"Dangerous Ideas"

John 20:19-29

"All According To Plan"

John 19:17-42

"Church Hurts"

John 18:1-11

"Guarded"

John 17:6-19

"Heads Up"

John 16:1-15

"God Works"

John 15:1-8

"What is That Supposed to Mean?

John 14:12-17

"Gonna Have to Trust Me"

John 13:1-20

"Wasted"

John 12:1-11

"Here Lies Death"

John 11:1-44

John 10:1-21

"Simple Defense"

John 9:4-38

"Glory Hound"

John 8:48-59

“How to Spot a Con Artist”

John 8:12-30

1. Introduction: Have you ever been “conned”?
   1. Most people have encountered a slick salesman, a fast-talking promoter, or someone with a pathetic sob story
   2. When cheated, we feel foolish that we didn’t spot the con
   3. Many people believe Jesus was nothing more than a con man
2. Con Artists Typically Push Products We’ve Never Heard Of
   1. Con men only present products that we’re ignorant of
   2. Jesus presented a concept that the people were familiar with
   3. The Jewish leaders kept people in the dark
3. Con Artists Want Trust Without Verification
   1. Con Artists are never who they claim to be
   2. Jesus stayed in step with the Father
   3. Jesus offered verification for his identity, but the Pharisees refused to verify his claim
4. Con Artists Capitalize off of Impulsive Decisions & Never Sacrifice Anything of Their Own
   1. Con Artists generally manipulate using time limits against people, but never sacrifice anything of themselves
   2. If Jesus was a Con Artist, why would he go to the cross?
   3. We must be careful not to fall for the real con
5. Conclusion: The Real Con leads us to believe That We Don’t Need Christ
   1. We can’t play the comparison game
   2. We must all recognize our need for Christ
   3. If we fail to recognize our own sinfulness and surrender our lives over to Christ, we have fallen for the biggest con of all time

“Just Give Me A Reason”

John 7:32-52

1. Introduction: Have you ever looked for a reason to dislike someone?
   1. Sometimes we make our minds up and look for the reasons later
   2. Have you ever been on the opposite side?
   3. Sometimes we do this with God
2. Sometimes we make our minds up for reasons we’d be ashamed to admit
   1. Jesus refused to play for the “right team”
   2. So, the Jewish leaders refused him as the Messiah
   3. Because the Leaders rejected Jesus, the people who looked to them as a spiritual authority were led astray
3. When we condemn others, it should show we’re lacking
   1. The last day of the festival was the greatest celebration
   2. Spiritual thirst cannot be quenched by worldly things
   3. Jesus offers living water & in him we will never thirst
4. Everything hidden will come to light
   1. The Pharisees scrambled to stay on the side of righteousness but failed because of their own selfish motives
   2. The invitation was for them too
   3. When Jesus speaks, our walls break down
5. Conclusion: Jesus gives us reason to love
   1. For eternal life
   2. For abundant life
   3. If you really need a reason, you should allow Jesus to speak

“The Divine Timetable”

John 7:1-9

1. Introduction: Have you ever experienced a time when your plans don’t line up with God’s plans?
   1. God has a plan
   2. We can’t change it
   3. How can we make sure we are never disappointed again?
2. This world tells us to go after what we want
   1. This is evidenced in scripture with Jesus’ brothers
   2. When we act impulsively (according to our timetable), we almost always regret it
   3. How can we know when the timing is right?
3. Jesus didn’t ask, “What do I want?”, but, “Father, what do you want?”
   1. Jesus lived on a different time table than his brothers
   2. God brought Jesus into the world at the perfect time
   3. Because Jesus was focused on God’s watch, he was able to follow the direction of the Holy Spirit
4. God will show us his plan when we abandon ours
   1. We must learn to say “Not my will, but thy will be done.”
   2. The smaller times of sacrifice lead to the big ones
   3. Jesus didn’t serve two masters
5. God’s timing is always perfect because his plan is perfect
   1. It’s difficult for us to trust him because we think we know what good is
   2. God doesn’t want us to have what is good or better, but what is best
   3. The only things we have that are truly good are “of God”

“Right God, Wrong Religion”

