Sermons on John 20:31
The various sermons below interpret John 20:31 with a shared emphasis on the Gospel of John's purpose as a tool for evangelism and belief in Jesus as the Messiah. They collectively highlight the Gospel's role in conveying Jesus' identity as the Son of God and the promise of eternal life through belief in Him. A common thread is the portrayal of belief as an ongoing journey rather than a one-time event, with sermons illustrating this through analogies like "sticky scriptures" and the relational aspect of faith. The sermons also emphasize the transformative power of belief, underscoring Jesus' actions and teachings as foundational to fostering faith. They suggest that the Gospel of John serves as a means for both believers and non-believers to encounter Jesus and understand His divine mission.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their thematic focus and interpretation of belief. One sermon emphasizes belief as an active, ongoing trust in Jesus, while another introduces the theme of allegiance, portraying faith as a commitment to follow Jesus' teachings despite challenges. Another sermon highlights Jesus' persistent efforts to instill belief, focusing on His actions to guide individuals toward faith. Meanwhile, another sermon underscores the accessibility of Jesus through the Gospel, presenting it as a bridge for diverse audiences to come to faith. These differences reflect varied approaches to understanding the nature of belief and the role of the Gospel in facilitating a relationship with Jesus.
John 20:31 Interpretation:
Embracing Faith: The Impact of Vacation Bible School (JBC Jeffersonton Baptist Church) interprets John 20:31 by emphasizing the purpose of John's Gospel as a tool for evangelism. The sermon highlights that the Gospel of John was written to clearly convey the message that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that belief in Him grants eternal life. The sermon uses the analogy of "sticky scriptures" to illustrate how the verses memorized by children during Vacation Bible School serve as foundational truths to instill belief in Jesus as the Christ.
Jesus: The Resurrection, Love, and Overcoming Faith Obstacles (Kingwood Methodist Church) interprets John 20:31 by focusing on the love and intentionality behind Jesus' actions, particularly in the story of Lazarus. The sermon suggests that the signs recorded in John's Gospel, including the raising of Lazarus, are meant to reveal Jesus' identity as the Messiah and to inspire belief that leads to life in His name. The sermon emphasizes the relational aspect of belief, portraying it as an allegiance to Jesus that goes beyond mere intellectual assent.
Embracing Faith: The Transformative Power of Belief (Community Baptist) interprets John 20:31 as a culmination of Jesus' actions to instill belief in his disciples. The sermon emphasizes that John's purpose in writing his Gospel was to ensure that readers would believe in Jesus as the Messiah and have eternal life. The sermon highlights Jesus' actions, such as teaching the disciples, sending them out, and returning to Thomas, as steps to overcome doubt and foster belief. This interpretation underscores the idea that belief in Jesus is not just a one-time event but a continuous journey supported by Jesus' teachings and actions.
Encountering Jesus: The Heart of Our Worship (Open the Bible) interprets John 20:31 by emphasizing the purpose of John's Gospel as a means to meet Jesus and understand Him as the Christ, the Son of God. The sermon highlights the importance of believing in Jesus to have life in His name, suggesting that the Gospel of John is a tool for both believers and non-believers to encounter Jesus and understand His divine nature and mission.
John 20:31 Theological Themes:
Embracing Faith: The Impact of Vacation Bible School (JBC Jeffersonton Baptist Church) presents the theme of belief as an ongoing, active trust in Jesus rather than a one-time decision. The sermon stresses that belief involves a continuous relationship with Jesus, characterized by faith and trust that persist throughout one's life.
Jesus: The Resurrection, Love, and Overcoming Faith Obstacles (Kingwood Methodist Church) introduces the theme of allegiance to Jesus as a deeper understanding of faith. The sermon suggests that true belief involves a commitment to follow Jesus' teachings and commands, even when they are difficult to understand or accept. This allegiance is portrayed as a form of loyalty that prioritizes Jesus' authority over personal preferences or societal pressures.
Embracing Faith: The Transformative Power of Belief (Community Baptist) presents the theme of Jesus' persistent efforts to foster belief. The sermon highlights that Jesus' actions, such as teaching the disciples and returning to Thomas, demonstrate his desire for all to believe. This theme emphasizes the continuous nature of belief and the idea that Jesus meets individuals where they are to guide them toward faith.
