Gospel of John

Isaiah 58:13-14

 
 

Do you want to delight in God more?

In Isaiah 58:13–14, God makes an incredible promise: that His people will delight in Him, be lifted up in their spiritual lives, and be deeply satisfied in His provision. But this promise doesn’t stand alone—it comes with a path.

In this sermon, we explore what it means to truly honor the Lord’s Day. What does it look like to stop trampling it? How can we learn to delight in it rather than endure it? And how does setting apart one day in seven actually lead us into deeper joy in God?

Far from being a burden, the Sabbath is a gift—a weekly invitation to rest, worship, and communion with God. And ultimately, it points us to Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath, in whom true rest and lasting delight are found.

Outline:

  • The Promise: Delight, elevation, and satisfaction in God (Isaiah 58:14)

  • The Problem: Trampling the Lord’s Day

  • The Invitation: Delighting in the Lord’s Day

  • The Practice: Honoring the Lord’s Day in everyday life

Main Takeaway:
If you want to delight in God, learn to delight in the day He has set apart for Himself.

Application Questions:

  1. In what ways might you be treating the Lord’s Day like any other day?

  2. Do you view Sunday more as a burden or a gift—and why?

  3. What would it look like to structure your day around worship, rest, and fellowship?

  4. How does Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, reshape the way you think about rest?

John 3:22-30 | “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

 
 

What if your lack of joy, constant comparison, or tendency to argue is actually rooted in pride? In this sermon from John 3:22–30, we examine how pride subtly shapes our hearts—and how true humility leads to freedom, joy, and a life centered on Christ.

John the Baptist’s disciples reveal three common marks of pride: being argumentative, competitive, and self-exalting. In contrast, John himself models true humility—marked by thankfulness, joy, and a desire to exalt Christ above all.

At the heart of this passage is John’s well-known confession: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is not only a statement about John’s ministry, but a call for every believer. As we grow in the Christian life, we learn to take our eyes off ourselves and fix them more fully on Christ—finding that our greatest joy is found in Him.

Outline:

Three Marks of Pride:

  1. Argumentative

  2. Competitive

  3. Self-exalting

Three Marks of Humility:

  1. Thankful

  2. Joyful

  3. Christ-exalting

Key Verse:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Questions for Reflection:

  • Where does pride show up in my relationships or conversations?

  • Do I find myself comparing or competing with others?

  • Is my joy rooted in Christ—or in how I measure up to others?

  • What would it look like today to decrease so that Christ might increase?