We are excited to announce some new features to the blogsite. As more and more readers are viewing from foreign countries we have added the translate feature to the site. Our readers can also now choose to have the blog emailed to them, and they can search the blog by keywords on various topics. We hope that this makes the site more manageable for you. God Bless.

Hear current audio messages by Pastor Scott Burr at:
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Thursday, December 29, 2016

Love them like Jesus

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have love you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”-John 13:34-35

In one simple sentence Jesus established a group of followers that would become known; not by their nationality, military strength, academic achievement, or cultural nuances, but by their love one for another.

Christians were to distinguish themselves not by wearing cross necklaces, donning Christian t-shirts, or by putting a fish symbol on their cars. Christians were to be recognized by the love they showed to one another. A love that they were instructed to demonstrate, not simply declare:

“My little children, let us not love in word on in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”-1 John 3:18

Jesus instructed His followers to love others, the way that He loved them. So what does loving like Jesus look like?

Love requires devotion and honor. Romans 12:10 declares: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Devotion is commitment. It is the willingness to stick by a person’s side even when it is difficult; treating them with dignity and respect.

Love requires forgiveness. 1 Peter 4:8 states: “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.”  This passage is not asking us to overlook people’s sins, but that we leave room for forgiveness. Genuine love will break down walls!

Love requires sacrifice. 1 John 3:16 declares: “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” I think too often we confuse kindness with love. Being kind truly costs us very little, but love always carries a component of sacrifice. Sacrificial love is the laying down of our will for the benefit of another; precisely what Jesus did for us at the cross. Ultimately, love looks like Jesus.

Finally, loving others, means loving them even when it is hard:

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”-Luke 6:27-32. 

It is this type of love that truly distinguishes the followers of Christ from those who simply go to church. They love their enemies! How? Doing good to them, blessing them, praying for them, going the extra mile to help them, and giving when they are in need.

When we do this we are truly living out Romans 12:9:

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”

Loving without hypocrisy means that love is no respecter of person. We don’t get to pick and choose who we demonstrate the love of God towards. We live in a culture that is desperate for a true demonstration of God’s love; so let us heed the words of 1 John 4:11:

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The Story of God's Love

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height no depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”-Romans 8:37-39

The story of Jesus is a story about the love of God. It is a story with a magnificent beginning, climactic middle, and fulfilling end. It begins at a stable in a little town called Bethlehem:

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, o be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”-Luke 2:4-7

As I reflected on this passage, I realized that the story of God’s love for us would not have been complete if Jesus had not occupied the manger. Without Jesus, the manger is nothing but a feeding trough. It has no meaning, no symbolism, and no message. It is like an empty jar, it was created to hold something, but the value and purpose of the vessel is not fully realized until it is occupied.

The story of Christ’s birth is bathed in the love of God. 1 John 4:9 declares: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” This foundational passage point to God’s ultimate motivation for sending Jesus. His love for us! And that love is why Jesus occupied the manger. Sending Jesus was God’s way of physically demonstrating His love for you and I.

As we reach the climactic middle of the story of God’s love for us, we are faced with a much more ominous image; the cross! However, the story of God’s love for us in not complete unless Jesus occupies the cross. Without Jesus, the cross is nothing more than two beams lashed together. It has no meaning, no message! The cross, however, became a beacon of faith, peace, and hope because Jesus was willing to occupy it. Jesus transformed a Roman instrument of torture and death into a message of hope, redemption, and love demonstrating from John 15:13:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

God’s love for us is seen in Christ’s willingness to take upon Himself the penalty of our sinful condition. However, the story of God’s love for us does not reach it’s ultimate conclusion until the love of Jesus occupies our heart!

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”-Ephesians 3:17-19

Without Jesus occupying our hearts; our lives lack the meaning and message God intends to communicate to the world. We are the living message of God’s love. Unlike the manger and the cross which have both been long laid empty, Jesus still occupies hearts today! More important than Jesus occupying the manger or the cross, is that you allow Jesus to occupy your heart. You can do that by receiving Him by faith:

“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”-Romans 10:9 

Let God begin writing a new chapter of your life this Christmas by placing your faith in Jesus and allow the love of God to occupy your heart.


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Monday, December 12, 2016

Loving God (Pt. 2)

(Part 2 of 2)

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.”-Mark 12:30

In addition to loving God with all our heart and all our soul, we are also instructed to love God with all of our mind. What we think about God is vitality important to how we will love and live for Him. Proverbs 23:7 declares “As a man thinks, so he is.” Loving God means thinking rightly about Him.

Unfortunately our minds can be tainted and jaded by the wisdom of this world, the cares of life, and the corruption of sin; causing us to view God in a way that diminishes our faith and trust in Him. That is why the Apostle Paul admonished believers in Romans 12:2:

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” 

We must keep our minds focused on the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. The mind is a battle ground for ideas, philosophies, and ideologies; each one trying to gain a foothold into our way of thinking. The mind is where we reason, process information, and cultivate imaginations. This makes the focus of our minds extremely significant.

