First Alliance Church ATL

08-18-19 Kevin Goins - The Truth About The Truth That Sets Us Free, part 2

“The Truth about the Truth that Sets Us Free” (Pt 2) John 8:30-36

John 8:32 has been used by all sorts of people to promote all sorts of ideas. But a biblical text cannot mean whatever we want it to mean. What is the truth about the truth that sets us free?

I The truth that sets us free isn’t only for the believer. In fact, it’s actually directed at the non-believer (8:30).
II There is a truth that can set us free, but many are skeptical of this (8:31a)
III Third, to be set free by the truth, we must use our _________ (8:32).
A. Verse 32 does ____ say what we Bible-believing Christians should ___________ it to say.
-Over and over the Bibles says we must _________. Yet here Jesus says we must __________.
B. One of the greatest issues of the Christian life has always been the relationship between f________ and f___________.
The Bible does not take an _____-intellectual approach to the Christian life because it was God who created our ________ as well as our spirit.
D. An anti-intellectual approach to the Bible is actually more in keeping with the __________ approach to the Bible.

IV The truth is a __________(8:31-32).
A. The truth that sets us free is objective fact, but these facts are not about ________; these facts are about a __________.
B. You cannot know the truth without being a disciple of Jesus, and you cannot be a disciple of Jesus without having a p___________ c____________ with him.
C. If truth is focused on a __________, then we need that _________ to know the truth.

V We Evangelicals aren’t comfortable talking about ________.
-When we act as if faith is all we have, that there is nothing we can know, we drive ___________ __________ out of the church and we face our culture with ________.

08-04-19 Kevin Goins - The Truth About the Truth That Sets Us Free

“The Truth about the Truth that Sets Us Free” John 8:30-36

John 8:32 has been used by all sorts of people to promote all sorts of ideas. But a biblical text cannot mean whatever we want it to mean. What then is this text actually saying?

I This text is one of the best k_______ and most q_________ in the Bible.

II What is the truth about the truth that sets us free? The truth that sets us free isn’t only for the ___________. In fact, it’s actually directed at the ____-___________.
A. The one who is not yet in the Kingdom of God has a more __________ need for the truth that sets us free than the believer.
B. Who is Jesus __________ to in this text?
1. It seems as if Jesus is addressing these words to b__________, but there is good reason to ___________ that.
a. First, that expression, “many put their faith in him,” is not as _______________ as it sounds.
b. Second, Jesus just said that people cannot truly believe in him until he is c____________.
c. Third, these people chose to believe b_________ they heard all they needed to hear.
2. Those who most need to hear what Jesus says about truth are people who do ____ ______ know Jesus.

III There _____ a truth that can set us free but that is a very d__________ statement in our world today.
A. There are some who say there is ___ _______ ________ as truth.
B. There are some who believe truth exists, but only certain _______ of truth can be known.
C. Jesus said there is truth and it is found in ______ ____________, but for this truth to change us we must ______ to it
D. To live in his truth means two things:
1. We must get it into our _______ through _________.
2. We must ______ what it says.

07-28-19 Kevin Goins - The Wrong Side of the Jesus Divide

“The Wrong Side of the Jesus Divide” John 8:21-29

Just as there is a mountain range which divides the American continent, so there is a divide in the spiritual world which stands between those who belong to the Kingdom of Light and those who belong to the kingdom of darkness. This divide is Jesus. What puts people on the wrong side of the Jesus divide?

I. S_______ p_______ puts people on the wrong side of the Jesus divide.
A. The Pharisees cannot hear what Jesus says about their sins,
because for them sin was not a ________.
B. We all believe we are way above average. Psychologists call this the state of i____________ s_____________.

II. Allegiance to the ________ puts people on the wrong side of the Jesus divide (8:23).
A. Jesus says two things in vs 23 about these people: First, there is a s_________ divide between them.
B. Second, Jesus says there is a k_________ divide between them.
1. In John the “world” is defined as the system of life and thought which __________ God.
2. The world is not only a thought system which is opposed to the Kingdom of God, but the world does all it can to ______ people _____ of the Kingdom of God.

III. _________ puts people on the wrong side of the Jesus divide.
A. When Jesus says we must believe, what exactly must we believe?
1. We must believe that Jesus is ______.
2. We must believe that God is _______.
3. We must believe that Jesus was _________.
4. We must believe that it was Jesus’ death on the ______ that saved us from our sin.
B. There is ______ to know about Jesus, but if we do not believe these _____ things we will find ourselves on the wrong side of the Jesus divide.

IV. W_________ i___________ puts people on the wrong side of the Jesus divide (8:25-27).

07-21-19 - Kevin Goins - Confrontation, conclusion

“Confrontation!” (Conclusion)  John 8:13-20

Thus far in our study of confrontation in John 8 we have seen five principles which can guide us when we need to confront someone. Today we look at the last two principles.

I The first principle is this: Confrontation should only take place when there is a real reason for it (8:13).
II The second principle: Confrontation must overcome ignorance (8:14).
III The third principle: Confrontation must make the truth known w/o condemnation (8:15).
IV The fourth principle: Confrontation must never exclude God or God’s Word (8:16).
V The fifth principle: Confrontation, if at all possible, should not be done alone (8:17-18).

