John 12:20-26 Sermon Outline

I had the honor of preaching at this morning's January 1st service at Calvary.  It was a tough week to study for a sermon, as the family  and I were up in Santa Cruz all week visiting my parents and brother-in-law and sister.  But at the same time I loved the process of preparing and preaching this message to the Church I care so much about.

Here is my sermon outline of John 12:20-26 for January 1, 2012.

I.       Jesus invites us to Follow Him (John 12:20-22)

a.         Gentiles too!
John 12:21  (Greeks: “…Sir, we wish to see Jesus…”)

b.        Whoever Believes
John 3:16 (“…that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish…”)

c.         Pray for those who haven’t yet “seen” Jesus
2nd Corinthians 4:4 (“…god of this age (Satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving…”)

II.      Jesus warns us that there is a great cost to Following Him (John 12:23-26)

a.                 Jesus’ Personal Cost

                                                                          i.      John 12:23 – “…The hour has come…”

b.                 Dying to Self

                                                                          i.      John 12:24: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies..”

                                                                        ii.      John 12:25:  “…He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates this life in this world…”

c.                 Following Means Serving

                                                                          i.      John 12:26(a): “…he must follow Me

                                                                        ii.      John 12:26(b): “…if anyone serves Me…”

III.     Jesus encourages us that there is a great reward for following Him (John 12:23-26)

a.                 Glory thru Suffering

                                                                             i.      John 12:23 – “…for the Son of Man to be glorified.”

b.                 Fruit thru Death

                                                                             i.      John 12:24: “…if it dies, it bears much fruit…”

                                                                           ii.      John 12:25: “…he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal…”

c.                 Honor thru Service

                                                                            i.      John 12:26(a):  “…and where I am, there my servant will be also…”

                                                                          ii.      John 12:26(b): …if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”