💡 A Living Parable: Spiritual Sight and Blindness (John 9)

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Join us as we dive into John chapter 9, exploring the dramatic story of Jesus healing the man born blind, which the sermon frames as a "living parable". This passage beautifully illustrates profound spiritual realities, God's sovereign grace, and the stark contrast between true spiritual sight and wilful blindness.

• Inconvenient Compassion: Discover how Jesus, amidst hostility and danger (they had just picked up stones to throw at him), went out of his way to show compassion to the blind man. Compassion often requires self-sacrifice and is rarely convenient.

  
  

• Providence in Brokenness to Display Glory: Jesus explains that the man's blindness was not a result of his own sin or his parents' sin, but rather so "that the works of God might be displayed in him". The brokenness in our lives can become a showpiece for God's grace and healing work, like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, where broken ceramics are mended with gold to highlight—not hide—the cracks.

  
  

• Salvation Imaged: The healing process—Jesus making mud with spit, anointing the man's eyes, and sending him to wash in the Pool of Siloam ("which means sent") —is a powerful image of salvation. It reveals both sovereign grace (Jesus pursuing the man who didn't ask) and human responsibility (the man's obedience/belief to wash).

  
  

• Grace on Trial: See the tragic and unbelievable response of the neighbors and the Pharisees who, instead of celebrating a great miracle, put grace on trial by focusing on religious standards and questioning if Jesus broke the Sabbath.

  
  

• The Power of Fear: The parents' fear of being "put out of the synagogue" (ostracized from the community) led them to deflect and refuse to confess Jesus as the Christ. We are challenged to consider what fears keep us from unrestrained obedience.

  
  

• He Who Believes Truly Sees: After being cast out by the religious leaders, Jesus "found him" and revealed his identity: "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you". The man's response—"Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him" —is the final validation of true spiritual sight.

  
  

Scripture Reference: John 9:1-41

This sermon was given on Nov 2, 2025

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Wednesday Night Gathering

A Study in the Book of Acts

Pastor Jeff Scott

Persecution, Hell, & The Gospel: Unpacking the Tension in John 8

Sermon Graphical OutlineDive into a powerful message that examines the intense drama of John chapter 8, where Jesus confronts his enemies with the radical truth of his identity and the eternal stakes of belief. This sermon explores the downward spiral of rejection Jesus faced and connects it directly to the reality of persecution for Christians today.In this message, we cover:The Downward Spiral of Rejection : Witness how Jesus' opponents moved from theological debate to name-calling—labeling him a Samaritan (a "half-breed apostate") and accusing him of having a demon. This highlights a strategy to diminish influence when argument fails.Matters of Life and Death: The Reality of Hell : Jesus' willingness to endure abuse is rooted in the high stakes of his message: deliverance from eternal death. We explore the biblical teaching on hell, including Jesus' descriptions of it as unquenchable fire and outer darkness. We break down the three specific consequences of hell: punishment, destruction, and banishment.Grace in the Face of Blasphemy : Despite the intense hostility and blasphemy he received, Jesus extended an invitation to life. The message stresses that the world's enemies and persecutors are the mission field , and Christians are called to demonstrate grace, even to those who hurt them.The Power of Christ's Word : What does it mean to "keep my word" and "never see death"? We clarify that the first command of Christ is belief (faith alone - sole fide) , which then expresses itself in good works.The Climax: "Before Abraham Was, I Am" : The sermon builds to Jesus' climactic declaration of his pre-existence and deity, connecting his presence on the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) to Abraham's prophecy that "The Lord will provide".The Light is Chased Away : The message concludes with the tragic, yet temporary, rejection of Christ—the glory of God being chased from the temple —and the triumphant promise that he is undeterred, returning to Jerusalem as the Lamb of God to secure life for all who believe.Scripture Reference: John 8:48-59

Key Theme: Jesus' identity as God, the reality of eternal death, and the mission of extending grace to those who persecute.If you are struggling with the reality of persecution or wrestling with the eternal consequences of life and death, this message offers clear, biblical truth and powerful encouragement.#Sermon #John8 #Persecution #Hell #TheGospel #ChristianLife #JesusIsGod #BibleTeaching