2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The God We Worship

TITLE: God is Great…God is Good?

Scripture:  Romans 8:28-29, 31-32;                James 1:16-18

I. SEEING GOD’S GOODNESS

“Goodness, in God as in man, means something admirable, attractive, and praiseworthy.”
Packer

“The goodness of God is what which disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of
good will toward men.” Ingram

God revealed His goodness to Moses. See Exodus 33:12ff

God’s goodness is not (conditional).

II. RESPONDING TO GOD’S GOODNESS

How does God reveal His goodness to us?

1. Through (natural blessings).
2. Through specific (deliverance).
3. Through (His Son, Jesus).

What should be our response to His goodness?

1) (Repent) of our unbelief and ingratitude.
2) (Rest) in His goodness when tough time come.
3) (Risk) by stepping out in faith.

Next Week: “The God We Worship”
Title: The Good Father- Matthew 6:9; various others

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The God We Worship

TITLE: Our One True God

Scripture:  Deut. 4:15-40

I.   WHAT ARE THE LIES?                                                                        

Lies about God (for information only)

1. 1. 1. 1. (Pantheism)- universe and cosmos are one
         2. (Panentheism)- God and world are interrelated
         3. (Deism)- Supreme Being created world then withdrew from it
         4. (Mormonism)- God once a man who became a god
         5. (Christian Science)- mind and intelligence are from God
         6. (Jehovah’s Witness)- Father alone is God. No Trinity
         7. (Buddhism)- one doesn’t learn from Buddha; one becomes Buddha
         8. (Hinduism)- One impersonal god or Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
         9. (Islam)- Christians worship Yahweh; Muslims worship Allah
         10. (New Age spirituality)- you are God
         11. (Scientology)- we are immortal spiritual beings called thetans
         12. (Atheism)- denies the existence of God

II.  WHAT IS THE TRUTH?                                                        

Religion is about (DO); Christianity is about (DONE).

1. 1. 1. 1. Religion- (doing something)
         2. Christianity- (what Christ has done)

Deuteronomy 4:15-40

1. 1. 1. 1. Images (dishonor) God, they obscure His glory
         2. Images (mislead) men.

Post-modernism- (no absolute truth).

Scriptures to consider: Acts 4:12; I Tim.2:5; I John 5:12

Next Week: “The God We Worship”

Title: God is Great…God is Good?-  Romans 8:28-29, 31-32; James 1:16-18

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The God We Worship

TITLE: Our Unchanging God

Scripture:  Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17; various others

Immutability- (Unchanging)

I.  EXAMPLES TO START WITH

Our only hope in this life: (God never changes). 2 examples:
Noah:

1. Genesis 6:17- It is called a (covenant)
2. Genesis 9:8-17- rainbow. This promise is (ongoing).

Abraham: from his seed would come (Christ).

II. QUALITIES TO STAND WITH

6 ways God does not change (from Knowing God)

1. God’s (life) does not change. Ps.90:2
2. God’s (character) does not change. Heb.13:8
3. God’s (truth) does not change. Ps.19:7-8a
4. God’s (ways) do not change. Ps.19:8b-11
5. God’s (purposes) do not change. Rom. 8:29
6. God’s (Son) does not change. Rev. 7:17

Next Week: “The God We Worship”
Title: Our One True God- Deut. 4:15-40

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The God We Worship

TITLE: The Search Is On!

Scripture:  Exodus 2-3; Is.40:12-14, 18-23, 25-26; Job 38-41:11

I.   WHY DO WE SEARCH?                                                                       

Two life-altering truths:

1. 1. 1. 1. God wants you to know (who He is).
         2. We are ALL on a (desperate search) to know who God is.

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in each of us that only God can fill.”

II.  WHAT PICTURES DO WE FIND?

Pictures of God we have:

1. 1. 1. 1. The “Old Man Upstairs” God.
         2. The “List Keeper” God.
         3. The “Force Be With You” God.
         4. The “Fight-Picking” God.
         5. The “Your Wish is My Command” God.
         6. The “High Church” God.
         7. The “Cool God” God.
         8. The “Me God” God.
         9. The “All Things to All” God.
         10. The “Not a God” God.

Three deeply held convictions:

1. 1. 1. 1. We must derive our knowledge of God (from the Bible alone), and not from personal experience or preferences.
         2. The clearer we see God, the clearer (we see ourselves).
         3. The better we know God the more sincerely and fervently we shall (worship) Him.

Next Week: “The God We Worship”

Title: Our Unchanging God- Heb.13:8; James 1:17

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: (Labor Day Sermon)

TITLE: It’s Off to Work I Go

Scripture:  I Cor.10:31; Gen.3:1-19

I.   THE HISTORY BEHIND WORK    

Genesis 1 tells us the story of (creation) and Day 6 records the cream of His creation.

Chapter 2 tells us God put Adam (in charge of the Garden), made him commit to a commandment, and then created Eve as a helper.

Genesis 3 shows us the (violation) of the commandment in 2:16-17.

II.  THE ATTITUDE NEEDED TOWARD WORK  

Two faulty ideas:

1. 1. 1. My (identity) is tied up in my job.
      2. My job is (less/more important) than yours.

Some thoughts about work:

1. 1. 1. Faithfulness in work means approaching work as part of (God’s good creation) for us.
      2. Every legitimate vocation is (equally acceptable) before God.
      3. Faithfulness mean our work, our vocation, is to be seen as being obedient to (God’s call) on our life.
      4. The proper motivation for any work, for all work, is (pleasing God).

