SERMON NOTES
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SERMON NOTES •
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SERMON NOTES
Worship - Wk1
”It is Well"
------------------------------------Not in Fellowship
Not in Relationship
Worship = Following Jesus, everyday, with everything
Worship allows Jesus to work in and through my life
Acts 6:8
8 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.
Worship will give us wisdom
Acts 6:9-10
9 But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. 10 None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.
Worship empowers me to overcome opposition
Acts 6:11-14
11 So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.” 12 This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council. 13 The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. 14 We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
Worship changes our attitude
Acts 6:15
15 At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.
Worship compels us to speak the truth in love
Acts 7:51-53
51 “You stubborn people! You are heathen[a] at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.”
Worship allows us to see Jesus in ways we have never seen before
Acts 7:54-56
54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 56 And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”
Worship brings peace in us even when there is none around us
Acts 7:57-60
57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
When peace like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!
O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul.
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SERMON NOTES
Ecclesiastes - Wk4
”Fear God"
------------------------------------Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
The end of the matter;
all has been heardFear God
Proverbs 22:4
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 19:23
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
Psalm 25:14
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
Keep His Commandments
John 14:15
15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
For this is the whole duty of man
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SERMON NOTES
Ecclesiastes - Wk3
”Sixth Sense of Faith"
------------------------------------Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
Under the sun, life is seasonal
Purpose is timeless
Passion is timely
Eternity is a reality
What are the things that we are doing right now that would be celebrated in 100 years?
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SERMON NOTES
Ecclesiastes - Wk2
”At the Intersection"
------------------------------------Ecclesiastes 2:3
3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom — and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
Ecclesiastes 2:4-6
4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.
Ecclesiastes 2:7b-8
7b …I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.
Ecclesiastes 2:9
9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
Discover Your Purpose
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Psalm 139:13
13 or you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
How do we discover our purpose?
God’s Glory
What are my gifts?
What is my passion?
Open Doors
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SERMON NOTES
Ecclesiastes - Wk1
”Meaningless"
------------------------------------Ecclesiastes 1:1-10
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.
Ecclesiastes 1:11-18
11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. 12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.
15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
“Most men die at 27,
we just bury them at 72”– Mark Twain
“The world will lament you for an hour
and forget you forever. ”– Mark Twain
“Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire in which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.”
– C.S. Lewis
(Mere Christianity) -
SERMON NOTES
The Gospel According to John - Wk7
”The Final Sign"
------------------------------------John 19:18
18 There they crucified him, and with him two others — one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
John 19:30
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:35
35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
John 19:38-40
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
John 19:41-42
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
John 20:3-4
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
John 20:5-7
5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
John 20:8
8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
John 20:24-25a
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25a So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
John 20:25b
25b …But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:26-27
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
John 20:28
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:29
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
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SERMON NOTES
The Gospel According to John - Wk6
”The Raising of Lazarus"
------------------------------------Why would a good God allow bad things to happen?
John 10:24
24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
John 10:25
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,”
John 11:1-3
1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
John 11:4
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
John 11:5
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
John 11:6-7
6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
John 11:8
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
John 11:9-10
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
John 11:11
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
John 11:12
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”
John 11:13-15
13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:16
16 Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
John 11:17
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
John 11:20-21
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:22-23
22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
John 11:24
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
John 11:27
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
John 11:33-34
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
John 11:35
35 Jesus wept.
John 11:36-37
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
John 11:38-39
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
John 11:40
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
John 11:41-42
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
John 11:43
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
John 11:44
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
John 11:45
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
John 11:46-48
46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
John 3:19
19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 20:31
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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SERMON NOTES
The Gospel According to John - Wk5
”Open Eyes"
------------------------------------They followed because of what they actually saw and heard
1 John 1:1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.
2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 20:30-31
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Seven Signs
The Healing of a Blind Man
John 9:1-2
1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
John 9:3
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
John 9:4-5
4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:6
6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes.
John 9:7
7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam.” So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
John 9:8-9
8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
John 9:10
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
John 9:11
11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.”
John 9:12
12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said.
John 9:13-14
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath.
John 9:15-16
15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
John 9:17-19
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
John 9:20-21
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.”
John 9:22
22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue
John 9:24
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
We want to understand everything
before we believe anything
John 9:25
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
John 9:26-27
26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
John 9:28-29
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
John 9:30-31
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
John 9:32-34
32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Willful Blindness
– Refusing to see what can be seenPerhaps God is bigger
than you thought He wasJohn 20:30
30 …may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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SERMON NOTES
Mother’s Day 2026
”The Virtuous Woman"
------------------------------------Proverbs 31:1
1 The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.
Proverbs 31:10
10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman Is Priceless And Quite Rare
The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman is Trustworthy
Proverbs 31:11-12
11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman Loves Her Husband
Proverbs 31:12
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman Loves Her Family
Proverbs 31:13-15
13 She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. 14 She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:16
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman is Wise
Proverbs 31:26
26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.
Proverbs 31:28-29
28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her. 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
The Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman is beautiful inside and out
Proverbs 31:30-31
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
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SERMON NOTES
The Gospel According to John - Wk4
”He Had To"
------------------------------------1 John 1:1-3
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 20:30
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
6,000 Kentucky residents dying from overdoses in 2024
30 million people are enslaved in human trafficking — population of Florida and Georgia
1.2 million abortions performed every year — as a use of mere birth control or due to inconvenience
In 2025, the estimated Opioid Use prevalence in certain southeastern Kentucky counties was as high as 16-18%.
God created you on purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose
Every major progressive thing in history is and was the result of followers of Jesus being so compelled to make a difference
Education
Artist—creative arts exploded because of the church
As early as the 4th century there were monasteries
Orphanages came about because of the church
See Like Jesus Saw
John 4:4 | NIV
4 Now he had to go through Samaria.
John 4:5 | NIV
5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
John 4:6 | NIV
6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
John 4:7 | NIV
7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”Do What Jesus Did
Use What Jesus Built
John 4:16-18 | NIV
16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” 17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
John 4:27 | NIV
27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”
John 4:28 | NIV
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,
John 4:29-30 | NIV
29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
John 4:32-34 | NIV
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
John 4:35 | NIV
35 “Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Believe What Jesus Said
John 4:39 | NIV
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
John 4:40 | NIV
40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.
John 4:41-42 | NIV
41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”
Our mission is simple:
to bring those far from God close to HimJesus is our Message
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SERMON NOTES
The Gospel According to John - Wk3
”Temples + Superstition"
------------------------------------They followed because what they actually saw and what they actually heard
1 John 1:1
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 20:30
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Seven Signs
Healing on the Sabbath
John 5:1-3
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
John 5:5-6
5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
John 5:7
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
John 5:8-9
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath
Exodus 20:8
8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy
When what’s best for people is no longer what’s most important to you, you find yourself at odds with God
John 5:10-11
10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’
John 5:12
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
John 5:13
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
John 5:14
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
When you choose to follow Jesus, religion will lose its grip on you
John 5:15
15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
John 5:17
17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
John 5:18
18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
John 5:19
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
John 5:39-40
39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
The Word has become flesh and is standing in front of you
Does your version of Christianity get in the way of loving people God loves?
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SERMON NOTES
The Gospel According to John - Wk2
”In Spite Of"
------------------------------------Believe “in spite of” people
Dr. Francis Collins, Director
The Human Genome ProjectA genome is an organism's complete form of DNA
“If faith was a psychological crutch…it must be a very powerful one. If it was nothing more than a veneer of cultural tradition, then why were these people not shaking their fists at God and demanding their friends and family stop all this talk about a loving and benevolent super natural power?”
– Francis Collins
Christianity is not about “just believing” or “just taking it by faith”
They followed because what they actually saw and what they actually heard
1 John 1:1-3
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
John 20:30-31
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Seven Signs
The Healing of the Nobleman’s Son
John 2:23
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.
John 4:46
46 Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum.
John 4:47
47 When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
John 4:48
48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”
John 4:49
49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
John 4:50
50 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
This is where we all live
He walked home by faith and not by sight
John 4:51-52
51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. 52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”
John 4:53
53 Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed.
John 4:54
54 This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee.
“Love as I have loved you”
John 20:29
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:31
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
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SERMON NOTES
Easter 2026
”No Other King"
------------------------------------How has failure shaped your life?
Easter is the celebration of how God can take what the enemy intends for evil and use it for good.
Luke 22:31-34
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
To know what the Rabbi knows, to do what the Rabbi does, for the reason that the Rabbi does it, in order to be just like the Rabbi.
Luke 22:54-55
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.Luke 24:12
12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
John 20:1-2
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
Luke 24:11
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
John 20:3-10
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.
8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
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SERMON NOTES
Parables - Wk 5
”The Ten Minas"
------------------------------------Luke 19:11
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
Prepare for the unexpected
Luke 19:12-1512 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’
14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.Luke 3:1
1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee,...
Be productive for the King
Luke 19:1313 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’
Luke 19:1515 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
Luke 19:1616 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’
Luke 19:17-1917 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
You have been given things:
Are you using them?Discouragement
Hebrews 12:12
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
Distraction
Doubt
Luke 19:20-2620 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’
24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ 26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Faithful Steward
Wasteful Steward
Hateful Enemy -
SERMON NOTES
Parables - Wk 4
”The Prodigal”
------------------------------------The goal of a disciple: to know what the Rabbi knows, in order to do what the Rabbi does, for the reasons the Rabbi does them, in order to be just like the Rabbi in their walk with God
How do you view God?
How does God view you?
Luke 15:11-32
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.
29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Prodigal
– spending money and resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagantObservation 1:
This story was given to a people to correct their view and reveal the heart of GodLuke 15:1-2
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Observation 2:
The younger brother has this moment where he moves from regret to repentanceObservation 3:
The minute the prodigal son began walking back home, the father saw him and ran toward himObservation 4:
The father embraced the messy sonObservation 5:
The father pursued both sons in the end -
SERMON NOTES
Parables - Wk 2
”The Rich Fool”
------------------------------------A parable is like a bank vault — on the other side of the door there is this tremendous wealth — and it is only accessible if you have the key
Christ is the key
Luke 8:9-10
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’”
Afraid of the future?
