Brian's Sermons

The Third Word: “Dear woman, here is your son.” (John 19:25-27) We have been looking at Jesus’ seven words from the cross. His first word was a word of forgiveness. He told his followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, and even while he is being tortured to death, his heart is for those who caused his suffering. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The second word was a word of salvation. He told the criminal on the cross “Truly, today you will be with me in paradise.” He opens the door to heaven to those who will in faith accept him. Today we come to Jesus’ third word. While Jesus suffers on the cross, he is not the only one who suffers. He recognizes that there are others who are suffering along with him. What will happen to those who he leaves behind? What will happen to his disciples? Will they be able to carry on his work, or will they end up as he has? What will happen to his mother? In Jesus’ time, a woman was given her worth...

It was Friday night in Atlanta, Georgia. For two solid days, we had worshiped with 12,000 pastors and church leaders, listening to fantastic speakers and being challenged. And eating stadium food at stadium prices. We decided we wanted to eat somewhere else, somewhere authentically Atlanta. Though I was hoping for some places I saw on Man Vs. Food, they would have required an hour+ drive back into the city, and we didn’t want that. But there was another place that came recommended by the Travel Channel, authentically Atlanta, something you couldn’t get anywhere else. In fact, their website brags that they have been serving customers since 1928 – and people come from all over the world to experience… The Varsity. Now, despite being a cavernous place with a line of bored cashiers (one of whom was shouting “Whatllyahave” repeatedly, everything looked pretty good. The menu looked really good. We were all really hungry (especially since we had been waiting around all evening...