Gospel of John | Part 2 | Life & Faith | Jon Sprouse

Life and Faith
Gospel of John: That You May Believe
February 27, 2022

According to dictionary.com, credentials are evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like, usually in written form. Credentials can be permanent, like a high school diploma or college degree, or temporary, like a driver’s license or passport.

 
Credentials indicate that you’ve met certain qualifications, have demonstrated an ability or capacity for something. Having the right credentials can give you access...like having a backstage pass for a concert or a staff badge on a school campus. You can go places that other people can’t. But your backstage pass won’t get you a seat at the table in the teacher’s lounge at school. And your passport won’t do you any good if an officer pulls you over for running a stop sign. It’s important to have the right credentials when you need them.
 
Credentials also often involve some level of responsibility. If you’ve been credentialed as a lawyer or doctor or driver, there is an implication that you can fulfill the role you’ve been authorized to perform capably. Last week we began a new sermon series in the Gospel of John. This week, we’ll be looking at the credentials of two individuals we meet in the opening chapters of John’s gospel.
 
Perhaps you’ve heard it said that God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. I hope you’ll join us as we unpack that idea and the implications for all of us this Sunday.