Trinity Arcadia Methodist Church

Pastor's Blog

The Once-Was-But-Now-Is Church

“Jesus heard that they had put him out; and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “And who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And He worshipped Him. John 9:35-38

For the past three blogs we have been following the man born blind from birth who was miraculously healed by Jesus as recorded in John Nine. We have also seen how many of the church folks (the Jewish Pharisees and scribes) resisted the truth that not only Jesus healed this man, but He did so by the power of God for He was and is, God!

There are two types of OWBNI churches (see title of blog). One is the church where Jesus was once followed and worshipped as Lord but no longer is. Perhaps this church has become Pharisaic. The other is the church where Jesus was not first-place in the lives, mission, and service of the congregation, but now is through the movement and the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Notice how Jesus Himself went to seek out a man who had a heart to become a Christian although the church had kicked him out because of his interest in Jesus!

A growing and passionate OWBNI church seeks the hurting and the lost. They are intentional about going beyond their walls to seek the spiritually blind with the Good news of the gospel! Notice how this man came to the Lord; from first seeing his as “a man” to “a prophet” to the “Son of Man”—Jesus favorite designation of himself which linked His mission to earth: the cross!
Praise be to our Savior, who first sought us out while were yet sinners and patiently loved us along the way!
Pastor Louie

The Bread that Cometh Down from Heaven, Part 1

“Jesus therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you to the true bread out of heaven. “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33
Jesus spoke these words to a crowd of people who had assembled on one side of the Sea of Galilee at the city of Capernaum. The day before, they had witnessed Jesus miraculously feed 5,000 men (plus women and children) a good meal taken from only five barley loaves and two small fish given him by a young boy. You might say each received a Hungry Man’s Dinner portion with twelve baskets needed to hold the leftovers (See John 6:12)!
But once they had found Jesus on the other side of the lake (today’s Scripture), Jesus said they were only looking for him because they had been fed the loaves and fish the day before, but He also reminded them that the most important food wasn’t physical, but spiritual and eternal. He also told them that although they were recalling the manna-bread God provided and sustained His people with in the wilderness on their way to the Promise Land (See Exodus 16), that bread didn’t last, but He Himself was the true bread of God that cometh down from heaven and that He Himself would satisfy them now and forever!
Is Jesus the true source of your daily strength, hope, joy, and peace? Take courage! John tells us, Jesus not only came to give life to the world, He came to offer life to you and to me! (See John 3:16-17).
Pastor Louie