VI The sixth principle: Confrontation should be _______ focused on the _______ issue (8:19).

A. The Pharisees think when Jesus says, “my Father” he means his _________ father.

B. For Jesus it is not just about God as an ______ or ____________. For Jesus the issue is this: Do you know God as your __________?

C. We should not confront for ___________ issues and we should not confront for ___________ issues.

D. Confrontation has one primary purpose: to __________ _______________.

VII The final principle: The ________ of confrontation is always in _____ hands (8:20).

A. Think what Jesus was _________ by confronting the Pharisees.

1. He knew they would not ________.
2. He knew they wanted to _______ him.

B. When we confront, we have no idea whether the person we confront will _________ and see the truth, or _________ their eyes.

VIII Let’s think back to that story we started writing in the beginning of the message.

A. There are times in our lives when we are a J_______ - there is someone we love who needs to be confronted.

B. There are times in our lives when we are J_______ - we need to be confronted.

C. How we respond, as a Jack or as a Jill, will determine whether we, or the ones we love, experience life as v_______ or d_________.

07-14-19 - Kevin Goins - Confrontation, part 3

“Confrontation!” (pt. 3) John 8:13-20

In our return to the Gospel of John we have been asking the question, “Who is Jesus?” John 8:12 says he is the light of the world. Today we see that Jesus is one who is not afraid to confront. In our text we find seven principles that can guide us when we need to confront:

I Confrontation should only take place when there is a real reason for it.
II Confrontation must overcome ignorance
III Confrontation must make the truth known without condemnation.

IV Confrontation must never exclude ______ or _______ ________ (8:16).
A. Sometimes we get upset about things that are only matters of ____________, but we still try to confront.
1. When we try to make a matter of personal taste a __________ issue, we get into __________.
When we act like a biblical issue is ______ a matter of personal taste, we get into _______ trouble.
B. We have a problem today because there are _____ supposed authorities which have taken the authority that belongs to ______.
1. First, there is __________ authority.
2. Second, there is ____________ authority.

V Confrontation, if at all possible, should not be done ________ (8:17-18).
A. Jesus says, “In fact, I am not alone. There are ______ who support my statement that I am the light of the world.”
1. One is _____.
2. The other witness is the ________ who _____ me.
B. A Qal Wahomer argument is an argument from the ________ to the __________.
C. Why should we not confront alone?
1. First, it is better for the one who is _______ confronted.
2. Second, it is better for the one who __________.

07-07-19 - Kevin Goins - Confrontation, part 2

“Confrontation!” (pt. 2) John 8:13-20

In our return to the Gospel of John we have been asking the question, “Who is Jesus?” John 8:12 says he is the light of the world. Today we see that Jesus is one who is not afraid to confront. In our text we find seven principles that can guide us when we need to confront:

I The first principle is this: Confrontation should only take place when there is a real reason for it.

II The second principle: Confrontation must overcome ______________.
A. Jesus says, “Even if you ignore all my witnesses you should believe me because of where I am ______ and where I am ________.
1. Where is he from? He is from _____.
2. Where is he going? He is going to _______.
The Pharisees should have recognized where Jesus was from and where he was going, but they didn’t, because they chose to be ____________.
C. People who need to be confronted are people who have been
deceived, either by __________ or by the _________ around them.
D. Ignorance makes confrontation necessary, but we must ________ the ignorant.

III The third principle: Confrontation must make the truth known without ______________.
A. Jesus could judge perfectly, and that is what makes the following statement so ___________ - He says, “I pass judgment on ____ _____.”
B. Only when he _______ from the Father, and the Father _________ his judgment, only then does Jesus judge.
C. We humans can’t listen to people who condemn us – Our emotional s_______- p____________ instinct won’t let us.

IV One of the most common ways we condemn people today is by using __________.
-This is how condemnation works: We condemn people in our ________, then we ____________ them by giving them a label, and then we feel free to ______ them.

06-30-19 - Kevin Goins - Confrontation

“Confrontation!” John 8:13-20

In our return to the Gospel of John we have been asking the question, “Who is Jesus?” Last Sunday we saw that he is the light of the world. Today we see that Jesus is one who is not afraid to confront. In our text we find seven principles that can guide us when we need to confront:

I The first principle is this: Confrontation should only take place when there is a r________ r__________ for it.
A. Some believe they have been given the ministry of a____________.
B. Confrontation is a legitimate tool to rescue people from self-deception, but confrontation must not be entered into q_______ly or l________ly.

II What made this confrontation necessary?
A. The Pharisees denied the _________ of what Jesus had just said.
1. They did not deny what he said on the basis of the _________.
2. They denied what he said on the basis of an obscure _________ principle.
B. The Pharisees were not only using an obscure legal principle to discredit Jesus, but they m_____________ it.
C. The Pharisees were not only accusing Jesus of lying about himself, they were also trying to _________ _____.
D. Jesus had already d_______ with their objection and had answered it c__________.
1. Beginning with John 5:32, Jesus lists five witnesses who can give evidence that he speaks the truth: John the Baptist, _____ the _______, the work that Jesus is doing, _______, and the ___________.
2. The fact that the Pharisees bring up this issue of witnesses after Jesus had already dealt with it shows that the Pharisees were not only blind, they were ___________ blind.

