God Answers Prayer, 3 August 2025
God Answers Prayer
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
August 3, 2025
Jonah 2:1-10
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: It is possible to praise God without fully following Him.
Scripture Reading: Jonah 1:17-2:2
Prayer is one of the most fundamental aspects of faith. It is certainly not unique to the Christian faith, as people of other religions pray to their god or gods. Although I prefer to think of prayer as talking with God or even better doing life with God, prayer as a noun could be described as a collection of words spoken to God. It’s not surprising then that the Bible is filled with prayers that have been recorded for us. There are around 200 specific prayers contained in the scriptures, including the psalms and the prayers of Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Stephen, Paul, and, of course, Jesus.
You can learn a lot about a person by listening to them pray. Our words express our heart, our attitude, and often our beliefs. If we can’t be honest with God…
Today we’re going to explore what must be the prayer prayed in the most unusual place in history.
Last Sunday we concluded the first chapter of the book of Jonah with these words:
Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
There are many incredible things about this sentence. I can’t imagine being in a fish for three minutes, much less three days and nights. What did Jonah do during those 72 hours or so? How did he keep track of the time?!
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. (Jonah 2:1)
Jonah prayed to his God, the LORD. I’m sure God had Jonah’s attention! He’s no longer running from God but running to God.
This morning, are you running from God or to God?
What would you pray from inside a fish? Here’s what Jonah prayed…
He said:
“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 2:2)
Wait! He didn’t begin with, “Get me out of this smelly fish?” He recognizes the blessing of the fish that saved his life. Spoiler alert: the original Hebrew word for distress is the same used for the travail of childbirth, as in a child about to be born. He was all but dead, yet he will be reborn, so to speak.
Have you ever been in a jam? Have you ever called to God for help? God will always listen to our calls for help. He loves us…even when it doesn’t feel like it. Often like Jonah, we wander—or run—and God uses things to get our attention because…He loves us. He wants a relationship with you and me. Every good dad wants to enjoy his kids. Our heavenly Father loves us. Oh, how He loves us!
You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me. (Jonah 2:3)
That’s a vibrant description of Jonah’s journey!
I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’ (Jonah 2:4)
He turns to God in his distress.
The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head. (Jonah 2:5)
Some of you would rather die than have seaweed wrapped around your head!
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, LORD my God,
brought my life up from the pit. (Jonah 2:6)
I love that picture of mountains having roots in the sea! The LORD brought his life up from the pit. It reminds me of King David’s words of Psalm 40:
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 40:1-2)
Jonah continues…
“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple. (Jonah 2:7)
It’s funny how people remember God when they’re facing death. I wonder if there are any true atheists when an airplane is about to crash! I thought I was going to die when the airplane I was on filled with smoke. Fortunately, we were on the ground, but we had to evacuate, jumping off the wing of the plane. I doubt I was the only one praying as our ability to breathe diminished prior to the emergency exit doors opening!
So far, Jonah's prayer has been written in the past-tense. God spared his life. The very fish that could’ve brought about his death instead sustained his life. Like us, he is saved but not completely delivered. He’s not on dry land, but in the awkward (and smelly) in-between. Followers of Jesus have been saved, but we’ve not yet arrived at our final destination. We live in the tension of being in between the first and second comings of Jesus.
Now Jonah makes a present declaration.
“Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them. (Jonah 2:8)
This is a brilliant statement. It surely comes from Jonah’s experience.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’ ” (Jonah 2:9)
Jonah has done a 180. He’s gone from running away to praise, from disobedience to sacrifice. He’s got his head on straight, he’s come to his senses, he’s right where God wants him, fully surrendered.
Or does he? It took me some study to realize Jonah never repents. He praises God for sparing his life, but at no point does he acknowledge his disobedience in running from God—and the Ninevites. He is able to love God, but not his neighbor as himself. This is as challenge for many of us. Sometimes it’s easier to love God, sing songs, pray prayers…but love that person? Those people? “You just don’t understand,” we protest.
Jonah is a complex character who may reveal much about our own hearts. He certainly knew the right answers. He had good theology. But his heart was not fully surrendered to God. And his mission was not complete. We’ll continue next week, but let’s not miss the end of chapter two.
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2:10)
What a vivid verse!
So What?
Jonah’s poetic prayer makes many important declarations about God and His character during his three days in the fish. What seemed like a place of death for him became a source of deliverance. The same could be said of the cross.
Jesus said prior to the crucifixion,
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)
As we prepare to remember the cross, let me offer a caution:
It is possible to praise God without fully following Him.
It reminds me to the words of Isaiah quoted by Jesus,
The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me. (Isaiah 29:13)
We can go to church. We can take communion. We can give our time and money. But what God wants most of all is your heart. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
Jonah was saved by a fish. We are saved by a cross.
Today we remember that Jesus gave everything for us, even his very life. How will you respond? Eat the bread and remember his body. Drink the cup and remember his blood. But let’s not stop there. We love God because He first loved us…and we love our neighbors as ourselves because God loves them, too.
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
August 3, 2025
Jonah 2:1-10
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: It is possible to praise God without fully following Him.
Scripture Reading: Jonah 1:17-2:2
Prayer is one of the most fundamental aspects of faith. It is certainly not unique to the Christian faith, as people of other religions pray to their god or gods. Although I prefer to think of prayer as talking with God or even better doing life with God, prayer as a noun could be described as a collection of words spoken to God. It’s not surprising then that the Bible is filled with prayers that have been recorded for us. There are around 200 specific prayers contained in the scriptures, including the psalms and the prayers of Abraham, Moses, Solomon, Stephen, Paul, and, of course, Jesus.
You can learn a lot about a person by listening to them pray. Our words express our heart, our attitude, and often our beliefs. If we can’t be honest with God…
Today we’re going to explore what must be the prayer prayed in the most unusual place in history.
Last Sunday we concluded the first chapter of the book of Jonah with these words:
Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
There are many incredible things about this sentence. I can’t imagine being in a fish for three minutes, much less three days and nights. What did Jonah do during those 72 hours or so? How did he keep track of the time?!
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. (Jonah 2:1)
Jonah prayed to his God, the LORD. I’m sure God had Jonah’s attention! He’s no longer running from God but running to God.
This morning, are you running from God or to God?
What would you pray from inside a fish? Here’s what Jonah prayed…
He said:
“In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 2:2)
Wait! He didn’t begin with, “Get me out of this smelly fish?” He recognizes the blessing of the fish that saved his life. Spoiler alert: the original Hebrew word for distress is the same used for the travail of childbirth, as in a child about to be born. He was all but dead, yet he will be reborn, so to speak.