Luke 12:1
1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:13
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Luke 12:15
15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Luke 12:17-18
17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
Luke 12:20-21
20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Money is an excellent servant,
but a lousy saviorLuke 12:21
21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
Luke 12:22-31
22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.
30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:32
32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:33-34
33 “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Can I Trust God
What Is My Next Move?
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SERMON NOTES
Parables - Wk 1
”The Good Samaritan”
------------------------------------What is a parable?
Luke 8:9-10
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”
Christ is the key
Luke 10:25-37
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”The Bystander Effect
A social psychological phenomenon where individuals are less likely to offer help to a victim when other people are present. The presence of others creates a diffusion of responsibility, where each individual feels less personal responsibility to intervene because they assume someone else will take action. The term was coined after the infamous murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964 where it was reported that many bystanders witnessed the attack but did not intervene or call for help
“Loving everybody in general may be an excuse for loving nobody in particular”
– C.S. Lewis
The secret of the kingdom is not found in defining your neighbor, but in being a neighbor
The Good Samaritan has a bias toward action
“We need to read ourselves into the story as the one beaten and robbed and left for dead”
– Billy Graham -
SERMON NOTES
He’s Up To Something - Wk 4
”Don’t Miss The Miracle”
------------------------------------Luke 1:1-4
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 5:12-16
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:17
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.
Evaluation vs. Participation
John 12:9-10
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
Luke 5:18-19
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Luke 5:19
19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
Luke 5:20
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:21-26
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”Luke 5:25
25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
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SERMON NOTES
He’s Up To Something - Wk 2
”So Will I”
------------------------------------The Goal of Christianity is not perfection – it is progress
Luke 1:1-4
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 5:4
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
General Revelation
& Specific RevelationLuke 5:4
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Jesus speaks to Peter specifically after Peter simply made himself available.
Luke 5:4
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:5
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
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SERMON NOTES
He’s Up To Something - Wk 1
”Give Me Your Boat”
------------------------------------1 Corinthians 9:26
26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.
Luke 5:1
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
Luke 1:1-4
1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.
Luke 5:1
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
Luke 5:2
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
Luke 5:3
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
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SERMON NOTES
Christmas at Forward - Wk 3
”Suffering Servant”
------------------------------------Matthew 2:10-11 | NLT
”When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.“
Isaiah 53:6 | NLT
”All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.“
Isaiah 53:6-7 | NLT
”All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.“
Isaiah 53:3-5 | NLT
”He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.“
Isaiah 53:8-9 | NLT
”Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.“
Isaiah 53:11 | NLT
”When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.“
Luke 9:22-23 | NIV”And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.“
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SERMON NOTES
Christmas at Forward - Wk 1
”Peace on Earth”
-------------------------------------Somewhere Else
Someone Else
Something Else
Isaiah 2:4
4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 9:6
6 For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Isaiah 40:25-26
25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? 26 He who brings out their hosts by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
Jeremiah 10:12-13
12 It is he who made the earth by His power who established the world by His wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. 13 When he utters his voice, is a tumult of waters in the heavens and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Psalm 19:1-4
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world
Jesus is our Prince of Peace
Peace is found in the presence of God and nothing elseOur Plan is not always His plan
Luke 1:3838 Behold, the bond slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word…
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Process may be Painful
John 16:33
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
His plan always includes His presence
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight…
Psalm 23:4
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me.
-
SERMON NOTES
Gratitude - Wk 2
”The Diary of a Dog”
-------------------------------------Luke 17:11-14
11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
Ephesians 2:1
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Ephesians 4:17-18
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
Ephesians 2:12
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Romans 7:5
5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
2 Timothy 2:26
26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Ephesians 2:5
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Luke 17:15-18
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
-
SERMON NOTES
Gratitude - Wk 1
”Everything Flows From Gratitude”
-------------------------------------Gratitude is the door to
the presence of GodPsalm 100:4 | NKJV
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Gratitude brings
freedomJonah 2:9-10 | NKJV
9 “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” 10 So the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Gratitude is
a daily choiceActs 16:25-26 | NKJV
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Choosing gratitude means
letting go of something else -
SERMON NOTES
All-In - Wk 4
”Heart Check”
-------------------------------------How open am I, right now, to the work Jesus wants to do in and through me?
2 Kings 1:2
2 One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover.
hard heart = no desire to change
2 Kings 1:3-4
3 But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover? 4 Now, therefore, this is what the Lord says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’” So Elijah went to deliver the message.
open heart: knows God is good & faithful
2 Kings 1:5-6
5 When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you returned so soon?” 6 They replied, “A man came up to us and told us to go back to the king and give him this message. ‘This is what the Lord says: Is there no God in Israel? Why are you sending men to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’”
2 Kings 1:7
7 “What sort of man was he?” the king demanded. “What did he look like?”
A hard heart keeps things superficial
2 Kings 1:8
8 They replied, “He was a hairy man, and he wore a leather belt around his waist.” “Elijah from Tishbe!” the king exclaimed.
A hard heart becomes angry and accepts no responsibility
2 Kings 1:9-10
9 Then he sent an army captain with fifty soldiers to arrest him. They found him sitting on top of a hill. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king has commanded you to come down with us.” 10 But Elijah replied to the captain, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and killed them all.
An open heart allows us to experience the supernatural power of God
2 Kings 1:11
11 So the king sent another captain with fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, the king demands that you come down at once.”
A hard heart will lead to continual destructive patterns
2 Kings 1:12
12 Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and destroy you and your fifty men!” And again the fire of God fell from heaven and killed them all.
A hard heart always impacts more than just me
2 Kings 1:13-14
13 Once more the king sent a third captain with fifty men. But this time the captain went up the hill and fell to his knees before Elijah. He pleaded with him, “O man of God, please spare my life and the lives of these, your fifty servants. 14 See how the fire from heaven came down and destroyed the first two groups. But now please spare my life!”
An open heart is willing to move in the right direction
2 Kings 1:15
15 Then the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him, and don’t be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went with him to the king.
2 Kings 1:16
16 And Elijah said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: Why did you send messengers to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether you will recover? Is there no God in Israel to answer your question? Therefore, because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.”
2 Kings 1:17
17 So Ahaziah died, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Since Ahaziah did not have a son to succeed him, his brother Joram became the next king. This took place in the second year of the reign of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah.
A hard heart always leads to death
-
SERMON NOTES
All-In - Wk 3
”Normal Isn’t Working”
-------------------------------------
1 Peter 2:11 | NLT11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
παροίκους παρεπιδήμους
paroikous
parepidemous
Para
—Beside/Near/Temporary
To live near, but not in.
To be close, but not from.
To be in, but not of.
Philippians 3:20 | NLT20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
Philippians 3:18-20 | NLT
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Philippians 3:19 | NLT
…they think only about this life here on earth.
You will think differently
from this worldRomans 12:2 | NLT
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Colossians 3:1-2
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
You will live differently
from this world1 Peter 2:11 | MSG
11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.
I am a Citizen of Heaven. My life belongs to God. Because earth is not my home, I think differently, and I live differently
If you don’t actively resist the current of culture, you’ll drift into the deception of this world.
“Don’t worry if you’re different from the world. Worry if you’re not.”
— Craig GroeschelWho are you?
I am a Citizen of HeavenMy life belongs to God. Because earth is not my home–I think differently—I live differently.
-
SERMON NOTES
All-In - Wk 2
”I Surrender All?”
-------------------------------------
MAIN IDEA:
If we don’t have moments of surrender, we will never step into the abundant life Jesus wants for usIf you want to get,
you must giveIf you want to to go up,
you must go downIf you want to lead,
you must serveIf you want to find,
you must loseIf you want to be strong,
you must be weakIf you want to live,
you must dieMatthew 5:5
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Surrender
The way to be in control is to surrender to God’s control
Matthew 11:29
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Numbers 12:3
3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
Broken and brought under control
Isaiah 53:6
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
If you are not broken before the Lord, you will be broken by the Lord, because God never uses anything until it’s broken first.
Are you totally, completely, and unconditionally surrendered to the will of God, in every area of your life, regardless of what it may cost you, or what you would want to do?
James 1:21
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James 1:22
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
I surrender all
Your Finances
Your Will
Your Work
Your Anger
Your Bitterness
Your Greed
Your Selfishness
Matthew 5:5
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Lord, I am willing. I am willing to receive what you give. I am willing to lack what you withhold. I am willing to relinquish what you take. I am willing to suffer what you require.
-
SERMON NOTES
All-In - Wk 1
”You’ve Got What it Takes”
-------------------------------------
Faith is not always easy
– but is essential for us to maximize the life God has called us to liveHebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:7
7 It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
Exodus 4:1-5
1 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” 2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. 3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.
4 Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand. 5 “Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.”
Mark 6:37-38
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “With what?” they asked. “We’d have to work for months to earn enough money to buy food for all these people!” 38 “How much bread do you have?” he asked. “Go and find out.” They came back and reported, “We have five loaves of bread and two fish.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11
11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.
-
SERMON NOTES
God of Miracles - Wk 5
”More Than I Could Imagine”
-------------------------------------
Miracles are not transactional
– they are relational2 Kings 5:1
1 The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.
You don’t have to
suffer in silenceGod can use your story
–no matter how much you’ve been through2 Kings 5:2-3
2 At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. 3 One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:4
4 So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said.
The enemy will do his best
to misdirect my pursuit for a miracle2 Kings 5:5
5 “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.”
2 Kings 5:6
6 So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”
Dealing with doubt, doesn’t mean I lack faith–but rather is an indication that I am getting close to a breakthrough
2 Kings 5:7
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.”
God loves me too much
to let me get it wrong2 Kings 5:8
8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.”
I have to ask myself,
“Am I seeking magic–or a miracle?”2 Kings 5:9-10
9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:11-12
11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
I am too close
to give up now2 Kings 5:13
13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”
2 Kings 5:14
14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!
2 Kings 5:15
15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.
God wants to do more for me
than I could ever imagine -
SERMON NOTES
God of Miracles - Wk 4
”I’ve Witnessed It”
-------------------------------------
Mark 2:1717 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mark 2:2-5
2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Need
Cares
Preoccupied
We will do anything and everything we can to get people into an environment where they can experience the Presence of Jesus
Mark 2:5
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Critical
Mark 2:6-7
6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:10-12
10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
We are all someone who needs to and can be changed
WE are the CHURCH and we can say, “I’ve Witnessed it!”
