WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.980 you. Please open it up to the Gospel of John, chapter 3. And if you don't have a Bible, 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:14.040 we do have a few Bibles in the seats just in front of you there, the black hardcover 00:00:14.040 --> 00:00:27.940 book. John chapter 3. This morning we're looking at what I think is the most famous or popular 00:00:27.940 --> 00:00:38.679 verse in the entire Bible. John 3.16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:47.299 that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Not only is it well-known 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:55.159 and well-loved in the church by many of us, but even in the world. If there's one verse that many 00:00:55.159 --> 00:01:02.419 people know, this is it. If there's one reference to a verse that they've heard of before, this is the 00:01:02.419 --> 00:01:10.399 one. John 3.16. And so we want to look this morning a little bit at how this came to be said. 00:01:10.979 --> 00:01:15.759 How did it come to be written? Where does it fit into the story of Jesus, which we've been looking 00:01:15.759 --> 00:01:23.079 at through the Gospel of John? We want to consider a little bit of what these words mean. 00:01:23.079 --> 00:01:31.599 We want to talk about what comes after these words. What else was said with these words? And then 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:40.180 finally we want to look at how can we share Jesus using these words with people in our lives. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:47.920 So that's where we're going. So how did we get to these words? If you've been with us for the last 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:54.799 couple weeks, you know that we've been looking at the Jesus conversation with Nicodemus. Nicodemus was 00:01:54.799 --> 00:02:02.379 a Pharisee. He was a member of the Jewish ruling council and he came to Jesus to pay him a visit. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:10.060 And Jesus had a conversation with him. He told Nicodemus that not only he, but everyone 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:15.539 must be born again must be born again if they want to enter into the kingdom of God. 00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:21.699 So they kind of talked a little bit about being born again. And then last Sunday we talked about 00:02:21.699 --> 00:02:28.819 how this whole story of Nicodemus really goes to show how Jesus knows what's in a man, how he knows 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:36.620 what's going on in our hearts and in our minds. He knew that. Nicodemus, even though he saw the 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:42.219 miracles that he did, did not believe, did not receive his testimony is true. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:53.319 But Jesus was gracious to Nicodemus. And even though Nicodemus did not receive his testimony and, 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:56.000 and, and believe the words he was saying is true, 00:02:56.000 --> 00:03:05.379 Jesus left Nicodemus with a gracious sign to watch for so that he might yet believe in verse 14. 00:03:05.379 --> 00:03:13.780 He said this, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the son of man must be lifted up 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:21.400 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Jesus was pointing to his death when he would 00:03:21.400 --> 00:03:28.599 be lifted up on the cross for the salvation of people. He was telling Nicodemus to watch for that, 00:03:28.599 --> 00:03:36.840 that he would know that he is the son of man. It's immediately following this, that we come to 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:46.379 this famous verse, John 3, 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:53.199 that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 00:03:53.199 --> 00:04:01.919 The first thing that I want us to notice is how this kind of follows or comes into this 00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:10.099 discussion here. Jesus has said this to Nicodemus. He's, he's made this point, the son of man must be 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:17.360 lifted up so that those who believe in him will have eternal life. And, and I think what's happening 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:24.379 here is kind of a further statement or explanation of, of what that means, of how this applies to all 00:04:24.379 --> 00:04:30.160 of us. Maybe one of the first questions we need to think through is whose words are these? 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:38.080 Are these the words of John or are these the words of Jesus? Some of you, as you look in your Bible, 00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:44.740 may notice that these words are in red. John 3, 16 is in red. Others may notice that they're not in red, 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:53.060 while others are. There's kind of a bit of a back and forth with scholars there over, you know, 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:59.079 were these words spoken by Jesus or are these just the words of John, the one telling the story, 00:04:59.660 --> 00:05:04.199 offering, injecting explanation and clarification into things. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:10.800 The original manuscripts are, we don't have the original manuscripts of the New Testament, 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:16.980 but the oldest manuscripts that we do have, they don't have red letters. So we, we can't just go 00:05:16.980 --> 00:05:23.199 back and look and see. In fact, they didn't even put spaces in between the words or use punctuation. 00:05:23.520 --> 00:05:28.740 That's just how they, how they did it. Context just kind of was, was obvious to people. They, 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:36.000 they understood. So there is this question of, are these the words of Jesus or are they the words of 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:43.199 John, the apostle? Some will say, these are the words of Jesus because they just kind of come 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:51.000 right after what Jesus says to Nicodemus. Others point to, they look more, more at the words and, 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.879 and the words that are chosen here and say, these are, these are probably the words of John 00:05:55.879 --> 00:06:02.459 because similar phrases and words are used in other places in the gospel of John where it's pretty 00:06:02.459 --> 00:06:09.019 clear that John is speaking, especially back in chapter one. Phrases like only begotten or one 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:17.919 and only son. Um, Jesus refers to himself as the son of man, but here it's, it's very clear that the 00:06:17.919 --> 00:06:23.519 person speaking is referring to him as the son of God. And so some would say that they think it's, 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:31.379 it's John speaking personally, in my opinion, I think it's John. Um, but, uh, either way, 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:36.759 I think what's important for us to know is that these are still the words of Jesus. 00:06:38.420 --> 00:06:44.300 Either way. I mean, if Jesus spoke them to Nicodemus, of course they are. Uh, we can see 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:49.519 that clearly, but even if it was John who penned them, they're still the words of Jesus. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:56.920 Later on in the gospel of John, this is what Jesus will say to his disciples. 00:06:56.920 --> 00:07:03.120 This is on the evening of his betrayal. He says to his disciples, which included John, 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:12.360 you also must testify for you have been with me from the beginning. And then if we go down a little 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:19.900 further in that passage to chapter 16, verse 12, Jesus says this, he says, I have much more to say 00:07:19.899 --> 00:07:29.959 to you more than you can now bear. But when he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:39.379 the truth. He will not speak on his own. He will speak only what he hears and he will tell you what 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:47.939 is yet to come. He, the Holy spirit will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he 00:07:47.939 --> 00:07:54.860 will make known to you. All that belongs to the father is mine. That is why I said the spirit will 00:07:54.860 --> 00:08:01.699 receive from me what he will make known to you. Now there's a lot in there and those words certainly 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:08.220 would take more time for us to really digest and think through. But the gist of what Jesus is saying 00:08:08.220 --> 00:08:17.140 is that you, John and other disciples, you must testify about me, but you won't be doing that 00:08:17.140 --> 00:08:24.180 alone. The Holy spirit, I will send him and he will speak to you the words that you are to speak 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:30.640 to others. And the words that the spirit gives you to speak, where will he get those from? 