Sermon Notes

What we believe about Jesus is as important as believing in Jesus.

Background of the Gospel of John:

Author: The Apostle John

Date of writing: 85-95 AD

Place of Writing: City of Ephesus (present day Turkey)

Audience:

The book of John was written to any person who has an interest in learning more about Jesus.

Purpose Statement:

John 20:31

³¹But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Recap from last week:

Jesus is .

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

Jesus is the of creation (John 1:3)

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Jesus is the of all life and light. (John 2:4-5)

John 1:4-5

⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome^[^a^] it.

John the Baptist had one mission and one purpose: to point people to Jesus.

We have one mission and one purpose: to point people to Jesus.

John 1:6-7

Matthew 28:18-20

John 1:7

⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

A witness represents; a testimony declares.

John the Baptist had one mission, one purpose, to point people to Jesus.

We have one mission, one purpose, to point people to Jesus.

John 1:8

Don’t let an earthly witness get in the way of the Heavenly light.

John 1:9

Three Responses to Jesus (John 1:10–13)

Those who do not recognize who Jesus is
Those who recognize Him but refuse to receive Him
Those who receive Him and believe in His name

1. Those who do not recognize who Jesus is

John 1:10

Those who recognize Him but refuse to receive Him

John 1:11

“Instead of welcoming Jesus, they drove Him from their door and even banished Him from the earth.” A. Pink

Those who receive Him and believe in His name

John 1:12-13

Receive Jesus. Believe in His Name. Become a Child of God

John 3:5-6

⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

How a Person Comes to Faith in Jesus (John 1:12–13)

They hear and learn who Jesus is.
They receive Him and believe in His name.
They are born of God (spiritually reborn).
They become children of God and receive eternal life.

When did you receive Jesus, believe in His name, and become a child of God?

What we believe about Jesus is as important as believing in Jesus.

John 1:14

¹⁴The Word became flesh…

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14

The word became flesh…

“The Word, who existed co-equal with God, before anything came into being, became flesh: He became a human being. Jesus did not just appear to be a man; He became one. Yet He maintained His full deity.” Dr. Constable

“The One born at Bethlehem was the divine eternal Word…He became what He was not previously, though He never ceased to be all He was before. The baby of Bethlehem was Immanuel, God with us.” A. Pink

The Trinity:

We believe that God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of one essence and being.

The Incarnation:

We believe that God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, took on human flesh and became fully man while remaining fully God.

John 1:14

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

John 1:14 cont.

We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Gleanings:

We have one mission and one purpose: to point people to Jesus. – John 1:6-7
Don’t let an earthly witness get in the way of the Heavenly light. – John 1:8
Receive Jesus. Believe in His Name. Become a Child of God – John 1:12-13
Jesus signed up for the full human experience and moved into our neighborhood. – John 1:14

Personal Notes

What we Jesus is as important as Jesus.

It is possible for people to believe in a Jesus that never existed.

Background of the Gospel of John:

Author: The Apostle John

Date of writing: 85-95 AD

Place of Writing: City of Ephesus (present day Turkey)

Audience:

The book of John was written to any person who had an interest in learning more about Jesus.

The Gospel of John is unique to the other gospels in three ways:

The gospel of John is unique in its .
The gospel of John is unique in its .
The gospel of John is unique in .

Purpose Statement of the Gospel of John:

John 20:31

31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John had two goals:

Belief – That you will recognize the true Jesus and believe in Him.
Life – That you will believe and receive from Jesus only what Jesus can give: eternal life.

John 3:16, 18

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not stands condemned already because they have not in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Jesus is God.

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Gen 1:1

In the beginning God…

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word…

Who are you making Jesus out to be?

Monotheism: the belief that there is one God.

Mono = one
Theos = God

Deut 6:4

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Are you trying to say that there is more than one God?

Trinity – We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, of one essence and being.

“Word” – (λόγος) Logos

Who are you making Jesus out to be?

1 Cor 1:23

23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

Jesus fully reveals God:

Jesus displays God’s .
Jesus manifests God’s .
Jesus exhibits God’s .
Jesus makes known God’s .
Jesus unveils the of God.

Logos is Theos.

The Word is God.

Jesus is God.

“The One who was heralded by the angles to the Bethlehem shepherds, who walked this earth for thirty-three years, who was crucified at Calvary, who rose in triumph from the grave, and who forty days later departed…was none other than the Lord of Glory. The evidence for this is overwhelming, the proofs almost without number, and the effect of contemplating them must be to bow our hearts in worship before ‘the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:13)” A. Pink

Simple Definition

Secular Evolution: Life developed over time through natural processes without reference to God or divine purpose.

Jesus is God.

Jesus is the Active Agent of Creation.

John 1:3

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:3

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Col 1:16

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

All things have been Created Jesus.

All things have been created Jesus.

And all things are sustained by the of Jesus’ .

Humanity is only able to what God has .

John 1:4-5

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

What we believe about Jesus is as important as believing in Jesus.

