Sunday, May 4, 2008

Christian Year:                                          Ascension Sunday                                         Sacrament:                                 Communion

Servant – Leaders:                                  8:30                                   10:50__________________

Preachers:                                              Jeff                                  Jeff

Children’s Story:                                     (none)

Media Person:

May Series:                                                “To Be a Lighthouse”

Sermon Title:                                            “Jesus, the Light”

Main Text:                                                  John 8:12-15

Secondary Text:                                         Ephesians 1:15-23

Theme:                                                     “Salvation” for all.

Brief explanation of Scripture Passages:

In the John passage, Jesus is once again quoted as claiming to be someone great: “I am the light of the world.” This is in keeping with his claims throughout John to be “the door, the good shepherd, the way, the truth, the life, the son of man, the living water. But he does not leave it there as merely a metaphor; he states the purpose of God in this is that men and women would not walk in the darkness (of sin) at all.

In the Ephesians passage, Paul drives home the truth of Jesus as the Christ, the Savior, who is willing to “give us wisdom, revelation” and open the eyes of our hearts. The centrality of Christ in Paul’s writing and theology is impossible to dispute. Christ fills all in all, and he works through the church as his body (vs. 22) so we may share the hope within us for eternal life.

Summary of Message: How sad it is that some choose to remain in darkness, separated from God forever. Our work as the church is to shine the light of Christ into all the dark places. We can do this through his Spirit which gives us the power.

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²²And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Jesus the Light of the World: John 8:12-15

¹²Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” ¹³Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” ¹⁴Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵You judge by human standards; I judge no one. ¹⁶Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. ¹⁷In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. ¹⁸I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” ¹⁹Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” ²⁰He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

[[Sermon Begins Here]]

Never once since the world began

Has the sun ever stopped his shining.

His face very often we could not see,

And we grumbled at his inconstancy;

But the clouds were really to blame, not he,

For, behind them, he was shining.

And so-behind life's darkest clouds

God's love is always shining.

We veil it at times with our faithless fears,

And darken our sight with our foolish tears,

But in time the atmosphere always clears,

For his love is always shining.

John Oxenham (1861-1941)

Felt Need this theme addresses: Lingering doubts about Christ as supreme Lord and Savior.

Desired Outcome of message and entire service: For Christ to take center stage in the life of our church because he is the only savior of the world.

Main Metaphor / Image: Lighthouse