The Apostle Paul recognized this when he penned Philippians 4:8-9:

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-mediate on these things.”

We demonstrate our love towards God when we fill our minds with those things that honor and please Him.

Finally, we are instructed in Mark 12 to love God with all of our strength. To love God with all our strength is to love Him with our faculties, abilities, and time. Loving God is more than lip service:

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”-1 John 3:18

We can do this in several very practical ways. We demonstrate love for God when we demonstrate kindness and good works towards others:

 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”-Matthew 25:37-40.

We demonstrate our love for God each time that we share the Good News with our friends and family:

“And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”-Romans 10:15

We demonstrate our love for God when we worship Him:

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.-Psalm 104:33

When we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; we are loving Him with all we are and He deserves nothing less!

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church


Monday, December 5, 2016

Loving God (Pt.1)

(Part 1 of 2)

“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.”-Mark 12:30

As the holiday gift buying season gets into full swing, many families are changing their approach to Christmas by adopting what is known as The Four Gift Rule. Gift giving has become a source of stress for many families so instead of purchasing a random assortment of items for their family members they are opting to purchase four items; one from each of the following categories:

1. Something they want
2. Something they need
3. Something to wear
4. Something to read

The four gift rule, however, is not a new concept. In fact, God is the original author of the four gift rule! The greatest gift we can give God is our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love, as we learned, last week is far more than an emotion, but rather it is an expression of God’s nature. So what makes God feel loved?

It begins by loving God with all your heart! Jesus declared in Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” The devotion of our hearts is determined by what we find value in. What occupies our time, motivates our actions, shapes our daily living? In order for the heart to love Jesus completely, it has to treasure Him above everything else:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then, in his joy, went and sold all he had and bought that field.”-Matthew 13:44

Does Jesus hold this type of value in your life? Would you sell all you have in order to have Him? Loving Jesus means that their is nothing that we possess or participate in that is more valuable to us than our relationship with Him. The harsh reality is that anything that we prioritize over Him is an idol. For many the greatest gift they could give God this Christmas is to place Him back into His proper place of value in their own hearts and lives.

Once we have a proper perspective of Christ, we can then begin to focus on loving God with all of our soul. Our souls is our eternal inner being. It is composed of our attitudes, will, and emotions. It is the core of who we are. C.S. Lewis wrote: “You do not have a soul. You are a soul.”

Where the heart focuses on what we value, the soul focuses on doing God’s will. A person’s soul has the ability to think and the power to choose to do good or evil. How many times have you done something because it was the right thing to do, although your heart wasn’t in it?
It is a demonstration of love towards God when we lay aside our will for His will:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”-John 14:15
This wasn’t simply something Jesus requested of us; it was something that He modeled personally on the eve of His crucifixion:

“And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done.”-Luke 22:41-42

Do you love God enough to say no to your own will; to live out the will of God?

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Love Defined

There is probably no better time of year, in my opinion, to expound upon the nature of love than during the Christmas season. Christmas is when we celebrate God’s gift of Jesus to a world in need of a savior. I would venture to say that everyone reading this column has their own concept of what love is, but what does God’s word say about it?

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all the mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, it profits me nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”-1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (NKJV)

Everything we say, believe, and accomplish profits us nothing if we don’t have love! Love gives meaning to our faith and foundation to our hope in Christ. In fact, the Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV):

“ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

So what is love? Merriam-Webster defines love as an intense feeling of deep affection. It is often used synonymously with romance and infatuation. Biblical love, however, is much more expansive. In order to gain a proper understanding of what love is; we first must know who love is!

“ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”-1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)

God is love! It is His very nature. Many people never experience the love of God because they have confined love to an emotion, however, God is so much more than an intense feeling. In fact, as you read through 1 Corinthians 13 it is significant to note the complete absence of any emphasis on personal feelings. The Apostle Paul’s description of love is defined by action, not emotion. His description of love is focused primarily on how to live it out rather than how it feels.  When we know how to live it out; we can both know how to love and how to recognize when we are being loved!

Let’s look together at the Apostle Paul’s description of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV):

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Over the next four weeks we are going to focus on understanding and applying this passage to our everyday living. We will discover what love is, what love doesn’t do, what love always does, and the one thing love never does.

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Monday, November 7, 2016

Sin, Righteousness, and Judgment (Pt. 3)

(Part 3 of 3)

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”-2 Corinthians 5:10

Many would like to believe that no one will ever have to face judgment (of any kind) for the things that they have said and done. They believe that God is too loving, too gracious, and too merciful to allow good people to suffer eternal punishment. Regardless of how hopeful they are for that to be true, the scriptures tells us a different story.

