WHO CARES? PART 1

TEXT-JOHN 1:1-13

INTRODUCTION

THIS SUNDAY IS SPECIAL FOR TWO REASONS:

FIRST BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE NEW YEAR IN 1990.

SECOND, BECAUSE IT IS ALSO THE DAY THAT WE BEGIN EMPHASIZING THE THEME FOUR OUR CHURCH IN 1990.

HOW MANY KNOW WHAT THE THEME OF OUR CHURCH IS THIS YEAR?

IT IS, “THE CHURCH THAT CARES."

IN EMPHASIZING OUR THEME THIS YEAR I WILL BE PREACHING A SERIES OF SERMONS FROM THE FIRST TWELVE CHAPTERS OF THE GOSPEL OF JOHN FOCUSING ON THE WAYS JESUS CARED FOR OTHERS.

THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK IS IDENTIFIED IN JOHN 21:20 AS; "THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED... THE ONE WHO ALSO HAD LEANED BACK ON HIS BREAST AT THE SUPPER."

MOST BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF JOHN THE APOSTLE, THE BROTHER OF JAMES AND THE SON OF ZEBEDEE.

THIS SAME JOHN AUTHORED THE LAST BOOK IN THE BIBLE WHICH IS CALLED REVELATION.

HISTORICAL TRADITION SAYS THAT JOHN SERVED AS THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS AND WROTE THE GOSPEL OF JOHN ABOUT 90 A.D. FROM THAT CITY.

JEROME DATES JOHN'S DEATH ABOUT 68 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS AND SAYS HE WAS BOILED IN OIL.

JOHN'S PURPOSE IN WRITING THIS BOOK IS CLEARLY SET FORTH IN JOHN 20:30; "MANY OTHER SIGNS THEREFORE JESUS ALSO PERFORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK; BUT THESE HAVE BEEN WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.'

EACH ONE OF THE GOSPELS HAVE THEIR OWN DISTINCT PRESENTATION OF JESUS DURING HIS LIFE AND PERSONAL MINISTRY.

MATTHEW PRESENTS JESUS AS THE KING.
MARK PRESENTS JESUS AS THE SERVANT.
LUKE PRESENTS JESUS AS THE SON OF MAN.
JOHN PRESENTS JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD.

IN DOING THIS, JOHN RECORDS SEVEN DIFFERENT MIRACLES WHICH JESUS PERFORMED DURING HIS PERSONAL MINISTRY WHICH PROVE HIS DEITY AND PRESENT HIM AS THE SON OF GOD.

LAST YEAR I FOUND A PEANUTS COMIC STRIP IN THE PAPER SHOWING SNOOPY ON TOP OF HIS DOG HOUSE TYPING.

THE CAPTION IN THE FIRST FRAME READ, “CANINE COOKING HINTS.'

THE SECOND FRAME READ, "WHEN MIXING DOG FOOD IN A BOWL, THE WATER CAN EITHER BE PUT IN FIRST OR ADDED LAST.'

WHEN SNOOPY HAD FINISHED THIS CANINE CULINARY DELIGHT HE ADDED THIS POSTSCRIPT IN THE LAST FRAME, “WHO CARES.”

HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT?

NOT JUST LOST PEOPLE, BUT SAVED PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS.

DURING THE DECADE OF THE EIGHTIES APATHY WAS THE LEADING DISEASE THAT DESTROYED MANY OF THE LORD'S CHURCHES AND MINISTRIES.

AS AN EXAMPLE ON JANUARY 2, 1990 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM BROTHER JERRY COFFMAN, THE PASTOR OF THE BELLFLOWER MBC INFORMING ME THAT THE LOCAL DISTRICT YOUTH RALLY HAD RECENTLY CEASED TO EXIST AND FUNCTION.

HE WROTE, "AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW, OUR LOCAL DISTRICT YOUTH RALLY HAS CEASED TO FUNCTION IN RECENT MONTHS. I DON'T THINK IT WAS ANYONE'S INTENTION TO PURPOSELY STOP HOLDING THE RALLY, BUT IT JUST SEEMS TO HAVE FADED AWAY DUE TO LACK OF PLANNING.'

TRANSLATED, THAT MEANS APATHY KILLED THE YOUTH RALLY.

IS APATHY AFFECTING THE LORD'S CHURCHES AND CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL TODAY?

I BELIEVE IT IS AND THAT WE MUST COMBAT IT BY FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS BY SEEING HOW HE CARED ABOUT OTHERS.

THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE THIS MORNING IS, "WHO CARES," AND OUT TEXT IS FOUND IN JOHN 1:1-13

AS WE LOOK AT THESE VERSES I'D LIKE US TO SEE THE FOURFOLD REASON WHY JESUS CARES.

THESE TRUTHS ARE MEANT TO ENCOURAGE US AND HELP US TO SEE JESUS FOR WHO HE REALLY IS.