John 6:1-21: Summary:

Given opportunity to expand upon the Father's testimony to His divinity, Jesus takes occasion by a great crowd near Passover to do, perhaps, His greatest work prior to His death and resurrection. All four Gospels record it and, again, it will serve as an object lesson, an attention-grabber for the identity of Jesus and the word of His cross. As the disciples find themselves confronted by an impossible task, given the resources at their disposal, Jesus displays the sufficiency of His power and grace for every deed by this great one. As it's accomplished, He further demonstrates His mission by refusing to be taken king and captain by the people. His Kingdom is not of this world. While He distances Himself and His disciples from the hysteria, they head to Capernaum without Him. A storm assaults them on the sea. In their trouble, so often the gift after great works, Jesus comes to them, walking on the sea. He comforts them and brings them safely to shore. Another miracle has occurred and, in the process, we're taught that for every deed and time of need, Jesus is all-sufficient. May we lay it lastingly to heart.

Sermon Outline:

The setting of Christ's divine sufficiency. (6:1-4)

The question of Christ's divine sufficiency. (6:5-9)

The exercise of Christ's divine sufficiency. (6:10-13)

The misapprehension of Christ's divine sufficiency. (6:14-15)

The reaffirmation of Christ's divine sufficiency. (6:16-21)

John 5:30-47: Summary:Jesus continues to explain His equality with God. Seeking only the Father's will, He judges all in perfect accord with the Father's judgment. His judgment is the judgment of God. He is God the Son incarnate. But in a legal sense, though He is the Word, His word alone is insufficient to establish His identity as the divine Christ. He has four further primary witnesses: John the Baptist, His own works, the Father, and the Scriptures. It is a divine testimony. What will people believe if not that? And if not that, why not that? Along with His proofs, Jesus gives several pointed reproofs: spiritual fickleness, blindness, unwillingness, fear of man, pride. Whatever it is, it's not a failure of the truth, or of the will of Christ to save, but something terribly intrinsic to the sinful heart. He cannot have a better group of witnesses! May we have hearts to hear them and believe.

Sermon Outline:

Christ's testimony about Himself. (5:30-31)

The Father's multifaceted testimony to Jesus. (5:32-40)

By John the Baptist. (5:33-35)

By Jesus' works. (5:36)

By His own attestation. (5:37-38)

By the Scriptures. (5:39-40)

Christ's further reproof of His unbelieving audience. (5:41-47)

How can you believe?: the fear of Man.

How will you believe?: misreading Moses.

John 5:19-29: Summary:Rather than shying away from the conflict with Israel's religious elite, Jesus doubles down. They feel affronted that Jesus considers himself to be intimate with the heart of God? Jesus lets them know that insofar as they dishonor him, they show that they hold no real honor for the Father, either. By rejecting the word and work of Christ, they bring judgement upon themselves. The Father himself has turned everything over to Jesus - eternal life is found in believing his message. Jesus suggests nothing less than understanding Scripture in light of his own ministry. And in so doing, Jesus, through John calls his disciples to truly see Jesus as Lord, as the creator, as the judge, as the rewarder of the righteous. He is not just a powerful teacher or miracle worker, but God fleshed out, demonstrating his love for his people and his desire for their repentance.

Outline:

Like Father, Like Son

Life Eternal

Listen Up

John 5:1-18: Summary:

Upon His return to Jerusalem, Jesus sees a man in need of Almighty mercy. He's been an invalid for 38 years. His hope has lain in the pool nearby, but he's not able to enter it, and he has no one to help him. After inquiring whether he wants to be healed, Jesus heals him with a Word. As this was done on the Sabbath, the guardians of the Law take issue with the man's 'labor', who then seeks to excuse himself by placing the blame on his Healer. Later, Jesus comes to the man and charges him, by mercy received, to sin no more, lest something worse (than 38-years of paralysis) befall him. The man then reports to his accusers that his Healer was Jesus. On account of this, the Jewish leaders' persecution intensifies; and all the more as Jesus gives the reason for His activity on the day of rest: He's equal with God. He does only what God does, and cannot do otherwise! The text confronts us with the depth of Man's real problem, the lengths of God's mercy, the main purpose of Christ's mission, and the necessity of believing upon Him as the divine Christ.

