Sunday Message Notes
Small Solutions Don’t Fix Big Problems
John 2:13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
“The Evangelist wants the audience to read the whole story of Jesus’ ministry in light of the event that most led to His death - the cleansing of the Temple”
- Ben Witherington - A Commentary on the Fourth Gospel
John 2:17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”
John 2:18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?”
John 2:21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
John 1:33b…‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
Small Solutions Don’t Fix Big Problems
“After San Francisco’s Summer of Love in 1967, its hippie subculture became a hub for curious tourists. Middle-aged sightseers came in buses, Kodak cameras around their necks, to gawk at the flower children and take their pictures. The infamous Psychedelic Shop on Haight Street closed in protest; its owners moved back to the Midwest. A lot of the summer hippies went back to school. Others who stayed found that the bloom was off the rose. The bright idealism of the early days faded to a darker scene: malnutrition, overdoses, cold street corners, junkies, and dirty needles. A lot of these young people were finding that the hippie life in Haight-Ashbury was not all sweetness and light. Girls were getting raped, kids were strung out, and the hippie experience was short on real health for either body or soul. Free love had been generous: many kids were suffering from ugly sexually transmitted diseases. Some of the flower children went on LSD trips and never came back. Others got hungry and sick. Crime was up; maybe the hippie dream had been confiscated. At any rate, utopia’s bright colors had gone gray.”
Jesus Revolution - Greg Laurie & Ellen Vaughn
SEX ⇨ FAMILY
MONEY ⇨ GENEROSITY
POWER ⇨ SERVANT LEADERSHIP
Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr
Joshua 24:15…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (NKJV)
Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.
There is never a good time or a good reason to minimize Jesus in your life
Matthew 7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Have you underestimated the role Jesus plays in solving our biggest problems?
Have you underestimated the size and significance of the problems Jesus addresses?
John 2:17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”
John 2: 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’” 16 From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; 17 as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. (CEB)
“GRACE” is God’s undeserved & unearned goodness, favor, empowerment and blessing.
John 2:1 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
Isaiah 25:6 In Jerusalem, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will spread a wonderful feast for all the people of the world. It will be a delicious banquet with clear, well-aged wine and choice meat. 7 There he will remove the cloud of gloom, the shadow of death that hangs over the earth. 8 He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken! 9 In that day the people will proclaim, “This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”
Jeremiah 31:12 They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts—the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. 13 The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. 14 The priests will enjoy abundance, and my people will feast on my good gifts. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Amos 9:13 “The time will come,” says the Lord, “when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!
Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
The Wedding at Cana is a Story About Glory, Religious Burdens, and Grace
1. How Does this Moment Help Us? 1. We Continue to See Jesus Glory
John 1:51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Luke 8:22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
John 20:30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book…21:25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.
John 2:3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” 5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7a Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water…
Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from…he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
How Does this Moment Help Us? 2. We Gain a Gospel Perspective on Religious Burdens
Matthew 23:15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!
Luke 7:31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends,
‘We played wedding songs,
and you didn’t dance,
so we played funeral songs,
and you didn’t weep.’
33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
How Does this Moment Help Us? 3. We Learn About the Unique Grace of God
John 2:10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
“GRACE” is God’s undeserved & unearned goodness, favor, empowerment and blessing.
How Does this Moment Help Us?
1. We Continue to See Jesus Glory
2. We Gain a Gospel Perspective on Religious Burdens
3. We Learn About the Unique Grace of God
Mark 2:2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Mark 2:7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
Romans 3:24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Romans 5:21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about him, crying out, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than me because he existed before me.’” 16 From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace; 17 as the Law was given through Moses, so grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ. (CEB)
Where have you been busy washing your hands instead of celebrating?
Do we believe that Jesus can fulfill His promises?
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
Who Started Following Jesus and Why?
John 1:35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Who Started Following Jesus? 1. People Searching for Answers
John 1:35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
Who Started Following Jesus? 2. People Invited by Others
John 1:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).
Who Started Following Jesus? 3. People Who Weren’t Looking
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.
Who Started Following Jesus? 4. People with Doubts
John 1:45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”
Who Started Following Jesus?
1. People Searching for Answers
2. People Invited by Others
3. People Who Weren’t Looking
4. People with Doubts
John 1:38b…“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “COME AND SEE,” he said.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “COME, FOLLOW ME.”