“And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”-Hebrews 9:27

Every one of us is going to have to give an account to God for the way that we lived our life here on earth; from all the things done in the body, to every word that proceeded from our mouths:

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it on the day of judgment.”-Matthew 12:36

However, for those who have placed their faith in Christ we have this assurance:

“Therefore there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”- Romans 8: 1-2

However, there are no such assurances for the ungodly:

“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”-Jude 15

No one will be able to claim ignorance on the day of judgment. They will not be able to say that they did not know that they were sinning against God!

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”-Acts 17:30-31

The book of Revelation reveals the many judgments that God will one day bring upon the earth and upon those who have rejected His Son. Those who have rejected Christ must face the Great White throne judgment recorded in Revelation 20:11-15. This is the final judgment upon sinful man:

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,[a] and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”-Revelation 20:11-12

However, even though God must judge sin, He is not willing that any of us should perish! According to 2 Peter 3:9, His greatest desire is it that we all would come to repentance. That is why He gave us the Holy Spirit; to convict us of sin, convince us of righteousness, and convince us of the judgment to come.


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Monday, October 31, 2016

Sin, Righteousness, & Judgment (Pt. 2)

(Part 2)

“As it is written, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”-Romans 3:10 

The Bible is clear that mankind has tried, since the dawn of time, to establish its own standard of righteousness rather than to submit to the righteousness of God. The Apostle Paul declared in Romans 10:3: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.” 

This self established righteousness is described by the Prophet Isaiah as being like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). When we work to establish our own parameters for right and wrong, we run the risk of undermining God’s framework for good and evil:

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”-Isaiah 5:20 

The Apostle Paul recognized that the self-defined righteousness that he once lived by fell woefully short of the righteousness established by God. When he measured himself, against God’s standards, it caused him to declare himself to be the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) 

The righteousness that God has established is not self-determined but rather has been provided for through our Lord Jesus Christ:

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”-Romans 5:17-19

His righteousness is afforded to us, not through any effort of our own, but by faith:

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.”-Romans 3:21-22

Jesus demonstrated a level of righteousness that we, in our sin-tainted state, could never hope to attain through our own works. 1 Corinthians 5:21 declares:

“For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” 

Because we have all sinned, we have all fallen short of God’s standard of righteousness. Jesus, who lived a sinless life, took the penalty of our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross. This sacrifice allowed His righteousness to be extended to us, if we choose to place our faith in Him. 

The Holy Spirit continues to work today to convince us that our self-righteousness will never satisfy the demands of a Holy God, but instead He points to a perfect righteousness afforded to us by faith in Jesus. 


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church


Sin, Righteousness, & Judgment (Pt. 1)

(Part 1)

“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you ask Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”-John 16:5-11

We are living in a day and age that calling anything a sin is likely to get you labeled as bigoted, narrow-minded, or antiquated. We have been sold the idea that we can live however we choose as long as it is in moderation and that there is no need of repentance.

However, that is not the gospel. In fact John Ch. 16 tells us that convicting people of sin is a primary component of the Holy Spirit’s work.

Why? Because according to Isaiah 59:2 our sin has separated us from God:

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23 that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. How did this happen?

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”-Romans 5:12

The introduction of sin into the human race is Adam’s legacy. It was through Adam’s disobedience that sin entered the world. Sin, then, became the door through which death entered and death spread to all men. God, recognizing that sin created a barrier between Himself and mankind, made forgiveness of sin possible. Sin would be atoned for through the shedding of blood:

“In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.”-Hebrews 9:22

The sacrifices that Moses made were simply a foreshadow of God’s ultimate sacrifice-Jesus Christ!

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.-Ephesians 1:7

God made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because of His sacrifice, we now have an advocate with the Father in Heaven. We can cry out to God for forgiveness resting on the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary. The Apostle Peter instructed the people to “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)”

The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin so that we may repent of our sins and gain eternal life!


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Lessons from the vineyard (Pt.2)

(Part 2)

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”-John 15:8

Jesus declares, here in John 15, that God is glorified when His disciples bear fruit. If that is the case, then what is the fruit that Jesus is looking for? Grapes on a branch are an outward evidence that the life of the vine is coursing through the branches. The grapes are the ultimate expression of the vine and serve as an indication that the branches are healthy and strong. Fruit indicates that there is life within. The healthier the branch, the better the results. I guess you could say that fruit is synonymous with results! So, what does being fruitful look like?

Fulfilling the commands of Jesus is a big part of the fruit bearing process:

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”-John 15:9-10

Obedience to God’s Word is an outward expression of our love for Him. It is visible evidence of our connection to Jesus Christ. Another visible evidence is our love for one another: 

“This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”-John 15:12-13

Two visible fruit of our connection with Christ then are: love for God and love for one another. Does that sound familiar?

“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord our God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “-Matthew 22: 37-39. 

What other type of evidences should emerge from our relationships with Christ? 

“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”-Colossians 1:10

What does that look like in our everyday life? What good works demonstrate my connection to Christ?

