Sermon Central
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John
Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Dec 31, 2021 (message contributor)
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1. The Gospel Of John: An Introduction
Contributed on Dec 31, 2021
Arguably with no other book, is there a larger disconnect between academic, scholarly understanding, and the way the church reads it. The intro is designed to bridge part of that gap, and explain my own approach to John.
First of all, a note on my approach: This series uses a literary/narrative approach to John, along the lines proposed by scholars like Adele Berlin, Frank Kermode, Robert Alter, or Charles Talbert, to name just a few. I assume that the author/narrator of John-- who I call "AJ"-- had ...read more
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2. Getting Jesus Right (John 1:1-18)
Contributed on Jan 1, 2022
Who is Jesus, fully, really?
Everything for humans depends on getting Jesus right. We have to understand who Jesus is. What he came for. What he accomplished. And what he wants. If we get this wrong, we end up outside of God's kingdom, looking in. We end up darkness. We perish. But if we get all of this right, and ...read more
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3. Point People To Jesus (John 1:19-28)
Contributed on Jan 2, 2022
John the Baptist understands that Jesus is important, and he is not. His sole job, is to point people to Jesus.
Last week, in John 1:1-18, AJ (Author of John) started his gospel by focusing on 2 people, telling us who they are, and what they came to do. The first, and easily more important, is Jesus. Jesus is the Word become flesh. He is the preexistent one. He is Life. He is Light. He is God. To ...read more
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4. We Come To Jesus In Steps (John 1:29-42)
Contributed on Jan 4, 2022
No one starts of knowing Jesus, or who he is. And that's okay. What's important, is that you "come to" Jesus, and "abide" with him. You can't come to Jesus, while keeping your (objective) distance.
Beginning in John 1:19, we find ourselves reading the events of a single week in the life of John the Baptist and Jesus. Let's start today by simply rereading 1:19-28, day 1. (19) And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites in order that they ...read more
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5. Come And See Jesus (John 1:43-51)
Contributed on Jan 5, 2022
Nathaniel is open-minded enough to come see Jesus for himself, and overcomes his initial skepticism. This makes him the ideal Israelite. Also, Jesus is not a ladder. Angels come "to" Jesus, not "upon" him.
This week, starting in John 1:43, we find ourselves on day 4. Let's just start there: (43) On the next day, he (Jesus) wished to depart to Galilee, and he finds Philip, and Jesus says to him, "Follow me." Already in the gospel of John, we've seen a number of people take the ...read more
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6. Jesus Offers A Better Drink (John 2:1-11)
Contributed on Jan 6, 2022
The wine Jesus gives, is far superior to Judaism's water. Celebrate the grace given to you in Christ.
Our story continues this week in John 2. In the series of days we've seen so far in the gospel of John, this is day 7. Now, before I do anything else, I want to say this up front: I'm not sure I've ever studied a passage before, and seen so many gifted scholars come to so many ...read more
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7. Jesus Is A Better Temple (John 2:12-24)
Contributed on Jan 8, 2022
Jesus is a temple, who replaces Judaism's temple. A grace "in place of" grace (John 1:16, see NIV)
Let's begin this morning, by simply rereading last week's passage, starting at John 2:1: (2:1) And on the third day, a wedding, there w as in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. (2) Now, Jesus was also invited, with his disciples, to the wedding, (3) and when the wine ...read more
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8. Why Did God Send Jesus? (John 2:23-3:21)
Contributed on Jan 9, 2022
When we look at Judeans' rejection of Jesus, it's an open question. Did God want his people to be condemned, or not?
Last week, I worked very hard to end on a sour note. Let's reread 2:23-24: (23) Now, while he was in Jerusalem during the Passover at the feast, many gave allegiance to his name, seeing his signs that he was doing. (24) Now, Jesus himself wasn't giving his own allegiance to them because ...read more
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9. The Joy And Privilege Of Serving Jesus (John 3:22-36; 4:1-3)
Contributed on Jan 15, 2022
Whatever ministry we "have," is God's gift to us. If I decrease, it's okay. I point people to Jesus. Also, bonus discussion: part of "faith" is obedience (John 3:36)
Today's passage is a little tricky. I'll try to talk slowly. I'll try to not lose you. But if you get lost about parts, I'd be happy to give you my manuscript, or answer any questions afterward. Let's start this morning by rereading John 3:1-5 (NRSV, lightly modified): 3 ...read more
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10. Jesus' Water Is That Good (John 4:1-15)
Contributed on Jan 15, 2022
Jesus is greater than Jacob; his water is also better. It gives joy, and an abundant life, and leads to knowing Jesus and his Father (John 17:3).
