The Sad Things Come Untrue
Analysis of Nolan’s Sermon "The Sad Things Come Untrue" at The Garden Church Surprise
Introduction
Purpose: This analysis evaluates Pastor Nolan’s sermon with a Berean mindset (Acts 17:11), testing its scriptural accuracy, logical coherence, and theological integrity against the Tanakh and New Testament, from a Biblical perspective that sees Yeshua as the Savior fulfilling God’s covenant promises to Israel and the nations (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:8).
Details: Delivered prior to March 09, 2025, by Pastor Nolan at The Garden Church Surprise, a contemporary Evangelical assembly in Arizona’s West Valley. The 40-minute sermon includes teaching, anecdotes, and a call to faith, within a worship service with communion.
Theme: Jesus breaks human religious rules to bring healing and light into a dark world, offering hope beyond despair.
1. Sermon Agenda
Goals: Teach from John 5:1-14, encourage faith in Jesus’ healing power, invite unbelievers to salvation, foster hope.
Biblical Alignment: Yeshua as healer reflects His authority (John 5:19-20) and promises of restoration (Isaiah 53:5), but lacks explicit covenant ties (Isaiah 49:6).
Summary: Nolan reintroduces Jesus as the “irreligious” healer, confronting hollow religion and despair, rooted in John 5.
2. Scriptural Usage and Contextual Analysis
Key Verses:
John 5:1-5 (4:24) – Bethesda scene as “sadness.” Analysis: Accurate portrayal of suffering; misses feast context (Leviticus 23) linking to Yeshua (1 Corinthians 5:7). Depth: Milk—surface-level.
John 5:6-7 (15:54-17:03) – “Do you want to be healed?” Nolan probes deeper desire. Analysis: Contextually sound; challenges resignation. Nolan’s focus on uncertainty and “He sees you” risks Reformed election and helplessness. Scripture shows free response (Mark 10:51-52, Deuteronomy 11:26-28), healing tied to faith (James 5:14-15). Depth: Milk—lacks nuance.
John 5:8-9 (27:50) – Instant healing. Analysis: Accurate, shows Yeshua’s authority (Mark 2:28). Misses Tanakh ties (Isaiah 35:5-6). Depth: Milk.
John 5:10-13 (29:01) – Sabbath controversy. Analysis: Yeshua rejects added rules (Mark 7:8-9), not Torah (Exodus 20:8-11). Nolan oversimplifies. Depth: Milk.
John 5:14 (30:48) – “Sin no more.” Analysis: Faithful; echoes Tanakh (Deuteronomy 28:15), points to eternal stakes (John 8:34-36). Depth: Meat.
Conclusion: Accurate but shallow, leans “milk,” with Reformed hints corrected.
3. Logical Soundness and Fallacies
Argument: Dark world (2:00-4:05); Jesus heals despite opposition (1:45-1:55, 27:50); faith overcomes despair (32:19-33:07).
Fallacies: Strawman (0:31-0:55, religion as “hollow”); Appeal to Emotion (9:03-10:04, miscarriage); False Dichotomy (1:06-1:12, all religion rejected).
Addition: Overstated helplessness (Reformed tilt) corrected with choice (Joshua 24:15).
Summary: Holds for general audience, leans on emotion.
4. Scriptural Corrections
John 5:10-13 (29:01): Nolan dismisses Sabbath. Correction: Yeshua upholds Torah (Exodus 20:8), rejects additions (Mark 7:8-9).
John 5:6-7 (15:54): Helplessness overstated. Correction: Man’s lament is choice (Lamentations 3:25-26), not incapacity.
5. Psychological Methods for Encouraging Giving
Tactics: None explicit.
Analysis: Genuine, aligns with voluntary giving (Deuteronomy 16:17, 2 Corinthians 9:7).
Conclusion: No manipulation.
6. Calls to Action for Giving
Appeals: None.
Alignment: N/A.
7. Contradictions
“Irreligious” vs. Obedience (0:44-0:50): Contradicts Yeshua’s Torah fidelity (Matthew 23:23).
Healing Rarity vs. Power (33:26-33:32): Confuses consistency (Hebrews 13:8).
Resolution: Clarify Torah vs. tradition, affirm power.
8. Denominational Biases and Corrections
Evangelical/Reformed: Personal salvation (32:19), emotionalism (23:01-23:34), sola fide sideline Torah (Micah 6:8). Correction: Yeshua fulfills covenant, blends faith and works (Galatians 5:6).