“For I was hunger and you give Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me during; I was a stranger and you too Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord when did we see You hunger and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see you a stranger and take You in or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King will answered say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”-Matthew 25:35-40

We bear fruit when we love God. We bear more fruit when we love each other. We bear much fruit when we add making disciples. Reproduction is another indication of fruitfulness:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. God therefore and make disciples of all the nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”-Matthew 28:18-19

It is through these efforts (loving God, loving one another, serving one another, and making disciples) that our fruitfulness is recognized. Jesus said that a tree is known by its fruit. Because of this, we need be make certain that we stay connected to the vine. 


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Friday, October 14, 2016

Lessons from the vineyard (Pt.1)

(Part 1)

“I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”-John 15:1-5

One of the many things I love about Jesus’ teaching is his use of parables to convey simple truths. In John 15, Jesus uses a very common sight in Israel, a vineyard, to express the significance and necessity of remaining in close communion with Him.

The great thing about this passage is that Jesus identifies all the major players within the first five verses. God is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Now that we’ve established the characters of the parable we can begin to make some observations about the passage.

The primary emphasis of this text is on remaining (abiding) in the vine. It should be the primary concern of every believer (branch) to be connected to Jesus Christ. The second emphasis is on fruitfulness. According to the passage, we have been appointed by God to bear fruit. However, we cannot bear any fruit apart from being connected to Jesus.

One thing that I want to separate in your mind for a moment is the difference between “having life” and “being fruitful”. One has to to with abiding, the other with pruning:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.-John 15:5-6

The vine is the root by which every branch receives life. The possibility of bearing fruit is negated if the branch is not connected to the vine. But even more importantly, the branch will not live (have life) if it is not connected to the vine. Without this connection it will wither and die. Jesus is clear, from the passage, that we first must be connected to the vine. However, to become connected is not the pinnacle of our Christian experience. We must then bear fruit:

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”-John 15:2

This verse demonstrates that not only are branches that are not connected taken away, but also are those branches, which are connected but bear no fruit. So the idea that we can simply confess we love Jesus and then sit back an cruise into eternity is a dangerous notion. We must certainly be connected to the vine to have life, but we must also remain connected to bear fruit.

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

God's Timing (Pt. 2)

(Part 2 of 2)

“Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”-John 11:3-4

Although we discussed God’s timing in the raising of Lazarus, there may be something more that we have overlooked in this story. What was the ultimate outcome Mary and Martha were hoping for? Lazarus’s healing?

What did Jesus say that the ultimate outcome would be? Jesus said that Lazarus’s healing would bring glory to God and that the Son of God would be glorified through it!
What is more important? That God is glorified or that our needs are met in the manner, time, and plan that we hope?

Our Chronos time does not always meet up with God’s Karios time. Sometimes they parallel each other, but God is always more concerned that the moment is ripe for His glory than He is making sure that all He does lines up with our time schedule.

“Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”-John 11:38-40

Jesus was at the tomb when he ordered the stone to be removed. Martha chimes in, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Martha was still focused on how the time for Lazarus’ healing has passed, however Jesus reminds her of the real objective.

“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”-John 11:40

What if it brought God greater glory to delay giving you what you asked for and when you asked for it? Which is more important? His glory or your need being met? Lazarus was ultimately healed, but only when it brought God the greatest glory; not because God has a giant ego, but so that our faith might be stretched, increased and multiplied:

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”-John 11:41-42

Mary and Martha believed that Jesus could heal the sick, but now they believed He could raise the dead! That would not have been so if He had shown up 4 days earlier.

So, what have you been asking God to do? Are you simply interested in your need being met? Are you concerned about the glory of God? Don’t settle for a healing, when God has a resurrection in store for you!

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church



Thursday, September 22, 2016

God's Timing (Pt.1)

(Part 1 of 2)

“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”-John 11:1-7

As you read this passage, it is hard to get past the idea that Jesus deliberately stayed away for two whole days before traveling to Bethany to visit Lazarus. It is even harder to fathom when you consider that it is during this time frame that Lazarus goes from being sick to being dead. 

Upon arriving in Bethany, both Martha and Mary approach Jesus with an identical response to His late arrival:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”-John 11:21 & 32

Although they are not being accusatory, they are highlighting what they perceive to be a flaw in God’s timing. How many of you would be honest enough to say that you have or may be even now questioning God’s timing in regards to a situation that you are facing? I think most of us have at some point. 

Our struggle like Mary and Martha is that we tend to fixate on the best case scenario. We pray and ask for God’s favor and help and then when we proceed (without consulting God) to plan out the perfect outcome. We lay out all the details in our minds, especially the what and when! However, when that time passes, we are forced to reconfigure the details and begin to believe for the next best set of outcomes. 

Mary and Martha believed that Jesus would respond immediately, because of His relationship with them and His love for Lazarus (John 11:36), and that He would come and pray for Lazarus and make him well. Instead, Jesus delayed His coming. 

