Life Comes to Us
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: John 1-12: Come, See, Live!
John 1:1-18 (ESV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 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.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
Sermon Outline
We don’t have to drag through life like zombies - Jesus has come into the world so that we could receive a life full of truth, glory and grace.
1. Lifeless Life
v10 “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.”
vv3-4 “… without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life…”
2. New Life
v9 “The true light… coming into the world”
v14 “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”; v4 “the life was the light of men”
v11 “his own people did not receive him”; v5 “the darkness has not overcome it”
vv12-13 “all who did receive him… born… of God”
3. Full Life
v16 “from his fulness we have received…”
v14 “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (v16 “grace upon grace”)
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, creator of the heavens and the earth: without seeing, hearing or perceiving properly, we have made many wrong assumptions about you, ourselves, and our world. By seeking life in the things you have made we have forfeited the life you have given us. Forgive every sinful thought, word and deed. We receive the life you grant us through faith in Jesus Christ, and we humbly ask for a greater fulness of truth, glory and grace. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
Why are zombies capturing the imagination of many people? Do you resonate with the idea of the “walking dead”? Do you ever feel biologically alive but not thriving in life?
What does it mean to know God? Why is it hard to know God?
What holds your life together? Is there anything that is central that makes the particular things you do meaningful? Is Jesus at the center and if so, is there any part of your life that is disconnected from faith in him?
Why did Jesus come into the world?
What unique things about who Jesus is and what he did make it possible for us to know God?
How can faith in Christ help you access the “fulness” that is in him? How can you experience God’s glory?
Why does John say that in Jesus there is “grace upon grace”? Where do you need more grace in your life?
Why is it important that Jesus is full of both grace and truth? How can you be more full of grace and truth?
What is God showing you in this season of your life? What has Jesus made known that you need to understand or take hold of?