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:36.660 He will get them from me. He will speak only what he hears from me. And so there's a bit of a chain 00:08:36.659 --> 00:08:44.779 there. But at the end of all of this, the words of John are the words of Jesus given through the Holy 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:55.159 spirit to whoever will listen. So, you know, as we come back to John three 16 here in one sense, 00:08:55.319 --> 00:09:02.939 either way, these are the word, the words of God. They carry the same weight and authority 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:08.000 as, as God's word, even if John is the one who said them and wrote them. 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:16.300 Now let's not miss how, how this, how these words connect to what has been said before this 00:09:16.300 --> 00:09:21.840 conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus has been talking to Nicodemus and, and this is what he said to 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:29.080 Nicodemus, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. So the son of man must be lifted up 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:39.620 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. And then what, what I think John is doing 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:45.340 here is he's, he's kind of springboarding off of that and giving an explanation. This is what Jesus 00:09:45.340 --> 00:09:53.340 is talking about as he says this, he, he kind of pulls some of the very same words out for God. So love 00:09:53.340 --> 00:10:00.040 the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes there's that everyone who believes 00:10:00.040 --> 00:10:07.740 part again in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. So this is us kind of getting the, 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:14.759 the big picture view from John. This is what Jesus was talking about when he spoke to Nicodemus, 00:10:15.040 --> 00:10:21.639 when he said that he must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life. 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:29.799 This is what he's talking about. And we might, uh, just notice that word. So for a moment, 00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:36.340 just one little word. I mean, oftentimes it's traditionally been preached, you know, God for 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:43.600 God love the world so much that he gave his one and only son. Um, the truth is that word is, 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:48.980 it's not an intensifying word. It's a connecting word. It's, it's the same word that's used up in verse, 00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:56.700 uh, either 14 or 15, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness. So the son of man must be 00:10:56.700 --> 00:11:03.820 lifted up. So we might even look at it as for, for so God loved the world that he gave his one and only 00:11:03.820 --> 00:11:11.139 son, or as some translations have it in this way, in this manner, God loved the world. 00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:21.600 He's drawing a parallel between what Jesus said and applying it to the world, to the bigger picture. 00:11:22.539 --> 00:11:29.919 And so let's just take a moment to, to, to go back and look at what Jesus said about how he must be 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:36.779 lifted up. As we do, we'll notice that there are similarities and differences. 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:46.500 Jesus was referring to the, the story in the old Testament when the Israelites, they were grumbling 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:53.019 and complaining against God. They were saying it'd be better if we die, uh, if went back to Egypt, 00:11:53.019 --> 00:12:00.799 then die here in the wilderness. And God decided to give them what they truly deserved. And he sent 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:08.299 venomous snakes among them. The snakes bit many of the Israelites and many of the Israelites died. 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:19.299 Those who had not died, they cried out to the Lord for help, for grace, for mercy. And God in his 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:25.379 mercy gave them a way to be saved. We talked about this a couple Sundays back and at the Lord's table, 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:34.360 that way was lifting up a bronze snake on a pole. And whoever had been bitten could just look up to 00:12:34.360 --> 00:12:41.299 that snake on the pole and they would be cured instantly. They'd be spared from death. 00:12:42.939 --> 00:12:49.460 Jesus is saying that what he has come to do is, is like that. What happened back there is, 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:55.360 is like an analogy of what is about to happen with him. And there's some similarities. 00:12:55.379 --> 00:13:03.600 There. The people back then were facing death because of their sins against God. In the same way, 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:12.759 we also are facing death because of our sins against God. God in his love and his mercy back then, 00:13:13.179 --> 00:13:20.419 he gave a way for them to be saved. Here in the present time, as Jesus is speaking, 00:13:20.419 --> 00:13:30.500 God is giving a way for people to be saved. In both cases, this way is, is through something that 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:37.599 is lifted up on a wooden pole or a wooden cross. And it's a matter of life and death, but there are 00:13:37.599 --> 00:13:45.679 some big differences here. If we look back to that old story, it's about the children of Israel, 00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:54.500 people. But John makes it clear here for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. 00:13:55.239 --> 00:14:00.559 He applies it not just to, not just to the, the particular people that it happened to back in 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:07.719 the story, but this is for the world. Back then in the old Testament, it was a snake of bronze made by 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:16.060 Moses that was lifted up on the pole. But the provision of God here in front of Nicodemus that 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:23.720 is here, that has come into the world now is from God. It is the son of God. It is Jesus. 00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:29.259 He is the one who will be lifted up on a cross. 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:37.819 As it pertains to the, the children of Israel and, and that time where the snakes came among them, 00:14:37.819 --> 00:14:45.720 when they were bit by the snakes, the venom was, was fatal. It would lead to physical death. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:52.259 But as John kind of traces out the analogy and helps us see what Jesus is talking about, how this 00:14:52.259 --> 00:15:00.899 applies his word that he chooses is perish for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son 00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:09.319 that whoever believes in him shall not perish. And when he uses that word, he means more than just 00:15:09.319 --> 00:15:15.460 physically die. As he goes on, we see that he's talking about perish in the ultimate sense 00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:20.480 as in perish at the final judgment. He's talking about condemnation. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:30.360 Back in the, with the children of Israel, if they looked to God's provision up there on the pole, 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:39.639 they got to live another day. But in the case of Christ, those who look to him and believe in him 00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:45.980 as the provision of God there on the cross, they get to live forever. So there's, there's some 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:53.480 similarities and some differences. And John is helping us see just what Jesus means as he says this. 00:15:56.279 --> 00:16:03.360 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him 00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:06.879 shall not perish, but have eternal life. 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:14.860 Now there's some things that John says after this, and we want to look at those for a minute and just see 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:20.399 what, what else does John have to say here? Sometimes we get so focused on verse 16 that we just, 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.840 we miss all the stuff that comes right after. 00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:28.039 After this, uh, Jesus, uh, John says this, 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:36.579 for God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:39.319 These are wonderful words. 