2.11.16 3.18.2018 John 14.1-11 GPS

I want you to show me the way...

▾ Start:

Entice:

When was the last time you were really, completely, totally, lost?

Most of us don't even think in those terms anymore because we can do this….

"Hey Siri, where am I?" The promise of GPS is that it generally knows when you are lost. The peril is that it generally does not know when it is lost.

Siri, where am I?" The promise of GPS is that it generally knows when you are lost. The peril is that it generally does not know when it is lost.

"Hey Siri, where am I?"

The promise of GPS is that it generally knows when you are lost.

The peril is that it generally does not know when it is lost.

Engage: There is a lesson there for a race that is fallen and lost, looking for directions to God's safe place.

need a God Positioning System. How fortunate we are that we have one!

We don't need a Global Positioning System,

we need a God Positioning System.

How fortunate we are that we have one!

Expand: The whole movement of John's gospel centers on the final, comprehensive revelation of God that we have in Jesus. Like the disciples (Thomas acting as spokesman in this text) we have some difficulty getting oriented to both being lost and how Jesus Himself is both the way and means to getting "un-lost" which is to say found.

acting as spokesman in this text) we have some difficulty getting oriented to both being lost and how Jesus Himself is both the way and means to getting

Explain: It is a common theme in popular culture to look for the right way:

"un-lost" which is to say found.

Peter Frampton vamped I want you…to show me the way.

Fleetwood Mac chided you can …go your own way.

• Explain: It is a common theme in popular culture to look for the right way:

Peter Frampton vamped I want you…to show me the way.

Styx pleaded…show me the way

Fleetwood Mac chided you can …go your own way.

Styx pleaded…show me the way

It’s not just an issue for famous artists and other cultural influencers. All people have an inborn craving to know that they have found the way out of this crazy mixed up world. And Jesus does. Jesus provides. Jesus is himself the guide.

It’s not just famous artists and others who determine the content of culture. All people. Have an inborn craving to know that they have found the way out of this crazy mixed up way.

• Explore: Jesus gives us full guidance into the eternal presence of our Father God.

And Jesus does. Jesus provides. Jesus is himself the guide.

Jesus is the guidance system for eternal life.

• Explain:

Explain: Jesus has given the guidance, let’s discuss how you and I should respond to what He has given.

▾ Body of Sermon:

You should

1 Accept the place He has prepared for you.

1 Accept the place He has prepared for you..vv 1-4

John 14:1–4 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

John 14.1-4

1.1 Comfort. 1,2

1.1 Comfort. 1,2

1.2 Confirmation. 3,4

1.2 Confirmation. 3,4

Anxiety for eternity comes from a lack of certainty, which itself is a symptom of disbelief. If you want eternal comfort and security it begins with accepting the place He has prepared for you.

This process is made concrete when you

2 Follow the path He has provided for you.

2 Follow the path He has provided for you. vv 5-7

John 14:5–7 ESV

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

2.1 The perennial human question: Which direction?

2.1 The perennial human question: Which direction?

2.2 The eternal, saving answer=Jesus. 6

2.2 The eternal, saving answer=Jesus. 6

Way=A path to follow, a trail HE has blazed.

Truth=A message to embrace which flowers to maturity.

Life=Eternal life begun here and continuing in God’s presence.

Where you are going and how you are getting there change your orientation. So it is essential that you

3 Accept the perspective he has promised you.

3 Accept the perspective he has promised you. vv 8-11

John 14:8–11 ESV

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

3.1 Again we are confronted with our human need for reassurance…

3.1 Again we are confronted with our human need for reassurance…just show us the Father.

just show us the Father.

3.2 And once again Jesus answers...

3.2 And once again the answer is that In Jesus we have seen the Father.

I am…

So....

Seeing Jesus=seeing God.

Believing Jesus=believing God.

The Works of Jesus=the work of God.

You can go your own way....

But I don’t recommend it. If you are already lost choosing your own path just makes things worse. Through the events of His passion He has been authorized to provide the eternal abode for us. But there is a lot of Christian living and Kingdom building to go before we get there.

In following the way, obeying the truth, and living the life here we extend the kingdom further.

Jesus came to live, lived to die and rose to show us God.

Yes, you can go your own way…but only His way gets you home.