Gospel of John

John 4:1-7 | “Sinner-Seeking Savior”

 
 
John 4:1-7 | “Sinner-Seeking Savior”
Pastor Will Stern

Sermon Summary:
In John 4:1–15, we meet a deeply broken Samaritan woman—but before she ever sought Jesus, Jesus was already seeking her. This sermon explores how Christ is a sinner-seeking Savior who came into the world to draw near to sinners, become weak for them, and initiate a relationship with them. Jesus “had” to pass through Samaria because it was the will of His Father to seek and save the lost. Through His weariness at the well and His conversation with this outcast woman, we see the grace of a Savior who crosses every barrier to bring living water to spiritually thirsty people.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Jesus seeks sinners by drawing near to them

  2. Jesus seeks sinners by becoming weak for them

  3. Jesus seeks sinners by initiating a relationship with them

Key Takeaway:
Jesus is not waiting for sinners to clean themselves up before coming to Him. He is the One who takes the initiative, draws near, and offers living water to all who are spiritually thirsty.

Application Questions:

  • Do you believe Jesus could truly seek and save someone as broken as you?

  • In what ways are you trying to satisfy your spiritual thirst apart from Christ?

  • How does Christ’s willingness to draw near to sinners shape the way you view other people?

  • What might it look like for you to respond to Christ’s invitation today?

John 3:31-36

John 3:31-36
Colin Sareyka, Pastoral Intern

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

 
 
John 3:22-30 | "He Must Increase, I Must Decrease"
Pastor Will Stern

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?

John 3:19-21

John 3:19-21

John 3:19-21

John 3:16-18

John 3:16-18

John 3:16-18

John 3:14-15

John 3:14-15

John 3:14-15

John 3:9-13

John 3:9-13

John 3:9-13