Category: Sermon Notes

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Shedding Light on Christmas

TITLE: Keep Shining

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:3-9

I.    CHRISTMAS PAST    

A recap of this month: “Shedding Light on Christmas”

1.      “The Light Has Dawned”- Isaiah 9:2-7

2.      “The Unfiltered Light of Christmas”- Matthew 1

3.      “This IS the Light”- John 1:1-14

4.      “Dark Side/Light Side”- Luke 2: 10-11

Jesus was (born to die) in our place so that we who were dead would be (born again) to new life.

II.   CHRISTMAS PRESENT     

Peter reminds the followers of Christ they have (already been given) whatever they need to face (whatever they are facing).

We are who we are, not because someone (has bestowed it upon us), but because of what (God has given us). He gives us our (identity).

What is it that God has given us power to break free from?

1.      (Fear)

2.      (Regret)

3.      (Discouragement)

4.      (Denial)

5.      (Desire for control).

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Unsinkable/  Series: An Anchor

Title: No Fear- Psalm 27:1

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Shedding Light on Christmas

TITLE: Dark Side/Light Side

Text: John 3:16; Rom.3:23

I.   THE WHAT    

The birth of Jesus was bad news.

The miracle of Jesus’ birth is God gave up everything.  Jesus was fully God and fully man and gave Himself to us in outrageous redemptive love.

II.  THE WHY   

God had to invade our world in the person of Jesus because there simply was no other way.

Why? Because our biggest problem is not our family or upbringing, nor is it historical or society or political or relational or financial or genetics. Our biggest problem is not what is outside us; but what is inside us.

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted / Series: Shedding Light on Christmas

Title: Keep Shining- I Peter 1:3-9

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Shedding Light on Christmas

TITLE: This IS The Light!

Text: John 1:1-14

I.    THE REALITY OF ATTACKS                                          
 

Challenges to the Virgin Birth come from all angles:

1)      A prominent TV preacher: “I can neither deny nor affirm the VB. When I have something I can’t comprehend I just don’t deal with it.”

2)      Illegitimate son of a Roman soldier and Mary

3)      Natural born son of Joseph and Mary.

4)      Theology professor- no difference if really happened or not.

Here is the major question: What are they so afraid of?

II.   THE REASON FOR THE ATTACKS              
 

The VB is the line of (demarcation). It separates those who believe in a (supernatural Christ) from those who believe he was just a (good man), a (moral teacher), a revolutionary, or a prophet.

The claim: His life did not begin with his (birth or conception) but that He was in the beginning.

What does the VB mean?

1.      Jesus was born by (direct action) of God. Mt.1:20; John 1:1-3

2.      (No man) was involved in the process.

3.      Jesus had an (earthly mother) but no (human father).

4.      Jesus was fully (human) and fully (divine).

5.      Jesus was (without sin).

Three conditions must be met for Christ to be our Savior:

1)      He must be a (man).

2)      He must be an (infinite) man.

3)      He must be an (innocent) man.

Jesus (was) and (is) and (always will be) the Son of God.

NEXT WEEK:   Christmas at Abram Farm

Title: Dark Side/Light Side

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Shedding Light on Christmas

TITLE: The Unfiltered Light of Christmas

Text: Matthew 1:1-17

I.    THE BEAUTY OF THE LIGHT                                         

“Christmas is not simply about a birth but about a coming.” Tim Keller

The Gospel is (Good News), not (Good advice).

There is a difference between advice and news. Advice is (counsel) about what you must do. News is a (report) about what has already been done. Advice urges us to (make something happen). News urges us to (recognize something has already happened). Advice says it is (up to us). News says (someone else) has acted.

Christianity is not primarily about (self-improvement). It is not just a place to get (inspiration and guidance) for life. It is a (message of salvation).

II.   THE TRUTH THE LIGHT REVEALS             

The Gospel turns the world’s values (upside down).  Five women:

1. (Tamar)

2. (Rahab)

3. (Ruth)

4. (Bathsheba)

5. (Mary)

What does this teach us?

God takes and accepts (outsiders).

God may (take his time) but he (keeps his word).

NEXT WEEK:   Series: Shedding Light on Christmas

Title: This IS the Light!  John 1:1-14

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Shedding Light on Christmas

TITLE: The Light Has Dawned

Text: Isaiah 9:2-7

I.    THE NEED FOR LIGHT                                         
 

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who well in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” Matt. 4:16

How is the world a dark place?

1)      “Darkness” refers to both (evil) and (ignorance).

2)      No one know enough to (cure the evil and suffering) in it.

II.   THE LIGHT HAS DAWNED            
 

How does Isaiah describe the light?

“The government will rest on His shoulders.” Jesus came to liberate us from the (bondage of the enemy) and the drag of living as a (slave to this world).