Let's start this morning by simply rereading 4:1-3. These three verses mark a transition in John to a new story: (4:1) Then, when Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus, many more disciples he is making and baptizing than John-- although Jesus himself was not baptizing, ...read more
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11. Who Is God Seeking? (John 4:16-24)
Contributed on Jan 15, 2022
The answer: People who worship, in the Spirit (not "spirit") and in the truth.
Let's start this morning by rereading last week's passage, starting from John 4:1: (4:1) Then, when Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard that Jesus, many more disciples he is making and baptizing than John-- although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples-- (3) he left ...read more
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12. What If The Fields Are White? (John 4:27-42)
Contributed on Jan 20, 2022
If they are, we need to be far more bold, in intentional, about pointing people to Jesus. Bonus discussion of how Greek imperfect verbs work.
Today's message was a little short, so I'm going to try to cheat a little at the start, and explain something that may open up the Bible to you in really unexpected ways. And then, I'll try to show you a little how it works, and how cool this is, as I go through today's passage. ...read more
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13. Jesus' Second Sign: Life, Is Life (John 4:43-54)
Contributed on Jan 21, 2022
Some people need signs before they will "believe." Thankfully, signs are still possible today.
Let's start today by talking about Jesus, and the life that Jesus offers. The gospel of John began like this, John 1:1-5: (1) In the beginning, the Word was, and the Word was turned toward God, and God, the Word was. (2) This one was in the beginning turned toward God. (3) Everything through ...read more
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14. In Defense Of Jesus (John 5:1-30)
Contributed on Jan 22, 2022
Jesus isn't a sinner, making himself equal to God. He's God's faithful son, doing just as his Father has shown him, doing the job the Father gave him to do.
I started this series by saying that everything in life depends on getting Jesus right. So far in the book of John, we've read about how Jesus is the lamb of God, the preexistent one, the savior of the world. He is also God. Now, how can Jesus be God, and the Father be God? Are there two ...read more
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15. 5 Witnesses Testifying On Jesus' Behalf (John 5:31-47)
Contributed on Jan 22, 2022
Jesus knows you need reasons to fully come to him, and commit to him. And so he points you to 5 witnesses, testifying to him.
Last week, we started working our way through John 5. In this chapter, AJ addresses two common Judean criticisms of Jesus. The first, is that Jesus is a lawbreaker-- a sinner. Jesus broke the Sabbath, and taught others to do the same. The second, is that Jesus "makes himself" equal to ...read more
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16. Jesus Is Greater Than Moses, Part 1 (John 6:1-21)
Contributed on Jan 28, 2022
In many important ways, Jesus is "like" Moses (Deuteronomy 18:18). But is he greater?
AJ (Author of John) has forced us to consider one basic question, over and over, throughout his gospel. Who is Jesus? What AJ claims-- and Jesus claims-- is that Jesus is from above-- from God. Jesus' Father sent him into the world to save the world-- to be God's lamb (John 1:35), to ...read more
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17. Jesus Is Greater Than Moses, Part 2 (John 6:22-51)
Contributed on Jan 28, 2022
Eat Jesus' bread-- the bread still available-- and you will live forever.
Chapter 6 is really one long story, and we are supposed to read it all at once (5:1, 6:1, 7:1 all begin with "After these things," marking new sections). But it's 71 verses, and I can't hold that much together at once. I tried, and I started to lose my mind a little. Today, ...read more
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18. Jesus Offers A Better Bread (John 6:51-59)
Contributed on Jan 29, 2022
What exactly happens, when we celebrate the Eucharist? And what exactly are we eating?
Today, we continue working our way through John 6. Let's start by simply rereading, starting from verse 22. This verse picks up after Jesus fed 5,000 people the bread and the fish, and after Jesus walked on the water. (22) On the next day, the crowd-- the one standing on the other side of ...read more
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19. Will You Stay Or Will You Go Now? (John 6:60-71)
Contributed on Jan 31, 2022
Chapter 6 has moved from huge crowds trying to make Jesus king, down to only 12. It's all falling apart, maybe. The question is, will you join the Judeans, and walk away from Jesus, or abide with Christ?
This week, we will make our final push to get through John 6. We were supposed to read this entire chapter at once, as a single story. But instead, it took me four weeks. Let's start this morning, one last time, at John 6:22. This picks up our story after Jesus fed the 5,000 people, and ...read more
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20. There Are No Closet Christians (John 7:1-52)
Contributed on Feb 3, 2022
Nicodemus tries to thread the needle, and secretly follow Jesus. This doesn't work. If you are silent about Jesus, you haven't really "come to" him.
