Why Study John’s Gospel?

For the next few months, we will be studying the Gospel of John as a Church on Sundays…

We want to teach John because he gets personal. Considering that this Gospel was written by an eyewitness who laid his head on Jesus’ chest, we get insight into the personality of Jesus, as well as practical ways to deepen our daily intimacy with the Savior even though he is not physically present with us. John presents Jesus as a real person, who you can have a real relationship with, who can really give you a new life. John writes in his first letter:

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” – 1 John 1:1-3

John writes his letters and his Gospel so that we would have a deeper fellowship with Christ and other believers that results in eternal life as his Gospel declares:

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in his name.” – John 20:30-31

Teaching and learning the Gospel of John helps us to live our lives from a new perspective. It helps us to align our daily practices with what Jesus desires. Jesus’ desire is that we “may have life and have it in abundance” and that we may avoid the thief “who comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (Jn 10:10) Cultivating deeper intimacy with Jesus by studying John’s Gospel will result in new spiritual life for us.

Our Prayer as a Preaching Team

            Our prayers for this sermon series are:

(1) We would believe in Jesus – Believing in Jesus means to entirely embrace everything that Jesus has said and done and to make him the Lord of our lives. Jesus who says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” also declares “I am the bread of Life” and “I am the resurrection and the life”. Jesus is the Savior who promises to sustain us in moments of desperation and declares that death is no longer the final word over our lives. We experience the hope of a new life, and someone to provide us with spiritual food that can carry us through our darkest thoughts as well as answer our biggest prayer requests. He wants to heal and restore our lives through a relationship with Him.

(2) We would be intentional about deepening our relationship with Christ – Jesus says, “I am the True Vine” and “I am the Light of the World”. When we seek moments daily to attach ourselves to Christ, he shines light in the darkest areas of our hearts to bring healing, and we cannot help but be a tree that bears refreshing fruit to those around us. Attaching ourselves to the True Vine requires that we walk in the Light by regularly confessing our sins to Him. Through a deep, intimate, relationship with Jesus, our lives are brought to a place where the Gospel transforms our lives and impacts the lives of those we are connected to.

(3) We would invite more people into the family of Christ – Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd” and “I am the Door of the Sheep”. Those of us who have experienced a real, deep, authentic intimacy with Christ, know that he is completely committed to caring for and protecting his sheep from evil, by being a part of His local church body. Let’s be the people who go out of our way to meet the needs of others, and who invite others into a place where they can have their needs constantly met by the shepherd who is watching over them. There is nothing like belonging to a family and a shepherd who cares for us no matter what.

Just as Jesus knew that he wasn’t alone (Jn. 8:16), I pray that others would know they are not alone. Just as Jesus was not of this world (Jn. 8:23), I pray that we would know that this life is not all there is. And just as Jesus didn’t seek glory for himself (Jn. 8:50), I pray that we would seek to worship and glorify the Father – All in a real relationship with the real person of Jesus Christ, who can really transform our lives.