Do You Know God or Just Know About Him? | Knowing God

Описание: 📖 John 7:25-31 • Do you really know God, or do you just know facts about God? There's a massive difference between having right answers and having a real relationship.

⛪ Preached at Pilgrim Baptist Church • Cookeville, TN • February 15, 2026.

The religious leaders in John 7 had all the right answers. They could quote Micah 5 about where the Messiah would be born. They knew the scriptures inside and out. But Jesus looked them in the eye and said the most insulting thing possible to a religious leader: "You don't know God."

This sermon exposes the dangerous gap between biblical knowledge and biblical transformation. You can graduate at the top of your Bible class and still not know the Author of the Bible. You can have perfect doctrine and zero relationship. Pastor Fortunato uses a powerful analogy: When his dad had a heart attack, he didn't show up at the hospital lecturing doctors about heart surgery. He submitted to the surgeon and got on the table. That's what knowing God requires - not more Bible trivia, but surrender to the Great Physician.

The question isn't "Do you have all the right answers?" The question is "Does the evidence in your life compel people to ask what happened to you?" Religious leaders stayed silent when Jesus showed up because their words couldn't match His works. What about your life?

This convicting message walks through John 7:25-31, explaining:

• Why religious leaders plotted murder but stayed silent in Jesus's presence
• Jesus's dual origin: earthly (Nazareth) vs. eternal (from the Father)
• The difference between knowing someone's hometown vs. knowing their home
• Why ordinary people believed while religious experts rejected Him
• The heart surgery analogy: submitting to Jesus vs. lecturing Him
• How to spot the difference: Do you know God or just know about God?
• Why no one could arrest Jesus until His appointed hour
• Evidence-based faith: Is your life compelling or comfortable?
• Why dramatic conversions happen in hostile environments, not just comfort

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Dangerous Clarity in John 7
00:15 - John 7:25 - Everybody Knows the Murder Plot
02:37 - Verse 26 - Jesus Speaks Boldly, Leaders Stay Silent
04:03 - Religious Leaders: Words Without Works
07:53 - Verse 27 - The Messiah Origin Confusion
10:14 - Jesus's Dual Origin: Earthly vs. Eternal
10:58 - Verse 28 - "You Don't Know God"
14:55 - The Heart Surgery Analogy (Personal Story)
17:11 - Verse 29 - Jesus's Authority and Mission
19:09 - Verse 30 - Failed Arrest: His Hour Had Not Come
21:26 - The Garden of Gethsemane: "I Am He"
22:00 - Falling Forward vs. Falling Backward
23:58 - Verse 31 - Ordinary People Believed
28:10 - Evidence-Based Faith: Is Your Life Compelling?
34:38 - Stop Asking Jesus to Do More - What Will YOU Do?
39:08 - Conversions Happen in Conflict, Not Just Comfort
42:56 - Conclusion: Fall Forward in Worship


📖 Key Scriptures (KJV):

"Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill? But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?" - John 7:25-26

"Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me." - John 7:28-29

"Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?" - John 7:30-31

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." - John 10:18

⛪ About Pilgrim Baptist Church:

We're a family integrated church in Cookeville, Tennessee where families worship together under verse-by-verse expository preaching from the King James Bible. At Pilgrim, we believe in serious teaching for strong families built on biblical authority.

Most of our sermons are verse-by-verse exposition through entire books of the Bible, systematically working through God's Word so believers understand Scripture in its full context.

Families worship together. No entertainment. No shortcuts. Just faithful, verse-by-verse Bible teaching that transforms families.

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📍 Visit Pilgrim Baptist Church:
170 4th Ave, Cookeville, TN 38506

Sunday Services:
10:00 AM - Family Integrated Sunday School
11:00 AM - Morning Worship
2:00 PM - Afternoon Service & Prayer Meeting

Thursday Service:
6:00 PM - Midweek Bible Study

🌐 Learn More: pilgrimbaptist.church
✉️ Contact Pastor Fortunato: [email protected]
📞 Call: 931-219-2224

Plan your visit: pilgrimbaptist.church/plan-your-visit