Category: Sermon Notes

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Coming to Terms with the Truth

Scripture: Joshua 19-Judges 12

“Too much of contemporary Christianity is borrowed from the philosophies of the world and
even other religions-phrases and mottos that on the surface look great but
are not rooted in Scripture or that mostly bolster one’s self-image.”
A.W. Tozer

I. WHAT IS TRUTH?

Today: Truth is (subjective), totally dependent on what you (think or feel) at the moment.

Truth is a thought, statement, or opinion that (lines up with reality). It is true for (all people) for all places and times. Truth is not altered by whether (you believe it or not), or how it (makes you feel).

Christianity is a belief system which stand or falls on (objective truth).

II. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE TRUTH?

Each day’s reading from Everyday Gospel:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. The truth about (God’s promises). March 16
               2. The truth about (idols). March 17
               3. The truth about (obedience). March 18
               4. The truth about (worship). March 19
               5. The truth about (fear). March 20
               6. The truth about (God). March 21
               7. The truth about (troubles). March 22

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Who Rules Your Roost?
Scripture: Judges 13-I Samuel 12

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Say Yes!

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30 – Joshua 18

“For you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
Augustine

I. SAY YES TO RENEWING OUR VOWS

Moses’ two-fold challenge:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Verses 4-6: Don’t (be afraid).
               2. Verses 9-13: Carefully (obey).

Backtrack to chapter 30. Moses issues two ultimatums:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. (Obey God’s voice)-30:10
               2. Choice between (life and death). 30:15-16

II. SAY YES TO RENEWING OUR SPIRITUAL PASSION

How can we get our passion back? (Renewal) is God working (in action), working in and through
us. Our love is (rekindled).

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. (Examine our hearts). Psalm 139:23-24
               2. Pinpoint (unconfessed sin). Psalm 119:9, 11
               3. (Clean the slate). Psalm 51
               4. Find (your joy). Psalm 51:8a, 12

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Coming to Terms with the Truth
Scripture: Joshua 19 – Judges 12

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Remember…

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8-29

I.  REMEMBER GOD’S CALL TO OBEY

God knew the Israelites would be susceptible to the (pull of idols) and the (culture of the people) around them. Their best defense was (to remember) all God had done for them.
See Proverbs 4:23

II. REMEMBER GOD’S CALL TO WORSHIP

12:2 says “(when) not (if) you drive them out.”

When they approached God in worship, they were to approach with their (best). “We should
never give God what is left over, but rather offer him the first and best of what He has
provided.” (Tripp-3/7)

We must come to God with our spiritual eyes (wide open). It is not enough to see (physically);
we must be able to see (spiritually).

You can (see) and be (blind) at the same time.

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Say Yes!
Scripture: Deuteronomy 30- Joshua 18

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Beware!

Scripture: Numbers 28-Deuteronomy 7

I.   BEWARE OF INDEPENDENCE (Numbers 28-30; Dt. 1-2)

Independence is (good) unless it is independence (from God).

“When God calls us to himself, he doesn’t put us in a process that moves from dependence to
independence. Christian maturity isn’t about independence, but about a growing willingness to
be wholly dependent on the providing grace of the Savior.” (Tripp-2/23)

II.  BEWARE OF SIN (Number 31-34; Dt. 3-4)

God warned His people that culture (will drag us down). See Num.33:55

III. BEWARE OF DISREGARDING GOD’S LAW (Dt. 5-7)

“God didn’t give His law as a means of gaining His acceptance; His standard is too lofty, too holy.
No, God’s law was a gift to those He had already chosen to love, so that they would know how
to live and, in following His commands, thrive.” (Tripp-3/1)

Verses from Psalm 119: “Oh, how I love your instructions (laws)! I think about them all day
long.” (v. 97) “I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your
word.” (v.101) “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (v.105)

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Remember…
Scripture: Deuteronomy 8-29

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Stop Your Griping and Complaining!

Scripture: Numbers 11-27

“Do everything without complaining and arguing (some translations us “disputing”), so that no
one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a
world full of crooked and perverse people.” Phil. 2:14-15

I.   WHEN IT SEEMS THAT’S ALL YOU DO

Why is complaining so bad? “Complaining is always dangerous because it causes us to be willing
to question the goodness and faithfulness of God.” {PDT-February 16)

II. A DECLARATION TO CHANGE

5 Things to Do Instead of Complaining:

1. 1. 1. Practice Gratitude
      2. Praise Others
      3. Focus on Success
      4. Let Go
      5. Pray and Read Scripture

{Source: The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon}

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Beware!
Scripture: Numbers 11-28-Deuteronomy 7

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Justice or Mercy?

