Rediscovering The Jesus We Thought We Knew & Why It Matters.

Introduction

Pastor Elisha continues the 2026 journey with the sermon “Rediscovering the Jesus We Thought We Knew and Why It Matters”, preaching from John 1:1–14. This sermon reinforces why the church is committing to a deep, unhurried walk through the Gospel of John, not as a program or activity push, but as a re-centering of life and church around the Person of Jesus. The central burden of the message is clear: many believers are familiar with Jesus but no longer know Him deeply, and spiritual dullness often stems not from rebellion but from familiarity. The call is to see clearly again and to reenter 2026 with renewed devotion, clarity, and purpose.

Key Points

• The goal is reorientation, not resolutions

  • This year is not about New Year goals, motivation, or activity.

  • It is an everyday pursuit of the living Christ, resetting direction, not just behavior.

• Familiarity is the hidden danger

  • Spiritual dullness grows when Jesus becomes familiar and taken for granted.

  • Prayer becomes shallow, worship becomes routine, and God is treated like an ATM.

  • Jesus names this condition clearly: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:8).

• John begins with identity, not activity

  • John doesn’t start with what Jesus did, but who Jesus is:

    • eternal,

    • fully God,

    • Creator,

    • light that darkness cannot overcome.

  • When clarity about Jesus is lost, everything else, worship, serving, mission, becomes distorted.

• “The Word became flesh” changes everything

  • Christianity is not a moral system, routine, or religious performance.

  • God did not save us from a distance; He came near and dwelt among us.

  • Believers are now the dwelling place of God; shallow Christianity is not acceptable.

• God came near before we ever tried to reach Him

  • We often speak about drawing near to God, but the gospel begins with God drawing near to us.

  • Jesus gave up heavenly glory to reveal the greatest treasure, Himself.

• The Incarnation confronts distant and spectator faith

  • Jesus is not an idea, principle, or “safe avatar.”

  • He confronts casual Christianity, disengaged belonging, and excuse-driven faith.

  • Philippians 2:5 calls believers to adopt Christ’s mindset in all relationships, not selective ones.

• Faith cannot remain abstract

  • If the Word became flesh, faith must be lived, embodied, and shared.

  • The church exists not for spectatorship, but for formation and participation.

• FIRST as a framework for discipleship

  • Fellowship – We belong before we perform; deep, vulnerable community matters.

  • Immerse – We are shaped by God’s Word, not trends or opinions.

  • Remember – We live by grace; the cross remains central.

  • Seek – Prayer and worship must be cultivated daily, not occasionally.

  • Tell – Every believer is called to share Jesus, intentionally and personally.

• Connect Groups are central, not secondary

  • Formation happens around tables, not just from the pulpit.

  • Acts 2:42–47 shows devotion precedes growth; community sustains faith.

  • Leadership is about shepherding people, not managing meetings.

• Serving is worship

  • Romans 12:1 reframes serving as stewardship and a living sacrifice.

  • Excellence matters because God is worthy, not because He is demanding.

  • Leaders are called to be shepherds, watchmen, spiritual parents, and disciple-makers.

• A collective call for 2026

  • Every believer is asked to examine:

    • Am I growing?

    • Am I connected?

    • Am I praying?

    • Am I helping others grow?

    • Am I living sacrificially?

  • Jesus didn’t come to improve opinions; He came to transform posture.

Conclusion

Pastor Elisha closes with a strong, unifying call: 2026 must not be another year of spiritual motion without devotion. The church is invited to reenter life and mission with clarity, centering on Jesus, serving with excellence, building community faithfully, and sharing His story courageously. The prayer that frames the year captures the heart of the message:

“Lord, we reenter on Jesus.
We serve with excellence.
We build with faithfulness.
We walk together.
We tell Your story.
Not hurried. Not half-hearted.
But wholly devoted.”

This is not about doing more, it is about seeing Jesus clearly again, and letting that vision reshape everything.