Category: Sermon Notes

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Listen! (Matthew)

TITLE:  Investing Wisely

Scripture: Matthe w 25: 14-30

“For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been.’” John Greenleaf Whittier

“Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days… In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” Eccl.11:1,6

I.    THE RESPONSIBILITY WE ARE GIVEN

 “It” refers to the whole of the kingdom of God.

 Several significant thoughts about this parable:

1. They are his slaves.

2. He is entrusting his possessions to his slaves.

 Jesus is emphasizing common (accountability).

 II.   THE RESPONSE WE CAN TAKE

See Matthew 20:25-28

We serve Jesus because (He serves us).

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Listen!

Title: Heart Pollution

Scripture: Matthew 15:10-19; Pr.4:23-27

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Listen! (Matthew)

TITLE:  Let It Go!

Scripture: Matthew 18: 21-35

“Nothing smells so sweet as the dead body of an enemy.” King Louis XII

I.    THE EXTENT OF FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is not natural to man.

In a nutshell Peter is asking Jesus if forgiveness has a (limit).

“If your brother sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:4

II.   THE EXAMPLE OF FORGIVENESS    

A couple of ideas about forgiveness:

1.  There are two types of forgiveness: (vertical) and (horizontal).

2.  To refuse to forgive is (hypocritical).

3.  To refuse to forgive inflicts (inner torment) on us.

Two points on how to be free:

1.  Focus fully on (God’s forgiveness) of you.

     Read Psalm 103:2-5,10-12 to yourself and meditate on those words.

2.  Deal directly and honestly with any (resentment) you currently hold against anyone.

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Listen!

Title: Investing Wisely

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Listen! (Matthew)

TITLE:  Never Too Late

Scripture: Matthew 19:30-20:16

I.    THE PARABLE EXPRESSED

People will often doubt in the (fairness) and (justice) of God.

A principle we dare not forget: God Himself is the standard for (righteousness), and it is impossible for Him to be (unjust) as to lie. God is not (partial) to one person over another.

II.   THE PARABLE EXPLAINED    

Several difficulties present themselves in this story;

1. It is an admittedly strange situation.
2. The payment for the workers seems (unjust).

What is the interpretation of the parable?

It is a story intended to teach about the (grace of God) in salvation. God’s grace is (big enough) and (great enough) to extend a hand and offer eternal life.

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Listen!

Title: Let It Go!

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-35

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Transformation (John)

TITLE:  From Trouble to Peace

Scripture: John 14: 1 – 20

I.    THOUGHTS THAT TROUBLE THE HEART

To get a clear picture we need to go back into John 13. Find three thoughts:

1. Thoughts regarding (death). [33a]
2. Thoughts regarding (trials). [33b-35]
3. Thoughts regarding (disloyalty). [36-38]

II.   THOUGHTS THAT QUIET THE HEART    

How can we have/find this quiet?

1. Personal (faith) in a personal (God) brings personal (strength). [v.1]
2. While preparing a place for us, Christ is preparing (us for that place). [2-4]
3. The (sovereign) hand of God is at work. [7-11]
4. (Greater things) occur when we pray in Jesus’ name, that the Father may be (glorified). [12-14]
5. You are not alone; you have an (inward Helper). [16-18]
6. Your life is (inseparably) linked to Christ Himself. [19-20]

NEXT WEEK: TGA: Listen!

Title: Never Too Late

Scripture: Matthew 19:30-20:16

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Transformation (John)

TITLE:  From Uncertainty to Assurance

Scripture: John 10: 1 – 21

I.    THE LESSONS FROM HISTORY

What is a sheepfold?

1. An enclosure
2. A term for managing sheep.

A sheepfold conveys the idea of a (special relationship) a sheep had to the ownership and care of a (certain) shepherd.

II.    THE LESSONS FOR TODAY

1. Anyone who forces a way into the sheepfold other than by the proper doorway or entrance may be a (thief or a robber). [V.1-2] Look up Psalm 139:1-12 (pp521-522)
2. The sheep know the shepherd’s (voice). [3-6]
3. There is only (ONE) door to the sheepfold. [7-14]
• Paul says, “They are preaching another gospel and are to be accursed.” Gal.1:7-8

NEXT WEEK: From Trouble to Peace
Scripture: John 14:1-14

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Transformation (John)

TITLE:  From Old To New

Scripture: John 3: 1 – 21

I.    THE DISCUSSION

If there was any one group clinging to religion it was the (Pharisees). Steeped in (traditions and rules) they saw themselves as the last bastion of defense against the liberalism of the (Sadducees).

Pharisees were an off-shoot of Hasidim, which means (pious ones). They opposed (Hellenization) of Jewish culture.

Jesus went straight to the heart of the issue: the (transformation) of Nic’s heart by the new birth.

