Category: Sermon Notes

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: True Love Tested

Text:  Romans 12:14-21

Proven fact: We will not (get along with everyone)!!!

I.    LOVE’S DISPLAY

Those words of Paul should sound familiar. They are found in Matthew 5:44; “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

8 ways we are to display love to others: (from last week)

1.      (Brotherly affection)

2.      (Unselfishness)

3.      (Enthusiasm)

4.      (Hope)

5.      (Be patient in difficulty)

6.      (Be prayerful)

7.      (Be generous)

8.      (Hospitality)

II.   LOVE’S DUTY

Turn to I Peter 2: 21-23. Two things worth mentioning:

1)      What we are about to read is (personal), not (national).

2)      These are (attainable), not (idealistic).

What does Paul say is our “duty”?

1.      Bless and (don’t curse them). [v.14]

2.      Rejoice with those (who rejoice)… [v.15]

3.      Live in (harmony) with others. [v.16]

4.      Don’t (seek revenge). [vv.17-19]

5.      Be sensitive (to others), especially your (enemies’) needs. [v.20]

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted Series: True North

Title: Reference Point

Scripture: Job 1:1-2:10

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: True Love

Text:  Romans 12:9-13

“By the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”  Quote from Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

I.   TRUE LOVE’S FUNCTIONS        

Turn to I Corinthians 9: 24-27

1.      True love lacks (hypocrisy).

2.      True love (discriminates).

II.  TRUE LOVE’S DISPLAY

5 Love Languages:

1.      (Physical Touch)

2.      (Quality Time)

3.      (Acts of Service)

4.      (Words of Affirmation)

5.      (Receiving Gifts)

8 ways to display love to others:

1)      Brotherly affection. Another word for this is (devotion)

2)      Unselfishness. Another way: (showing honor).

3)      Enthusiasm. Another way: (Be passionate).

4)      Hope. Confident expectation of (the future).

5)      Be patient in difficulty. No matter: (God is in control).

6)      Be prayerful. (Be constant) in prayer.

7)      Be generous. (Provide) for others when needed.

8)      Hospitality. Word means (love for strangers).

NEXT WEEK:   Series: Transformed

Title: True Love Tested

Scripture: Romans 12: 14-21

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: The Real You

Text:  Romans 12:3-8

I.   TRUE THOUGHTS      

“Theological knowledge is the medium through which the spirit flows into the human heart, yet there must be humble penitence in the heart before truth can produce faith.” Tozer

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought.” No matter how grounded we may think we are; no matter how theologically sound we may think we are; no matter how “cool” we think we are; we cannot be spiritually productive until (self is set aside).

Here’s how it works: (self-denial) -> (self-surrender) -> (selfless service).  Keep this in mind: the basis of everything worthwhile that a Christ-follower has and does, is due to the (grace given him by God). Just as we are saved only by God’s grace, so we can serve Him only by that grace. When our service become anything but one of grace, we have missed the mark and wandered off the path.

Three basic questions we, as humans, are seeking answers to:

1.      Who am I? This deals with our (identity).

2.      Where do I belong? This deals with our (security).

3.      What am I supposed to be doing? This deals with our (significance).

II.  A GOOD FIT   

Some speak for God (prophesy, teach, exhort); some perform acts of service (serve, give); others govern (lead); other perform acts of (mercy).

Couple of thoughts about spiritual gifts:

1)      Your spiritual gift becomes the basis for (making priority decisions).

2)      Your spiritual gift is affirmation of (God’s love for you).

3)      A proper understanding of your spiritual gifts keeps the work of Christ central in (your heart and mind).

NEXT WEEK: THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: True Love- Romans 12: 9-13

THEME: Uncharted

TITLE: All In

Text:  Romans 12: 1-2

I.    THE CALL FOR “ALL IN”   

The call is a clarion call for us. “Do not be conformed…but be transformed.”

I don’t think it is a matter of (me having more of God). It is a matter of (God having more of me). It is called (surrender).

Webster= “Total commitment is the alignment of one’s motives, resources, priorities, and goals to fulfill a specific mission, accomplish a specific task or follow a specific person.”

Total commitment means (absolute surrender).

II.   THE LIFE OF “ALL IN”   

God doesn’t want us to follow on our terms. Here’s why we can’t:

1)      Because God wants what’s (best for you/me).

2)      Your life either bring (glory or disgrace) to the name of Christ.

Two key words in this verse (Verse 2)

1.      (Conform)- refers to an outward expression that does not reflect what is within.

2.      (Transform)- Greek word is where we get metamorphosis from

What is supposed to change?

1)      Our (mind) changes.  Colossians 1:28; 3:10, 16

2)      Our (will) is given to God.

NEXT WEEK: THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: The Real You- Romans 12:3-8

THEME: Uncharted

TITLE: Transformed

Text:  Jer. 2:11-13; Ezekiel 36:16-32; 37:1-14

“The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder.” G.K.Chesterton

I.    THE PROBLEM OF AMNESIA     

There is something God has placed in each of us, but something amnesia takes away: (AWE).

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

2.      God created an (awesome world) and us with the capacity to enjoy it.

3.      Where we look for awe will shape the (direction of our life).

4.      Misplaced awe will keep us (dissatisfied).

“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mk.8:36

What went wrong? Awe of God is every quickly replace by (awe of self).

Turn to Daniel 4 (p.270)

II.   THE CURE OF AMNESIA      

Turn to Jeremiah 2: 11-13. These verses tell us two evils they committed:

1)      They had (forsaken God).