What We Believe:

Jesus is God – John 1:1-2
Jesus is the Active Agent of Creation – John 1:3-5

Do you believe?

Personal Notes:

No outline provided

Personal Notes:

Luke 1:46-55

God’s love for the one
God’s love for all
God’s love for his people

God’s love for the one is personal and intimate

God’s love for all is merciful

God’s love for his people is fulfilled in Jesus

Personal Notes:

Matthew 1:18-19

FIND JOY IN THE ORDINARY

Matthew 1:20-22

FIND JOY IN THE DISTRACTIONS

Matthew 1:24-25

FIND JOY IN THE FAITHFUL

1. Find joy in the ordinary because God is working in the small, quiet moments.

2. Find joy in the distraction because God speaks in and through the interruptions of life.

3. And lastly, to find joy in the faithful because God gives us lasting joy when we are faithful to Him.

Personal Notes:

Luke 2 and the birth of Jesus

Untold stories reminded me of my early years working with my dad and grandpa.

We worked on barns repairing them and turning them into event venues.

Paul Harvey.

Listened during a break or lunch

Does anyone remember Paul Harvey?

“The Rest of the Story”

He would dig into the parts of more well known stories or events and tell

the rest of the story.

There is usually another side of a story we don’t hear as much about.

Today I want to introduce you to a couple we don’t hear much about.

Digging into the stories less highlighted

Turn to Luke 1 – instead of reading this whole story, I am going to summarize.

■ Turn in your Bible. If you don’t have one, pick one up in the back or

come up front after the service. We would love to give one to you

for free.

■ Read this later in the week to get some more information.

Zechariah and Elizabeth

I want to give you a brief introduction to this couple

Zechariah was a priest at the temple.

They had both prayed for a child but were never able to conceive.

V6 says, “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all2

the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.”

Even though they were blameless they had no children.

An angel, Gabriel, appeared to him as he offered an offering of incense to

God in the temple. (Prayer is incense to the Lord)

■ Revelation 5:7-8

■ Zechariah made a distinction between him and his wife…

■ He is “very old” and his wife is “well along in years”

Elizabeth was barren and had never conceived a child.

The angel told him because he didn’t believe he wouldn’t be able to speak

until the child was born.

Zechariah went home and everything the angel had told him came true.

8th day in the temple

■ Circumcision ceremony- Josh mentioned this last week but didn’t

define what that is. I’m sure he would love to tell you after service.

Pick the story up in verse 57 of Luke 1.

The baby is born at this time

At the circumcision everyone wanted to name the baby Zechariah after his father.

This was custom at that time for the child to be named after the father

Zechariah took a tablet to write on and made sure everyone knew the baby’s

name would be John.

At that moment Zechariah was able to speak.3

His first words are praise to God.

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Prophesy: “the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God” Vine’s Expository

Dictionary

I. to prophesy, to be a prophet, speak forth by divine inspirations, to predict

I want to work through this prophecy Zechariah made after his son John was

born.

Zechariah’s Song

Zechariah praised God for salvation yet didn’t know of Jesus or have a

relationship with him.

The horn of Salvation is referring back to a Psalm of King David:

Psalms 18:2

It symbolizes a strong king

Jesus is that Strong King

The oath he swore to Abraham refers back to Genesis 15 where God makes a

promise and covenant with Abraham the Father to the Israelite nation.4

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

Isaiah 40:3

A voice of one calling:

“In the wilderness prepare

the way for the LORD[a];

make straight in the desert

a highway for our God.[b]

There is a lot in these verses.

Zechariah spoke words of life over his son John.

The closing of this song is where I want to focus

The rising sun will come to us from heaven is a wonderful word picture

For a rising sun to be needed, there must be darkness.

It has come to shine for those living in darkness and the shadow of death.

Have you ever felt like you are living in darkness?

Story about hunting in Gaylord. (Short)

I used to go hunting with my friend and his family up in Gaylord

Lost – like very lost

Not just lost like your wife tells you to stop and ask for directions lost

It was pitch black- complete darkness

Darkness is scary: feeling overtaken

No direction

Hopeless

Stuck in addiction

Loneliness- isolated

Loss

Overwhelmed

Aimlessly walking, lacking peace in your life.

Feel like a constant state of anxiety, a cloud over you.

Jesus has come to be the light of the world.

Jesus is the way to peace.

Peace is obtained by…

Salvation– Deliverance from sin and its consequences

Mercy– undeserved favor or kindness- we can’t do this ourselves. We

need a Savior.

Righteousness– acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt

or sin.

Holiness– we are called to live holy lives.

■ Walking in the light. Not living in darkness

This story isn’t really about Zechariah and Elizabeth, it’s pointing to Jesus as the

path to peace.

That is this week’s focus.

Jesus can be that for you.

Salvation

Renewal to take place

Personal Notes:

Luke 2:25-35

Hope is

Luke 2:36-40

Hope is

Romans 12:9-13

Hope requires

Personal Notes:

Psalm 100

We are going to see three things this morning:

– We have been made to joyfully shout, serve and sing.

