Category: Sermon Notes

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Miracles (Luke)

TITLE:  The Miracle of Thanksgiving

Scripture: Luke 17: 11-19

I.    THE ACT OF KINDNESS

 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thess.5:18 (NKJV)

 “Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks.” Phil.4:6 (NCV)

 Turn to Colossians 3:15-17 (p.984)

II.   THE WORDS OF GRATITUDE

 3 points worth pondering:

1. How could anyone be cured as they were and (be ungrateful)?

2. Notice who does come back: a (foreigner).

3. It took (an effort) to come back.

5 kernels of thanksgiving:

1) Being thankful motivates us to look for (His purpose) in our circumstances.

2) A grateful heart reminds us of our (constant dependence) upon God.

3) A thankful spirit teaches us to (rejoice in every situation).

4) Gratitude increases our (trust in God).

5) Thankfulness transforms our (anxiety) into the (peace) of God.

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Miracles

Title: The Miracle of Hope

Scripture: Luke 7:1-17

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Miracles (Luke)

TITLE:  The Miracle of Peace

Scripture: Luke 8: 22-27 (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41)

I.    ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

The difference between the Truman movie and Jesus: In the movie the director, Christoff, manipulates with buttons and levers; in the movie Jesus is (in the boat).

The Sea of Galilee is a 13 miles wide and 7 miles long freshwater lake.

Luke uses the word “windstorm.” The word literally means (fierce gale).

Turn to Psalm 65:5-7 (p.480) and Psalm 89:9. Another worthy of mention is Psalm 107: 23-31

If Jesus needs time to (recharge His batteries), what does that say about us?

II.   MASTER AND COMMANDER    

Mark has the disciples saying, “Master, do you not care that we are perishing?” Even though Jesus is in the boat, (fear) trumped His presence.

(Worry) and (concern) are not the same thing.

Whenever we are going through a tough time, we tend to assume a loving God (has abandoned us). There is, perhaps, no line of thinking (more damaging) or (more undermining) to the Christian faith than this one. The enemy wants you to fall prey to the idea (God does not care about your or what you are going through).

Remember Romans 8:31-39 (p. 844-845)

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Miracles

Title: The Miracle of Thanksgiving

Scripture: Luke 17:11-19

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Miracles (Luke)

TITLE:  The Miracle of Sight

Scripture: Luke 18: 1-17, 35-42

 I.   THE BLESSING OF SIGHT

3 lessons on prayer in first 17 verses. They can be summed up like this: “Prayer is the permanent occupation of the believer, done in persistence but done knowing that we who pray are undeserving sinners dependent no God’s grace. We are trusting, helpless children looking to our Father for help beyond our abilities.”

1. Lesson #1: Teaching on the persistent widow. [Verses 1-8]

Point of sight: See that God cares for us much more than any human can. There is value in (persistence in praying) and not (quitting).

2. Lesson #2: Teaching of the Pharisee and the publican (tax collector). [9-14]

We can come as a (self-righteous hypocrite) like the Pharisee or we can come with (humility and repentance) like the tax collector.

Point of sight: there is something to be said for (humility) in prayers. We need to see ourselves as sinners in desperate need of God’s (forgiveness and grace).

3. Lesson #3: Seen in Jesus’ response to the children. [15-17]

Point of sight: being childlike is an (absolute necessity) for seeing the kingdom of God.

II.   THE BLESSING OF SEEING    

Connection between Mark 10 and Luke 18.

Historically there were two Jerichos:

1) The ancient city taken captive by Joshua in Joshua 6

2) The one built by Herod the Great. Located between Jordan River and Jerusalem.

The difference between James and John’s request in Mark 10 and the blind man’s. J & J say, “Do for us whatever we want” vs. “Have mercy on me!” In other words, (“Do whatever YOU want”) See the difference?

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Miracles

Title: The Miracle of Peace

Scripture: Luke 8: 22-27 (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41)

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Miracles (Luke)

TITLE:  The Miracle of Restoration

Scripture: Luke 22: 54-62

“Where Slavery is, there Liberty cannot be: and where Liberty is, there Slavery cannot be.”
Charles Sumner- November 5, 1864

I. THE FATHER’S BUSINESS

“I deserved the reproach and disapproval-premarital sex resulting in an unexpected pregnancy is no father’s dream for his child-yet his gracious response assured me that he not only wasn’t crushed, his love for me was stronger than ever.”

Three applications to make:

1. It has nothing to do with the beloved; it has everything to do with (the one doing the loving).
2. It is from (outside) us.
3. It is (unexpected).

II. THE FATHER’S EXAMPLE

“They all left him and fled.” Mark 14:50

Peter was given the name Simon. According to Matthew 16 he was also called (Cephas) which means (stone or rock).

Jesus changed his name in order for it to be a perpetual reminder of (who he should be).

Peter pronounced Jesus as the Son of God in Matthew 16. There are five other facts we should know:

1. Peter was the one who walked on water until…
2. Peter was the one who tried to talk Jesus out of dying.
3. Peter was the one who fell asleep in the Garden.
4. Peter was the one who boldly proclaimed though all would fall away he would not.
5. Peter was the one who ran to the tomb and then boldly walked into it.

Jesus loves (messes) and that includes all of us.

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Miracles
Title: The Miracle of Sight
Scripture: Luke 18:1-14, 35-43

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Change! (Mark)

TITLE:  A Look Back / A Look Forward

Scripture: Various

I.    A LOOK BACK

II.  A LOOK FORWARD

The MISSION of OVCF: To win the HEART of Owen County

H- Hear Truth

E- Exalt Christ

A-   Accept the Imperfect

R- Restore Relationships

T- Teach Service

NEXT WEEK:  TGA: Miracles

Title: The Miracle of Restoration

Scripture: Luke 22:54-62

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Change! (Mark)

TITLE:  Waiting For Change

Scripture: Mark 5:21-43

Seen while researching: “I am planning on having a nervous breakdown. I have earned it…I deserve it…I have worked hard for it…and nobody’s going to keep me from having it!”