-
SERMON NOTES
God of Miracles - Wk 3
”How a Miracle Works”
-------------------------------------
How a biblical miracle works“Where there is a need, sensed by a few, and each individual understands his or her responsibility and gives their all, regardless of the odds, then Jesus works a miracle.”
– John MaxwellMark 6:33-44
33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. -
SERMON NOTES
”No Win Without Sacrifice”
-------------------------------------Luke 7:36-50
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
45 You did not give me a kiss,but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Characteristics of a worshipful person:
Begins with Bold Initiatives
A Costly Sacrifice
Romans 3:25 | NLT
For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,”
Hebrews 13:16 | NLT“And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
A Grateful Heart -
SERMON NOTES
”We Are Sent”
-------------------------------------Generation Z
(11-26)Millennials
(28-43)Generation X
(44-59)Boomer II
(60-69)Boomers
(70-78)At 47%, nearly half of
millennial practicing Christians
say it is wrong to evangelizeActs 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Mark 16:15
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Luke 24:47-48
47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
John 20:21-23
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
A sending God
creates a sending peopleMOTIVATION
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
METHOD
Acts 4:13
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
MESSAGE
Revelation 12:11
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Where is God
sending you? -
SERMON NOTES
Not Our Home - Wk 4
”Our Perspective in Persecution”
-------------------------------------
Isaiah 41:10 | NLT10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
John 15:18,20 | NLT
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first... 20b If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
Ephesians 6:12 | NLT
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
1 Peter 4:12 | NLT
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
1 Peter 4:13 | NLT
13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
Pursue Comfort > Avoid Opposition > Faith Weakens > Life’s Empty
Live Boldly > Face Opposition > Faith Strengthens > Closer to Christ
1 Peter 4:19 | NLT
19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
Do what is right and
trust God with the results1 Peter 5:5-7 | NLT
5 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:10-11 | NLT
10 So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.”
1 Peter 1:7 | NLT
7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
-
SERMON NOTES
Not Our Home - Wk 3
”Our Calling”
-------------------------------------
“Higher calling matters. When you care so deeply about the why-why you’re doing what you’re doing-then and only then are you operating in a way that allows you to overcome the obstacles.”— Dave Ramsey
AN ETERNAL CALL
TO CHRISTA TEMPORARY CALL
TO AN ASSIGNMENTA DAILY CALL
TO A DIFFERENT STANDARDYou are a co-worker of God
(1 Corinthians 3:8-9)You are a light
(Matthew 5:14-16)You are a masterpiece
(Ephesians 2:10)You are a new creation
(2 Corinthians 5:17)You are a temple of the Holy Spirit
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)You are blameless
(Colossians 1:22-23)1 Peter 2:9
9 …for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:11-12
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Peter 2:15
…15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.
1 Peter 2:21
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:22-24
22 He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. 23 He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. 24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
1 Peter 3:9
9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
-
SERMON NOTES
Not Our Home - Wk 2
”Different Values in an Unholy Culture”
-------------------------------------
1 Peter 1:13-1713 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Hágios
— holy, set apart, different, pure
1 Peter 1:14
14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires.
What are three areas
I struggle most trying to fit in?When was a time
I put my happiness above
God’s call for holiness?What are the biggest ways
that I’m different from the world?What is the area that God
wants me to be different?1 Peter 1:18-21
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
“It’s in our hearts that the evil lies and it’s from our hearts that it must be plucked out.”
— Bertrand Russell
“It’s easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man.”
— Albert Einstein
Living holy
isn’t the path to
knowing ChristKnowing Christ
is the path to
living holy -
SERMON NOTES
Not Our Home - Wk 1
”Faith in Trials”
-------------------------------------
1 Peter 1:11 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
Parepidēmois
— exiles, sojourners, aliens,
strangers, foreigners
1 Peter 1:6-76 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine.
INHERITED
FAITHSHALLOW
FAITHCONDITIONAL
FAITHTRIALS
REVEAL
YOUR FAITH
1 Peter 1:77 These trials will show that your faith is genuine.
Luke 22:31-3231 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail . And when you have turned back , strengthen your brothers.”
James 1:2-42 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
TRIALS
DRAW YOU
CLOSER
TO GOD.1 Peter 1:8-9
8 You love [God] even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
A life IN THE SPIRIT
looks more like a life
in OUR ETERNAL HOME
than a life IN THE FLESH does -
SERMON NOTES
Fire & Rain - Wk 3
”The Word The Lord Has For Me”
-------------------------------------
Isaiah 55:10-11
10 The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Do I really want to receive the word the Lord has for me?
1 Kings 18:41
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”
1 Kings 18:42
42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.
1 Kings 18:43-44a
43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything. ”Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. 44a Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”
Condemnation
vs. Conviction
1 Kings 18:44b
44b Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’”
1 Kings 18:45
45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.
1 Kings 18:4646 Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
-
SERMON NOTES
Fire & Rain - Wk 2
”Am I Available?”
-------------------------------------
God wants to do
an incredible work
in and through youAm I Available?
God does not call the equipped,
He equips the called1 Kings 18:18-26
18 “I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead. 19 Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.
20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets. 23 Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.
24 Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed. 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
26 So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
Activity
does not equal
Availability1 Kings 18:27
27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself.[b] Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened!”
1 Kings 18:28-35
28 So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out. 29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down. 31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, 32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.
33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.” 34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said, 35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
Sometimes an Act of Worship
is giving a costly sacrifice1 Kings 18:36-39
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. 37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
James 5:17-18
17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
God uses only messy and broken people
because that’s all that there are -
SERMON NOTES
Fire & Rain - Wk 1
”In the Dry Season”
-------------------------------------
- Physically
- Emotionally
- Relationally
God is the God
of the Dry Season
1 Kings 17:1
1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
Everybody has a next step:
what is my next step?
1 Kings 17:2-4
2 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
God wants us to
know the will for our lives
more than we want to know it
1 Kings 17:5-7
5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
Do you know?
God will sometimes let us run out so that we will recognize that He is our source
1 Kings 17:8-9
8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
1 Kings 17:10-1210 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
1 Kings 17:13-14
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
1 Kings 17:15-16
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
1 Kings 17:17-24
17 Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. 18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”
19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.”
20 Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”
21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!
23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!” 24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.” -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 7
”Seek First Heaven’s View”
-------------------------------------
A King
establishing His Kingdom
through His people
Chiasm
Matthew 6:19-34
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Repentance
– Getting Heaven’s view on an earthly matter
Matthew 6:22-23
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
The way you and I see anything
is the way you and I see everything
You cannot see the world
the way God sees the world
until you see you
how God sees you
“His Eye is On the Sparrow”
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for Heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion
My constant Friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches me -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 6
”Does Jesus expect me to be perfect?”
-------------------------------------
A King
establishing His kingdom
through His people
Matthew 5:48
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Be perfect because
your heavenly father
is perfect
Leviticus 19:2
2 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16
15 Be holy in all you do… 16 ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’
You Can’t
Romans 3:23
23 For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Even though you can’t,
Jesus can
Romans 4:6
6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are transformed
through this relationship -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 5
”You’ve Heard It Said”
-------------------------------------
The letter of the law
creates legal loopholes
The spirit of the law
creates kingdom people
doing kingdom things
Matthew 5:33-47
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Tell the Truth
“If you always tell the truth you will never have to remember what you said.”
- Mark Twain
Keep your word
Go the extra mile
“The first mile is the obligation, the second mile is the opportunity”
- Clayton King
Turn the other cheek
“What if we turned every offense into an opportunity?” -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 4
”Easter”
-------------------------------------
Colossians 3:1-3
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God…
You can’t always change your circumstances, but you can change your perspective
Repentance
— gaining heaven’s view on a matter
• No Christians • No Bible •
• No Church • No Believers •
MY GOD HAS
FAILED ME
“CRUCIFY HIM!”
Local Religious leaders demand action from Pilate
BLASPHEMY!
— local leaders are outraged!
FINALLY
—blasphemous rabbi put to death!
“IT’S TIME TO PANIC!”
— says leader of ‘movement’
IN HIDING
— Rabbi’s Closest followers in fear
KING OF JEWS SLAIN
“ALL HOPE IS LOST”
— says anonymous follower
“HE’S NOT MY KING”
group of people iterate
“TURN THE OTHER CHEEK”
— local Rabbi tells his followers
FORGIVE
— Pray for those who have hurt you
• Love your neighbor as yourself
• Love your enemies
John 20:1-2
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
Luke 24:11
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
John 20:3-10
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
GOD’S FINAL KING
— Jesus is who He says He is
PROOF!
— the King is Back
He Is ALIVE!
— sin is destroyed
The resurrection of Jesus is not the bible story – The resurrection of Jesus is THE story – and it intersects with your story
Not only does the resurrection of Jesus resolve one of history’s greatest mysteries – it resolves a personal mystery
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Psalm 71:14
14 As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 3
”Salt and Light”
-------------------------------------
Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Repentance
is the key into the
Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The Kingdom life
is a distinct and
intentional life
The Kingdom life
is a life of everyday
repentance
Romans 2:4
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Revelation 3:19
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.
Hebrews 12:17
17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 2
”The Beatitudes”
-------------------------------------
Matthew 4:17-22
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
What is the blessed life?
Who will show me how to live it?
The beatitudes introduce someone who is to be congratulated. Someone's place in life is an enviable one. Happy are those who walk in an everyday relationship with Jesus.
“These Beatitudes are descriptions of the character of our Lord…Jesus can speak with an authority of happiness because it is His constant possession.”
Clovis G. Chappell
Blessing will come
no other way but God’s way
Blessed is the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Matthew 18:1-41 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
John 5:19-20
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.
Blessed are those who mourn
for they shall be comforted
Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth
Matthew 11:28-3028 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
“Meekness is His outstanding characteristic, it is the one virtue, within himself that he calls our attention. It is that which he seems most to desire us to imitate.”
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied
John 4:3434 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
Blessed are the merciful,
or they will receive mercy
“The pitiless are usually cowards.”
