Series: Making Sense of Christianity

Part 1: Identity

(The link to the article mentioned in this lesson can be found at the link below.)

In a culture that tells us to define ourselves, build our own brand, to be authentic and choose our pronouns, Jesus offers something radically different: identity as gift, not achievement. In this sermon from John 3:27–30, we explore the cracks in the modern self-made identity story, and discover the surprising freedom of being named, known, and loved by God.

_________

Going Deeper: To My Fellow Christians -

This sermon—and this whole series—isn’t just about answering questions Christians are asking; it’s about learning to hear the questions everyone is asking. We live in a culture that no longer begins spiritual conversations with “How can I be forgiven of my sins?” but rather, “Who even am I?”—a shift shaped by "expressive individualism", secularism, and the isolating effects of digital life. In other words, identity isn’t just a personal struggle; it’s the air we breathe. What we’re doing in this series is what Tim Keller called pre-evangelism: helping people see that the gospel still makes emotional, intellectual, and existential sense in the modern world. If we want to reach others today, we need more than right answers—we need to understand the stories people are already living by. This week’s message on identity is about showing how the gospel doesn’t suppress the desire to “find yourself”—it fulfills it in a far deeper, more secure, and more joyful way than our culture can offer. Learning how to see and respond to these deeper narratives is how we love well, listen well, and speak the gospel with wisdom and beauty in our time.

_________

Scripture: John 3.25-30

(Additional Reading: Isaiah 43.1-7; 1 Corinthians 4.6-7; 2 Corinthians 5.16-21)

What’s something important about yourself that you didn’t choose—but now deeply value?

-Timothy Keller

Article: Why Christian Identity is More Durable and Stable