John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF,” Philip replied.
John 1:51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Genesis 28:10 Meanwhile, Jacob left Beersheba and traveled toward Haran. 11 At sundown he arrived at a good place to set up camp and stopped there for the night. Jacob found a stone to rest his head against and lay down to sleep. 12 As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway.
13 At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. 15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”
16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” 17 But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”
18 The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. 19a He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”)...
“To see “heaven open,” which was every Jewish apocalyptist’s dream, is to receive a vision of otherworldly realities… Jesus is the “new Bethel,” the place where God is revealed, where heaven and earth, God and humanity, meet, just as he is the new temple and the new proper place of worship. In fact, Jesus is the very culmination of all of God’s revelatory expressions, providing a fullness of divine self-disclosure of which even Jacob could only dream; and these disciples, who as of yet know little of what awaits them, will soon be witnesses of revelation far exceeding that received by any Israelite in previous history. Moreover, the expression “heaven open and God’s angels ascending and descending” also seems to convey an image of the “uninterrupted communion between Jesus and the Father””
G.K Beale & D.A. Carson - Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
John 1:51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Daniel 7:13 As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.
Who Started Following Jesus?
1. People Searching for Answers
2. People Invited by Others
3. People Who Weren’t Looking
4. People with Doubts
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 1. He’s a Teacher Worth Listening To
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 2. He’s Different
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 3. He Fulfills Our Most Significant Hopes
Everybody Wants Jesus Even If They Don’t Know It
Why Did People Start Following Jesus? 4. He Invites People to Go Somewhere
John 1:38b…“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “COME AND SEE,” he said.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “COME, FOLLOW ME.”
John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF,” Philip replied.
John 1:42b…Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter” [the rock]).
Why Did People Start Following Jesus?
He’s a Teacher Worth Listening To
He’s Different than the World Around Us
He Fulfills Our Most Significant Hopes
He Invites People to Go Somewhere
Why Did You Start Following Jesus?
Why Would Someone Else Start Following Jesus?
John 1:38b…“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “COME AND SEE,” he said.
John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “COME, FOLLOW ME.”
John 1:46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELF,” Philip replied.
John 1:49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
It’s Impossible to Overestimate Jesus
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus?
John 20:31…these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 1:19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” 22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’” 24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” 26 John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” 28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
John 3:23 At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.
because there was plenty of water there
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.
We Are Invited to Share John the Baptist's Obsession with Jesus
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus? 1. He Promised Jesus Would Solve Our Biggest Problem.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. 7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. 9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. 10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.
Isaiah 53:7b..He was led like a lamb to the slaughter…
John 1:29b… “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
…“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus? 2. He Helped People Leave the Past Behind
John 1:32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus? 3. He Told Them that Jesus Would Do the Impossible in the Lives
How did John the Baptist Prepare People for Jesus?
1. He Promised Jesus Would Solve Our Biggest Problem.
2. He Helped People Leave the Past Behind
3. He Told Them Jesus Would Do the Impossible in the Lives
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
His life brought light to everyone
to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God
He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness
From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another
God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ
How Does John the Baptist’s Preparation shape how you think about Jesus?
What would Change if you were obsessed with Jesus the way John was obsessed with Jesus?
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
Luke 10:33 Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion.
This week was One Day Sunday, and we heard a great message from Guest Speaker Jeff Anderson, all about the great work Convoy of Hope is doing around The World.
571,000 children fed every school day. Goal to feed 1,000,000 by the year 2030
48,000 women and girls empowered
30,000 farmers trained
86 disaster responses
66 countries served
Thousands have come to know Jesus
Word of Life is a strategic partner with Convoy of Hope. We go to work every day and we take one day of those wages and give that money to help the poor and those in need.
One day is your heart dialing into what Jesus is doing in the world.
We have the opportunity to be kinder and show compassion to those around us.
The world needs what we have, and we really need to have what the world needs.
Luke 10:33 Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion.
Do you want to be part of what Jesus is doing in the world?
What will happen if I do not help?
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
John 5:24b…I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
John 5:24b…I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
1 Corinthians 1:18 The message of the cross seems foolish to those who are lost and dying. But it is God’s power to us who are being saved. (NIRV)
Matthew 28:6a He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
He is not here…
…for He has risen…
Romans 6:4 For we died [to sin] and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
…just as He said.
