I preached this message last Sunday at Ivy Cheadle Hulme where we also had a fabulous baptism of Rachel as her family who have all come to Christ recently too watched with tears of joy. Maybe it will help you think how your church can connect discipleship to preaching. For more details on Ivy’s Discipleship Pathway which is helping many churches think through their own plans to make disciples who make disciples check out ivychurch.org/multiply – or I have done a video series on it on RightNowMedia too!
THE WORD AT CHRISTMAS: John 1:1–14 and Ivy’s Discipleship Pathway
(Discover → Deliver → Devote → Develop → Deploy)
If you want to understand the Bible…
If you want to understand God’s plan for your life…
If you want to understand the meaning of Christmas…
And if you want to understand who you are and why you’re alive right now…
There is no better place to begin than John 1:1–14 — the prologue, the overture, the opening melody of the Gospel.
When John writes about what happened that first Christmas, he doesn’t start with shepherds, stables or stars.
He begins with THE WORD.
The Greek word is Logos, and this would speak instantly to both Jews and Greeks:
- To Hebrews: “By the Word (logos) of the Lord the heavens were made.” (Psalm 33:6)
- To Greeks: the logos was the organising principle of the universe — the reason, the order, the wisdom behind everything.
By using Logos, John wants everyone to discover and know: Jesus is GOD — the eternal Christ.
As I studied this passage again, I noticed a pattern — a progression, that mirrors how someone comes to know God, grow in His love, and go out to make a difference. And I’m not saying this is like The Bible Code to start some conspiracy, but…
It matches perfectly with Ivy’s Discipleship Pathway!
DISCOVER → DELIVER → DEVOTE → DEVELOP → DEPLOY
Let’s walk through the passage and see how this unfolds.
1. DISCOVER — “In the beginning was the Word…” (John 1:1–3)
People misunderstand Christianity because they think it’s about what you do or don’t do.
But before we ever do anything, we’re invited to discover Someone.
John begins not with us, but with Jesus:
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.”
Jesus is not just the baby in the manger.
Not only the man on the cross.
Not just a miracle-worker or prophet.
Jesus Christ is God — the eternal Creator — come so we can know Him.
Christianity doesn’t start with doing. It starts with discovery.
You discover who Jesus is — His identity, His love, and the truth that everything starts with Him, not you.
That’s DISCOVER.
2. DELIVER — “The light shines in the darkness…” (John 1:4–5)
Here’s the good news:
Jesus doesn’t wait for us to find Him.
He said He came to seek and save the lost.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
No matter how dark life gets, Jesus comes to deliver us — to rescue us out of darkness and into His light.
Light drives out darkness.
Love drives out fear.
Grace drives out guilt.
When Jesus breaks in, He breaks you out — this is salvation.
On Ivy’s pathway, Deliver is pictured as a baby — because Jesus called it being “born again”: a fresh start, a new life. But deliver is even better because we can be delivered too from what held up back or kept us trapped as slaves –
Some of us were delivered from addiction.
Some from despair.
Some from guilt, shame, pride, religion.
You don’t deliver yourself.
You let Jesus do what only He can do.
That’s DELIVER.
3. DEVOTE — “To all who received Him…” (John 1:12)
This verse is the invitation:
“To all who received Him,
to those who believed in His name,
He gave the right to become children of God.”
Some people know about Jesus.
Others receive Him.
Devote means choosing to go all-in.
“Jesus, You gave everything for me. I give everything to You.”
It means entrusting your life to Him — giving Him the steering wheel — recognising you are His beloved child.
Not joining a religion.
Joining the Father’s house.
That’s DEVOTE.
4. DEVELOP — “Born… of God.” (John 1:13)
Being born again is only the beginning.
We grow.
We develop.
“Born… of God.”
This is where identity becomes maturity.
God wants you to grow in:
- Character
- Gifts
- Scripture
- Faith
- Love
Not improving the old you, but developing the new you.
Everyone here has gifts from God.
Natural gifts — and, when born again, supernatural gifts too.
Everyone has a calling.
Everyone has a part in His plans.
Ivy wants to help you develop all of this.
You can start today.
That’s DEVELOP.
5. DEPLOY — “The Word became flesh…” (John 1:14)
This is one of the greatest verses in Scripture:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
God didn’t stay distant.
He moved into the neighbourhood.
Jesus is the Son of God on a rescue mission, and He said:
“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”
Deploy means you go — sent into your world with His grace and truth.
When the service ends, you don’t just leave.
You’re deployed.
Incarnation isn’t only about God moving into the world.
It’s about Jesus moving into the world through you — His Spirit in you, shining light, bringing hope, carrying heaven into the everyday.
That’s DEPLOY.
CONCLUSION: YOU ARE HERE – WHAT’S NEXT?
John 1:1–14 gives us the whole Gospel in miniature:
- DISCOVER — who Jesus is
- DELIVER — what Jesus does
- DEVOTE — how we respond
- DEVELOP — how we grow
- DEPLOY — how we shine
Like when you’re lost in a shopping centre and find the map with the star: “YOU ARE HERE.”
Where are you today?
DISCOVER
Jesus is calling your name.
DELIVER
He wants to bring you out of darkness and into His light.
DEVOTE
Stop being half-in, half-out. Go all in.
DEVELOP
Step into your gifts. Grow. Serve.
DEPLOY
Go as a light into your world. The Word made flesh — through you.
Let’s pray: