This week, our focus is to move beyond simply knowing about Jesus to recognizing His identity, receiving His grace, honoring His name, and making Him known to others.

Help people see Jesus for who He truly is—God in the flesh—and respond to Him with faith, worship, and obedience.

Act 1 — Jesus Is God | John 1:1–5

• Jesus is the eternal Word. He was with God and was God. 
• Jesus was present before creation; He is not a created being. 
• All things came into being through Him. 
• In Jesus is life, and His life is the light of humanity. 
• The light shines in darkness, and darkness does not overcome or comprehend it. 

Act 2 — Jesus Enters the World | John 1:9–13

• Jesus entered the world He created. 
• The world did not recognize Him, and many did not receive Him. 
• Those who receive Him and believe in His name become children of God. 
• Our standing with God is not earned by human achievement or will; it is God’s gracious work. 

Act 3 — The Word Becomes Flesh | John 1:14

• The eternal Word became flesh and dwelt among humanity. 
• John and the other disciples witnessed Jesus’ glory. 
• Jesus is full of grace and truth. 
• His grace continues to overflow—bringing forgiveness, encouragement, healing, help, and salvation. 

Rewatch the sermon here beginning at 00:27:47.

We're in the middle of our series, Knowing Jesus: Discovering Him in the Gospels. Sunday, Pastor Terry taught that Jesus is God.

Pastor Terry taught from John 1 about Jesus’ divinity, incarnation, and saving work. John presents Jesus as the eternal Word who was with God and was God. Jesus was not created; all things came into being through Him, and He is the source of life and light.

The sermon then turns to Jesus entering the world He created. Although many did not recognize or receive Him, those who receive and believe in His name are given the right to become children of God. Salvation is not achieved through human effort; it comes through Jesus and God’s grace.
 
Finally, John declares that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus came in the fullness of grace and truth. His grace is not depleted or exhausted—it remains available for forgiveness, encouragement, healing, help, and salvation.

Reread John 1:1–5, 9–14

John does not begin his Gospel with a manger, shepherds, or wise men. He takes us farther back—before Bethlehem, before Mary, before creation itself. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

That opening gives us the foundation for understanding Jesus. He did not begin at Bethlehem. Jesus is eternal. He was with God, and He was God. John tells us that all things came into being through Him. The One lying in a manger would be the One through whom creation itself came into being.

Then John tells us something astonishing: the eternal Word entered the world He created. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. The disciples saw His glory, and John describes Him as full of grace and truth.

This matters because we can easily reduce Jesus in our minds. We may think of Him as a good teacher, a religious leader, or even simply our friend. He is certainly our friend for those who know Him—but He is much more. He is God.

And the God who came near came with grace. John says that those who receive Jesus and believe in His name are given the right to become children of God. We do not earn that relationship through achievement. We receive it through faith.

So this week, remember who Jesus is. Honor His name. Trust His power. Receive His grace. Follow His truth. And when someone around you needs hope, point them to the One who is full of grace and truth.

Icebreaker 
When you hear the name “Jesus,” what is the first description or characteristic that comes to mind?

Read: John 1:1–5, 9–14

Discuss

1. John begins his Gospel by calling Jesus “the Word.” What do verses 1–5 tell us about Jesus’ identity and eternity? 

2. Why is it important to understand that Jesus is God rather than merely a good man, prophet, or teacher? 

3. What does it mean that Jesus created the world and then entered the world He created? 

4. Verse 11 says that Jesus was not received by His own. Why do you think people reject or fail to recognize Jesus? 

5. What promise is given to those who receive Jesus and believe in His name in verse 12? 

6. Verse 14 says Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” What does it look like to live with both grace and truth? 

7. Where do you need Jesus’ grace, truth, forgiveness, help, or healing right now? 

8. How can our group help one another honor Jesus’ name and make Him known? 

Group Challenge
✅ Choose one person who may not know Jesus well—or may have a distorted view of Him—and pray for an opportunity to share one clear truth about who Jesus is.

Parents, use these questions around the dinner table this week.

READ TOGETHER
John 1:1–5 and John 1:9–14. If your children are younger, focus especially on John 1:1 and John 1:14.

TALK ABOUT IT
This week, help your family slow down and think about the most important truth from Sunday: Jesus is God. John 1 reminds us that Jesus was with God in the beginning, that all things were created through Him, and that He came into the world He created.

• How can our family honor Jesus this week? 
• What does it mean to receive Jesus? 
• Why is it important that Jesus came into the world as a person? 
• What did Jesus create? 
• Who does John say Jesus is?

FAMILY CHALLENGE
Choose one way to honor Jesus together this week. Practice using His name respectfully, show someone grace, or tell someone one thing your family has learned about who Jesus is.
   
PRAY TOGETHER
“Jesus, thank You that You are God and that You came into our world because You love us. Help our family know You, honor Your name, trust Your grace, and share Your truth with others. Amen.” 

THIS WEEK'S FAMILY PHRASE
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1