Resources for
The Gospel of John
Manuscripts
A Four-Sermon Collection for the Christmas Season
Celebrate the Advent season with this collection of 4 expository sermon manuscripts by Ben Smith, Sr. This resource provides rich theological insight into the prologue of John's Gospel, exploring the eternal nature of Christ, the gift of salvation, and the hope of redemption found in Jesus—the Promised King.
The Hope of Christ is a theologically rich sermon manuscript on John 1:1-5 that declares the foundation of the Christian hope: the personhood of Jesus Christ. This exposition carefully unpacks the opening verses of John's gospel, demonstrating how Jesus—the eternal Word—is God incarnate, the creator of all things, and the promised victor over sin and death.
Formatted for 5.5 x 8.5 pages, this resource includes:
A full sermon manuscript in a clear, three-point outline format
A fillable outline handout ideal for congregations, small groups, or personal study
Reflection questions designed to deepen meditation and application through the week
The Faith that Saves – Sermon Manuscript on John 1:6-13
Product Description:
The Faith that Saves is a theologically rich sermon manuscript on John 1:6-13 that declares the divine provision of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ. This exposition carefully unpacks how God provided both the testimony to and the way of salvation, demonstrating that saving faith is entirely a work of God's grace and power.
Formatted for 5.5 x 8.5 pages, this resource includes:
A full sermon manuscript in a clear, three-point outline format
A fillable outline handout ideal for congregations, small groups, or personal study
Reflection questions designed to deepen meditation and application through the week
John the evangelist continues his gospel prologue by identifying John the Baptist as the God-ordained witness and revealing the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. This sermon unfolds three essential elements of God's provision for salvation:
God provides for salvation through a preceding witness (vv. 6-8).
The sermon explores John the Baptist's God-ordained ministry as the final Old Testament prophet, examining how God graciously provided faithful witnesses from Adam and Eve to John the Baptist. This section demonstrates how God's provision of witnesses was both a gift of God and a ministry to man, preparing hearts for the Messiah and calling people to saving faith.
God provides for salvation through the revelation of truth (vv. 9-11).
This section reveals Jesus as the true light—the full revelation of God Himself. The manuscript addresses the sobering reality that the presence of light does not guarantee reception, examining spiritual blindness and why many who encountered Jesus did not recognize or receive Him. It emphasizes that salvation comes only through the true light of Christ.
God provides for salvation through the work of Jesus (vv. 12-13).
The sermon concludes with the hopeful declaration that God gives the right to become children of God to those who believe. This section unpacks how salvation is granted by God's authority and accomplished by God's power alone—not by blood, nor by human will or effort, but of God. It powerfully demonstrates that faith itself is a divine gift.
The included reflection questions help readers:
Identify how God has used witnesses in their own lives to point them to the gospel
Recognize attempts to know God apart from faithful obedience to Jesus
Understand the difference between knowing about Jesus and believing in Jesus
Grasp why it's vital to proclaim that salvation is of God alone, not human effort
Apply the truth of God's sovereign grace to their daily walk with Christ
Whether used for preaching, teaching, discipleship, or personal devotion, The Faith that Saves provides a biblically grounded, pastoral, and grace-centered exploration of John 1:6-13. It is an excellent resource for the Christmas/Advent season or any time when believers need to be reminded that salvation is entirely God's work from beginning to end.
Format: Digital PDF
Length: 22 pages
Page Size: 5.5 x 8.5 in.
Scripture Text: John 1:6-13
Author: Ben Smith, Sr.
Usage: For personal study, teaching, or ministry preparation (see copyright permissions included in the document)
Download includes:
✔️ Printable PDF format
✔️ Ready-to-preach sermon outline
✔️ Fill-in-the-blank outline handout
✔️ Reflection questions for spiritual growth and group discussion
The Joy of Salvation – Sermon Manuscript on John 1:14-18
Product Description:
The Joy of Salvation is a theologically rich sermon manuscript on John 1:14-18 that declares the glorious truth of the gospel: the eternal God became flesh to save sinful man. This exposition carefully unpacks how the incarnation of Christ provides for salvation by revealing God's glory, demonstrating God's grace, and making peace with God possible.
The Peace of Redemption is a theologically rich sermon manuscript on John 1:19-34 that proclaims the heart of the gospel through John the Baptist's powerful declaration: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" This exposition carefully unpacks who Jesus is and what He has done, demonstrating that Jesus is the offering of God to atone for your sin and make you righteous and holy before God.