He stayed long past when Mary and Maratha hoped Jesus would come and in so doing they stopped believing that Jesus could restore Lazarus. This is because their plans were hinged on God showing up by a certain time. 

There are two types of time that we see unfold in the Scriptures. Chronos time, from where we get the word chronological, is time that can be quantified in seconds, minutes, hours, and years. This is the time that we are most familiar with and operate within. However, there is also Karios time. The word Karios means: when it is ripe. There is no hour, second, day or year that can be placed on it, but is comes to pass when it is fully ready:

“And let us no grow weary in while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”-Galatians 6:9

Another great example of this is 1 Peter 5:6-7:

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He will exalt you in due time, casting all you care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Karios time is proof that God works on His own time schedule: 

“But, beloved, do not for this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”-2 Peter 3:8

Mary and Martha fell into the same trap may of us do, we expect God to move within the boundaries of Chronos time; while forgetting that God is waiting for the perfect time to reveal His glory! 


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church


Thursday, September 15, 2016

Are you ready to see? (Pt. 2)

(Part 2 of 2)

“They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.”-John 9:13-15

Upon hearing this, the Pharisees became indignant calling Jesus a sinner, because although He had done a notable miracle; He did so on a Sabbath day. This caused a great division among them. However, some protested that a sinner could not do such miracles. Others questioned whether he had been blind at all!

So they had the man’s parents brought in and asked them about the man’s miraculous healing. They testified that the man was their son and that he had been born blind, but they did not know how his eyes were opened. So they brought the man man back in and began to question him again:

“Then they said to him again, ‘What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”-John 9:26-27

The man’s answer infuriated the Pharisees and after another brief exchange they had him cast out. Upon hearing what happened, Jesus found the man and asked him an important question: “Do you believe in the Son of God?”  After confirming to the man that He, Himself, was the Son of God; the man placed his faith in Christ and worshipped Him.

It is then that Jesus made a bold proclamation:

“For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”-John 9:39

This caused some of the Pharisees to ask, “Are we blind also?” Jesus told them that their mistake was claiming to see, while living in darkness.

No man can see without coming to Christ! He is the light of the world! Just like the man born blind each of us was born into sin. Romans 3:23 tells us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Our spiritual blindness was not caused by our own sin or our parents sin, but (Romans 5:12) through Adam we all inherited a sin nature.

Jesus recognizing our misery, got directly involved; because He cares for us. So much so, that He died on Calvary’s cross to take upon Himself the penalty of our sinfulness. However, just like with any other miracle, we have to take a step of faith. We have to come to Him; so that we too can be washed. We have to make a confession of faith in Jesus Christ and allow Him to be Lord of our lives; so that we too can be saved and be able to see clearly to live a life that honors God.

Some of you, nevertheless, are living a lie. You are living in darkness, but claiming you are able to see. You don’t see your need for a Savior and have convinced yourselves that there is some other way to make heaven and that you don’t have to put faith in Christ to get there. Therefore, your sins remain! You remain separated from God because it is now your sin that separates you from Him.

Jesus wants to open your blind eyes; that you may see the truth. If you will put your trust in Him, He will restore your sight!

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Are you ready to see? (Pt.1)

(Part 1)

“He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received my sight.”-John 9:11

The story of Jesus and the man born blind is unique; not regarding Jesus’ willingness or ability to heal, but in method. His method was distinct from how He had healed on other occasions. Little did this man know that his healing would communicate a significant truth that every person reading this column today needs to hear. 

When John writes this passage he is clear to point out a couple of important observations for us:

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”-John 9:1-2

First we read that the man was blind from birth. His blindness was not caused by an accident or traumatic event. Secondly we are told that his blindness was also not the by-product of his or his parents’ sin. Instead, Jesus makes a bold declaration:

“Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in in him.”-John 9:3 

Jesus’ answer leads us to believe that there is more to be understood from this moment than God’s ability to restore sight to a blind man. After saying this, Jesus turns spits on the ground and makes clay from the mud and saliva. He then applies the muddy concoction to the man’s eyes. Why would Jesus apply mud over the eyes of someone who already could not see? Wouldn’t that make seeing even more difficult? Perhaps, Jesus was making a statement; that the man’s blindness was two fold, both physical and spiritual. 

After anointing both his eyes Jesus gives him some very specific directions:

“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.”-John 9:7

Jesus told him to go, where to go, and what to do. Throughout the New Testament there is always an act or step of faith that accompanies every miracle. If this man had not went as he was told, had failed to wash, or had even gone to the wrong pool; he would have remained in darkness. 

The miracle that took place was transformational and recognizable:

“Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged? Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” He said, “ I am he.”-John 9:8-9

The impact on this man’s life was evident to everyone around him; even though they couldn’t explain it. Therefore, they brought him to the Pharisees and that is when things got spiritual! 

