Sermons by Donnie Johnson
Rooted – 1 John – Week 3
Late in his life the apostle John wrote to the Christian churches warning them of false teaching (1 John 2:18-29). This type of false teaching still hangs around today. John called those who deny Christ, the anti-Christ. Christians then and now need know and abide in the truth. Go back to the what drew you to Christ in the first place. Jesus is the living God. Be careful to not drift in your beliefs and ideas. Know who you are…
Rooted – 1 John – Week 2
There is a Christian maxim, origin unknown, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” Take sin seriously! Sin ruins. However, do not carry your sin (or others) as a burden; we have an advocate. “[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins,” meaning He has turned God’s wrath into favor through His love (1 John 2:1-2). Jesus’ love language is obedience.…
Rooted – 1 John – Week 1
Navigating in darkness has its dangers. The light offers clarity and direction. The apostle John’s first letter invites us in to God’s light; a light of truth, wisdom and cleansing. John was an eye witness, he knew Jesus. This invitation he writes of, is an invitation into fellowship with others and with God. To truly be in the light, we must acknowledge sin. Without confession, it cannot be identified and cleansed. It is a matter of continual spiritual hygiene to…
Built Together – Week 2
Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quite desperation.” That could be true, but it is an indicator that something is missing. Jesus promises more. He offers a solution to this desperation (John 10:1-18). He offered Himself so that we may know and live a full life. Jesus is the door to a full ‘zoe’ life, not just a life of existence, a life of meaning and purpose. He is the good shepherd that protects,…
Built Together
What does it really mean to be the church? In Ephesians 2:19–22, Paul describes the church not as a place we attend or something we consume, but as a family, a body, and a people God is building together. We need one another to grow in faith and to know Jesus more fully. The church will never be perfect, but it is one of the primary ways God forms us through relationships of love, encouragement, service, and belonging. The goal…
Isaiah – Week 16
In Isaiah 61, God promises good news for the brokenhearted, freedom for captives, comfort for those who mourn, and beauty instead of ashes. Centuries later, Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 in a synagogue and announced, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Isaiah’s vision is one of deep restoration. God doesn’t simply remove the signs of brokenness, He replaces them with joy, praise, strength, and a new purpose. The people who were mourning in the ashes become oaks…
Isaiah – Week 15
God offers a grand invitation that is recorded in Isaiah 55. The voice resonates all they way back from Eden and is found in the mouth of Jesus (John 4:1-15; John 7:37-38). “Come, everyone who thirsts.” See, we have a tendency to want to do it ourselves. Just like Jeremiah warned (2:13) we build cisterns that cannot hold water. There is only one source. All of heaven knows it, and longingly watch this story of redemption play out (1 Peter…
Isaiah – Week 12
There are four places that ‘The Servant’ is the identified in the book of Isaiah. Here, in chapter 49, is the second time. These words, written 700 years ago, point to Christ. Now, prophecy doesn’t seem very scientific, but science is asking different questions than faith. The two are compatible – for here are the very words found on document near the Dead sea that are hundreds of years older than Jesus was born, yet is obviously writing about the…
Isaiah – Week 11
Choose this day who you will serve, as for me it is the Lord (Joshua 24:14-15). It may seem like the idols we read about are long gone and we need not worry about falling prey to such things, but they are still as strong as ever. They have gone underground. Our idols may not be made of stone and wood, but we are idol factories, and we were built to worship. In Isaiah 44:9-20, God puts Israel on trial…
Isaiah – Week 10
There is a common phrase that runs counterfeit to biblical wisdom. “You have to find yourself.” Many of us ask some hard identity questions, “who am I, where do I fit in, and how can I make a difference.” Israel had a similar struggle understanding who they were; first we must understand who God is (Isaiah 43). God knows you. Do not fear, you are precious to Him (Numbers 6:23-27). You are His Children and He has a new exodus…
Isaiah – Week 9
Who is this servant that is written about in Isaiah 42:1-9? We know now it is a prophetic description of Jesus and His perfect and gentle leadership on earth (Matthew 11:28-30). Matthew (12:1-21) quotes this verse in Isaiah regarding the way Christ will not break those who are bruised, and will not snuff out those who are struggling. In fact, Jesus will grow that reed into spiritual strength and fan the dimming flames into a fire for Him.
Isaiah – Week 7
What do we do with seemingly impossible, extremely stressful circumstances? Maybe a bill we can’t pay, or illness that is dire. Even though Hezekiah was a good king, reestablishing the temple worship, he was put in a very desperate situation when he received a letter from Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. He was next on the list for destruction and torture (Isaiah 36:1-22). His response is opposite of his father Ahab (who did not go to the Lord, but depended…