John 1:9-30

"Dear Disciple, John the Baptist was an incredible person. He was brave. He was honest. He spoke the truth no matter the consequences. He lived to..."

Can we really break the code? While there is much ado about the Da Vinci code, the real proof of Christianity's vitality and truth to the younger generation will be seen our living of the truth of Jesus.

"The one who is the true light [Jesus Christ], who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but...."

Inspirational illustration of John 1:14-18 -- grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God,a but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Show me, I'm tired of just hearing talk! Phil Ware continues his C2K or church to Kingdom series emphasizing that our message must be lived, displayed, and demonstrated and not just spoken.

Take a look at this baby and see God... in a manger, come to be with us! Max reminds us that a baby makes us do crazy things at Christmas and this baby should help us see God!

Have you found out what is truly amazing this time of year? Jesus is the reminder of God's unconditional love and willingness to search and sacrifice to find us and bring us home as our love-sick father.

His coming divided the history of the world into two parts Every man's life is divided into "Before Christ" and "After Christ." We come to know of him, we learn about him, then we decide. We decide to reject him and all that he stands for. Or we believe in him, and receive all that he has to offer.

That is God with curly dark brown hair and wood shavings in his hair and callouses on his hands. That is God come live among us. Phil Ware challenges us to remember that Jesus was God made touchable and that Communion makes God touchable to us again.

What are we supposed to do about Christmas? Knowing what to do about the birth of Jesus is quite a dilemma, however, we do need to acknowledge he was born and respond appropriately.

"This was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, "Who are you?" He came right out and...."

"John told [the Pharisees who asked him what right he had to baptize], "I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not..."

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the..."

At a place with great spiritual and physical significance, Jesus challenged his followers to decide about his identity. James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us to answer the same question Jesus asked his first followers at Caesarea Philippi: 'Who do you say I am?'

"Dear Child of God, The fifty days between My resurrection and Pentecost were important. I appeared to My closest disciples on several occasions, and...."

"Dear Friend, Ouch! You sent a text to someone, and he or she didn't understand your humor. You left a voicemail that was supposed to be cute, but..."

Why would Jesus face all that he faced when He could have stopped it with a word? Max Lucado reminds us of the gift Jesus gives us with the cross and resurrection.

What else can you say, but thank you? Phil Ware shares a collection of Scriptures that talk about the significance of Jesus' birth.

In the middle of our grief, loss, and brokenness, we must remember that we are not alone in our brokenness. Phil Ware reminds us that God shares our pain in our worst moments of grief and loss, God is heartbroken with us.

"From [the Word's] abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love..."

"Dear Disciple, In the verses below, I want you to notice a few things about the ongoing contentious dealings I had with the religious leaders. They....."

"To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human..."

"To all who received [the Word, that is Jesus Christ], to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of..."

"[After John the Baptizer said he wasn't the Messiah, Elijah, or the Prophet, the people sent by the Jewish leaders to him said,] "Then who are you? We..."

"But to all who believed [Jesus, the Word] and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn — not with a physical birth...."

"[Jesus, the Word] came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him."

"Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked [John the Baptizer], "If you aren't the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to..."

Inspirational illustration of John 1:12-13 -- To all who received him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

"Dear Disciple, I love the way My beloved disciple you know as John describes My coming to earth: "The Voice took on flesh and became human and chose...."

Mary's simple life was about to come to a dramatic end! Phil Ware finishes the year 2012 with two powerful posts or articles about Jesus' birth and the people gathered around him, and emphasizes that God's greatest beginnings are found in hard endings.

God has blessed us with many gifts, but the greatest of all gifts was God coming to us in Jesus of Nazareth! Christmas card and thank you from the Heartlight.org and VerseoftheDay.com team.

The beloved disciple wants us to know and love Jesus like he does! Phil Ware looks at the gospel of John chapter 1 and reflects on all the titles, names, and descriptions given to Jesus in this one chapter and what it really means for us.

"Dear Disciple, Have you really made room in your heart for Me? I'm not talking about thinking about Me during the Christmas season. I'm asking if..."

"Dear Friend, If you listened carefully to My servants, the prophets found in your Old Testament, you heard strong hints and amazing promises of grace..."

"Dear Child of God, One of the most amazing things about My story is that I created the mother who gave birth to Me. Like every person who has ever..."

At a place with great spiritual and physical significance, Jesus challenged his followers to decide about his identity. James Nored and Phil Ware challenge us to answer the same question Jesus asked his first followers at Caesarea Philippi: 'Who do you say I am?'

In a year of trouble, sorrow, isolation, and loss, our prayer is that you can experience the presence of Immanuel in your life! Phil Ware shares the Heartlight.org and VerseoftheDay.com Christmas prayer with all their readers.

"No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us."

"No one has ever seen God. But the unique One [Jesus], who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us."

"[About Jesus, John the Baptizer said,] "He is the one I was talking about when I said, 'A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he...."

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the..."