9. Alignment with Easy Belief or Denominational Structure
Easy Belief: Hand-raising (39:41-40:06) reflects Reformed assurance. Contrast with discipleship (Luke 9:23, Deuteronomy 10:12-13).
Structure: Casual Evangelical (26:16).
Conclusion: Leans easy belief, lacks depth.
10. Pastoral Responsibility and Authority
Shepherd Role: Guides as ro’eh (15:54-16:23). Spontaneous claims (16:11, “He sees you”) hint Reformed sovereignty, need testing (1 John 4:1).
Pride: Casual tone (“sneaky Jesus,” 31:01) risks irreverence.
Conclusion: Accountable but risks misleading.
11. Practical Application and Ethical Fruit
Equipping: Encourages faith (33:44), endurance (36:01), practical (James 1:2-4). Prediction (38:56) leans Reformed assurance.
Tone: Sincere (Titus 2:7-8).
Conclusion: Equips with hope, adjusted for trust (1 John 5:14-15).
12. Anti-Semitic Language
Instances: “Religious elite” (0:25), “hollow religion” (0:36) risk misrepresenting Torah (Psalm 119:89).
Analysis: Unintended.
Conclusion: Needs clarity (Romans 11:29).
13. Warnings to a New Believer
Risks: Shallow teaching; easy belief; emotionalism; Reformed hints; Torah neglect.
Corrections: Study scripture (John 5, Isaiah 61); test claims (Acts 17:11).
Summary: Beware man-made doctrines over God’s Word.
Final Assessment
Recap: Uplifts Jesus as healer, accurate but shallow. Logic emotional, not contradictory. Reformed hints (helplessness, election, assurance) corrected. Equips practically, no anti-Semitism.
Strengths: Yeshua’s compassion (John 5:14).
Weaknesses: Lacks Tanakh depth, risks easy belief, Reformed echoes.
Fixes: Ground in Torah (Exodus 20), reject Reformed ideas, emphasize choice (Deuteronomy 30:19), perseverance (Hebrews 3:14).
Depth Check: Mostly “milk”—basic, little challenge.
Shepherd Accountability: Invites faith, not scrutiny (Acts 17:11), risks James 3:1.
Reject Human Traditions: Reformed Theology, etc., stray from scripture. Return to Tanakh and New Testament.
Back to Scriptural Roots: Study God’s Word as Yeshua’s narrative (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:8). Test against scripture.
Recommendations for Website Publication
Title: “A Biblical Review of Pastor Nolan’s Sermon on Jesus the Hunted Healer.”
Formatting: Headers, bullets.
Tone: Logical, evidence-based.
Closing: “Verify this with scripture (Acts 17:11).”
Summary for New Believers:
What the Sermon Is About: Preached prior to March 09, 2025, at The Garden Church Surprise, using John 5:1-14. Yeshua heals a man lame for 38 years at Bethesda, asking, “Do you want to be healed?” (John 5:6), then saying, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk” (John 5:8). Leaders object due to Sabbath rules, but Nolan says Yeshua breaks human ideas to bring light. Big idea: Yeshua sees your pain, offers healing, and invites trust.
Key Takeaways:
Dark World, Yeshua’s Light: Life hurts (Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 3:23), but Yeshua overcomes darkness (John 1:5, Isaiah 9:2). He sees your struggles (John 5:5).
Healing His Way: Yeshua heals on Sabbath (John 5:9), upholding Torah (Exodus 20:8-11), not man’s rules (Mark 2:28, Psalm 103:8).
Deeper Healing: “Sin no more” (John 5:14) shows forgiveness is key (Isaiah 59:2, 1 Peter 2:24).
Trust Invited: Yeshua calls all (John 3:16, Ezekiel 18:32), not just a moment (39:41-40:06).
Guidance:
Read Bible (John 5, Psalm 34, Isaiah 53).
Pray honestly (Psalm 139:1-4).
Join a Word-focused kahal (Acts 2:42-47).
Choose Yeshua daily (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Matthew 22:39).
Hope amid hardship (John 16:33, Matthew 28:20).
Warnings:
Shallow Teaching: Light on depth (Hebrews 5:12-14). Dig deeper (Genesis 12:3, Zechariah 14:4).
Quick-Fix Faith: Hand-raising (39:41) risks Reformed ease. Endure (Matthew 24:13, James 2:17).
