John 1:1-5, “The Word Became Flesh”

Date: 10/19/2025 (Sunday Night)

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Location: IND. Youth Building

Series: 1/4

Book: James

Passage: James 1:1-5 (ESV)

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MAIN PASSAGE: James 1:1-5

James 1:1–5 (ESV)

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS (PRE-WORSHIP):

Friendsgiving on 11/23/25, Sunday evening during regular Youth Group Time(s) (6:00 - 8:00 PM)

What to expect/bring? Pumpkin - for pumpkin carving

Come hungry - will be providing Kane’s Chicken Tenders!

Worship

Message/Teaching

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MISSION PLUG (PRE-WORSHIP):

If you need a Bible, hand-out, or pen… please raise your hand a leader will be around to hand you what you need

The people of Japan

Students your age study for 12+ hours a day - trying to earn and strive for family acceptance, approval, worth, and value

Following Christ would mean shame from family an friends

The majority of the people who live in Japan believe in Buddhism with a mix of other religions

PRAYER: Oh Lord… would you please do a mighty work in Japan… Father even though we are here in Independence KY, we remember and think about those believers who are in Japan proclaiming your Gospel and Word…

I pray that you would open the hearts up of those living in Japan to accept your gift of salvation… that you would open eyes and ears to hear your beautiful good news - the Gospel!

Thank you for your Son Jesus and for allowing us to know who you are in and through your Son Jesus Christ

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WORSHIP:

Two songs upfront

One song after the message

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STUDENT SCRIPTURE READING - TITUS MELLO:

Passage: 2 Timothy 4:7

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

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WELCOME INTRO:

Good evening friends. Oh it is so good to be with you. I apologize for missing last week. I was not here because I officiated the wedding of two of our leaders - Jordan & Emma Corbin.

It was a beautiful wedding… I got to be a part of and witness to of my friends who love Jesus Christ be joined together in marriage. It reminded me of when Jesus Christ will return for his Bride the church.

So I apologize for not being here, but it was for a good reason. I know in my absence that Caleb Lewis stepped up and finished our sermon series in the book of proverbs. I hope you can see and notice that I am not the only who can teach and articulate God’s Word.

Marcus Rose

Jake Norton

Perces Kohls

Caleb Lewis

Jason Jahn

Have all taught here in youth group… and you never know… God may use you to teach others as well...

All this to say, I am thankful for you students and the leaders that are here each week. I love you all.

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TRANSITION - OPENING PASSAGE - ISAIAH

Oh what a joy it is to be able to open up God’s Word to what he is trying to show us, teach us, and reveal to us… so lets not waste any time… please open up your Bibles to the book of Isaiah…

Isaiah 61:1–2 (ESV)

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

I love this passage because it is describing the life and ministry of Jesus Christ… in other words, I have am the one who benefited from these things… I am the one who benefited from Jesus stepping into our world…

He brought me the good news of the Gospel - because I was poor, I had nothing to offer

He binds and holds me together… my wounds… my broken heart

He told me that I could have liberty and freedom from my chains and captivity - from the cords of my sin

He opened the prison that my heart was trapped in

He proclaimed to me that it is the time of the Lord’s favor… we live in a time where God’s grace, forgiveness, and compassion are available… it is not too late to receive salvation! PRAISE GOD!

And he comforts me when I mourn, when I am sorrowful, and provides me with a joy that is not based on my circumstances or situations

I love Isaiah 61:1-2 becasue it reminds me of all that Christ did for me… and how I get to be in on telling others about this wonderful good news - the Gospel…

In fact, I love the way in which Jesus told me about his Good News… If I were you I would highlight… underline… and or circle…. the word “PROCLAIM”…

That word PROCLAIM = “To state or announce something formally and authoritatively”

In other words… Jesus did not tip toe around the message he was told to proclaim to the world…

He announced it… with authority…

Jesus knew his PURPOSE…

Jesus knew the message he was to PROCLAIM…

My question for you tonight before we enter into our new series in the book of John is simply this…

Why are you here?

What message is your life proclaiming?

What is your purpose?