"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..."

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only [Son], who is at the Father's side, has made him known."

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!""

"John testified about [the Word, Jesus] when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me..."

"These words tell us that there is a fulness in Christ. There is a fulness of essential Deity, for "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead."..."

"Believer, you can bear your testimony that Christ is the only begotten of the Father, as well as the first begotten from the dead. You can say, "He is..."

Inspirational illustration of John 1:14 -- Command them [the rich] to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Inspirational illustration of John 1:18 -- No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Inspirational illustration of John 1:11 -- He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Inspirational illustration of John 1:14 -- The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Why is it so hard to say? We all have the fear of being rejected by the one we love, but Jesus knows this fear best.

You offer the invitation, and Jesus brings the blessing! Max Lucado reminds us that Christ is our hope and that we can invite him into our lives anew, and to stay, this Christmas.

How honest are you? Let's make sure our words are true and fair and honest, completely.

Do you feel just a little above average? God has always and will always use ordinary people to do his work!

How do you approach God? Phil talks about when his son Zachary was born hurt and how his voice as a father comforted his son and how we as God's children can approach God as Abba Father.

"Dear Friend, The text in the Verses to Live section comes from two different places. I want you to read them together to help you understand two very..."

Don't you hate to have to choose! Phil Ware talks about Jesus' identity, our reluctance to choose, and how we have to choose one way or the other about Jesus' identity.

God spoke His greatest message with just one Word! Phil Ware talks about why he and about 100 others go to Peru each year when it costs so much.

Advent is the celebration of Jesus' coming to earth as Immanuel, God with us in human flesh! Phil Ware shares Scriptures and James Nored shares an inspirational video regarding the blessings and significance of Advent, Jesus' coming to earth as God in human flesh as our Savior and Lord.

So we know a lot about Jesus' birth, but what does it mean? Phil Ware gets us back into The Story by taking us to Jesus' birth and looking from the prologue of the Gospel of John to try to understand what it means.

What's going on here with our traditions? Rubel Shelly reminds us of what is most important and truthful and what is legend about the Christmas story.

It's not the road you think, but it's the destination you seek! Phil Ware goes over a number of inaccuracies that have crept in to our telling of the story of Jesus at Christmas, but reminds us that the main thing is that Jesus came for everyone and the more we know the story, the more we know it is true.

"John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was..."

Jesus longs to be born again into our world in me? Jesus wasn't just born into our world in the womb of Mary, but he longs to be born into our world again in each individual Christian the Holy Spirit gives birth to in the world.

Some things you have to believe or you have nothing worth believing in! Phil Ware continues his series on I AM, God's handwritten messages from heaven and focuses on the bottom line faith requirement -- Jesus is God come in human flesh.

All hotel rooms look alike We were made to be in relationship with one another. We were made to be in relationship with God. In fact, God's plan is that we be adopted into His family.

Does this make sense to you? Russ Lawson gives us an insight into Jesus' ministry by comparing him to a human interface device -- a keyboard.

You've been invited to be a part of God's family God has invited each of us to come and be a part of His family

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling..."

Are we really willing to make Jesus the center of our life. Phil Ware reminds us that Jesus is the center of everything, our salvation, our time, our hope, but will we make Jesus the center of our lives?

What is the purpose of God sending Jesus? Tom Norvell looks at our humanity and sees behind it all our need for Jesus.

How do we recognize God when He shows up in our world? Phil Ware takes an incident of love and laughter with his foster grandson and learns a powerful insight into God, who chose to let us see his face and hear his voice in Jesus.

How can faith be romantic? Rubel Shelly shares insight on the difference between Jewish thinking and Graeco-Roman thinking and how impacts the way we view Christian faith which should be romantic faith.

What touches you most about Jesus? Paul Faulkner reminds us that Jesus attracts us to God because of his vulnerability and humanity.

Can you find heaven's grace in this changing of seasons? A surprising winter snow gives Phil the opportunity to think about the changes of seasons and the falling of grace on us all with the birth of Jesus.

How will people who do know about the Bible find out about the God who created them and who yearns for a relationship with them? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a full online DIY worship through words and music using YouTube videos to

Jesus came to earth, lived as one of us, and died a horrible death of shame and humiliation on the cross so we could be in his family. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to celebrate and focus upon what it means to be a child of God who can approach Jesus as an older brother and God as Abba Father.

Jesus picked this beginning because he knew our idols would someday reek of perfectionism and opulence, of measuring up and looking the part, of vanity. Jordan shares this powerful post that was highlighted on The Today Show with our Heartlight.org audience.

Have you invited him in? Max Lucado reminds us to make our heart a manger and every day Christmas.

Without hesitation, no warm-up required, she told her story of betrayal and rejection. Ron Rose is back at Black Rifle Coffee, being the available friend and pastor to folks who drop in with a story to tell, this time it's a lady who's been dumped and betrayed and Ron Reminds her of her need for God, and he will be available to be the skin

God alone had earned the right to speak truth into their lives, compassion into their hearts, and righteousness into their behaviors. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the importance of the 10 Commandments and the two divine principles of God and Jesus and call us to live them in our daily lives.

