Sermon Tone Analysis

The Word

▾ Start:

Entice: Do you have a favorite scripture?

At this time of year it is easy to default to Luke or .

The manger story is fresh in our mind.

We like those words of scripture because they are profoundly moving and comforting, warm and fuzzy.

They are beautifully written stories that remind us that the Pen is mightier than the sword.

John begins his gospel with a story that is just as profound but quite a bit less warm and fuzzy.

He reminds us; the Church, the redeemed, those who follow the Way that actually, it is the Word-the divine, empowering, creative Word of God which is mightier than speech, or pen, or even our puny shouting into the abyss.

• Entice:

Engage: In the midst of the depressing debris of our fallen age and it’s empire of ambition we need a word that speaks!

A word that transforms!

A word that explodes!

A word that you not only hear but you feel and see and smell and taste.

A word which transcends normal experience.

A word that is a full, final, empowering disclosure of God.

• Engage:

Expand: It is that need that John addresses.

His response is not just another story about what God has done but the the disclosure that the message we seek, the disclosure we demand, the word we long for the incarnate presence of God Himself!

The Word which wove our world into existence…walked upon it, died above it, was buried within it, and Rose to redeem it!

• Expand:

Excite: John’s opening may be a little complicated and not as “cute” as Luke’s shepherds & Sheep but it communicates one central truth.

Excite:

Jesus is God: present, accessible and active.

• Explore: Jesus is God present, accessible and active.

Explain: This opening summary, this resume of Jesus work-highlights 3 activities of the WMF…

• Explain: This opening summary, this resume of Jesus work highlights 3 activities of the WMF…

▾ Body of Sermon:

Creation.

▾ Creation vv 1-5

The Word in relationship.

1,2

The Word in relationship.

1,2

• The Word in relationship.

1,2

The Word at work 3

• The Word at work 3

The Word as life-bringing light.

4,5

• The Word as life-bringing light.

4,5

Revelation.

▾ Revelation.

Illumination.

vv 6-13

Witness.

6-8

The role of a human witness to divine activity.

6-8

▾ The role of a human witness to divine activity.

6-8

A witness is sent…6

John was sent from God to…6

• John was sent from God to…6

A witness is commissioned… 7-8

• Bear witness to the light 7a

Bear witness to the light 7a

Make saving faith possible 7b

• Make saving faith possible 7b

His role was to testify to the light…not draw attention to himself.

8

His role was to testify to the light…not draw attention to himself.

8

• His role was to testify to the light…not draw attention to himself.

8

The process of disclosing God’s will to the world requires that we continue to participate in that long line of witnesses which began with the very word of creation, progressed through the OT whose messenger’s concluded with John…through our own work of witness in our time and place.

John returns to the concept of light to develop the ideal of the ongoing, revealing work of the Word.

Likening it to a process of....

Illumination 9-13

▾ The True Light 9-13

The True Light

• Illuminates humanity by entering human history 9

Illuminates humanity by entering human history 9

The True Light

▾ Confronts differing levels and degrees of opposition and unbelief 10,11

Confronts a variety of unbelief 10,11

Cosmic indifference.

10

• Cosmic indifference.

10

Contextual rejection 11a

• Specific rejection by those who should have known better.

11

Community rejection.

11b

The True Light

▾ Redeems humanity through the New Birth.

12-13

Redeems us by the New Birth.

12-13

John qualifies this is possible by reminding us that it is

▾ "Operated by "faith."12

Empowered by "faith."12

Those who received Him….12a

• Those who received Him….12a

Those who believe in His name 12b

• Those who believe in His name 12b

And It’s...

Origin is Divine 13

• Origin is Divine 13

Explanation.

▾ Explanation.

vv 14-18

John

Disclosing God’s Glory.

14, 15

•Bringing God's Glory home!

14, 15

Partaking of God's fullness.

16

• Partaking of God's fullness.

16

Receiving God's grace.

17

• Receiving God's grace.

17

Understanding God's nature.

18

• Understanding God's nature.

18

• The Word: the life & light of God vs. the disintegrating discourse of Empire.

The Word in His World:

How do we process and what do we do with such a profound revelation of God?