Rob's Expository Sermon Preparation | John 14:8–14 (2)

Introduction:

Advent: God’s promise to send a child who would break the world from the oppression of sin and to renew it into a place of flourishing (Isaiah 9:6)

YOU’LL NOTICE THAT OUR TEXT CENTERS ON TWO QUESTIONS.

I) The Questions of the Skeptic

A. Where are we Going? (vv. 5-7)

i. Is “heaven” a place – as Thomas assumes?

1. Thomas is a skeptic not satisfied with simple answers – so: “Where?”

2. Thomas – like us – speaks of heaven as a geographical location

ii. No, Jesus came to bring us to a person (vs. 6, 7)

1. Jesus’ answer points us to heaven as a relationship before it is a place

2. Jesus came to draw us into deep, intimate, loving relationship w. Father

B. Is There Only One Way? (vs. 6)

i. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE

1. Jesus is the Way: the path between where we are, and where we need to be

2. Jesus is the truth who reveals truth against the lies

3. Jesus is the life who brings us from death to life

ii. “THE” Way, vs. “A” Way

1. Jesus’ exclusive claim violates cultural values of tolerance and acceptance

2. But…

a. this claim excludes those who are exclusive.

b. all worldviews are exclusive; Christianity is least exclusive since it points outside of self to another who can do what we can’t

SO, JESUS WAS BORN TO RESTORE US TO A LOVING, AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER. NOW, PHILLIP ASKS A QUESTION MANY OF YOU ARE THINKING.

II) The Question of the Experientialist (vv. 8-11)

A. Can We Experience God?

i. Phillip wants what many of us want: Experience

1. Many of us prefer EXPERIENCE to doctrinal/theological debates.

2. Phillip seeks an experience with God, (vs 8)

ii. To Know Jesus is to be drawn into relationship with the Father (vv. 9-10)

1. The nature of Jesus: Though Separate, Jesus IS God the Father

2. So: We experience the Father by having a relationship with JESUS

B. What is God Like?

i. Many of us wonder – “what is God like?”

1. Our default view of God is culturally shaped: Angry fault-finder? Distant deity? Tolerant Grandparent?

2. EXAMPLE: “God is tolerant”…

ii. Jesus shows us that to know God, we need to look at Jesus

1. Jesus is the son of God who shows us the characterof God

2. EXAMPLE:

i. Can God help me overcome my problems? (See Jesus in the stomr)

ii. Does God care about me when no one else does? (See Jesus & the woman at the well)

iii. Does God forgive my worst sins? See Jesus, “Father forgive them…”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS? THERE ARE TWO WORDS IN OUR TEXT THAT ANSWER THAT: WE NEED TO SEE, AND WE NEED TO BELIEVE.

III) How Can We Experience a Relationship With God?

A. We must “SEE” Jesus For Who He Is

i. Many of us “see” Jesus in different ways…

1. To see – can mean visualize, or conceptulzie

2. EXAMPLE: We see Jesus as a teacher ,guru, guide, etc.

ii. Advent calls us to SEE who Jesus says He is (vv. 9)

1. To ORAO Jesus is to put the pices together

2. The Savior born in the manger is the one who came to reconcile us to God

B. We Must “BELIEVE” in Jesus personally (vv. 10)

i. To believe is to experiential

1. To believe is not just to have ideas about Jesus…

2. …But to look outside of yourself to Jesus for your relationship with God

ii. To believe is to trust

1. Believing means trusting Jesus by living as if all he says is true

2. EXAMPLE: Handing over the car keys

Transition:

Conclusion

This Advent & Christmas invites us to come to Jesus