Have you ever been in a jam? Have you ever called to God for help? God will always listen to our calls for help. He loves us…even when it doesn’t feel like it. Often like Jonah, we wander—or run—and God uses things to get our attention because…He loves us. He wants a relationship with you and me. Every good dad wants to enjoy his kids. Our heavenly Father loves us. Oh, how He loves us!
You hurled me into the depths,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me. (Jonah 2:3)
That’s a vibrant description of Jonah’s journey!
I said, ‘I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.’ (Jonah 2:4)
He turns to God in his distress.
The engulfing waters threatened me,
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head. (Jonah 2:5)
Some of you would rather die than have seaweed wrapped around your head!
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, LORD my God,
brought my life up from the pit. (Jonah 2:6)
I love that picture of mountains having roots in the sea! The LORD brought his life up from the pit. It reminds me of King David’s words of Psalm 40:
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand. (Psalm 40:1-2)
Jonah continues…
“When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple. (Jonah 2:7)
It’s funny how people remember God when they’re facing death. I wonder if there are any true atheists when an airplane is about to crash! I thought I was going to die when the airplane I was on filled with smoke. Fortunately, we were on the ground, but we had to evacuate, jumping off the wing of the plane. I doubt I was the only one praying as our ability to breathe diminished prior to the emergency exit doors opening!
So far, Jonah's prayer has been written in the past-tense. God spared his life. The very fish that could’ve brought about his death instead sustained his life. Like us, he is saved but not completely delivered. He’s not on dry land, but in the awkward (and smelly) in-between. Followers of Jesus have been saved, but we’ve not yet arrived at our final destination. We live in the tension of being in between the first and second comings of Jesus.
Now Jonah makes a present declaration.
“Those who cling to worthless idols
turn away from God’s love for them. (Jonah 2:8)
This is a brilliant statement. It surely comes from Jonah’s experience.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’ ” (Jonah 2:9)
Jonah has done a 180. He’s gone from running away to praise, from disobedience to sacrifice. He’s got his head on straight, he’s come to his senses, he’s right where God wants him, fully surrendered.
Or does he? It took me some study to realize Jonah never repents. He praises God for sparing his life, but at no point does he acknowledge his disobedience in running from God—and the Ninevites. He is able to love God, but not his neighbor as himself. This is as challenge for many of us. Sometimes it’s easier to love God, sing songs, pray prayers…but love that person? Those people? “You just don’t understand,” we protest.
Jonah is a complex character who may reveal much about our own hearts. He certainly knew the right answers. He had good theology. But his heart was not fully surrendered to God. And his mission was not complete. We’ll continue next week, but let’s not miss the end of chapter two.
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. (Jonah 2:10)
What a vivid verse!
So What?
Jonah’s poetic prayer makes many important declarations about God and His character during his three days in the fish. What seemed like a place of death for him became a source of deliverance. The same could be said of the cross.
Jesus said prior to the crucifixion,
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)
As we prepare to remember the cross, let me offer a caution:
It is possible to praise God without fully following Him.
It reminds me to the words of Isaiah quoted by Jesus,
The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me. (Isaiah 29:13)
We can go to church. We can take communion. We can give our time and money. But what God wants most of all is your heart. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30)
Jonah was saved by a fish. We are saved by a cross.
Today we remember that Jesus gave everything for us, even his very life. How will you respond? Eat the bread and remember his body. Drink the cup and remember his blood. But let’s not stop there. We love God because He first loved us…and we love our neighbors as ourselves because God loves them, too.
Jonah Runs, 27 July 2025
Jonah Runs
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
July 27, 2025
Jonah 1:1-17
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: We have the freedom to fight, flee, or follow God’s call.
Scripture Reading: Jonah 1:1-3
The Bible is not a book. It’s a library. There are letters, instructions, poems, prophecies, and stories—incredible stories! We’re going to spend the next four weeks looking at one of the most fascinating of them all. It is controversial. It is referenced by Jesus. It has drama and action and God speaking and…a very abrupt ending!
Many of you know the story of Jonah. Or do you? Jonah is certainly one of the most well-known characters in the Bible. Before we dive in, let’s begin with some background. Jonah was a prophet from Gath Hepher near the Sea of Galilee while Jeroboam II reigned over the ten northern tribes from 786-746 B.C.
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:1-2)
Jonah is considered a minor prophet, not because he is less important than a major prophet, but rather because this book is much shorter than books such as Isaiah and Ezekiel. God speaks to Jonah and tells him to go…to Nineveh…to preach against it and its wickedness.
Prophets are not necessarily future-tellers but forth-tellers. They are called by God to speak, announce, proclaim…and generally, it’s not good news. The one-word message of many prophets is…repent! Turn! Change! Return to God!
The life of a prophet is not enviable. They disrupt. They annoy. Much of the time, they are rejected. People-pleasers need not apply! This was not an easy assignment. Rarely did God offer cushy jobs to prophets!
But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. (Jonah 1:3)
Someone has said if you want to run from God, satan will always give you a ride!
I don’t want to give too much away, but it was not fear of rejection that caused Jonah to head in the opposite direction of God’s instructions. Note to the wise: do not try to run away from the LORD. It never goes well.
I thought of Jonah on more than one occasion when God called Heather and me to make a major life decision, particularly two relocations. Moving to Findlay last year was one of them. I wanted to be sure we were moving at God’s calling and not simply the urging of friends. As many of you know, I was not particularly excited about moving to Findlay, but I didn’t want to follow Jonah into disobedience…and I certainly didn’t want to experience the detour he took!
I must add, Heather and I are thrilled God led us to Findlay…and grateful we said yes!
We have the freedom to fight, flee, or follow God’s call. This applies to everything from career choices and spousal selection to everyday temptations to sin.
Jonah chose to flee. Perhaps he thought God wouldn’t notice him “running” away from Him! He was told to go to modern-day Iraq and instead headed toward Spain! He even paid for the trip! This is no accident. It was pre-meditated disobedience and rebellion against God. You can run, but you can never hide!
Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. (Jonah 1:4)
Most of us have never been on a dangerous sea, but countless people have lost their lives in nautical storms. Imagine the construction of the ships…before fiberglass, steel, and modern plastics. Wood and hand tools were likely the only materials available.
All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. (Jonah 1:5a)
They were all afraid, which tells you this was a serious storm. Then these experienced sailors each cried out to his own god. What an interesting statement! They believed in god…or gods! Then these sailors were so desperate they threw their stuff into the sea. Can you picture the scene? It was a nightmare. These people were fearing for their lives!
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. (Jonah 1:5b)
The same Hebrew word, yarad, is used to describe Jonah going down to Joppa, going aboard the ship, going below deck, and falling into a deep sleep.
[Can you think of anyone who slept in a boat during a huge storm? Jesus in Mark 4:38.]
