The Big Point: Our lives are not in balance because we don’t recognize Jesus is all we need.

The Seven I Am’s

1. The Bread of Life – Question Your Motives

Run up: John 6:22-34 Jesus had just fed the 5K. They followed Him around on boats from one side of the Genareset to the other. Pick through the passage for possible motives for doing this. (Trust me, it involved a LOT of paddling, there’s powerful motivation going on). The correction comes where? What is the “right” motive? What was the quick fix the crowd was looking for?

Pivot: When Jesus reveals the true source of the Manna in Exodus 16:4

Then Jesus declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. ⏤ John 6:35

The Point: The fuel we really need is not physical, but spiritual food. So when we are hungry, turn to the Bread of Life

2. The Light of the World – Question Your Righteousness

Run up: John 7:3-8, What did Jesus’ brothers so to deflect their unrighteousness (sinfulness)? What does it mean the world hates Jesus because its deeds are evil?

John 7:27-28,41,52, People supposed Jesus came from Nazareth. Is this true, Is what they say here true? Why or why not? Can you quote a Scripture for your answer?

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. ⏤ John 8:12

The Point: What Jesus’ words and deeds point to must not be trivialized or deflected. We need to evaluate ourselves in the light of Scripture rather than excuse our faults and deflect by pointing out others’).

3. The Door – Question Your Truth (Who are you listening to?)

Run up: John 10:1-8 Why does Jesus say truly truly? What does that mean? What do the metaphors mean. Door, shepherd, sheep, strangers? Sheepfolds in that day were walled pens, open to the sky, but tall enough to keep things that eat sheep from getting inside. A shepherd was stationed at the door to filter the sheep from the sheep eaters. What are the modern day sheep eaters? Are motives involved?

How would you recognize one? (Hint: the same way you recognize a phony $100 bill.) How do you know you’re a sheep? Hmm?

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ⏤ John 10:9

The Point: Despite what we would like to think, there’s no shortcut to the truth that we are saved only by the Door. We cannot water this truth down in hearing and talking about salvation.

4. The Good Shepherd – Question Your Rest

Run up: Psalm 23:1-3 What are your needs? What are your wants? Do you/we self-shepherd? What unintended consequences came from that? How far out is my vision? Whose vision is it (through whose eyes)?

John 10:12-14 – Do we flee when the bad times come? Stick our head in the sand? Do you know Him?

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. ⏤ John 10:11

The Point: It is decidedly uneasy to rest in Christ without knowing who He is and surrendering vision.

5. The Resurrection and the Life – Question Your Future

Run up: 1 Cor15:12-17 – This is the very core of the Christian faith, the Gospel, and that Christ has been raised from the dead. It absolutely blows the fuse of the human invention of works righteousness, and removes any and all hop apart from Christ. It is the central testing place and chief point of all our faith and hope and trust. Nothing is more important. If we do not have this firmly in place, why bother?

1 Cor 15:3:8, Luke 24:34, Mark 16:14, Acts 9:3-8 –

Is there any hope without the Resurrection? Yes, no, and why?

Is there any way to prove this really took place?

• Mat 12:38-40, 26:21 17:9, 17:22-23, 20:18-19, 26:32, 27:63.
• Mark 8:31, 9:1, 10, 31, 10:32-34, 14:28, 58
• Luke 9:22-27
• John 2:18-22, 12:34, Ch 14-16

Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. ⏤ John 11:25-26

The Point: Nothing is more important in all personal & world history than the authenticity that the resurrection.

6. The Way, the Truth, and the Life – Question Your Roadmap

Run up: John 13:33-38 – Was life going to be easier or rougher for Jesus & the disciples in the near future?

What was the bad news they heard from Jesus?

Whose roadmap was Peter following?

OK, whose do you & I use?

Did that roadmap include the place they couldn’t go? (Hint: if your roadmap/life plan goes to places you can’t go, does that raise any flags?

John 14:1-5 – The heart looks for the way, the truth is there is one roadmap, and the life is the one our earthly roadmap can’t take us to.

Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⏤ John 14:6

The Point: Early Christians often referred to themselves as followers of The Way. (Acts 19:9,23 24:14) So should we.

7. The Vine – Question Your Cleanliness

Run up: John 15:1-4 – What does abide mean? Can you abide something?

Can you not abide another?

What about this business pruning, what is that?

Wanna stick around (abide) when times go pear shaped?

Why?

Gal 5:22-23 – What does it mean to bear fruit?

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⏤ John 15:5

The Point: Be the dude who abides.

Enough Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio

VERSE 1:
You are my supply
My breath of life
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more awesome than I know

CHORUS:
All of You is more than enough for
All of me for every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

VERSE 2:
You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You’re my coming King
You are everything
Still more awesome than I know

BRIDGE:
More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can see
You are more than enough