Category: Sermon Notes

SERIES:  It is Written

TITLE:  God of the Second Chance

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

I.   A SNAPSHOT OF ME/YOU/US                                                  

This parable revolves around three characters: the (younger) son, the (father), and the (older) son.

The younger son is cast as a scoundrel but the ending is a twist. The main idea behind the word prodigal is wastefulness, immoderation, excess, and debauchery.

What did this younger son do?

1.     He had a (disregard) for his inheritance.

2.     He (dishonored) his father.

3.     He (demanded) his birthright.

II.   A SNAPSHOT OF GOD                
 

What the son found- what the Pharisees found was two-fold:

1.     An (approachable) father.

2.     The (reaction) of the father.

1)     He (ran) and (embraced) him.

2)     He (kissed) him.

3)     He gave him a (robe).

4)     He gave him a (ring).

5)     He gave him (sandals).

6)     He threw a (feast).

Something really important happened here: (adoption).  “To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is greater.” J.I.Packer in Knowing God.

SERIES: Second Chance

NEXT WEEK:  After Shame- John 8:1-11

SERIES:  It is Written

TITLE:  Below The Waterline

Scripture: Exodus 33:12-23

I.    VIRTUES TO DEVELOP                                                 

“Character is not something you have; it is something you are that shows itself in what you do.”

“Leadership is not about style or technique as much as it is about character.” John MacArthur

Five virtues we need to navigate this coming year:

1.     (Humility)

2.     (Compassion)

3.     (Steadfastness), not Stubbornness

4.     (Faith) beyond sight.

5.     (Self-control).

II.   VISION TO SUCCEED               

Three things needed to “get” those virtues:

1)     “Lord, teach me Your ways.” [33:12-12]

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hand.” Ps.138:7-8

2)     “Lord, guarantee to me Your presence.”  [33:14-15]

3)     “Lord, show me Your glory.”  [33:18]

NEXT WEEK:  2016 Theme: “It is Written”

SERIES & TITLE: God of the Second Chance- Luke 15: 11-32

SERIES:  Deck the Halls

TITLE:  Life After Christmas

Scripture: Lk.1:11-15 (Joy); Matt.1:18-21 (Love); Lk.1:30-33 (Hope); Lk.2:13-14 (Peace)

I.   EXPERIENCE JOY                                                

1.     We can have joy when (God’s presence) is revealed.

2.     We can have joy when (God’s comfort) is experienced.

3.     We can have joy when (God’s provision) is realized.

4.     We can have joy when (God’s grace) is embraced.

II.   OVERFLOW WITH LOVE              

1.     Love (covers sin).

2.     Love (listens to God).

3.     Love (believes God).

FIND HOPE

1.     Hope (meets us) where we are.

2.     Hope (overcomes) obstacles.

3.     Hope (brings a plan).

4.     Hope is received (by faith).

EXUDE PEACE

“Don’t be anxious about anything…And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  Phil.4:6

NEXT WEEK:  2016 Theme: “It is Written”

“Below the Waterline”- Exodus 33:12-33

SERIES:  Deck the Halls

TITLE:  Don’t Miss Christmas

Scripture: Various

I.   MODERN DAY REASONS/EXCUSES PEOPLE USE                                               

Take off from the video:

1.     Christmas means (family).

2.     Christmas means (eating a lot).

3.     Christmas means pure (commercialism) to some.

4.     Christmas means pure (humanism) to some.

5.     Christmas means (crassness) to some.

If we take our cue from these, Christmas is a (mess)!

II.  BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE MISSING CHRISTMAS             

1.     Our first witness is (The Innkeeper).  Luke 2:7. He missed Christmas because he was (preoccupied).

2.     Our second witness is (Herod). Mt.2. He missed Christmas because of (jealous fear).

3.     Our third witness is the (Religious leaders). They missed Christmas because of (pride).

4.     Our fourth witness is the people of (Jerusalem). Luke 2. They missed Christmas because of their (religion).

NEXT WEEK:  Series: Deck the Halls!

Title: Life After Christmas- Mt.1:18-21; Lk.1:11-15, 30-33; 2: 13-14

SERIES:  Deck the Halls

TITLE:  The Highlight of Christmas

Scripture: Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35-38

I.   THE MIRACLE OF FULFILLED PROPHECY                                              

A few of the prophecies fulfilled:

1.     A star and scepter came out of Israel. Numbers 24:17/Mt.2:1-2

2.     Born of the seed of a woman. Gen.3:15/Gal.4:4 (also Mt.1:20)

3.     Born of a virgin. Is.7:14/Mt.1:18-25

4.     He was the Son of God. Ps.2:7/Mt.3:17

5.     He was the seed of Abraham. Gen.22:18/Mt.1:1

6.     From the family line of Jesse (David’s father). Is.11:1/Lk.3:23,32

II.  THE MIRACLE OF HIS BIRTH            

The centerpiece of all Christmas prophecy, Isaiah 9:6 was written nearly (600) years before He was here.

Isaiah foretold His name would be Emmanuel which means (God with us).

“The really staggering Christian claim is that Jesus of Nazareth was God made man…he took humanity without loss of deity, so that Jesus of Nazareth was as truly and fully divine as He was human.” J.I.Packer in “Knowing God”

The point does not lie in the circumstances surrounding His birth, but rather the identity of the baby. A couple things stand out:

1)     The baby born at Bethlehem was (God).  See John 1:1

2)     The baby born at Bethlehem was (God made man).

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor.8:9

“I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart.” Ps.119:32

NEXT WEEK:  Series: Deck the Halls!

