SERIES: God In Control

TITLE:  Sovereign Purpose

Scripture: John 1:1-18; Luke 2:8-20

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”  Thoraeu

“Passion costs me too much to spend it on trifle.”  Thomas Adams

“It’s not about you.  The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness…You were born by His purpose, and for His purpose.”  Warren

I. THROUGH THE EYES OF ETERNITY

Lights are a symbol of hope.  The entrance of Christ into the world as a baby was a sign of (hope).  It was also a sign of (love) and (joy) and (peace).

The essence: The eternal, infinite God became a (man) in the person of Jesus Christ.  It stuns us with its (power). It overwhelms us in its (scope).  It humbles us in its (humility).

To receive Christ means more than mere intellectual acknowledgment of His claims.  The word “receive” means “to take hold of,” “to grasp.”

II.  THROUGH THE EYES OF HUMANS

About 50 days after Jesus’ birth, Mary & Joseph fulfilled the OT law of (consecration), dedicating their first born son to the Lord.

Mary & Joseph offered two turtledoves or two pigeons which shows how (poor) they were.

Two visitors they saw:

1. (Simeon)-
2. (Anna)

The lesson from them?  (faithfulness matters)

NEXT WEEK:   The Great Adventure begins!!

Title: A Look Ahead (Matthew)   Various Scriptures in Matthew

SERIES: God In Control

TITLE:  Sovereign Visitors

Scripture: Matthew 2: 1-12; Luke 2:8-21

I.   THE WISE GUYS   

When seen in conjunction with Matthew 1, telling this event is a continuing thrust to establish Jesus’ right to Israel’s (true) and final (kingship).

This event would have taken place after Jesus’ (circumcision) found in Luke 2.

Matthew confirms the birthplace of Jesus as (Bethlehem).

This Herod was known as Herod (the Great).

Who were the magi, or wise men?

They brought three gifts to Jesus:

1. Gold- a gift fit for a (king).
2. Frankincense- a gift fit for a (priest)
3. Myrrh- a gift fit for a (burial).

The magi teach many lessons but the greatest of all is their (devotion).

II.   The Sky People

What about the shepherds?

1. Their occupation was needed but (undesirable).
2. They had problems with (cleanliness)
3. They also had problems with (honesty).

Message of “Good News”: Not one of (judgment), but good news

Name of Jesus is significant:

1)     Savior- encompasses Jesus which means (the Lord is salvation).

2)     Christ- means (anointed One).   OT counterpart is (Messiah).

3)     Lord- term of respect and esteem given to someone in (authority).

NEXT WEEK:   Sovereign Purpose- John 1:1-18; Lk.2:22-38

SERIES: God In Control

TITLE:  Sovereign Birth

Scripture: Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 2:1-17

“A virgin will conceive and bring forth a son and you shall call his name Emmanuel.”  “He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

I.   THE PREAMBLE TO THE MAIN EVENT   

Matthew emphasizes the (Jewish) record, specifically how Jesus fulfilled the ancient (prophecies).

What we know about Joseph;

1.  He was a carpenter.  The Greek word can be translated “woodworker” or “mason.”
2.  He was a (godly man). V.19

Two stages to the Jewish wedding;

1.  Kiddushin- (betrothal) period.  Legally binding but without (sexual relations)

2.  Huppa- Wedding on much grander scale.  Marriage with all benefits.

“God still looks for Joseph’s today.  Men and women who believe that God is not through with this world.  Common people who serve an uncommon God.”  Max Lucado

II.   THE REALITY OF THE MAIN EVENT

Events taking place:

1.  It happened during the time of Caesar Augustus.  Caesar means (emperor), while Augustus means (honored, revered, or esteemed).

2. A census was for one of two reasons:

1) (Taxation)
2) Register for (army).

