ALL OF JESUS FOR ALL THE WORLD – Read Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8

Pastor Jonathan opened today by sharing some reflections about the Christian and Missionary Alliance, encouraging us to consider how we at EAC are a part of the mission of Jesus to the world. We are a body of 2,000 churches in America, but a part of over 24,000 churches in 88 countries made up of 6.7 million believers around the globe! What do you find intriguing or surprising in these numbers and locales? It is important to note that this is the nature of the Alliance since the earliest days of our founding by Pastor A. B. Simpson in the 1880s, and to God be all the Glory over these intervening 140 or so years.
Building on this previous legacy of years gone by, Pastor Jonathan shared with us five reasons that that he is so encouraged about the Alliance today:
1. The Alliance Family is Growing – both in actual numbers but also in spiritual growth – for example, more baptisms worldwide in the past year than ever before.
2. God is Stirring the Hearts of Youth – exciting youth engagement and growth, with a national LIFE conference this year with over 6,000 students participating, and this holds true in local church efforts like EAC as well.
3. Mission Passion is Going Global – Over 29 Alliance Networks connected worldwide with missions work and disciple-making being accomplished in every corner.
4. The Alliance is Looking More Like God’s Family in Heaven – we are now a ‘minority majority’ denomination around the world.
5. Churches in the United States are Multiplying – 374 churches planted in the past year.

Considering Jesus’ commission to His closest disciples following His resurrection, in Matthew 28, and again stated in His words in Acts 1, we are to go and make disciples and be His witnesses to the world. Our reach is in fact global, and our impact is far-reaching: as we say, ‘All of Jesus for all the world’. Does this ring true for you? How so? Why is this so important?

LIVING WATERS – Read Luke 11:11-13; John 7:37-39; John 4:4-14

On this Father’s Day 2026, Pastor Jonathan asked us to consider the kind of Heavenly Father we have if we’ve trusted in Jesus and been adopted into His family. Consider the Luke 11 passage – what does Jesus tell His disciples at this time? Pastor Jonathan said, “Jesus is talking about how we can approach God; that we have a Father who loves to give.” Do you see this? And, of course, using hyperbole, Jesus is characterizing the love and giving nature of The Father by contrasting Him to earthly fathers who know how to give good gifts to their children, even though those earthly fathers are fallen and sinful, and God the Father gives even more abundantly and completely. Do you see this? And let your gaze follow up the page just a bit from this passage to the beginning of the chapter…what has Jesus just done for His disciples here? So, from the beginning of the chapter to our passage today, do you see that Jesus is teaching about the Father’s love and His giving nature in multiple ways, but as in prayer, we must ask, and we must seek…does this ring true for you?
And notice in verse 13 what Gift Jesus says the Father gives – the Holy Spirit – the greatest Gift of all! As Pastor Jonathan said, “He loves to give, and one of His best gifts is the Holy Spirit. His life in us. And here’s what happens when the Spirit fills us: there is life transformation; answers to prayer are experienced; you join His mission, here, there, and everywhere.” Do you see this? But note how this Gift is received…do you see it at the end of verse 13? What is it? Why is this important?
Pastor Jonathan asked us to consider how Jesus taught, through the analogy of ‘living water’, that this love and giving of the Spirit would come. He said, “You see a person’s life filled by the Holy Spirit, and sometimes there’s no other way to explain it except this: ‘There’s an overflow of Jesus in that person’s life.’ That’s His power on display. Thankfully, that is exactly what the Father wants to give. If we don’t have His life flowing through us, we may look okay on the outside, but on the inside we’re more like this…”: remember the picture of the stagnant swamp, or the dry riverbed. He went on: “We’re religious, but there’s not much vibrancy. We don’t look that different than people without Jesus. Joy disappears. There’s little overflow from your life. Maybe we feel numb in our soul. We know there must be more than what we’re experiencing.” Then Pastor Jonathan showed us the third image – a beautiful, flowing mountain river, full of life – living water. And that’s what He wants for us…do you see this? Does this ring true?
In two passages, we see Jesus describing Himself as this living water and as the source of living waters within followers – in the John 7 passage, as He preaches to the crowds at the temple courts, what does He say? What did Jesus mean? (Hint: John helps us out here with commentary in verse 39). And in the John 4 passage with the Samaritan woman at the well, what does Jesus tell her? What is He offering her? Has He offered all humanity the same? How so? Is this the Gospel? How so?
Pastor Jonathan summarized it this way: “This is the heart of the Father for us. We don't just receive from Christ; we become channels through which His life flows to others. We're not reservoirs hoarding blessing…we're rivers distributing life. We bless the people around us. They feel valued. Loved. It’s not us. It’s Jesus in us. Our Father receives the praise He deserves. He is the source of all of the life-giving rivers that will ever come from you.” Does this ring true for you? Have you been able to be that source in the lives of others? How so?

DO YOU KNOW IT? – Read John 7:37; Psalm 63:1; Luke 11:13; Acts 5:29-32; John 14:23; Psalm 84:11; Galatians 5:25

So as Pastor Jonathan placed before us this question: “What does it look like to live like that? – Do you know it?” He asked us to reflect on three words – three things that we can experience today. They are: (1) Thirst – from the John 7 passage again – being ‘thirsty’ for more. David said it as well in the 63rd Psalm – what do you see? Pastor Jonathan: “If you’re not longing for more of Him, start there. Ask Jesus to make you thirsty again.” And he shared a wonderful quote from A. B. Simpson: “Christ is not a reservoir but a spring. His life is continual, active and ever passing on with an outflow as necessary as its inflow. If we do not perpetually draw the fresh supply from the living Fountain, we shall either grow stagnant or empty.” Does this ring true?; (2) Ask – back to the Luke 11 passage – key notion is that we must approach God and ask! “Your Father in Heaven wants to give to those who ask.”; and (3) Obey – from the Acts 5 passage and Peter before the Sandedrin in the temple – notice again how the Holy Spirit is given – not only to those who ask, but to those who also obey. And Jesus’ own teaching to His disciples in John 14:23 – what does He say? Is this for us today as well? How so? And for further insight, Psalm 84:11 and Galatians 5:25 – what do these verses say?
Pastor Jonathan closed with a true story of Ira and Ann Yates, a farming couple in west Texas who were just barely making ends meet. Do you remember the story – and how it ended – as Pastor Jonathan said, “If you think about it, the Yates had been billionaires ever since they acquired the land, right? The oil was always there. The Yates simply didn’t know about it. Never tapped into it. They lived in a way that didn’t reflect what they really had.” And he suggested to us that all too often, a lot of us live the Christian life in that way: “The Bible tells us that we have received – in Christ – every spiritual blessing. We have an amazing inheritance. But here’s what often happens – we live unaware of the incredible spiritual riches we already have in Christ. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ…if you’ve put your trust in him…you have incredible spiritual riches!” Amen? Amen!

Prayer: In prayer this week, ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to a deeper understanding of His riches for your life – in prayer, seek His Will for your life, praying to make you more thirsty for Him, asking in prayer for His love, grace, and provision for your life, and praying for your obedience to His call and purpose in your life. And ask Him to show you how you can also be His witness in the lives of others around you, that through you, they can be strengthened and encouraged as well. And as always, pray that the Holy Spirit would give you ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to respond to His call to you, in order to be His hands and feet in this world, living a life from a Father who gives, all for God’s Glory! Amen.

Sermon Discussion Questions June 21, 2026