Sermon Outline:

See God doing work. (5:1-9a)

Jesus hunting. (5:1-6)

Jesus healing. (5:7-9a)

See God deepening His work. (5:9b-15)

The blindness of these guides. (5:9b-10, 12)

The blame-shifting of this man. (5:11)

The burden and beauty of Jesus. (5:13-15)

See God defending His working. (5:16-18)

Their accusation. (5:16)

Jesus' answer. (5:17)

What it all means. (5:18)

John 4:43-54: Summary:

Jesus takes leave of Sychar for his homeland of Galilee. In contrast to His reception in Jerusalem, the Samaritans believed His Word. Will the people of Galilee? They too have seen His signs, but will there faith be only sign-deep, or sin and Savior-deep? It is an apparent irony in that they 'welcome' Jesus. John preempts this welcome with a note, how Jesus had taught that a prophet has no honor in his hometown. The welcome is rooted in His wonders, not (as it must be) in His Word. As a test case, an official has a son on the brink of death. In desperation, hearing Jesus was nearby, he asks Him to heal the child. Jesus calls out the spiritual issue afoot in Galilee, as elsewhere. Is this man any different? Well, he asks Jesus to come and help. Extraordinarily, Jesus needn't be near to accomplish the task. Underscoring His grace and power, He but wills and speaks it from where He stands, and the child is healed. Death is turned back! Importantly, before the father knows this, he's content to take Jesus at His Word, and the healing then only strengthens the faith he'd expressed. His whole household also believes in Jesus as Christ. Let us learn from it to put off the hardening effects of Christian familiarity and flash, and settle it in our hearts to honor Jesus by elevating and believing His Word.

Sermon Outline

Consider Jesus in His prophetic office. (4:44)

Consider two ways to dishonor Him. (4:44-45)

Rejecting His Word on account of familiarity. (4:44)

Rejecting His Word in favor of flash. (4:45)

Consider a test case on true faith. (4:46-54)

The circumstances. (4:46-47)

The test. (4:48-50)

The result. (4:51-54)

The message: true faith ventures all on the Word of Christ.

John 4:31-42: SummaryThe Lord's most recent convert, the woman of Samaria, has become a model disciple for 'the disciples.' All her concern is to bring her people to Jesus. All their concern seems to be refreshment. Granted, Jesus is weary, thirsty, and hungry but, even then, something else owns the place of priority with Him: the salvation of souls. That's His 'food.' His food is the work the Father sent Him to accomplish. That work is a harvest of souls, and it's not to be delayed by anything. The time to reap is now. So we sow with great expectation and humble, joyful collaboration. Again, the new-born instinct of the Samaritan woman serves as the example for evangelistic urgency, while Jesus further models evangelistic constancy. And as He labors among them, indeed, many more Samaritans believe upon Him, in truth, as the Savior, not just of the Jews, but of the world. Her testimony laid a lofty expectation for Him that He, in flesh and blood, does not disappoint.

Sermon Outline:

The food that's work. (4:31-34)

Christ's.

And ours.

The work that's 'harvesting' souls. (4:35-38)

See the immediacy.

Be moved by the motivation.

Be joyfully collaborative.

The harvest that's global. (4:39-42)

The woman of Samaria.

The Savior of the world.

