This sermon continues Jesus’ upper-room teaching just hours before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Drawing from John 16:4-11, Bookout explains that Jesus is leaving so the Helper (the Holy Spirit) can come. The Spirit’s work is to convict (expose, prove, reveal) the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Using a personal story about an unexplained foot injury that required imaging to diagnose the real problem, Bookout shows that the world is broken and does not know how to fix itself. Human attempts to solve the brokenness only make it worse. The Spirit reveals the true diagnosis and the true solution centered on Jesus.

Bookout opens with a story about persistent foot pain that looked fine externally but required an X-ray and MRI to reveal the internal problem. He parallels this to the world: Genesis 1 shows God creating a “very good” world, but Genesis 3 introduces the Fall. Humanity has tried and failed to fix the resulting brokenness, often making it worse by insisting on its own way.

Jesus tells the disciples it is to their advantage that He goes away, because only then will the Helper come. The Spirit will convict the world of three things:

- **Sin** – because they do not believe in Jesus. Sin is missing the mark / falling short of God’s standard (being made in His image and likeness). The world prefers darkness and self-defined standards (illustrated by choosing candy/junk food that feels good short-term but destroys long-term health). Rejecting Jesus leaves people unable to be made whole.
- **Righteousness** – because Jesus goes to the Father and is no longer seen. The world saw perfect goodness in Jesus (healing, feeding, teaching love) yet crucified Him. His resurrection and ascension vindicate Him as “the Righteous One,” proving the world’s assessment was wrong.
- **Judgment** – because the ruler of this world is judged. While the world is about to put Jesus on trial, the Spirit will show that Jesus is the true Judge and that the world’s ruler (and the world itself) stands judged.

Bookout stresses that “the world” in this context includes religious people who read Scripture, attend synagogue/church, and think they know God. The primary application is personal: do not point the finger elsewhere. Allow the Spirit to convict *you* so that Jesus—not personal preference, tradition, or desire—defines sin, righteousness, and judgment. Align your life under His reign. The sermon closes with an invitation to follow Jesus, be baptized, or seek help from the church.

1. **Introduction & Illustration**
Personal story of unexplained foot pain requiring internal imaging (X-ray/MRI) to diagnose the real problem. Parallel to the world’s brokenness.

2. **The World’s Broken Condition**
- Genesis 1: Creation declared “good” / “very good.”
- Genesis 3: The Fall introduces brokenness.
- Humanity’s repeated, failed attempts to fix it (often increasing the damage).

3. **Context of John 16:4-11**
- Upper-room discourse; Jesus hours from arrest and death.
- Disciples filled with sorrow, focused on themselves rather than the monumental work God is accomplishing.
- It is to their advantage that Jesus goes away so the Helper can come.

4. **The Spirit’s Work: Convict the World**
- Meaning of “convict”: expose, prove, reveal, make known.
- Three areas of conviction:

5. **Conviction Concerning Sin** (because they do not believe in Me)
- Definition: missing the mark / falling short of God’s standard (image-bearing, love, obedience).
- World prefers self-rule and darkness.
- Analogy: craving junk food that feels good but destroys.
- Only believing and following Jesus brings true wholeness.

6. **Conviction Concerning Righteousness** (because I go to the Father)
- Jesus embodied perfect goodness; the world rejected and crucified Him.
- Resurrection and ascension vindicate Him as the Righteous One.
- World’s judgment of Jesus was completely wrong.

7. **Conviction Concerning Judgment** (because the ruler of this world is judged)
- World is about to put Jesus on trial, but the Spirit reveals the reverse: Jesus is the Judge.
- The ruler of this world (and the world system) stands judged.

8. **Personal Application**
- “The world” includes religious people who think they know God.
- Do not disassociate yourself; allow the Spirit to convict *you*.
- Let Jesus (not preference, tradition, or self) define sin, righteousness, and judgment.
- Align your life under His rule and reign.

9. **Invitation**
- Call to follow Jesus, believe in Him, be baptized, or receive help from the church.