The NAMES OF MESSIAH given by Isaiah:

1.      Wonderful Counselor. Sin reduces us all to (fools).  As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus comes to rescue fools (from themselves).

2.      Mighty God.  Sin doesn’t just render us fools; it also renders us (unable).  “Greater is he who is in me than He who is in the world.” I Jn.4:4

3.      Everlasting Father. Jesus lavishes His love on us in (fathering care). We are no longer homeless, unloved vagrants. We are, instead, loved (sons and daughters).

4.      Prince of Peace.   Peace on earth starts with (our relationship to God).

NEXT WEEK:   Series: Shedding Light on Christmas

Title: The Unfiltered Light of Christmas- Matthew 1:1-17

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Awe

Text:  Deut.6:4-15

We are hard-wired for (worship).

I.    THE BIG PICTURE                                        

Mark 12:29-30: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

A helicopter view of awe:  (Paul David Tripp)

1.      Awe is everyone’s (lifelong pursuit).

2.      God created an (awesome) world.

3.      God has created us with awe in our (sights).

4.      Where you look for awe will shape the (direction of your life).

5.      Every created awe is meant to point us to the (Creator).

6.      Awesome stuff (never satisfies).

II.   THE FOCUSED PICTURE

Worship is (honor and adoration) to God.

Worship is a lifestyle involving three dimensions:

1)      The outward dimension.  Reflected in how we (behave toward each other).

2)      The inward dimension. This involves our (personal behavior).

3)      The upward dimension. Is our focus (Godward)?  Heb.13:15: “Through him then let us  continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God; that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”

“He…who can no longer pause to wander and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”  Albert Einstein

We have not been saved to (stay out of hell); we have been saved to (worship the One) who saved us.

NEXT WEEK:   Series: Shedding Light on Christmas

Title: The Light Has Dawned- Isaiah 9:2-7

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

Special Guest: Rob Grandi

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Lean on Me

Text:  Mt.25:35-46

I.    BY SHOWING COMPASSION   

“A church can become part of the problem instead of part of the solution. “  Jud Wilhite in Stripped

“Be careful, lest in fighting the dragon you become the dragon.” Nietzche

To become (judgmental and condemning) is not the way of Jesus and should not be the way of any church.

II.   BY SHOWING EMPATHY       

There is a difference between (sympathy) and (empathy).

– Sympathy can be broken down by saying it is “feeling sorry for someone.”

– Empathy can be broken down by saying it is “being able to put yourself into someone’s shoes and know how they feel.”

– Sympathy is (feeling sorry); empathy is (acting upon those feelings).

“When people look at your life, it should so easy for them to see Jesus in how you treat them, love them, and share truth with them.”  (God of Tomorrow-p.200)

“We can be orthodox in our theology while committing heresy by how we treat others.”  (p.196)

How do we show compassion and empathy?

1)      Allow our heart (to break).

2)      Ask God for a (mission).

“It doesn’t matter how much you know if you have no compassion to show.”

NEXT WEEK:   Rob Grandi here to sing and preach

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Who Me? Serve?

Text:  Mt.20:25-28; John 13:1-20

“A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to no one; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.”  Luther

I.    THE FOUNDATION FOR SERVICE                                       
 

“Being unselfish doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself-it means thinking of yourself less.”

“The difficult journey of life is to move from a selfish heart to a serving heart.”  (Both quotes by Joel Manby in Love Works)

The essence of the Christian faith is not that (we serve Christ) but that (He served us).

It now comes down to (we serve others) because (Jesus served us).

II.   THE MOTIVATION FOR SERVICE          
 

Why do people serve?

1.      (Compassion)

2.      (Guilt)

3.      (Force)

4.      (Pride)

“Jesus is the beginning of service, the foundation and motivation of service, and yet He is also the end of our service-because He is both the example for serving and our highest purpose for serving.” (Creature of the Word-p.74)

Let’s serve with a (servant’s heart).

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: Lean on Me- Matthew 26:35-46

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Returning to Reclaim

Text:  Revelation 2:1-6

“It’s the promises of God that make the church, and not the church that makes the promises of God.” Martin Luther

I.    OUR PRIMARY EMPHASIS (OUR MISSION)                                      
 

The church at Ephesus had a fatal flaw. They had doctrinal orthodoxy. They continued to serve Christ. BUT their service had deteriorated into (mechanical action). They did, not because of their love, but because it was (required and expected).

Our goal as a church: (To Connect People to Jesus)

II.   OUR SECONDARY VISION         
 

“Without vision, there is rarely direction. Without direction, there are no goals. And without goals, there is no progress.”

Vision #1: (To be Passionate Pursuers of Jesus)

Vision #2: (Be Models of Truth and Love)

Vision #3: (To Be Involved in Our Community)

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: Who Me? Serve?  Phil.2:5-11; Mt.20:25-28; John 13:1-20