John 6:22-40

1. Introduction: Probably one of the most offensive things we can say to a Jew or a Muslim is, “You have the right God, but you have the wrong religion!”
   1. How the big three (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) each came from the God of Abraham
   2. Not only do Jews and Muslims have the right God and wrong religion, it’s also possible for Christians to have the right God and wrong religion
2. We might have the Right Jesus in the Wrong Place
   1. We might not notice the Real Jesus is missing from our faith
   2. Jesus’ genuine disciples moved when he moved
   3. Some never allow Jesus to move from the head to the heart
3. We might have the Right Jesus for the Wrong Reason
   1. These Jews didn’t start looking for Jesus until they got hungry again
   2. Jesus meets our needs, but his focus isn’t just on our needs
   3. Our genuine needs are revealed to us by the Father
4. We might have the Right Jesus but the Wrong Doctrine
   1. We might base our faith in God off of works not grace
   2. The Jewish faith is based off of how to please God by doing works
   3. Jesus told them in order to get God’s approval is simply to believe
5. Conclusion: When these things happen, we tend to put the wrong person onto a pedestal
   1. We have to stop looking to things that don’t fill us and find how to have an abundant life in Christ
   2. When we do, we can have the assurance of salvation and be freed from the fear of death

“Trial of the Millennium”

John 5:16-47

1. Introduction: Do you imagine judgment as a case in court?
   1. Typically, there are 5 parts to a case in court: Initial appearance, Arraignment, Trial, Sentencing, & Appeal
   2. Judgments in court give weight to similar court cases
   3. What if our understanding of judgment in scripture is misunderstood?
2. The Jews put Jesus on trial in their minds
   1. The Jews were the judge, jury & executioners in their own mind
   2. Jesus was accused of having Satan represent him
   3. There is no appeal after Jesus
3. Jesus wasn’t really on trial, all of mankind is, and he is the judge
   1. Our understanding of where others are standing in court isn’t biblical
   2. Jesus is going to use a very simple standard for judgment
4. The law isn’t on our side
   1. The Jews looked to Moses for defense
   2. Moses isn’t their defense, he’s the prosecutor
5. Conclusion: If our understanding of judgment is misunderstood, we might be building the wrong defense
   1. All we need is Jesus
   2. Do you know him?

“Losing Our Patience”

John 4:43-54

1. Introduction: Do you hate waiting?
   1. Companies are counting on you not waiting
   2. We hate waiting because of boredom, anxiety, and uncertainty
   3. Despite our desire for instant gratification, Jesus knew how to wait
2. Jesus is patient with our immaturity
   1. Jesus left people who received him when he spoke and went to a people who rejected him even when they saw miracles
   2. Tenure does not equal Maturity
   3. People who have been around Jesus the longest are often the hardest people to reach
3. We prove our immaturity when we try to barter with God
   1. God doesn’t accept our barter system currency
   2. Jesus heals the man’s son despite his guilt
   3. The man only came to Jesus out of desperation
4. Jesus is aware of our immaturity and ministers to us anyway
   1. Jesus is patient because he knows the reward
   2. He endured not only waiting, but suffering
   3. He did it all for you
5. Conclusion: Jesus made an exchange but he didn’t use our barter system
   1. He gave his life in advance
   2. If we’re bored, full of anxiety or uncertainty, Jesus is the answer

“Dying of Thirst”

John 4:1-26

1. Introduction: Have you ever been thirsty, I mean REALLY thirsty?
   1. What happens to our bodies when we become really thirsty
   2. Spiritual thirst has similar effects on our bodies and lives
   3. We often do things that increase our thirst
2. Our Prejudice can keep us thirsty
   1. What’s important about this well?
   2. Why were there such prejudices between the Jews and the Samaritans?
   3. Jesus says this woman wasn’t able to overcome her prejudices because of her ignorance
3. Our Pride can keep us thirsty
   1. She came to the well alone, why?
   2. Pride causes us to deflect away from the most painful parts of our spiritual need
   3. Jesus saw through her pride and was able to address her deep spiritual need
4. Our Traditions can keep us thirsty
   1. How they worshiped at the mountain and why the Jews said it wasn’t legitimate worship anymore
   2. Jesus showed that worship isn’t limited to a place and time
   3. We shouldn’t ask, “How does the church have to be done?” we should ask, “Where is it that the church cannot go?”
5. Conclusion: God wants genuine fellowship with us
   1. He’s willing to bypass our prejudices, our pride and our traditions to have it; the question is, are we?
   2. Church often becomes a headquarters of prejudice, pride and tradition and is unwilling to change
   3. People who are unwilling to change will never be used by God as a catalyst for change; they will stay thirsty

