Category: Sermon Notes

THEME: It Is Written

Series: Captured!

TITLE:  Captured by God’s Worth

Scripture: Isaiah 58: 1-11

I.   GETTING CAPTURED BY HIS WORTH             

Jesus pointed out that God the Father is to be the object of our worship in John 4: “True worshipers shall worship the Father.”

God the Son is to be worshiped. From the earliest years of the church, Christ was professed as Lord in (baptism) (Rom.6:3-4), confessed as Lord in the (church) (Eph.3:10-12); and confessed as Lord in anticipation of the day when (every knee will bow) before Him (Phil.2:9-11).

Proclaiming God’s worth, lifting Him up in adoration, is the (goal of worship). Worship is not about (feeling good). It is not about “this is what I want” unless it is craving the presence of God so you can (adore Him).

God shows up powerfully when our worship is (sincere) and acknowledges who He is, honors Him, glorifies Him, magnifies Him, and gives Him praise.

II.  HOW WE CELEBRATE HIS WORTH                   

1.      Let worship not be (about you).

2.      Let worship be with an attitude of (peace).

3.      Let worship be more than a (surface act).

4.      Let worship be all about (freedom).

5.      Let worship be (focused on Christ).

6.      Let worship bring (results).

God doesn’t want us to long for (works) more than we long (for Him).

SERIES: Captured!

NEXT WEEK:  Captured by God’s Assurance- Isaiah 43: 1-7

THEME: It Is Written

Series: Captured!

TITLE:  Captured by God’s Sovereignty

Scripture: Isaiah 45: 1-13

I.   INVESTIGATING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY             

“Who is this King of glory, the LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle!…Who is this king of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the king of glory!” Psalm 24:8,10

The word sovereign means “independent.” That means:

1.      God is ruler of all.

2.      God answers to no one.

3.      God can accomplish whatever he wants.

4.      God sees history from beginning to end. No obstacle or adversary can hinder His plan.

5.      God is afraid of nothing. Ignorant of nothing. Needing nothing.

6.      God always knows what is best, and never makes a mistake.

Sovereign means God is (in control of it all). He’s over things (we see) and (don’t see).

II.    ENJOYING GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY                  

Two questions which always come up:

1)      Question #1: Am I just a puppet/?

2)      Question #2: If God is sovereign, if God is in complete control, how come there is so much evil and so much suffering in the world?

“If today you are broken, feeling crushed by the weight of a trial, you have a choice. You can harden your heart and refuse the sovereign purposes of God that will one day prove good, or you can run to Him and participate in the blessing God has planned.” James MacDonald

How can we rejoice in God’s sovereignty?

1.      I will be (obedient) when told.

2.      I will be (righteous) when tempted.

3.      I will be (submissive) when tried.

SERIES: Captured!

NEXT WEEK:  Captured by God’s Worth- Isaiah 58:1-11

THEME: It Is Written

Series: Captured!

TITLE:  Captured by God’s Awesomeness

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 12-31

I.   GOD IS AWESOME IN HIS CREATION             

Truthfully, none of can grasp the (width, depth, height and length) of God’s love.

“God’s awesomeness take you to your knees in total reverence, to worship without self-consciousness and to walk in glad surrender.” James MacDonald

Our creative God:

1.      There are (912,500) cubic miles of water.

2.      The earth is (25,326) miles all the way around.

“Who has counted the handfuls of water in the sea, measured off the sky with a ruler, gauged how much dust there is on the earth, weighted the mountains on a scale, or the hills in balance?” Is.40:12 (Jewish Study Bible)

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Ps.19:1

II.   GOD IS AWESOME IN HIS COMPARISON                 

Word used in verse 13 is all capitals which means LORD = (Yahweh).

Points of comparison:

1.      God is (infinite). Vv. 13-14

2.      God is (self-existent). Vv.18-23

3.      God is (self-sufficient). Vv.25-31

III.  GOD IS AWESOME IN HIS CHALLENGE

The people of Israel were expressing what we often feel: (God has forgotten us).

They also forgot what we often forget: They forgot (who God was).

SERIES: Captured!

NEXT WEEK:  Captured by God’s Sovereignty- Isaiah 45: 1-13

THEME: It Is Written

Series: Captured!