God’s salvation is not a matter of adding something to all his efforts, not topping off his religious devotion with whipped cream, but rather (cancelling) everything and (starting over).

Water and spirit are often referred symbolically in the OT to spiritual renewal and cleansing. [See Ezekiel 36:24-27 for an example]

II.   THE DECLARATION

They were not told to fight the serpents…make an offering…pray…or even look to Moses. All that was required was a simple look of faith to the raised serpent.

The numbers of Hope: John 3:16. “If you know nothing of the Bible, start here. If you know everything in the Bible, return here.” Max Lucado

Since he has no needs, you cannot tire Him. Since He is without age, you cannot lose Him. Since He has no sin, you cannot corrupt Him.

Scripture abounds in verses backing up John 3:16. Check out Deut.10:15: “The Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of His love.” (NLT)

NEXT WEEK: From Uncertainty to Assurance
Scripture: John 10:1-21

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Transformation (John)

TITLE:  From Thirsty To Satisfied

Scripture: John 4: 1 – 42

I.    THE BARRIERS OF FALSE WORSHIP

Several significant thoughts about this story:

1. Verse 4: “He had to pass through Samaria”
2. Verses 4-5: the city of Sychar
3. Verses 7-9: A Jewish man talking to a Samaritan woman

Three barriers to worship:

1) The (Wrong Wells).
2) (Unconfessed) Sin
3) (Ignorance)

II.    THE BEAUTY OF REAL WORSHIP

[Read verses 23-24} What kind of people is God looking for? Those who will worship Him in (spirit and truth). It has been expressed another way: (inflamed) hearts and (informed) minds.

Need to understand worship is not just relegated to an hour or so on Sunday morning. Worship is 24/7.

“He is not just the God of the Jews, but also of the Gentiles.” Rom.3:29

NEXT WEEK: From Old to New
Scripture: John 3:1-21

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  From Water To Wine

Scripture: John 2: 1 – 12

I.    FROM WATER TO WINE

A wedding was not only the (celebration of marriage); it was also a display of (honor and hospitality).

John makes special mention of Jesus’ mother being here. Several things stand out;

1. He calls her (the mother of Jesus).
2. She & Jesus both being here suggests a relative or friend was getting married.
3. She was more than an (observer).

Suggested dual purpose for Jesus being at wedding:

1)     Sanctified (institution of marriage).

2)     Ceremony was a (public declaration) to remain faithful to each other.

II.   FROM ORDINARY TO EXTRAORDINARY    

What can we learn as we look for the ordinary and find the extraordinary?

1. The People God (Uses).
2. Obedience is (Necessary).
3. Abundant (Excellence).

NEXT WEEK: From Thirsty to Satisfied

Scripture: John 4: 1-42

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  Ready For Love

Scripture: Luke 15

Bible Reading Plan (from “Papa” Don Finto)

Use five bookmarks so you can read through the Bible in sections at your own pace:

Genesis- Esther

Job- Song of Solomon

Isaiah- Malachi

Matthew- Acts

Romans- Revelation

Parables- “A parable is   ___________________________________________________”

Heavenly things are available now  (John 3:12, Matthew 6:10, 2 Corinthians 4:18)

What ____________________ are keeping us from experiencing God’s love?

Three stories in Luke 15- God is searching for us- we are valuable to Him!

Prodigal:  “Extravagant, lavish, unrestrained, even to the point of being

_________________________.”

Roadblock #1:  ___________________________________

The LIE is that it tells us we are ______________________________.

Roadblock #2:  ___________________________________

Avoid the “______________________________________”

Help yourself to a ____________ from the fridge!

“Man’s _____________________   will end the moment he has an encounter

with ________________________.”  (Leif Hetland)

Go deeper:

(THIS IS FANTASTIC!)  >>”Healing the Orphaned Spirit” (video on YouTube) by Leif Hetland

Book: Baptism of Love by Leif Hetland

Book: The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Kris Vallotton & Bill Johnson

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  Ready To Follow

Scripture: Luke 14:25-35

The Cost of Discipleship

Marks of a True Disciple: A true disciple…

1.)   (Abandons) Past Priorities

A disciple must prefer God over (his possessions)

A disciple must prefer God over (his own family)

A disciple must prefer God over (his own self)

2.)   (Assesses) Present Powers

The common theme of Jesus’ examples: (count the cost of discipleship)

What has following Christ cost you? What are you willing to give?

3.)   (Endures) in Commitment

Jesus is not looking for (mediocre) disciples

Being a disciple of Jesus is a lifetime pursuit

G. K. Chesterton: “Jesus promised his disciples three things—that they would be completely fearless, absurdly happy and in constant trouble.”

JULY 27^TH– Ready to Love- Peter Bales preaching

Scripture: Luke 15