00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:43.959 In Christ's coming the first time, 00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:52.000 it wasn't, uh, a time to do a kingdom cleanup and to set everything to right. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:58.080 His main purpose in coming in that first time was a rescue mission. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:02.240 It was to save people. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:13.539 He goes on in verse 18, whoever believes in him is not condemned, 00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:17.940 but whoever does not believe stands condemned already 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:23.580 because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only son. 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:28.100 If there's one thing that's clear in these words, 00:17:28.100 --> 00:17:32.420 and maybe before we even get to that, the, the, the first statement is wonderful. 00:17:32.980 --> 00:17:36.220 Whoever believes in him is not condemned. 00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:41.580 That's a statement of the gospel of the good news of Jesus right there. 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:44.400 Whoever believes in him shall not perish. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.700 They mean the same thing in the ultimate sense. 00:17:46.700 --> 00:17:53.160 Whoever looks to the son as the provision of God and believes in him is spared what they deserve. 00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:57.140 Judgment. 00:17:58.340 --> 00:18:01.340 Or the sentence that we will receive at the final judgment. 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.140 But John, 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:11.080 he moves on from there to make very clear just where we stand without faith in Christ. 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:12.519 He says, 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:16.539 whoever does not believe stands condemned already 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:22.240 because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only son. 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.659 That's where we stand without Christ. 00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:30.279 Literally in, in, in, in the original languages, 00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.439 having already been condemned. 00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:35.480 We, we, we carry that already. 00:18:35.860 --> 00:18:36.940 That status. 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:39.500 That's that, that, that, that position before God. 00:18:39.620 --> 00:18:41.519 And there's only one way. 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:45.639 To change that, to, to, to get out from under that. 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:50.220 And it's by believing in the name of God's one and only son. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.220 John wants us to be clear. 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:56.599 This is the way he is the way that God has provided. 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:59.619 So that we might be saved. 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:04.059 From there, John goes on to say this. 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:05.419 He says in verse 19, 00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.500 this is the verdict. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.459 Light has come into the world, 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:14.219 but people loved darkness instead of light 00:19:14.219 --> 00:19:16.859 because their deeds were evil. 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:21.399 Everyone who does evil hates the light 00:19:21.399 --> 00:19:23.500 and will not come into the light 00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:26.319 for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:30.000 But whoever lives by the truth 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:31.579 comes into the light 00:19:31.579 --> 00:19:33.319 so that it may be seen plainly 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:35.539 that what they have done 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:38.839 has been done in the sight of God. 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.839 Now there's a lot in here. 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:44.639 These are, these are deep words. 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:47.259 These are words that are worth taking time 00:19:47.259 --> 00:19:48.460 to just meditate on. 00:19:48.939 --> 00:19:50.619 I mean, they say a lot 00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:52.779 about how things are between God 00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.460 and between man. 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:57.059 how things are in our world. 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:00.220 John's already taken up the metaphor of light 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:03.259 at the very beginning of his gospel. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.519 And here he does it again. 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:06.539 Light has come into the world. 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:10.000 That light is, is the sun. 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.420 It is, it's Jesus. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.880 It's the words that he said. 00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:20.360 But people loved darkness 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:22.460 instead of the light. 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:26.559 And they will not come into the light. 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.620 Why? 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:32.640 John gives us a couple reasons. 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:34.140 It's really, it's really 00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:35.920 just one reason. 00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:37.720 Because their deeds were evil. 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.960 Jesus, the light of the world, 00:20:42.100 --> 00:20:44.160 he, he shines light on our sin. 00:20:44.279 --> 00:20:46.480 He exposes it for what it really is. 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:50.120 He brings conviction of it 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.559 where he goes. 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:56.359 And because the deeds of, 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:58.259 of men are evil, 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:02.220 we, we don't want them to be seen. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:04.579 So we move away from the light. 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.480 We hate the light. 00:21:05.679 --> 00:21:08.200 We want to continue doing those things. 00:21:10.159 --> 00:21:11.759 We love those things. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:14.000 And therefore we hate the light. 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:17.119 This is, this is, this is what's going on 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:20.720 between God and mankind. 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.920 This is the dynamic. 00:21:25.579 --> 00:21:28.240 The response to Jesus is not always 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:30.180 favorable or positive 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:34.799 because of how he, as the light, 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.099 exposes our sin 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:39.720 for what it really is. 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:41.480 Our deeds for what they really are. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.759 Evil. 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:45.519 Deserving of condemnation. 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:53.399 With the rest of our time, 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.079 I just want to talk about 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:57.960 how can we use these words of John 3.16 00:21:57.960 --> 00:22:01.039 to share the good news of Jesus with others. 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:03.879 Most of us are familiar with these words. 00:22:04.399 --> 00:22:05.720 We know what they mean. 00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:06.960 And I hope that they've, 00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:08.559 they've really touched the hearts 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:11.019 of each one of us in this room. 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.980 Most of you, some of you, 00:22:14.379 --> 00:22:15.720 I hope will have it memorized. 