Pastor Ben Smith’s sermon pulpit notes for preaching John 11:17-27. A sermon for Resurrection Sunday. The PDF file contains sermon notes, illustrations, and sermon outline handouts.
Pastor Ben Smith’s sermon pulpit notes for preaching Isaiah 9:6b and John 14:6. The PDF file contains sermon notes, illustrations, and sermon outline handouts.
Pastor Ben Smith’s expositional sermon pulpit notes for preaching John 17:14-19. The PDF file contains sermon notes, illustrations, and sermon outline handouts. This sermon was preached on the occasion of high school graduate recognition.
Podcast
“Expository preaching isn’t about imposing our ideas onto Scripture—it’s about letting Scripture speak for itself. When the main idea of the text becomes the main idea of the sermon, God’s Word shapes both the preacher and the people. In this year-end conversation, we reflect on how faithful, verse-by-verse preaching has formed our understanding of the gospel, challenged us through difficult passages, and deepened our appreciation for God’s redemptive plan revealed from Genesis to Revelation.”
John the Baptist had one message for the crowds: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" In this sermon on John 1:19-34, Pastor Ben Smith examines John's testimony of who Jesus is. John pointed to Jesus and declared two essential truths: Jesus is the Lamb of God, and Jesus takes away your sin. The wait is over. The promise has been fulfilled. Behold the Lamb of God.
"The Word became flesh to reveal the glory of God, the grace and truth of God, and to provide for sinners to be saved from the wrath of God. See the birth of Jesus for what it is: the eternal God, coming in the flesh to be in the presence of man to reveal His glory."
Salvation is not determined by man's worthiness but by God's authority. It is impossible for sinful man, blind in sin, to receive and believe on Jesus for salvation. But God, rich in mercy, grants with His power and authority, by grace alone, for sinners to receive and believe in faith on Jesus and to become children of God. From beginning to end, salvation is entirely the work of God—a truth that brings both humility and unshakable hope to all who trust in Christ.
The confidence you have in a promise is dependent on the one who guarantees the promise. The assurance of the gospel is singularly founded on the personhood of Jesus. Being the incarnate eternal God through whom all things were created and in whom the eternal redemptive plan of God is fulfilled. Jesus is not limited by the fragility of man—He has always been, He is, and He will always be. The hope of the gospel rests on God alone. And this is the hopeful word of verse 5: even though the world opposes the light, it will not overcome the light. Like the sunrise that dispels the grip that darkness has on the world and demands that it surrender in defeat, so is the glory of the light of the gospel. Darkness is presently warring against the light, but it will not overcome it.
The resurrection of Jesus is more than a historical event. The resurrection of Jesus is a confrontation of faith. Do you believe that He is the resurrection and life?
This interaction between Martha and Jesus is dripping with emotion. Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, had a close and affectionate relationship with Jesus. Verses 33-36 tell us that when Mary met him, accompanied by many mourners, he was deeply moved, and when he came to the tomb, he wept. The sisters are grieved by the loss of their brother and disappointed that Jesus had not arrived in time to heal him from his sickness.
There is a tendency to read this passage and focus primarily on the emotions. However, God is doing more than ministering to emotions in this passage. In God’s providence, he was providing an opportunity to demonstrate His glory and call his disciples to a deeper faith and belief.
Martha acknowledged that she believed in the resurrection on the last day, but this belief was academic and did not influence how she experienced the grief of the moment. Jesus called her to personally believe that he alone is the source and power of resurrection and eternal life. Many people, like Martha, acknowledge Jesus's resurrection, but what does it mean to have faith and belief that Jesus is the resurrection and the life? This passage exposes the insufficiency of knowledge alone and the requirement of faith and confession.
Having faith and belief that Jesus is the resurrection and the life is:
More than an acknowledgment of fact.
Believing that in Jesus alone is salvation.
Confessing Jesus as Christ and Lord.
Isaiah declares that Jesus will be called – wonderful counselor and mighty God. Wonderful counselor acknowledges that the Messiah will be one who reveals the glorious truth of God, and Mighty God declares that he is God and exercises the power of God. The Messiah will be God, revealing the truth of himself to the world.
