Category: Sermon Notes

SERIES:  The Fruitful Life

TITLE:  The fruit of the Spirit is Kindness and Goodness

Scripture:  Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 2:1-10 and others

I.       Defining the Terms:

Kindness: inner disposition, or attitude, created by the Holy Spirit that causes us to be (sensitive) to the needs of others

Goodness: kindness in (action)

II.     Attributes of God:

Kindness and Goodness are a part of God’s (nature): It’s in His (spiritual DNA).

III.    The Attitude and the Action:

Attitude:

1.)  We must (adopt a new way of thinking).

                   2.)  We must (die to ourselves)

3.)  We must (PRAY)! -> Holy Spirit produces the fruit!

Action:

1.)  God has prepared good works (in advance) for us to do.

                   2.)  True goodness is (meaningful, thoughtful, considerate and regular).

3.)  The direction of kindness and goodness:

a.) Our (Enemies)    b.) Our (Families)    c.) Our (Neighbors)

Good deeds do NOT earn our admittance to heaven, but our good deeds are necessary and vital evidences that we are bound for heaven.

What are the good works God has prepared for you? Will you walk in them?

NEXT WEEK:  Semper Fi

Gal.5:23; Psalm 15; 89:1-2 and others

SERIES:  The Fruitful Life

TITLE:  Cool Your Jets

Scripture:  Galatians 5:22; Psalm 62

I.   WHEN PATIENCE IS FLAWED        

“Clothe yourselves with…patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” Col.3:12-13

4 spiritual flaws:

1.     Because you are a Christian, all your (problems) are (solved).

2.     All problems you will ever have are addressed (in the Bible).

3.     If you are having problems, you are (unspiritual).

4.     Being exposed to sound Biblical teaching automatically (solves problems).

II.  WHEN PATIENCE IS NEEDED   

The Bible uses several words for patience. Each word has a different aspect of patience:

1.     Our response at the hands of others.  This is called (Longsuffering).

2.     The provocation of the (godly person) by others.

3.     Patience needed toward the (faults and failures) of others.

4.     (Waiting) on God.

Turn to Psalm 62:

1)     Wait for God to (direct your steps).

2)     Trust God to (provide your needs).

3)     Wait silently, (in stillness).

4)     You wait in (confidence).

NEXT WEEK:  Ryan East preaching

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  The Real Thing

Scripture:  Galatians 5: 22; Romans 12:18

I.   ETERNAL STILL WATERS                                   

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom.5:1

You will never find still waters until you find (internal peace) with God.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace…” Eph.2:13-14

II.   INTERNAL STILL WATERS           

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” Jn.16:33

Turn to Phil.4:6-7 (p.982)

III.  EXTERNAL STILL WATERS

Look up these verses: Mt.5:9; Rom.12:18; 14:19; Heb.12:14

How can we pursue peace with others?

1.     Remember we are (fellow members) of the same body.

2.     Realize the cause of discord lies wholly or partly with (us).

3.     Take the initiative to (pursue peace) with another person.

NEXT WEEK:  Cool Your Jets

Scripture: Galatians 5: 22; Col.3:12-13

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  The Real Thing

Scripture:  Galatians 5:22; Romans 14:17; 15:4-5, 13-14

            “The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind-jump in.” Chuck Swindoll in “Living on the Ragged Edge

  I.   WHAT HINDERS JOY?

Essential: joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is dependent on (circumstances) whereas joy is an (inner attitude) not based on feelings or circumstances.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Rom.14:17

5 hindrances to joy:

1.     Not understanding the difference between happiness and joy

2.     (Sin) in our lives.

3.     (Misplaced) confidence

4.     Experiencing (trials of faith).

5.     (Grumbling) and (complaining).

II.   WHAT ENHANCES JOY?

1.     Understanding the (source of joy).  “May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Rom.15:13

2.     Confessing and forsaking (sin).

3.     (Trust) in God.

4.     Proper (perspective).

5.     Give (thanks).

NEXT WEEK:  Still Waters

Scripture: Galatians 5: 22; Romans 12:18

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  The Winner

Scripture:  Galatians 5:22

           “Love is the beginning and the end, and everything in between, and everything before and everything after. Love is infinite, immeasurable. Love is complete. Love is the answer, not the question. Love is always good.” Jason Clark in Prone to Love (pp.29-30)

            “Leading with love is counterintuitive in today’s business environment because it turns many so-called leadership principles upside-down.” Joel Manby in Love Works (p.12)

  I.   LOVE’S FOUNDATION

4 basic words in the Greek language which we translate love

1.     Storge’ is (family love).

2.     Eros- (selfish) “love”-  “I love you if…”

3.     Philos- (brotherly) love- “I love you because…”

4.     Agape- (unselfish) love- “I love you in spite of…”

“By this we know love, that he laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” I John 3:16

One step further: I John 4:9-11 (p.1023)  Propitiation means (atoning sacrifice).

II.   LOVE’S REACH

“Love in your heart isn’t put there to stay. Love isn’t love till you give it away.” Oscar Hammerstein II

1.     Love gives, (whatever the cost).

2.     Love stays, (defying the odds).

3.     Love forgives, (declaring supremacy).

Qualities of love: I Corinthians 13.