Matthew 16:21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things…He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.
Mark 9:30 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee. Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, 31 for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”
Luke 18:31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
2 Corinthians 5:17b …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18a And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ…19a For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.…20b God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 6:1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
1. The Message of Jesus is a Message of…RECONCILIATION
anyone who belongs to Christ
brought us back to himself through Christ
God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them
this wonderful message of reconciliation
2. The Message of Jesus is a Message of…HOPE
anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person
The old life is gone; a new life has begun
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
3. The Message of Jesus is a Message of…URGENCY
We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
this is a gift from God
As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:20b…We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”...6:1b…we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
2 Corinthians 5:17b …anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Matthew 28:6a He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.
How Important is the Promise to Go From Death to Life?
How Does Jesus's Message of Reconciliation, Hope & Urgency Change My Perspective?
www.BethlehemStar.com
Luke 23:44 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Darkness fell across the whole land…the light from the sun was gone.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
John 20:31…these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Isaiah 55:10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Matthew 12:34b…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (NKJV)
Matthew 12:34b…the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (NIV)
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
It’s Impossible to Overestimate Jesus
John 1:6a God sent a man, John the Baptist…
John 1:6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1:10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.
John 1:11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 BUT to all who believed him and accepted him
John 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Who is included in these promises? …all who believed Him and accepted Him (John 1:12b)
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:12b…the right to become children of God
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:13 They are reborn…a birth that comes from God…
2 Corinthians 5:17b…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:14b…[He] made his home among us…
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:14c…we [will see] His glory…
GLORY = The observable qualities that demonstrate God’s unique significance, power, splendor and superiority.
“The glory of God is such that if it could be taken away, then He would no longer be God. Human glory—wealth, success, reputation, etc.—may be taken from us, but it doesn’t affect our humanity; but God cannot be God without His glory. For this reason He is jealous about it; people must not infringe upon it. The intention of God is that humanity and all creation should give glory to Him - meaning we acknowledge the glory He has and respond accordingly. We must not seek glory in our wisdom, strength, success, or riches, but rather in our relationship with the Lord. Those who boast must “boast of the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31). This is well summed up in the Westminster Shorter Catechism; “Man’s chief end is to glorify God.” We must not try to take the glory that belongs to God alone.”
Dictionary of Theological Terms
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:16b…[we receive] one gracious blessing after another.
Standard Definition of Grace - “The unmerited favor of God”
John 1:16b…[we receive] one gracious blessing after another.
What Are Believers Promised? John 1:18b…[He reveals] God to us
Hebrews 10:20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.
Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
What Are Believers Promised?
John 1:12b…the right to become children of God
John 1:13 They are reborn…a birth that comes from God…
John 1:14b…[He] made his home among us…
John 1:14c…we [will see] His glory…
John 1:16b…[we receive] one gracious blessing after another.
John 1:18b…[He reveals] God to us
If You Believe That Jesus Is Who He Says He Is,
The Only Logical Response Is To Follow Him With Everything
John 20:31…these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.
How have you underestimated Jesus?
Have you considered if you accept and believe in Jesus?
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
John 1:14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 1:17b…God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen
Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. 18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. NLT
Paul's use of the body metaphor to speak of the Christian community in Corinth implies that he believes that God the Holy Spirit [imparts] to each Christian community all the gifts and graces it needs to be what it ought to be. In addition, the lists of gifts in this chapter strongly suggest that God gives not only abilities but also persons as gifts to the community, whether apostoles, prophets, teachers, or others. But does God still do all these things for the ekklēsia today? We can certainly affirm that God provides amply for the modern Christian community…
- Ben Witherington (Conflict and community in Corinth)
Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. NLT
"Once again Paul emphasizes continued building. The aim of this entire process is that the church should become God's "dwelling", a frequent term in [the Old Testament] to denote the divine resting place either on earth or in heaven. Formerly, God's earthly abode was thought to be on Mount Zion and in the Jerusalem temple. Now he makes his home in the church. All this is achieved not only by us but also in the Spirit.”