Because when you are no longer here… when you leave this world and pass on to the next… when your date and dinning experience with death arrives…

What you stood for… or failed to stand for… will be what shines bright…

The PURPOSE that you PROCLAIM in this life is magnified and becomes all the more clear when you PERISH…

I am a lot of things…

A husband

A father

A Son

A brother

A youth pastor

A Business owner

A lover of soccer and sports

But I will be remembered for being a follower and child of the King… Because I will PROCLAIM my PURPOSE… which is tell others about Jesus…

DEATH DECLARES where your DAYS were DEVOTED…

I will PROCLAIM my PURPOSE… it wont be something that PEOPLE will have to PONDER…

When I die… my family and those who are close to me… and the world… will know without a doubt… that I am with my Savior - King Jesus…

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE? WHAT ARE YOU PROCLAIMING?

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MAIN PASSAGE: John 1:1-5 ESV

This leads us to our main passage: John 1:1-5

John 1:1–5 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

WORD = A Title of Jesus Understood as God’s Ultimate Communication of Truth about Himself”

I can remember the day that I the Lord revealed to me that Jesus was with God in the beginning…

The Lord God and Jesus have been with each other since the beginning of time… It is not like Jesus only showed up when he was born in Bethlehem… ABSOLUTELY NOT! He was with God and the one God created everything through!

It was through Jesus that ALL things were made…

And that Jesus is our Savior… but he is also our Sustainer…

This is why paying attention to the words, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is so important… this leads me to POINT #1:

POINT #1: Your RELATIONSHIP with God RELIES upon God REVEALING JESUS as your SAVIOR

STORY/ILLUSTRATION - WANNA GET TO KNOW SOMEONE - ASK THOSE WHO ARE CLOSETS TO HIM

When my dad passes away one day… you could try to find out what he was like by looking at year books, talking to those he worked with, and asking his friends what he was like…

And they would be able to give you an idea of who my dad was…

But… if you really wanted to get to know him… every detail, what he was really like, the stories only a handful of people know, what makes him tick, his personality, his flaws, his fears, and greats gifts… you should talk to me…

I lived with him… He raised me… He taught me what it looks like to be a man… what it means to respect and protect my wife…

My values and who I am stem from the lessons he taught me… my respect for hims comes from getting to know him over the years… I truly know him… deeply and richly…

In fact, I am not him… but in some ways I resemble him… I am not him… but there things that about him that you would see in me…

To truly get to know him… you would have to come and ask me about him…

This is very similar with The Lord and his Son Jesus Christ…

In order to truly know God… you have to know, talk to, spend time with, and truly have a relationship with God

You could read your Bible… ask other believers about what God is like… and they could give you an idea of what God is like…

But in order to know God, what he values, who he is, and to get to know the details of God… you have to go to the Son - Jesus Christ

Jesus brings a relationship with God to life… Jesus connects the dots and is the link for you to know the love of the Father

Some of you do not know what the love of God is… what it is like… because you have been so focused on getting to know and have a relationship with God by reading your Bible and listening to others.. instead of focusing and listening to the only one who could show you and tell you all about God - JESUS!

REMEMBER… Jesus is the WORD and the WORD is God’s Ultimate Communication of Truth about HIMSELF!

John 14:6 (ESV)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This claim by Jesus Christ is breathe taking when we really consider what he is saying…

He makes three things very clear:

1.) I am the way…

WAY = “A LINE leading to a PLACE or POINT”

*In other words there is one WAY, PATH, or LINE that leads to a relationship with God - that is Jesus

*Nice, kind, sweet, and sympathetic people do not go to heaven… do not know the Lord…

*Your nice kind friends who do not know Jesus… do not know God… and will not enter into the kingdom of Heaven…

*Your RELATIONSHIP with God RELYS and RESTS upon the REALITY of whether or not you know JESUS

2.) I am the TRUTH…

TRUTH = “Conformity to Reality or Actuality; often with the implication of dependability”

In other words Jesus is saying… Your attitude, behavior, belief system, and how you view the world and how you make decisions can only be securely built upon and completely dependent upon me.

TRUTH is not Subjective…

Meaning truth can not be based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions rather than by facts.

TRUTH is Objective…

meaning that truth is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.

