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Upcoming Sermons & Devotional Message
NOVEMBER SERMONS 2026
11-1- Giants Shoulders
Hebrews 11:32-40 Hebrews 12:1-2
11-8- Presiding Elder Randy Bain Preaching
11-15- Put Me In The Pool
Numbers 21:1-4 John 5:1-9
11-22- The Table
Exodus 16:1-4 Matthew 14:15-21
11-29- Jesus Is Coming
Malachi 4:5-6 Luke 1:5-17
Devotional Message : These will change 1-2 times a week. Stop by often to read the new message.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE CENTRALITY OF JESUS
The words Jesus used to describe himself have always fascinated me. In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes himself using seven different “I AM” statements.
“I AM the bread of life.” (John 6:35)
“I AM the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
“I AM the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7)
“I AM the good shepherd.” (John 10:11)
“I AM the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
“I AM the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)
“I AM the vine.” (John 15:5)
Although these descriptive statements are interesting, the combination of noun and verb that begins each declaration: “I AM” reveals their greatest depth. In each case, the subject of the sentence gives great significance to the predicate.
To the first-century Jew, this was a revolutionary declaration. Historically, I AM was the name God told Moses to use when Pharoah asked who sent him to release God’s people. God told Moses, “Tell him I AM sent you.”
Jesus’ use of “I AM” was a declaration that God was once again working in human history to deliver His people. Each of these “I AM” statements makes clear the central message of Jesus Christ was—Himself. Jesus was selfless—but His message was completely self-centered. And yet, it’s right for Jesus to be self-centered because He really is the center. “I AM” has come.
What if the sun decided not to be the center of the solar system? What if the Earth decided not to revolve around the Sun? It’s good for the sun to be the center and for the Earth to revolve around it. And it’s good for Jesus to be the center and for us to revolve around Him. The incident involving Adam and Eve in the Garden occurred because they/we decided to be the center and have the world revolve around them/us. But that arrangement hasn’t worked out very well for most of human history.
Place Jesus in the center, my friends. “I AM” deserves nothing less.
Bishop Jeff Greenway