Category: Sermon Notes

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  The Adversary

Scripture: 2 Peter 5:8-9

I.    UNDERSTAND HIS BACKGROUND                                                            

September 2013 survey: (57%) of Americans said they believed in Satan.  (40%) of Christians agreed that Satan “is not a living being but a symbol of evil.”

“There are two dangers about Satan and demons. One is to disbelieve they exist and the other is to have an unhealthy interest in them.” C.S.Lewis

What about his origin?

1.      Satan has not always existed. Psalm 148: 2,5 and Col.1:16. Turn to Ezekiel 28:12-15 (p.715)

2.      What sin did he commit?  Ezekiel 28:15  See also Isaiah 14:12-14 (p.578)

3.      What was his punishment?

4.      What names does he use?

II.   UNDERSTAND HIS APPROACH                          

Satan, or whatever you want to call him is (not) your friend!

According to Jesus in John 10:10 his mission is to (steal, kill and destroy).

In John 8:44 Jesus calls him (the father of lies).

He is a master at (destruction by distraction).

How do I/you defeat the enemy? (FOCUS ON JESUS)

SERIES: Family Matters

NEXT WEEK:  Making it Last- Gen.2:15-25

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  Start and Finish

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:4

I.   THE WAR BEING WAGED                                                           

Emotional/experiential war:

1.      (Escapism)-

2.      (Cynicism)

3.      (Humanism)

4.      (Supernaturalism)

II.   Cultural war:

1)      (Modernism)- “belief that truth exists and that scientific method is the only reliable way to determine that truth.”

2)      (Postmodernism)- No objective truth.

3)      (Emergent)- Blurs line between certainty and omniscience

III.   THE WEAPON OF OUR WARFARE                         

“…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21

Characteristics and qualities which make Bible extremely important to us:

1.      The Bible is (infallible).  Psalm 19:7

2.      The Bible is (inerrant).

1)      Revelation- occurred when God gave His truth.

2)      Inspiration- occurred when the writers of Scripture received and recorded it.

3)      Illumination- occurs each time we open the Word to read or study.

4)      Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

3.      The Bible is (Reliable).  God’s Word is (authoritative).

Benefits of relying on the Bible:

1.      (Stability)

2.      (Insight)

3.      (Maturity). Psalm 119:99-100

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  The Adversary- 2 Peter 5:8-9

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  The Forgotten One

Scripture: John 16:4b-15

“We all see problems in the church. We don’t need another book to point those out. We need the faith to believe that the solution is really quite simple: the Holy Spirit.”  Francis Chan

I.   THE DILEMMA WE FACE                                                          

“Religion is what happens when the Spirit has left the building.” Bono

Our statement of faith: “We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son and is present in the world to make men aware of their need for salvation in Jesus Christ; is given to the believer at the time of His salvation, and then provides the Christ-follower with guidance and power for living.”

Jesus told His disciples His presence (in) them would be greater than His presence (beside) them.

The HS was never given to operate of His own volition. It was, and never is, the purpose of the HS to draw attention to Himself. His purpose has always been to draw attention to Jesus.

“The work of the Spirit is a “floodlight ministry, quietly turning everyone’s attention from Himself to the Savior.” J.I.Packer

II.  THE ANSWER WE FIND                        

Who is the Holy Spirit?

1.      The Holy Spirit is a (person).

2.      The Holy Spirit is (God).

3.      The Holy Spirit is (eternal and holy).

4.      The Holy Spirit has His own (mind), and He (prays) for us.

5.      The Holy Spirit has (emotions).

6.      The Holy Spirit has His own (desires and will).

7.      The Holy Spirit is (omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent).

“So apart from Him (the HS), not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all.” Packer

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  Start and Finish- 2 Timothy 3:14- 4:4

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  Turn off the Dark!

Scripture: I Corinthians 15:12-19, 42-49

I.   THE FACTS       

Jesus turned the darkness of on four things:

1.      (Loneliness).

2.      (Fear)

3.      (Despair)

4.      (Guilt)

II.  THE FAITH                       

There is actually a fifth one: (Death).