00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:17.399 If you don't, 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.740 today is the day 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:21.579 to, to commit this to memory, 00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:24.420 to really soak, soak in these words 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:25.899 and meditate on them 00:22:25.900 --> 00:22:28.200 and see what is there. 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:30.680 The glorious good news of Jesus. 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:34.360 This verse is what I like to call 00:22:34.360 --> 00:22:36.060 the gospel in a nutshell. 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:38.120 And there are a number of verses like it. 00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:40.980 The good news is just kind of laid out 00:22:40.980 --> 00:22:43.100 with some of the core essentials 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:45.160 so that we can just hear it all 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.480 in one little piece. 00:22:47.820 --> 00:22:49.220 But even as we talk about 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:51.720 how to share Christ from these words, 00:22:51.860 --> 00:22:53.280 I want to just remind us 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:55.359 that this is just one little piece. 00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:57.539 This is just a tiny seed. 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.299 This verse. 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.019 What is the gospel? 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:06.139 The gospels, it's, it's, it's big. 00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:08.720 It's, it's the whole story of Jesus. 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:11.339 He is the good news 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:13.519 right from the start of his story 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.859 to, to the end of it. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.720 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.680 all together. 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.200 That's the gospel. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:22.460 That's the good news of Jesus. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:26.259 What the prophets foretold long ago 00:23:26.259 --> 00:23:28.440 about this one. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:30.099 That's the good news of Jesus. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.920 What we see explained 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.700 in the New Testament letters 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:36.160 in, in, in revelation. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:38.279 That's the, that's the future 00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:39.759 coming good news of Jesus. 00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:41.579 That's the full reach of the gospel. 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:45.019 If we could, we would want to share 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.200 all of it with someone. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:49.619 But sometimes we have a moment 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.639 where we may only get 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:52.200 to just share a little bit. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:54.780 And if that moment comes up, 00:23:54.800 --> 00:23:55.980 whether it's a devotional 00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:59.100 or a conversation with a friend, 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:02.460 even just an opportunity to pray 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:04.380 or, or, or to speak about Jesus, 00:24:04.380 --> 00:24:07.720 this is a wonderful place to go 00:24:07.720 --> 00:24:09.920 because a lot of the, 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.820 the core pieces of the good news 00:24:11.820 --> 00:24:13.140 of Jesus are right here. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:15.580 And it's a verse that many of us 00:24:15.580 --> 00:24:16.180 already know. 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.280 And probably the people 00:24:17.280 --> 00:24:18.680 that are listening to us, 00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:22.280 hopefully they'll have heard it already 00:24:22.280 --> 00:24:23.960 and there'll be some familiarity there. 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:26.220 So how do we share the gospel 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:28.060 from John three 16? 00:24:30.560 --> 00:24:31.940 This would be my encouragement. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:35.120 First off, memorize this verse, 00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.560 commit it to your heart, 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:38.820 and then just take some time 00:24:38.820 --> 00:24:39.660 to think through what, 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:42.519 how would I share with a person 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:44.420 just in my own words, 00:24:44.560 --> 00:24:45.880 based on some of the, 00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:47.600 the key aspects that are here 00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.300 in this verse, 00:24:48.540 --> 00:24:51.360 the place that I would encourage you 00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.880 to start is with this little phrase 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:53.460 right here, 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.240 shall not perish. 00:24:58.080 --> 00:25:00.040 If you say these words, 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.340 for God so loved the world 00:25:01.340 --> 00:25:02.940 that he gave his one and only son, 00:25:03.360 --> 00:25:04.779 that whoever believes in him 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.580 shall not perish, 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.620 but have eternal life. 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:07.819 What, what is the person 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:09.359 that you're sharing with thinking about 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.419 when you say this? 00:25:11.699 --> 00:25:12.619 Shall not perish. 00:25:12.719 --> 00:25:13.699 Well, what perish? 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:14.979 What do you mean by perish? 00:25:15.879 --> 00:25:17.079 Why would we perish? 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:19.899 This is really the place to start, 00:25:19.959 --> 00:25:20.379 I think, 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:22.419 because without this, 00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:22.899 the, the, 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.299 this is not good news. 00:25:25.959 --> 00:25:27.179 It's, it's good for us 00:25:27.179 --> 00:25:29.119 to remind people gently 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:32.519 what perish means, 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:37.200 why we need this gift of God's son. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.440 And so what, 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.420 what you might do is, 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.559 is just remind them of, 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.000 of the, 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:42.240 the big story of, 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.839 of scripture. 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.440 God created the world. 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:46.680 He made everything good. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:48.740 He created you and me, 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:51.639 but we sinned against him. 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:53.619 We, we rebelled against God. 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:55.819 And because of that, 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:58.099 he said that our, 00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.599 our punishment will be death. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:02.000 And so we're, 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.599 we're under that sentence. 00:26:04.339 --> 00:26:04.579 And, 00:26:04.639 --> 00:26:06.419 and someday the Bible tells us 00:26:06.419 --> 00:26:08.099 that we're going to face that. 00:26:08.599 --> 00:26:10.219 We're going to stand before him 00:26:10.219 --> 00:26:10.719 in judgment 00:26:10.719 --> 00:26:13.179 and receive what we deserve 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:14.019 for our sins. 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.559 And it's, 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:15.859 it's, 00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:17.839 it's not even just physical death. 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.799 It's more than that. 00:26:19.699 --> 00:26:21.059 It's condemnation. 