Man-Made Rules: “Hollow religion” (0:36) missteps; Torah’s good (Psalm 119:97). Avoid extras (Mark 7:13).
Feelings Over Truth: Stories (9:11-10:04) pull, but truth lasts (John 17:17, Isaiah 40:8).
Ignoring Roots: Misses Israel’s role (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Romans 11:29, Isaiah 49:6).
Encouragement: Yeshua steps into your darkness (John 5:6), died for you (Philippians 2:6-8, Micah 5:2), and sees you (Psalm 34:18). Trust Him daily (Matthew 11:28, John 5:9)—He makes sad things untrue (Revelation 21:4). You’re God’s family (Ephesians 2:19), shining His light (Matthew 5:16) with unshakeable hope (Romans 15:13)!
Summary for New Believers
What the Sermon Is About
Pastor Nolan preached this sermon prior to March 09, 2025, at The Garden Church Surprise, using a story from the Bible in John 5:1-14. In this story, Yeshua meets a man who couldn’t walk for 38 years near a pool called Bethesda. The man was stuck in sadness, hoping the pool’s water would heal him, but he never made it in first. Yeshua asks him, “Do you want to be healed?” (John 5:6), then tells him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk” (John 5:8). Instantly, the man is healed! But some religious leaders got mad because this happened on the Sabbath, a day of rest, and they thought healing broke their rules. Nolan says this shows Yeshua is a healer who breaks through human ideas to bring light into a dark world. He calls Yeshua “irreligious” because He doesn’t follow man-made rules, only God’s true way. The big idea is: Yeshua sees your pain, offers real healing (body and soul), and invites you to trust Him, no matter how hopeless life feels.
Key Takeaways Rooted in Scripture
Here are the main points Nolan wants you to know, explained with God’s Word:
The World Can Be Dark, But Yeshua Brings Light
Nolan says life is full of sadness—like sickness, broken relationships, or loss (2:00-4:05). The Bible agrees: sin broke the world (Genesis 3:17-19), and we all feel it (Romans 3:23). But Yeshua is the light who overcomes darkness (John 1:5). In the Tanakh (Old Testament), God promised a Savior to heal and restore (Isaiah 9:2, 61:1-2), and Yeshua is Him!
Example: The man waited 38 years, feeling hopeless (John 5:5). Maybe you’ve waited too—for a job, a family, or health. Yeshua sees you, just like He saw that man.
Yeshua Heals in His Way, Not Ours
Nolan points out Yeshua healed on the Sabbath, upsetting the leaders’ rules (29:01). The Sabbath comes from God’s Torah (Exodus 20:8-11), a day to rest and trust Him. But people added extra rules, making it heavy (Mark 7:8-9). Yeshua shows He’s the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28), healing to bring life, not to follow human limits.
Example: He didn’t care about their “no work” rule—He cared about the man. God’s heart is mercy (Psalm 103:8), and Yeshua lives that out.
Real Healing Goes Deeper Than the Body
After healing the man, Yeshua says, “Sin no more, lest something worse happen” (John 5:14, 30:48). Nolan says the deepest healing is forgiveness from sin (31:36). The Tanakh says sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), but Yeshua took our punishment on the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6, 1 Peter 2:24). Trusting Him fixes your heart and connects you to God forever.
Example: The man walked, but if he kept sinning, he’d still be lost. You might feel fine physically, but sin’s the real sickness we all have.
Yeshua Invites You to Trust Him
Nolan ends by asking you to raise your hand if you want to follow Yeshua (39:41-40:06). The Bible says God calls everyone to turn to Him (John 3:16, Ezekiel 18:32). Yeshua’s question—“Do you want to be healed?”—is for you too. It’s not just about feeling better; it’s about saying yes to Him as your Savior and King.
Example: Three people chose Yeshua that day (40:06). You can too, anytime, anywhere.
Guidance: How to Live This Out
Here’s how to apply this as a new believer, step by step:
Read the Bible Yourself: Start with John 5 to see this story. Then explore the Tanakh—like Psalm 34 (God’s near the brokenhearted) or Isaiah 53 (Yeshua’s sacrifice). Use a simple version if needed, like the New Living Translation, but check older ones (like the ESV) for accuracy. Ask: What does this say about Yeshua? God’s promises?