I.    WAITING THROUGH A DELAY  

Twice in verses 29 & 34 her disease is called a plague. The word used is (whip). This disease:

1. Drove away her strength as it sapped her life’s blood

2. Deprived her of (motherhood).

3. It was embarrassing (socially).

4. It (ostracized) her from other people.

5. It barred her from (worship) in the temple.

According to Leviticus 15 she lives with a double whammy.

The word for “touched” speaks of using force. More like grasped or clutched.

Why did Jesus call her out?

II.  WAITING THROUGH AN INTERRUPTION    

Some helpful things for us to see in this exchange:

1) The father recognized his (need) for change. [v.22]

2) He asks Jesus for a (life change). [v.23]

3) He was an (advocate) for change. [v.23,36-37]

4) He (waits) on Jesus for change. [vv.38-43]

Jairus learned a valuable lesson because of his (trust).

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Change (Mark) CELEBRATION SUNDAY!

Title: A Look Back/A Look Forward (Bill & Ryan preaching)

Scripture: Various

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Change! (Mark)

TITLE:  Desperate For Change

Scripture: Mark 1:40-45

“Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

I.   A Desperate Cry Spoken

            A Desperate Situation:

            -(Physical Ailment): incurable, degenerative, horrifying disease

-(Social Suffering): outcast, isolated, religiously “unclean”

Reaching for Hope:

            –Desperation leads to (motivation)

-Leper approached Jesus with two things: (humility and belief)

II.   A Desperate Cry Answered

            Jesus’ Response:

            -(Compassion): “sympathy for another’s distress and a desire to alleviate it”

-The Touch: ceremonial uncleanness, risk of infection

-Leper had not been touched since his diagnosis

Ultimate Cleansing:

-Imparted (cleanness) to the leper and was not himself (polluted)

III.   Our Leprosy: SIN

Evidence of a Desperate Heart is (ACTION)

            Evidence of a Non-Desperate Heart is (APATHY)

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Change! (Mark)

TITLE:  The Call To Change

Scripture: Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-17

One word sends a shiver through many: (C-H-A-N-G-E)

• Is there something in your life which needs changed? YES/NO
• Can you change it? YES/NO
• If it were a matter of life and death, could you change then? YES/NO

I.    THE CHALLENGES TO CHANGE  

Webster: “to make or become different and to become different or replace with another.”

4 challenges to change:

1. (Habits)

2. (Anxiety)

3. (Beliefs)

4. (Competing Commitment)

II.    THE CHALLENGE TO CHANGE    

“Change is inevitable; misery is optional.”

Mark 1:16-20

• Jesus calling people to follow Him is unique in Jewish culture.
• When Jesus called P, A, J, & J they not only left (immediately) but they also changed their identity (what they were known as)

Mark 2: 13-17

• Matthew was a (tax collector) and worked for (Rome).
• Matthew’s response was (immediate).

When Jesus called His men to follow He was essentially saying, “Knowing me, loving me, resembling me, serving me must become the supreme passion of your life. Everything else becomes second.” That is not fanaticism; it is (being a disciple).

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Change (Mark)

Title: Desperate for Change Mark 1: 40-45 (Ryan East preaching)

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Listen! (Matthew)

TITLE:  Heart Pollution

Scripture: Matthew 15: 10-19

“It is much better to keep silent and thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” Abe Lincoln

I.   THE REAL CAUSE OF POLLUTION  

Some research statistics:

• Pollution affects over 100 million people.
• 14 billion tons of garbage are dumped into the ocean every year
• Over 1 million seabirds and over 100,000 mammals are killed every year by pollution.
• Approximately 40% of the lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, aquatic life, and swimming.

But what about another form of pollution:

• In America alone revenue for the sex-related industry is estimated at ($13 billion).
• Internet porn is a ($3 billion a year) business.
• (50%0 of all Christian men and (20%) of all Christian women say they are addicted to porn.
• Go to covenanteyes.com/pornstats for a revealing look into a scary world

II.   THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION    

What did the Pharisees teach about tradition?

1. God spent all day studying His own law and all night studying the Mishna that interpreted the law.
2. God presided over the holy Sanhedrin and the rabbis sat closer to God depending on their holiness.
3. God was distraught over the destruction of the Temple that in all three watches He roared like a lion. His tears fell into the ocean and caused earthquakes.

Turn to Proverbs 4:23-24. Read in ESV. Here are some other versions:

“Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life. Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly, and don’t let your lips talk deviously. (HCSB)

“Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech.” (NLT)

“Keep vigilant watch over your heart, that’s where life starts. Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth, avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.” (MSG)

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You don’t have time to make them all yourself.”

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Change (Mark)

Title: The Call to Change Mark 1:16-20; 2:13-17

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Listen! (Matthew)

TITLE:  Investing Wisely

Scripture: Matthe w 25: 14-30

“For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been.’” John Greenleaf Whittier

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days… In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” Eccl.11:1,6

I.    THE RESPONSIBILITY WE ARE GIVEN

 “It” refers to the whole of the kingdom of God.

 Several significant thoughts about this parable:

1. They are his slaves.

2. He is entrusting his possessions to his slaves.

 Jesus is emphasizing common (accountability).

 II.   THE RESPONSE WE CAN TAKE

See Matthew 20:25-28

We serve Jesus because (He serves us).

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Listen!

Title: Heart Pollution

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-19; Pr.4:23-27