12 What could be worse? (Jn 5:1-15)

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Sermon Outline

1. Would you rather…
2. The Setting (John 5:1-4)
   1. Preliminary Things
      1. After this (Jn 4:43-54)
      2. The feast (Acts 2)
      3. Bethesda, the Sheep Gate, and the pool.
      4. The Multitudes (Jn 5:3)
   2. Where’s verse 4?
      1. Textual Criticism
      2. The Character of God?
3. The Man Jesus Sees (Jn 5:5-9)
   1. The man’s life
   2. Jesus sees him (Jn 5:6a)
   3. Jesus knew his struggle (Jn 5:6a)
   4. Jesus asks a question with implications for life (Jn 5:6a)
   5. The man’s answer (Jn 5:7)
   6. Jesus commands (Jn 5:8)
4. What is truly challenging about the story comes in v.14
   1. The man is in the temple – which is a good sign
   2. But Jesus sees something in him, in his religious life that raises a concern
      1. What worse could happen than 38 years an invalidity?
      2. Let me give you the answer:
         1. Spiritual death resulting from sin is worse.
         2. Remaining under condemnation, b/c one rejects Jesus as the Son of God.
      3. How do we sin no more?
         1. All of this begs the Q – How?
         2. 2 answers –
            1. First: believe in Jesus. (Acts 16:31, Jn 5:39-40)
            2. Second: Abide in Christ (Jn 15:4-7, 2Cor 4:16)
         3. What could be worse?