Category: Sermon Notes

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  Hang in There!

Scripture: Revelation 2: 8-11

“Dance with the one that brung ya’”

“You don’t change horses in midstream.”

“You stay with that got you here in the first place.”

I.    THE COUNSEL        

Smyrna was a hotbed of (emperor) worship.

It was located on the gulf of the Aegean Sea, which gave it a good harbor. It even had what was the called “The Street of Gold.”

Christians in Smyrna paying high price for their faith:

1.      He commends them for their (tribulation).

2.      He commends them for their (poverty).

3.      He commends them for their (steadfastness).

“Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

II.   THE CHALLENGE            

After all this He warns them (more is coming).

Notice words “do not fear.”

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 (HCSB)

“In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” David in Psalm 56:11

What was coming?

1.      Some would be (thrown into prison).

2.      Some would be (tested).

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  The Ugly Word- Rev.2: 12-17

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Seven

TITLE:  Split Personality

Scripture: Revelation 2: 1-7

I.   THE COMMENDATION          

The city of Ephesus was wealthy, politically influential, and pagan. Paul, with the help of Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos’ help, planted a church here.

They are commended for three things:

1.      He commends them for their (works and toil). The word toil is better translated (diligent labor).

2.      He commends them for their (endurance).  Not just endurance but (patient) endurance.

3.      He commends them for their (spiritual discernment).

II.   THE COMPLAINT           

Our greatest (strengths) can become our greatest (weaknesses).

They stood strong against doctrinal drift and guarded the truth and worked hard in loving others. BUT they forgot (WHO) the doctrines pointed to. They forgot (Jesus), the first love.  All that was left in their lifestyle was truth without (grace), law without (love).

2 Corinthians 5:14: “For the love of Christ controls me.”

III.   THE COMMAND

Jesus offers them three way to make a turnaround:

1)      (Remember) from where you have fallen. [v.5a]

2)      (Repent) [v.5b]

3)      (Do the works) you did at first. [v.5c]

“In this letter, Jesus is generous in His praise, direct in His rebuke, helpful with a remedy, and completely no-nonsense about consequences if the Ephesians ignored His advice.” Swindoll

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  Hang in There! Rev.2: 8-11

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  Rock Steady

Scripture: Psalm 112

I.    THE CHOICE OF A STEADY PERSON         

The psalmist makes the point that the person who truly loves and worships God will be like Him. We become like the God/god (we worship).

Psalm 11 & 112 are a like in many ways but there is one significant difference: Psalm 111 celebrates (Jehovah) while Psalm 112 celebrates the life of (the righteous person).

What is a godly man/woman like?

1.      He (fears the Lord).  Acts 17:28 says, “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.”

2.      He (delights in God’s commands).  “God made me fast and when I run I feel His pleasure.” Eric Liddell

II.   THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A STEADY PERSON          

What are the characteristics of a steady person?

1.      He (passes on his strength). [Verses 2-4]

2.      He (practices justice). [Verses 5,9]

3.      He (stands rock solid). [Verses 6-8]

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Cor. 9:6

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Gal.6:7

SERIES: Seven

NEXT WEEK:  Split Personality- Rev.2:1-7

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  Keeping It Real

Scripture: Psalm 101

This psalm is not a (tongue-lashing) but a commitment to an honest, holy way of life. The struggle we all face is to stop (wearing masks) and give up our (facades) and be real. To put it bluntly: to stop (pretending).

I.    A COMMITMENT TO MYSELF         

It is one thing to believe something; it is another to be (convicted) on it.

Conviction gives belief (backbone).

4 convictions every follower of Christ must possess:

1)      (Consistency) [V.1] Justice checks love which might be wrongly indulgent and mercy checks judgment which might tend to be harsh.

2)      (Integrity). [V.2]

3)      (Humility). [v.3]

4)      (Purity). [V.4]

II.   A COMMITMENT TO OTHERS          

The 7 types of people David mentions:

1.      (Slanderer). [V.5a] ”The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.”

2.      (Proud). [V.5b] Pr.21:4: “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.”

3.      (Faithful). [V.6a]

4.      (Blameless). [V.6b]  People who are not perfect but are people of integrity.

5.      (Deceiver). [V.7a]

6.      (Liar). [V.7b]

7.      (Wicked). [V.8]

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  Rock Steady- Psalm 112

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  Not Afraid of Anything

Scripture: Psalm 27

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  Roosevelt

 “Nothing is so much to be feared as fear.” Thoreau

 “There is only one thing which makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”

I.   THE CONFIDENCE WE CAN HAVE        

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Pr.18:10

Other meaning of the words: Light speaks of (spiritual understanding); Salvation speaks of (deliverance) from sin; Stronghold speaks of (spiritual refuge) God provides His people.

II.  THE PRAYER WE CAN UTTER         

What should we do when fears threaten to overwhelm us?

