Category: Sermon Notes

SERIES: The Great Adventure

TITLE:  Be A Real Hero

Scripture: Ephesians 5:21, 25 – 31

I.   HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO

Scripture is very clear that God made us different. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Gen.1;27

“Every man has a battle to fight, and adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” Wild at Heart

“Brothers, what we do in life echoes in eternity.” Maximus from Gladiator

“The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.” Ex.15:3

II.    HOLDING ON TO BE A HERO

There is a priority to be a husband and a father.

Male headship is not some magical, mystical search for our (inner manhood).

Headship is seen in leading by (loving your wife).

1. We love with a (sacrificial) love. “He purchased the church with His own blood.” Acts 20:28
2. We love with a (purifying) love.
3. We love with a (caring) love.
4. We love with an (unbreakable) love.

“We are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of Nature has placed in our power…The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.” Patrick Henry

NEXT WEEK: The Mountain and the Valley
Mark 9:2-29

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Radical

TITLE:  Radical Judgement

Scripture: Matthew 7: 1-5, 15-20

I.    STOP CRITICIZING

The real problem with criticism is its uncanny knack for being (blind). Jesus is not making a blanket prohibition against all judgment and discernment, but only against that which is done in (self-centered pride).

3 reasons why criticism is not good:

1. It gives an erroneous view of (God). [v.1]
2. It gives an erroneous view of (others). [v.2]
3. It gives an erroneous view of (ourselves). [3-5a]

II.   SHOW DISCERNMENT

Do great disservice to Bible study if we forget cardinal rule: (context)

Jesus gives three measuring sticks we can judge or discern with:

1. (Character) “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8
2. (Creed).

NEXT WEEK: Will Reed preaching

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Radical

TITLE:  Radical Vision

Scripture: Matthew 6: 19-34

I.   SEEING CLEARLY ABOUT THINGS

The words “lay up” and “treasures” come from the same word. A literal translation would be (“do not treasure up treasures”). The Greek also carries with it the idea of (stacking) or laying out horizontally.

Jesus is telling us we need to be watchful of our attitude toward (things). He uses several words which are very descriptive:

1. He uses a picture of a (moth).
2. He uses a picture of (rust)
3. He uses a picture of (theft).

II.   SEEING CLEARLY ABOUT WORRY    

Whether wealthy or poor there seems to be a common disease among them both: (worry over the future).

Why is worry wrong?

1. It is unfaithful because of our (Master). [V.24] “I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content.” Phil.4:11
2. It is unnecessary because of our (Father). [Vv.26-30]
3. It is unreasonable because of our (faith). [Vv.31-33]
4. It is unwise because of our (future). [V.34]

“You will keep him in perfect peace who mind is stayed on you, because he trusts you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Is.26:3-4

NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Judgment

Text: Matthew 7:1-5,15-20

TITLE:  Mary’s Example

Scripture: Luke 1;26-38, 46-55

I.   THE CRY OF THE HEART

 A man’s heart: “Every man has a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” John Eldredge

 The heart of every woman wants to be romanced, to have a role in some adventure, and has a beauty to unveil.”

 “The king will desire your beauty.” Ps.45:11

II.   THE CRY FROM THE HEART    

Two cries from the heart of Mary:

1. Luke 1:38
2. Luke 1:46-55

Three bite-sized chunks of Mary’s heart:

1. Mary’s (attitude) of worship. [46-48a]
2. Mary’s (object) of worship. [46-47]
3. Mary’s (reasons) for worship. [48-55]

“Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Pr.31:28-30

NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Response

Text: Matthew 5: 38-48

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Radical

TITLE:  Radical Response

Scripture: Matthew 5:38-48

“Revenge is the greatest instinct of the human race.” Nietzche

I.   THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE

(Retaliation) is the law of the jungle.

 Ex.21:24-25: “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

 Jesus’ words rebuts the Pharisees’ (misinterpretation) and forbids retaliation in (personal relationships).

II.   THE LAW OF THE KING    

Jesus’ famous words are “You have heard it said…(But I say to you).”

Exodus 23:4-5- do same favors for their enemy as they would a neighbor.

Proverbs 24:29: “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.’”

Why would Jesus tell us to love like this?

1. It makes us (like God). [v.45]
2. It distinguishes us from (the world). [v.46]

NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Vision

Text: Matthew 6:19-34

SERIES: The Great Adventure: Radical

TITLE:  Radical Lifestyle

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16; 6:1-4

I.   THE CHALLENGE THAT CONFRONTS US

 “Christians are supposed to be in the world but not of the world.”

 “The Christian is to be in the world, but God help the Christian if the world gets in him.”

 Here is the reality: The Christ-follower is not someone who lives in isolation. He is in the world, though he is not of it, and bears a relationship to the world.

A look at salt:

1. Salt was to act as a (preservative).
2. Salt was used for (flavoring) and making food palatable.
3. Salt was used to (create thirst).

A look at light:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 The purpose of light is (illumination).

1. Followers of Christ are to be a (city on a hill).
2. Light in a home.

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.” Ps.115:1

II.   THE CAUTION THAT COUNSELS US    

“Hypocrisy is anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide awake of children recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingenuously it may be disguised.”

Two qualifiers in verses 2-4:

1. (Don’t) toot your own horn.
2. (Do be) silent about your giving.

NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Response

Text: Matthew 5:38-48

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  The Way to Peace

Scripture: John 14:15-31

I.   THE PROMISED LEGACY

Jesus is giving them 4 truths which quiet the heart:

1. Personal faith in a personal God bring (personal strength). [v.1]
2. While preparing a place for us, Christ is preparing us for that place. [v.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]

Two more thoughts from verses 16-20:

1. You are not alone; you have an (inward helper). [16-18]
2. Your life is (inseparably linked) to Christ Himself. [19-20]

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” [Gal.2:20]

II.  THE PROMISED RESULTS

Primarily, peace in the NT has to do with a person’s standing (before God).

Peace is the antidote to (fear).

How do we get this peace? How do we overcome fear?

1. By (depending) on the person of the Holy Spirit. [25-26] “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is not lie-just as it has taught you, abide in Him.” I John 2:27
2. By claiming the (peace) of Jesus Christ. [27]
3. By accepting the (plan) for the future. [28-29]
4. By following the (pattern of obedience). [30-31]

Some practical suggestions if floundering and missing peace:

1) Acknowledge Jesus Christ and His Spirit as your source of power.
2) Begin your day with prayer and claim His peace.
3) Correct any habits of pessimism by spending time in the Word.
4) Devote yourself to obedience.

NEXT WEEK: Title: Radical Lifestyle

Text: Matthew 5:13-16; 6:1-4

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  The Way to Forever

Scripture: John 11

“All great Christians have been wounded souls.” Tozer

“The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places.” Hemingway  We can safely say “Every one of us broken by God, and it is in those broken places where we are strong.”

I.   THE BACKSTORY

Jesus raised Lazarus to life, not to restore him to life, or to comfort his grieving sisters, but that He and His Father would be glorified.

“This sickness does not lead to death” is another way of saying, “This sickness will not end in death.” This may be the most important statement in the whole story.

Everything that takes place after that statement is just one opportunity after another for the life and love and goodness of the Father to be experienced, embraced, and believed.

II.   THE ENCOUNTER                  

What was Jesus saying when He said this illness will not lead to death? Was not saying Lazarus would not die. He was saying death would not be ultimate outcome.

It is never easy understanding God’s way of doing things. We wonder, like Mary and Martha, why Jesus didn’t come sooner, especially when He claims a deep love for this family.

Mary and Martha could only see (the immediate). What they would soon learn is you can’t have a resurrection without (a death). You cannot know the transforming triumph of Christ without a (crisis).

Jesus wept. Why?

1) Jesus weeps with those who weep.
2) Jesus weeps for the condition of humanity.

We celebrate today what Paul writes in I Cor.15: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

NEXT WEEK:   Title: The Way to Peace

Text: John 14:15-31

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  The Way of the Towel

Scripture: John 13: 1-7

 I.  HUMILITY ILLUSTRATED

True or False: “You cannot love with humility; you cannot have humility without love.”

“I would say humility is not an act of submission. It is not lowering yourself.” (A non-follower of Jesus)

“You cannot have love without submission. Humility is an act of submission. It is lowering yourself to others. I believe this is the love Jesus wants us to have more than anything…selfishness is not in line with humility or love.” (A follower of Jesus)

Matthew 23:11- “the greatest among you shall be your servant.”

II.  HUMILITY DISCUSSED                 

4 characteristics of humility in verses 4-12:

1)     Humility is (unannounced).  See Matthew 23:6-12

2)     Humility is willing to receive- (without embarrassment).

3)     Humility is not a sign of (weakness).

4)     Humility does not play (favorites).

A few last words from Jesus:

1.  Humility includes (serving others), not just the Lord.

2.  Happiness results from (demonstrating) humility, not just (learning) about it.

NEXT WEEK:   Easter at the Tivoli

Title: The Way to Forever

Text: John 11

SERIES: The Great Adventure: The Way

TITLE:  A Look Ahead (John)

Scripture: John 20:30-31; 21:25

Down through the ages biblical scholars have depicted the gospels as animals.

• Matthew is a (lion), representing the kingdoms of Jesus
• Mark is an (ox), showing the servanthood of Jesus.
• Luke is a (man), revealing the humanity of Jesus.
• John is an (eagle), because can look into sun and not be dazzled.

I.    MEET THE AUTHOR         

The gospel of John is the most (intimate) of the four. It is an eyewitness account of Jesus, the (Lamb of God).

The author is accepted to be John:

1. The author was a (Jew).
2. The author was a (Palestinian) Jew.
3. The author was an (eyewitness).
4. The author was an (aposte).
5. The author was the (Apostle John).

Matthew wrote to the Jews. Mark wrote to the Romans. Luke wrote to the Gentiles. John’s target audience was (everyone).

II.   MEET THE INCIDENTALS                

Several characteristics of John:

1)     It is simple yet (profound).

2)     It is filled with (analogies).

3)     It is filled with (unique) material.

4)     It also has (omitted) material.

Two main themes emerge from this gospel:

1. The Deity of Christ. To reinforce this truth, John is home to 7 signs:

1)     Turning water to wine

2)     Healing the nobleman’s son

3)     Healing the paralytic

4)     Feeding the 5000

5)     Walking on water

6)     Healing a man born blind

7)     Resurrection of Lazarus

2. Belief in Christ

A Quick Outline of John:

• Introduction and Summary (1:1-18)
• The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (1:19-4:54)
• The Growing Opposition (5-12)
• Discourse with His Disciples (13-17)
• Arrest, Trial and Crucifixion (18-19)
• Resurrection and Reappearance (20-21)

NEXT WEEK:   Rob Grandi speaking

Title: What Jesus Knew