John Jemar's channel about everything in life: sermons, traveling, family.

Pastor of Layton Hills Baptist Church, Layton, Utah. Husband for three decades. Father of four adults. Exploring God and life in the western United States.


John Jemar

Five Steps toward Responsibility (John 5:10-14) 
 
John 5’s theme is authority, power, and testimony. Jesus’ long-distance healing miracle of John 4:46-54 is contrasted with Jesus’ up-close and immediate healing miracle of John 5:1-9. In John 5:10-14, we learn three lessons: (1) let love guide you, (2) take ownership, and (3) stop sinning, start obeying. 
 
Rules over mercy: breaking the Sabbath – not breaking the Sabbath (John 5:9-10) [let love guide you] 
 
Assigning blame: the healed one blamed the healer (John 5:11-13) [ownership signals maturity] 
 
Jesus’ command (John 5:14) [Live godly] 
 
Being responsible is identifying and accepting the consequences – good or bad. Responsible behavior has five elements: honesty, compassion/respect, fairness, accountability, courage 
 
Five steps toward responsibility: take, stop, silence, refuse, use [ownership signals maturity] 
 1. TAKE ownership for your thoughts, motivations, attitudes, feelings, words, actions (me & mine) 
 2. STOP blaming others, past, situation (not that) 
 3. SILENCE complaining (control your words) 
 4. REFUSE to take responsibility as poison (not personal or demeaning, but mature) 
 5. USE responsibility & consequences as fertilizer for growth of character, skills, relationships, future 
 
What do you need to take responsibility for?

Five Steps toward Responsibility (John 5:10-14)

John 5’s theme is authority, power, and testimony. Jesus’ long-distance healing miracle of John 4:46-54 is contrasted with Jesus’ up-close and immediate healing miracle of John 5:1-9. In John 5:10-14, we learn three lessons: (1) let love guide you, (2) take ownership, and (3) stop sinning, start obeying.

Rules over mercy: breaking the Sabbath – not breaking the Sabbath (John 5:9-10) [let love guide you]

Assigning blame: the healed one blamed the healer (John 5:11-13) [ownership signals maturity]

Jesus’ command (John 5:14) [Live godly]

Being responsible is identifying and accepting the consequences – good or bad. Responsible behavior has five elements: honesty, compassion/respect, fairness, accountability, courage

Five steps toward responsibility: take, stop, silence, refuse, use [ownership signals maturity]
   1. TAKE ownership for your thoughts, motivations, attitudes, feelings, words, actions (me & mine)
   2. STOP blaming others,

Five Steps toward Responsibility (John 5:10-14) take, stop, silence, refuse, use

Sick, Seeking, and Healing (John 5:1-4) 
 
John 5’s theme is authority, power, and testimony. Jesus’ long-distance healing miracle of John 4:46-54 is contrasted with Jesus’ up-close and immediate healing miracle of John 5:1-9. Jesus travels to Jerusalem for a holy day feast and visits a place of angelic, miraculous healing (John 5:1-4). 
 
What is God calling on you to do in obedience? Obey now. 
 
What miracle from God are you needing? Are you seeking God and His aid? 
 
What is stopping you from taking your problem to God? Seek God and watch Him work!

Sick, Seeking, and Healing (John 5:1-4)

John 5’s theme is authority, power, and testimony. Jesus’ long-distance healing miracle of John 4:46-54 is contrasted with Jesus’ up-close and immediate healing miracle of John 5:1-9. Jesus travels to Jerusalem for a holy day feast and visits a place of angelic, miraculous healing (John 5:1-4).

What is God calling on you to do in obedience? Obey now.

What miracle from God are you needing? Are you seeking God and His aid?

What is stopping you from taking your problem to God? Seek God and watch Him work!

Sick, Seeking, & Healing (John 5:1-4) obey, ask, miracle

Explores pleasure (1-3) and prosperity (4-8) 
 
Search For Significance: Examination of Ecclesiastes 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJVJJMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VR21GKM48W63JYH29YWD 
 
#biblestudy 
 
We live in a culture obsessed with pleasure and prosperity, and it often leaves us unfulfilled. Ecclesiastes warns us about this truth. It was true then, and remains true now, proving the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes’ relevance to the twenty-first century. 
 
