John 7

"Dear Precious One, Do you really want to know whether or not I came from God or I am a fraud? First, you need to realize that is the real question....."

"Dear Friend, I know there are at least two things that can drive you crazy as a flesh and blood, flawed, mortal:People who make a snap judgment about..."

"[Teaching in the Temple, Jesus continued,] "Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me." The crowd..."

What would it have been like to be Jesus' younger brother? Phil Ware shares insight on James, the brother of Jesus, and how the resurrection completely changed his life and what he believed about Jesus.

Why do you want to make so many snap judgments about things? What we decide, especially about Jesus, is crucial and we don't need to be making snap or rash judgments.

"When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering [that Jesus must be the Messiah], they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest....."

"When the crowds heard [Jesus say that living water will flow from his heart], some of them declared, "Surely this man is the Prophet we've been..."

"But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at..."

"[When Jesus' brothers goaded him about going to Judea, he] replied, "Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can't....."

"But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus' brothers said to him, "Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see....."

"On the final and climactic day of the Feast, Jesus took his stand. He cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will....."

"On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me....."

""Have you been led astray, too?" the Pharisees mocked [to the Temple guards who said they had never heard anyone speak like Jesus]. "Is there a single..."

"On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come..."

"On the last and greatest day of the festival [the Feast of Tabernacles], Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink....."

"Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other, "Isn't [Jesus] the man they are trying to kill? But here he is, speaking in..."

"Dear Child of God, Family is important. Your spiritual family is important to you. Your physical family is important to you. Family is important to....."

Some things we just can't do! Only God can bring new life with refreshment through his holy spirit.

"[When Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, the people rejected his teaching, and] they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time....."

"On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as..."

"[When Jesus said he came from the Father,] the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. ..."

"While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I'm not here on my own. The one who sent..."

"When the Temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, "Why didn't you bring him in?" "We have..."

"Then Nicodemus, the leader who had met with Jesus earlier, spoke up [when the leading priests and Pharisees belittled having faith in Jesus]. "Is it....."

"Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. "How does he know so..."

Inspirational illustration of John 7:30-31 -- At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Still, many in the crowd put their faith in him. They said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more miraculous

Jesus knew the sting of sarcastic ridicule and unbelief from his family Phil Ware continues his Resurrection 2.0 series reminding us this week that Jesus' own family did not believe until after his resurrection.

What are you seeing as you go to church this morning? Tom Norvell reminds us that we must take a closer look and not judge on mere appearances as Jesus said.

"Dear Beloved, I know that believing in Me is not always easy or natural. So I want to remind you of My half-brother James. My apostle James had been...."

With the Holy Spirit, there never has to be a spiritual drought! Phil Ware reminds us of Jesus' promise to send us living water in the Holy Spirit, water that would never run dry and would well up in us to eternal life.

"[The leading Pharisees replied to Nicodemus,] "Are you from Galilee, too? Search the Scriptures and see for yourself — no prophet ever comes from..."

"[Some in the questioning crowd, said the following about Jesus:] "But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.""

"So Jesus told [the people at the Temple where he was teaching], "My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.""

"After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death."

"Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus, and until the last day of the feast he pleaded with the Jews, even as on this last day of the year he..."

"[Teaching in the Temple, Jesus continued,] "Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who..."

"[Teaching in the Temple, Jesus continued,] "Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.""

Inspirational illustration of John 7:27 -- But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.

Parody e-card of Sprite - Spirit - Obey Your Thirst. If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. - John 7:37

Whoever believes in me... streams of living water will flow from within him.

"Dear Disciple, Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, and a couple of disciples on the road to Emmaus weren't the only ones to meet Me on that first day of My...."

Do you think James was really there through all of this mess? Phil Ware shares some insight and background on James the brother of Jesus and how he disbelieved, but came to faith.

How do we re-charge our spiritual batteries? Muriel Larson shares some things about being spiritually dry and about an experience on a ranch where a stock pond revitalizes life around the parched desert.

Where can I get this living water? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit called SpiritFire and talks about living in the overflow of the Holy Spirit's presence.

How can the younger brother of Jesus help us find our way to hope? Phil Ware lets us journey with James, the half brother of Jesus, through the cross and resurrection to find our way to hope and confidence about our future.

Jesus wasn’t just raised from the dead; he is also now alive in us through the Holy Spirit! James Nored and Phil Ware emphasize the importance of the Holy Spirit in our resurrection from the dead.

You can believe in anything, except God? Rubel Shelly talks about our pluralistic society and our post-modern approach to truth and how one can believe in anything except God and Scripture and reminds us that being open-minded means being open minded to faith as well as non-faith.

Are you so sure you don't judge people? Rubel Shelly reminds us that we have to make correct judgments about many things and many people, the secret is not being judgmental.

Jesus wasn't just raised from the dead; he is also now alive in us through the Holy Spirit! James Nored and Phil Ware emphasize the importance of the Holy Spirit in our resurrection from the dead.

Do we feel like we have to keep up some kind of smokescreen so others won't know about our own times of emptiness and longing? Phil Ware shares a summary of Matthew's Immanuel sayings focused on experiencing Jesus today.

So is there really something good about being judgmental Rubel Shelly takes on the risky topic of being judgmental and risks saying that there are times when we must be discerning and use proper judgment.

If all we have is a once-a-year sentimental baby Jesus, then we don’t have the real Jesus and our souls remain parched and thirsty and our whole being longs for SOMEONE more! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to call us to find Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit the living water to end our soul-drought.

What are you connected to the most? We are connected to our iPhones, iPads, iTouch, iTunes, iMac, iChat, but have we lost the connection to the I AM?