No More Stumbling

Pre-service passage introduction

John 8:12 NIV

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Sermon introduction

Is anyone here afraid of the dark? Kids can become really scared in the dark because they let their imaginations take over. In the dark, your eyes play tricks on you. That’s why we have flashlights to help us find our way when we are in the dark. Can you imagine driving out on a country road in the middle of the night without headlights? You probably know what it feels like to stub your toe on on the bed or something at night. It hurts so bad, you just want to hop around a scream.

We need light - it keeps us from hurting ourselves and others

Background

John, chapter 7, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem from Galilee where crowds of people have followed Him.

Spiritual and political leaders were aware and concerned about the things Jesus was teaching and doing. Jesus, was doing way more than preaching. People were reporting the most amazing miracles. The blind could see, the deaf could hear, and now Jesus was in Jersualem.

Some people wanted Jesus to be arrested and killed, some believed He was the messiah. They were confused and threatened by Jesus’ counter-culture teaching.

Jesus arrived during the Feast of Tabernacles, a massive party, one filled with dancing, eating and celebrating. Thousands of people from all over the region came to Jerusalem to celebrate. One of the major events during this festival was the “lighting of the lamps."

These were huge lamps with large bowls; ladders would be pushed against them. In each lamp they’d pile 120 wood logs and jugs of oil were poured into the bowls. The lamps were lit at night and shined so brightly that the light filled the temple court. Some historians say it filled all of Jerusalem.

They sang worship songs and hymns from the book of Psalms. Priests played instruments all through the night in celebration. The holiest people would not “sleep” the entire night. All of this to celebrate the “light of the world”, which they believed was Jerusalem. The party lasted until dawn the next morning.

In the middle of this celebration, Jesus entered the temple court and began to teach.

John 8:2–5 NIV

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

John 8:6–8 NIV

They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

We don’t know what Jesus wrote in the sand. Some believe it was the sins of the people accusing her. Either way, as Jesus wrote in the sand, the angry crowd began to walk away.

John 8:9–11 NIV

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Jesus’ rescue of the condemned woman had to be embarrassing for the religious leaders. Jesus openly challenged their laws and authority. In the middle of their party! Then, Jesus went back to the crowd he was teaching and said something that rocked the crowd around him.

In the middle of their celebration of the light of the world, Jerusalem, Jesus stopped everything and announced, “I am the light of the world.” Jesus’ statement must’ve made the religious leaders furious.

Jesus said this to the people who were in “the city of light” at the temple of light and felt they were the people of the light. This was a celebration of self. Jesus stopped all of it and said, I am the light of the world…meaning He was the messiah.

This declaration was groundbreaking, but almost equally as significant is the statement that follows.

John 8:12 NIV

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Big Idea: When Jesus is the light of your life, you do more than walk in the light, you carry His light to a dark world

Transitional: How does Jesus being the Light of the World help you?

Jesus Doesn’t Want You to Stumble in Darkness

This is a promise…when you follow Jesus, you will never walk in darkness

When you know Jesus and walk in His light, He will show you the pitfalls and traps along the way so that you can avoid them

Those things in your life hidden in dark corners…the sin the enemy wants to use to destroy you.

Why did Jesus come to this earth and sacrifice Himself?

To save you and me from eternal hell

Jesus’ promise that you will never walk in darkness means you have access to forgiveness and grace

It also means that...

Your dark past does not determine your future

You can be forgiven and set free from the dark secrets or addictions in your life

Transitional: Choosing to give Jesus your heart and follow Him means you will walk in His light and sin will not defeat you - when you follow Jesus, you will never walk in darkness. Here’s the second promise.

Jesus Wants You to Have the Light of Life

The “light of life” — what does that actually mean? It sounds cool…but what does that look like in your life?

Having the light of life, means that Jesus, the light of the world…the one that came to earth to save you from your sin, is living in you!

When Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you are following Him - following His light, love, grace, and joy - all these things shine in and through you

1 John 1:7 NIV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Walking in the light of life - Jesus - means everything is different

Purified from all sin

Fellowship with one another

You become a torch bearer for the Good News (the light)

When you have the light of life, no matter what the situation or challenge you might face, Jesus brings the light you need to win the battle

What does the light of life do for us?

Light Makes the Path Clear

Psalm 119:129–130 NIV

Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

When you are surrounded by darkness, if you don’t have the light of life, you will stumble and fall in your search for the right way to go.

When you are in a dark alley or in the woods without light — or in a dark building with no light — it doesn’t take much to cause a panic

If a lot of people are in the same area, in pitch darkness, someone will get hurt because of fear and panic.

God’s light makes our path clear...

The Bible lights the way as we follow Jesus

Psalm 119:105 NIV

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

When you allow the light of God’s word to guide you, you make the right decisions, you know the right path.

You will know which decision is best for your family.

You will see the people who are right and wrong for you.

You know what job to take.

Walking in the light brings clarity where darkness once lived

As his light shines to make your path clear, his light also shows what is in the darkness around you.

Light Reveals Danger

You would never want to go hiking at night without a good flashlight - because of things that could cause you to stumble: rocks, fallen trees, cliffs, deep pits, quicksand, etc.

No matter how scary and dangerous our path, if we have dependable light, we can make it. And our God is more than dependable!

Psalm 27:1 NIV

The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

You don’t have to fear, because Jesus reveals what is in the darkness surrounding you.

When you face situations where others would be overwhelmed by fear you can have the peace and strength of God.

When you get a diagnosis from the doctor, you don’t have to be afraid because you walk in the light.

When your children lose their way, you don’t give up, because you walk in the light.

When your finances are crumbling, you don’t have to fear, because you walk in the light.

Regardless of what happens, when you walk in the light of Jesus - you can face the dangers and trials of life with confidence

Light Gives You Confidence Instead of Fear

Keep going, keep fighting – because The Lord will turn your darkness into light. Your greatest challenge can become your greatest victory.

When I turn on a light, suddenly what was once hidden in darkness, is revealed by the light.

Defeating darkness, sometimes only requires one light. Light shines brightest in the darkness.

Psalm 18:28 NIV

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

CONCLUSION

When Jesus is the light of your life, you do more than walk in the light, you are His light in a dark world

Matthew 5:14 NIV

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

You are the light of the world because you are filled with the light of the world

His light shines in and through you

When people look at you, they see Jesus because He shines through you

When you walk through dark places, His light goes with you

Keep yourself in the light — keep your lamp burning

Matthew 5:15 NIV

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

Do not hide your light (this little light of mine)— LET IT SHINE

When you let your light shine the the darkest places of your life and world — people will be drawn to the source of your light — Jesus

John 8:12 NLT

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Are you still walking in darkness and haven’t asked Jesus to be Lord of your life?

Is your light not shining very brightly - the darkness of the world, circumstances and situations is threatening to snuff out your light?