2)      They pursued (God-substitutes).

Turn to Ezekiel 36 & 37.

The problem with many of us is we have (spiritual amnesia).

The only cure for our awe amnesia is (coming alive in the Spirit). It is the desire to be amazed, to be blown away, to be moved, and ultimately satisfied in our cravings to yearn for God.

NEXT WEEK: THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: All In- Romans 12: 1-2

THEME: I Am Fifth

TITLE: The Ultimate Trump Card

Text:  Matthew 22: 37-39; John 13:34-35

“Do not waste your time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor: Act as if you did.”  C.S.Lewis

 “By this all people will know you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” Jn.13:35

I.   A MORE EXCELLENT WAY    

“When we are wrapped up in ourselves we make a pretty small package.”

Words mean (nothing) if there is no (action). Having a (powerful faith) is nothing if it does not motivate us (to love).

“They will never care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

II.   HOW CAN THEY KNOW?      

Romans 10: 17: “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

“Christianity is enshrined in the life, but it is proclaimed by the lips.”

Unless we speak up some people may never know about the hope we have within us.

“Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” I Peter 3:16 (NKJV)

By living out the Gospel, we gain (credibility). By verbalizing the Gospel, we provide (clarity).

NEXT WEEK: Welcome to 2018!

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Transformed

TITLE: Amnesia- Jer.2:11-13; Ezekiel 36:16-32; 37:1-14

THEME: I Am Fifth

Series: Familiarity Breeds. . .

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds Answers

In MUSIC!

THEME: I Am Fifth

Series: Familiarity Breeds. . .

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds One Word

Scripture: Various Scripture

I.   JESUS   

Matthew 1:21: “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”   The name you give your child may not determine his or her destiny, but the name given to our Lord was part of (his destiny).

Without Jesus in the manger there is no (Christianity).

1.      The baby Jesus is not only the (central figure) in our manger scenes, He is also the central figure in our lives.  We struggle. “But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincerer and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3

2.      Not only is Christ central, he is also (superior) to everything in heaven and on earth.

II.   NAMES

Isaiah 9:6 gives us 4 names:

1)      (Wonderful Counselor). Use of the word “wonderful.”

2)      (Mighty God).  Used in Is.10:21 and Jer.32:18. Use of the word “El.”

3)      (Everlasting Father). A unique description of Jesus.

4)      (Prince of Peace). Christ conquers all.

NEXT WEEK: Series: Familiarity Breeds…

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds Answers (in Music)

THEME: I Am Fifth

Series: Familiarity Breeds. . .

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds Excitement

Scripture: Micah 5:1-6; Luke 2:8-20

I.    WHAT EXCITED THE PROPHETS?  

A little bit of history for you:

• Martin Luther transformed the look of Christmas forever with lighted candles on trees
• Thomas Edison changed the way people lit their house in 1879
• 1882 Edward Johnson used electric lights on Christmas trees.

There were lights in the darkness long before that:

• Numbers 24:17 finds its fulfillment in Mt.2:1-2
• Isaiah 7:14 finds its fulfillment in Mt.1:18-25
• Micah 5:2 finds its fulfillment in Mt.2 & Lk 2
• Isaiah 11:1-3 finds its fulfillment in Mt.1:1-17; 3:16
• Deut.18:15-19 finds its fulfillment in Jn.7:40

There are more than (300) specific prophecies about the promised Messiah.  [See Heb.1:1-2] The prophecies focused on 3 absolutely essential truths: [Is.9:6]

1)      Messiah was the (Son of man)

2)      Messiah was the (Son of God)

3)      Messiah was the (King of kings)

II.   WHAT EXCITED THE ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS?    

Facts about shepherds:

1.      They were near the bottom of (the social ladder).

2.      Their (character) was questionable.

3.      They were (unclean).

NEXT WEEK: Series: Familiarity Breeds…

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds One Word- Various Scripture

THEME: I Am Fifth

Series: Familiarity Breeds. . .

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds Willingness

Scripture: Phil. 2: 5-11

I.    THE HEART AND SOUL OF WILLINGNESS

In the beginning there was (God). And, being God, he (created).

Psalm 8:3-9 (p.450-451)

We are told how God would handle the crisis. It is found in Phil.2:6-8. He would come as a (king in disguise). The king in disguise on (human scale). The Creator among (his creatures).

John 1:1-3, 14 (p.886)  Luke 1:31-33 (p.855)

II.   THE PICTURE OF WILLINGNESS   

There is a dark side to this whole picture.  Jesus knew he had come not to (just preach) the gospel of sacrifice, but also (to be) that sacrifice, yet he was (perfectly willing).

“So, here’s what the Christmas story is all about; a wiling Savior is born to rescue unwilling people from themselves because there is no other way.” Paul David Tripp in “Come Let Us Adore Him”

Jesus was willing to leave the splendor eternity to come to this broken and groaning world. He was willing to take on human flesh with all its frailty. He was willing to be born in an obscure town, in a smelly stable….He was willing to go through the dependency of childhood. He was willing to expose Himself to abuse, rejection, and distrust and a lot of other hardships by coming to this broken world. He was willing to do his Father’s will at every turn…He was willing to go through the pain of His Father’s rejection.

NEXT WEEK: Series: Familiarity Breeds…

TITLE: Familiarity Breeds Excitement – Micah 5:1-6; Luke 2:8-20