Porter Podcast

Series: Jesus – In His Own Words

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life  

John 14:1-11

seven “I AM” statements  

·      instruct of God’s character, purpose and significance

·      reveal that Jesus was aware of His divinity

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.                           John 14:1-3

Don’t Be Troubled

There will be room for you in the Father’s house.

Jesus has prepared a place for you.  

Jesus will come and take His people to Heaven.  

You know the way to where I am going.”

“Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

                        John 14:4-7

“I AM” lessons

The way to connection with God is through believing in Christ.

Jesus is the exclusive way to God. 

The truth about God is understood through knowing Christ.

The life promised by God is realized through a relationship with Christ.

Series:  Jesus – In His Own Words

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11

Over the last year, loss, death and confusion have made life difficult.  

John 11

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.

John 11:25

biblical lessons for today

      There is life beyond death.

      God’s primary goal for your life is faith in Jesus.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

      We don’t have to fear death if we trust Christ.

Series:  Jesus – In His Own Words

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 11

Over the last year, loss, death and confusion have made life difficult.  

John 11

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 

The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.

John 11:25

biblical lessons for today

      There is life beyond death.

      God’s primary goal for your life is faith in Jesus.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

      We don’t have to fear death if we trust Christ.

Series: Jesus – In His Own Words

I am the Good Shepherd

John 10:11-21

Everyone puts their trust in someone or something.

seven “I AM” statements  

·      Instruct of God’s character, purpose and significance 

·      Reveal that Jesus was aware of His divinity

Ezekiel 34

the Good Shepherd

You can trust Jesus because He leads you relationally. 

You can trust Jesus because He has loved you sacrificially.    

·      His death was vicarious. 

·      His death was voluntary.

·      His death was propitiatory.

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, 

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 

In Jesus, we see the Good Shepherd become the sacrificial Lamb. 

Series:  Jesus—In His Own Words

I am the Gate 

John 10:1-10

Seven “I AM” statements in John

·      reveal that Jesus is fully aware He is GOD. 

·      reveal Jesus’ nature, purpose, and significance to our lives.

the sheep pen 

There were two types of sheep pens in Judea during the first Century.   One was connected to a house/structure and had a permanent gate.  The other was a temporary structure made of field stones, and its primary characteristic was its open entrance.   

  I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved

and will come in and go out and find pasture.

John 10:9

reasons for security

Jesus makes us a part of the family of God.

Jesus protects us from our adversaries.    

·      The gate provides protection from outside enemies. 

·      The gate protects us from our heart. 

·      The gate ensures our safe return.

Jesus works for our good. 

 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

John 10:10

Today’s Takeaways:

1.    We have an enemy to our soul. 

2.    The enemy tries to convince us that we don’t need Christ.

3.    Only Christ can protect us from the enemy. 

4.    Christ gave His life completely so we could have abundant life.

Series:  Jesus—In His Own Words

I am the Light of the World

John 8:12

seven “I AM” statements in John

·      reveal that Jesus is fully aware He is GOD. 

·      reveal Jesus’ nature, purpose, and significance to our lives.

the context

Jesus is at Jerusalem during the Festival of the Tabernacles.  During this ceremony the people of Israel would live in tents to remind themselves of God providing for them during the journey through the wilderness.   There were 2 major parts of the ceremony:  the libation ceremony and the illumination of the temple. 

 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. 

He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Observations

Jesus acknowledges the reality of darkness.

·      Darkness can refer to negative emotional experiences. 

“I Feel dark”

·      Darkness can refer to ignorance or foolishness.             

“In the dark”   

·      Darkness also refers to evil.                                    

“There is a darkness here”

·      Darkness is used to describe bondage                 

“trapped in darkness”

Jesus promises Light in the darkness.   

The light comes to those who follow Jesus. 

1.    You follow people you trust.  

2.    When you follow, your leader becomes your authority.

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9

Jesus has called us to share the light. 

Today’s Takeaways:

Series:  Jesus—In His Own Words

I am the Bread of Life

John 6:22-40

Seven “I AM” statements in John

·      reveal that Jesus is fully aware He is GOD. 

·      reveal Jesus’ nature, purpose, and significance to our lives.

John 6

Important Observations 

Everyone has physical needs that must be met.

God is often relegated to a prosperity charm.  

People are blind to the depth of their spiritual need. 

Only Christ can satisfy what is lacking in the human heart.

Apart from a divine work in the soul, people remain in their sins. 

When we are in Christ, Christ resides in us. 

Today’s Takeaways

Series: Trusted Sources

Personal Sources

Proverbs 7

Recap

·      Christianity claims truth is objective and it is revealed from God. 

The Wisdom Pyramid 

·      The Bible is the standard by which we evaluate all other truth claims. 

·      God reveals truth to us through primary sources and secondary sources.    

·      To evaluate secondary sources, not only do we need an understanding of the word of God, and Wisdom. 

Proverbs 7 

Why do people abandon their foundation?   

We have an enemy seeking to destroy us.

I Peter 5:8

We often connect our heart to an unproven source.  

Proverbs 4:13

            2 Corinthians 6:14 

            Proverbs 13:20 

We are slaves to our sin.  

The most untrusted source in our life is ourselves. 

Jeremiah 17:9

The Bible does not present a story of people trying to figure out the truth and live by it; the Bible is a story of people who have the truth and reject it.  

Today’s Takeaways 

Series: Trusted Sources

Secondary Sources

Colossians 2:2-2:8

God has revealed Himself in three primary ways:  

creation, the church, and Scripture.

           Social Engagement

Art/Beauty 

Books/Education 

Church 

Nature 

Bible

 The Wisdom Pyramid

                  Brett McCracken

The Bible is not the only source of truth, but truth never contradicts the Bible. 

All of God’s revelation is designed to point to Christ. 

Colossians 2:2-8 

PRACTICAL Discernment Steps 

·      Stay in the Word. 

Psalm 119:130; Psalm 1:1-2

·      Ask God for wisdom. 

Ephesians 4:14; James 1:5

·      Determine the gravitational pull of a source. 

Colossians 2:8 

·      Get in a small group of believers.

Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 13:20

·      Realize all secondary sources are fallible.

·      Acknowledge the Lordship of Christ.

Today’s Takeaway