1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:1-5 (ESV)

3. 1 Inthe beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All
things were made through him, and without him was not any
thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the
light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness
has not overcome it.

4.  Every gospel is aimed at a particular group:
 Mark – written w/a Roman audience in mind
 Matthew – written w/a Jewish audience in mind
 Luke – written w/a gentile audience in mind
 John – written w/a Greek audience in mind
 The Greek’s had developed a theology which included taking
parts of other cultures they had invaded & conquered &
adding it to their own understanding of God. These views
included:
 Animism – the belief that spirits live in every aspect of nature.
 Pantheonism – the belief that there is a large council of gods who work in
conjunction w/the most powerful of them being the leader.
 The Greek view of the gods was that they were born & ruled
in ages:
 The age of Pantheon – when the gods were made & organized
 The age of gods & mortals – when the gods interjected themselves in human
affairs
 The heroic age – when the seeds of god & human relations arose & became
the heroes of mythology
 The age of philosophy – when men resolved their issues through logic & gods
no longer assisted

6.  Words are important….words have meaning & depending on
who’s saying them, words have power.
 John introduces us to the WORD
 The Word was in the beginning & was God & carries ultimate authority, power
& truth even over darkness (see Genesis 1:1-2; 1:26; John 1:5)
 This God is eternal & was never made (see Psalm 102:25-28)
 This God is not part of a pantheon but is instead triune (see Genesis 1:26;
Psalm 110:1; Zechariah 3:6-10; Luke 3:21-22)
 There is love, respect & unity in God, not a power struggle (see Deuteronomy
6:4)
 Jesus’ words have power because of who He is.
 We don’t focus on your words having power but instead His word having
power.
 We don’t teach the heretical view of “word faith” which is faith in your own
authority by use of Jesus name as a “unlocking word” but faith in His word.
 We don’t teach the “law of attraction”
 I would like to encourage you to read John & to pay close
attention to a few things:
 How does Jesus display His authority?
 How do people react to His words?
 How do you react to what His word says to us today?

7.  John 1
 The Word (1:1-5)
 The Light Came into the World (1:6-13)
 The Word Became Flesh (1:14-18)
 He came to His own (1:19-4:54)
 The process of revelation (1:19-51)