Becoming Free
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!
John 8:31-59 (ESV)
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
48 The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. 50 Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 52 The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Sermon Outline
What do you need to experience and grow in freedom? (v33)
1. The Truth
v32 “… the truth will set you free”
v37 “… my word finds no place in you” (v55 “… I would be a liar…”)
v38 “I speak of what I have seen… you do what you have heard”
v40 “you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God”
v44 “the devil… a murderer… he is a liar and the father of lies”
2. The Son
v36 “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed”
v39 “… you would be doing the works Abraham did” (v41 “… the works your father did”)
v58 “… before Abraham was, I am”
v46 “which one of you convicts me of sin?” (v59 “they picked up stones”)
v51 “if anyone keeps my word he will never see death”
3. The Word
v31 “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth”
v34 “everyone practicing sin is a slave…” (v44 “he speaks out of his own character”)
v47 “whoever is of God hears the words of God”
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, we give thanks to Jesus, the Son of God, the Word who became flesh, full of grace and truth. Set us free from sin and death. We confess our resistance to your word. We fail to discern truth, and we fail to speak and live truth. At times we feel trapped. We think, say and do what we know is wrong. We admit our sin, and long to be free of it. We thank you that the promise made to Abraham was fulfilled in Christ, and that by faith in him we are members of your family. Forgive us. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
When are you most tempted to lie?
In what areas of your life do you feel stuck? What have you wanted to change but have made little progress with?
How is truth connected to freedom?
How does hiding effect us? What do we experience when we stay secretive because of shame?
How does the death of Jesus set us free? What else does Jesus do in order to bring freedom?
What does it look like to abide in Jesus? What challenges do you face in holding to his word?
How do disciples learn and come to understand the truth? Why is it important to be open to learning as you follow Jesus?