Before Abraham Was Born, I Am

In one paragraph

Pastor John opened in John 8, picking up where last week's passage about the woman caught in adultery left off, and followed Jesus through a sustained confrontation with the Pharisees in the temple. The sermon traced how Jesus made his identity plain, repeatedly and without theatrics, and how people either received it or hardened against it. The central question he left with the congregation was...

Read together

1. John 8:12 opening verse read aloud: I am the light of the world
2. Romans 10:17 faith comes from hearing the word of Christ
3. John 8:2-11 woman caught in adultery, scribes and Pharisees testing Jesus
4. Exodus 31:18 two tablets written by the finger of God, compared to Jesus writing on the ground
5. Romans 8:1 no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
6. John 7:37-38 if anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink, rivers of living water
7. John 8:13-59 main sermon text: I am the light of the world through before Abraham was born I am
8. Deuteronomy 19:15 on the testimony of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed
9. Matthew 18:16 every matter established by testimony of two or three witnesses
10. 2 Corinthians 13:1 every matter must be established by two or three witnesses
11. 1 Timothy 5:19 do not entertain an accusation against an elder except on two or three witnesses
12. Hebrews 10:28 anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on testimony of two or three witnesses
13. Luke 4:16-19 Jesus read the Isaiah scroll at his first recorded sermon, stopping before the day of vengeance
14. Genesis 12:1-4 God told Abram to leave his land and go to a place God would show him
15. Romans 4:3 Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness
16. Numbers 6:24-26 closing benediction: may the Lord bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you

Talk about it

1. The pastor talked about how people naturally broke into 'teams' around Jesus, and how most of us are more prone to self-righteousness than to actual righteousness. Where do you see that tendency showing up in your own life?
2. The pastor described the boy who grew up in church listing all the things he needed to do, while the other boy simply accepted that Jesus died to pay his penalty. What does it look like in practice to trust Jesus that simply, rather than reaching for a list?
3. Jesus told the people who had initially believed him, 'If you continue in my word, then you are truly my disciples.' What does continuing in his word look like day to day, and what tends to pull you away from it?
4. The pastor pointed out that confirmation bias kept the Pharisees from hearing Jesus, that their preconceived notions would not let his words land. Are there areas where you think your own assumptions might be doing the same thing?
5. Three times in chapters seven and eight Jesus makes what the pastor called open gospel invitations, to anyone who is thirsty, to anyone who follows his word. What do you think it costs someone to take him up on that, and what holds people back?