“Free Wouldn’t”

John 3:1-10

1. Introduction: People often try to explain how a good God can be all powerful by suggesting that he gives us free will
   1. Free will exists in the Bible, just not in the way we want it to
   2. Our definition of free will is that we have equal authority over our decision making as God (if not stand above him)
   3. If we truly had free will, we free wouldn’t
2. It’s possible to be religious and not be born again
   1. Nicodemus was a heavily religious man, but he was not born again
   2. He had done everything he could do to be right with God but it still wasn’t enough
3. All who are born again are born of the Spirit
   1. The Spirit does what He wants
   2. We know how to recognize the Spirit, but we cannot predict his moves unless he reveals himself to us
   3. Everyone who has been born again have been given the right to be called a child of God
4. Everything in the OT preludes to how salvation works
   1. If Nicodemus truly understood the OT the way he received credit from men, he would have understood the truth of Jesus’ words
   2. We can study the Bible and even teach it, but still not understand the things of the spirit
5. Conclusion: Free will exists in the Bible, but only in the hands of God and those the spirit has enabled
   1. We can either feel threatened by this truth or thrilled
   2. We must not see God taking from us that which we treasure most, but instead see God’s will for what it is, the sovereign deliverance of what we should treasure most; eternal life in Christ

“The Jesus Mold”

John 2:1-11

1. Introduction: Are there some places you are unwilling to invite Jesus to?
   1. If we refuse to invite Jesus in, it should show us that we already have a picture of what Jesus is like and what he’s going to do
   2. It’s important that we get a correct picture of Jesus so that he is welcome in all the areas of our lives
2. Jesus should be welcome at our celebrations
   1. If Jesus is invited to our celebrations, he will likely change our relationships
   2. Jesus changed the relationship with his own mother
   3. When Jesus is invited into our circles of friends, our relationships are enhanced to meet their true potential
3. Jesus should be welcome in our work places
   1. If Jesus is invited into our work places, he will likely change our practices
   2. Jesus made alterations to Jewish practices
   3. When Jesus is invited into our workplaces, our practices will no longer be the focus, instead our practices will fall in line
4. Jesus should be welcome in our hearts
   1. If Jesus is invited into our hearts, he might change our priorities
   2. Jesus changed the priorities of his disciples
   3. When Jesus is given full authority over our hearts, our priorities will give us true purpose
5. Conclusion: Sometimes we tend to think that the only way we can welcome Jesus into every aspect of our lives is if he conforms to fit our mold
   1. Jesus is never going to be everything we want him to be
   2. Jesus is everything we want ourselves to be

“Visualizing the Invisible God”

John 1:1-18

1. Introduction
   1. If you were to try and draw a picture of God so that someone who didn’t know God could see Him, what would your drawing look like?
   2. If you want to see God, look no further than Jesus Christ
2. Jesus shows he is God in that he has done what no other could do
   1. He was with God in the beginning
   2. He is greater than John (Elijah or the Prophets)
   3. He is greater than Moses (Law)
3. Jesus shows he is God and all God’s creation was done through him
   1. Jesus is the spoken word of God by which he created the universe
   2. His fingerprint is left everywhere you look
   3. John Ortberg calls Jesus “The man who won’t go away!”
4. Jesus shows he is God in that he came to reveal God to us
   1. He has come to show us God’s nature
   2. We didn’t recognize him because we had been disillusioned by what we thought we knew about God
5. Conclusion:
   1. If you want others to see God, you are able to do this, not by painting a picture, but by doing what Jesus did
   2. As Jesus emulated the father by following His lead, so we must emulate Jesus and follow his