Next Week: (New series) “The God We Worship”

Title: The Search is On! Ex.2-3; Is.40:12-14, 18-23, 25-26; Job 38-41:11

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The Lamb Wins

TITLE: The Underdog Wins

Scripture: Revelation 12-14:5

I.    OUR ENEMIES                                                                      

The Battle: Its players and its events

1. 1. 1. 1. (God) revealed to us in 4:1-5:14
         2. (Satan) or the Dragon, the Beast (13:1-10) and the False Prophet (13:11-18)
         3. (The people) who are on God’s side seen as the light-bearing woman (12:1-6, 13-17) and as a chaste, numbered, and protected multitude (14:1-5).

The first enemy (Dragon). (12:1-6)

The second enemy (The Beast) (13:1-10)

The third enemy (The Second Beast) (13:11)

These three enemies are called (The Unholy Trinity).

The most misunderstood image in Revelation: (the mark of the Beast).

II.   YOUR REDEEMER                                                    

One word, one name says it all: (Jesus).

All of the imagery is used to describe the (church), the Bride of Christ.

Next Week: Title: It’s Off to Work I Go- I Cor. 10:31; Genesis 3:1-19

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The Lamb Wins

TITLE: The Word Everyone Dislikes

Scripture: Revelation 11

I.   COMING TO TERMS WITH TERMS                                                                     

Scriptures about God’s wrath:

1. 1. 1. 1. Nahum 1:2-3, 6
         2. Isaiah 13:9
         3. Jeremiah 7:20
         4. Matthew 3:12
         5. Romans 2:5
         6. Rev. 19:15

Just as God is (good) to those who trust Him, so He is (terrible) to those who do not.

II.  COMING TO TERMS WITH EVENTS                                                   

The purpose of the first 6 trumpets has been to warn a pagan and adulterous world that (judgment) is coming.

John is told to measure the temple-an indication of (God’s protection) over His people.

Two things stand out in the 7th trumpet:

1. 1. 1. 1. The (loud rejoicing) on the face of those who worship the King.
         2. There will be a distinction between the (have’s) and (have not’s).

Next Week: Theme: Victory! Series: The Lamb Wins!!

Title: The Underdog Wins- Revelation 12-13

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The Lamb Wins

TITLE: Crushed and Persecuted but NOT DEAD!

Scripture: Revelation 9:1-10:11

I.    HEAR THE DISTORTED TRUMPET SOUND!                                                                    

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our consciences, but shouts to us in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis

A brief summary (first 4 trumpets):

1. 1. 1. 1. There is a storm in the (land). 8:6-7
         2. There is a storm at (sea). 8:8-9
         3. There is a storm of (pollution). 8:10-11
         4. There is a (cosmic storm). 8:12

Trumpet #5- There is an (occult) storm. 9:1-11

Trumpet #6- There is a (military) storm. 9:13-19

II.   HEAR THE CLEAR NOTES WHICH ARE COMING                        

Another interlude: 10:1-11:14

Strange things happen during this interlude:

1. 1. 1. 1. John eats the (scroll). Tastes good in the (mouth) but bitter in the (stomach).
         2. John is given a (measuring rod).

Next Week: Theme: Victory! Series: The Lamb Wins!!

Title: The Word Everyone Dislikes- Revelation 11

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The Lamb Wins

TITLE: Heads Up!

Scripture: Revelation 8:1-13

I.   SILENCE SPEAKS LOUD

Last sermon recap:

1. 1. 1. 1. The church should live adventurously, dangerously, and fearlessly.
         2. God’s seal proves He is (trustworthy) and that He keeps His promise of (protection).

What does the silence mean?

1. 1. 1. 1. Silence is associated with (divine judgment).
         2. It might be saying (heaven stands in awe) in the presence of God.
         3. Know for sure: Not a (specific time frame) as we know it.

II.   TRUMPETS SPEAK LOUDER

7 trumpets form the second cycle of several that depict (God’s rule) over history from different angles.

The first four trumpets:

#1: Reveals one-third fields and trees burning. (Hunger) that cannot be satisfied.
#2: Great kingdoms come (crashing down).
#3: People consume and expect (life-giving) but ends up poisoning them.
#4: Light becomes dark. Picture of world’s wisdom and spirituality as a (failure).

What does all this mean?

Next Week: Theme: Victory! Series: The Lamb Wins!!

Title: Crushed and Persecuted but NOT DEAD!  Revelation 9:1-10:11

2023 THEME: Victory!

Series: The Lamb Wins

TITLE: Enjoy Life!

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

  I.        ENJOY LIFE WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG                  

What does “the Preacher” say?

1.       We are given permission to (enjoy life).

2.       Enjoyment of life is (for all ages).

3.       Keep in mind not all will be (fun and games).

4.       Most important? “(Remember the Creator) in the days of your youth.”

II.        ENJOY LIFE WITH NO REGRETS                                                 

What practical advice would I give as a 70 year old?

1)      We are given permission to (enjoy life)!  Enjoy it.

2)      As you enjoy life, there are (limitations).  Remember it.

3)      It is not enough to remember your Creator, it is much more important to establish an all-important (relationship with Jesus Christ), His Son. Establish it.

To borrow a phrase: Seize the Day. Capture it. Live life to the fullest…IN JESUS.

A good motto: Life is an Adventure…Enjoy the Ride.

Next Week: Theme: Victory! Series: The Lamb Wins!!

Title: Heads Up! Revelation 8:1-13