III The issue is: should ___ ever do what Jesus does here?

06-23-19 Kevin Goins - Jesus the light?

“Jesus the Light?” John 8:12

Christianity raises many questions in the minds of both believers and non-believers, but there is no more fundamental question for both groups than this: Who is Jesus? We now enter a passage of the Fourth Gospel where answering this question is John’s directive. Who is Jesus?

I We who have been Christians for years sometimes find it easy to
overlook the basics of our faith, and for Christianity it cannot get any more basic than _________.

II If you want to know who Jesus is you will not find a better answer than the “__ ____” statements of John’s Gospel. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the ________ of the world.”
As important as the word ______ is, we need to start with “I am….”
B. The words translated, “I am,” can also mean something very
different: “__ ___ ___ __ ____.”
C. In Hebrew “I am” is the word Y__________, which is the personal name of God in the Old Testament.
D. Who is Jesus? He is “I am.” He is the third person of the trinity – God in the _________

III On this particular occasion Jesus adds a ___________ to ego eimi – He says, I am the light of the world.”
A. When Jesus looked at the world he saw __________, and that is what we see.
B. There is a reason the world is filled with darkness – it’s because ____ are filled with darkness.
C. The light of Jesus is not only for certain peoples, races, or nations. Jesus says, “I am the light of the c__________.”

IV Then, Jesus makes a ____________: “Whoever follows me will n______ walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
A. Many want the light of Jesus, but they want Jesus to b_______ his light to where t_____ a____.
B. The light of Jesus is on the move, and if we want that light we must ________ him – We must ________ Jesus.

11-25-2018 Kevin Goins - I Love A Mystery

“I Love a Mystery” (conclusion) John 7:53-8:12

Someone has said, “We all love a good mystery.” If that’s true, then we should really enjoy the passage we’re looking at today because it is loaded with mysteries.

I The first mystery is the mystery of the misplaced story.
II The second mystery is the mystery of iniquity.

III The third mystery is the mystery of the m___________ a___________ (8:3-6a).
A. The fact that only h______ of the wrongdoers were brought to justice tells us that something s____________ is taking place.
B. Putting Jesus into what they thought was a “No-_____” situation was their ______ reason for accusing this woman.

IV The fourth mystery is the mystery of the w______ in the s_________ (8:6b-9a).
A. It’s not w______ Jesus wrote in the dust that is important – For two reasons:
1. If what he wrote was important, we would have been t_______ what it was.
2. When John says (8:9) that the accusers went away, he says it was because of what they h_______ from Jesus, not because of what they s____ written in the dirt.
B. In response to their question, Jesus i________ the Pharisees, showing them that he doesn’t take their show of righteousness s____________.

V The fifth mystery is the mystery of the Holy Spirit’s power to c___________ us with our sin (8:9).
A. When these men first dragged in the girl, they felt no g_______ at all.
B. Jesus said sentence against the woman must be carried out only by those who are not guilty of the s_______ s_____.

VI The sixth mystery is the mystery of the g________ of the Lord Jesus Christ (8:9-11).
A. The one who had every right to c_________ her, chose not to,
because his mission was not to condemn, but to s_______.
B. When Jesus said, “I do not condemn you,” he knew what those words would cost him - they would cost him the ________.

11-11-18 Kevin Goins - A Mysterious Story

“A Mysterious Story”
John 7:53-8:12

Someone has said, “We all love a good mystery.” If that’s true, then we should really enjoy the passage we’re looking at today because it is loaded with mysteries. This morning we are going to focus on two of these mysteries:

I The first mystery is the mystery of the m____________ s________.

A. Most New Testament scholars are convinced that this incident d____ n____ b_______ to John’s Gospel. Why?

1. First, there is the t___________ evidence.
2. Second, when this account did begin to show up in copies of John’s Gospel, some scribes found a way to let readers know there was a p________.
3. Third, in later Greek texts where it does appear, it is found in d___________ places.
4. Fourth, it doesn’t f______ well after John 7:52.
5. Fifth, the l__________ and s________ of these verses are not like John’s Gospel.

II Does it weaken our faith to know that this story, which is so loved by so many, was not originally a part of the Gospel of John? Not if we know something about h_____ we g_____ our Bible.

A. For 1500 years before the invention of the printing press all copies of the Bible were h______________.

B. What is so significant about the Bible is just how many c________ we have. How many manuscripts do we have of the New Testament? Total: _______.

C. Doesn’t the fact that there are so many copies mean that there are likely to be ________ mistakes?

1. First, because there are so many copies, mistakes are s_____-c_____________.
2. Second, these differences in texts are m_______, not m__________.

III The evidence against this story originally being a part of John is s________, but that does not mean this incident _______ happened.

IV The second mystery is the mystery of i_____________.

A. First, there is the iniquity of i____________ carried out by the Pharisees.

B. Second, there is the iniquity of i________________ carried out by the woman.