God's Word Makes All The Difference In The World

God’s Word Makes All the Difference in the World

Introduction:

Have you been reading God’s Word lately? WHAT have you been reading

 I have been reading John’s Gospel

o Gems like 3:16 and the woman at the well

o Reassuring verses like: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

o Controversial stuff like when Jesus said “eat my flesh . . .”

o Passages that you can chew on for hours, like chapters 13--17

In all of those passages, you begin to see that people can be put into two categories:

However,

Living in Miami, you’d think there’d be all kinds of people, but really, there aren’t, according to JOHN.

Others have tried to separate the world into 2 Kinds of people (some of my favorites:)

 There are two kinds of people: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who don’t. I’m one of the latter.

 There are three kinds of people, those who can count and those who cant

 There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who let the chips fall where they may, and those who like to arrange them in neat little piles. Gene and Leah

 "There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love chocolate and communists." (Regina),

 "There are two kinds of women drivers: those who run into trouble, and those who back into it."

BUT, In the Gospel of John there are two types of people: Those who are of the world, and those who are not.

Themes:

 World: from the get go, the world is described as those who don’t accept God

Sent Jesus (John 3:16)--The lost world breaks God’s heart—he doesn’t want people on the outside looking in

Jesus is curiously referred to as “the Word” by John—important to note

See John 1:1

• Little “w” word: the Bible, its teaching

• Big “W” Word: Jesus

NOTE:

 Word: another theme.

“little w” word: the message from God, the Bible, the teachings of and about Jesus

“big W” Word: Jesus himself, to which the whole “word” points. The one that fulfills the “word” of God.

It is Jesus, and the good news, or word, or truth, that plays the key role in saving the lost world. In fact, we will discover today that”

Theme: God’s Word makes all the difference in the world changing us from “out of reach outsiders” to “outreaching insiders.”

“out of reach” because there is no way we can get to God on our own

“outsiders” because outside of God’s grace and Holy presence—we are sinful enemies

By God’s Word, we have the ability to be changed, or “sanctified” into outreaching insiders.

“out reaching” because we become the hands, feet, and mouth of God—who reaches out through us—to a world that he wants to make his own—reclaiming that which he made but who rejected him.

“insiders” because we are now set apart to be used by God, saved by his Grace, part of his family.

John 17:14-19

Let’s read the text on which this sermon is based:

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Transition: The first change that we notice is that:

1. God’s Word Separates Us From the World

• John 17:14-16

Read: John 17:14-16

. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

There is something different about us, what is it? It’s nothing to do with how great we are of our own:

Ephesians 5:8a (children of darkness)

• We ALL start out being lost

Dilemma as a young man: I didn’t appreciate my own lostness