Pray Honestly: Talk to God about your struggles—sickness, doubts, or sins. Yeshua sees you (Psalm 139:1-4). Say, “Yeshua, I need your healing. Help me trust you.” No fancy words needed—just your heart.
Join a Faithful Community: Find a group that loves God’s Word, not just feelings or rules. The kahal (Hebrew for assembly, like ekklesia in Greek) should point you to Yeshua and Torah, not human ideas (Acts 2:42-47).
Keep Choosing Yeshua: Faith isn’t one moment—it’s a daily walk. Obey God’s commands (Deuteronomy 10:12-13), like loving others (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39), and ask Yeshua for strength (Philippians 4:13).
Expect Hardship, But Hope: Life won’t be perfect (John 16:33), but Yeshua promises to be with you (Matthew 28:20). Look for His light in small things—kindness, beauty, answered prayers.
Warnings: Watch Out for These Traps
Be careful as you grow—here’s what to avoid, with why and how:
Shallow Teaching (“Milk” Over “Meat”):
Risk: Nolan’s sermon is easy to hear but light on deep truth (Hebrews 5:12-14). It doesn’t connect Yeshua to God’s big story or Torah much, which can leave you stuck on basics.
Why It Matters: You need “meat”—harder truths like God’s covenant with Israel (Genesis 12:3) or Yeshua’s return (Zechariah 14:4)—to grow strong.
Fix: Dig into scripture beyond sermons. Ask: How does this fit God’s whole plan?
Quick-Fix Faith (“Easy Belief”):
Risk: Raising your hand to “receive Jesus” (39:41) sounds simple, but Nolan doesn’t say faith means sticking with Yeshua through tough times (Luke 9:23). Some call this Reformed Theology or Calvinism—ideas saying God picks who’s saved, and one choice locks it in.
Why It Matters: The Bible says endure (Matthew 24:13) and obey (James 2:17). Faith’s a journey, not a ticket.
Fix: Don’t just trust a moment—live for Yeshua daily. Test teachings against scripture (Acts 17:11).
Man-Made Rules or Traditions:
Risk: Nolan mocks “hollow religion” (0:36), but doesn’t clarify God’s Torah is good (Psalm 119:97). Some churches add stuff—like Catholic rituals, Mormon books, or Reformed predestination—that twists God’s Word.
Why It Matters: Yeshua fought extra rules (Mark 7:13), but kept Torah (Matthew 5:17). Human ideas hide the real Savior.
Fix: Stick to Tanakh and New Testament alone. If it’s not there, question it.
Feelings Over Truth:
Risk: Nolan uses emotional stories—like his miscarriage (9:11-10:04)—to pull you in. Feelings matter, but truth holds you up (John 17:17).
Why It Matters: Emotions fade; God’s Word doesn’t (Isaiah 40:8). You need both.
Fix: Enjoy the stories, but check them with scripture. Ask: Does this match God’s promises?
Ignoring Biblical Roots:
Risk: Nolan doesn’t tie Yeshua to God’s promises to Israel (e.g., Jeremiah 31:31-34). Some churches act like God’s done with Israel, which twists Romans 11:29 (His gifts to them don’t end).
Why It Matters: Yeshua’s the Savior first for Israel (Romans 1:16), then all nations (Isaiah 49:6).
Fix: Learn Israel’s story in Genesis, Exodus, or Isaiah. See Yeshua as their King too.
Encouragement: Why This Matters for You
Hey, you’re starting an amazing journey with Yeshua, the Savior! Nolan’s right about one big thing: life can hurt, but Yeshua steps into your darkness (John 5:6). He’s not some far-off God—He’s the One who left heaven, lived perfectly, and died for you (Philippians 2:6-8). The Tanakh promised this (Micah 5:2), and He did it! Whether you’re sick, lonely, or lost, He sees you right now (Psalm 34:18). You don’t have to fix yourself first—He says, “Come to me” (Matthew 11:28), and He’ll carry you. Every time you trust Him, it’s like the man picking up his bed—proof God’s power is real (John 5:9). You’re not stuck in sadness forever; Yeshua makes sad things untrue, step by step (Revelation 21:4). You’re part of God’s family now—Israel and the nations together (Ephesians 2:19)—and He’s shaping you to shine His light (Matthew 5:16). Keep going, even when it’s hard. Read His Word, talk to Him, and watch Him work. You’ve got a hope no one can take away (Romans 15:13)!