The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 1:6)
The sailors call out to their gods. Now the captain wants Jonah to try his God. Perhaps he has a sense that Jonah worships the one true God, Yahweh.
Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. (Jonah 1:7)
If you simply want to be “biblical,” one way to know God’s will is to cast lots…to roll the dice, draw straws, or flip a coin. I don’t generally recommend this as a method of discernment, but it is biblical…in more than one instance. Here, God uses a storm, sailors, and even the lots to accomplish His purposes.
So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” (Jonah 1:8)
They know something is up with this Jonah guy! I’m fascinated by how “spiritual” these sailors are, though it was culturally common. In our society, people don’t usually think much about the supernatural. We tend to look for reasonable explanations for reality.
He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” (Jonah 1:9)
I love how Jonah references the sea and the dry land, something on all their minds!
This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) (Jonah 1:10)
Can you feel the tension building?
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” (Jonah 1:11)
If you didn’t know what follows, what would you say? My first thought would be to pray to the LORD, but then again, Jonah is running from the LORD, so he replies…
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” (Jonah 1:12)
Would you come up with that answer? Evidently, the sailors didn’t buy it.
Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. (Jonah 1:13)
Just when they thought it couldn’t get worse…
Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. (Jonah 1:14-16)
Jonah was supposedly this godly prophet. He disobeys God, yet God uses him to get the attention and worship of these men. God can redeem anything!
Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
Does this mention a whale? No! It’s a huge fish.
Some whales and sharks can swallow a human whole. Sperm whales can reach 70 feet in length and don’t have to chew their food.
Two SeaWorld educators, Keith Robinson and Donna Parham, believe it may have been a great white shark.[1] Jonah and Jaws!
To summarize chapter one, Jonah runs from God, a storm comes, he’s thrown overboard, pagan sailors repent and worship God, and a great fish saves Jonah.
So What?
Obey God. Skip the detour! I said it earlier:
We have the freedom to fight, flee, or follow God’s call. There are consequences for all our actions. What will you do?
[1] http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/usa/california/san_diego/general_stories/sd9-13-02jonah.html
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Jonah: God's Grace for All Nations
July 27, 2025
Jonah 1:1-17
Series Big Idea: Jonah is a remarkable story about life and death(s).
Big Idea: We have the freedom to fight, flee, or follow God’s call.
Scripture Reading: Jonah 1:1-3
The Bible is not a book. It’s a library. There are letters, instructions, poems, prophecies, and stories—incredible stories! We’re going to spend the next four weeks looking at one of the most fascinating of them all. It is controversial. It is referenced by Jesus. It has drama and action and God speaking and…a very abrupt ending!
Many of you know the story of Jonah. Or do you? Jonah is certainly one of the most well-known characters in the Bible. Before we dive in, let’s begin with some background. Jonah was a prophet from Gath Hepher near the Sea of Galilee while Jeroboam II reigned over the ten northern tribes from 786-746 B.C.
The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:1-2)
Jonah is considered a minor prophet, not because he is less important than a major prophet, but rather because this book is much shorter than books such as Isaiah and Ezekiel. God speaks to Jonah and tells him to go…to Nineveh…to preach against it and its wickedness.
Prophets are not necessarily future-tellers but forth-tellers. They are called by God to speak, announce, proclaim…and generally, it’s not good news. The one-word message of many prophets is…repent! Turn! Change! Return to God!
The life of a prophet is not enviable. They disrupt. They annoy. Much of the time, they are rejected. People-pleasers need not apply! This was not an easy assignment. Rarely did God offer cushy jobs to prophets!
But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. (Jonah 1:3)
Someone has said if you want to run from God, satan will always give you a ride!
I don’t want to give too much away, but it was not fear of rejection that caused Jonah to head in the opposite direction of God’s instructions. Note to the wise: do not try to run away from the LORD. It never goes well.
I thought of Jonah on more than one occasion when God called Heather and me to make a major life decision, particularly two relocations. Moving to Findlay last year was one of them. I wanted to be sure we were moving at God’s calling and not simply the urging of friends. As many of you know, I was not particularly excited about moving to Findlay, but I didn’t want to follow Jonah into disobedience…and I certainly didn’t want to experience the detour he took!
I must add, Heather and I are thrilled God led us to Findlay…and grateful we said yes!
We have the freedom to fight, flee, or follow God’s call. This applies to everything from career choices and spousal selection to everyday temptations to sin.
Jonah chose to flee. Perhaps he thought God wouldn’t notice him “running” away from Him! He was told to go to modern-day Iraq and instead headed toward Spain! He even paid for the trip! This is no accident. It was pre-meditated disobedience and rebellion against God. You can run, but you can never hide!
Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. (Jonah 1:4)
Most of us have never been on a dangerous sea, but countless people have lost their lives in nautical storms. Imagine the construction of the ships…before fiberglass, steel, and modern plastics. Wood and hand tools were likely the only materials available.
All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. (Jonah 1:5a)
They were all afraid, which tells you this was a serious storm. Then these experienced sailors each cried out to his own god. What an interesting statement! They believed in god…or gods! Then these sailors were so desperate they threw their stuff into the sea. Can you picture the scene? It was a nightmare. These people were fearing for their lives!
But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. (Jonah 1:5b)
The same Hebrew word, yarad, is used to describe Jonah going down to Joppa, going aboard the ship, going below deck, and falling into a deep sleep.
[Can you think of anyone who slept in a boat during a huge storm? Jesus in Mark 4:38.]
The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 1:6)
The sailors call out to their gods. Now the captain wants Jonah to try his God. Perhaps he has a sense that Jonah worships the one true God, Yahweh.
Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. (Jonah 1:7)
If you simply want to be “biblical,” one way to know God’s will is to cast lots…to roll the dice, draw straws, or flip a coin. I don’t generally recommend this as a method of discernment, but it is biblical…in more than one instance. Here, God uses a storm, sailors, and even the lots to accomplish His purposes.
So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” (Jonah 1:8)
They know something is up with this Jonah guy! I’m fascinated by how “spiritual” these sailors are, though it was culturally common. In our society, people don’t usually think much about the supernatural. We tend to look for reasonable explanations for reality.
He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” (Jonah 1:9)
I love how Jonah references the sea and the dry land, something on all their minds!
This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) (Jonah 1:10)
Can you feel the tension building?
The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” (Jonah 1:11)
If you didn’t know what follows, what would you say? My first thought would be to pray to the LORD, but then again, Jonah is running from the LORD, so he replies…
“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” (Jonah 1:12)
Would you come up with that answer? Evidently, the sailors didn’t buy it.
Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. (Jonah 1:13)
Just when they thought it couldn’t get worse…
Then they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, LORD, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. (Jonah 1:14-16)
Jonah was supposedly this godly prophet. He disobeys God, yet God uses him to get the attention and worship of these men. God can redeem anything!
Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
Does this mention a whale? No! It’s a huge fish.
Some whales and sharks can swallow a human whole. Sperm whales can reach 70 feet in length and don’t have to chew their food.
Two SeaWorld educators, Keith Robinson and Donna Parham, believe it may have been a great white shark.[1] Jonah and Jaws!
To summarize chapter one, Jonah runs from God, a storm comes, he’s thrown overboard, pagan sailors repent and worship God, and a great fish saves Jonah.
So What?
Obey God. Skip the detour! I said it earlier:
We have the freedom to fight, flee, or follow God’s call. There are consequences for all our actions. What will you do?
[1] http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/usa/california/san_diego/general_stories/sd9-13-02jonah.html
Ask, 6 July 2025
Ask
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
July 6, 2025
1 John 5:13-21
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:13-15
As we conclude our series on the book of 1 John written by one of Jesus’ three best friends, John, we read his closing remarks directed to early Christians. Throughout the letter, he has talked about light, love, antichrist, children of God, actions, and spirits, among other things. Our scripture reading today continues last week’s theme of life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
John wants them to be secure in their salvation, that they may know they have eternal life. This is the promise for those “who believe in the name of the Son of God.”
I’ve had many conversations with people of various faiths—including Christianity—regarding the certainty of their destiny. John says his purpose in writing is to assure them of eternal life…not because of their works, of course, but because of their faith in Jesus.
Do you know you have eternal life? If you believe in Jesus, if you believe he died and rose again, if you believe he is the way, the truth, and the life, if you believe he is the ultimate example of what it means to be human, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, then you can know that you have eternal life. This is good news. This is great news! Furthermore, the writer of Romans declares,
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-29)
John continues with more great news for followers of Jesus.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
Does this mean God always hears our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers the way we want? No!
We have everything we have asked of God…if we are seeking first His will, His Kingdom, His way. God’s will is not for us to be the center of the universe. He provides for our needs but doesn’t necessary honor self-centered requests for our every desire. If we are truly following Jesus, our heart will sync with his heart. Let’s ask of God now.
Prayer is a popular church topic, but one often filled with negative emotions. Do I pray enough? Am I good at prayer? What if I get bored? What if I fall asleep? What if I simply forget? What if I don’t know what to say? Do I have to bow my head? Close my eyes? Pray out loud?
I used to think prayer was talking to God. Then I thought prayer was talking with God. But now I believe prayer is doing life with God. It is far more than a wish list we tell God. It includes petitions, but also praise, thanksgiving, confession, prayers for others, and I would add questions, fears, doubts, and moments of awe and wonder.
I like the three essential prayers of Anne Lamott: help, thanks, wow!
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Prayer is not only the utterance of the lips; it is also the desire of the heart.”
We could talk all day about prayer and we should pray all day…today and every day. What are you up to, LORD? What makes You happy? Sad? Angry? What is my next step in loving You? Loving others? What is Your will for my life? For College First? For our nation and world? For the sake of time, we must move on!
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. (1 John 5:16-17)
Sin is anything that separates us from God. It may be something we do. It may be something we fail to do. All sin ultimately leads to death…the death of a relationship, peace, eternal life, or even natural life. Earlier John said failing to believe Jesus came and died for sinners would result in death…eternal death. We have eternal life by believing Jesus died and rose from the dead and following him.
Failing to love may not result in physical death, but we are commanded to love, to pray for others, pray that God’s love would flow through us to others.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. (1 John 5:18)
We all sin. We all continue to sin after encountering God. Followers of Jesus do not continue to sin without remorse and regret. We are not proud of our sin. We struggle with it, sometimes failing…and then turning to God with repentance for forgiveness. Christ followers are kept safe from the evil one.
We also need to turn to one another sometimes…to forgive or ask for forgiveness. As we journey together, we will inevitably step on one another’s toes. It’s usually accidental, but the other person may not be aware of the pain they caused. We need to take Matthew 18 seriously.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17)
Is this easy? No.
Does it involve conflict? Yes.
Is it biblical? Obviously!
The kingdom of this world cancels when hurt. In the kingdom of God, we confront…with love. We cry, “Ouch!” We seek reconciliation rather than retaliation. While others get bitter, we get better and restore the relationship. Family, we must speak up and say, “Help me understand.” There are exceptions, but often the conflict is based upon a misunderstanding, a mistake, or even someone simply having a bad day. We need grace and forgiveness and we need to be quick to extend it to others…as God has extended it so generously to us. Jesus said,
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)
You might feel as though you’ve sinned beyond God’s forgiveness, and I want to declare to you such a thing is impossible. If you seek forgiveness from God, it will be granted. Listen to a portion of Psalm 103.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust. (Psalm 103:10-14)
When Jesus died, he didn’t die for some of your sins. He died for all of them!
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
This is why we feel tension in our world. It’s why we can’t keep up with the Joneses! This world is not our home. I’m baffled when Christians wonder why the world is evil. It’s under satan’s control…for now! His day will come. I can’t wait! Don’t ever expect the world to act like the Kingdom of God. It’s the world! We are called to life differently. We are called to forgive, to serve, to bless, …to love.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
That is one true verse! Three sentences. Three uses of the word true!
Who is true? Jesus. He is the true God and eternal life. Last week we noted a conversation with Thomas.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Truth is a person. Do you know him? Do you follow him?
Now we come to the last verse of the entire letter. John doesn’t end with a “sincerely” or “best regards” or even a blessing. He closes his letter by saying,
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
His closing words are, “No idols.” First, he reminds them they are dear—dear children—and then says
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:21, NLT)
Over 100 verses in the Bible speak about idols, including the second of the ten commandments.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:4)
Idols have been a part of the human condition almost from the beginning.
They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” (2 Kings 17:12)
We do, too. Maybe you don’t bow down to a statue, but we are all drawn to other gods, other things that receive our attention…our time, our money, our energy, our thoughts, our worship. It’s possible that John had in mind not an idol of stone or wood, but false beliefs about Jesus. The Old Testament associates idolatry with injustice. It might represent a failure to love.
I struggle sometimes with the 2nd commandment. I want to be in control, comfortable, wealthy, powerful, secure, recognized, celebrated, privileged, safe, and pampered. The problem is when I’m focused on myself, I can’t see God. When I obsess about my fears, I can’t give God my attention. When I worry or fret or lust or covet or embrace bitterness or fail to love, I’m not walking in the light of God…and I’m certainly not living according to His will so of course my prayers will not be answered the way I seek. Of course I will eventually be anxious, lonely, and/or upset.