1.      As your fears occur, (admit) them.

2.      As you admit them, (commit) them to God.

3.      As you commit them to God, (release) them.

4.      As you release them, (stand firm). Refuse to retreat.

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  Keeping it Real- Psalm 101

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  Hurry Up and Wait

Scripture: Psalm 13

I.    THE PROBLEM WITH WAITING       

1.      When God delays, we feel (forgotten). [v.1a]   “It is not under the sharpest, but the longest trials, that we are most in danger of fainting.’ Andrew Fuller

2.      When God delays, we feel (forsaken). [v.1b]

3.      When God delays, we feel (frustrated). [v.2]

1)      David is frustrated by his own emotions. “The third time David asks, ‘How long?’ he refers to the combination of what we would call dark thoughts and uncontrollable emotions. When we sense God is no longer blessing us or present, we tend to ruminate on our failures and get into an emotional funk.”

2)      David is frustrated because of his enemy.

II.   THE PERSPECTIVE WE NEED        

The turning point for David was (prayer).

David prayed, not because he was a godly man (which he was), but because he was a (desperate man).

David prayed three prayers in verse 3: (Consider me). (Hear me). (Open my eyes).

When our feelings are stronger than our beliefs we will find ourselves blown away by circumstances and events out of our control.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22

Remember who God is. His (character) never changes!!

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  Not Afraid of Anything- Psalm 27

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  Life in Which Lane?

Scripture: Psalm 1

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost

I.    DIVERGENT WAYS      

“Blessed” in Hebrew means (supremely happy or fulfilled). It would be correct to say “Blessings many times over.”

The psalmist uses three words:

1 . (Walk) is a term which suggests casual movement.

2 . (Stand) in the Hebrew means “To come and take a stand.”

3 . (Sit) suggests a permanent settling down.

Verse 4 is called a negative assertion in Hebrew. “Not so, the wicked!”

1) Chaff is the outer part of the grain seeds which separates. Completely worthless

2) “Drives away” means to disseminate, strike or beat.” Matthew 7:26-27

Turn to Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, 22-23

II.   DIVERGENT ENDS        

What is the end result?

1 . For the righteous- (he is like a tree). Please turn to Jeremiah 17:5-8 (p.645)

2 . For the unrighteous- (he will not stand in judgment).

“Stand” is not the same as used in verse 1.

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  Hurry Up and Wait- Psalm 13

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  The Trail Boss – The Sequel

Scripture: Psalm 23:4-6

I.    HE PROVIDES A TABLE      

Sheep are unable to tell the difference between what is (good for them) and (what is not).

There are two types of flowers which can be good or bad depending on color. It was essential for the shepherd to “scope out” the land for grazing. He would lead his sheep to a higher place. This was called (the tableland).

II.   HE ANOINTS MY HEAD       

The link between “preparing a table” and “anointing my head” is (in the presence of my enemies).

Two pictures seen:

1.      The shepherd would lead his flock to a field but before he does so he would look it over carefully, looking for (tiny brown adders) or vipers. He would “oil” the holes.

2.      One of the nuisances of the flock are parasites, particularly flies. Sheep were particularly troubled by the (nasal fly).

“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” I Cor.1:21-22

III.  HE OVERFLOWS US  

Two things are ours as a result of God’s provision:

1.      (Provision). “The Lord is my portion and my cup, you hold my lot.” Psalm 16:5

2.      (Contentment) “Surely goodness and mercy…”

1)      Comes when we (count our blessings) instead of making a wish list.

2)      Comes when we (appreciate what we have) instead of comparing what we don’t.

3)      A by-product of knowing the Shepherd.

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  Life in Which Lane? Psalm 1

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  The Trail Boss

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3

“Most of the time I’m half-way content.” Bob Dylan

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Leadership quote

I.    THE TRAIL BOSS PROVIDES REST     

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”  Sheep will not lie down unless four requirements met:

1.      Free of all fear

2.      Free of friction within the flock.

3.      Free of pests

4.      Free of hunger

II.   THE TRAIL BOSS PROVIDES REFRESHMENT      

“He leads me beside still waters.”

“Shepherds don’t beat sheep; they feed sheep.” Charles Stanley to pastors

III.  THE TRAIL BOSS PROVIDES RESTORATION

“He restores my soul.”  The word restores can mean (brings me to repentance) but since word translated “soul” is actually “life” it means be restored to health-(physically or spiritually).

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  The Trail Boss: The Sequel- Psalm 23:4-6

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Life is an Adventure!

TITLE:  Survival Guide

Scripture: Psalm 130

I.    WHEN YOU NEED THE GUIDE     

“In the depths” begins the psalm. It is seen powerfully in Psalm 69:1-2 (p.482)

“Prayer is never more real and acceptable than when it rises out of the worst places.” Spurgeon

Hebrews 7:25 tells us Jesus is at the right hand of the Father and lives forever (to make intercession for us).

Forgiveness awaits. 4 thoughts:

1.      God’s forgiveness is (inclusive).

2.      God’s forgiveness is (for now).

3.      God’s forgiveness is for those (who want it).

4.      God’s forgiveness leads to (godly living).

II.   FOLLOWING THE GUIDE     

Problem with waiting: we think (nothing is happening).

“From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for Him.” Is.64:4

Forgiveness is not dependent on (feeling forgiven).

SERIES: Life is an Adventure!

NEXT WEEK:  The Trail Boss- Psalm 23:1-3