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Living Water

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”-John 7:37-38

In John 7 we read that Jesus traveled from Galilee to Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Shelters (Feast of Tabernacles). It is a festival of thanksgiving commemorating God’s guidance and kindness towards Israel while they wandered in the desert for 40 years. During this festival, the people would build temporary shelters made with branches and live in them to commemorate their wilderness wanderings.

One interesting part of the festival was the pouring out of water. The priests would take a golden pitcher, fill it up in the pool of Siloam, carry it to the Temple, and then pour it out on the altar as an offering to God. The people would recite Isaiah 12:3 as they proceeded together up the Temple Mount:

“Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

The water was symbolic of the water supplied by God to the people of Israel during their wilderness wanderings. In Exodus 17:2-6, Moses was instructed to strike the rock and from it flowed fresh waster to refresh God’s people. It was symbolic of God’s salvation.

Fast forward two thousand years to the times of Jesus. In John 7:14, we read that Jesus makes an appearance at the festival. People began to ask one another, if this could be the Messiah and according to John 7:26-31; many began to believe on Him. This ruffled the feathers of the religious leaders and they sent Temple guards to arrest him, however they returned without taking him into custody after hearing him speak

Then in John 7:37-39, on the last day of the feast, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and mad this declaration to the crowds:

“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in my may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”

It is during this celebration, where water was used to symbolize God’s salvation, that Jesus makes this revelation to the crowds. Colossians 2:17 tells us that these feasts and festivals are only shadows of the reality yet to come and Christ Himself is that reality.

The Apostle Paul makes the connection clear for us in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4:

“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”

Jesus was the rock! Jesus was declaring, that just like the Rock in Rephidim; which the man of God struck and water flowed. So Jesus would be struck down and from Him would flow rivers of living water. Just like the water being poured out at the Temple, Jesus was poured out as a drink offering for us.

The Feast of Tabernacles was held, so that the people would never forget God’s power to save. It was a celebration of thanksgiving so that they would be reminded of the joy of their salvation.

Sometimes, however, that joy eludes us:

“Restore to me the joy of my salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”-Psalm 51:12.

King David recited these words after his moral failure with Bathsheba. He felt far from God and longed to drink from the wells of salvation once again. He felt distant because of his sinful choices, however God refreshed him and brought restoration to his life.

Perhaps you are reading this today and you have lost the joy of your salvation. I want to encourage you. God gave Moses and the people of Israel a well, but through Christ He has given us a river. May Jesus fill you with peace and refresh your spirit today!

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

On the other side of two miracles!

“Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.”-John 6:29

Jesus spoke these words shortly after performing two miraculous signs! The first miracle we read about in John 6:1-14 is the feeding of the multitude where Jesus took two fish and five barely loves and fed over 5,000 people:

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.”-John 6:10-11.

The second miracle that Jesus performed happened upon the Sea of Galilee, just hours after Jesus fed the multitudes. Jesus had gone off to a solitary place to pray. The disciples waited for him to return but when it appeared He would not come back they decided to return to Capernaum:

“They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified.”-John 6:19

When they had rowed out about three or four miles, strong winds caused the sea to become very rough and the waves began to beat upon the boat. At that moment the disciples saw Jesus walking towards them on the water. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus quickly calmed their fears and brought them safely to the other side.

Although these miracles are very different from each other, both of them work together to drive home an important point. The least common denominator in both these miracles is the presence of Jesus. Regardless of the situations we face whether it be hunger, nature, sickness, enemies, or ourselves; what we need more than anything is for Jesus to be with us.

When the people realized that Jesus and His disciples were gone, they boarded boats and came to Capernaum looking for Him. When they found Him they asked: “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus replied:

“I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.”-John 6:26

The people responded, “We want to perform God’s works too. What should we do? Jesus told them:

“This is the only work God wants from you; Believe in the one He has sent.”

What are you looking for in Jesus? Someone to fill your belly? Someone to keep you safe? Someone to get you out of trouble? Jesus came to save our souls, not buy us lunch! They were on the flip side of two miracles and still didn’t get the fact that He is the miracle! He is the answer for our souls!

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Thursday, August 25, 2016

House of Mercy and Grace

“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there was in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.”-John 5:1-3

Bethesda! This pool, located near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem, became a gathering place for the sick, blind, lame and paralyzed. John 5:4 gives us some insight to why this pool became so popular among the sick and the lame:

“For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the waters; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.”

Perhaps this is why the pool was given its name. Bethesda can be translated two ways: House of Mercy or House of Grace. This duel meaning was likely very appropriate as the location was seen as a place of suffering and disgrace because of the rampant sickness. Multitudes had come to throw themselves on the mercy of God as Bethesda became a beacon of God’s grace due to the healings that had taken place.

Among the multitude was a man who had been sick for 38 years:

“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to Him, “Do you want to be mad well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sire, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”-John 5:5-7

Jesus saw the man lying there and knew he had been in that condition a long time. Somebody reading this today nears to hear that! Jesus is aware of your pain. He is aware of your physical needs. He knows exactly how long you have been struggling in that condition!