- Charles Ellicott
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God
Blessed are the peacemakers
for they shall be called Children of God
Blessed are
those who are persecuted
for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. -
SERMON NOTES
Upside Down Kingdom - Wk 1
”The Kingdom of Heaven”
-------------------------------------
Matthew 4:17-22
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4:23-25
23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.
The King
There is THE Kingdom
The People -
SERMON NOTES
Everyday Church - Wk 4
”Everyday Fight”
-------------------------------------
Exodus 15:3
3 The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.
Matthew 10:34
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Revelation 19:11
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns...
Revelation 19:11-13, 15-16
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God…15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations... 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
SOMEONE TO PROTECT
Nehemiah 4:14
14 “…Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
A MISSION TO ADVANCE
Luke 9:1
1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
A BATTLE TO WIN
Psalm 144:1
1 Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
Victory isn’t always
what you conquer later
Victory is being faithful
and obedient today
Joel 3:9-11 | NLT
9 Say to the nations far and wide: “Get ready for war! Call out your best warriors. Let all your fighting men advance for the attack. 10 Hammer your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to be warriors. 11 Come quickly, all you nations everywhere. Gather together in the valley.” And now, O Lord, call out your warriors! -
SERMON NOTES
Everyday Church - Wk 3
”A Church Who Gathers”
-------------------------------------
Hebrews 10:19-25 | ESV
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Acts 2:1 | ESV
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE
EKKLESIA
— a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.
Matthew 16:18 | ESV
18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Acts 15:4 | ESV
4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the [ekklesia] church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.
Romans 16:5
Greet also the [ekklesia] church in their house.
Greeting + Welcome
Public Reading of Scripture
Singing
Hebrews 2:12
12 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the [ekklesia] congregation I will sing your praise.
Isaiah 6:3
3 And they were calling to one another; ‘holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us”
A.W. Tozer
Baptism
Matthew 28:19 | ESV
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Teaching + Preaching
Acts 2:42 | ESV
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 | ESV
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” -
SERMON NOTES
Everyday Church - Wk 2
”Everyday Relationship”
-------------------------------------
Luke 9:23-24 | ESV
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Romans 8:29 | ESV29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
“God was so well pleased with his Son, and saw such beauties in him, that he determined to multiply his image… The face of Jesus is more lovely to God the Father than all the worlds, his eyes are brighter than the stars, his voice is sweeter than bliss; therefore does the Father will to have his Son’s beauty reflected in ten thousand mirrors in saints made to be like him. In what way could the Father put greater honor on his Son than by forming a race like himself?”
- Charles Spurgeon
An Everyday Relationship will cost you everythingThe life hidden with Christ in God is one of such growing union with God in love that God’s presence becomes the context of our daily life, God’s purposes become the matrix of our activities, and the values of God’s kingdom shape our life and relationships; God’s living presence becomes the ground of our identity, the source of our meaning, the seat of our value and the center of our purpose.”
- Dr. M. Robert Mulholland, Jr.
Colossians 1:27-29 | ESV
27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Matthew 22:36-37 | ESV
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, 37 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”
Matthew 22:38-39 | ESV
38 This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: 39 You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Maturity is formed by intentionality, over time, through the power of the Holy Spirit
“The path of spiritual growth in the riches of Christ is not a passive one. Grace is not opposed to effort. It is opposed to earning. Effort is action. Earning is attitude. You have never seen people more active than those who have been set on fire by the Grace of God. Paul, who perhaps understood Grace better than any mere human being, looked back at what happened to him and said: “By the Grace of God I am who I am, and his Grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the Grace of God with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10)
- Dallas Willard
1 Corinthians 15:10 | ESV
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Time: Recognizing all relationships grow over time
Romans 5:3-5 | ESV
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Through the power of the Holy Spirit: Living a fully surrendered life
Colossians 1:29 | ESV
29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
What is God saying to you?
What do you need to do about it? -
SERMON NOTES
Everyday Church - Wk 1
”Everyday Church”
-------------------------------------
Have you ever been disoriented?
What’s Business?
How’s Business?
- Henry Ford
Avodah
—work, serve, worship
Genesis 2:15
15 The lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Exodus 8:11 Then the Lord says to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘thus says the Lord, “let my people go, that they may serve me.”
Joshua 24:15
15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
An everyday disciple
looks up, in, out, repeat.
Matthew 28:18-20 | ESV
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Colossians 1:28-29 | ESV28 “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.”
Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.
—D.L. Moody
What is God saying to you?
What do you need to do about it? -
SERMON NOTES
How to Slay Our Giants - Wk 4
”Being Stuck”
-------------------------------------
Spiritually, I can choose to be stuck, or choose to take next steps and get stronger
1 Samuel 17:11
11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
1 Samuel 17:16
16 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
Excuses
Playing the Victim
Religion
1 Samuel 17:45-46
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!
“One Day When”
1 Samuel 17:48-50
48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground. 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.
I’ve done enough
1 Samuel 17:51
51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.
Jesus will take what the enemy was going to use to try and destroy you and actually allow you to use it to destroy the work of the enemy.
John 4:28-30
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
Because of the power of the holy spirit in me, I have victory over the work of the enemy (and I do not have to stay stuck)
1 Samuel 17:54
54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
Matthew 27:33
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull…
Jesus, may your holy spirit move in me so that I can see and take my next steps -
SERMON NOTES
How to Slay Our Giants - Wk 3
”Not Ashamed”
-------------------------------------
1 Samuel 17:47
47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
1 Samuel 17:47a
“And everyone assembled here…”
1 Samuel 17:47b
…Will know…
We say
“YES”
We are
unashamed
1 Samuel 17:47c
…that the Lord…
Romans 10:9
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Christianity
is not about a “what”
but rather a “who”
1 Samuel 17:47d
…rescues…
Psalms 40:2
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
1 Samuel 17:47e
…His people…
Jesus,
what do you want to do
in and through me? -
SERMON NOTES
How to Slay Our Giants - Wk 2
”Believing the Truth”
-------------------------------------
John 14:6
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
John 8:44
44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 Samuel 17:24-27
24 As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright. 25 “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” 27 And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
Accusation
1 Samuel 17:28-31
28 But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
29 “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” 30 He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.
31 Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
Proverbs 13:20
20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
Doubt
Fear
Quit/Give Up
Insecurities
1 Samuel 17:32-33
32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
God is so
disappointed
in you
Psalm 139:16
16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
You cannot change;
it’s just the way you are
Romans 8:11
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
Commonalities
1 Samuel 17:41-44
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy.
43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
I don’t
need church
It’s my life
and I can do
whatever I want
I’ll do it
later
John 8:32
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. -
SERMON NOTES
How to Slay Our Giants - Wk 1
”Always on Time”
-------------------------------------
Jesus did not bring me this far to watch me fail
1 Samuel 16:1
1 Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”
I am not forgotten
1 Samuel 16:11-13
11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah
I am not being punished
1 Samuel 16:14
14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.
1 Samuel 16:15-19
15 Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.” 17 “All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.” 18 One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that—he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.” 19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, the shepherd.”
1 Samuel 16:20-23
20 Jesse responded by sending David to Saul, along with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a wineskin full of wine. 21 So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, “Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.” 23 And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.
1 Samuel 17:1-4
1 The Philistines now mustered their army for battle and camped between Socoh in Judah and Azekah at Ephes-dammim. 2 Saul countered by gathering his Israelite troops near the valley of Elah. 3 So the Philistines and Israelites faced each other on opposite hills, with the valley between them. 4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!
1 Samuel 17:11
11 When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.
1 Samuel 17:1616 For forty days, every morning and evening, the Philistine champion strutted in front of the Israelite army.
I am not stuck
1 Samuel 17:17-20
17 One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. 18 And give these ten cuts of cheese to their captain. See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” 19 David’s brothers were with Saul and the Israelite army at the valley of Elah, fighting against the Philistines. 20 So David left the sheep with another shepherd and set out early the next morning with the gifts, as Jesse had directed him. He arrived at the camp just as the Israelite army was leaving for the battlefield with shouts and battle cries.
1 Samuel 17:32-37
32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” 33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” 34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
I am not empty handed
1 Samuel 17:40
40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
1 Samuel 17:45-49
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” 48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
Jesus is not finished with what he wants to do in and through me
2 Samuel 8:1
1 After this, David defeated and subdued the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest town. -
SERMON NOTES
“5 Prayers to Come Alive in 2025”
-------------------------------------
The Best Way to Come Alive in 2025 is to Listen to Jesus and Do What He says
Jesus:
help me to do this, even when it does not make sense.
John 2:5
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
John 2:6-8
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
Jesus:
help me to do this, even if it’s not my plan
John 4:46-47
46 As he traveled through Galilee, he came to Cana, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a government official in nearby Capernaum whose son was very sick. 47 When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Jesus to come to Capernaum to heal his son, who was about to die.
John 4:49
49 The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
John 4:50
50 Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
John 4:51-53
51 While the man was on his way, some of his servants met him with the news that his son was alive and well. 52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!” 53 Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.
Jesus:
help me to do this, even when I think I can’t
John 5:6-9
6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” 7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” 8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
9 Instantly, the man was healed!
Jesus:
help me to do this, even when it’s messy
John 9:6-7
6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. 7 He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam”. So the man went and washed and came back seeing!
Jesus:
help me to do this, even when I think it’s too late
John 11:38-41
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” 40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside.
