What does it really mean to know God? In this 1986 sermon on 1 John, Lee Shaw draws out the black-and-white clarity of the apostle John: light or darkness, truth or lies, obedience or disobedience. Through personal stories, Greek word studies, and sharp contrasts with Gnostic claims, this message calls believers to move beyond lip service into a life that actually walks like Jesus walked.

In this episode, Landon Shaw revisits his father’s preaching with reflections on foundation, faith, and obedience — from milk to meat, from claiming to observing, from words to walk. Along the way, you’ll hear family stories, insights on Nathanael, and a moment where the shortest verse in Scripture, “Jesus wept,” becomes the heart of the call to serve and obey.

Key themes include:

The black-and-white contrasts of 1 John

The four key Greek words: ginosko, tereo, entole, peripateo

Spiritual foundations and maturity (milk vs. meat)

Observing, abiding, and walking in Christ

Integrity over intellectual claims

Compassion and obedience: Jesus wept

Available on iTunes, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

#Faith #Sermons #1John #Obedience #ServeAndObey #ChristianPodcast

In 1986, my father preached Little Children, a sermon on 1 John 2:12–14, Hebrews 12:11, and Matthew 18:3. He unpacked the biblical Greek words technia (beloved children) and paideia (discipline that shapes character), showing how Christian discipline is more than punishment — it is love, guidance, and belonging.

I revisit that sermon through the lens of my own family. Lucas’s childhood prayers, Rebecca’s quick negotiations, Corey’s fearless fire, and my own whiny, attention-seeking ways all reflect what it means to grow as “little children” in faith and in life. This is a journey through scripture, memory, and the shaping that never ends.

Keywords: 1 John sermon, Hebrews 12 sermon, Matthew 18 sermon, biblical Greek, technia meaning, paideia meaning, Christian discipline, spiritual growth, childhood faith, parenting and faith, sermons of my father.

In this episode of Sermons of My Father, Landon Shaw revisits a 1986 sermon by his father, Lee Shaw, preached on the calling of Moses in Exodus. Rooted in Exodus, Matthew 25, and Proverbs 28, this message confronts the excuses we give God—and ourselves.

Through raw personal reflection, Landon explores what it means to live with imposter syndrome, hide behind logic, and delay obedience in the name of perfection. Drawing parallels between Moses’s resistance, the parable of the talents, and modern self-protection, this episode challenges listeners to stop trimming the wick and start carrying oil.

With references to the Reformation, Christian culture, and the emotional honesty of Oh, Sleeper’s “In the Wake of Pigs,” this episode peels back the layers of spiritual posturing and calls for something real—obedience born of surrender, not shame.

Whether you're burned out, rebuilding, or searching for something true, this sermon meets you where you stall.

Key topics include:

Spiritual excuses and delayed obedience

The call of Moses and personal insecurity

Matthew 25 and the parable of the talents

Imposter syndrome and borrowed faith

Emotional honesty and religious culture

Theological reflection and psychological insight

Sermon storytelling and personal deconstruction

Bible passages covered:

Exodus 3–4, Matthew 25:14–30, Matthew 5:3, Genesis 3:1, Proverbs 28:13

Featuring:

Sermon by Lee Shaw

Reflections by Landon Shaw