Allow me to demonstrate…

I need one brave soul… a volunteer who is willing and ready to risk it all… possibly even their life…

*** FAKE PUNCH SOMEONE IN THE FACE ANALOGY***

Men and women are made in the image of God…

The have value that is unlike any other animal, creature, or thing made…

Gods word tells me to love my neighbor…

To do unto others as I would want to be treated…

To love my enemy as myself…

That the pride goes before destruction…

The the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God…

Therefore if I were to hit him in the value because I was mad… I would know based upon God’s Word - the TRUTH… that this would be wrong…

What is not true is not based upon what I think… or feel… it is not based upon what the majority think or feel…

It is based upon God’s Word and Jesus Christ… the TRUTH…

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Example #2: Gay Marriage or Transition Genders

***it is evident throughout scripture that the TRUTH of God’s word says that marriage should be between a man and woman…

and that God created men and woman both male and female in his image…

Therefore when the world attempts to tell you that there are multiple Genders and that Marriage could be between two men or two women… this would not be the TRUTH…

The TRUTH is that God created you and marriage for a specific purpose and reason… its not up for debate becasue God’s Word is TRUTH… its reality… and its a reality that is dependable, reliable, and worthy of conforming my entire life around…

Your Generation will fight and is fighting the battle of what I call… The TRANSPARENCY TRUTH…

In other words, you will fight against people who truly believe… that if I am just honest with myself… and honest with others… then that is the TRUTH that I can build my life around…

This is why this is scary…

Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)

The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick;

who can understand it?

The heart is so sick that it can not be trusted… it is a fountain of falsehood…

And when man has trusted in his heart instead of God’s Word… it has only lead to destruction…

For example… Hitler was able to convince a country that the killing of innocent Jews fine, good, and necessary… The majority believed it… therefore it was the truth the lived… leading to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people…

There are some practicing doctors who believe that transition children from one gender to another is good… convincing others of the same thing… leading to hundreds and thousands of children with actions that they can never go back on and that are permanent.

The world declares “my body… my choice”…. therefore if I want to have an abortion… which his the intentional killing of child inside a mothers womb… then that is good. Leading to the slaughter of millions of children…

TRUTH is not subjective… not based upon what I feel or think or my experiences… it based upon God’s Word and Jesus Christ.. the thing that is real, reliable, and dependable…

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The third claim… I am the life…

LIFE = The condition of living or the state of being alive; especially, healthiness, happiness, exuberance, energy, vitality, and the like…

In other words, Jesus is saying… if you want to be alive… if you want God to be real to you… and you begin to experience true joey, happiness, energy, and the like… it can only come from me…

If you want real joy, real happiness, real energy, that is not based upon your job, spouse, sport, hobby, what other thinks… if want you something that is REAL that causes you to come alive… its found in CHRIST…

And if you are someone who does not know… God… does not care to think about God…. does not desire to grow closer to God… it is because you are dead and have never tasted life…

This is why when a friend leaves you… you are devastated because you allowed that to keep you going and alive… you allowed that to be your source of happiness… and then when it was gone you feel empty, hurt, and sad… and even mad at God because you NEVER had a life with GOD…

Life begins with FAITH in CHRIST! —————————————————————————————

I dove into John 14:6 because it shows just how big of a deal that the WORD BECAME FLESH and DWELT AMONG US…

POINT #2: DARKNESS will DOMINATE until your LIFE is in the LIGHT

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

OVERCOME = “To seize the position of and defeat”

‌Question: How many of you feel… as if darkness has seized or captured a position in your life… and you feel defeated….

As if… there is no hope… or light at the end of the tunnel…

I love John 1… because it reminds me that if Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior… the darkness that once kept me defeated and seized and captured my life… can never do that again… I always have the light of Christ that will never be overcome by the darkness…

LIGHT does a couple of things…

It allows you to see

It provides you with warmth and no longer feeling bitter or cold

It is necessary for things to grow

In other words… If the Word never came became flesh… if Jesus never stepped into our world…

we would not be able to see the right path or have a way to God…

We would never experience the warmth of life… and the experiences of true happiness and joy

We would never be able to grow and fight sin in our lives

We would never know who God is…

Question: Do you have the life of Jesus Christ in you?

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INVITE WORSHIP TEAM UP

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CLOSE IN PRAYER