Follow Along with the Message

Caught in the Act

Pastor Tom Lundeen

What did Jesus have to say to ordinary people like you and me?

What did  in people’s lives?

Getting caught in the act can be both a very uncomfortable but also very  experience.

What does this uncomfortable and  encounter in John reveal to us about being caught in the act?

1. It Seems  to Catch Other People in the Act

Note John 8:1-4

These religious leaders were very aware of the wrongdoing and  of others.

They also wanted to try to catch  in the act (note John 8:5-6a).

It seemed that Jesus’ only choices were to defy ... or defy God’s .

It seems easier…to point out and display other’s failures, to  ourselves favorably in light of the wrongdoing and sins of others, to try to trap people through moral dilemmas and use those moral dilemmas to  other people and circumstances to our own advantage.

2. Eventually  Catches All of Us in the Act

Note John 8:6b

Jesus never  this woman’s guilt.

But Jesus also intended to catch the religious leaders , too (note John 8:7-8).

We are not told what Jesus wrote, but we can be sure He wasn’t !

Note John 8:9

They had discovered that  is humanity’s great equalizer and common denominator… (note Numbers 32:23)

3. Jesus Has a  for Catching Us in the Act

Note John 1:17; 3:17

Jesus purpose…isn’t simply to make us feel bad or give us a terminal case of the  and never-relenting shame; but it’s to reveal our need and open our hearts and minds to a  offered by Jesus.

Note John 8:10-11

This woman had  for sin and she desperately needed to repent and be forgiven.

The same was true with all of her .

Your story really does matter to Jesus: 

• On a day still to come, God promised to judge this world and every person will stand before God and give an account of their lives.
• Until that day, however, God’s purpose is to , transform, and reunite this world to God.
• Have we been caught in the act (or should we be)?
•  Jesus will.
• …let’s allow Jesus to accomplish His purpose of catching us in the act (repentance, forgiveness, and transformation).

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