(Death) is our (greatest enemy). It is also our (last) enemy.

“…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:9-10

The original Greek word for “abolished” literally means (to render inoperative).

The cross brought death; the resurrection brought life. The cross brought death to sin; the resurrection brought death to an end.

“Jesus made a public spectacle of the enemy’s army and stripped them of their power.” Col.2:15

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  The Forgotten One- John 16: 4b-15

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  I Believe In Jesus

Scripture: Mark 14:53-64; 15:39; John 18:33-38; 19: 19-22

Our statement of faith: “We believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only, virgin born Son of God and is co-equal with God. He is God in human flesh, died on a cross as a substitute for our sins and rose bodily from the dead, and is the only way to God.”

I.  WHAT DO OTHERS SAY?                                                        

“All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that One Solitary Life.”

Buddhism teaches Jesus (was not God) but an (enlightened man).

Hinduism teaches Jesus was a (wise man) or incarnation of God like (Krishna).

Islam teaches Jesus was just a man and a prophet but (inferior) to Muhammed.

JW’s teach Jesus was a creation of God, (Michael the Archangel).

Mormons teach Jesus was a half-brother to (Lucifer) and the result of a physical relationship between Elohim (God) and Mary.

II.  WHAT SHOULD WE SAY?        

What did Jesus say about Himself?

1.      Jesus said he (came down from heaven).

2.      Jesus said he was (God).  Mark 16:61-64

3.      Jesus said he was (sinless).

4.      Jesus (forgave sin).

5.      Jesus said He is the (only way) to heaven.

III.   Who or what is Jesus?

1)      According to Jesus He is the (I AM).

2)      According to Matthew “Jesus is (the Christ).”

3)      According to Mark “Jesus is (the Son of God).”

4)      According to Luke “Jesus is the (Servant of the Lord).”

5)      According to John “Jesus is (the Word).”

6)      According to Paul “Jesus (is Lord).”

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  Turn off the Dark! I Cor.15: 12-19, 42-49

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  I Believe In God

I.    Natural Revelation

I believe in God because it (makes sense)!

ROMANS 1:19-20

      -God’s (fingerprints) are all over creation! Creation (proclaims) His existence!

A Creator’s Clue: Dr. Walter Bradley – “If there isn’t a natural explanation oand there doesn’t seem to be a potential of finding one, then I believe it’s appropriate to look at a supernatural explanation. I think it’s the most reasonable inference based on the evidence… I think that people who believe that life emerged naturalistically need to have a great deal more faith than people who reasonably infer that there’s an Intelligent Designer.”

II.    Biblical Revelation

I believe in God because He has (revealed Himself) to us through (His Word)!

14 Attributes of God:

      Holy                                                     Eternal                                                Immutable

      Sovereign                                            Omniscient                                          Omnipotent

      Omnipresent                                       Independent                                        Gracious

      Wise                                                    Just                                                      Merciful

      Faithful                                                Love

God reveals himself to you because He (desires to know you)! (John 10:14)

III.     Personal Experience

I believe in God because my own (experiences with Him) confirm Him.

WARNING: Always filter your personal experiences through Scripture!

Pillars of Personal Experience:

1.)    ANSWERED PRAYER

2.)    GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS PROMISES AND THE POWER OF HIS WORD

3.)    SPIRITUAL CONVICTION

4.)    TRANSFORMED LIFE BEGINNING AT THE HEART-LEVEL

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  I Believe in Jesus Christ

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  SOLID!

TITLE:  Is It Really That Important?

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-2, 6

“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” Bilbo Baggins in Lord of the Rings

“Faith is to the soul what swallowing is the body-and the health of the body is largely dependent on what is swallowed.”

I.   TRUTH UNDER SIEGE                                                       

What is laying siege to the truth today?

1.      The Challenge of (Religious Intolerance).

2.      The Challenge of (Pluralism).

3.      The Challenge of (Inclusivism).

4.      The Challenge of (Ecumenism).

5.      The Challenge of a lack of (Gospel Knowledge).

6.      The Challenge of the (Flesh).

7.      The Challenge of (Immorality).

Some doctrines are (non-negotiable).

