Prairie Bible Church Messages Prairie Bible Church

The Gospels record 37 miracles of Jesus, and 28 of the 37 (over 75 percent) involve him healing people. Jesus healed friends, strangers, and even opponents. He continued to heal people until the very end of his life. In his last hours, he heals the high priest’s servant sent to arrest him. Chronologically, this passage is the first healing miracle of Jesus. And what was the purpose? That we would believe: “The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.” (Jn 4:53)
 
Take-Home Message: Jesus heals so that we will believe.
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
The Context (43-47)The Conversation (48-51)
 The Official Was… DesperateDeterminedDecisive
The Conversion (52-54) 
Scripture: Jesus Heals an Official’s Son
 
Scripture: John 4:43-54
 
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
 
Prairiebible.org

Radical encounters with Jesus cause us to do radical things for Jesus. The Bible is full of examples, such as Paul’s miraculous conversion and immediate preaching in Damascus (Acts 9:20-22). Perhaps nothing captures this better than the Samaritan woman testifying to her town after encountering Jesus at the well. God rewarded her radical faith— her boldness led to a revival!
 Take-Home Message: Encountering Jesus changes you.
 The Woman at the Well: Part 2
- An Unlikely Witness (27-30)
- The Disciples’ Confusion (31-33)
- The Disciples’ Lesson (34-38)
- An Unlikely Harvest (39-42)


 Message: Encountering Jesus Changes You


 Scripture: John 4:27-42


 Simple. Authentic. Jesus.


 Prairiebible.org

God could do things in ways that we would expect, but He often doesn’t do that. Why? Because if God did things in expected ways, that would be a story about us. But God does things in unexpected ways so that we know it is a story about God. Part of God’s unexpected plan is to pursue the most unlikely people, and Jesus illustrates this in His pursuit of the Samaritan woman.
 
Take-Home Message: Jesus reveals Himself in unexpected ways at unexpected times to unexpecting people.
 
The Woman at the Well:
The Background (1-4)
 What caused such division between Jews and Samaritans?
 Different race Different doctrine Different place of worship Past Grievances 
The Pursuit (5-10)The Response (11-15)The Reveal (16-26) 
Message: The Woman at the Well
 
Scripture: John 4:1-26
 
Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
 
Prairiebible.org

If Jesus had left the comfort of Heaven and lived a life of royalty on earth to save us, that alone would be the world’s greatest act of humility. But Jesus went far beyond that. He left Heaven and took the form of a servant, humbling Himself to the point of death on a cross. This is unfathomable humility and love. In the face of such greatness, what can we do but fall on our faces and worship? For Jesus is superior to all.
 
Take-Home Message: Jesus loves you so much that He left Heaven to save you.
 
Jesus left Heaven to be… 
Rejected by man (31-32).Glorified by the Father (33-35).
 I am here:
 By God’s appointmentIn His keeping Under His training For His timeThe Only Way to Heaven (36). Message: The Heavenly Witness
Scripture:  John 3:31-36
 Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
 Prairiebible.org

“It is not enough for the skeptic, then, to simply dismiss the Christian teaching about the resurrection of Jesus by saying, “It just couldn’t have happened.” He or she must face and answer all these historical questions: Why did Christianity emerge so rapidly, with such power? No other band of messianic followers in that era concluded their leader was raised from the dead—why did this group do so? No group of Jews ever worshipped a human being as God. What led them to do it?... How do you account for the hundreds of eyewitnesses to the resurrection who lived on for decades and publicly maintained their testimony, eventually giving their lives for their belief?” -Keller
 The resurrection has evidence that demands a verdict. If the resurrection did not happen, we Christians are still in our sins and the most miserable people of all (1 Cor. 15:19). But an honest appraisal of the evidence makes clear that the resurrection really did happen, and that changes everything. 
 Take-Home Message: Because Jesus is alive, we have hope.
 The Reality of the Resurrection
- An Angel Appears (1-4)
- The Empty Tomb (5-8)
- Jesus Appears (9-10)
Christ’s appearances between his resurrection and ascensionTo Mary Magdalene at the tomb (Mk. 16:9; Jn. 20:11-18)To the women on the road (Matt. 28:9-10)To the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-32)To Peter (Lk. 24:34)To 10 of the 11 disciples (Thomas absent) (Lk. 24:36-43; Mk. 16:14; Jn 20:19-25)To the 11 disciples (Thomas present) eight days later (Jn 20:26-31)To seven disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Jn 21:1-25)To more than 500 disciples, probably on a mountain in Galilee (1 Cor 15:6)To James (1 Cor. 15:7)To the apostles when he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:3-11). Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10   28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.
 Simple. Authentic. Jesus.
 Prairiebible.org

A funeral for Jesus Christ