Pastor Bill's Blog

To blog or not to blog?
Now's the right time to begin an open dialog about our new study from John. My intent is to preview some of the material that we'll be covering in the coming week. But, more importantly, to hear your thoughts, even field some of your questions. So, join in the discussion. Your insights are welcome.

Pastor Bill

Not On His Own Authority

The Spirit of truth will not speak on His own authority.

That’s a curious statement ...

Good thing I didn’t make it up - it’s actually a quote from Jesus:

“… when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority ...” John 16:13

Q. If the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak on his own authority, who’s authorit...

“In that day …”

I recently noticed something in John 14 that, once I started pulling on it, got larger and took on more meaning - although I’m still not completely sure what it all means.

The verse that first got my attention was John 14:18-20:

John 14:18–20

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. ...

“… or else ...”

From what we can glean from this final, pre-cross, discussion with Jesus the disciples were struggling to get the ‘inside’ connection:

Philip: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

Jesus: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?”

Something essential had escaped their notice:

“He who has seen Me has seen the Fa...

Jesus’ Final Conversation Blog

To begin this blog about Jesus' Final Conversation, I have to admit there's a concept I have yet to get my head around. It has to do with the interpretation of "mone" as "mansions" in John 14:2:

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

When considering something as non-descript as "Heaven" we likely l...