So What?
I don’t know what idols are in your life, but I want to give you time to acknowledge them and confess them. God is ready and willing to forgive, but we need to agree with Him that we have sinned and we need to repent, turn, return to following Jesus.
Remember,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness. Hallelujah!
Amen!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
July 6, 2025
1 John 5:13-21
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:13-15
As we conclude our series on the book of 1 John written by one of Jesus’ three best friends, John, we read his closing remarks directed to early Christians. Throughout the letter, he has talked about light, love, antichrist, children of God, actions, and spirits, among other things. Our scripture reading today continues last week’s theme of life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
John wants them to be secure in their salvation, that they may know they have eternal life. This is the promise for those “who believe in the name of the Son of God.”
I’ve had many conversations with people of various faiths—including Christianity—regarding the certainty of their destiny. John says his purpose in writing is to assure them of eternal life…not because of their works, of course, but because of their faith in Jesus.
Do you know you have eternal life? If you believe in Jesus, if you believe he died and rose again, if you believe he is the way, the truth, and the life, if you believe he is the ultimate example of what it means to be human, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus, then you can know that you have eternal life. This is good news. This is great news! Furthermore, the writer of Romans declares,
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-29)
John continues with more great news for followers of Jesus.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15)
Does this mean God always hears our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers? Yes!
Does this mean God always answers our prayers the way we want? No!
We have everything we have asked of God…if we are seeking first His will, His Kingdom, His way. God’s will is not for us to be the center of the universe. He provides for our needs but doesn’t necessary honor self-centered requests for our every desire. If we are truly following Jesus, our heart will sync with his heart. Let’s ask of God now.
Prayer is a popular church topic, but one often filled with negative emotions. Do I pray enough? Am I good at prayer? What if I get bored? What if I fall asleep? What if I simply forget? What if I don’t know what to say? Do I have to bow my head? Close my eyes? Pray out loud?
I used to think prayer was talking to God. Then I thought prayer was talking with God. But now I believe prayer is doing life with God. It is far more than a wish list we tell God. It includes petitions, but also praise, thanksgiving, confession, prayers for others, and I would add questions, fears, doubts, and moments of awe and wonder.
I like the three essential prayers of Anne Lamott: help, thanks, wow!
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Prayer is not only the utterance of the lips; it is also the desire of the heart.”
We could talk all day about prayer and we should pray all day…today and every day. What are you up to, LORD? What makes You happy? Sad? Angry? What is my next step in loving You? Loving others? What is Your will for my life? For College First? For our nation and world? For the sake of time, we must move on!
If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. (1 John 5:16-17)
Sin is anything that separates us from God. It may be something we do. It may be something we fail to do. All sin ultimately leads to death…the death of a relationship, peace, eternal life, or even natural life. Earlier John said failing to believe Jesus came and died for sinners would result in death…eternal death. We have eternal life by believing Jesus died and rose from the dead and following him.
Failing to love may not result in physical death, but we are commanded to love, to pray for others, pray that God’s love would flow through us to others.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. (1 John 5:18)
We all sin. We all continue to sin after encountering God. Followers of Jesus do not continue to sin without remorse and regret. We are not proud of our sin. We struggle with it, sometimes failing…and then turning to God with repentance for forgiveness. Christ followers are kept safe from the evil one.
We also need to turn to one another sometimes…to forgive or ask for forgiveness. As we journey together, we will inevitably step on one another’s toes. It’s usually accidental, but the other person may not be aware of the pain they caused. We need to take Matthew 18 seriously.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector. (Matt. 18:15-17)
Is this easy? No.
Does it involve conflict? Yes.
Is it biblical? Obviously!
The kingdom of this world cancels when hurt. In the kingdom of God, we confront…with love. We cry, “Ouch!” We seek reconciliation rather than retaliation. While others get bitter, we get better and restore the relationship. Family, we must speak up and say, “Help me understand.” There are exceptions, but often the conflict is based upon a misunderstanding, a mistake, or even someone simply having a bad day. We need grace and forgiveness and we need to be quick to extend it to others…as God has extended it so generously to us. Jesus said,
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)
You might feel as though you’ve sinned beyond God’s forgiveness, and I want to declare to you such a thing is impossible. If you seek forgiveness from God, it will be granted. Listen to a portion of Psalm 103.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
The LORD is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust. (Psalm 103:10-14)
When Jesus died, he didn’t die for some of your sins. He died for all of them!
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. (1 John 5:19)
This is why we feel tension in our world. It’s why we can’t keep up with the Joneses! This world is not our home. I’m baffled when Christians wonder why the world is evil. It’s under satan’s control…for now! His day will come. I can’t wait! Don’t ever expect the world to act like the Kingdom of God. It’s the world! We are called to life differently. We are called to forgive, to serve, to bless, …to love.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
That is one true verse! Three sentences. Three uses of the word true!
Who is true? Jesus. He is the true God and eternal life. Last week we noted a conversation with Thomas.
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. Jesus is the way. Jesus is the truth. Truth is a person. Do you know him? Do you follow him?
Now we come to the last verse of the entire letter. John doesn’t end with a “sincerely” or “best regards” or even a blessing. He closes his letter by saying,
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)
His closing words are, “No idols.” First, he reminds them they are dear—dear children—and then says
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (1 John 5:21, NLT)
Over 100 verses in the Bible speak about idols, including the second of the ten commandments.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:4)
Idols have been a part of the human condition almost from the beginning.
They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” (2 Kings 17:12)
We do, too. Maybe you don’t bow down to a statue, but we are all drawn to other gods, other things that receive our attention…our time, our money, our energy, our thoughts, our worship. It’s possible that John had in mind not an idol of stone or wood, but false beliefs about Jesus. The Old Testament associates idolatry with injustice. It might represent a failure to love.
I struggle sometimes with the 2nd commandment. I want to be in control, comfortable, wealthy, powerful, secure, recognized, celebrated, privileged, safe, and pampered. The problem is when I’m focused on myself, I can’t see God. When I obsess about my fears, I can’t give God my attention. When I worry or fret or lust or covet or embrace bitterness or fail to love, I’m not walking in the light of God…and I’m certainly not living according to His will so of course my prayers will not be answered the way I seek. Of course I will eventually be anxious, lonely, and/or upset.
So What?
I don’t know what idols are in your life, but I want to give you time to acknowledge them and confess them. God is ready and willing to forgive, but we need to agree with Him that we have sinned and we need to repent, turn, return to following Jesus.
Remember,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
We can ask God for anything, including forgiveness. Hallelujah!
Amen!
Life, 29 June 2025
Life
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 29, 2025
1 John 5:1-12
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Benjamin Franklin famously said, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” We spend our lives trying to avoid both!