00:26:21.179 --> 00:26:21.500 It's, 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:21.839 it's, 00:26:21.959 --> 00:26:22.719 it's hell. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:26.740 It's death in the ultimate sense, 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.679 the worst sense. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:32.319 that's what John means 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.059 when he says, 00:26:33.199 --> 00:26:34.500 shall not perish. 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:40.219 The next thing to share 00:26:40.219 --> 00:26:41.539 is the good news 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.599 of what God has done 00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.539 about this problem 00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.339 that we have. 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:48.139 We're facing judgment. 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:49.039 We're facing, 00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:50.719 getting what we deserve 00:26:50.719 --> 00:26:52.039 from God for our sins. 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.899 We're on the hook, 00:26:53.019 --> 00:26:54.139 but the good news 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:55.039 is simply this. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:57.200 God gave his son 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.779 to fix that 00:26:58.779 --> 00:27:00.099 for us. 00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.500 As you think about 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:05.339 sharing these words 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:05.599 with, 00:27:05.659 --> 00:27:06.399 with a friend, 00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:09.339 you might want to explain 00:27:09.339 --> 00:27:10.960 what does that mean? 00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.339 What does it mean 00:27:12.339 --> 00:27:13.480 that he gave his son? 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.859 Gave him to do what? 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.379 You might, 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.180 if you have time, 00:27:20.379 --> 00:27:21.700 go to the Christmas story, 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.059 send him into the world 00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.919 is very much in view here. 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:28.419 But if time is an issue 00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:30.759 or if you can't share more 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.779 of the story of Jesus, 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.500 go straight to the cross. 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.980 He gave his son 00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:38.519 and then go straight 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.099 to the cross. 00:27:39.179 --> 00:27:40.299 The gospel summed up 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.480 in two words. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.859 Paul does this 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.879 in 1 Corinthians. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.339 He says, 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:45.619 it's Christ crucified. 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.460 That's the pinnacle moment 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:51.960 where our sin problem 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.640 is fixed 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:55.019 at the cross. 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.360 Explain that. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.480 What does that, 00:27:57.600 --> 00:27:58.600 what did he do there? 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.180 What does it, 00:27:59.519 --> 00:27:59.880 use you, 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.180 do it in your own words. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.000 You know, 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.519 there, 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.620 there are many metaphors 00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.319 in scripture. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.039 There's the metaphor 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:05.700 of ransom. 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.519 There's the metaphor 00:28:06.519 --> 00:28:07.700 of sacrifice, 00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:09.620 of substitution. 00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.840 Just pick it, 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.900 explain it in the way 00:28:12.900 --> 00:28:13.180 that, 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:14.319 that you feel 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.019 most comfortable, 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:16.140 that you understand. 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:20.920 Jesus went to that cross 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.600 to, 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:21.920 to, 00:28:22.040 --> 00:28:23.259 to receive on himself 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.240 the condemnation 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.060 that we deserve 00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:26.400 so that we could be forgiven 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:27.720 and go free. 00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:30.100 That's what it means 00:28:30.100 --> 00:28:32.040 that God gave his son. 00:28:36.340 --> 00:28:37.900 I think it's so important 00:28:37.900 --> 00:28:39.460 as we do share with people 00:28:39.460 --> 00:28:40.580 that we remind them 00:28:40.580 --> 00:28:43.140 of why he gave his son. 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:46.080 It's one of the best words 00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:46.759 in this verse. 00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:47.800 Loved. 00:28:48.280 --> 00:28:50.620 God loved the world. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:53.580 That's why he did this. 00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:56.680 Because he loves you. 00:28:57.120 --> 00:28:58.240 Make it personal. 00:28:58.980 --> 00:29:00.380 God loves you. 00:29:01.300 --> 00:29:03.080 And so he sent his son 00:29:03.080 --> 00:29:06.000 to do what he did 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:09.200 so that you might be spared 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:11.120 what you deserve 00:29:11.120 --> 00:29:12.660 on that final day. 00:29:13.140 --> 00:29:15.480 from there, 00:29:15.560 --> 00:29:16.420 if you have time, 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.420 if it fits, 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:19.480 talk about the world. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.820 This may not fit 00:29:20.820 --> 00:29:22.360 in every conversation 00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.580 or you might not need 00:29:23.580 --> 00:29:24.240 to go there. 00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:27.480 But it's good news 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:29.220 that God has given 00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.360 the gift of his son 00:29:30.360 --> 00:29:33.300 so that anyone 00:29:33.300 --> 00:29:35.480 might be saved. 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.840 This is not just restricted 00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:38.040 to a specific group 00:29:38.040 --> 00:29:38.640 of people, 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.700 race, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.700 or ethnicity. 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:41.779 ethnicity. 00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.940 This is for all. 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.059 It's not restricted 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.819 to those who have 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:48.539 lived a good enough life. 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.440 It's for whoever 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:51.440 believes in him. 00:29:52.880 --> 00:29:53.759 Maybe the person 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.460 you're talking to 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.319 feels like they've done 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.160 some things that are 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:58.160 just beyond 00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.319 what God could forgive. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:01.240 No. 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:03.080 Whoever believes in him 00:30:03.080 --> 00:30:04.519 shall not perish 00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:06.160 but have eternal life. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:10.500 then you might take 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:10.820 a moment 00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:11.620 to talk about 00:30:11.620 --> 00:30:12.980 what it means 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:14.440 to believe in Jesus. 00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:15.600 This is really 00:30:15.600 --> 00:30:18.019 this is our response. 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.620 So, 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:21.420 we start with our problem. 00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:22.580 We're destined 00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:23.240 to perish. 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:24.200 Then we look at 00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:25.080 what God has done 00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:25.620 for us 00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:26.259 to fix it. 00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:27.279 He gave his son 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:29.040 because he loves us. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:31.659 And what do we need 00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:32.659 to do to receive 00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:33.359 this gift? 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.559 We need to believe 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:36.980 in him. 00:30:37.980 --> 00:30:39.180 That Jesus is 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.819 that one, 00:30:39.960 --> 00:30:40.519 that provision 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.099 of God. 00:30:42.579 --> 00:30:43.740 If you get the chance, 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.619 you might want to explain 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.420 what does that mean? 00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.579 What does it mean 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.619 to believe in Jesus? 00:30:47.980 --> 00:30:48.920 Even as we've looked 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:50.299 at here in this 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.500 conversation 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.440 with Nicodemus, 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.519 there's been 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.259 some discussion 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:55.200 over what does it 00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:56.039 mean to believe? 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:58.740 to truly believe. 00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:01.099 Nicodemus believed 00:31:01.099 --> 00:31:02.099 that Jesus 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.859 was a teacher 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.879 who came from God, 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:05.559 but he also 00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.740 did not accept 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.259 Jesus' testimony. 00:31:10.359 --> 00:31:10.839 So, 00:31:10.940 --> 00:31:11.440 what does it mean 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:12.299 to truly believe 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.159 in Jesus? 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.200 Explain it. 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:16.220 There are many 00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:16.740 other places 00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.240 you could go. 00:31:17.359 --> 00:31:18.440 James chapter 2. 00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:21.579 You could look 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:22.099 at some of what 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.759 Paul teaches 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.859 in some of his letters 00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:26.299 about true faith. 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.299 And then finally, 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.759 what does all of this 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.659 secure for us? 00:31:35.079 --> 00:31:35.819 What does believing 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.639 in Jesus, 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.779 what do we get 00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.519 from all this? 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:40.299 This is the good news 00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:41.719 of the gospel. 00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:43.139 We don't get 00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:44.079 what we deserve, 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:45.539 which is to perish. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.859 God's judgment 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.859 upon us. 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.299 We get 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:52.699 eternal life. 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:54.700 life that lasts 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.200 forever. 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:55.900 Heaven. 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.480 There are many ways 00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:58.420 we could describe it. 00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.380 I would hope 00:31:59.380 --> 00:31:59.779 that in a 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:01.240 just a genuine 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:02.259 conversation about 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.860 this with someone 00:32:02.860 --> 00:32:03.819 that the person 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.220 would ask, 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.380 well, 00:32:04.420 --> 00:32:05.059 what does that mean? 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:06.600 What is heaven about? 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.000 You know? 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:08.100 And maybe have 00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:08.660 the opportunity 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.880 to share a little bit 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:11.039 of what the scriptures 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:12.059 say there. 00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.119 remember. 00:32:15.619 --> 00:32:16.099 So, 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.339 I would encourage you 00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:19.779 to commit this 00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.519 verse to memory. 00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.859 Think about these 00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.720 key parts in the 00:32:22.720 --> 00:32:23.500 verse and just 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.700 have it in your 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.200 heart, 00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:27.779 what you might 00:32:27.779 --> 00:32:28.460 say to someone 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.379 if you had the 00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.000 opportunity. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:31.559 I think that's 00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.579 very simply what it 00:32:32.579 --> 00:32:33.500 means to be prepared, 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:34.539 to be ready to give 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.019 an answer 00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:36.899 to those who ask 00:32:36.899 --> 00:32:37.379 for the hope 00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.339 that we have in us. 00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:39.819 And this is one 00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.740 easy way to do it. 00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.680 It's a verse most of 00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.519 us already know. 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:45.039 And so, 00:32:45.120 --> 00:32:45.880 as we do that, 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:46.579 just a couple 00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:48.660 words of encouragement. 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.599 My encouragement 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.339 would be to share 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.220 the gospel in 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.920 conversation. 