2.9.12 2.20.2022 The Light of the World
Believing in the Word • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Start
Entice: Basic needs can provide some of the best explanations for the most profound issues.
When the electricity is out...
When the electricity is out...
we are in the dark.
we are in the dark.
When we are not given relevant information at work or miss a session in school...
When we are not given relevant information at work or miss a session in school...
we are in the dark.
we are in the dark.
Some who suffer emotional distress or some kind of deep spiritual anguish describe the experience as
Some who suffer emotional distress or some kind of deep spiritual anguish describe the experience as
being in a dark place.
being in a dark place.
When a nation, culture, or society regresses or falls behind its peers...it enters
When a nation, culture, or society regresses or falls behind its peers...it enters
"the dark ages."
"the dark ages."
Engage: Are you now or have you ever been scared of the dark?
John reminds us that whatever the darkness harbors it should not make us doubt or fear:
12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
In that Epistle he was reflecting upon and applying words he had first heard spoken by Jesus. Not as a dubious claim about a far-off and possibly disinterested God. Nope. Jesus Himself, claiming the divine prerogative tells all who will hear than when He is present and where He is present the fully glorious, creative, dark-defying reality of the Lord of Light is present.
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.”
Expand: This is, of course, one of those places in John's Gospel where Jesus makes absolute claims about His own divinity using the phrase "I am". Two things are often overlooked in discussing these "I am" sayings, so let me make mention of them.
First of all each of these affirmations of deity are linked to specific, concrete human realities or needs: bread, light, door, good shepherd, the vine, life itself , and resurrection. Even though they are extremely rich metaphors, we are equipped to understand them.
Secondly, they clearly allude to OT understandings of God's relationship to humanity.
Consequently, grounded in both scripture and human experience, these affirmations serve us both as individual believers and as a community of faith finding the fullness of God in Jesus.
Excite: Today's focus reminds us that one of the greatest sources of terror for people, whether physically, mentally, spiritually, culturally, or socially is met and defeated by Jesus.
Explore:
Whatever form of darkness you fear Jesus has dispersed it.
Whatever form of darkness you fear Jesus has dispersed it.
Explain: In these brief words Jesus states three facts about Himself...
Body of Sermon:
1. He Is Light.
1. He Is Light.
1.1. Who.
1.1. Who.
1.2 What
1.2 What
1.3 Where
1.3 Where
2. He Will Lead
2. He Will Lead
2.1 Light in OT
2.1 Light in OT
Structure
Structure
15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
Guidance
Guidance
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
Majesty
Majesty
15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
2.2 Light in John
2.2 Light in John
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
Illustration: Getting up at night. Stumbling, stubbing toe, become disoriented. Following Jesus the light keeps us from stubbing our spiritual toes, stumbling in the darkness, or becoming lost and disoriented.
3. He Gives Life.
3. He Gives Life.
3.1 Instead of the risks of the dark we participate in the reality of the light.
3.1 Instead of the risks of the dark we participate in the reality of the light.
3.2 At the heart of this reality is life...
3.2 At the heart of this reality is life...
In the book of Revelation John affirms this illuminating realty explaining that for the redeemed the order, guidance, and majesty implied by the heavenly bodies and illustrated by every lamp, torch, bulb or spotlight we behold is found eternally present in Jesus.
23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,
Shut Down:
Are you walking in the light? This question is actually the same as asking: "Are you in Jesus?"
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Jesus invites all of us to participate in His very own life-giving light. The glory of God, present in a body died upon the cross to give us life, to give us light. This is God's Word for us today, February 20, 2022.