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I AM: Week 1 – I AM WHO I AM

I AM: Week 1 – I AM WHO I AM

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Bottom Line

  • My response to “who is Jesus?” is my most defining decision

New Sermon Series:

  • We begin a new series looking at the “I am” statements Jesus made about himself
  • What we believe and do about Jesus is the most important thing that matters in life

 

John 8:54-58 ESV  Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.””

 

  • Jesus’ claim that “before Abraham was, I am” was a blasphemous statement to the Jews
  • Abraham was the patriarch of the Israelites “The Father of Many Nations”
  • The name “I am” came from Moses’ interaction directly with God in the burning bush

 

Exodus 3:13-15 ESV “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”

 

I AM WHO I AM

What does this important statement mean?

  • Other ways of translating this complicated statement “I am who I am”:
    • “I will be what I will be”
    • “I am the One who is”
    • “I…absolutely, perfectly, completely… AM…”
  • God needs no introduction, title, description, adjective, verbs…HE IS
  • We try as finite humans to comprehend an infinite God, we will always be left wanting.

 

ARE YOU A FOE, FAN OR FOLLOWER OF JESUS?

  • Foes
    • Watch with a critical eye
    • Ignore the miracles of God
    • Against Jesus’ work
  • Fans
    • Are in it for themselves,
    • Observe from a distance
    • When things get tough, they are out
  • Followers
    • Believe Jesus is the perfect Son of God
    • Have made Him their Lord (leader)
    • They are changed over time as disciples

 

Matthew 16:13-18 ESV “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

 

As a follower of The Great I AM… who am i?

When I understand who Jesus is as the great I AM, it changes the response of who i am

  1. i am created in His – “I am not worthless”
  2. i am saved because of what He did in my place. – “I’m given eternal life”
  3. i am under the authority of the One who sits on the throne. – “I’ve been given incredible power”
  4. i am an adopted child of – “I am a child of the king”
  5. i am being transformed by His Spirit’s work in my life. – “I am being renewed day by day”

 

Colossians 1:15-23 ESV “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.”

 

For Small Group Discussion: Which I Am statement from the sermon did you resonate with the most? What are you excited about in this new sermon series?

Opening Question: How did you get your name? What does it mean?

Main Point: What we believe and do about Jesus is the most important thing that matters in life.

Main Scripture: Exodus 3:1-17

Questions:

Head

  • What did God mean when He said that Moses was standing on holy ground? Is holy ground something that we encounter today?
  • What does this story show us about how God views His people?

Heart

  • What does this encounter with God reveal about who He is?
  • Moses tried to dismiss God’s calling because of his own inadequacies. What are some excuses you might have for not being used by God?

Hands

  • What are some opportunities for you to join in on God’s mission?
  • How can you get to know God on a deeper level this summer?

Additional Scripture: Revelation 1:18, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 20:7, John 1:1

Tips and Resources: More Than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell

 

For additional resources, podcasts and more, go to https://realliferesources.org/current-series/