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.019 Sometimes we kind 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:56.920 of get this feeling 00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.400 of like, 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.339 you know, 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.059 if we get that 00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.400 moment, 00:32:59.500 --> 00:32:59.940 then we're just 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:01.579 going to let fly 00:33:01.579 --> 00:33:02.000 and it's going to 00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.759 be a little sermon. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.500 Just share it 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.140 naturally in 00:33:05.140 --> 00:33:05.759 conversation. 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:06.960 Let there be 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.539 opportunity. 00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.680 How are they 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.359 receiving it? 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:11.219 What's the response 00:33:11.219 --> 00:33:11.879 on their face? 00:33:11.919 --> 00:33:12.699 Even as Jesus 00:33:12.699 --> 00:33:13.839 talked to Nicodemus, 00:33:13.899 --> 00:33:14.899 he said to him, 00:33:15.139 --> 00:33:16.339 you're surprised 00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:17.059 by what I'm saying 00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.359 to you? 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:18.079 You shouldn't be. 00:33:19.019 --> 00:33:19.359 You know, 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:20.740 maybe they want 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:21.579 to ask a question 00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.259 before you're, 00:33:22.699 --> 00:33:23.699 you've got through 00:33:23.699 --> 00:33:24.599 everything you want 00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:24.939 to say. 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:25.859 Let it be natural. 00:33:25.959 --> 00:33:26.419 Let it be a 00:33:26.419 --> 00:33:27.059 conversation. 00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.359 Sometimes I think 00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:29.979 we kind of feel 00:33:29.979 --> 00:33:30.179 like, 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:30.819 you know, 00:33:30.819 --> 00:33:31.599 we got to get 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.240 the whole thing 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:32.919 out before, 00:33:33.219 --> 00:33:33.899 because this is 00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:34.579 our chance. 00:33:35.699 --> 00:33:36.399 But share it 00:33:36.399 --> 00:33:37.139 in conversation. 00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:39.280 Let it, 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:40.259 just use your 00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:40.720 own words, 00:33:40.800 --> 00:33:41.400 be natural. 00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.860 It's different 00:33:43.860 --> 00:33:44.360 if you're giving 00:33:44.360 --> 00:33:44.860 a devotion. 00:33:45.080 --> 00:33:45.240 I mean, 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:45.700 you might have 00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.120 the opportunity 00:33:46.120 --> 00:33:46.960 to say a whole 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.720 bunch and then 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:49.140 talk to people 00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:49.880 about it after. 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:53.300 The second thing 00:33:53.300 --> 00:33:53.920 I want to encourage 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.540 you with is that 00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:55.340 we should expect 00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:56.320 poor responses. 00:33:58.920 --> 00:33:59.660 John has just 00:33:59.660 --> 00:34:00.759 said this in here. 00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:02.660 Jesus is the 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.119 light that has 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:03.720 come into the 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.079 world, 00:34:04.079 --> 00:34:05.819 but people hate 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.619 the light and 00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:07.279 will not come 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:09.900 into it because 00:34:09.900 --> 00:34:11.119 it exposes the 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:13.320 evil that they're 00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.679 doing. 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.639 This is natural. 00:34:15.780 --> 00:34:16.380 This is to be 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:16.980 expected. 00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:18.320 So don't let that 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.179 discourage you that 00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:19.980 people might not 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:21.039 respond favorably. 00:34:21.659 --> 00:34:22.300 Jesus has already 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.139 told us that. 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.599 As Paul says in 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.239 his letter to the 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:26.659 Corinthians, 00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:28.199 the message of the 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:29.460 cross is foolishness 00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.139 to those who are 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:30.619 perishing. 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:31.720 But to us who are 00:34:31.720 --> 00:34:32.300 being saved, 00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:33.180 it's the power of 00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.500 God. 00:34:35.060 --> 00:34:35.900 Or we could look at 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.640 the parable of the 00:34:36.640 --> 00:34:37.880 sower and the seed 00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.600 and the soils. 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.400 The problem wasn't 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:41.000 with the seed. 00:34:41.120 --> 00:34:41.720 It was with the 00:34:41.720 --> 00:34:43.900 soils in how the 00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:45.300 response happened. 00:34:45.400 --> 00:34:46.040 And so we should 00:34:46.040 --> 00:34:47.860 expect that sometimes 00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.800 we will get a poor 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.800 response, that people 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:51.220 will not like what 00:34:51.220 --> 00:34:51.840 we say or they 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.520 won't buy it or 00:34:52.520 --> 00:34:53.160 they'll disagree. 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.720 That's okay. 00:34:57.180 --> 00:34:58.080 Share it anyway. 00:34:59.060 --> 00:34:59.700 And the other side 00:34:59.700 --> 00:35:00.280 of this, of course, 00:35:00.280 --> 00:35:01.120 is we can expect 00:35:01.120 --> 00:35:01.900 that some people 00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.620 will respond 00:35:02.620 --> 00:35:03.360 favorably. 00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.240 Some people will 00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:05.880 be saved. 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.340 It'll be a work 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:07.840 of God. 00:35:11.500 --> 00:35:12.120 I want to 00:35:12.120 --> 00:35:12.760 encourage us 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.980 simply to be 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.420 courageous. 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.340 Fear is often 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.280 a thing that just 00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.540 it gets in the 00:35:19.540 --> 00:35:19.800 way. 00:35:20.800 --> 00:35:21.460 Yeah, this is 00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:22.400 a big deal. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:23.400 These conversations 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:25.380 aren't always easy. 00:35:25.820 --> 00:35:26.780 But be courageous. 00:35:27.080 --> 00:35:27.840 Ask a person. 00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:29.240 So what do you 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:30.559 believe about this? 00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.460 Can I share the 00:35:31.460 --> 00:35:32.079 good news with 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.260 you? 