Encountering Jesus: The Heart of Our Worship (Open the Bible) presents a theme of the accessibility of Jesus through the Gospel of John, emphasizing that the Gospel serves as a bridge for people from diverse backgrounds to come to faith. The sermon underscores the idea that the Gospel is not just a historical account but a living document that invites readers into a relationship with Jesus, offering life through belief in His name.
John 20:31 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Jesus: The Resurrection, Love, and Overcoming Faith Obstacles (Kingwood Methodist Church) provides historical context by explaining the geographical and social setting of Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. The sermon also highlights the tension between Jesus and the Pharisees, who were concerned about the political and social implications of Jesus' growing influence, fearing Roman repercussions.
Embracing Faith: The Transformative Power of Belief (Community Baptist) provides historical context by explaining the fear of the disciples after Jesus' crucifixion. The sermon describes the disciples' fear of the religious Jews and the false accusations they faced, which adds depth to the understanding of their initial disbelief and the significance of Jesus' appearance to them.
John 20:31 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Faith: The Impact of Vacation Bible School (JBC Jeffersonton Baptist Church) references several passages from the Gospel of John to support the message of belief in Jesus as the Messiah. These include John 6:68-69, where Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Holy One of God; John 13:34, where Jesus commands His disciples to love one another; John 14:27, where Jesus promises peace; John 11:25, where Jesus declares Himself the resurrection and the life; and John 3:16, which emphasizes God's love and the promise of eternal life through belief in Jesus.
Jesus: The Resurrection, Love, and Overcoming Faith Obstacles (Kingwood Methodist Church) references John 11, the story of Lazarus, to illustrate Jesus' love and the purpose of His miracles. The sermon also alludes to John 10:33, where the Pharisees accuse Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to be God, highlighting the challenges of belief in Jesus' divine identity.
Embracing Faith: The Transformative Power of Belief (Community Baptist) references several Old Testament passages to support the fulfillment of prophecy in Jesus' life. Isaiah 53 is mentioned to highlight the prophecy of the Messiah's suffering, while Psalm 22 is cited to describe the crucifixion in detail. These references are used to show that Jesus' actions and resurrection were part of God's plan, as foretold in the scriptures, reinforcing the message of belief in John 20:31.
Encountering Jesus: The Heart of Our Worship (Open the Bible) references John 1:1-18 to support the interpretation of John 20:31. The sermon explains that the prologue of John's Gospel introduces Jesus as the Eternal Word, who was with God and was God, and through whom all things were made. This connection is used to emphasize the divine nature of Jesus and the purpose of the Gospel in revealing Him as the source of life and truth.
John 20:31 Christian References outside the Bible:
Rediscovering the True Gospel: Jesus at the Center (Granville Chapel) references Martin Luther's emphasis on justification by faith as the core of Christian doctrine. The sermon quotes Luther's assertion that this doctrine is foundational to all Christian teaching and practice, opposing any additions or distortions to the gospel message.
Understanding Jesus Through the Gospels: A Transformative Journey (Influence Church MN) references C.J. Mahaney, who describes the gospel as a "life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth." This quote is used to emphasize the profound impact of the gospel message and its depth, aligning with the purpose of John's Gospel to inspire belief and transformation.
Encountering Jesus: The Heart of Our Worship (Open the Bible) references J.I. Packer, who is quoted regarding the life-giving nature of Jesus, stating that life is given and maintained by the Word. This reference is used to support the sermon’s emphasis on Jesus as the source of life and the importance of believing in Him to have life in His name.
John 20:31 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Rediscovering the True Gospel: Jesus at the Center (Granville Chapel) uses the analogy of a badminton racket's sweet spot to illustrate the power and precision of the gospel message. Just as hitting the shuttlecock at the sweet spot results in maximum power, understanding and conveying the gospel accurately leads to its transformative impact. The sermon suggests that deviations from this core message diminish its effectiveness and power.
Understanding Jesus Through the Gospels: A Transformative Journey (Influence Church MN) uses the analogy of a 3D ultrasound to explain the purpose of the four Gospels. Just as a 3D ultrasound provides a more complete picture of a baby, the four Gospels offer different perspectives that together create a fuller image of Jesus. This analogy helps illustrate the unique contribution of each Gospel, including John's focus on belief as highlighted in John 20:31.
Encountering Jesus: The Heart of Our Worship (Open the Bible) uses the analogy of blind men describing an elephant to illustrate the limitations of human understanding of God without divine revelation. The sermon suggests that just as the elephant could speak to reveal its true nature, God has spoken through Jesus to reveal Himself to humanity, emphasizing the unique role of Jesus in making God known.