Title: Don’t Miss Christmas!- various Scripture

SERIES:  Deck the Halls

TITLE:  The Excitement of Christmas

Scripture: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

I.   THE COURTSHIP                                             

The Players: Joseph and Mary

The Town: Nazareth was (Jewish) by birthright, (Roman) by claim, and (Greek) by influence.

The Situation:  Two stages of a relationship:

1.     (Kiddushin)- We would call this the engagement stage. All legally binding except no sexual.

2.     (Huppa)- Officially married stage.

The Problem: Mary’s pregnancy during Kiddushin stage

II.  THE MIRACLE            

“No other fact in the Christmas story is more important than the Virgin Birth. The VB must have happened exactly the way Scripture say. Otherwise, Christmas has no point at all. If Jesus is simply the illegitimate child of Mary’s infidelity, or even if he is the child of Joseph’s natural marital union with Mary, He is not God. If He is not God, His claims are lies. If his claims are lies, His salvation is a hoax. And if His salvation is a hoax, we are all doomed.” MacArthur in God With Us.

What does the Virgin Birth mean?

1.     Jesus was born by direct action of God. Lk.1:35a

2.     No man was involved in the process. Lk. 1:34

3.     Jesus had a human mother and no human father. Lk.1:35b

4.     Jesus is fully human and fully divine. Lk.1:31-32; Jn.1:14

5.     He is without sin. He has no inherited sin from Adam. Heb.1:1-3

Through the Virgin Birth, God became (man) without ceasing to be (God).

NEXT WEEK:  Series: Deck the Halls!

Title: The Highlight of Christmas- Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:35-38

SERIES:  Deck the Halls

TITLE:  The Person of Christmas

Scripture: Phil.2:5-11; Isaiah 9:6-7

I.   WHAT OTHERS SAY                                             

What did people of His day about Him?

1.     The Religious Leaders- “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” Luke 5:21

2.     The Civic Leaders- “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” Luke 9:9

3.     The People in His hometown- “Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at Him.” Mark 6:3

4.     His own students- “Who is this man that even the wind and waves obey Him?” Mk.4:35-41

II.  WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS           

1.     Jesus was God (in human flesh).  Phil.2:6-8 says, “…who did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form…”

“God has sent prophets many times, but now He would do something far more shocking. He would leave the throne of heaven-a king in disguise. The Lord of the universe in human scale. The Creator among His creatures.”  David Jeremiah

2.      Jesus is (right here with us). Is.9:6-7

1)     Wonderful Counselor

2)     Mighty God

3)     Everlasting Father

4)     Prince of Peace

NEXT WEEK:  Series: Deck the Halls!

Title: The Excitement of Christmas- Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38

SERIES:  The Church Alive!

TITLE:  Unforgettable

Scripture: Psalm 136

I.   THE WONDER OF CREATION   (1-9)    

“The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome.” Deut.10:17

What should be our approach toward creation?

1.     We should be (thankful) for it.

2.     We should (delight) in it.

3.     We should treat it (responsibly).

II.  THE WONDER OF SALVATION    (10-25)     

Check out Eph.2:1-5 (p.976)

III.  THE WONDER OF STEADFAST LOVE (26)

The phrase “His love endures forever” occurs 26 times. Each time it is a response to the 26 (affirmations) about God.

The Hebrew word used is hesed which means (covenant love).

“For His mercy endures forever. He has done all things from this motive; and because his mercy never ceases, he will continue multiplying deeds of love world without end. Let us with all our power of heart and tongue give thanks unto the holy name of Jehovah forever and ever.” Charles Spurgeon.

NEXT WEEK:  Series: Deck the Halls!

Title: The Person of Christmas- Phil.2:5-11; Is.9:6-7

SERIES:  The Church Alive!

TITLE:  Keeping Up

Scripture:  I Cor.9:19-23

I.   ELEMENTS OF CLARIFICATION                                              

“The church is to be in the world. But God help the church if the world get into it.” D.L.Moody.

Some terms to clarify:

1.     Contextualization- That which (surrounds) you.

2.     Pragmatism- “If it works, (let’s work it).” The end justifies the means.

3.     Consumerism- “Give the (customer) what he wants.”

Our first order of business is to (honor and glorify) God without compromise.

II.  ESSENTIALS FOR CARRYING ON             

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (ESV)  John 3:30

“He must become greater, but I must become less.” (NIV)

Three essentials:

1.     The Primacy of (Prayer).

“The faith to move mountains is the reward of those who have moved little hills.”

2.     Willingness to (become weak).

3.     The Necessity of (Celebration).

NEXT WEEK:  Freedom! Thanksgiving

Title: Unforgettable- Psalm 136

SERIES:  The Church Alive!

TITLE:  Chooses To Serve

Scripture:  Matthew 20:20-28

A church can choose to be either (inward) focused or (outward) focused. The choice will determine its outreach and ultimately, its future.

I.   THE FOUNDATION FOR SERVICE         

One of the Scriptures for our service is found in Phil.2:5-11 (p.980). The foundation for our service begins and ends with (Jesus).

The essence of the Christian is not that we (served Christ) but He (served us).

II.   OUR VISION            

Why do people serve?

1.     (Guilt).

2.     (Force).

3.     (Pride).

The ultimate goal for serving is Jesus, to make His name known, to show people the furious love He has for them.

We serve:

1.     At (home).

2.     In our (neighborhood).

3.     At our (workplace).

4.     At our (church).

NEXT WEEK:  The Church Alive!

Will & Teresa Reed here from “Serge!”