This fall at FBC will be working through the opening chapters of John’s Gospel as we begin a sermon series entitled “Believe.” This phrase is taken from John 20:31, which is essentially John’s purpose statement for his Gospel:
“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
While it is clear that the Apostle John is an evangelist at heart, his gospel has profound implications for all people, whether a person is just exploring Christianity or someone who has long been committed to Christ. We hope you will join us for this study as we strive to have our faith strengthened by a fresh look at the Savior.
“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
While it is clear that the Apostle John is an evangelist at heart, his gospel has profound implications for all people, whether a person is just exploring Christianity or someone who has long been committed to Christ. We hope you will join us for this study as we strive to have our faith strengthened by a fresh look at the Savior.
Sermons In This Series
1. In the Beginning (John 1:1-18, John 20:30-31)
Jesus was before all things. Though He is fully God, He took on flesh and came to this world to fulfill the Law and declare that the Kingdom of God is available to all men. Week 1 highlights the truth that the Light of the World came to earth with a mission. This is the gospel.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 1)
Monday - John 1:1-18
Tuesday - John 1:19-28
Wednesday - John 1:29-34
Thursday - John 1:35-42
Friday - John 1:43-51
Saturday - John 20:30-31
2. Seven Signs (John 2:1-12)
The gospel of John highlights seven miracles that bear witness to the fact that Jesus was divine. This week Pastor Jonathan shares the importance of these signs and reminds us to start giving more credit to the power of God than the power of evil in this world.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 2)
Monday - John 2:1-11
Tuesday - John 2:12 & Matthew 12:46-50
Wednesday - John 2:13-17 & Psalm 69
Thursday - John 2:18-22
Friday - Matthew 12:38-42
Saturday - John 2:23-25
3. Reborn (John 3:1-21)
In the 3rd chapter of John, Jesus explains what it means to be reborn. He says, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In week 3, Pastor Jonathan helps unpack the mystery of how faith in Jesus Christ brings the hope of new life to believers.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 3)
Monday - John 3:1-21
Tuesday - John 3:22-36
Wednesday - John 7:32-52
Thursday - John 19:28-42
Friday - Acts 2:1-13
Saturday - Acts 2:14-47
4. The Woman at the Well (John 4: 1-42) –Dustin Turner
Dustin Turner preaches on John 4: "The Woman at the Well." Jesus needed to go through Samaria for the purpose of ministering to this woman. Sometimes we go through difficult situations (our Samaria) and we try to understand why. Most often, we think the purpose will eventually surface to have been about us... but it is possible that the reason you are going through what you're going through is not about you at all, but it is about serving someone else. Pastor Jonathan also points out that in this chapter Jesus defines worship using two words: Spirit and Truth.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 4)
Monday - John 4:1-15 & Isaiah 55
Tuesday - John 4:16-18 & Matthew 19:1-6
Wednesday - John 4:19-26 & Romans 9
Thursday - John 4:27-38
Friday - John 4:39-45 & Matthew 13:53-58
Saturday - John 4:46-54
5. Jesus, Son of God (John 5:1-24)
In John 5, Jesus heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda and comes under attack for healing on the Sabbath. In this message Pastor Jonathan points to Jesus' love and compassion in contrast with the Pharisees' rules regulations. Jesus has a lengthy response for them, boldly declaring that He is equal with God, by calling Him "My Father." This is the first instance of Jesus publicly declaring that He is the Son of God.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 5)
Monday - John 5:1-18 & John 10:22-30
Tuesday - John 5:19-23
Wednesday - John 5:24-30
Thursday - 1 John 3:11-24
Friday - John 5:31-40 & Romans 2
Saturday - John 5:41-47 & Luke 24:25-27
6. Loaves and Fishes (John 6:1-14)
This week Pastor Jonathan takes us through the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in John 6. He emphasizes that just like the boy who only had 5 loaves and 2 fish, what we have in our hands God can use! He will make plentiful even our smallest sacrifice to Him! Just as the disciples did, we must trust in God.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 6)
Monday - John 6:1-15
Tuesday - Matthew 14:13-21
Wednesday - Mark 6:30-44
Thursday - Luke 9:10-17
Friday - John 6:16-21
Saturday - Matthew 14:22-33 & Mark 6:45-52
7. Bread of Life (John 6:22-60)
Pastor Jonathan takes us through the second half of John 6, pointing out our dire need for Jesus. We reduce God down to our way of thinking and then wonder why nothing changes. However, Jesus declares that He is the "Bread of Life." He is more than enough for us and He is all we need.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 7)