TITLE:  Captured by God’s Holiness

Scripture: Isaiah 6 1-7

“Holiness is the everyday business of every Christian. It evidences itself in the decisions we make and the things we do, hour by hour, day by day.” Chuck Colson

I.   THE REALITY OF HIS HOLINESS             

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11

“…the aspect of His character on which God laid most stress in the OT was His holiness.” J.I.Packer in Knowing God

Of all God’s attributes, nothing compares to the splendor and beauty of His holiness.

What does it mean when it speaks of God’s holiness? It is chief among His attributes. His character is perfect in every way. He is totally pure. His moral excellence is the absolute standard of integrity and ethical purity for all in the universe. His holiness sets Him apart from His creation. His holiness never diminishes.

The light of God’s holiness reveals the (darkness of our sin).

II.   THE RESPONSE TO HIS HOLINESS                

5 things happen when Isaiah comes into God’s presence:

1.      He sees the Lord sitting upon His throne

2.      The train of His robe fills the temple

3.      The seraphim cover their faces.

4.      The foundations shake

5.      The house is filled with smoke.

Prior to his vision, Isaiah was focused upon (the sins of others). Now he becomes dramatically aware of (his own sin and unrighteousness).

Pretty powerful lesson: We are only prepared to receive and comprehend the grace of God when we have understood His infinite (holiness) and (our sinfulness).

SERIES: Captured!

NEXT WEEK:  Captured by God’s Awesomeness- Isaiah 40:12-31

THEME: It Is Written

TITLE:  Driven

Scripture: Matthew 28: 19-20

Many churches are driven by what they are against rather than what they are for. They are reactive instead of proactive.

I.   A DRIVEN MESSAGE            

“Without vision, there is rarely direction. Without direction, there are no goals. And without goals, there is not progress.”

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Prov.11:14 (ESV)  “Where there is not counsel the people fall.” (NKJV) “Where there is no vision the people perish.” (KJV)

Our Message is a simple one: (TO CONNECT PEOPLE TO JESUS)

1.      We are to (Go).

2.      We are told to (make disciples).

3.      We are told to (baptize) people.

4.      We are told to (teach them to observe all) commanded.

II.   A DRIVEN PERSPECTIVE               

1.      We desire to be (passionate pursuers of Jesus).  Our #1 goal is not to build the church. It is not to have a huge nursery or the best youth program. Our first and primary pursuit should be (running fully after Jesus).

2.      We desire to be (models of truth and love).

3.      We desire to be (involved in our community).

SERIES: Captured!

NEXT WEEK:  Captured by God’s Holiness- Isaiah 6: 1-7

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  The “L” Word

Scripture: Revelation 3:14-22

I.     THE INDICTMENT OF THE JUDGE       

Laodicea holds the distinction of being the only church which Jesus (has absolutely nothing good to say). Even Sardis, the church on its deathbed, had a few people who were faithful.

Some adjectives used to describe Laodicea: sentimental, skin-deep, flabby, anemic, proud, secular and self-sufficient, mediocre, inoffensive, to name a few.

What made Laodicea the wealthy city it was?

1.      It was a center of (trade).

2.      It was a center of (banking).

3.      It was a center of (fashion).

4.      It was a center of (medicine).

5.      It was a center of a large (Jewish population).

What was wrong with them? They were (lukewarm). The words are vivid. The word used for cold is literally (icy cold). The word used for hot is (boiling). “Would that” is the word “wish” It expresses (fruitless desire).

II.    THE ACTION THE JUDGE REQUIRES     

He tells them three things they needed to “buy”:

1)      They needed to buy gold (refined by fire).

2)      They needed to buy (white garments)

3)      They needed to buy (salve) to anoint their eyes.

If there is anything positive it is this: “Those whom I love, I (reprove and discipline).

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  12th Anniversary! “Choose Your Place”

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  Philadelphia

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13

The Land of Opportunity

Insights About the Speaker (Jesus)

“These are the words of him who is (holy and true)…”  -> Testament to Jesus’ Divinity!

 “…who holds the (key) of David…”  -> Symbol of Christ’s Authority!

Commendation

You have kept my (word).  -> Both in Doctrine and in Obedience!

You have not (denied my name).  -> Maintained full Allegiance!