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:34.660 There's the simplest 00:35:34.660 --> 00:35:36.240 way to, can I 00:35:36.240 --> 00:35:37.000 share what I believe 00:35:37.000 --> 00:35:37.559 about Jesus? 00:35:37.780 --> 00:35:38.240 The thing that 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:39.180 gives me hope 00:35:39.180 --> 00:35:39.700 every day. 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.180 Be courageous. 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:44.140 A big factor in 00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:44.720 this is simply 00:35:44.720 --> 00:35:45.640 setting straight in 00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:46.400 our hearts whose 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:47.360 approval we really 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:48.240 value most. 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:50.360 Gods 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:52.079 or 00:35:52.079 --> 00:35:52.900 peoples. 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:57.900 if we're constantly craving that approval from our friends and from other people 00:35:57.900 --> 00:36:01.519 it's going to be hard to say words that we think they might not like to hear 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:09.039 love deeply in order to share the good news with people we need to love them 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:16.900 deeply sincerely from the heart that we're going to we're going to take a risk we're going to say 00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:20.559 it we're going to initiate the conversation we're going to ask the question even though 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:24.500 we don't know how they're going to respond because we care about them 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:28.920 we don't want to see them face what they will face without christ 00:36:28.920 --> 00:36:38.940 i want to encourage us all simply simply with this we don't need to be ashamed of christ 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:48.099 he is our savior he has done what needed to be done so that we could be saved and one day he's 00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:53.139 going to come back he's going to bust through the clouds with power and great glory 00:36:53.139 --> 00:37:00.139 and every word that we have said about him every time we have risked to try to share with someone 00:37:00.139 --> 00:37:03.460 about jesus all of those words will be vindicated 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:13.259 as paul said i am not ashamed of the gospel it's the power of god for salvation 00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:15.680 to all who believe 00:37:15.680 --> 00:37:23.160 i want to encourage us to let go of anxiety paralysis 00:37:23.160 --> 00:37:28.320 you guys know what i'm talking about you get that moment where 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:33.760 you're on your own and you're thinking about how might i share this with someone in case it comes up 00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:39.640 in the conversation and and you're thinking through i want to say these i want to make sure i i don't leave 00:37:39.639 --> 00:37:48.099 this out and we can get so worked up and just worrying about what's going to happen in that actual conversation in that moment if it comes when it comes 00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:53.859 and we kind of get paralyzed by that and then we don't end up saying anything at all 00:37:53.859 --> 00:38:01.279 we're so worried that this might be my one chance to say it to share it with this person 00:38:01.280 --> 00:38:07.320 and if i'm not ready to share it perfectly then i'm not going to take the chance 00:38:07.320 --> 00:38:11.840 don't get caught up by that trap don't worry about it 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:15.000 if i could encourage you one thing i've learned from 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:17.660 preaching almost every sunday morning is that 00:38:17.660 --> 00:38:21.540 it almost never comes out exactly the way that you planned it 00:38:21.540 --> 00:38:23.400 or thought that it would come out 00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:26.040 this is the real moment here 00:38:26.040 --> 00:38:28.320 and that's okay 00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:34.500 maybe you didn't say everything that you planned to say or thought you would say 00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:37.620 or even the most important thing you left out 00:38:37.620 --> 00:38:39.980 but god can still use 00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:42.420 what you did say in that moment 00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:46.500 in amazing ways that one simple phrase that you said 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:49.380 that you thought wasn't even the most important thing 00:38:49.380 --> 00:38:53.140 could be the one thing that they put their trust in and believe 00:38:53.140 --> 00:38:56.480 and that leads them to search out the rest 00:38:56.480 --> 00:38:58.659 and understand the rest of the story 00:38:58.659 --> 00:39:01.079 and they're born again and they're saved 00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:04.860 so don't get caught up in anxiety paralysis 00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:10.179 god uses ordinary people like you and me 00:39:10.179 --> 00:39:12.500 to share his good news 00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:14.300 and to save 00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:17.139 and lastly i want to encourage you 00:39:17.139 --> 00:39:19.659 just to pray for opportunities 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:23.339 if we're going to go to the work of preparing ourselves 00:39:23.339 --> 00:39:24.199 and thinking through 00:39:24.199 --> 00:39:25.899 you know john 3 16 00:39:25.899 --> 00:39:27.819 what might i say in this conversation 00:39:27.819 --> 00:39:29.139 if i could have it with someone 00:39:29.139 --> 00:39:31.299 let's pray for opportunities 00:39:31.299 --> 00:39:35.219 and let's see how the lord will bring people to us 00:39:35.219 --> 00:39:35.920 and 00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:39.179 and and be ready to share in those moments 00:39:39.179 --> 00:39:48.279 so that's my encouragement with john 3 16 00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:49.980 it's a familiar verse 00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:51.599 let's put it to work 00:39:51.599 --> 00:39:54.539 let's use this good seed that we've been given 00:39:54.539 --> 00:39:56.279 let's let's let's sow it 00:39:56.279 --> 00:40:01.099 and do it for the glory of christ 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:03.259 let's pray 00:40:03.259 --> 00:40:08.759 father in heaven thank you for these words 00:40:08.759 --> 00:40:11.799 thank you for the ways that you have worked in our hearts 00:40:11.799 --> 00:40:13.519 thank you for the love 00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:15.599 that you have shown in sending your son 00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:17.079 and giving your son for us 00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:19.920 we ask that you would 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:21.719 give us courage 00:40:21.719 --> 00:40:22.779 give us boldness 00:40:22.779 --> 00:40:24.480 teach us 00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:25.059 guide us 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.639 help us 00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:28.400 in sharing this hope that we have with others 00:40:28.400 --> 00:40:31.260 we pray right now and ask 00:40:31.260 --> 00:40:32.720 would you give us opportunities 00:40:32.720 --> 00:40:35.940 lord we know you've put us in this community for a reason 00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:38.920 that you could take us home to heaven right now if you wanted to 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:43.700 so we pray and ask that you would give us those opportunities 00:40:43.700 --> 00:40:47.340 do that work in our hearts that needs to be done 00:40:47.340 --> 00:40:48.860 so that we'll be ready when they come 00:40:48.860 --> 00:40:51.200 to speak for you 00:40:51.200 --> 00:40:53.780 we ask this in jesus name 00:40:53.780 --> 00:40:54.740 amen 00:40:58.400 --> 00:40:59.200 amen 00:40:59.200 --> 00:41:01.360 thanks for that josh 00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:01.860 you 00:41:01.860 --> 00:41:02.860 you 00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:03.860 you 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.860 you 00:41:04.860 --> 00:41:06.860 you 00:41:06.860 --> 00:41:08.860 you 00:41:08.860 --> 00:41:10.860 you 00:41:10.860 --> 00:41:12.860 you 00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:14.860 you 00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:16.860 you 00:41:16.860 --> 00:41:18.860 you 00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:20.860 you 00:41:20.860 --> 00:41:22.860 you 00:41:22.860 --> 00:41:24.860 you 00:41:24.860 --> 00:41:26.860 you