The Bread of Life and Living Water

I read a post on social media this morning that got me thinking. It said, "I'm looking for a Biblical church that will tell me how wonderful I am every Sunday." I get it. You won't find one. Jesus is a real Savior Who came to save real sinners, not the righteous or "wonderful".
The sad reality is, that many churches that are perceived as Biblical and seem to understand human depravity still over-emphasize human-responsibility, to the degree that we go away burdened and undernourished. They will give you a checklist or a measuring stick to size up your faith and faithfulness, rather than delivering our Wonderful Jesus through Word and Sacrament. When I go to church or listen to a sermon, I crave the Bread of Life and the Living Water. A focus on me leaves me famished.

But the Bread of Life; the Living Water satisfy the weary, not- so-wonderful soul.
11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” ~John 4

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ~John 6 Isn't He Wonderful?! More on this topic: "Health Food Diet in a Fast Food World" by Dr. John Fonville: http://www.paramountchurch.com/sermons/sermon/2018-01-28/health-food-diet-in-a-fast-food-world

Not Novelty. The Gospel!

Not Novelty. The Gospel! 

"...however vile and however bad, and however much a Law-breaker as I have been, and continue to be, I am justified by grace, apart from the works of the Law. I am covered in

robes of perfect righteousness. I am allured daily by the enticements of unconditional love. I am adopted into God's family as an eternal beloved son, loved as much as the Son Himself all for the sake of Christ alone. That is not novelty. That is the Gospel!" 

Listen to "A Gospel Greeting, Part 2" with Dr. John Fonville at 
http://www.paramountchurch.com/mediaPlayer/#/sermonaudio/274