This morning, we find ourselves (somehow) in John 7. Throughout the gospel of John, we have found people confronted with one basic choice-- will they give their allegiance to Jesus, or not? Some people, hearing Jesus' words, and learning, have come to place their trust in Jesus. ...read more
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21. Jesus Is The Better Light (John 8:12-13; Lev. 23:33-44; Exodus 13:17-22)
Contributed on Feb 6, 2022
Jesus is our pillar of fire.
If you're following along with me in your own Bibles, in the gospel of John, you'll notice that this week we come to the story of the adulterous woman. This story may or may not be an authentic tradition about Jesus-- my guess, which is probably worth nothing, is that it is. It ...read more
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22. Believing In Jesus Is Not Enough (John 8:12-59)
Contributed on Feb 7, 2022
In John, there are a cluster of verbs Jesus wants from us, to be full disciples, and we have to hold them all together. If we focus too hard on "believing," we will misunderstand Jesus, and what he wants.
Last week, we read just two verses from John 8, spending the rest of our time in Leviticus 23 and Exodus 13. I scratched my itch to get back to the OT, and I'm ready to take another shot at this. I say that, but this is probably the most depressing chapter (I hope!) in the entire gospel of ...read more
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23. Jesus Gives Sight, To Those Who Want It (John 9:1-41)
Contributed on Feb 8, 2022
Jesus gives physical sight, and spiritual sight. By chapter's end, the only blind ones left are the Pharisees. Have to be open-minded, and know what you don't know.
At this point in the gospel of John, some of you are maybe feeling a little confused. John is not a very easy book. Jesus' words seem complicated-- they are "from above," as he is from above, and we struggle to climb up, and view things from above, and understand them from ...read more
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24. Jesus Is The Better Shepherd (John 10:1-21)
Contributed on Feb 10, 2022
John's readers who have chosen to hear Jesus, and follow him, and become part of his flock, have upgraded their shepherd. Jesus is a better shepherd than the Pharisees.
Let's start today by simply reading John 10:1: (1) Truly, truly, I say to you, the one not entering through the gate/door into the inner courtyard of the sheep, but going up from some other place-- that one, a thief, he is, and a robber. When we read this, we should notice something, ...read more
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25. Believe What The Works Tell You About Jesus (John 10:22-41)
Contributed on Feb 14, 2022
Jesus has told the Pharisees who he is. They just aren't willing to truly hear him.
The past several weeks, we've taken a break from John by studying the "Sons of God," mostly focused on the OT. [I made this its own separate series on sermoncentral, and today's won't make as much sense without reading that first]. Today, I think we are the place where we ...read more
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26. If You Believe, You Will See God's Glory (John 11:1-54)
Contributed on Feb 21, 2022
And if Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, anything is possible.
Today, we are going to read through a great story. For the most part today, I'm going to keep my hands off of it, and just let it speak for itself. [It's also a big story, and I have to fly higher to grab it in one week]. John 11:1: (1) Now, there was a certain sick one, Lazarus from ...read more
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27. Power Evangelism Explained (John 11:1-54, Part 2)
Contributed on Feb 21, 2022
How did Jesus do his signs, and how were the disciples able to do the signs? And what can we learn from this?
The last few weeks, I've been pushing the idea that God will still do signs, and wonders, and healings through us, as Jesus works in us, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I think God is far more willing to do great things in the world through us than we realize. I think the weakness, and ...read more
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28. Three Marks Of True Disciples (John 11:55-12:11)
Contributed on Feb 22, 2022
Martha, Lazarus, and Mary each model a discipleship verb. Together, they paint a picture of a true disciple.
Two weeks ago, everything changed in the gospel of John. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, in the full sight of a large group of Judeans. And when the Judeans saw this, "many" gave their allegiance to Jesus. In an instant, they moved from being stubborn, and hard-hearted, and ...read more
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29. There Is One Path To Glory (John 12:12-26)
Contributed on Feb 23, 2022
And it's through the cross, not the crowds.
Let's start today by simply rereading our passage from last week, John 11:55-12:11. This will help us remember where we are in the gospel of John: (55) Now, the Passover of the Judeans was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the surrounding area before the Passover, in order that they ...read more
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30. Will You Choose Jesus? (John 12:27-50)
Contributed on Mar 9, 2022
God set it up so that Jesus would be rejected by most. His master plan, was that Jesus die on the cross. But at the same time, any single individual could still come to Jesus.
Let's start today by reading part of last week's passage, John 12:20-26: (20) Now, there were some Greeks from among the ones going up [to Jerusalem], in order that they would worship at the festival. (21) Then, these ones approached Philip-- the one from Bethsaida of Galilee-- and they ...read more