Well, hello, it's day 16 on our 40-day tour through the Gospel of John.

We're up to John chapter 7. We're starting in the 37th verse. So let's go ahead and open our Bibles there. This story is really a big one.

Jesus is at the festival of tabernacles. Sometimes it's also referred to as the festival of booths

or the festival of shelters. It's one of the three biggest Jewish holidays. And so Jesus is there in Jerusalem at the temple.

His disciples are there.

His brothers are there.

Tens of thousands of religious pilgrims are there.

It's a big party.

So what's the best party that you have ever experienced?

What stands out is the most fun, the most memorable, the thing that

when you think back on it, it just brings you joy. For me, it's kind of surprising because it

wasn't a party that I expected to come. It was spontaneous. We like to say around here at hope

that there's no party like a Jesus party and it's true whether

it's our weekend services the celebrations that we have to be able to praise God for the

for the blessings he gives to us but also for the way he stands with us in the midst of suffering

there's something for us to celebrate it's a it's a Jesus party The parties that we have out in the parking lot,

like Taste of Hope in the summers or Vacation Bible School with thousands of kids who packed the

building for three sessions over two weeks and worship God with unabandoned joy. It's a party.

It's a Jesus party and there's no party like a Jesus party.

The list of things goes on and on, example after example of when we gather in Jesus' name,

that's a party I want to be at. But the most memorable party for me, at least one of the most

memorable parties for me that I've ever experienced is the Jesus party

...