How can God know experientially how hard life can sometimes be for us? James Nored and Phil Ware remind us to push past the glittering lights and see that God came to be one of us in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

God is worthy of all our praise — more than our finite minds and inadequate vocabulary can muster. So, how can we praise God appropriately? Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to worship God with all that we are and have and say.

Will I follow on the journey, or will I choose to let where I am, where I'm comfortable, and what I have hold me in bondage? James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the call of the Lord to leave and follow no matter the cost.

Jesus didn't come to earth to be protected from life's harshest realities, but entered into mortality to share it all with us — the good, the bad, the ugly, and the painful! James and Phil continue their series on The Story of Redemption by focusing on the birth of Jesus and what it means for us.

The Holy Spirit gives birth to Lord in the heart of each new Christian and longs to bring that new follower of Christ to full maturity in Jesus. Phil Ware challenges us to enter the mystery of the conception and birth of Jesus the Messiah with Mary and find ourselves caught up in the story of Jesus with her.

The Holy Spirit gives birth to Lord in the heart of each new Christian and longs to bring that new follower of Christ to full maturity in Jesus. Phil Ware challenges us to enter the mystery of the conception and birth of Jesus the Messiah with Mary and find ourselves caught up in the story of Jesus with her.

Is there truth that can be trusted? Jesus is the only absolute -- truth is found only in him.

Without Jesus at the center of our faith, we are left with only an empty form of religion. Phil Ware talks about what is most important about the Bible and the focus of Scripture and the answer is simple: Jesus must be the center of everything.

It sure is hard doing the right thing. Doing the right thing is hard, but the retirement benefits make it worth the effort -- just ask Jesus!

God has given his people many great and precious promises over the centuries. We choose to celebrate several of those promises today! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual, DIY worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us that God longs to be gracious to us if we wait in prayer for him to act.

Why all the talk about the Passion? God loves us so much that he sent his Son to save us.

Why were the scars so important to the early disciples' faith? Phil Ware looks at Jesus' showing his disciples the scars on his hands and side to prove he was alive, resurrected from the dead.

"Dear Follower, I came into the world as the Light of the World. That means I came to bring true light. So much light around you is dim and full of..."

God sent his Son to where we were. Jesus did the difficult thing when he left heaven and came to earth. He did it because that was where we were.

What makes your identity secure We don't find our identity in our roles or our status. Our identity is found in Jesus Christ.

What's your story? You've got a story. It's a unique story that's being written every day. But your story needs an ending, a happy ending. And I know that the only way your story can end happily is if you make your story part of God's story.

Jesus had many opportunities to walk away from the shame and pain of the cross, but he chose the Father's will and our need over his comfort. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us of the dark night that began the long, painful, and lonely journey of Jesus through his Passion to bring us to God and helped define the way of Jesus through the cross to the empty tomb.

What is most important for us to believe and do as disciples of Jesus, today? Phil Ware begins a series of messages on what is core, or what is at the heart of what we must believe and do to be true disciples of Jesus, today.

What really matters to the emerging group of young adults? Rather than fearing the new group of young adults, we should embrace them and hope to influence them for Christ.

Will you really make it home for Christmas? The message for singles this Christmas is that there IS a home for you, and there IS someone there for you.

Now that the Christmas lights are put away, aren't you ready to meet the real Jesus? The coming of Christ is a violent grace that heads to a violent end and if we listen to the birth stories of Jesus we can find there a real Savior who lived in our all too real world.

God came to earth as Jesus of Nazareth. God chose to come to us as one of us. Phil Ware shares the Heartlight.org team's reading plan for December to help prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus.

Without the Holy Spirit, how can there be new life? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit with a focus on being born of the Spirit and its ties to faith, baptism, and repentance.

Can I really know Jesus? Phil Ware continues his series on The Andrew Effect focused on connecting others with Jesus as our life's mission.

Surely Jesus is talking about something other than evangelism? Phil Ware continues his LifeWORDS series and shares Jesus' Great Commission as a call to incarnational ministry and not just evangelism.

"Dear Beloved, One of the great blessings that you have received from Us — Father, Son, and Spirit — is the Bible, the "holy Scriptures."...."

Why do we love the darkness so much? Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus, I AM, and his claim to be God with us, who brings light into our lives.

Jesus is God made touchable! Phil Ware introduces his trip to Comunidad de Los Niños Sagrada Familia in Lima, Peru, and the children that Jesus wants touched with his grace.

Why settle for a past-tense God when the Lord longs to move through us with power from the Holy Spirit? Phil Ware and Demetrius Collins lead us into worship through songs, Communion, and the Word God, inviting us to realize that God's presence and power are still available to us today and we can ask God to do again in our day what he did in days of old thro