– We have been made by God and for God.

– We have been made to give God thanks.

Psalm 100 prior to V. 1 (this is a part of the original Psalm)

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

A psalm for Thanksgiving. (NKJV)

– We have been made to joyfully , and .

Psalm 100:1-2

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

1 Pet 2:9

Ps. 100:2

Worship the Lord with gladness…

Worship =

Serve the Lord with gladness

Psalm 100:2

…come before him with joyful songs.

Heaven, to where the faithful are headed, will be filled with joyful singing.

– We have been made by God and for God.

Ps 100:3

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us… Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.”

– AW Tozer

Isa 45:5

I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

Isa 46:9

…I am God, and there is none like me.

Ps. 95:3-5

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Ps 24:1

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Ps 100:3

It is he who made us, and we are his…

Ps. 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 100:3

…It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

– We have so much to be for.

Ps 100:4-5

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Ps. 100:5

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Ps. 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ps. 107:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

We have been made to joyfully , and .

We have been made God and God.

We have been made to give God .

Mark 6:30-44

We are going to see four principles this morning:

Jesus will take care of His sheep.
Jesus can take the little we have and .
Only Jesus can truly .
When Jesus multiplies there will .

Jesus will always take care of His sheep.

Mark 6:34

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them,

We as people are very much like sheep…

Just like sheep, we are dependent creatures.

John 10:14

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”

Just like sheep, we need guidance and leading.

John 10:3-4

“…the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

Just like sheep, we tend to wander off.

Isaiah 53:6

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way…

Mark 6:34

…he began teaching them many things.

Matthew 14:14

…He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Mark 6:39-40

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups . 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures…

Jesus can take the little we have and multiply it exponentially.

Mark 6:37

37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

Mark 6:38

38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

John 6:9

9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Mark 6:41

41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,.

Mark 14:22

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

Luke 24:30-31

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him…

Matthew 6:11

11 Give us today our daily bread.”

John 6:35

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry…

Jesus can take the little we have and multiply it exponentially.

Mark 6:42

42 They all ate and were

Satisfied – to be filled, satiated, stuffed full.

Only Jesus can truly satisfy our needs.

When Jesus multiplies there will always be excess.

Mark 6:42-44

42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Jesus will always take care of His sheep.

Jesus can take the little we have and multiply it exponentially.

Only Jesus can truly satisfy our needs.

When Jesus multiplies there will always be excess.

I was personally encouraged this week by the shepherding ministry of Jesus. He cares for us and promises to take care of our needs. I also recognize that I tend to wander off at times, and I am thankful that Jesus graciously calls me back to Him. I pray you are encouraged and blessed this weekend, and may you find time to spend with our Good Shepherd. You Are Loved!

Personal Notes:

Mark 6:30-37

James 2:15

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

James 2:16

16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

We are going to see three things this morning:

We are all called to to spend time with Jesus.
We are all called to even when we are tired.
We are all called to of people.

We are all called to quiet places to spend time with Jesus.

Mark 6:30

30 The apostles (disciples) gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

Mark 6:31

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat…

Mark 6:31

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

“quiet place” – a wilderness, a solitary place, or a lonely place (ie. secret place)

Mark 1:35

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a , where he prayed.

Lk 5:16

16 But Jesus often withdrew to and prayed.

Rest – to refresh, to cease from movement or work, to recover and be strengthened.

Mattew 11:28

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you .

Matt 11:29

“… for your souls.”

If we are not regularly and consistently getting away to be with Jesus, we will never experience the rest for our souls that Jesus promises.

“God can work through you better when you are not hurrying…Do not be too busy…Venture often into rest with God and you will find peace. All work that results from resting with God is good work.” 24 Hours a Day

Mark 6:32

32 So they departed to a in the boat by themselves.

We are called to care for people even when we are tired.

Mark 6:33-34

33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd…

Mark 6:34

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them…

Compassion (splagiztomai) – To be moved in the bowels.

Compassion – To suffer with

Mark 6:34

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Mt 14:14 NIV

“…He had compassion on them and healed their sick.”

We are all called to meet the practical needs of people.

Mark 6:35

35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late…”

Mark 6:36

36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

“Send them away – they have NOTHING to eat!”

Mark 6:36, :37a

36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat…”

37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

“You give them something to eat.”

Mark 6:37b NIV

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[e]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

James 2:15

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

We are all called to quiet places to spend time with Jesus.
We are all called to care for people even when we are tired.
We are all called to meet the practical needs of people.

A Little Note: I don’t know about you, but the last couple of weeks have been a meat grinder spiritually, and emotionally. Not sure if you have ever felt that way. I have been deeply encouraged by the first part of this message where Jesus tells His disciples, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” I felt like that was a personal note just for me. Not sure where you are at today, but Jesus is inviting us, no matter what we are experiencing, to get away and spend time with Him. And when we do, we will find rest for our souls. Love you!