Today, He is posing the same question to you that He posed to this man: “Do you want to be made well?” You would think, that the answer to that would be a resounding…Yes! However, some people have so identified themselves with their sickness that they are not really looking for healing as much as they are relief. Others, due to financial reasons don’t want to be healed and others don’t want to give up their sinful lifestyle to maintain it. Others, are simply waiting for the conditions to get just right before they will come forward to be healed. If you wanted to be healed, you had to go to the Pool at Bethesda in Jerusalem, the one near the Sheep Gate, then wait for the angel to come, stir the water, and the first person in was healed. You couldn’t just get in anytime you wanted, or into any pool you wanted; the conditions had to be perfect. 
Even after Jesus, the Great Physician, showed up, all eyes were focused on the water. They were watching and waiting for the conditions to be right, while the Healer was standing in their midst. 

I wonder how many people today forego receiving their healing because they are waiting for the conditions to be right! They need the music right, the message to be right, the kid’s to behave, and right pastor to pray for them, and then they say, “I’ll receive my healing.” 

Can I tell you that the perfect condition for healing is the one in which Jesus is present:

“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up you bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”-John 5:8-9

Bethesda was not called the House of Mercy and Grace because of what was taking place there, but rather who was present there! Jesus! 

I wonder, had they known the Great Physician was present, would they have bothered any more with watching for the water to be stirred or would they have thrown themselves on the mercy of God!

Can I encourage you today! Jesus is present. Which means the condition is right for healing! The Great Physician is in the house, which means that the grace of healing is available if you will throw yourselves on the mercy of God.

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church 






Thursday, August 11, 2016

Jesus loves messy people! Pt. 2

(Part 2 of 2)

“Then the woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ “for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”-John 4:15-18

As Jesus continues in conversation with the woman at the well, He slowly begins to uncover some additional experiences that have likely left this woman jaded and apprehensive. The depth of her struggles is revealed when Jesus asks her to go and get her husband. The woman readily admits that she has no husband, but withholds some pertinent information. 

This woman had been married five times and the man she is currently living with is not her husband. Obviously, this woman had some real relationship issues. We have no idea if she was the cause (infidelity) or if she was abused, neglected, abandoned, or widowed. However, we can gauge from the text that her current situation was not healthy or God honoring. 

Nothing can leave a person jaded faster than bad relationships. Relationships can be  tainted by drug abuse, physical abuse, verbal abuse, alcoholism, neglect, or a controlling spirit. These relationships can be toxic and can have a negative impact on how we receive God! 

Jesus certainly didn’t shy away from her lifestyle issues. In fact, He brought it to light, not to embarrass her but rather that the knowledge of her sinfulness would lead her to trust Jesus. Jesus isn’t afraid of our sinful condition, it is actually what draws Him to us. He sees our need of a Savior! He doesn’t ignore our sin. He always addresses it. We can come to Him as we are, but He refuses to leave us in that condition. 

However, once Jesus begins to reveal this pattern of bad behavior in her life, she quickly begins to change the subject:

The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”-John 4:19-20

Another reason for this woman’s blatant apprehensions was that she was confused by the obvious differences between Jews and Samaritans when it came to worshiping God. Jews said worship in Jerusalem. Samaritans said worship on Mt. Gerizim. There is nothing that will cause a person to become confused faster than being brow beat by religious people. Religion is the idea that we can earn favor with God through our own prescribed efforts. So the push is not towards having a relationship with God, but on doing right things so that God will accept us. Jesus answer?

“Jesus said to her, “Woman believe Me, the hour is common g when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.”-John 4:21

Racism, relationships, and religion! All three of these can create a culture of messy people, but that is exactly who Jesus came to save! How? First we come to Him (hot mess and all) and then slowly, as we trust in Him, He begins to make adjustments in our lives; corrections that will make our lives better. It doesn’t happen all  at once, but eventually He’ll turn your mess into a message and your changed life will become a message of hope to others. 


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Jesus loves messy people! (Pt.1)

(Part 1 of 2)

“So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. I was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”-John 4:5-6

This story, recorded for us in John 4, focuses on a woman that Jesus encounters at a well. Jesus was traveling from Judea to Galilee, when he became tired and stopped to rest. The disciples had all left to find food, leaving Jesus at the well; when this woman shows up to draw water. 

The timing of her trip to the well seems somewhat peculiar, as most women would have visited the well in the early morning hours before the sun came up. Perhaps she was attempting to avoid the congestion, or perhaps she was avoiding becoming the topic of their morning gossip column. Whatever the reason for her delay, she was about to have an encounter with Jesus!

It is plain to see, as you read the story, that this woman did not live an easy life and she had good reason to feel jaded and question whether Jesus was who He claimed to be. 