John 11:43-44
43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Matthew 18:18-2018 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
-
SERMON NOTES
Christmas @ Forward - Wk 2
”Hope” | Pt. 1
-------------------------------------
Ecclesiastes 3:11 | NIV”He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.“
Messiah = Hope
Proverbs 13:12
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick…”
Hope
— a joyful expectation for the future
John 1:1-5 | ESV“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Hope is revealed
in God’s creation
John 1:14 | ESV
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Hope is revealed
in the cradle
“God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
John 1:29 | ESV
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Hope is revealed
at the cross
John 1:41 | ESV
“He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”
Hope is revealed
when you crown
Him as king
Jesus is a liar
Jesus is a lunatic
Jesus is Lord
Philippians 2:5-11 | ESV
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -
SERMON NOTES
Christmas @ Forward - Wk 1
”Peace on Earth?”--------------------------------------
There will never be peace on earth
until there is peace in me
Somewhere Else
Someone Else
Something Else
Isaiah 2:4
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Isaiah 40:25-26
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their hosts by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
Jeremiah 10:12-13
It is he who made the earth by His power who established the world by His wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, is a tumult of waters in the heavens and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world
Jesus is our
Prince of Peace
Peace is found
in the presence of God
and nothing else
Our plan
is not always
His plan
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The process
may be painful
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
His plan
always includes
His presence
Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight... -
SERMON NOTES
ONE ANOTHER – Wk 2
“Humble Yourselves”
-------------------------------------
Luke 18:9-12
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
Luke 18:13-14
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, (tax) rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
John 13:1
...Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
John 13:33-35
33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Teknia—Relationship/My children
I’m Right—Feel Morally Superior—Become Judgmental—Easily Angered and Offended
I’m Forgiven—Feel Profound Gratitude—Become More Accepting—Overflowing With Love
Jesus was the most right and least judgmental person who ever lived
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. -
SERMON NOTES
ONE ANOTHER – Wk 1
“Love One Another”
-------------------------------------
Matthew 22:35-40
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
“Every Christian would agree that a man’s spiritual health is exactly proportional to his love for God”.
- C.S. Lewis
Matthew 22:35-40
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Pain that does not get transformed gets transmitted
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. -
SERMON NOTES
NOT NORMAL – Wk 4
“Normal Isn’t Working”
-------------------------------------
1 Peter 2:11 | NLT
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
παροίκους παρεπιδήμους
paroikous
parepidemous
Para
—Beside | Near | Temporary
To live near, but not in
To be close, but not from
To be in, but not of
Philippians 3:20 | NLT
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
Philippians 3:18-20 | NLT
18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Philippians 3:18 | NLT
… They think only about this life here on earth.
You will think differently
from this world
Romans 12:2 | NLT
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.
Colossians 3:1-2
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
You will live differently
from this world
1 Peter 2:11 | MSG
11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.
I am a Citizen of Heaven. My life belongs to God. Because earth is not my home, I think differently, and I live differently.
If you don’t actively resist the current of culture, you’ll drift into the deception of this world
“Don’t worry if you’re different from the world. Worry if you’re not.”
— Craig Groschel
Who are you?
I am a Citizen of Heaven.
My life belongs to God. Because earth is not my home–I think differently—I live differently -
SERMON NOTES
NOT NORMAL – Wk 3
“Not Good Enough”
-------------------------------------
Activity = Identity
What You Do = Who You Are
Identity = Activity
Who You Are = What You Do
Matthew 5:13 | NIV
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”Matthew 5:14 | NIV
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”
You are God’s people.
Matthew 5:14-16 | NIV
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Be who you are.
You are the salt of the earth.
You are God’s people.
You are the light of the world.
You are a city on a hill.
Be who you are.
I am the salt of the earth, so I will be a light in the darkness, a city on a hill. -
SERMON NOTES
NOT NORMAL – Wk 2
“Understanding the Assignment”
-------------------------------------
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
presbeuo:
an ambassador, a chosen representative of a ruling authority.
An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat sent from one country to another to promote and protect the interest of their home country.
I am — ambassador of Christ —sent by God — to show his love — on earth — as it is in heaven
You were not elected by people
but chosen by God
John 15:16, 19
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last … 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
Philippians 3:20
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
When God selects you,
it doesn’t matter who rejects you
You are not elected by people.
You are chosen by God.
You never represent yourself.
You always represent God.
Philippians 1:27
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.
Colossians 3:17 | NLT
17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus…
You have the authority
of the One who sent you
2 Corinthians 10:8 | NLT
8 I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.
Luke 10:19 | NLT
19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy.
I am — ambassador of Christ —sent by God — to show his love — on earth — as it is in heaven
2 Corinthians 5:20 | NLT
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
2 Corinthians 5:20b-21 | NLT
We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
I am — ambassador of Christ —sent by God — to show his love — on earth — as it is in heaven -
SERMON NOTES
NOT NORMAL – Wk 1
“Not Good Enough”
-------------------------------------
Ephesians 2:10 | NLT
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
without Christ,
you are not enough.
Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world…
3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
until you admit you’re a sinner, you won’t see your need for a savior.
Ephesians 2:4-5 | NLT
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 2:10 | NLT
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
with Christ, you are God’s masterpiece.
poiema:
that which has been created, workmanship, masterpiece, God’s poetic statement created by God for God’s divine purposes.
αὐτοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν ποίημα
autou gar esmen poiema
autou:
of Him, by Him or from Him
of him for we are masterpiece
I am God’s masterpiece Created in Christ Jesus; to do good works which God prepared for me to do.
you aren’t saved BY good works, but FOR good works.
Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you [God] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
“I created a vision of David in my mind and simply carved away everything that was not David.”
— Michelangelo -
SERMON NOTES
THE WAY – Wk 4
“Giving Up On Prayer”
-------------------------------------
when you’ve
given up on prayer
if we want what Jesus had
— pray like Jesus prayed
some of us
lack focus
some of us
lack confidence
some of us
lack faith
prayer isn’t just an action you do
prayer is a way that you live
At His baptism.
(Lk 3:21-22)In the morning before heading to Galilee.
After healing people.
(Lk 5:16)
All night before choosing His disciples.
While speaking to the Jewish leaders.
Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 5,000.
Jn 6:11, Mt 14:19, Mk 6:41, Lk 9:16)
Before walking on water.
While healing a deaf and mute man.
Giving thanks to the Father before feeding 4,000.
(Mt 15:36)
Before Peter called Jesus “the Christ.”
(Lk 9:18)
At the Transfiguration.
At the return of the seventy.
(Lk 10:21)
Before teaching His disciples the Lord’s Prayer.
(Lk 11:1)
Before raising Lazarus from the dead.
For little children.
Asking the Father to glorify His name.
At the Lord’s Supper.
(Mt 26:26, Mk 14:22-23, Lk 22:19)
When Satan asked to “sift” Peter.
For Himself, His disciples, and all believers before heading to Gethsemane.
In Gethsemane before His betrayal. He prayed 3 separate prayers.
(Mt 26:36-46, Lk 22:39-46, Mk 14:32-42)
Right after being nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
(Lk 23:34)
While dying on the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
His dying breath, Jesus prayed, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
(Lk 23:46)
A blessing on the bread before He ate with others after His resurrection.
(Lk 24:30)
Blessing the disciples before His Ascension.
(Adapted from jesusalive.cc/times-jesus-prayed)
to be effective in this world,
we have to disconnect from it
disconnect from what doesn’t last
to connect to the One who does
Matthew 6:6 | MSG
6 Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
Philippians 4:6 | NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
never stop praying
(1 Thes 5:17 NLT)
pray continually
(1 Thes 5:17 NIV)
pray without ceasing
(1 Thes 5:17 KJV)
1 John 5:14-15
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -
SERMON NOTES
THE WAY – Wk 3
“The Best is Now”
-------------------------------------
John 2:8b-10
8b They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
THE BEST IS NOW
Luke 18:35-41
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
Luke 19:1-2
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
Complaining today
about moments
you’ll miss tomorrow
Studies show that the average user
touches their phone 2,617 times a day
with heavy-users clocking 5,427
The “When-Then” Game
Don’t miss
what you HAVE NOW
pursuing what you
WANT LATER
The "What-If?” Game
Matthew 6:34
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Surrender the past
you can’t change.
Trust God with a future
you can’t control.
James 4:13-14 | ESV
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Psalm 118:24 | NLT
24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
You can’t be happy
where you are not
You can’t serve Jesus
where you are not
You can’t love people
where you are not
Don’t miss
what you HAVE NOW
pursuing what you
WANT LATER -
SERMON NOTES
THE WAY – Wk 2
“Unforced Rhythms of Grace”
-------------------------------------
The greatest enemy
to the life you want
may be the life
that you’re living
Mark 2:14
14 As he [Jesus] walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.
If Levi followed an unrushed Jesus,
then Levi should’ve been living an unrushed life
If we follow an unrushed Jesus,
we should be living an unrushed life
Matthew 11:28-3028 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)28 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
IF JESUS WASN'T RUSHED,
THEN WHY ARE YOU?
Running from something
Running to something
PROBLEM
—You’re chasing a life
that leaves you empty
You have time for what
you choose to have time for
The solution is not more time.
The solution is more of
what matters most
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Average person in a year
—706 hours a year Social Media
(if you are younger, you actually are above that)
TELEVISION:
2,737 hours on TV
— new trending series
VIDEO GAMES:
Average guy will spend over 10,000 hours
on video games by the age of 21!
"God, help me walk slowly enough
to experience Jesus fully
and love people deeply."
Craig Groschel
BE PRESENT
IN THE MOMENT
CHOOSE WHAT'S
IMPORTANT.
ELIMINATE
WHAT'S NOT.
Sense God’s presence
and recognize His voice -
SERMON NOTES
THE WAY – Wk 1
“Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”
-------------------------------------
Do you ever feel like
Christianity isn’t working?
John 14:1-61 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
"It may be the case that (1) Christians are assimilating to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload, which leads to (2) God becoming more marginalized in Christians' lives, which leads to (3) a deteriorating relationship with God, which leads to (4) Christians becoming even more vulnerable to adopting secular assumptions about how to live, which leads to (5) more conformity to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload. And then the cycle begins again."—Michael Zigarelli
Proverbs 14:12
12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
“The way I have been doing the work of God—is destroying the work of God in me”
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
— John Mark Comer
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
unhurried
rhythms of grace
unbroken fellowship
with the Father
uncluttered pursuit
of God’s mission
undivided attention
in the moment -
SERMON NOTES
”A King Like No Other”
-------------------------------------
MATTHEW
Matthew 9:9“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.”
Matthew 10:1-3“Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus,”
THOMAS
John 20:24-25“One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.””
John 20:26-27 “Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!””
JAMES + JOHN
Luke 9:51-55 “As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.”
Mark 10:33-39 ““Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.” Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.” “What is your request?” he asked. They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.”
Mark 15:27 “Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.”
PETER
Matthew 26:31-35“On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.”
John 18:18“Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.”
John 21:9“When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.”
