John 7:9-31

"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....."

"[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..."

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.

"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..."

"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..."

"[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....."

"[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..."

"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

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.

"[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.""

"[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.

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

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.

"[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....."

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.

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?