The Preacher continues his experiments. The Preacher tries to determine if there is another way to find lasting advantages through human work under the sun by exploring pleasure (1-3) and prosperity (4-8). Right from the first line, he tells the reader his goal and its result: “I will test you with pleasure” (towb used eight times in Ecclesiastes = pleasure) and “it too was futility” (2:1). 
 
In a pursuit of pleasure, he explores the experience of comedy and laughter (2:2), alcohol and wine (2:3), entertainers and entertainments (2:8), and sex with concubines (2:8). In a pursuit of the rewards of riches, he explores the experience of building projects (4-6) and expanding his wealth (7-8) with houses, vineyards (2:4), gardens, parks (2:5), ponds (2:6), slaves, livestock (2:7), silver and gold (2:8). While there is nothing intrinsically sinful, wicked, or evil about pleasure or prosperity, as a source of fulfillment, purpose, and identity, they are hollow idols. 
 
In the beginning of the chapter, he declares his experiences as fruitless and, at the end of his experiments on pleasure and prosperity, he concludes with meaningless futility (9-11). He denied himself no material possessions or pleasures, and like the man in the parable of Jesus (Luke 16:19-31 The Rich Man and Lazarus), he obtained enjoyment for a time. He claims to have surpassed all others in wealth (2:9): Did great, received increase, held his wisdom (2:9); satisfied his desire, pleasure, reward (2:10); result: “all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun” (2:11). 
 
Let us repent, commit to reject the idols of pleasures and prosperity that are so pervasive in our culture, and pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us to focus on Jesus and receive true fulfillment, purpose, and identity from God and not from the false idols of our culture. 
 
Search For Significance: Examination of Ecclesiastes 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJVJJMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VR21GKM48W63JYH29YWD 
 
#biblestudy

Explores pleasure (1-3) and prosperity (4-8)

Search For Significance: Examination of Ecclesiastes
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJVJJMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VR21GKM48W63JYH29YWD

#biblestudy

We live in a culture obsessed with pleasure and prosperity, and it often leaves us unfulfilled.  Ecclesiastes warns us about this truth.  It was true then, and remains true now, proving the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes’ relevance to the twenty-first century. 

The Preacher continues his experiments. The Preacher tries to determine if there is another way to find lasting advantages through human work under the sun by exploring pleasure (1-3) and prosperity (4-8). Right from the first line, he tells the reader his goal and its result: “I will test you with pleasure” (towb used eight times in Ecclesiastes = pleasure) and “it too was futility” (2:1).

In a pursuit of pleasure, he explores the experience of comedy and laughter (2:2), alcohol and wine (2:3), entertainers and entertainments (2:8), 

Ecclesiastes Bible Study EP006 (Eccl 2:1-11) Vanity of Pleasure & Prosperity

Cyclical view of life as nothing changes (1:4-7) and nothing’s new (1:8-11). 
 
Like Henry David Thoreau or John Muir, the Preacher of Ecclesiastes learns from nature and witnesses divine truth in the creation. The cyclical nature of life is like what is found in nature and the seasons as in “earth” (4), “sun” (5), “wind” (6), “circular courses” (6), and “rivers” and “seas” (7). God, through his creation, reveals a natural rhythm – cyclical flow – which provides comfort like a mother rocking her toddler. And yet, this natural rhythm also leaves us weary and exhausted. 
 
People are complicated. Our psyche is multifaceted and often in conflict with itself. We are conflicted because we desire change while wanting consistency and we desire stability while fearing stagnation. We want something new; it is an innate desire of our psyche (8) but the world provides nothing new (9-10). And yet, we think things are new because our self-deception and poor memories (11). 
 
What are we to take away from this paragraph about life’s monotony? “All things are wearisome,” says verse 8 (NASB). Just as the sun, winds, streams, and all natural objects of God’s creation are weary with their ceaseless round of activities, so our existence of ceaseless rounds nothing but wearisome. Weary (yaga’) is used two other times in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 25:18 linked with being faint and Second Samuel 17:2 linked with being exhausted). No activity, whether routine and common or new and inventive, can provide true and meaningful purpose, joy, and fulfillment. All activity becomes wearisome grinding us down rather than polishing our shine. Busyness is not fulfillment but wearisome linked with fainting and being exhausted. Think of Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 
 
Search For Significance: Examination of Ecclesiastes 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJVJJMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VR21GKM48W63JYH29YWD 
 
#biblestudy

Cyclical view of life as nothing changes (1:4-7) and nothing’s new (1:8-11).  

