The Gospel of John: The REAL Threat to Christianity (It's NOT What You Think)
Pastor Johnathan opens with a self-deprecating story about his difficult morning—hitting his head, hurting his leg, and dealing with various frustrations—creating a relatable connection before transitioning to the sermon's theme: being "an example to follow." He establishes that as Christians, one of our greatest responsibilities is to lead by example because we follow Christ, who is our ultimate example.
Drawing from Matthew 4:19, where Jesus says, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people," the pastor explains that following Christ requires giving up our own way (Mark 8:34). He asserts that Jesus is our greatest example of grace, love, endurance, strategy, patience, and boldness. Provocatively, he suggests that the greatest threat to Christianity isn't external opposition but "lukewarm Christians" who claim to follow Christ but don't live accordingly.
The sermon focuses primarily on John 13, where Jesus washes His disciples' feet during the Last Supper. The pastor unpacks how this act symbolizes Christ's entire ministry—divinity serving humanity. Jesus, with all authority, humbled Himself to wash even the feet of Judas, His betrayer. From this, the pastor draws the first example to follow: "Serving others is never beneath you," citing Philippians 2:3-4 and Galatians 6:3 to reinforce this point.
The second example involves remaining clean by continuing to let Jesus in. Referencing John 13:10 where Jesus says, "A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet to be entirely clean," the pastor explains that we keep ourselves spiritually clean by serving others and maintaining a proper perspective. He emphasizes that Peter had to accept Jesus' humble service or risk not being part of Him.
The third example addresses how we treat those who have wronged us. Since Jesus washed even Judas's feet, we too must serve those who have betrayed or hurt us. This prevents bitterness and hardness of heart from taking root. The pastor also notes the importance of allowing others to serve us, as refusing help can be a form of pride.
The fourth example involves "leaning" toward Jesus rather than away from Him into darkness, as Judas did. The pastor warns against being "Sunday-only Christians" and encourages leaning into Christ daily.
Finally, the sermon culminates with Jesus' commandment to "love one another" as the ultimate example to follow. The pastor emphasizes that love is "not a goosebump reaction" but "an act of the will," requiring sacrifice and commitment even when we don't feel like serving. He reminds the congregation that through the Holy Spirit, we have an infinite capacity to love (Romans 5:5) and encourages them not to let failure be their "undertaker" but rather their "teacher."