When Life Leaves You Guessing - ReCreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley - May 24, 2026

When Life Leaves You Guessing Speaker: Michael Shockley, ReCreate Church Scripture: 1 John 5:6-8 Episode Summary Pastor Michael opens with relatable grocery store struggles - from bringing a TI-80 graphing calculator to calculate the cost per cracker, to Robot Karen declaring "unexpected item in the bagging area." Through 1 John's teaching about three witnesses (Water, Blood, Spirit), he reveals that while life constantly leaves us guessing about so many things, we never have to guess about Jesus. Key Points – The Water (Jesus's baptism) reveals Jesus as the Beloved Son of God who came to save us - He stood where sinners stand, not because He needed repentance but because He stands with sinners – The Blood (Jesus's death) wasn't just an example or symbol but atonement and redemption - the Cross is salvational, not just inspirational – The Holy Spirit is the living witness who continues to bear witness now through transformed lives - doctrine can be argued, but changed lives are harder to dispute – Some ancient manuscripts include verse 7 and some don't, but this shouldn't weaken faith - it shows how meticulously Scripture has been preserved and scrutinized – The human problem isn't lack of information but resistance to God - the Spirit opens eyes and always points us to Jesus, not ourselves – Three witnesses agree: The Water says "Look at Jesus," The Blood says "Look at Jesus," The Spirit says "Look at Jesus" Main Takeaway Life leaves us guessing, but we never have to guess about Jesus. We guess about groceries, which checkout line is fastest, and whether that pulled pork is still good - but some things are too important to guess about. Deep spiritual questions about identity, purpose, suffering, and eternity ache within us. The world offers guesses, but God gives witnesses. Your safety doesn't depend on understanding the bridge but on the bridge's strength to hold you. Feelings change, circumstances change, but you never have to guess about Jesus. Memorable Quotes – "Life leaves us guessing, but we never have to guess about Jesus." – "At His Baptism, Jesus stood where sinners stand. At His Crucifixion, Jesus stood where sinners deserve to stand." – "One of the most powerful witnesses to the reality of Jesus is that your life used to be one way, and now it is another way." – "The Water says 'Look at Jesus.' The Blood says 'Look at Jesus.' The Spirit says 'Look at Jesus.'" Reflection Question What are you guessing about in life right now - relationships, work, parenting, your future? Are you willing to stop trusting guesses and start trusting the witnesses that all point to Jesus? Tune in to hear hilarious grocery store stories including Robot Karen judging your honey buns, the Rain Man of ramen noodles with his TI-80 calculator, the terrifying moment your debit card gets declined, and why Pastor Michael is an impatient introvert who crossed the Mile High Bridge as a four-year-old. Connect & Give Learn more about ReCreate Church at www.recreatechurch.org Give online easily and securely through Tithe.ly