In the New Testament, one of the clearest declarations of this comes in John chapter 14. Jesus was encouraging his disciples that he was preparing an eternal dwelling place in his Father's house for those who believe in God and in him. Thomas asked Jesus how they would know the way to his Father's house. Jesus responded that He was the way, the truth, the life, and salvation was only through him.
With this declaration, Jesus made it clear that the hope of the gospel was exclusively through and in himself.
In the days of Jesus’ birth, Israel was not a free nation. They were unhappily under the control and rule of Rome. But God was doing more than bringing political relief. Jesus the Messiah brought freedom from the enslavement of sin.
Let us rejoice that Jesus, the Messiah, has come to set us free from the bondage of sin so that we might be transformed from slaves to sons and have the assurance of hope.
Scripture declares Jesus as the King of kings. But what does this title mean?
In the Old Testament, the title of king of kings is used three times to reference an earthly king with no equal.
In the New Testament, the first reference to Jesus as the King of kings is in 1 Timothy 6:15, where Paul encourages the church to remain faithful until Jesus returns. But the most often quoted biblical references to Jesus as the King of kings comes from John's revelation, where Jesus in His second coming is described as the King of kings.
In this passage from John, we have the first reference in his gospel account, referencing Jesus as king. I want you to see from this passage that you must submit to the King and invite others to follow the true king. And when you come to know Jesus as the true king, it is only the beginning of greater glories to be revealed and known.
Who you recognize Jesus to be determines how you respond to Jesus.
Suppose you see Jesus as an interesting historical figure of the first century. In that case, you may give a passing interest to his life and impact on the world but will pay little attention to him beyond what your curiosity will drive. If you see Jesus as a great moral person, you may respect him for the life he lived and think it may be a good idea to emulate his example. Suppose you see Jesus as a wise or insightful religious teacher. You may feel compelled to study his lessons and even incorporate his teachings into your life.
Toward the end of John's ministry and the beginning of Jesus', he saw Jesus coming toward him. He shouted for all to hear, "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" He went on to say that Jesus was the son of God and the one for whom God had called him to prepare the way.
John wanted his disciples and all those who listened to him to know who Jesus is and what he came to do so that they might know true salvation found only in Jesus. Thus, he was focused on pointing the world to Jesus so that we might see who He is, know what He has done, and receive the gift of salvation.
The first chapter of John’s gospel is packed with some of the most amazing statements in all of scripture. John 1:14-18 is one of those passages. John declares in verse 14 that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The importance of this statement cannot be overstated.
Jesus, who is all God and all man, came to dwell amongst humanity.
Jesus, who is all God and all man, lived without sin.
Jesus, who is all God and all man, died on the cross as a substitute and sacrifice for man’s sin.
Jesus, who is all God and all man, rose from the dead three days later.
These truths are central and fundamental to Christianity. If you deny any one of them, you deny them all and the entirety of Christianity. John would say more about how Jesus worked to save us from our sins. Still, in these opening verses, he makes clear that Jesus is the promised Messiah, who demonstrates the grace of God so that we might know God the Father.
One of the marvels of modernity is the ability to push back the darkness. No longer are the schedules of our lives dictated by the sun's rising and setting. However, even with this transformational invention, man remains dependent on the presence of light. Light reveals what is. Light exposes the truth and deposes lies.
One of the most basic things we rely on light for is the ability to move around and find our way. Without light, we are lost. Not confused, not turned around but hopelessly lost. Without light, direction has no meaning. And yet even the faintest light can mean the difference between life and death.
John begins his gospel account with this most powerful introductory word: "In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
Jesus is the genuine light of God that dispels the darkness of this world and has overcome the curse of sin.
When you understand the biblical understanding of heaven, you will discover that it is exponentially greater than anything from the mind of man.. From John 14:1-3 I want you to see two simple, but eternally profound, truths about heaven:
1. There is real hope because heaven is a reality
2. The focus and glory of heaven is dwelling in the presence of God
A Four-Sermon Collection for the Christmas Season
Celebrate the Advent season with this collection of 4 expository sermons by Ben Smith, Sr. This resource provides rich theological insight into the prologue of John's Gospel, exploring the eternal nature of Christ, the gift of salvation, and the hope of redemption found in Jesus—the Promised King.
Physical Format
This 99-page booklet is printed on 5.5 × 8.5-inch pages and bound with durable plastic comb binding, making it easy to lay flat for study, teaching preparation, or note-taking. The convenient size fits perfectly in a Bible study bag or on your desk.