The Teacher's Promise

Services

SunDAY: 9 AM Sunday School, 10:30AM Worship /TuesDAY 6 pm prayer/ WedNESDAY 6PM Bible study

Jan. 24, 2026

 Reverend Greg Gibbs
 John 14: 8-12
 Teacher, Promise

Background:

  • We shouldn't jump up and down about teaching because there is a lot that comes with it
  • In this setting, we are dealing with eternity and life and death, heaven and hell
  • We are talking about the Master Teacher, Jesus
  • This passage is often used at funerals
  • A promise is to arrange, declare or give assurance of what is going to take place
  • They (i.e. promises) are grounds for expectations


Key Sermon Points:

1. What is His promise?

  • Jesus' words were weighty
  • Jesus told the disciples that He would not be with them much longer, and Peter had some questions
  • Jesus told them He was going to a prepare a place for a prepared people
  • Jesus also told them that He would return
  • For those that are struggling with the Trinity, there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit...who are all equal
  • Jesus is always talking about the Father, which is exactly what Jesus did
  • Jesus was led by the Spirit because the enemy doesn't fight fair
  • Jesus is one with the Father, who does the works
  • For accelerated growth, we must do what Jesus tells us to do
  • Beyond hearing Jesus, the disciples could see what Jesus did, which demonstrated the Father
  • The promise is that we can do great things
  • We can get our reassurance from the Word, which we should be feeding on
  • The promise is also that Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life, which allows for the true disciples to do great things
  • We have to trust the Teacher

2. Who are the recipients?

  • The recipients are the true disciples that walked with Jesus at the time
  • It's also for those that would become disciples later
  • It does require prayer, Bible Study and Sunday School if we want a better relationship with Jesus
  • Discipleship is going from a hearer, to a learner, to a doer of God's Word

3. What makes it such a weighty promise?

  • Whatever we ask Jesus to do, He will do (v. 14)
  • It does NOT mean that every prayer that we pray will be answered according to what we pray
  • Prayers can be hindered if we aren't right with our brothers and sisters, our spouse, or children
  • Jesus will answer IF it is the Lord's will
  • We must keep God's commandments
  • Comfort and reassurance kind of go together
  • Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come when He leaves
  • We must listen to the Holy Spirit and not quench the Holy Spirit
  • It was a weighty promise because the disciples would:
    • Heal
    • Have a great spreading of the Gospel
    •  A great prayer life

4. A disciple's experience

  • Following Jesus will cost us something
  • Sometimes it's happy and sometimes it's painful
  • We must keep sharing the Gospel
  • We can learn from disciples in the Word as well as disciples in the here and now...without being judgmental
  • The goal is for us to do better
  • Good is the enemy of great...and it will cost something
  • With learning comes different trials, and the enemy comes with different tactics