The subject of life and death has been very personal for me, especially this year. I have attended more funerals this year than any year of my life…and we’re not even halfway through the year! Some deaths are tragic, even horrifying. Others are expected, though none of us know our expiration date. As many of you know, I officiated the funeral of my grandma last weekend Missouri. It was truly a celebration of a life well-lived, serving people and loving Jesus. She was a remarkable lady. You can read about her in Proverbs 31! Our text today says,
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Grandma knew Jesus. Grandma knew life.
We’ve been studying the book of 1 John for several weeks and today we’ll cover the first part of the final chapter, finishing next Sunday. It begins…
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (1 John 5:1)
We frequently use the expression “Jesus Christ.” Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It’s a word that means anointed. Tragically, it has become a swear word to some people.
Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? This is not merely do you believe in God. Most USAmericans believe in God, but what do you mean by God? When we say Jesus is the Christ, we are declaring he is the promised Messiah of the Jews, the son of God, fully God, fully human, and worthy of not merely intellectual belief, but surrender, commitment, allegiance.
When we say yes to Jesus, we are adopted into his family. I often refer to you, church, as family because that’s what we are…brothers and sisters, spiritual siblings. If you love our heavenly Dad, you love His other kids, too.
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. (1 John 5:2)
We love others by loving God. We love God by loving others. We should never separate them. Jesus said the entire law is summarized by loving God and loving others as ourselves.
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. (1 John 5:3a)
I’ve said obedience is God’s love language. You can’t love God and hate people. You can’t love God and hate immigrants or Iranians or Jews or Palestinians or Wolverines or Buckeyes or whites or blacks or browns or anyone else. Love means love! Jesus died for every illegal alien, prostitute, drag queen, corrupt politician, drunk driver, child abuser, and preacher.
My heart is heavy when people claim to love God but hate people…any people!
This is so simple, but not easy. Love never is, because it requires humility, sacrifice, and service. One thing about loving God is He made the first move. Our love is a response to His.
And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3b-5)
Without God’s love, we can’t love others. We’ve been given power to resist evil, the fruit of the Holy Spirit which includes self-control, and the hope of heaven, eternity with God. We are not victorious because of what we’ve done, but we’re victorious because of the work of Jesus through the cross and the empty tomb.
Some of you saw the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. It’s like being on the winning team not because you got a hit, but rather your teammate hit a home run. He gives us the victory. He gives us the power. He has overcome the world. Hallelujah!
Side note: the Greek word here for victory is nike (NEE-kay). Perhaps you’ve heard of it!
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:6-8)
Some taught Jesus was a man who became the Messiah when the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism…and left before the crucifixion. John is saying Jesus was already the Christ at his baptism—water—and crucifixion—blood. Jesus is fully God and fully human and the Holy Spirit, baptism, and death all bear witness to this reality…to say nothing of the empty tomb.
It's worth noting some have seen water and blood as referencing the ordinances of baptism and communion, and still others note both came from Jesus’ side when pierced on the cross.
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9-11)
The Greek word for “life” here is zoe. Eternal life is found in Jesus. It’s not from our good works, but his amazing grace.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
This is where we started. Jesus is life. No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Do you know Jesus? Do your friends? Family? Neighbors?
It doesn’t take long for any of us to encounter people who don’t know Jesus. I’m not talking about religion, but a relationship with Jesus. We have the privilege of introducing people to Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah.
We live in exciting times when people are looking for answers. Young people are searching for freedom from anxiety. Chaos and stress surround us. Uncertainty fills the air. We can’t even trust the news. What is really true anymore?
Good news needs to be shared, and the greatest news is that Jesus is LORD. No president, king, prime minister, scientist, athlete, movie star, or social media pundit can back up that claim. Jesus is LORD means God is in control, this world has a purpose, heaven is for real, hope is here, love is boundless.
One of my favorite tools for sharing great news is a question: where are you on your spiritual journey? Many people today claim to be spiritual but not religious. Ask them about their spirituality. It may open a door for them to ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15).
We can also participate in global evangelism—proclaiming good news—by praying, giving, and serving with Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference, our denominational family.
In a conversation with Thomas,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. He is the life. Do you want more out of life? Do you want more life? Do you want to experience life to the max? It’s not found online. It’s not found in money or pleasure or power. It’s not even found in roller coasters or ice cream, though I love those! Listen to Jesus again.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Again, John uses the word zoe for life. Jesus came to give us life!
So What?
Perhaps the only thing worse than someone dying is someone who never really lives.
At my grandma’s gravesite, we sang an old Gaither song, Because He Lives. I often think of it as an Easter song, but it was fitting as we said “see you later” to one of the most godly women I’ve ever known. The final verse says,
And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
The chorus:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
Paul wrote,
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 2:21)
Jesus is life.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
Series: 1 John
June 29, 2025
1 John 5:1-12
Series Big Idea: One of Jesus’ best friends offers timeless teaching on following Jesus.
Big Idea: No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Scripture Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Benjamin Franklin famously said, “…in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” We spend our lives trying to avoid both!
The subject of life and death has been very personal for me, especially this year. I have attended more funerals this year than any year of my life…and we’re not even halfway through the year! Some deaths are tragic, even horrifying. Others are expected, though none of us know our expiration date. As many of you know, I officiated the funeral of my grandma last weekend Missouri. It was truly a celebration of a life well-lived, serving people and loving Jesus. She was a remarkable lady. You can read about her in Proverbs 31! Our text today says,
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
Grandma knew Jesus. Grandma knew life.
We’ve been studying the book of 1 John for several weeks and today we’ll cover the first part of the final chapter, finishing next Sunday. It begins…
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. (1 John 5:1)
We frequently use the expression “Jesus Christ.” Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It’s a word that means anointed. Tragically, it has become a swear word to some people.
Do you believe Jesus is the Christ? This is not merely do you believe in God. Most USAmericans believe in God, but what do you mean by God? When we say Jesus is the Christ, we are declaring he is the promised Messiah of the Jews, the son of God, fully God, fully human, and worthy of not merely intellectual belief, but surrender, commitment, allegiance.
When we say yes to Jesus, we are adopted into his family. I often refer to you, church, as family because that’s what we are…brothers and sisters, spiritual siblings. If you love our heavenly Dad, you love His other kids, too.
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. (1 John 5:2)
We love others by loving God. We love God by loving others. We should never separate them. Jesus said the entire law is summarized by loving God and loving others as ourselves.
In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. (1 John 5:3a)
I’ve said obedience is God’s love language. You can’t love God and hate people. You can’t love God and hate immigrants or Iranians or Jews or Palestinians or Wolverines or Buckeyes or whites or blacks or browns or anyone else. Love means love! Jesus died for every illegal alien, prostitute, drag queen, corrupt politician, drunk driver, child abuser, and preacher.
