The Light of Life
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!
John 8:12-30 (ESV)
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. 18 I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. 26 I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27 They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.
Sermon Outline
We come alive when we come to know God and walk with Him in life.
1. Walking in Darkness
v13 “The Pharisees said ‘… your testimony is not true’”
vv15-16 “you judge according to the flesh… my judgment is true…”
v19 “you know neither me nor my Father”
v27 “they did not understand…”
2. Following Jesus
v21 “you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I am going, you cannot come”
v23 “you are from below… you are of this world”
v28 “when you have lifted up the son of man, then you will know…”
3. The Light of Life
v24 “unless you believe that I am he”
v26 “he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him”
v29 “he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”
v12 “whoever follows me will have the light of life”
Prayer of Confession
Our merciful Father, we admit confusion, arrogance, hostility, foolishness, and all the symptoms that evidence we do not know and understand you. We do not consistently do the things that are pleasing to you. Forgive us our sins. Forgive our lack of faith, and our lack of faithfulness. We need grace. We need your help. We need your presence. Thank you for calling us to trust and follow Jesus. Grant us life and light. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What does it mean to “know” God?
When do you objectify others? What do you want from people that depersonalizes them?
Where do you see God at work in the world? What evidences His presence or reality?
Why do we need Jesus to call/invite us and lead us? What does Jesus claim to uniquely offer?
How can the cross “turn the lights on”? What is revealed in Jesus’ death that imparts life if we see it?
When is it hard for you to believe God is with you? How can you follow Jesus in those periods?
How can growing confidence in God’s goodness, kindness, love, mercy, etc. be restorative for your soul? How can a healthier walk with God bring greater health to your heart and mind?
What would help you have a greater awareness that God is with you this week? Are there ways to seek joy in doing things that please God?