NEXT WEEK:  The Real Thing

Scripture: Galatians 5: 22

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  Contrast On Display

Scripture:  Galatians 5:16-26

“I have a job to do that is not very complicated, but it is often difficult: to get a group of men to do what they have wanted all their lives.” Tom Landry

 I.   THE CONFLICT                                 

If living a life for God relies on us keeping the 10 Commandments, we are all (doomed).  The reason? The (conflict) within us.  See Romans 7:15,19-25 (p.943)

“The spiritual life will not be maintained without a struggle…Disobedience and rebellion against the Spirit of God pervade the whole nature of man.” John Calvin

II.   THE CONTRAST                  

Jesus and Paul’s lists are a lot alike. But the point they both make is these sins come (from inside) a person.

The list can be divided into 4 main groups:

1.     Illicit sexual activity

2.     Religious perversion

3.     Social conflict

4.     Drunkenness

I Corinthians 6:9-10

NEXT WEEK:  The Winner!

Scripture: Galatians 5: 22

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  Learning to Walk

Scripture:  Galatians 5:13-18

 I.   LEARNING TO CRAWL

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” I Peter 2:2

Read Romans 1:21-32

“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Jn.8:34  “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jn.8:36

Several things stand out to us:

1.     Paul makes it very clear (freedom) is at the heart of the gospel message and godly living.

2.     We are not to use our freedom to (serve the flesh).

We are freed from (slavery) and (legalism) and the bondage of sin and we are freed to a meaningful and fulfilling life.

1)     Christian freedom is not freedom to (exploit) others; we are to (serve) others.

2)     Christian freedom is not freedom to disregard the (needs) of others.

II.  LEARNING TO WALK                 

Holiness comes only from the Holy Spirit. Holy living does not come from (our) performance for God but from (His) performance through us by His own Spirit.

“You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him.” Rom.8:9

NEXT WEEK:  Contrast on Display

Scripture: Galatians 5: 16-26

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  The End Result

Scripture:  Galatians 5:1-12

“In order to improve your game you must study the endgame before anything else; for, whereas the endings can be studied and mastered by themselves, the middlegame and the opening must be studied in relation to the endgame.”  -Jose Capablanca (World Chess Champion, 1921-1924)

I.       The Consequences of Legalism:

Declaring the Goal:

        We are free FROM (sin and duty).

        We are free FOR (reconciliation and relationship).

FREEDOM IS NOT ONLY AN EXIT – AN EXIT FROM EVERY FORM OF SLAVERY; IT IS AN ENTRANCE – AN ENTRANCE INTO A NEW LIFE OF BELONGING!

Three Consequences of Embracing Legalism:

1.)    Christ will have (no value).

2.)    We are obligated to (keep the whole law).

3.)    We (sever ourselves) from Christ.

ALL THAT MATTERS IS (FAITH EXPRESSING) ITSELF THROUGH (LOVE)!

II.     Concern for the Captives:

Paul encourages the Galatians to (renew their stance under grace).

Where will legalism lead? -> Those who live by the law will be (judged by the law).

John 15:4-5 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  Being Extraordinary II

Scripture:  2 Chronicles 34:1-21; 35:1-18; Nehemiah

I.   JOSIAH: TREASURES GOD’S WORD

Josiah’s story actually begins at 33:21. Josiah did not have the best pedigree.

(Manasseh), his grandfather, known as most evil king to ever rule Judah.

(Amon), his father, was terrible and eventually assassinated.

What lessons can we learn from Josiah?

1. Men who treasure God’s Word (desire) His Word.
2. Men who treasure God’s Word (discover) His Word.
3. Men who treasure God’s Word (devour) His Word.  The result can be seen in 2 Kings 23:25- “Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.”

II.  NEHEMIAH: LEADS WITH COURAGE

Many men have (no convictions). Nehemiah shows us that a godly leader- a godly man- needs to be willing to stand for his convictions.

What explains the basis for his courage?

1. His (conviction).
2. His (sacrifice)
3. His (faith).

NEXT WEEK:  Ryan East preaching

Scripture: Galatians 5: 1-12

SERIES:  Freedom!

TITLE:  Tell the Truth- Anyone Can Lie

Scripture:  Galatians 4: 12-31

I.   LET’S REMINISCE                          

In verse 12 Paul’s approach changes. He changes from proclaiming and (confronting) to (pleading). His anger subsides and moves from the purely (doctrinal) phase to a more (personal) faith.

His appeal? “Be free like me” in verse 12. What does that mean?

He uses the words “I also have become as you are.” What does that mean? [See I Cor. 9:19-22]

The word “despise” means “to count as nothing or worthless.” The word “scorn” is “to spit.”

He wasn’t interested in just getting them saved then turning them loose. He wanted to see them shaped into the (image of Christ).

II.  LET’S REITERATE            

Paul’s defense:

1. He reiterates the (historical) background. Mentions two sons of Abraham. One is from a free woman, Sarah (Isaac); one from a slave woman, Hagar (Ishmael).

Paul show the incompatibility of salvation by (natural) means (keeping of the Law) against salvation by (supernatural) means (the grace of God).

He show an (allegorical) meaning to it all.

Hagar=old covenant, the Mosaic Law

Sarah=new covenant, freedom in Christ

2. He reiterates by (personal) background.

The child of the free woman and the child of the slave woman were at odds. Still are. Child of the flesh (Arab) nation. Child of the free woman ( ).

NEXT WEEK:        Theme: Freedom!

  Title: The End Result

                     Scripture: Galatians 5: 1-12