Monday - John 6:22-59
Tuesday - John 6:60-71
Wednesday - John 7:1-24
Thursday - John 7:25-31
Friday - John 7:32-39
Saturday - John 7:40-52
8. The First Stone (John 8:1-12; John 8:58-59)
In John 8, a woman is caught in the act of adultery. Traditionally, this would result in the woman being stoned to death, but Jesus says to the woman's accusers, (the Pharisees) "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." No one could. He then told the woman, "Go and sin no more." Pastor Jonathan emphasizes that we cannot love Jesus and not love people. Do we come to church with rocks and look for those who don't belong? We must strive to become disciples of Christ and not become like the Pharisees. None of us are perfect, but perfection has come to rescue us.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 8)
Monday - John 8:1-11
Tuesday - John 8:12-59
Wednesday - John 9
Thursday - John 10
Friday - John 11
Saturday - John 12
9. Jesus, Our Only Hope (John 9:1-44)
In this week, Pastor Jonathan tells the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and makes the point that Jesus is Sovereign over all and has a good purpose for those who love Him. When all seems hopeless Jesus is our only hope. He tells us "I am the resurrection and the life". These words give us hope in life and in death.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 9)
Monday - John 13
Tuesday - John 14:1-14
Wednesday - John 14:15-31
Thursday - John 15:1-17
Friday - John 15:18-27
Saturday - John 16
10. Last Prayer (John 17:1-26)
This week, Pastor Jonathan teaches from John 17 that "We are not here to retreat from the world, but to change it. We were not made to isolate ourselves from the world, but to insulate ourselves." Jesus took who He was and shifted it in a way that was inviting to everyone else. He cared for the sinner. The biggest opposer to His tactic was the Church. As the body of Christ we need to do as Christ did and take care of those consumed by the world.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 10)
Monday - John 17:1-5 & Philippians 2:1-11
Tuesday - John 17:1-5 & John 13:31-38
Wednesday - John 17:6-19 & John 16:15
Thursday - John 17:6-19 & John 7:33-36
Friday - John 17:20-26 & John 10:38
Saturday - John 17:20-26 & Psalm 16
11. Last Days (John 18)
In the final week of the series, Pastor Jonathan tells the story of Jesus' last days. He shares about the events from Jesus' arrest, His trial before Pontus Pilot, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. Without these final days, we would have no Gospel. Jesus came to take the pain of the whole world. "It wasn't the nails that held Him on that cross, it was His love for you and me. Jesus died that day to split Heaven wide open for you and for me." But it cannot stop at us. We must go into all the world and share the Gospel.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 11)
Monday - John 18:1-24 & Matthew 26:47-56
Tuesday - John 18:25-37 & Matthew 27:1-31
Wednesday - John 19:1-16 & Matthew 27:32-44
Thursday - John 19:17-42 & Matthew 27:45-66
Friday - John 20
Saturday - John 21
Jesus was before all things. Though He is fully God, He took on flesh and came to this world to fulfill the Law and declare that the Kingdom of God is available to all men. Week 1 highlights the truth that the Light of the World came to earth with a mission. This is the gospel.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 1)
Monday - John 1:1-18
Tuesday - John 1:19-28
Wednesday - John 1:29-34
Thursday - John 1:35-42
Friday - John 1:43-51
Saturday - John 20:30-31
2. Seven Signs (John 2:1-12)
The gospel of John highlights seven miracles that bear witness to the fact that Jesus was divine. This week Pastor Jonathan shares the importance of these signs and reminds us to start giving more credit to the power of God than the power of evil in this world.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 2)
Monday - John 2:1-11
Tuesday - John 2:12 & Matthew 12:46-50
Wednesday - John 2:13-17 & Psalm 69
Thursday - John 2:18-22
Friday - Matthew 12:38-42
Saturday - John 2:23-25
3. Reborn (John 3:1-21)
In the 3rd chapter of John, Jesus explains what it means to be reborn. He says, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In week 3, Pastor Jonathan helps unpack the mystery of how faith in Jesus Christ brings the hope of new life to believers.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 3)
Monday - John 3:1-21
Tuesday - John 3:22-36
Wednesday - John 7:32-52
Thursday - John 19:28-42
Friday - Acts 2:1-13
Saturday - Acts 2:14-47
4. The Woman at the Well (John 4: 1-42) –Dustin Turner
Dustin Turner preaches on John 4: "The Woman at the Well." Jesus needed to go through Samaria for the purpose of ministering to this woman. Sometimes we go through difficult situations (our Samaria) and we try to understand why. Most often, we think the purpose will eventually surface to have been about us... but it is possible that the reason you are going through what you're going through is not about you at all, but it is about serving someone else. Pastor Jonathan also points out that in this chapter Jesus defines worship using two words: Spirit and Truth.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 4)
