John 10:7-11 read by Ben Ruttan, and my opening prayer in worship based on the same text: The Good Shepherd and abundant life.
Author: MatthewRuttan
"A pulse doesn't mean you're alive." I'm a disciple-in-progress, dad, husband & pastor. Homebase: www.MatthewRuttan.com. I write The Up Daily Devotional and host The Pulse Podcast. One day I hope to own a rowboat. Just because it seems awesome.
The Good Shepherd, the sheep, and the thief (Growing Deeper with John 10:1-21)
This episode is a Bible study on John 10:1-21. I explore Jesus as the Good Shepherd, we the sheep, the thief, and share a word study in all occurrences of the word “life” in the Gospel to give us insight into life that is abundant.
Living an abundant life [Sermon]
“Live your best life now!” But what is your best life? Jesus said he came that we might have “abundant” life (John 10:10). This sermon explores that text and invites us to use our limited time on earth well.
What God can do through you is greater [Sermon]
A national poll asked: “If you could ask God only one question and you knew he would give you an answer, what would you ask?”
The God who works wonders through suffering and pain: the healing of the man born blind (Growing Deeper with John 9)
Does your hardship define you? Not necessarily. Does it limit God? No. This episode is a Bible study on John 9 — Jesus’ healing of the man born blind.
“Lead us not into temptation.” Would God lead us into temptation, so that we need to ask him not to?
In this episode I answer a question in a Q & A Forum about temptation from the Lord’s Prayer.
My Captain, My Ship [Sermon]
You’re facing a storm. You need a captain. Which do you choose? The one with no experience, or the one with the winningest record in history? This sermon explores John 8:48-59. the divinity (and captaincy) of Jesus, and his ship (the church).
The Great ‘I Am,’ and the eternal pre-existence of Jesus (Growing Deeper with John 8:48-59)
What provoked them to pick up rocks to stone Jesus? It was these words: “Before Abraham was, I am.” Not only was Jesus telling them
Truth makes your life better [Sermon]
Jesus calls the Devil the “father of lies.” Those are weighty words! How seriously do we take the battle between truth and deception? If you think
The Devil is the father of lies, and other truths from Jesus (Growing Deeper with John 8:39-47)
Jesus calls the Devil “the father of lies.” Not something (or someone) to be taken lightly! But many do. This episode is a biblical study of John 8:39-47.
Freed to serve [Sermon]
“The truth will set you free.” So said Jesus. Aren’t we already free? Not necessarily. Good things are both now and in the future. This sermon on John 8:31-38 explores just these things.
The truth will set you free (from what?), and why standing on the shoulders of giants isn’t enough (Growing Deeper with John 8:31-38)
Free from what? For what? Why was this famous statement so controversial and why can we miss it’s meaning? This episode is a Bible study on John 8:31-38.
Follow the Light [Sermon]
“I am the light of the world. Whoever WATCHES me…” Oops, nix that. “Whoever FOLLOWS me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Let’s talk about why and how in this sermon on John 8:12-30. The light might not always take you where you want to go; but it takes you where you need to go.
Following the light of the world and pillar of fire into a dark uncertainty (Growing Deeper with John 8:12-30)
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So said Jesus. What did he mean? What does uncertainty, darkness and danger have to do with it? That’s what I explore in this episode which is an in-depth look at John 8:12-30.
Can you explain the difference between a secular worldview and a biblical worldview?
In this episode I answer a question in a Q & A Forum about secular vs. biblical worldviews.
Grace opens doors [Sermon]
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Did Jesus act with all grace and no truth, or all truth and no grace? — or both? This sermon explores John 5:53-8:11 (a text not in the oldest biblical manuscripts) and considers what we can learn from it about opening doors to others.
The woman caught in adultery; leaders caught in hypocrisy; and Jesus King of mercy (Growing Deeper with John 7:53-8:11)
“Let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone…” So said Jesus to those wanting to stone the woman caught in adultery. Why did he say it? Did he condone sin? How are grace and truth balanced? That’s what I explore in this episode which is a Bible study on John 7:53-8:11 (a story not in our oldest manuscripts).
In a new and uncertain era, what is our stronghold and purpose? [Sermon]
Is it the dawn of a new, uncertain era? Are we in the ‘gray zone’? This sermon explores Jesus’ words at the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:25-52 and some guidance for the road ahead.
Jesus as the source of living water at the Feast of Tabernacles, and into an uncertain era (Growing Deeper with John 7:25-52)
Jesus said: “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” What did he mean, and how does that shape who we are in the coming era? That’s what I explore in this podcast episode which looks in-depth at John 7:25-52.
The H.A.L.O. Response [Sermon]
“Don’t judge me!” That phrase is thrown around a lot these days. But what is the difference between being judgmental and using “right judgment” (which Jesus says we should do)? That’s what I explore in this sermon on John 7:1-24. “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
MatthewRuttan.com 