(CS4U) The Top 20 Passages In The Bible, John 1- This Week's Sermon

Just a interesting note about the study of John. While we lived in Florida, the minister was doing a week by week study moving through John. When we moved to Idaho, the Sunday school class began a study on the book of John. Now here in Md., The minister is doing a week by week study moving through the book of John. I continue to learn new things ..... sue         (This Day's Thought continues to be blessed by Eric Elder, of The Ranch Ministry, and his special series of sermons!)       The Top 20 Passages In The Bible Number 7:  John 1- Where Should I Start? By Eric Elder www.theranch.org   If someone were to ask you where they should start reading the Bible, if they had never read it before, what would you tell them?  For many people, their answer would be to start with the book of John--and for good reason.     John is one of the most beloved books of the Bible.  It contains some of the Bible's most famous verses, including John 3:16, and it focuses on God's love for His children perhaps more than any other book.  It's short enough that you can read a chapter a day and finish in just 21 days, but it's long enough to give you a good look at the life of Christ--and why you should put your faith in Him.  In fact, that's why John wrote the book, as he says at the end of chapter 20:   "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31).   John saw, with his own eyes, many of the stories that he wrote recorded in his book.  While Jesus had many followers, He had twelve who spent three and a half years with Him eating, sleeping, praying, talking, and ministering.  And of those twelve, three were especially close to Jesus:  Peter, James, and John (see Mark 5:37, Mark 9:2, Mark 13:3, and Mark 14:33).  And of those three, John was perhaps the closest, referring to himself in his book as, "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (see John 13:23, 20:2, 21:7, and 21:20).   Perhaps it was because of this close friendship with Christ that John talks about the love of God so much, using the word "love" in his gospel more than any of the other gospel writers combined.  Here are just a few of those references, all direct quotes from the words of Christ:   "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).   "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35)   "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).   "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love" (John 15:9).     "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).   If you need some encouragement that God loves you, read the book of John.  If you need some encouragement that you can trust Christ with everything in your life, read the book of John.  If you'd like to read the Bible but don't know where to start, read the book of John.  Or if you'd just like a fresh reminder of God's love for you and all the things that are possible when you put your faith in Him, read the book of John.   Start in chapter 1, and you'll find that Jesus wasn't an afterthought in the mind of God, but was with God in the beginning.  John referred to Jesus as "the Word":   "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. ...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:1-3, 14a).   You'll also find in chapter 1 that Jesus is "the Lamb of God," who came to take away our sin:   "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29b).   And lastly in chapter 1 you'll find that Jesus calls you to follow Him, just as He called the first disciples, saying:   "Follow Me" (John 1:43b).   Then keep on reading the rest of the book, whether it takes you a few hours, a few days, or 21 days, reading just a chapter a day.  Even if you've read it before, I pray that God will speak new things to you as you do.   Let's pray...   Father, thank You for the words of Your great love for us that You've recorded for us in the Bible, and Your desire for us to return that love to You and to share it with others.  Thank You for John's life and for inspiring him to record these word for us so we can keep putting our faith in Christ.  In Jesus' name, Amen.   P.S. Some of you may know that my father-in-law was named John, after the biblical writer of the book that we're looking at today.  I'm sorry to report--for our sake--that John passed away this week at the age of 86.  But I'm thankful to report that he's now in heaven where the Apostle   John noted there would be no more "mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore..." (Revelation 21:4b).  Our John lived with us on and off over the past seven years due to his declining health, so he had an extra special place in our lives.  We'd appreciate your prayers this week for us, for my wife Lana, and for her mother and family as we all make this transition to a new season in our lives.  And if you'd like to see it, here's a minute-and-a-half video of the three-volley gun salute and the playing of "Taps" that the honor guard provided at John's memorial service today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmUaM_ym9dQ   Today's Scripture:  John 1 http://www.biblegateway.com   Today's Memory Verse:  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1, ESV).   To read more from this series, "The Top 20 Passages in the Bible," click here: http://theranch.org/The-Top-20.672.0.html   To make a donation to The Ranch as we continue to share Christ around the world, click here: http://theranch.org/Make-A-Donation.359.0.html   To get more inspiring books and music like this, please visit: http://theranch.org/The-Ranch-Giftshop.286.0.html   To find us on Facebook, look for us at "The Ranch Messages" and click "Like!" http://facebook.com/theranchmessages   Invite your friends!  We'd love to have them study along with us--and you!  Just forward this email and encourage them to sign up for themselves at the link below.   Subscribe/Unsubscribe (from This Day's Thought)