* The person with a past* The hurt and confused
* The angry and the bitter person
* The selfish and self-centered
* The promise-breaker
-
SERMON NOTES
”Good Plans?”
-------------------------------------
Jeremiah 29:1111 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES
OFTEN REQUIRES A DRY SEASON
GOD IS THE GOD
OF THE DRY SEASON
1 Kings 17:117 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”
WHAT IS MY
NEXT STEP?
1 Kings 17:2-4
2 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”
GOD WANTS US TO KNOW
THE WILL FOR OUR LIVES
MORE THAN WE WANT
TO KNOW IT
1 Kings 17:5-6
5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.
1 Kings 17:7
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
GOD WILL
SOMETIMES LET US RUN OUT
SO THAT WE WILL RECOGNIZE
THAT HE IS OUR SOURCE
1 Kings 17:8-9
8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”
1 Kings 17:10-11
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
1 Kings 17:12
12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God (not her God, but His God—worshiping baal) that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
1 Kings 17:13-14
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
1 Kings 17:15-16
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
1 Kings 17:17-18
17 Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died. 18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”
1 Kings 17:19
19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” (And God is telling you Give it to me) That thing that is dead in your life? Give it to me–Just give it to me
1 Kings 17:20
20 Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”
1 Kings 17:21-22
21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!
1 Kings 17:23
23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”
1 Kings 17:24
24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.” -
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 7
”What Could God Do?”
-------------------------------------
What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
WHAT COULD GO DO
THROUGH YOU?
SPIRITUAL
CARELESSNESS
Nehemiah 9:3838 The people responded, “In view of all this, we are making a solemn promise and putting it in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders and Levites and priests.”
Nehemiah 10:28-3228 Then the rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the Law of God, together with their wives, sons, daughters, and all who were old enough to understand
29 joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord:
30 “We promise not to let our daughters marry the pagan people of the land, and not to let our sons marry their daughters.
31 “We also promise that if the people of the land should bring any merchandise or grain to be sold on the Sabbath or on any other holy day, we will refuse to buy it. Every seventh year we will let our land rest, and we will cancel all debts owed to us.
32 “In addition, we promise to obey the command to pay the annual Temple tax of one-eighth of an ounce of silver for the care of the Temple of our God.
Nehemiah 10:3939 We will not neglect the house of our God.
Nehemiah 13:4-54 Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah,
5 had converted a large storage room and placed it at Tobiah’s disposal. The room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, the frankincense, various articles for the Temple, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil (which were prescribed for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers), as well as the offerings for the priests.
Nehemiah 13:1515 In those days I saw men of Judah treading out their winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in grain, loading it on donkeys, and bringing their wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of produce to Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. So I rebuked them for selling their produce on that day.
Nehemiah 15:23-2423 About the same time I realized that some of the men of Judah had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Furthermore, half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of some other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all.
DIRECTION
NOT INTENTION,
DETERMINES
DESTINATION
IS THERE ANYTHING
I NEED TO STOP DOING?
Nehemiah 13:4-94 Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah,
5 had converted a large storage room and placed it at Tobiah’s disposal. The room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, the frankincense, various articles for the Temple, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil (which were prescribed for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers), as well as the offerings for the priests.
6 I was not in Jerusalem at that time, for I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign, though I later asked his permission to return. 7 When I arrived back in Jerusalem, I learned about Eliashib’s evil deed in providing Tobiah with a room in the courtyards of the Temple of God.
8 I became very upset and threw all of Tobiah’s belongings out of the room. 9 Then I demanded that the rooms be purified, and I brought back the articles for God’s Temple, the grain offerings, and the frankincense.
IS THERE ANYTHING
I NEED TO START
(OR RESTART)
DOING?
Nehemiah 13:10-1110 I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields.
11 I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, “Why has the Temple of God been neglected?” Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.
Nehemiah 13:1212 And once more all the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil to the Temple storerooms.
MAKE CHURCH
A PRIORITY
BEGIN
TO SERVE
PUT GOD FIRST
IN YOUR FINANCES
HOW SERIOUS
DO I REALLY WANT TO BE
IN MY WALK WITH JESUS?
Nehemiah 13:15-2515 In those days I saw men of Judah treading out their winepresses on the Sabbath. They were also bringing in grain, loading it on donkeys, and bringing their wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of produce to Jerusalem to sell on the Sabbath. So I rebuked them for selling their produce on that day.
16 Some men from Tyre, who lived in Jerusalem, were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise. They were selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah—and in Jerusalem at that!
17 So I confronted the nobles of Judah. “Why are you profaning the Sabbath in this evil way?” I asked. 18 “Wasn’t it just this sort of thing that your ancestors did that caused our God to bring all this trouble upon us and our city? Now you are bringing even more wrath upon Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!”
19 Then I commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be shut as darkness fell every Friday evening, not to be opened until the Sabbath ended. I sent some of my own servants to guard the gates so that no merchandise could be brought in on the Sabbath day.
20 The merchants and tradesmen with a variety of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice. 21 But I spoke sharply to them and said, “What are you doing out here, camping around the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you!” And that was the last time they came on the Sabbath.
22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to preserve the holiness of the Sabbath. Remember this good deed also, O my God! Have compassion on me according to your great and unfailing love.
23 About the same time I realized that some of the men of Judah had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. 24 Furthermore, half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of some other people and could not speak the language of Judah at all.
25 So I confronted them and called down curses on them. I beat some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear in the name of God that they would not let their children intermarry with the pagan people of the land.
Nehemiah 1:55 Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands"
-
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 6
”It's a Party”
-------------------------------------
What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
Nehemiah 7:8-12
8 The family of Parosh 2,1729 The family of Shephatiah 372
10 The family of Arah 652
11 The family of Pahath-moab (descendants of Jeshua and Joab) 2,818
12 The family of Elam 1,254
Nehemiah 7:2828 The people of Beth-azmaveth 42
Nehemiah 7:3333 The people of West Nebo 52
SOME CALL THE GAP
BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE
& WHERE WE WANT TO BE
HYPOCRISY
WE CAN CALL IT
OPPORTUNITY
WE CAN
BE REAL
Nehemiah 8:1-3
1 all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. 2 So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.
3 He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.
Nehemiah 8:8
8 They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.
Nehemiah 8:9
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Psalms 34:18
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
Nehemiah 8:10-12
10 And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
11 And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” 12 So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.
Psalms 30:11
11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
BECAUSE OF OUR OPPORTUNITY
(THE WORLD DESPERATELY NEEDS
A CHURCH FILLED WITH JOY!)
Nehemiah 8:17
17 So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun.
Nehemiah 12:43
43 Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away. -
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 5
”Forgiveness”
-------------------------------------
What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
Matthew 6:1414 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
Matthew 6:1515 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
FORGIVING OTHERS
IS SERIOUS
Nehemiah 6:1-26 Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized they were plotting to harm me,
Nehemiah 6:33 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
Nehemiah 6:44 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply.
BITTERNESS AND
UNFORGIVENESS
ALWAYS HOLD HANDS
Nehemiah 6:55 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand,
Nehemiah 6:6-76 and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
Nehemiah 6:8-98 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” 9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
Nehemiah 6:1010 Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”
Nehemiah 6:11-13
11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.
Nehemiah 6:14-1614 Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. 15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.
THE BEST WAY TO FORGIVE
IS GIVE IT TO GOD AND
GET BACK TO WORK
FORGIVENESS
DOES NOT ALWAYS
EQUAL RESTORATION
FORGIVENESS
IS A PROCESS
Matthew 18:21-2221 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
FORGIVENESS
IS NOT UP TO THEM
Luke 23:3434 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
FORGIVENESS
SETS US FREE
IT'S NOT UP TO ME
TO FORGIVE MYSELF
Ephesians 1:77 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
-
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 4
”Anxious for Nothing”
-------------------------------------
What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
SOCIAL ANXIETY
Nehemiah 5:1-21 About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. 2 They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”
PAST ANXIETY
Nehemiah 5:33 Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”
FINANCIAL ANXIETY
Nehemiah 5:44 And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes.
SPIRITUAL ANXIETY
Nehemiah 5:55 We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.”
Nehemiah 5:6-76 When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. 7 After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem.
GOD IS GREAT
GOD IS GOOD
Nehemiah 5:88 At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense.
Nehemiah 5:9-119 Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations? 10 I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. 11 You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.”
Nehemiah 5:12-1312 They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised. 13 I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!”
God is faithful,
so what step of faith
do I need to take? -
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 3
”Fight For Your Familes”
-------------------------------------
What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
Nehemiah 4:1313 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.
Nehemiah 4:1414 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
Focus on the Father
Matthew 7:9-119 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Intentional
Follower of Jesus
10 Minutes a day
in God’s word
Get involved
in church
Ask Jesus
to renew
your mind
daily
Husband
Father
Career
Gumption
Help
Psalms 139:23-2423 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Try
Nehemiah 4:1515 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work.
-
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 2
”4 Stages of Spiritual Warfare”
-------------------------------------
What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
Nehemiah 2:4-54 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, (he paused and prayed) 5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”
Nehemiah 2:6
6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.
Nehemiah 2:7-97 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah.
8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.
9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me.
DISTRACTION
Nehemiah 2:1010 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.
Nehemiah 2:11-1211 So I arrived in Jerusalem. Three days later, 12 I slipped out during the night, taking only a few others with me. I had not told anyone about the plans God had put in my heart for Jerusalem. We took no pack animals with us except the donkey I was riding.
Nehemiah 2:17-1817 But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” 18 Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.
DECEPTION
Nehemiah 2:19-2019 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. 20 I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”
Opposition
= Opportunity
Nehemiah Chapter 3
= Lots of People
Walking with Jesus
isn’t a “me thing”
it is a “we thing”
DISCOURAGEMENT
Nehemiah 4:1-61 Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”
3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!” 4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land!
5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders.” 6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.
DESPAIRS
Nehemiah 4:7-127 But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.
9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. 10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” 12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”
In Christ
I will see victory
because His strength in me
is more powerful than the enemy -
SERMON NOTES
NEHEMIAH – Wk 1
”You Can’t Handle the Truth”
-------------------------------------What had been destroyed
for over 100 years
was rebuilt in 52 days
Nehemiah 1:1-2 NLT
1 “These are the memoirs of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In late autumn, in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was at the fortress of Susa. 2 Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.”
