjoy and explore. However, life is not a game to play, but a gift to prepare ourselves to be with You forever. Help us to both understand and accept this reality today. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s bulletin cover drawings called “I Am the Way.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Way.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. You can also send John an email to Traqair@aol.com.

June 22 devotional - The Man Who Has Everything

John 4:10      Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            The Man who has everything – that’s who Jesus was, still is, and will always be. I often wish that I could find some positive way of letting my family and friends know this amazing truth about Jesus. They all seem to be constantly striving, under a lot of pressure, and continually trying to keep on going with no real understanding about where life is headed. They are all good people and I love them dearly. I just wish that somehow I could convince them that in Jesus they would find all that their restless hearts, minds, and souls are looking for.

            I enjoy seeing their pictures on Facebook, with all of the different and wonderful experiences they have, as well as seeing the places they visit all over this planet. Yet, I sometimes wonder, when they get back from their exciting trips and amazing events, what do they think about when they are alone with their thoughts? What are their hopes and dreams? What do they ponder and wonder about their own existence? Do they have any understanding of their mortality? What beliefs do they have about life after their own inevitable deaths?

            In today’s passage, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman who has no earthly idea about who He is, what power He possesses, or how He can significantly change her life. She is surprised by His presence and even more amazed at His asking of her for some water. She knows that Jesus is Jewish, so she is startled that He is having a conversation with someone that His race was known to vehemently despise.

            At one point in the conversation, Jesus relates to her about what He can actually do for her. He could refresh her weary soul with His power. As Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            I hope and pray that all of my loved ones, my family and friends, will one day realize, recognize, and receive all that Jesus – the Man Who has everything – can actually give them. It will be a wonderful day for them, and a great blessing to me.

Questions for personal reflection

Which of my loved ones do I wish that Jesus would become their personal Savior? Am I willing to continually pray for this to occur?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me and for Your wonderful love being continually present in my life. Please help my loved ones open their own hearts and minds to Your presence, so that they may also experience the wonderful joy of truly, personally, and eternally knowing You. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest sunflower drawings called “Just Around the Corner.” If you would like to view a larger image, please click on this link: Sunflower.

Thirsty Times - John 4:13-14

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (NIV)

            The best water I’ve ever tasted came directly from my mom’s kitchen tap (faucet) in our Glasgow home. I can remember during some hot summer days running in from the backyard to stick my head under the cold tap and guzzle as much of the pure clear Scottish water in order to slake my thirst. Some folks reading this have probably done something similar as a child by drinking cold water directly from a garden hose. You feel totally refreshed within seconds and very soon your thirst is completely satisfied.

            Just like our bodies, our spirits get thirsty, too. We run ourselves ragged with all the business and responsibilities in our lives. We use up all of our energy looking after family, keeping up with work, and getting through each day. We may sometimes feel everything is uphill for a while and end up emptying ourselves emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. We need to refresh our weary souls and renew our tired spirits. In other words, we need to reconnect with God to fill ourselves up with His grace, care, and love.

            This is why Jesus talks about being living water. He is the One we can tap into in order to quench our spiritual thirst and satisfy our parched souls. He has words to comfort us, ways to guide us, and the will to refresh us. All we have to do is to trust Him and seek His living water for ourselves.

            Whatever you are facing today, however empty you feel, and wherever you go, seek Christ and receive His love, mercy, and strength.

Point to ponder

How much do I need Jesus to help me today? When can I make time to seek Him?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us completely and are aware of how empty we feel. Fill us up with Your living water and refresh our weary souls. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome and filled with Christ’s love 😊.

Today’s image is one of John’s living water drawings. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Water.

Like One of Us - John 4:6

John 4:6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. (NIV)

            Every now and then, we come across verses in the Gospels that reveal this simple truth: Jesus was not superhuman. In today’s verse, we read that Jesus was tired from the journey. He had walked many miles with His disciples to reach this part of Samaria and needed to rest for a while. The noon day sun was beating down on Him and the disciples had left Him on His own. As usual, they were hungry and had gone looking for food, instead of finding a way to get Jesus some water to refresh Him. Jesus was weak and weary which lets us know just how human He actually was.

            His rescuer is a Samaritan woman of ill-repute and the whole event becomes an opportunity of changing her life, as well as for some people in the local community. It’s a remarkable story of salvation and has been eloquently preached about for centuries, but we should always be aware that it begins with Jesus at one of His weakest moments – He is exhausted and thirsty.

            Perhaps this story is also part of a prophetic journey. At the end of His life, Christ will be exhausted after walking through the streets of Jerusalem carrying His Cross. His disciples will have abandoned Him again and when He is nailed down, His thirst will be unquenchable. It will also be a moment of salvation, this time for the whole world. His would-be rescuers – His mother and other women – will not be able to do anything for Him. His exhaustion will be extremely painful and His thirst will rage on till He dies, proving once again that Jesus was not superhuman.

            For us, knowing how human Jesus was, can give us hope, especially during times of weakness, low-energy, and exhaustion. It means that Christ truly understands our circumstances for He has also faced similar experiences. If He was superhuman, our problems and burdens would be alien to Him. However, because Jesus was truly a human being, He knows exactly what suffering, pain, and discomfort involve, so we can confidently pray to Him for help, guidance, and support, in any and every situation we face.

Point to ponder

What am I currently enduring? How can Christ help me?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, God wisely sent You to Earth to become like us in order to experience human frailty and weakness, infirmity and pain. You embraced our human condition completely so that You could redeem us fully. Thank You for Your empathy; thank You for Your sacrifice. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. You may also send John an email with questions or feedback to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalm drawings, based on Psalm 17. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm17.