“A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealing with Samaritans.” John 4:7-9

Is it just me, or does Jesus have a way of showing up and hanging out with messed up people? Read the gospels! Jesus never ran from people whose lives were a mess, he ran to them! Look around, wherever you are right now. You are surrounded by people with messed up lives, wrecked emotions, questionable motives, and raw attitudes. I remind our congregation, often, that we are a messy church. On any given Sunday you are sitting in the company of people struggling to overcome addictions, sexual immorality, doubt, unbelief, unforgiveness, marriage problems, and financial crisis. Yet, that’s how I know that Jesus is there with us; because Jesus loves and looks for messed up people!

The Samaritan woman was one of those people!  She had several life-altering experiences with racism, bad relationships and religion that made her question the authenticity of Christ’s claims. 

The Samaritans were a racially mixed society with Jewish and pagan ancestry. There was no love loss between the Jews and the Samaritans. This woman grew up being exposed to deeply racist attitudes toward Jews and was on the receiving end of that racism from them. Couple that with the fact that in those days and that culture women were often treated as mere property; you can be certain that she would have held some very strong opinions and certainly questioned Jesus about His intentions.

His answer to her reservations?  “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”-John 4:10

Jesus doesn’t simply have the answers; He is the answer! 


Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church





Thursday, July 28, 2016

When God has something better for you!

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”-John 2:1-5

The first recorded miracle that Jesus performs during His ministry is documented for us here in John 2. Jesus and His disciples are invited to a wedding celebration in the town of Cana. During the wedding feast the supply of wine runs out, so Mary approaches Jesus to intervene. 

“Now there were six water pots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece.”-John 2:6

Jesus instructed that each pot be topped off with water and then He instructed the servants to draw some out and take it to the master of the feast:

“When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feasted called the bridegroom.”-John 2:9

The wine was so exemplary that the master of the feast accused the bridegroom of holding back the best wine until last. Jesus used this occasion to declare an important truth; one that is still relevant today! God has something better for you!

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”-John 1:17

Let’s take a moment to compare what Christ and Moses each did with water. The contrast clarifies the differences between law and grace. In Exodus 7:14-17 we read how Moses turned water to blood. This miracle communicated judgment. Jesus turning water into wine communicates grace. This contrast is clearly seen in John 3:17:

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The law condemns, however grace saves! Jesus had not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). Jesus often used physical miracles to demonstrate spiritual truths. He healed a man in order to show that he had the authority to forgive sin. He cursed a fig tree as a sign of coming judgment. He raised the dead to prove He is the resurrection and the life. That is why the mention of the six water pots used for ceremonial washing were mentioned. 

This seems to be a significant part of the story. Jesus didn’t turn just any water into wine. He turned the water used in their religious traditions into wine. Jesus was the ultimate expression of those ceremonial washings. The water in those jars could only cleanse a man’s hands; but Jesus could cleanse a man’s soul! Jesus was declaring that he was bringing them something new, something better.

God has something better for you too! Those attending the wedding feast had become so wrapped up in the celebration that they did not recognize that their wine had run dry; that is when Jesus stepped in with something better. Perhaps you are so wrapped up in your sinful life that you didn’t realize that God has something better for you! Jesus is still in the miracle working business, but He isn’t changing water into wine. He is transforming men’s souls and He has something better for you; if you will put your faith in Him. 

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church

Recognizing Jesus (Pt.2)

(Part 2 of 2)

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”-John 1:29

Upon seeing Jesus, John reveals that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Israel had been looking for a Messiah. Someone to free them from Roman oppression. They certainly didn’t expect it to be a carpenter’s son from Galilee. In fact, even as faith-filled as John was, at first, he didn’t recognize it to be Jesus, until the Spirit of God descended and rested on Him. 

Perhaps they didn’t recognize Him because they were looking for someone to save them from the Romans, not someone who was coming to save them from their sins. Yet, Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He started by coming first to His very own people, but according to John 1:11-13 they rejected Him:

“ He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

But to all who believed in Him and accepted Him, He gave them the right to become children of God. John recognized Jesus as Creator God, but also as Savior of the world. 

John’s testimony about Jesus caused many people to follow Him. Those who began following Jesus initially addressed Him as Rabbi; which means teacher. For many, this is all Jesus would ever beI; a wise teacher that gave out good advice. But for those who chose to recognize Him as their Messiah; they became His disciples:

“One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).-John 1:40-41

Others were a little slower to believe:

“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”-John 1:43-46. 

Nathaniel was skeptical, until he had an encounter with Jesus:

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”-John 1:47-49

I think there are a lot of people like Nathanael today who are just a little skeptical. They want to believe, but are struggling to completely embrace Jesus truly as Creator and Savior. Nevertheless, you will never truly recognize Jesus, if all He ever is to you is a good teacher, a philosopher, an encourager or a wise leader. Jesus is God! He is the Creator of the Universe and He is the Savior of all mankind!

I wonder if you know Him?

Pastor Scott Burr

Dayspring Community Church