January 30, 2023
Loved | John 8:2-11
ON YOUR WORST DAY EVER
Do you remember your worst day ever? Perhaps you accidentally sent a scathing email TO the person you were complaining about! Maybe it was the day you got your diagnosis. Or the day someone you love deeply died. You’ll never forget that day. This week’s story is about one person’s worst day ever and, of all people, Jesus showed up right in the middle of it. God was there, in person, to see all of it. How embarrassing. Sort of fascinating the way it turned out.
Listen to an audio version of the message
Songs for this week: Spotify
John 8:2-11
- Describe your worst day ever. Do you recall anyone ‘being there’ for you?
- Why were these teachers of the law and Pharisees trying so hard to discredit Jesus? Do you see that happening in our day?
- When we have to ‘render judgment’ on something we usually lean either to the ‘truth’ side of things or the ‘grace’ side. Which do you typically emphasize? It seems Jesus has the right dose of both. Explain. Indicate how you could emphasize both grace and truth in a troubled relationship you are currently in or a workplace challenge that you currently face.
- Can you say for certain that Jesus loves you? Like John, do you know yourself to be the ‘disciple that Jesus loved’? If so, share with the group the evidence for that.
Share with a friend
Recent Sermons
Put Your Money Where Your Faith Is James continues to press deep into the muscles and tissues of our faith. Is your faith doing what it was designed to do? Just like you might go to the doctor for a physical check-up, James offers a self-administered faith check-up in this passage. Where do you see signs of life in your faith?
The Word That Works James is direct: angry words, thoughtless words, and religious words don’t have a place in a life of faith. Our words don’t work … but God’s word does! Our job is simply to cooperate with his word.
How To Face The Hard Stuff James gets right down to business! For everyone not currently soaking in a hot tub, suffering is a first order of business. In just a few verses, James explains how trials can grow maturity, how wisdom helps the journey, and how to avoid wasting a suffering experience.
Empowered Baptism is recognized throughout the Church as the beginning of a ‘God thing.’ John’s baptism was a visible demonstration of the start of a new life — clearing out the junk to prepare for what God was about to do. Jesus’ baptism reveals the true heart of baptism: God’s desire to bless and express His delight. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the start of the Kingdom. Ordinary women and men were now filled with the Spirit of Jesus to continue on the ministry Jesus started.
Luke 3:21-22 -At Jesus’ baptism, the Father said, “You’re my son. I love you. I’m proud of you.” As Christians, our baptism is a sign that we are in Christ, that what is true about him is true about us, and that the Father’s blessing now defines us.
Luke 3:1-20 - The first mention of baptism in the Bible begins with John. John was the cousin of Jesus and also His opening act. John called the people of his day to "Get Ready." The public sign of a life getting ready for God was, and still is, baptism. Get washed so God can do what God wants to do.