JESUS:
What area (areas) do you want
to build (rebuild) in me?
Jesus’ work in us begins
when we are willing to tell the truth
Nehemiah 1:3 NLT
3 “They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.””
We can’t get right with God
until we are willing to admit
what is wrong in our lives.
Nehemiah 1:4-7 NLT
4 “When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. 7 Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.”
Confession
is when we
tell Jesus the truth
(come into agreement with Him)
Nehemiah 1:11 NLT
11 …In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.”
God is not
trying to push us away
—but position us for Immeasurably more
than all we could ever ask for or imagine
Nehemiah 2:1-3 NLT
1 “Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence. 2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.” 3 Then I was terrified, but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.””
JESUS:
give me the wisdom
to know the truth
and the courage
to tell the truth
— even when it’s hard
Nehemiah 2:4
4 “The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?”…
Telling the truth
is the beginning
of a breakthrough
-
SERMON NOTES
A Faith That Matters – Wk 4
”Why Angels Don’t Worry”
-------------------------------------Sometimes we can do the right thing, and still end up in a bad place.
Daniel 6:19-22
19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”What can we learn from angels about worry and anxiety?
They are obsessed with the presence of God
Isaiah 6:1-4
1 It was in the year King Uzziah died[a] that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.
3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” 4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.Jesus help me to be more aware of your presence
The purpose of God
Isaiah 6:5-8
5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.
7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.” 8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”The Power of God
2 Kings 19:35
35 That night the angel of the Lord went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. When the surviving Assyrians woke up the next morning, they found corpses everywhere.
1 Peter 1:12
12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
-
SERMON NOTES
A Faith That Matters – Wk 4
”War Against Worry”
-------------------------------------Daniel 4:17
“‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
Daniel 4:25
You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.
Daniel 4:32
You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
Daniel 4:34
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
Daniel 5:21
He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.
We worry the most when we fail to recognize that He is the Most High God
In THE world
In MY world
Matthew 16:16-18
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
If God Guides,
He Will Provide
Jesus wants
greater things for us
than we want for us
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Jesus STILL
works miracles
What miracle
am I praying for?
-
SERMON NOTES
A Faith That Matters – Wk 3
”You’re Not As Strong
As You Think You Are” | Pt. 2
--------------------------------------Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, the one who loves me and gave himself for me.
Hebrews 11:32-34
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I Must Identify my Weaknesses
Learn How God Wants To Use My Weaknesses
My Weaknesses should cause me to value others
My Weaknesses Should Make Me Dependent On God
My Weaknesses Should Help Fulfill God’s Purpose for my Life
My Weaknesses should promote humility within me
John 21:15-22
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them.
21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”Comparing leads to despair and difficulty
Comparison is a weakness we all have and we all have to face
Openly Admit Weaknesses to Change Them
Vulnerability is Spiritually Empowering
James 4:6
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Vulnerability is emotionally healing
James 5:16
Confess your faults to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Vulnerability is relationally attractive
James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways…
Vulnerability is a requirement for leadership
James 3:13
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
-
SERMON NOTES
A Faith That Matters – Wk 2
”You’re Not As Strong
As You Think You Are” | Pt. 1
--------------------------------------Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, the one who loves me and gave himself for me.
Hebrews 11:32-34
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James 5:16
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I must identify
my weaknesses
Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Learn how God
wants to use
my weaknesses
My weaknesses
should promote humility
within me
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
My weaknesses
should cause me
to value others
1 Corinthians 12:21-22
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
My weaknesses
should make me
dependent on God
2 Corinthians 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:10
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
My weaknesses
should help fulfill
God’s purpose for my life
2 Corinthians 1:4
4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Luke 22:32
32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Openly admit
weaknesses
to change them
Vulnerability
is spiritually empowering
James 4:6
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble
Vulnerability
is emotionally healing
James 5:16
Confess your faults to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Vulnerability
is relationally attractive
James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways
Vulnerability
is a requirement
for leadership
James 3:13
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
-
SERMON NOTES
A Faith That Matters – Wk 1
”Something Better”--------------------------------------
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Never been on an airplane?
Never lived without the internet?
Never been confused, frustrated or angry in your walk with Jesus?
Mark 11:1 (a)
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives,
Mark 11:1 (b-3)
Jesus sent two of them on ahead.
Mark 11:2
“Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
“Follow me,”
not “Believe in Me”
Uncomfortable
The supernatural
is on the other side
of uncomfortable
Mark 11:4-6
4The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it.
Follow-Through
Mark 11:7-10
7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. 8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in highest heaven!”
Jesus always wants to do more for us than we can imagine
Conflict with
the Jewish leaders
Arrested
Put on Trial
Beaten
Crucified
Buried
Confused,
Frustrated,
Angry
Mark 16:1-4
1 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
Mark 16:5-7
When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
Jesus hasn’t
given up on you
Revelation 21:14
The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Gratitude
-
SERMON NOTES
NEW – Wk 4
”Forgiven”--------------------------------------
Isaiah 43:19
19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?! I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
What is the New
God wants to do in you?
Colossians 1:13-14
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Hebrews 12:2
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1.
Total Forgiveness
of Everything
I Have Ever
Done WrongColossians 2:14
14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
Ephesians 1:7
7 In Christ we are set free by the blood of His death. And so we have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.
Romans 4:25
25 Jesus was handed over to die because of our sins, and He was raised from the dead to make us right with God.
2.
We get healing power
of Jesus in our lives1 Peter 2:24
24 He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
5 But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; and He was whipped, so we could be healed!
Matthew 9:35
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in the Jewish synagogues preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.
Romans 8:23
23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.
Romans 8:26
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
3.
We get the power
to break free from
controlling forcesRomans 7:15-18
15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] I want to do what is right, but I can’t.
Romans 6:6-9
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
Galatians 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
-
SERMON NOTES
EASTER 2024
”Hope in Darkness”--------------------------------------
When Jesus Died, Hope Died
There were no Christians because there was no Christ
No one was planning to keep the dream alive or the movement moving
Jesus was not who He claimed to be
John 6:66
From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
John 6:68-69
Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
THE EVENT
THE MOVEMENT
THE BIBLE
The Christian faith did not begin with Genesis, it began with Jesus.
There were no believers until after the Resurrection.
The Resurrection is the reason for our hope
1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
We have been completely forgiven
Ephesians 1:7
In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death. And so we have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.
We no longer fear death
John 11:25
Jesus promised, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.”
Acts 1:3
For forty days after his death Jeesus appeared to people many times in many ways that proved beyond doubt that he was alive. They saw him, and he talked with them about the Kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15: 3-8
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and then he was raised from the dead on the third day. He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now. Then he was seen by James and later by all of the apostles. Last of all, I saw him too…
We now have God’s spirit inside us
Acts 1:8
When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and will tell people everywhere about me–in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Ephesians 1:19-20
I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.
We know the purpose we were created for
-
SERMON NOTES
NEW – Wk 3
”The Reason”--------------------------------------
Isaiah 43:19
19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?! I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
What is the NEW
God wants to do in you?
Colossians 1:13-14
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
“Give me liberty
or Give me death!”- Patrick Henry
“Freedom has many difficulties and democracy is not perfect, but we have never had to put a wall up to keep our people in, to prevent them from leaving us.”
- John F. Kennedy
What does it really
mean to be free?
Freedom:
We are liberated from the power of sin, from the fear of death, and the schemes of the DevilGalatians 5:1
5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:2-4
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Jesus is either
Everything or Nothing
Galatians 5:6
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Galatians 5:7-8
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
Unhealthy
Relationships
Galatians 5:9
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump
Proverbs 13:20
20 Walk with the wise and become wise for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Galatians 5:13-14
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
Cory Asbury
”Homecoming”Lord, I confess
that I've been a criminal
I've stolen Your breath
and sang my own song
and Lord I confess
that I'm far from innocent
these shackles I wear
oh, I bought on my ownWrong Understanding
of the Gospel
Gratifying
Your Desires
to Sin
Galatians 5:16-18
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:19
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Freedom
from our Past
-
SERMON NOTES
NEW – Wk 1
”The Rescue”--------------------------------------
Isaiah 43:19
19 For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
What is the new
God wants to do in you?
“If I find myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I am meant for another world”
C.S. LewisColossians 1:13-14
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Matthew 4:18-20
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
Jesus rescues us
from a meaningless life
and gives us purpose
Matthew 14:22-24
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
Jesus sometimes places us in a storm so we can experience him on a level we otherwise couldn’t
Matthew 14:25-33
25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Sometimes Jesus speaks to the storm and sometimes he speaks to the people in the storm
Matthew 14:28-29
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
The next step is always the right step but seldom is it the easy step
Matthew 14:30-33
30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Matthew 26:31-35
31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” 33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.
Loneliness
Shame
Mark 16:7
7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
-
SERMON NOTES
Shift Happens – Wk 2
”4 Steps for a Shift in Your Life” | Pt. 2--------------------------------------
Being stalled
doesn’t mean being stuck
Refuse to settle for
your Shadow Mission
Ask for the help
of Jesus and others
Believe that God
does His best work
in His time
Esther 5:1-3
1 On the third day of the fast, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace, just across from the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance.
2 When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.
3 Then the king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”
Wisdom
Self-Control
Esther 5:4-8
4 And Esther replied, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.” 5 The king turned to his attendants and said, “Tell Haman to come quickly to a banquet, as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to Esther’s banquet.
6 And while they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now tell me what you really want. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!” 7 Esther replied, “This is my request and deepest wish.
8 If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do what I ask, please come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will explain what this is all about.”
Esther 5:9-14
9 Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious.
10 However, he restrained himself and went on home. Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 and boasted to them about his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about the honors the king had given him and how he had been promoted over all the other nobles and officials.
12 Then Haman added, “And that’s not all! Queen Esther invited only me and the king himself to the banquet she prepared for us. And she has invited me to dine with her and the king again tomorrow!”
13 Then he added, “But this is all worth nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate.”
14 So Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends suggested, “Set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall, and in the morning ask the king to impale Mordecai on it. When this is done, you can go on your merry way to the banquet with the king.” This pleased Haman, and he ordered the pole set up.
