Sermon Title: “Jesus on Trial (The Evidence Is Overwhelming)”

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Text: John 5:31–39 (with Luke 16)

Delivered at Forward for Christ Baptist Church in Luray, VA 22835 (January 11, 2026)

Local Message Highlight
If you are searching for a Bible-preaching church near Luray, VA, this message takes you into John 5 where Jesus is challenged for healing on the Sabbath and for claiming to be the Son of God. The sermon frames it like a courtroom moment and asks a plain question our generation still must answer: Is Jesus truly who He said He is?

What This Sermon Covers
From John 5:31–39, the message lays out three witnesses that prove the case. First, human witness, including John the Baptist and anyone willing to point others to Christ. Second, His works, the kind of works only God can do, including the miracle of a transformed life. Third, His Word, because Scripture testifies of Jesus and stands as reliable evidence. The sermon then turns to Luke 16 to warn that if we refuse Moses and the prophets, we will not be persuaded even by signs, and it closes with a clear call to respond to Christ.

Why Visit Forward for Christ Baptist Church in Luray, VA?
Forward for Christ Baptist Church is a King James Bible-believing church serving Page County and the Shenandoah Valley with clear preaching, traditional worship, and a heart for reaching people with the Gospel. If you want a church family that honors Scripture, believes Jesus is still saving and changing lives, and welcomes you to hear the truth plainly, you are welcome here.

Questions and Answers

Quick sermon takeaways from John 5:31–39 (with Luke 16), built for clarity and easy reading.

What is the main point of this sermon from John 5?

The message puts Jesus “on trial” and asks one central question: Is Jesus truly who He said He is? From John 5, the sermon shows that the evidence is overwhelming, and the case is not lacking proof.

Why was Jesus being challenged in John 5?

After Jesus healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, the religious leaders were angered because it happened on the Sabbath, and because Jesus claimed equality with God as the Son of God. The sermon uses that conflict to frame the “courtroom” setting.

What does Jesus mean when He says, “If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true”?

The sermon explains it as a courtroom principle: a claim needs confirming witnesses. Jesus is not admitting falsehood. He is showing that His identity is supported by testimony and evidence beyond His own words.

What is the first witness the sermon highlights?

The first witness is human testimony, especially John the Baptist. The message points out that John did not promote himself. He consistently pointed others to Christ, showing what a true witness does.

What is the second witness in the sermon, and why is it important?

The second witness is the works of Christ. The sermon stresses that Jesus did what no mere man can do, including healing and transforming lives. The miracle of a changed life is presented as present-day evidence that Christ is still real.

What is the third witness Jesus gives in John 5:39?

The third witness is the Word of God. “Search the scriptures” is a direct call to look into the Bible, because Scripture testifies of Christ and provides solid ground for faith.

How does Luke 16 connect to the sermon’s warning?

Luke 16 is used to show that if people will not listen to “Moses and the prophets” (the Scriptures), they will not be persuaded even by extraordinary signs. The sermon’s warning is that refusing the Word hardens the heart.

What does the sermon mean by “You don’t need another sign, you need a mirror”?

The message applies the idea of Christ’s works to salvation and transformation. If the Lord has saved you and changed you, that change is evidence in itself. The sermon urges believers to recognize their testimony as part of the proof.

What is the call to believers at the end of the message?

The sermon calls believers to live as clear witnesses: to point others to Jesus, let their transformed life show His power, and stay anchored in the Scriptures. The invitation is to ask God to make Christ evident in your life.

What is the call to someone who is not sure they are saved?

The message urges honest self-examination and a direct response to Christ. It stresses that you can know for certain, and invites anyone unsure to come and be shown from the Bible how to be saved.

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