3. Go to city of birth, which for Joseph was Bethlehem.  The name means (house of bread).

NEXT WEEK:   Sovereign Visitors- Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:8-20

SERIES: God In Control

TITLE:  Sovereign Plan

Scripture: Luke 1:5-24, 26-38

“To leave this world a bit better.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

I.  A SPECIAL CALLING  

An introduction to Zechariah:

1)     He was a (priest) in the division of Abijah.

2)     It was a (sacred) and (respected) position.

3)     He and Elizabeth were (childless).

4)     While performing his priestly duties he was struck (speechless).

5)     The child’s name would be John, which means (God is gracious).

II.  A SPECIAL CHILD  

John’s sole mission in life?  To (prepare the way) for the One to come.

A closer look at this story:

1. The town of Nazareth was (unremarkable).
2. It meant nothing but (contempt) towards those who lived there.
3. The word used to describe Mary means “one who has never had (sexual relations).
4. The name given-Jesus- is the Greek form of Joshua, which means (Yahweh saves).
5. The name “Son of the Most High” is the OT word (El Elyon), which is a title that refers to His position as (supreme sovereign ruler).
6. This amazing child would be God (incarnate).
7. Take away the (Virgin Birth) and you take away a foundational rock upon which Christianity stands.

NEXT WEEK:   Sovereign Birth- Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 2:1-7

SERIES: God In Control

TITLE:  Sovereign Grace

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons.”  Gal.4:4

I.  SOVEREIGN

We need to acknowledge one thing about God:  He is the (Creator).  That means God is (not limited) like you and me.  There is nothing (confining) God.

How deep is the wisdom and knowledge of God?  He knows (everything).

God is sovereign. What does that mean?

1. God is the (ruler of all).
2. God answers to (no one).
3. God can accomplish (whatever) He wants, (any time) He wants, in (any way) he wants.
4. God sees history from (beginning to end).  He is not (surprised) by any event.
5. God is afraid of (nothing).
6. God always knows (what is best) and He never (makes a mistake).
7. God is (incomprehensible) and eternally (powerful).

Check out Job 38:2-4 (p.443)

II.  GRACE

OUTCAST #1: (Tamar)

OUTCASE #2: (Rahab)

OUTCAST #3: (Ruth)

OUTCAST #4: (Bathsheba)

Two other names worth looking at:

1)     Mannaseh

2)     Jeconiah

Important truth to remember: It is not the people of the Messianic line who are on display; (God’s grace) is.

NEXT WEEK:   Series: God in Control

Title:  Sovereign Plan- Luke 1; 5-24; 26-38

TITLE:  Thanksgiving In Spite Of…

TEXT:  Daniel 2:20-23

Bill: Introduction

Ryan

What does Daniel praise?

-God is the ultimate (possessor) of all wisdom, knowledge and power.

-God has sovereign power to (accomplish all things).

-God is the (revealer) of hidden things.

-Nothing is (outside) of God’s sight.

What does Daniel give thanks for?

-YOU have given (wisdom and power) to me

-YOU have (revealed) the king’s matter

-YOU have answered us!

Christian Reger, Nazi prison camp survivor and Christ-follower

“Nietzsche said a man can undergo torture if he knows the why of his life. But, here at Dachau, I learned something far greater. I learned the Who of my life. He was enough to sustain me then, and is enough to sustain me still.”

The message of Daniel’s story…

God is in complete control

Charles Swindoll: “Praise reminds us how capable and gracious our God is. It reminds us that, without Him, we can do nothing.”

Bill Closing:

A few things to remember:

1. Remember (who ) and (whose) you are.
2. Remember your (purpose).    Col.3;17 says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
3. Remember to live (in the presence) of God.

