A Song of Hope I. The OTHER birth STORY. (v.5-25, 57-66)A. A FAITHFUL but BARREN couple. (v.5-7)B. A ONCE in a LIFETIME event. (v.8-17)C. Even FAILURE to believe gets USED. (v.18-25)D. “JOHN”: God is GRACIOUS. (v.13, 57-66) As Christmas...
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Why Are We Here? – Part 2 | Genesis 12:1-9
Blessed to Bless the Nations I. The 3 STAGE story of ABRAHAM. (v.1-9)A. A CALL to FOLLOW. (v.1)B. A PROMISE from GOD. (v.2-3)C. The REAL life that FOLLOWS. (v.4-9) Last week we looked at Creation in our attempt to uncover the answer to the...
Read moreWhy Are We Here? – Part 1 | Genesis 1-2
Let’s start at the very beginning I. READING the CREATION stories (PLURAL). (Gen. 1-2)A. There are MORE than ONE. (Gen. 1,2; Job 38-41; Ps. 104; Prov. 8:22-31; John 1)B. The CHALLENGES that they PRESENT. (Gen. 1-2) Today we address the biggest...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 9 | John 17:20-26
What Jesus Prays for Us I. A prayer for UNION and COMMUNION. (v.20-23)A. UNION (unity) is more than AGREEMENT. (v.21; Rom. 12:4-5)B. Glory GIVEN is the PATHWAY. (v.22; 2 Cor. 3:18)C. The FRUIT of this is MISSION. (v.21b,23) The final stage of the...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 8 | John 16:5-15; John 15:1-8
The Spirit as our Guide I. The CONTEXT of this text for the DISCIPLES. (Jn 16:5-7)A. They are HITTING the WALL. (Jn 16:5-6)B. The COUNTER – INTUITIVE gift. (Jn 16:7) Every story has a back story. While our text today looks like more of a...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 6 | Psalm 13
When we hit the wall… I. An HONEST prayer of LAMENT. (v.1-6)A. “How long?” is a VALID QUESTION. (v.1-2; Ps. 10:1; Ps. 22:1-2)B. A NORMAL part of the JOURNEY. (v.1-6; Ps. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9,10, 13, 14, 17, 22,25, 26, 27, etc.) Sometimes it just...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 5 | Matthew 25:14-30
Stepping up through the grace and gifts of God I. Living out the KINGDOM of HEAVEN now. (v.14-30)A. God ENTRUSTS what is His to US. (v.14-15)B. Different GIFTS for different PEOPLE. (v.15; I Cor. 12;7,11)C. Their RESPONSE and REWARD. (v.16-30)D...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 4 | I Tim. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 9:24-27
Help in Growing as a Disciple I. Two TEXTS about TRAINING. (I Tim. 4:7-8; I Cor. 9:24-27)A. STORIES shape the HABITS of our LIVES. (I Tim. 4:7)B. The dual NATURE of spiritual GROWTH. (I Tim. 4:7; Phil. 2:11-12)C. The IMPORTANCE of our INTENTION...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 3 | Luke 19:1-10
Confidence in Christ I. A familiar THEME when it comes to JESUS. (Lk. 18:35-19:10)A. The STORY of an OUTCAST. (v.1-2)B. A JEW but not in REALITY. (v.2)C. A DESIRE to SEE Jesus. (v.3-4) Jesus seems to always stir up emotion, especially when he...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 2 | Ephesians 2:1-10
Where we were, where we are, and why the difference I. We were DEAD in SIN. (v.1-3)A. A FOLLOWING that leads to DEATH. (v.1-2)B. Our ACTIONS shaped our very NATURE. (v.3) Mark Twain is often quoted as saying “Rumours of my death have been greatly...
Read moreJourney of the Soul – Part 1 | Psalm 23
Invitation to a Journey I. The SHEPHERD and what he PROVIDES. (v.1-3a)A. EVERYTHING that I NEED. (v.1; 2 Peter 1:3)B. SPACE for GROWTH. (v. 2; Hos. 2:14)C. A RESTORATION of WHOLENESS. (v.3a; Acts 17:28) This week we look into probably the most...
