"From Desperation to True Faith"

Sermon Notes are available for you to follow along below, or for download here.

Sermon Notes
SERIES:  Gospel of John
​Sermon Scripture:  John 4:43-54

​Jesus Contemplates Unbelief: True Faith Requires Actual Commitment, not Spiritual Curiosity. (43-45)

• Whereas the Samaritans received Jesus as Savior, the Jews failed to honor him.
  • It is possible to welcome Jesus without truly _____________ him.
  • There is a way to believe in Jesus without truly _____________ in him.
• Despite their rejection, Jesus continued to go to his own.

Jesus Confronts Unbelief: True Faith is Based on Informed Belief, not Emotional Feelings. (46-49)

• Jesus criticizes all the people of Galilee for their faithless desire to see signs and miracles. (47-48)
  • These people were _________-seekers. At the root of their desire for miracles was unbelief.
    • Unbelievers do not love God. They _______ God.
    • We must beware of spiritual self-entitlement by thinking we deserve Jesus’ blessings.
      • This minimizes God’s __________.
    • We must avoid over-familiarity with Jesus so that he becomes normal and cannot shock us.
      • This minimizes God’s ___________.
    • They should have been _________-seekers. They needed Christ more than they needed miracles.
      • Sign seekers say, “I have a health need, _______ it.”
      • Savior seekers say, “I have a sin problem, ____________ it.”

Jesus Conquers Unbelief: True Faith is Rooted in a Growing Dependence, not a Single Decision. (50-54)

• True faith comes from hearing God’s word. (50-51)
  • Capernaum was 15 miles away from Galilee.
    • Jesus’ word is not limited by ____________.
  • The city could have been 15,000 miles away.
    • Jesus’ power is not lessened by _____________.
• The way to increase faith is to ____________ faith. (52-53)
  • The _______ of faith: “When he heard Jesus had come to Galilee... he asked him to heal his son.”
  • The __________ of faith: “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
  • The __________ of faith: “The man believed the word Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.”
  • The __________ of faith: “And he himself believed and all his household.”
• This story reveals three amazing truths about Jesus.
  • Jesus is _____________.
  • Jesus is _____________.
  • Jesus is ________