Like Henry David Thoreau or John Muir, the Preacher of Ecclesiastes learns from nature and witnesses divine truth in the creation. The cyclical nature of life is like what is found in nature and the seasons as in “earth” (4), “sun” (5), “wind” (6), “circular courses” (6), and “rivers” and “seas” (7). God, through his creation, reveals a natural rhythm – cyclical flow – which provides comfort like a mother rocking her toddler. And yet, this natural rhythm also leaves us weary and exhausted. 

People are complicated. Our psyche is multifaceted and often in conflict with itself.  We are conflicted because we desire change while wanting consistency and we desire stability while fearing stagnation. We want something new; it is an innate desire of our psyche (8) but the world provides nothing new (9-10).  And yet, we think things are new because our self-deception and poor memories (11).

What are we to take away

Ecclesiastes Bible Study EP003 (Eccl 1:4-11) life's monotony

Ecclesiastes 1:3 (NASB) “What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?” 
 
This research question defines Solomon’s experiments through Ecclesiastes. What is the profit to life’s toil? What advantage exists? 
 
The key to this verse and Ecclesiastes is “under the sun” (here is the long list for cross-referencing the phrase "under the sun" in the book ... 1:3, 1:9, 1:14, 2:17-18, 2:20-22, 3:16, 4:1-3, 4:7, 5:13, 6:1, 6:12, 8:9, 8:15, 9:3, 9:6, 9:9, 10:5). 
 
“Under the sun” explains the assessment as horizontal. The experiments’ perspective is anthrocentric, viewed from a mortal’s point-of-view, from a secular/pragmatic perspective. 
 
The flow of topics doesn’t form a logical outline but a circular discussion. In chapters 1-2, Solomon scrutinizes life, wisdom, wealth, and death “under the sun” without God. In chapters 2-10, he re-examines them with the addition of God. Finally, in chapters 11-12, life is about faith, wisdom is a lesson to be learned, wealth is for enjoyment, and death provides context for judgment and accountability. 
 
Search For Significance: Examination of Ecclesiastes 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJVJJMQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VR21GKM48W63JYH29YWD 
 
#biblestudy

Ecclesiastes 1:3 (NASB) “What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?”

This research question defines Solomon’s experiments through Ecclesiastes.  What is the profit to life’s toil? What advantage exists?  

The key to this verse and Ecclesiastes is “under the sun” (here is the long list for cross-referencing the phrase "under the sun" in the book ... 1:3, 1:9, 1:14, 2:17-18, 2:20-22, 3:16, 4:1-3, 4:7, 5:13, 6:1, 6:12, 8:9, 8:15, 9:3, 9:6, 9:9, 10:5). 

“Under the sun” explains the assessment as horizontal. The experiments’ perspective is anthrocentric, viewed from a mortal’s point-of-view, from a secular/pragmatic perspective.

The flow of topics doesn’t form a logical outline but a circular discussion.  In chapters 1-2, Solomon scrutinizes life, wisdom, wealth, and death “under the sun” without God.  In chapters 2-10, he re-examines them with the addition of God.  Finally, in chapters 11-12, life is about faith, wisdom is a lesson to be learned, wealth i

Ecclesiastes Bible Study EP002 (Eccl 1:3) the big question

Jesus Savior, Deliverer, Preserver (John 4:39-42) 
 
John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 
 
Jesus is the unique Savior, Deliverer, and Preserver, so let’s put our faith in Him for the forgiveness of our wickedness (John 4:39-42). 
 
S.A.V.I.O.R. outline

Jesus Savior, Deliverer, Preserver (John 4:39-42)

John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 

Jesus is the unique Savior, Deliverer, and Preserver, so let’s put our faith in Him for the forgiveness of our wickedness (John 4:39-42).

S.A.V.I.O.R. outline

Jesus Savior, Deliverer, Preserver (John 4:39-42) Admit Believe Confess

Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed-One (John 4:25-26) 
 
John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 
 
The Samaritan woman makes an Old Testament reference to the Messiah, and Jesus says it is him (John 4:25-26).

Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed-One (John 4:25-26)

John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 

The Samaritan woman makes an Old Testament reference to the Messiah, and Jesus says it is him (John 4:25-26).

Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One (John 4:25-26) Prophet Priest King Jesus

Worshipping in Spirit & Truth (John 4:23-24) 
 
John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 
 
Continuing the topic of worshipping from John 4:19-22, Jesus declares now is the time for real worshippers to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). 
 
The Time Has Come (4:23a) “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the …” 
 
True Worshippers & the Father (4:23b-24) “… true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” 
 
Are you walking in the Spirit? 
 
Now is the time for real worshippers to worship God in spirit and truth. Are you?

Worshipping in Spirit & Truth (John 4:23-24)

John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 

Continuing the topic of worshipping from John 4:19-22, Jesus declares now is the time for real worshippers to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).

The Time Has Come (4:23a) “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the …”

True Worshippers & the Father (4:23b-24) “… true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Are you walking in the Spirit?

Now is the time for real worshippers to worship God in spirit and truth. Are you?

Worship in Spirit & Trust (John 4:23-24) Jesus the change-agent & authentic-genuine worshippers

Unexpectedly Meeting God (John 4:7-10) 
 
John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 
 
The Samaritan woman, like Nicodemus, was distracted by the small stuff of life and missed what God was really trying to do (4:7-10). 
 
God encounter: The woman went to the well during her normal routine and had an encounter with God. Right, surprised location and timing, God works when unexpected (divine providence & divine moment) 
 
Physical or spiritual: The woman at the well was too focused on the normal and small aspect of her life and missed the more important spiritual encounter, person, and truth … normal (small) or supernatural (vast)

Unexpectedly Meeting God (John 4:7-10)

John 4 is about the other, outsider, and outcast. Jesus leaves the Pharisees and baptizing activity behind to travel back north through the outcasts’ land (John 4:1-45). 

The Samaritan woman, like Nicodemus, was distracted by the small stuff of life and missed what God was really trying to do (4:7-10).

God encounter: The woman went to the well during her normal routine and had an encounter with God. Right, surprised location and timing, God works when unexpected (divine providence & divine moment)

Physical or spiritual: The woman at the well was too focused on the normal and small aspect of her life and missed the more important spiritual encounter, person, and truth … normal (small) or supernatural (vast)

Encountering God (John 4:7-10) Samaritan woman distracted by small stuff missed what God was  doing

Life Or Wrath (Gospel of John 3:35-36) [24th sermon on John 3] 
 
In the context of life is about Jesus, not you, and Jesus being the only one from heaven, John 3:35-36 speaks about the relationship between Father and Son and believing and obeying. 
 
Believe in Jesus for life or disobey for wrath (John 3:36). 
 
What do you believe? Why do you believe it? How is it showing in your identity and lifestyle?

Life Or Wrath (Gospel of John 3:35-36) [24th sermon on John 3]

In the context of life is about Jesus, not you, and Jesus being the only one from heaven, John 3:35-36 speaks about the relationship between Father and Son and believing and obeying. 

Believe in Jesus for life or disobey for wrath (John 3:36).

What do you believe? Why do you believe it? How is it showing in your identity and lifestyle?

Life Or Wrath (John 3:35-36) Believe in Jesus for life or disobey for wrath

Toughest Bible Lesson Ever: Life Is About Jesus, NOT YOU 
 
According to John 3:28-30, Jesus is the bridegroom with the bride and John’s response is joy made full as ours should be. What is the tough lesson in this Bible passage? 
 
Life is about Jesus, not you (John 3:28-30), and when we live focused on Jesus, correct divine perspective and joy fill our lives.

Toughest Bible Lesson Ever: Life Is About Jesus, NOT YOU 

According to John 3:28-30, Jesus is the bridegroom with the bride and John’s response is joy made full as ours should be. What is the tough lesson in this Bible passage? 

Life is about Jesus, not you (John 3:28-30), and when we live focused on Jesus, correct divine perspective and joy fill our lives.

Jesus, Not Us (John 3:30) Life Is About Jesus, Not You. Toughest Lesson

After John 3:16-18 about belief in Jesus and judgment, the next three verses contrasts divine light with evil darkness. The judgment of John 3:16-18 is explained in the Gospel of John 3:19-21. 
 