Scripture: Leviticus 24-Numbers 10

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

I. GOD’S PEOPLE DESERVE JUSTICE

Two motives for doing things: {Source: The Motive by Patrick Lencioni}

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. We want (to serve others), to do whatever is necessary to bring about (something good) for the people we lead.
               2. We want (to be rewarded).

What we (deserve) is nowhere close to (what we get)

II. GOD’S PEOPLE RECEIVE MERCY

Difference between grace and mercy:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. GRACE is (getting what we don’t deserve).
               2. MERCY is (not getting what we do deserve).

What can Numbers teach us?

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. God is (infinitely concerned) about His people.
               2. God (numbers and cares) for His people, but they are also prospering.

Two things we cannot forget:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. God is (holy).
               2. God wants (holiness) from us.

THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Stop Your Griping and Complaining!
Scripture: Numbers 11-27

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: The Scoop on Sin

Scripture: Leviticus 5-23

We all have a common enemy: (S-I-N)

“Sin leaves each of us guilty” Tripp

I.  SLAVE TO SIN (Chapters 5-13)

Some of us live in (denial). Some of us live in (excuse-land). Some of us live in (blame-land).

Truth is: no matter what land we live in (guilt) will always visit.

What is essential in all sin is the (confession of guilt).

Acknowledging our sin and guilt makes it possible for (cleansing).

What Aaron learned; what the people learned is that God (takes sin seriously).

II. SURRENDER TO HOLINESS (Chapter 14-23)

What does holiness mean? It comes from the Greek word that means (to be set apart).

Holiness is not a (thing we do), an (act we perform) or the (way we dress). Holiness is a (state of
the heart) in relation to God.

We are (called to be holy) because (God is holy).

THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Justice or Mercy?
Scripture: Leviticus 24-Numbers 10

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: In the Presence of the Lord

Scripture: Exodus 25-Leviticus 4

“Everybody knows the secret/Everybody knows the score/I have finally found a place to live/Oh in the presence of the Lord.” (Blind Faith-1969)

I. A PROMISE

Significant phrase: “So I can live among them.”

An important truth: God pours out His love on His people not because of (what is in them), but
because of what (is in Him).

God wanted His Tabernacle to communicate two things:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. His (unapproachable holiness)
               2. The mercy of (His forgiveness)

II. THE BREACH

“Sin will take you farther than you ever wanted to go, cost you more than you ever wanted to pay,  and keep you longer than you ever wanted to stay.”

III. THE REPAIR

Several important events:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Discussion between (God and Moses)
               2. The people’s response to (God’s strong words)
               3. Moses’ (daily practice).
               4. Moses’ (request).
               5. New (tablets) and new (instructions).

THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: The Scoop on Sin
Scripture: Leviticus 5-23

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Do You Really Know God?

Scripture: Exodus 4-24

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because
by it I see everything else.” C.S. Lewis

I. GOD CALLS

The book of Exodus opens with the people of Israel in (extreme misery). Key verse: Ex. 1:8

“God calls us to represent Him in this fallen world not because we are able but because He is.” (PDT- January 19th )

II. GOD ACTS

There are two examples of God acting;

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. The (plagues).
               2. The (Passover Feast).

“No story is more humbling, more beautiful, and more hope-instilling than the biblical story of
redemption” (PDT-Jan 20)

III. GOD PROVIDES

3 ways God provided:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. God provided (safe passage)
               2. God provided (needed essentials)
               3. God provided (rest)

THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: In the Presence of the Lord
Scripture: Exodus 25-Leviticus 4

2025 THEME: Burning Hearts

Title: Overcoming Life’s Challenges

Scripture: Genesis 35-Exodus 3

I. THE FOUNDATION IS LAID

The foundation for Joseph’s future is laid out in Genesis 37. A series of (dreams) not only
foretold his future but put his (father and brothers) on edge.

Joseph had two dreams:

1. Bundles in a field all (bowing down) to him.
2. The sun, moon and stars all bowed down. This included his (father).

II. LIFE IN THE PITS

Joseph’s life reads like a screenplay in four acts:

1. (Treachery)- 37:18-36
2. (Temptation)- 39:1-18
3. (Disappointment)- 39:19-40:23
4. (Forgiveness or Bitterness)- 41:1-45:15

The conclusion to Joseph’s story is found in chapters 46-50. The story of the people of God
continues into Exodus.

An important takeaway: Genesis 50:19-21. Compare to Romans 8:28

THEME: Burning Hearts
Next week: Do You Really Know God?
Scripture: Exodus 4-24