Entitlement
to Gratitude
Esther 6:1-2
1 That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him. 2 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.
Esther 6:7-9
7 So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, 8 he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden—one with a royal emblem on its head.
9 Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’”
Esther 6:10
10 “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”
Esther 7:1-7
1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet. 2 On this second occasion, while they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”
3 Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request, I ask that my life and the lives of my people will be spared.
4 For my people and I have been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate us. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I could remain quiet, for that would be too trivial a matter to warrant disturbing the king.”
5 “Who would do such a thing?” King Xerxes demanded. “Who would be so presumptuous as to touch you?” 6 Esther replied, “This wicked Haman is our adversary and our enemy.” Haman grew pale with fright before the king and queen.
7 Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. Haman, however, stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that the king intended to kill him.
Esther 7:7-10
7 Then the king jumped to his feet in a rage and went out into the palace garden. Haman, however, stayed behind to plead for his life with Queen Esther, for he knew that the king intended to kill him.
8 In despair he fell on the couch where Queen Esther was reclining, just as the king was returning from the palace garden. The king exclaimed, “Will he even assault the queen right here in the palace, before my very eyes?” And as soon as the king spoke, his attendants covered Haman’s face, signaling his doom.
9 Then Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “Haman has set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to impale Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination.” “Then impale Haman on it!” the king ordered.
10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.
Be all about
other people
Esther 8:3-4
3 Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews. 4 Again the king held out the gold scepter to Esther. So she rose and stood before him.
Esther 8:14
14 So urged on by the king’s command, the messengers rode out swiftly on fast horses bred for the king’s service. The same decree was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa.
Esther 8:17
17 In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.
Good News
-
SERMON NOTES
Shift Happens – Wk 1
”4 Steps for a Shift in Your Life” | Pt. 1--------------------------------------
Refuse to settle for
your Shadow Mission
Esther 1:1-4
1 These events happened in the days of King Xerxes,[a] who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. 2 At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. 4 The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.
Esther 1: 5-7
5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. 6 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. 7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality.
Esther 1:8
8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
Esther 1:10-11
10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.
Esther 1:12
12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
Esther 2:1
1 Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her.
Esther 2:16
16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
Esther 2:17-18
17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
Esther 3:5-6
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.
Ask for the help
of Jesus and others
Esther 4:13-14
13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
Esther 4:15-16
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
-
SERMON NOTES
Because of You – Wk 4
”2 Questions That Will Change Everything”--------------------------------------
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 NLT
7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.
Because of you
— God is changing lives
“The NCAA's combined revenue from TV and marketing rights fees has reached around $940 million in revenue in 2022. Moreover, the organization generated over $198 million in the same year through championships and NIT tournaments.”
What do I really want to see Jesus do in and through me?
What is the next step I need to take in order to make that happen?
Judges 7:16
16 He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.
Judges 7:17
17 Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do.
Judges 7:18-20
18 As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon!’” 19 It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly, they blew the rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. 20 Then all three groups blew their horns and broke their jars. They held the blazing torches in their left hands and the horns in their right hands, and they all shouted, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!”
Judges 7:21-22
21 Each man stood at his position around the camp and watched as all the Midianites rushed around in a panic, shouting as they ran to escape. 22 When the 300 Israelites blew their rams’ horns, the Lord caused the warriors in the camp to fight against each other with their swords. Those who were not killed fled to places as far away as Beth-shittah near Zererah and to the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.
Judges 7:23-24
23 Then Gideon sent for the warriors of Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh, who joined in chasing the army of Midian. 24 Gideon also sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down to attack the Midianites. Cut them off at the shallow crossings of the Jordan River at Beth-barah.”So all the men of Ephraim did as they were told.
Judges 7:25
25 They captured Oreb and Zeeb, the two Midianite commanders, killing Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. And they continued to chase the Midianites. Afterward the Israelites brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan River.
Genesis 3:15
…He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”John 19:30
30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!”...
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SERMON NOTES
Because of You – Wk 3
”7 Prayers That Will Change Your Life - and Others’”--------------------------------------
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 NLT
7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.
Because of you
— God is changing lives
Prayer #1
Jesus, help me to be more aware of Your presence
Prayer #2
Jesus, help me to see that, even if I’ve been rejected by religion, I am accepted by You
Matthew 15:29-31
29 Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. 30 A vast crowd brought to him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and he healed them all. 31 The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.
Prayer #3
Jesus, help me see people the way You see people
Matthew 15:32
32 Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.”
Prayer #4
Jesus, help me understand that if You promised it, You will deliver
Matthew 15:33
33 The disciples replied, “Where would we get enough food here in the wilderness for such a huge crowd?”
Prayer #5
Jesus help me to see (and use) what you have given me
Matthew 15:34
34 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.”
Prayer #6
Jesus, give me the strength and the courage to take my next step
Matthew 15:35-36
35 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd.
Prayer #7
Jesus, help me to fully surrender, understanding that your ways are better than my ways
Matthew 15:37-39
37 They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 38 There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children. 39 Then Jesus sent the people home, and he got into a boat and crossed over to the region of Magadan.
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SERMON NOTES
Because of You – Wk 2
”The Believers”---------------------------------------
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 | NLT
7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.
Because of you
— God is changing lives
Where is God
sending You?
Like the earliest christians – we are sent with boldness and kindness
Acts 2:1-13
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they hear this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome; 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”God Meets Us
Where We Are
God tells us the truth
about ourselves
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God
We have all preferred
creation over the creator
Believed the lie
over the truth of God
Failed to acknowledge
God as the giver
of all good things
Romans 3:23-2523 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith
Acts 2:29-32
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
Christ’s victory over death
is now our victory over death
Christ’s victory over the grave
is now our victory over the grave
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The Gospel creates the opportunity
for us to be adopted into
the family of God
Romans 8:15 | NIV
”The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”“
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SERMON NOTES
Because of You - Wk 1
”We Are Sent”---------------------------------------
At 47%, nearly half of millennial
practicing Christians
say it is wrong to evangelize
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Mark 16:15
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Luke 24:47-48
47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
John 20:21-23
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
A Sending God
Creates a Sending People
Motivation
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Method
Acts 4:13
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Message
Revelation 12:11
11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Where is God
sending you?
-
SERMON NOTES
”Alive & Well”--------------------------------------
Acts 20:7 | NIV
”On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.“
Acts 20:8 | NIV
”There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.“
Environments Matter
Acts 2:42-45 | NIV
”They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.“
Acts 2:42-45 | Made-Up Version
They were devoted to their comfort, personal goals, happiness and dreams and bucket lists. No one really notices the Christians because they focused on themselves. Very few of the believers were together and when they were they fought about stupid things.
Luke 5:17-26
17 On one of the days while Jesus was teaching, some proud religious law-keepers and teachers of the Law were sitting by Him. They had come from every town in the countries of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was there to heal them. 18 Some men took a man who was not able to move his body to Jesus. He was carried on a bed. They looked for a way to take the man into the house where Jesus was. 19 But they could not find a way to take him in because of so many people. They made a hole in the roof over where Jesus stood. Then they let the bed with the sick man on it down before Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the man, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The teachers of the Law and the proud religious law-keepers thought to themselves, “Who is this Man Who speaks as if He is God? Who can forgive sins but God only?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to them, “Why do you think this way in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’?
24 “So that you may know the Son of Man has the right and the power on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the man who could not move his body, “I say to you, get up. Take your bed and go to your home.” 25 At once the sick man got up in front of them. He took his bed and went to his home thanking God. 26 All those who were there were surprised and gave thanks to God, saying, “We have seen very special things today.”
Acts 20:9
9 As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below.
Bitterness
Hate
Greed
“Pet Sin”
God’s grace doesn’t give us permission to sin
– God’s grace gives us power over sin
Acts 20:10
10 Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. “Don’t worry,” he said, “he’s alive!”
Acts 20:11
11 Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper,[d] and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left.
Acts 20:12
12 Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.
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SERMON NOTES
Christmas @ Forward - Wk 4
”Joy”--------------------------------------
Matthew 2:10-11 | NLT
”When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.“
Isaiah 53:6 | NLT
”All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.“
Isaiah 53:6-7 | NLT
”All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.“
Isaiah 53:3-5 | NLT
”He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.“
Isaiah 53:8-9 | NLT
”Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.“
Isaiah 53:11 | NLT
”When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.“
Luke 9:22-23 | NIV
”And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.“
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SERMON NOTES
Christmas @ Forward - Wk 3
”Hope” | Pt. 2--------------------------------------
Ecclesiastes 3:11 | NIV
”He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.“
Messiah = Hope
Hope
— a joyful expectation for the future
John 1:1-5 | ESV
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Hope is revealed
in God’s creation
John 1:14 | ESV
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Hope is revealed
in the cradle
“God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment. No evil can befall us; whatever men may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
John 1:29 | ESV
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
Hope is revealed
at the cross
John 1:41 | ESV
“He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.”
Hope is revealed
when you crown
Him as king
Jesus is a liar
Jesus is a lunatic
Jesus is Lord
Philippians 2:5-11 | ESV
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
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SERMON NOTES
Christmas @ Forward - Wk 2
”Hope” | Pt. 1--------------------------------------
Hope
— a joyful expectation for the future
Isaiah 40:30-31 | NIV
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Messiah = Hope
Messiah is a plan
Jeremiah 23:5 | NIV
““The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.”
Messiah is a person
Isaiah 9:6 | NIV
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Our hope is only as secure
as what our hope is in is strong
Romans 15:13 | NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Messiah is a presence
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SERMON NOTES
Christmas @ Forward - Wk 1
”Peace on Earth?”--------------------------------------
There will never be peace on earth
until there is peace in me
Somewhere Else
Someone Else
Something Else
Isaiah 2:4 ESV
“He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Isaiah 40:25-26
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? Says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their hosts by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.
Jeremiah 10:12-13
It is he who made the earth by His power who established the world by His wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. When he utters his voice, is a tumult of waters in the heavens and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world
Jesus is our
Prince of Peace
Peace is found
in the presence of God
and nothing else
Our Plan
is not always
His plan
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The Process
may be painful
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
His plan
always includes
His presence
Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight...