My heart is heavy when people claim to love God but hate people…any people!
This is so simple, but not easy. Love never is, because it requires humility, sacrifice, and service. One thing about loving God is He made the first move. Our love is a response to His.
And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3b-5)
Without God’s love, we can’t love others. We’ve been given power to resist evil, the fruit of the Holy Spirit which includes self-control, and the hope of heaven, eternity with God. We are not victorious because of what we’ve done, but we’re victorious because of the work of Jesus through the cross and the empty tomb.
Some of you saw the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals yesterday. It’s like being on the winning team not because you got a hit, but rather your teammate hit a home run. He gives us the victory. He gives us the power. He has overcome the world. Hallelujah!
Side note: the Greek word here for victory is nike (NEE-kay). Perhaps you’ve heard of it!
This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. (1 John 5:6-8)
Some taught Jesus was a man who became the Messiah when the Holy Spirit came upon him at his baptism…and left before the crucifixion. John is saying Jesus was already the Christ at his baptism—water—and crucifixion—blood. Jesus is fully God and fully human and the Holy Spirit, baptism, and death all bear witness to this reality…to say nothing of the empty tomb.
It's worth noting some have seen water and blood as referencing the ordinances of baptism and communion, and still others note both came from Jesus’ side when pierced on the cross.
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:9-11)
The Greek word for “life” here is zoe. Eternal life is found in Jesus. It’s not from our good works, but his amazing grace.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
This is where we started. Jesus is life. No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Do you know Jesus? Do your friends? Family? Neighbors?
It doesn’t take long for any of us to encounter people who don’t know Jesus. I’m not talking about religion, but a relationship with Jesus. We have the privilege of introducing people to Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah.
We live in exciting times when people are looking for answers. Young people are searching for freedom from anxiety. Chaos and stress surround us. Uncertainty fills the air. We can’t even trust the news. What is really true anymore?
Good news needs to be shared, and the greatest news is that Jesus is LORD. No president, king, prime minister, scientist, athlete, movie star, or social media pundit can back up that claim. Jesus is LORD means God is in control, this world has a purpose, heaven is for real, hope is here, love is boundless.
One of my favorite tools for sharing great news is a question: where are you on your spiritual journey? Many people today claim to be spiritual but not religious. Ask them about their spirituality. It may open a door for them to ask you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15).
We can also participate in global evangelism—proclaiming good news—by praying, giving, and serving with Global Reach of the Churches of God, General Conference, our denominational family.
In a conversation with Thomas,
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is life. He is the life. Do you want more out of life? Do you want more life? Do you want to experience life to the max? It’s not found online. It’s not found in money or pleasure or power. It’s not even found in roller coasters or ice cream, though I love those! Listen to Jesus again.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Again, John uses the word zoe for life. Jesus came to give us life!
So What?
Perhaps the only thing worse than someone dying is someone who never really lives.
At my grandma’s gravesite, we sang an old Gaither song, Because He Lives. I often think of it as an Easter song, but it was fitting as we said “see you later” to one of the most godly women I’ve ever known. The final verse says,
And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!
The chorus:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
Paul wrote,
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Philippians 2:21)
Jesus is life.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:12)
My grandma had Jesus. My grandma had life. Today my grandma has life. Do you?
No Jesus, no life. Know Jesus, know life.
Pentecost, 8 June 2025
Pentecost
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
June 8, 2025
Acts 2
Big Idea: The events of Acts 2 transformed the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-4
What is your favorite holiday? Our calendar is filled with religious holidays like Palm Sunday and Passover. We have national holidays like President’s Day and Veteran’s Day. There are “Hallmark” holidays like Secretary’s Day and Groundhog Day. Each is a day to remember, celebrate, and/or appreciate. While Christmas and Easter get most of the attention, Pentecost belongs in the same conversation, a day commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
One of the hardest things in life is saying goodbye to those we love. It may be the result of an extended vacation, a relocation, or a death. I can only imagine the horror of the disciples on Good Friday as they watched their rabbi crucified, their hopes dashed, their loss unbearable. Of course, he told them he would die, though they didn’t understand. Easter undid their grief and pain, but Jesus would leave them again on a day known as Ascension Sunday, recognized on May 29 this year. This was all part of God’s plan, of course. Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:15-19)
Two chapters later, John records these words of Jesus:
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:7-11)
Dr. Luke recorded Jesus’ prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit in the first chapter of Acts.
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (Acts 1:7)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is one of my favorite scriptures. It not only announces the coming of the Holy Spirit, it offers a glimpse at the trajectory of the early Church. Jesus says after the Holy Spirit comes, his friends will be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but in Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth. It’s worth noting “witnesses” in the original Greek language is martus, also defined as martyr. Indeed, it is generally believed that the twelve disciples would all become martyrs except for…John, who would be boiled in hot oil!
Although Acts was not written to us, it is certainly for us. When I think about the flow of the gospel in the first century, I envision a similar expansion of the gospel from College First as we love, equip, and send. Where do we send? Across the street and around the world, from Findlay to Finland and everywhere in between. Contextualizing Acts 1:8 might look something like this:
Jerusalem: our home, College First Church of God
Judea: our community
Samaria: the Great Lakes Conference
Ends of the earth: our broader denominational family, the Churches of God, General Conference with ministry in about a dozen countries outside of the USA
Church family, the Holy Spirit has come on us. We are God’s witnesses and even martyrs here and around the world. We’re part of a global movement changing the world one life at a time! What a privilege. What a joy! What meaning and purpose.
If you give, serve, or pray, you’re a part of this movement, the Kingdom of God. Thank you!
In Acts 1:8, Jesus prophesied what would happen in Acts 2, the day of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:1-3)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)
You may know the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. God confused the language of the whole world as people were trying to build a tower reaching to the heavens. Acts 2 was a reversal of the Tower of Babel. Reading on…
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (Acts 2:5-6)
What a miracle! The Holy Spirit shows up, there’s the sound of a violent wind, they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire, people from around the world hear people declaring the wonders of God in their native tongue, and the people are “utterly amazed.”
Peter then preaches a bold sermon, calling people to repentance. The result?
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)
The miracle of tongues captivates the crowd, but Peter’s preaching results in repentance, fulfilled prophecy (Joel 2, Psalm 16, 110), and baptisms. Many see this as the launch of the Church. 3000 people joined in one day! I’d call that revival! But this is only the beginning.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
This wasn’t the first Pentecost. It (Shavuot) was already on the Jewish calendar as a celebration of the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai. But in Acts 2, we see a new covenant formed as the Spirit is poured out on all believers.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit continues to empower the Church with gifts, fruit, and miracles. Some Christians believe certain spiritual gifts have ceased. But in the Churches of God, General Conference…
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is God.