You have endured (patiently).  -> Commitment and Perseverance!

Opportunity and Challenge

An (open door) that no one can shut!

Opportunity of Salvation

Opportunity of Service

Philadelphians have (little strength)

Focus/commitment to the work of the ministry

Room for the strength and power of Christ to do the work!

Opposed by the synagogue of Satan

Church at Smyrna faced same opposition!

Jews (non-Christian) who opposed the work of Christ and the gospel message

In the face of opposition, we must not (flinch)!

Promises from Jesus

I will (humble your enemies) and open their eyes to the truth.

I will keep you from (maximum affliction).

I will make you (strong and secure).

I will give you a whole new (identity).

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  Deathbed Confession

Scripture: Revelation 3: 1-6

I.    THE PROGNOSIS          

Sardis was actually two cities:

1.      One at the top of Mount Tmolus (1500 feet in elevation)

2.      One in fertile Hermus River Valley

Survived and recovered from Cyrus and Alexander. Greatest enemy was one they could not recover from: (an earthquake) in AD 17.

Three separate spiritual strands lived in Sardis:

1.      (Caesar) cult

2.      Housed major temple devoted to worship of (Artemis)

3.      Worship of (Cybelle), a local nature goddess.

When is a church dead?

1)      When it is content to rest on its (past laurels).

2)      When it is more concerned with form than (spiritual reality).

3)      When it focuses more on social ills and politics than (changing people’s hearts).

4)      When it is more concerned with (material things) than spiritual things.

II.   THE PRESCRIPTION              

He tells them 5 things they need to do:

1.      (Wake up!)

2.      (Strengthen) what remains and is about to die.

3.      (Remember) what they had received and heard.

4.      “Keep it” or (obey it).

5.      (Repent)

III.  THE PROMISES

He makes three promises:

1)      The promise of (eternal righteousness)

2)      The promise of (a place in heaven).

3)      The promise of (Jesus Himself).

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  Ryan preaching

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  Cancer

Scripture: Revelation 2: 18-29

I.    THE X-RAY OF THE CHURCH         

The description of Jesus:

1.      He first changes (His name).  The term He uses emphasizes His (deity).  The change is significant because He is not wanting to be seen here as the sympathetic (High Priest) but the divine (Judge).

2.      He has eyes like a (flame of fire).

3.      Eyes like flames of fire and feet like (burnished bronze).

Why such a shock to read this description, especially when He commends them:

1)      They were (showing love).

2)      They were commended for their (faith).

3)      They were commended for their (service) and (perseverance).

II.   THE TREATMENT FOR THE CHURCH              

What is the cancer ripping at the heart of the church of Thyatira?  {v.20]  There is an attitude of (tolerance) which has been allowed to spread like a malignant cancer.

For those who repent He offers something much more pleasant:

1.      He says (no more burdens).

2.      He promises a (right future).

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  Deathbed Confession- Rev. 3:1-6

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  That Ugly Word

Scripture: Revelation 2: 12-17

I .    COMMENDATION    

Pergamum known as Asia’s greatest city. Why?

1.      A huge library of 200,000 handwritten volumes.

2.      Official center of (Caesar worship).

There were 4 main deities of Greco-Roman world:

1)      Athena- goddess of (wisdom)

2)      Asklepios- god of (healing)

3)      Dionysius or Bacchus- god of (wine and revelry)

4)      Zeus- (king) of all gods

II.    CRITICISM             

Two groups were mentioned:

1.      Those who hold to the teachings of Balaam. Find his story in Numbers 22-25.

“Yet they are the ones who, at Balaam’s advice, incited the Israelites to unfaithfulness against the Lord in the Peor incident, so that the plague came against the Lord’s community. Num.31:16 (HCSB)  The Peor incident is found in Numbers 25 where the Israelites “began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.”

2.      Those who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans.

III.  CORRECTION

“Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass if off as a small thing, but it’s anything but that. Yeast, too, is a small thing, but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast.” I Cor.5:6-7

4 Lessons to learn:

1)      Compromise never (occurs quickly).

2)      Compromise always lowers (the standard).

3)      Compromise is seldom (offensive).

4)      Compromise is often the (first step) toward total disobedience.

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  Cancer- Rev.2: 18-29