II.  WHY BELIEVE TRUTH?                       

Three truths from Hebrews 12:1-2, 6:

1.      Faith is living in a hope that is so real it gives (absolute assurance).

2.      Faith is a conviction of things (not seen).

3.      Faith is not simply one way to please God; it is the (only way).

Those who believe in God and those who don’t are people of faith. They use the same tools but just happen to be digging in different mines. And therein lies the crux of faith. It is not the (capacity) of faith, but rather the (object) of faith, which determines the ultimate outcome of life and eternity.

The Bible does not ask us to adopt a (blind) faith but a (reasoned) one.

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  Ryan East preaching

THEME: It Is Written

SERIES:  Second Chance

TITLE:  When Taking Advantage is Good

Scripture: 2 Peter 1 :3-11

I.   THE DIVINE POWER                                                      

Sin holds us (captive). We were meant to fly with the (wings of grace), but we have allowed sin to keep its grip on us and hold us down.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9

“But if anybody does sin, we have one how speaks to the Father in our defense-Jesus Christ the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1b-2 (NIV)

II.  THE DRIVING QUEST                       

We are to “supplement our faith.” Other translations say “add to our faith.”

1.      (Virtue)- means “moral power or energy.” “goodness”  Paul chose a word that has primarily to do with something (we are) before it is anything (we do), look, or feel.

2.      (Knowledge)

3.      (Self-control)- It is more than keeping things under control (in check). It is actually (humility).  See Romans 6:12-13]

4.      (Steadfastness)- endurance.  Christianity does not provide a supernatural cure for suffering; it provide a supernatural use for it.

5.      (Godliness)- It is being Christlike in (character).

6.      (Brotherly affection)-

7.      (Love)

SERIES: Solid!

NEXT WEEK:  Is it Really That Important? Hebrews 11:1-2,6

SERIES:  It is Written

TITLE:  After Hearing Impossible

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22

I.    SEEK (THE LORD) NOT MEN             

Key phrase is found in verse 3: “set his face to seek the Lord”

II.   ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S (UNLIMITED POWER)                      

Turn to Isaiah 40:12-14, 25-26,28-31

III.  FACE THE TASK RECOGNIZING THE (HOPELESSNESS) W/O GOD

J gets his people ready. Two things stand out:

1.      They are facing a giant horde

2.      The end of verse 12: “we don’t know what to do”

IV.   WE NEED TO REMEMBER (WHOSE BATTLE) IT IS

We get ready. We prepare for battle. But ultimately we must remember (the battle is not ours).

V.    (PRAISE HIM) IN ADVANCE

SERIES: Second Chance

NEXT WEEK:  When Taking Advantage is Good- 2 Peter 1:3-11

SERIES:  It is Written

TITLE:  After Fear

Scripture: Judges 6: 1-25

I.   THE PARALYSIS OF FEAR                                                     

The name Gideon means “hewer” or man of (physical strength).

Two things stand out about Gideon’s “visit:”

1.      He did not know it was an angel.

2.      It was not “an angel of the Lord” but “the angel of the Lord.”

Gideon is struggling with two main problems:

1.      The problem of (discouragement)

2.      The problem of (inadequacy).

Five principles about the tyranny of fear:

1.      Fear disregards God’s (plan).

2.      Fear distorts God’s (purposes).

3.      Fear discourages God’s (people).

4.      Fear disbelieves God’s (promises).

5.      Fear disobeys God’s (principles).

II.   THE PRESENCE WHICH DESTROYS FEAR                     

Gideon is given two assignments:

1)      Tear down the (altar of Baal), cut down the (Asherah pole) and build an (altar to God).

2)      Fight the Midianites with (300) men.

The advice to Gideon makes no sense. But it is not our responsibility to understand how God is going to keep His Word and accomplish His work. It is our responsibility to (obey Him) and to do what He commands.

SERIES: Second Chance

NEXT WEEK:  After Impossible- 2 Chronicles 20:1-22