Read morePeter’s Last Words – 2 Peter, Part 2 | 2 Peter 1:16-2:22
The Challenges of Distorted Faith I. How do we KNOW God and the TRUTH? (1:16-21)A. The REALITY of our EXPERIENCE. (1:16-18; Mk. 9:7)B. The UNDERSTANDING from and of the TEXT. (1:19)C. SURRENDERING to an outside AUTHORITY. (1:20) We saw last week...
Read morePeter’s Last Words – 2 Peter, Part 1 | 2 Peter 1:1-15
God’s Promise…Our Response I. The IMPORTANCE of last WORDS. (v.12-15)A. They flow from CLARITY of EXPERIENCE. (v.12-14)B. They SERVE as a LEGACY. (v.15) 2nd Peter is the last letter that we have from Peter in the Bible. He knew it was...
Read moreNew Identity…New Hope – 1 Peter, Part 3 | I Peter 2:11-17
Living in Exile for Dummies I. Remember WHO and WHOSE You Are (I Peter 1:1-2:10)A. Those ADOPTED by God (1:3-4, 14, 17)B. Those CALLED out of DARKNESS (2:9; Eph. 5:8-11)C. Those who have RECEIVED MERCY (2:10; Luke 6:36; Matt. 18:23-35)D. Those...
Read moreNew Identity…New Hope – 1 Peter, Part 2 | 1 Peter 1:13-2:10
Our New Family Identity I. Using LANGUAGE to communicate family IDENTITY. (1:13-2:10)A. Get ready and “GIRD up your LOINS.” (1:13; Ex. 12:11)B. Be the HOLY PEOPLE of God. (1:15-16; Lev. 11:44)C. Through your PASSOVER LAMB. (1:17-21; Ex. 12-15)D...
Read moreNew Identity…New Hope – 1 Peter, Part 1 | 1 Peter 1:1-12
Starting with some Fundamentals I. SETTING the CONTEXT of these letters.A. SITUATION: Think about the READERS. (v.1)B. SOURCE: Think about the WRITER. (5:12) Peter writes two letters from Rome to the scattered believers throughout modern day...
Read moreA Cruciform Life – Part 6 | 2 Cor. 4:16-5:10
The Now, the Then, and the Meanwhile I. A DESCRIPTION of our REALITY. (4:16-5:4)A. The TEMPORARY tent of our BODY. (4:16-5:1)B. The BODY made NEW. (5:1; I Cor. 15; Rev. 21:5)C. GROANING in the MEANWHILE. (5:2-4; Rom 8:18-25) Today we circle back...
Read moreA Cruciform Life – Part 5 | 2 Corinthians 6:3-13
The Role and Relationships of an Ambassador I. What BEING and AMBASSADOR looks like. (v.3-10)A. A LIFE of removing OBSTACLES. (v.3) 1. Servants WILLING to face DIFFICULTY. (v.4-5) 2. REFLECTING Christ...
Read moreA Cruciform Life – Part 3 | 2 Corinthians 4:1-18
When Change Comes Slowly… I. The CHURCH at CORINTH.A. One PROBLEM after ANOTHER. (1 and 2 Corinthians)B. Hits a LITTLE close to HOME. (Heb 4:12)C. So WHY is Paul not DISCOURAGED? (v.1,16) We’ve spent the last 8-10 weeks learning about the...
Read moreA Cruciform Life – Part 2 | 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Being Conquered by Christ Changes Everything I. A covenant that FADES and one that LASTS. (v.7-11; Ex 34:29-32)A. The law brought DEATH and CONDEMNATION. (v.7,9,11)B. The Spirit brings LIFE and RIGHTEOUSNESS. (v.8,10,11)C. A GLORIOUSLY unfading...
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