· Let us pray:
o For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, Heavenly Father, so YOUR ways are higher than our ways, and YOUR thoughts higher than our thoughts.
o In fact, your ways are far above anything we could ever imagine.
o You examine our deepest thoughts and secrets.
o Search us, oh Lord, and know our hearts and know our anxious thoughts.
o Lord, we humbly ask that you let your Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes.
o Father, help us fix our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
o Let us think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Amen.
· Scripture
o John 14:6
§ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
o John 8:31-32
§ Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
· YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
· Sermon Title
o It’s Not Just the Words but the Message
· Sermon Outline
o Video clip: Coach Larry Gelwix: Highland Rugby
§ “The essence of a lie is not the words you use but the message you convey.”
o Military Connection:
§ MAJ Maxwell’s scar
· Always wondered about it
· Didn’t want to ask … might offend him
· Without hearing a word about it … it started painting pictures in my head
· While at AT on OP13 during the Illume missions he shared a bit of what happened
o I had all these misconceptions about how he got his scar
o He had to share the truth with me
o SO FAR
§ Word search for “TRUTH”
· NLT has “TRUTH” listed about 270 times
§ Jesus own words concerning truth:
· “I tell you the truth …” said recorded almost 100 times in NLT Gospels
o SO GOOD
§ Christians à Word of God = TRUTH
§ What does the Bible say about the Word?
· John 1:1-5
o 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
o 2 He existed in the beginning with God.
o 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.
o 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
o 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
· Who is the Word?
· And we’ve said the Word is truth … so Jesus is truth right?
o SO WHAT
§ Go back to John 8:32
· YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE
· You will know JESUS and JESUS will set you free
§ Go back to the Gelwix video
· “The essence of a lie is not the words you use but the message you convey.”
· That’s the beauty of the Word being truth and the message He brought
§ John 3:16 is probably the most beloved and recited verses:
· For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
§ John 3:17 is just as important:
· God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
§ That’s the truth
· God loved the world so much
· He gave his only Son to save it
· He didn’t send him to judge it
· God sent Jesus to save it
§ What do you do with that truth?
· Seek the truth like the priest:
o Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
· Live in the truth like the king:
o Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
· Believe and share the truth like the prophet:
o Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it.
· Benediction
o Father, we thank you for your Word in Jesus Christ.
o We thank you for your truth in Jesus Christ.
o We ask that you watch over us, guide us, and protect us
o And as always, our hope is in you. Guide us in your truth. Amen
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