The Uniqueness Of Jesus Series

(based on a series by Tom Ellsworth)

SERIES: “DISCOVER JESUS: The Other 3:16’s”

TEXT: 1 TIMOTHY 3:16

TITLE: “THE UNIQUENESS OF JESUS”

OPEN: A. Scripture tells us:

1. Col. 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another

with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts

to God.”

2. Eph. 5:19 – “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make

music in your heart to the Lord.”

B. I want some audience participation this morning

--What are some of your favorite psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs?

C. Why are these songs important to you?

--one or more of the following reasons:

1. The psalm, hymn, or spiritual song has ministered to you at some point or another in your life

2. The psalm, hymn, or spiritual song bring back pleasant memories

3. The psalm, hymn or spiritual song conveys a great truth or truths about God the Father, God the

Son, or God the Holy Spirit

--or at least great truth about how God works in the lives of those who will follow Him

D. The passage we’re looking at this morning is considered by theologians and scholars to be part of a

song used by the church in the 1st Century

--several passages in the New Testament are thought to be parts of early hymns as well

1. Phil 2: 5-11 – tells how Jesus took on flesh and became a servant; one who was obedient to the

Father’s will even to the point of death

2. Eph. 1:3-14 – talks about our spiritual blessings in Christ

3. 1 Cor. 13 – “The Love Chapter”

4. Rom. 8:31-39 – If God is for us, who can be against us? What can separate us from the love of

God?

5. I find another passage that was probably part of an early Christian hymn

a. Eph. 5:14 – “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

b. It was probably used at the end of the sermon.

E. We are going to hear the words of this song together because it’s a beautiful song about Christ

1. But before we listen, let me ask you something

a. Have you ever heard a great song that just totally moved you – so much that you wanted

someone else to hear it and catch its beauty and meaning exactly as you did?

b. But when you played it for them they weren’t ready to hear it so they didn’t listen well and

they missed it?

--Or it just didn’t strike them the way it did you?

2. Please listen to this song very closely

--I really want you to get it

3. 1 Tim. 3:16 – “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed

on in the world, was taken up in glory.”

4. In this study of “The Other 3;16’s”, we’ve looked at several 3:16 passages that teach us about

Jesus:

a. 1 Jn. 3:16 – “The Love of Jesus”

b. Lk. 3:16 – “The Power of Jesus”

c. Acts 3:16 – “The Name of Jesus”

d. Col 3:16 – “The Encouragement of Jesus”

5. Today we’re looking at the uniqueness of Jesus

a. The word unique means “one of a kind; nothing else like it.”

b. That was the point John was making in Jn. 3:16 when he referred to God’s “one and only son”

--Jesus is one of a kind and no one else is quite like Him

6. In our passage this morning, Jesus’ uniqueness is spelled out in a poetic manner that made it

easier to remember

F. As a musician, one of the things that I’ve learned to do is take a song and break it down into it’s

component parts, and then reassemble it so that I know the song and its message intimately

--I invite you to join me in that process this morning

I. THE MYSTERY

A. What is a “mystery”

1. A mystery can be something that remains unsolved

a. No one knows the answer and the answer may never be found

b. Here are some examples:

1). What happened to Amelia Earhart when she disappeared over the pacific ocean on her around

the world flight in 1937?

2). Was there a gunman behind the grassy knoll on the day President Kennedy was assassinated?

3). What happened to the 2 ½ ton steel wrecking ball that was left hanging from a crane 200 feet

above the ground by the laborers for the Dowling Construction Company in Indianapolis in

1974? When they left, the ball was 200 feet in the air. When they returned to work the next