We believe the Holy Spirit has always been engaged in God’s work.
We believe the Holy Spirit revealed himself in a new way on the day of Pentecost.
We believe the Holy Spirit can be known and experienced.
We believe the Holy Spirit endows the followers of Christ with the unity of the Spirit.
We believe the Holy Spirit enables believers to grow spiritually.
We believe the filling of the Holy Spirit is ongoing, present, and active in the lives of believers.
We believe the Holy Spirit dispenses spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
We believe the fruit of the Spirit is the essential evidence of a believer’s filling with the Holy Spirit.
So What?
After spending years saving up for a cruise, a man was delighted to board the massive ship, eager to enjoy the views, the entertainment, and fellow passengers. He met several friends throughout the voyage. At the end of the journey, he was asked why he disappeared during the meals.
“I packed peanut butter, jelly, and bread to eat. I could barely afford the cruise. I could never afford the extravagant food on the cruise,” he said.
His friends replied, “All the food is included!” He missed the benefits that were his all along.
In a similar way, many Christians who receive Jesus are unaware of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is included!
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force or a ghost. He is a Person—God Himself—moving among us. Like the wind, we can’t control the Spirit, but we can follow His lead.
Today, I’m praying for more love, more power, more of the Holy Spirit in my life—and in the life of College First. I’m not interested in “playing church,” entertaining, or impressing. I want to be part of a Spirit-filled movement that makes disciples of all nations.
“Go and make disciples... baptizing them... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
June 8, 2025
Acts 2
Big Idea: The events of Acts 2 transformed the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-4
What is your favorite holiday? Our calendar is filled with religious holidays like Palm Sunday and Passover. We have national holidays like President’s Day and Veteran’s Day. There are “Hallmark” holidays like Secretary’s Day and Groundhog Day. Each is a day to remember, celebrate, and/or appreciate. While Christmas and Easter get most of the attention, Pentecost belongs in the same conversation, a day commemorating the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
One of the hardest things in life is saying goodbye to those we love. It may be the result of an extended vacation, a relocation, or a death. I can only imagine the horror of the disciples on Good Friday as they watched their rabbi crucified, their hopes dashed, their loss unbearable. Of course, he told them he would die, though they didn’t understand. Easter undid their grief and pain, but Jesus would leave them again on a day known as Ascension Sunday, recognized on May 29 this year. This was all part of God’s plan, of course. Jesus said,
“If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth…I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you…Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:15-19)
Two chapters later, John records these words of Jesus:
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:7-11)
Dr. Luke recorded Jesus’ prophecy concerning the Holy Spirit in the first chapter of Acts.
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (Acts 1:7)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
This is one of my favorite scriptures. It not only announces the coming of the Holy Spirit, it offers a glimpse at the trajectory of the early Church. Jesus says after the Holy Spirit comes, his friends will be his witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but in Judea and Samaria and the ends of the earth. It’s worth noting “witnesses” in the original Greek language is martus, also defined as martyr. Indeed, it is generally believed that the twelve disciples would all become martyrs except for…John, who would be boiled in hot oil!
Although Acts was not written to us, it is certainly for us. When I think about the flow of the gospel in the first century, I envision a similar expansion of the gospel from College First as we love, equip, and send. Where do we send? Across the street and around the world, from Findlay to Finland and everywhere in between. Contextualizing Acts 1:8 might look something like this:
Jerusalem: our home, College First Church of God
Judea: our community
Samaria: the Great Lakes Conference
Ends of the earth: our broader denominational family, the Churches of God, General Conference with ministry in about a dozen countries outside of the USA
Church family, the Holy Spirit has come on us. We are God’s witnesses and even martyrs here and around the world. We’re part of a global movement changing the world one life at a time! What a privilege. What a joy! What meaning and purpose.
If you give, serve, or pray, you’re a part of this movement, the Kingdom of God. Thank you!
In Acts 1:8, Jesus prophesied what would happen in Acts 2, the day of Pentecost.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. (Acts 2:1-3)
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)
You may know the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. God confused the language of the whole world as people were trying to build a tower reaching to the heavens. Acts 2 was a reversal of the Tower of Babel. Reading on…
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. (Acts 2:5-6)
What a miracle! The Holy Spirit shows up, there’s the sound of a violent wind, they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire, people from around the world hear people declaring the wonders of God in their native tongue, and the people are “utterly amazed.”
Peter then preaches a bold sermon, calling people to repentance. The result?
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)
The miracle of tongues captivates the crowd, but Peter’s preaching results in repentance, fulfilled prophecy (Joel 2, Psalm 16, 110), and baptisms. Many see this as the launch of the Church. 3000 people joined in one day! I’d call that revival! But this is only the beginning.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
This wasn’t the first Pentecost. It (Shavuot) was already on the Jewish calendar as a celebration of the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai. But in Acts 2, we see a new covenant formed as the Spirit is poured out on all believers.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit continues to empower the Church with gifts, fruit, and miracles. Some Christians believe certain spiritual gifts have ceased. But in the Churches of God, General Conference…
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is God.
We believe the Holy Spirit has always been engaged in God’s work.
We believe the Holy Spirit revealed himself in a new way on the day of Pentecost.
We believe the Holy Spirit can be known and experienced.
We believe the Holy Spirit endows the followers of Christ with the unity of the Spirit.
We believe the Holy Spirit enables believers to grow spiritually.
We believe the filling of the Holy Spirit is ongoing, present, and active in the lives of believers.
We believe the Holy Spirit dispenses spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church.
We believe the fruit of the Spirit is the essential evidence of a believer’s filling with the Holy Spirit.
So What?
After spending years saving up for a cruise, a man was delighted to board the massive ship, eager to enjoy the views, the entertainment, and fellow passengers. He met several friends throughout the voyage. At the end of the journey, he was asked why he disappeared during the meals.
“I packed peanut butter, jelly, and bread to eat. I could barely afford the cruise. I could never afford the extravagant food on the cruise,” he said.
His friends replied, “All the food is included!” He missed the benefits that were his all along.
In a similar way, many Christians who receive Jesus are unaware of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is included!
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract force or a ghost. He is a Person—God Himself—moving among us. Like the wind, we can’t control the Spirit, but we can follow His lead.
Today, I’m praying for more love, more power, more of the Holy Spirit in my life—and in the life of College First. I’m not interested in “playing church,” entertaining, or impressing. I want to be part of a Spirit-filled movement that makes disciples of all nations.
“Go and make disciples... baptizing them... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)
Come, Holy Spirit, come!