-Expositor Bible Commentary
Ekklesia- an assembly, a (religious) congregation (Strong’s Concordance)
God’s Value on the Church should Influence the Way I Value the Church
God’s Plan is the Church
Matthew 16:18 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. NLT
Matthew 28:18-20 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”NLT
Acts1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” NLT
God Works through His Church
Ephesians 1:22-23 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.(NLT)
The church is filled (by Christ) and Christ fills the world completely (through the church). The church receives all that it needs from Christ and participates with him accomplishing his purposes throughout the world.
- Clinton E Arnold (Ephesians: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on New Testament)
Acts 4:32-35 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (NLT)
You Need the Church
Hebrew 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. NLT
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Some believers were giving up "meeting together." We have no way of knowing who these abstainers were; we know no more than that the early church had its problems with people who stayed away from church. It was a dangerous practice for any early Christian to try to live without the support of the community. Perhaps these abstainers saw Christianity as just another religion to be patronized or left alone. They had missed the finality on which the author lays such stress.
The writer goes on to suggest that Christians ought to be exhorting one another, and all the more as they see "the Day" getting near. Most certainly this Day is the Day of Judgment. The main thing is that the writer is stressing the accountability of his readers. They must act toward their fellow believers as those who will give account of themselves to God.
The Expositor Commentary
The Church Needs You
1 Corinthians 12: 27-31a 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 28 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not! 31a So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. NLT
Ephesians 4:11-12 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. NLT
The World Needs the Church
Acts 2:42-47 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. NLT
“…just as their worship was daily, so was their witness. Praise and proclamation were both the natural overflow of hearts full of the Holy spirit. And as their outreach was continuous, so continuously converts were being added. We need to recover this expectation of steady and uninterrupted church growth.”
- John W Stott (The Message of Acts)
1. God’s Plan is the Church
2. God Works through His Church
3. You need the Church
4. The Church Needs You
5. The World Needs the Church
Application Questions
Is Church a Priority for You?
Do I only attend church when I have nothing else going.
Is church easy for me to miss?
Would people notice if I stopped attending church?
Are You Connected?
Do I have friends from church that I spend time with?
Am I in a small group, have I done LTFJ?
Do people notice when I’m not there?
Are you being discipled through one of our next steps or someone you have connected with at church?
How are you Intentionally Building the Church?
Are you discipling others? Doing life with people?
Are you on a team?
Are you a member at Word of Life?
Are you tithing?
Are you meeting the needs of others?
mark 6:2 the next sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. they asked, “where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 then they scoffed, “he’s just a carpenter, the son of mary and the brother of james, joseph, judas, and simon. and his sisters live right here among us.” they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. 4 then jesus told them, “a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 and because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 and he was amazed at their unbelief.
revival starts within the church
1. revival starts with repentance
matthew 4:17 from then on jesus began to preach, “repent of your sins and turn to god, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
2. the quest for mercy ends with jesus
1 peter 2:10 “once you had no identity as a people; now you are god’s people. once you received no mercy; now you have received god’s mercy.”
john 1:12 but to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of god.
3. the grace of god exceeds what's reasonable
“father, i have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and i am no longer worthy of being called your son. please take me on as a hired servant.”’
4. the gospel has never been more relevant
matthew 11:28 then jesus said, “come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and i will give you rest. 29 take my yoke upon you. let me teach you, because i am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 for my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden i give you is light.”
5. the grace of god needs to be shared
john 4:39 many samaritans from the village believed in jesus because the woman had said, “he told me everything i ever did!” 40 when they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. so he stayed for two days, 41 long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. 42 then they said to the woman, “now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. now we know that he is indeed the savior of the world.”
6. desperate people need to know where to go
romans 10:13 for “everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.”
romans 10:13 for “everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved.” 14 but how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? and how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? and how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 and how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
revival starts within the church & revival starts with repentance
TOM JJ WOODMARCH 4, 2024
John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.
Luke 17:11-19. 11 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
1, The man noticed he was changed.
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15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed
2. He Recognized he had an encounter with God
3. He Responded to his encounter
he came back glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.
And he was a Samaritan.
Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” 20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
1) Will you allow your encounters to change you?
3) How will you respond …
Lord Jesus
I believe you died for me
I want to follow you
I invite you
To be Lord of my life
Help me follow you everyday
I want to leave my old life of sin behind
And heal my broken relationship with God
In Jesus name, Amen