Luke 14:1-24: Summary:

Jesus is at table with Pharisees. They're watching Him. He's perceiving them. He takes opportunity by the table to address their hearts and practices, to confront them on 'the weightier matters of the Law,' like spiritual sincerity, humility, and charity. These are the things that ought to mark the people of God. But will these Pharisees profitably hear the Lord? Unfortunately, it doesn't seem so. One in particular hears His lessons, and remarks how blessed everyone will be who eats in the Kingdom of God. Presumably, that includes all of them as they are. They've missed the point, and Jesus let's them know it. By a parable, He speaks to those who've been invited to God's banquet, only to make excuses when the Servant comes to bring them into it. They treasure the things of this world over the things of God, over the call of Christ. So they miss out. But that doesn't mean all miss out. No. God's house will be filled. His invitation goes out to all the world, even to those you'd least expect---and they come and enter His glory by the grace of Jesus. Even while we take care to ourselves, then, we're to compel as many as possible to enter while there's room.

Sermon Outline:

Cultivate Christ's community---3 marks. (14:1-14)

Spiritual sincerity. (14:1-6)

Spiritual humility. (14:7-11)

Spiritual charity. (14:12-14)

Embrace Christ's commission---compel all to come in. (14:15-24)

Hearing, but not hearing. (14:15)

Invited, but indifferent. (14:16-20)

Angered, but abounding. (14:21-23)

Excuses, and exclusion. (14:24)

Proverbs 24:10-11: Summary:

The divinely-inspired sage exhorts the wise, the God-fearing, to stand up against injustice. The day of adversity, i.e., when the rather innocent are being violently oppressed, even to death---that day is our time to come up big. We may feel like fainting, but we cannot. The wise will prepare themselves to buoy righteousness, to do what's right, particularly when it is costly. Having been rescued, we'll do what we can to rescue the helpless from oppression and slaughter. As it relates to abortion, we may be innocently ignorant, but we cannot afford to be. And whether we are or aren't, God will not allow us to claim ignorance as an excuse. We have a responsibility as His people to be about 'true religion,' to stop making excuses for inactivity, to stop leaving truth with the tongue, and to give it real-time hands and feet. He weighs our hearts. He knows our souls. And He will repay us according to our work. Are we working for the abolition of abortion? Are we standing up for the weakest yet most oppressed part of humanity in the world---the preborn child? Is our strength small for them, or are we going to come up big for them and their parents?

Sermon Outline:

Foresee the day of adversity---and prepare for it. (24:10)

Fear God in the day of adversity---and rescue the oppressed. (24:11)

Flee excuse in the day of adversity---and come up big instead. (24:12)

2 Kings 5:1-18: Summary:Naaman is a great man with a terrible problem. He's a Gentile with leprosy. He has a skin-problem. His ethnicity and disease cast him as unclean in the eyes of observant Israelites. Thing is, the only cure for his skin (and ultimately, his sin) resides in Israel. The story then is one of unexpected compassion. Beginning with a remarkable little girl and ending with the great prophet, Elisha, this great but troubled Syrian discovers grace across ethnic and religious divides---grace that manifests the very heart of the God of Israel to him. He is no tribal god. He is the God of all the earth, the only true God and, in his eventual discovery of a cure, Naaman comes to make the great confession that, it seems, binds him to God and to the company of God's redeemed humanity. Elisha sends him home with a word of peace---a peace they little know will draw out the very blood of Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah and Savior of the world. Knowing Him helps in matters of skin.

Sermon Outline:

The skin-problem of a great man, 5:1.

The great grace of a little girl, 5:2-5a.

The sin-problem of an evil king, 5:5b-7.

The lowly cure of a godly man, 5:8-10.

The sin-problem of the great man, 5:11-12.

The needed counsel of clear-sighted friends, 5:13-14.

The desired result of grace received, 5:15-18.

Deuteronomy 10:12-21: Summary:A little pride is a dangerous thing. It makes us buy into the lies of the world, that we can make it on our own, that we control our surroundings, that we don't need one another. It makes us hard-hearted towards God, and hard-hearted towards one another. As Israel is reminded of their failures in the wilderness, Moses gives the people an image of the glorious God, creator and ruler of all creation, compassionate and merciful, just and good. This is the God to whom we speak, and the God who responds.

Sermon Outline:

For your good, vv12-13

The great, the mighty, and the awesome God, vv14-17

You were sojourners, vv18-19

By his name you shall swear, vv20-21