John 4:7-15 | “Living Water"

 
 
John 4:7-15 | “Living Water"
Pastor Will Stern
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In John 4:10–14, Jesus meets a broken and cynical Samaritan woman who has spent her life searching for satisfaction in things that could never truly fill her soul. Using the imagery of “broken cisterns” from Jeremiah 2, this sermon explores how we all seek meaning, joy, and identity in places that ultimately leave us empty. But Christ offers something infinitely better: living water that wells up to eternal life. Listen as we consider the emptiness of false saviors, the free offer of the gospel, and the soul-satisfying gift of the Holy Spirit found only in Jesus Christ.

Outline

    1    Broken Cisterns

    2    Living Water

Questions for Reflection

    •    What “broken cisterns” are you tempted to look to for satisfaction instead of Christ?

    •    Why do good things like family, success, or comfort fail to satisfy our deepest thirst?

    •    What does Jesus mean when He offers “living water”?

    •    How does the Holy Spirit satisfy and transform believers?

    •    What does it look like to keep “coming to Christ” as a believer?

John 4:1-7 | “Sinner-Seeking Savior”

 
 
John 4:1-7 | “Sinner-Seeking Savior”
Pastor Will Stern
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Sermon Summary:
In John 4:1–15, we meet a deeply broken Samaritan woman—but before she ever sought Jesus, Jesus was already seeking her. This sermon explores how Christ is a sinner-seeking Savior who came into the world to draw near to sinners, become weak for them, and initiate a relationship with them. Jesus “had” to pass through Samaria because it was the will of His Father to seek and save the lost. Through His weariness at the well and His conversation with this outcast woman, we see the grace of a Savior who crosses every barrier to bring living water to spiritually thirsty people.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Jesus seeks sinners by drawing near to them

  2. Jesus seeks sinners by becoming weak for them

  3. Jesus seeks sinners by initiating a relationship with them

Key Takeaway:
Jesus is not waiting for sinners to clean themselves up before coming to Him. He is the One who takes the initiative, draws near, and offers living water to all who are spiritually thirsty.

Application Questions:

  • Do you believe Jesus could truly seek and save someone as broken as you?

  • In what ways are you trying to satisfy your spiritual thirst apart from Christ?

  • How does Christ’s willingness to draw near to sinners shape the way you view other people?

  • What might it look like for you to respond to Christ’s invitation today?

Isaiah 58:13-14 | "Delighting in the Sabbath"

 
 
Isaiah 58:13-14
Pastor Will Stern
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Do you want to delight in God more?

In Isaiah 58:13–14, God makes an incredible promise: that His people will delight in Him, be lifted up in their spiritual lives, and be deeply satisfied in His provision. But this promise doesn’t stand alone—it comes with a path.

In this sermon, we explore what it means to truly honor the Lord’s Day. What does it look like to stop trampling it? How can we learn to delight in it rather than endure it? And how does setting apart one day in seven actually lead us into deeper joy in God?

Far from being a burden, the Sabbath is a gift—a weekly invitation to rest, worship, and communion with God. And ultimately, it points us to Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath, in whom true rest and lasting delight are found.

Outline:

  • The Promise: Delight, elevation, and satisfaction in God (Isaiah 58:14)

  • The Problem: Trampling the Lord’s Day

  • The Invitation: Delighting in the Lord’s Day

  • The Practice: Honoring the Lord’s Day in everyday life

Main Takeaway:
If you want to delight in God, learn to delight in the day He has set apart for Himself.

Application Questions:

  1. In what ways might you be treating the Lord’s Day like any other day?

  2. Do you view Sunday more as a burden or a gift—and why?

  3. What would it look like to structure your day around worship, rest, and fellowship?

  4. How does Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, reshape the way you think about rest?

John 3:22-30 | “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

 
 
John 3:22-30 | "He Must Increase, I Must Decrease"
Pastor Will Stern
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What if your lack of joy, constant comparison, or tendency to argue is actually rooted in pride? In this sermon from John 3:22–30, we examine how pride subtly shapes our hearts—and how true humility leads to freedom, joy, and a life centered on Christ.

John the Baptist’s disciples reveal three common marks of pride: being argumentative, competitive, and self-exalting. In contrast, John himself models true humility—marked by thankfulness, joy, and a desire to exalt Christ above all.

At the heart of this passage is John’s well-known confession: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is not only a statement about John’s ministry, but a call for every believer. As we grow in the Christian life, we learn to take our eyes off ourselves and fix them more fully on Christ—finding that our greatest joy is found in Him.

Outline:

Three Marks of Pride:

  1. Argumentative

  2. Competitive

  3. Self-exalting

Three Marks of Humility:

  1. Thankful

  2. Joyful

  3. Christ-exalting

Key Verse:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Questions for Reflection:

  • Where does pride show up in my relationships or conversations?

  • Do I find myself comparing or competing with others?

  • Is my joy rooted in Christ—or in how I measure up to others?

  • What would it look like today to decrease so that Christ might increase?

Isaiah 52:13-15 | Good Friday

 
 
Isaiah 52:13-15 | Good Friday
Pastor Will Stern
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What if your suffering isn’t meaningless—but part of God’s plan to prepare you for glory? In this sermon from Isaiah 52:13–15, we look to the Suffering Servant—Jesus Christ—to understand how to face suffering with hope, confidence, and even purpose.

Isaiah shows us both the heights of Christ’s exaltation and the depths of His suffering, reminding us that the path to glory always runs through the cross. As those united to Christ by faith, our lives follow the same pattern: suffering now, glory to come. And even more, God uses our suffering for redemptive purposes beyond what we can see.

If you are suffering—or preparing to suffer—this passage calls you to lift your eyes to Christ, who was marred for us, exalted for us, and now leads us through both suffering and glory.

In This Sermon, You’ll Discover:

  • Why remembering the end of the story changes how you endure suffering

  • How Christ’s suffering and exaltation shape the Christian life

  • Why suffering should not surprise the believer

  • How God uses suffering for redemptive purposes

  • Where to find real hope when life is hard

Sermon Outline:

1. Remember the Prize (Exaltation with Christ)

  • Christ was exalted—and we will share in His glory

  • Future glory gives strength for present suffering

2. Remember the Path (Suffering with Christ)

  • Christ was marred and rejected

  • The Christian life follows the same path: suffering before glory

3. Remember the Purpose (Redemption through Christ)

  • Christ’s suffering accomplished salvation

  • Our suffering, in union with Him, is not wasted

Main Takeaway:
Because we are united to Christ, our suffering is not meaningless—it is part of the path to glory and is used by God for redemptive purposes.

Questions for Reflection:

  • Am I surprised by suffering, or do I see it as part of following Christ?

  • Where am I tempted to believe my suffering is meaningless?

  • How does the promise of future glory shape the way I endure hardship today?

  • In what ways might God be using my suffering for His purposes?

  • How can I fix my eyes more fully on Christ in the midst of difficulty?