THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ISELIN
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Pastor's Blog

Searching in the darkness

3/10/2020

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As we continue in our Lenten journey, we will be entering into the Gospel according to John. This week, we meet Nicodemus, a respected religious leader who has a secret passion for a new faith: a faith he finds in Jesus.  Unfortunately, he isn't yet ready to make a public declaration.  Instead, he goes to Jesus at night, hoping no one sees him in the camp talking to this man.  Jesus  was not exactly someone Nicodemus wanted to be seen chumming it up with right now; after all, Jesus had just had his memorable encounter with the money-changers and said he would rebuild the temple in three days.  However, he confesses to Jesus that they (and possibly other leaders) know Jesus comes from God because these signs are only possible through God.  But Jesus doesn't let him off the hook!  Instead, he throws metaphors and exaggerations at Nicodemus, confusing him.

And we still get confused with Jesus' language today!  So many people believe in a "born again" movement, without realizing this passage is about being born anew, or being born from above!  It isn't about making a personal change, but about allowing God to change you as you come to understand the depth of his love.  This love is expressed famously in John 3:16, but we often ignore where we best see that love--the cross!  Lastly, even though Nicodemus doesn't exactly shine in his first interaction with Jesus, he is still the one where we find our hope for this morning!


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    Rev. CHRIS HOUTZ

    Welcome to the pastor’s blog!  This page will have sermons uploaded so you can listen to them whenever you want, and I will add a brief reflection on the text, the sermon, or a little bit of both.  My hope is that you will be able to see that the Bible can still speak to our world today, and that we can always find a note of God’s grace in any passage, whether it is one of the most well-known and beloved passages, or one of the most difficult readings to grasp.

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1295 Oak Tree Road
Iselin, NJ 1295

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​20 Middlesex Ave, Iselin, NJ
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​We are a friendly, multi-cultural congregation that welcomes all to worship with us as we glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; sing praises to God, the Father; and let the Holy Spirit guide our footsteps. As faithful witnesses to our Christian beliefs, we dedicate ourselves to worship, stewardship and discipleship. We will always endeavor to nurture the youth in our congregation to grow in their commitment to God and the Church and to become active participants in the life and work of the Church.
We commit ourselves to evangelism and mission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all people in a variety of ways in our community and beyond.
​We will continue to be open to God’s presence, leading us into new pathways of ministry and service for the betterment of the community and to the glory of Jesus Christ our Savior.  -
                                                  -ratified by congregational vote, January 27, 2008

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Email:  fpcioffice2@comcast.net
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  • Home
  • Welcome!
  • Online Worship
  • THE CHILDREN'S PAGE
  • NEW MEMBER FAQS
  • MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
  • Inspiratonal Songs
  • Calendar
  • Values & Beliefs
  • Mission & Outreach
  • Fellowship Opportunities
    • Our Choir
  • Photo Album
  • Our Partners
  • SPIRE Newsletter
  • Hours & Directions
  • Our Staff
  • DRIVE-IN SERVICE INFORMATION
  • ANNUAL REPORT