Monday - John 4:1-15 & Isaiah 55
Tuesday - John 4:16-18 & Matthew 19:1-6
Wednesday - John 4:19-26 & Romans 9
Thursday - John 4:27-38
Friday - John 4:39-45 & Matthew 13:53-58
Saturday - John 4:46-54
5. Jesus, Son of God (John 5:1-24)
In John 5, Jesus heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda and comes under attack for healing on the Sabbath. In this message Pastor Jonathan points to Jesus' love and compassion in contrast with the Pharisees' rules regulations. Jesus has a lengthy response for them, boldly declaring that He is equal with God, by calling Him "My Father." This is the first instance of Jesus publicly declaring that He is the Son of God.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 5)
Monday - John 5:1-18 & John 10:22-30
Tuesday - John 5:19-23
Wednesday - John 5:24-30
Thursday - 1 John 3:11-24
Friday - John 5:31-40 & Romans 2
Saturday - John 5:41-47 & Luke 24:25-27
6. Loaves and Fishes (John 6:1-14)
This week Pastor Jonathan takes us through the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in John 6. He emphasizes that just like the boy who only had 5 loaves and 2 fish, what we have in our hands God can use! He will make plentiful even our smallest sacrifice to Him! Just as the disciples did, we must trust in God.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 6)
Monday - John 6:1-15
Tuesday - Matthew 14:13-21
Wednesday - Mark 6:30-44
Thursday - Luke 9:10-17
Friday - John 6:16-21
Saturday - Matthew 14:22-33 & Mark 6:45-52
7. Bread of Life (John 6:22-60)
Pastor Jonathan takes us through the second half of John 6, pointing out our dire need for Jesus. We reduce God down to our way of thinking and then wonder why nothing changes. However, Jesus declares that He is the "Bread of Life." He is more than enough for us and He is all we need.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 7)
Monday - John 6:22-59
Tuesday - John 6:60-71
Wednesday - John 7:1-24
Thursday - John 7:25-31
Friday - John 7:32-39
Saturday - John 7:40-52
8. The First Stone (John 8:1-12; John 8:58-59)
In John 8, a woman is caught in the act of adultery. Traditionally, this would result in the woman being stoned to death, but Jesus says to the woman's accusers, (the Pharisees) "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." No one could. He then told the woman, "Go and sin no more." Pastor Jonathan emphasizes that we cannot love Jesus and not love people. Do we come to church with rocks and look for those who don't belong? We must strive to become disciples of Christ and not become like the Pharisees. None of us are perfect, but perfection has come to rescue us.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 8)
Monday - John 8:1-11
Tuesday - John 8:12-59
Wednesday - John 9
Thursday - John 10
Friday - John 11
Saturday - John 12
9. Jesus, Our Only Hope (John 9:1-44)
In this week, Pastor Jonathan tells the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and makes the point that Jesus is Sovereign over all and has a good purpose for those who love Him. When all seems hopeless Jesus is our only hope. He tells us "I am the resurrection and the life". These words give us hope in life and in death.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 9)
Monday - John 13
Tuesday - John 14:1-14
Wednesday - John 14:15-31
Thursday - John 15:1-17
Friday - John 15:18-27
Saturday - John 16
10. Last Prayer (John 17:1-26)
This week, Pastor Jonathan teaches from John 17 that "We are not here to retreat from the world, but to change it. We were not made to isolate ourselves from the world, but to insulate ourselves." Jesus took who He was and shifted it in a way that was inviting to everyone else. He cared for the sinner. The biggest opposer to His tactic was the Church. As the body of Christ we need to do as Christ did and take care of those consumed by the world.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 10)
Monday - John 17:1-5 & Philippians 2:1-11
Tuesday - John 17:1-5 & John 13:31-38
Wednesday - John 17:6-19 & John 16:15
Thursday - John 17:6-19 & John 7:33-36
Friday - John 17:20-26 & John 10:38
Saturday - John 17:20-26 & Psalm 16
11. Last Days (John 18)
In the final week of the series, Pastor Jonathan tells the story of Jesus' last days. He shares about the events from Jesus' arrest, His trial before Pontus Pilot, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. Without these final days, we would have no Gospel. Jesus came to take the pain of the whole world. "It wasn't the nails that held Him on that cross, it was His love for you and me. Jesus died that day to split Heaven wide open for you and for me." But it cannot stop at us. We must go into all the world and share the Gospel.
Daily Bible Reading (Week 11)
Monday - John 18:1-24 & Matthew 26:47-56
Tuesday - John 18:25-37 & Matthew 27:1-31
Wednesday - John 19:1-16 & Matthew 27:32-44
Thursday - John 19:17-42 & Matthew 27:45-66
Friday - John 20
Saturday - John 21