John 3:20 (NASB) says, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” 
 
Sin, hated, and fear keep the lost from Jesus.

After John 3:16-18 about belief in Jesus and judgment, the next three verses contrasts divine light with evil darkness. The judgment of John 3:16-18 is explained in the Gospel of John 3:19-21. 

John 3:20 (NASB) says, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” 

Sin, hated, and fear keep the lost from Jesus.

What Is Evil And Hatred? (John 3:20) Sin, hated, and fear keep the lost from Jesus

Why We Love The Dark (Gospel of John 3:19) 
 
After John 3:16-18 about belief in Jesus and judgment, the next three verses contrasts divine light with evil darkness. The judgment of John 3:16-18 is explained in John 3:19-21. 
 
Jesus, the Light, came into humanity, and we chose evil and darkness instead.

Why We Love The Dark (Gospel of John 3:19)

After John 3:16-18 about belief in Jesus and judgment, the next three verses contrasts divine light with evil darkness. The judgment of John 3:16-18 is explained in John 3:19-21. 

Jesus, the Light, came into humanity, and we chose evil and darkness instead.

Loving Darkness (John 3:19) We Chose Evil and Destruction

Biblical prayer and daily prayer to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name. 
 
#prayer #praying

Biblical prayer and daily prayer to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name.  

#prayer #praying

Let’s pray together (Luke 18:38)

Let’s pray together (Psalm 19:13-14)

Biblical prayer and daily prayer to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name.

Let’s pray together (Acts 4:30)

Let’s pray together (Psalm 19:13)

Let’s pray together (Psalm 3:3)

Christmas PRESENCE 
 
Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel, God with us (7:10-16 Miracle birth of Immanuel) (direct quote in Matthew 1:23). 
 
Isaiah 7:14 (NASB) says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” 
 
Christmas’ birthday party (Is 7 Messiah is born = Is 53 Messiah is killed) Isaiah 7 is about a prophecy of deliverance FULFILLED (desperate times (7:1-2), God’s reality (7:3-9), Miracle (7:10-14)) 
 
Jesus’ Divinity in humanity: Charles Wesley wrote: "Offspring of a Virgin's womb; Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th' incarnate Deity." (Matthew 1:22-23) 
 
Continual presence: Jesus remains Immanuel and God is still with us (You are not alone/isolated) 
 
Are you ignoring God in your daily life? Do you have an intimate and passionate relationship with God every day?

Christmas PRESENCE

Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel, God with us (7:10-16 Miracle birth of Immanuel) (direct quote in Matthew 1:23). 

Isaiah 7:14 (NASB) says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Christmas’ birthday party (Is 7 Messiah is born = Is 53 Messiah is killed) Isaiah 7 is about a prophecy of deliverance FULFILLED (desperate times (7:1-2), God’s reality (7:3-9), Miracle (7:10-14))

Jesus’ Divinity in humanity: Charles Wesley wrote: "Offspring of a Virgin's womb; Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th' incarnate Deity." (Matthew 1:22-23)

Continual presence: Jesus remains Immanuel and God is still with us (You are not alone/isolated)

Are you ignoring God in your daily life? Do you have an intimate and passionate relationship with God every day?

Christmas Presence Isaiah 7:14

Samson’s Misery (Judges 16:20–22) 
 
The Philistines capture Samson, gouge out his eyes, bind him in chains, and force him to grind grain in prison. But soon his hair grows back. 
 
My immediate devotional response to reading: Never take for granted the presence and protection of God. Like Job, it may be in God’s plan for you to suffer physically, socially, judicially. Like Job, remain humble and faithful to God. Or if, like Samson, learn humility through the suffering and emerge on the other side stronger and more committed.

Samson’s Misery (Judges 16:20–22)

The Philistines capture Samson, gouge out his eyes, bind him in chains, and force him to grind grain in prison. But soon his hair grows back.
 
My immediate devotional response to reading: Never take for granted the presence and protection of God. Like Job, it may be in God’s plan for you to suffer physically, socially, judicially. Like Job, remain humble and faithful to God. Or if, like Samson, learn humility through the suffering and emerge on the other side stronger and more committed.

John Jemar Videos