NEXT WEEK:   Series: God in Control

Title:  Sovereign Grace- Matthew 1:1-18

TITLE:  Best Laid Plans

TEXT:  I Chron.28:1-8

David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commander of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the seasoned warriors.  Then King David rose to his feet and said; “Hear me, my brothers and my people.  I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our god, and I made preparations for building.  But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’  Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever.  For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my fathers’ house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.  And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdoms of the Lord over Israel.  He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.  I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandment and my rules, as he is today.  Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.”  ESV (emphasis mine)

NEXT WEEK:   Thanksgiving In Spite Of…Daniel 2:20-23  (Pastor Bill & Pastor Ryan preaching)

SERIES: Marked

TITLE:   Relationship Matters

TEXT:  Phil.2:5-11, 17-24 (p.981)

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father, is this: to visit the orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  James 1:27

“Incarnate truth does not neglect propositional truth but presents it in love with skin.”  Burke

(JO: remember H-E-A-R-T)

           I.        PRESENTING THE CASE                                                                                 

Cat and Dog Theology:  “Dogs have masters; cats have staff.  Dogs tend to be loyal, service-oriented, and faithful; whereas cats tend to be independent and aloof.

A dog says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love, you must be God.”  A cat says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.”

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent?”  Rom.10: 14-15

         II.        PRESENTING THE EVIDENCE                                                                                       

“Your neighbor is anyone who has a need, whose need you are able to meet.”

“Example is the most powerful rhetoric.”  Thomas Brooks

Several examples of people who were servants:

1. Paul- Phil.2:17-18
2. Timothy- 2:19-24
3. Jesus- 2:5-11

Three ways humility can become integral part of churches:  Wayne Cordeiro

1. Consciously doing acts of (hidden service).
2. Reminding ourselves a church has a (mission) to do, and it must never forget its mission.
3. Know how to handle (credit).

NEXT WEEK:   Service at the Tivoli!  “Best Laid Plans” –  I Chron.28:1-8

SERIES: Marked

TITLE:   Relationship Matters

TEXT:  2 Cor.5:14-21 (p.966)

 I.        OUR MOTIVATION     

“The world can do almost anything as well as or better than the church.  You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is one thing the world cannot do.  It cannot offer grace.”  Gordon MacDonald

“Our culture diets on the candy of tolerance, but what it really needs is the meat of grace.  Tolerance does not value people but simply puts up with their behavior or beliefs.  Tolerance alone cannot accommodate justice and mercy-it can only look the other way.  Tolerance might deal with differences, but it can’t embrace us in full knowledge of sin and remove the guilt.”   John Burke in No Perfect People Allowed.

God’s unconditional love and grace is a (game-changer).

Paul never lost his sense of (wonder) at Christ’s love.  See Romans 8:35-39.

II.        OUR APPROACH                 

“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry they are always watching you.”

Robert Fulghum

What should our approach to people be?

1. There should be no prerequisites needed.
2. There should be a strong desire to rid ourselves of the (“Us vs. them”) mentality.
3. Understand (acceptance) does not mean (agreement) with people about their choices, beliefs, or behaviors.

NEXT WEEK:   Service Matters- Phil.2:5-21

SERIES: Marked

TITLE:   Acceptance Matters

TEXT:  Eph.2:1-10 (p.976)

“Maybe it’s not just what we’re doing wrong, but what we’re failing to do right that brings these negative stereotypes.”  John Burke in Mud and the Masterpiece

I.    THE BASIS FOR ACCEPTANCE                                                                                

 “The world can do almost anything as well as or better than the church.  You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is one thing the world cannot do.  It cannot offer grace.”  Gordon MacDonald

Mount Whitney, CA is 14,494 ft

Death Valley is 282 ft below sea level

Three pictures from Eph.2:1-3

1. We were (dead).
2. We walked in (Satan’s way)
3. We were (condemned).

Three thoughts follow “But God.”

1)     He made us (alive).

2)     He (raised) us up.

3)     He (seated us) with Him.

II.    THE EXAMPLE OF ACCEPTANCE

The Master in action:

1. Nicodemus- John 3
2. Woman at the well- John 4
3. Woman caught in adultery- John 8

NEXT WEEK:   Relationships Matters- 2 Cor.5: 14-21