February 2022

Hope and a Future

By / February 17, 2022

Title: Hope and a Future

Text:  Jeremiah 29:11

Our dilemma….

  • We are forward thinking… Luke 12:20; James 4:13
  • …but not very insightful…. Luke 16:1-9; James 1:6
  • We should not be caught off-guard… Matthew 24:6

Approaching the future with hope….

  • Instilled within us through trouble – Romans 5:3-5
  • We have the responsibility to nurture it – I Corinthians 9:10; I Samuel 25; Psalm 126:4-6; I Timothy 6:17-19
  • It is sure – I Corinthians 15:12-28

Living in the Spirit

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Living in the Spirit

Text:  Galatians 5:16-25

The Spirit gives life!

  • John 6:63
  • New birth – John 3:6, 6:63,
  • Resurrection – Romans 8:10-11, II Corinthians 3:6

The Spirit frees!

  • Romans 8:2
  • II Corinthians 3:17
  • Galatians 5:18

Life by the Spirit is obvious….

  • Judges 13
  • I Samuel 10:11
  • Galatians 5:22

I Am Resolved – A New Year’s Lesson

By / February 17, 2022

Title: I Am Resolved

Text:  Ephesians 4:20-24

Be in the word….

  • II Chronicles 34:14-33
  • Hebrews 4:12

Pray….

  • James 1:5
  • James 5:16
  • Ephesians 6:18-20

Be in the church!

  • Acts 2:46
  • Hebrews 10:24-25
  • Ephesians 5:19

How Long? Revelation 6:9-11

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  How Long?

Text:  Revelation 6:9-11

We are in the end times….

  • Hebrews 1:1-2
  • Hebrews 9:24-28
  • Matthew 28:19-20
  • Acts 17:30-31

God knows His own

  • Ephesians 1:13-14
  • Revelation 7
  • Revelation 11:1-2

Our task is to be faithful – He is coming!

  • Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
  • II Corinthians 4:17
  • II Peter 3:8-9

Revelation 22:7-21

Making the Most of Every Opportunity

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Making the Most of Every Opportunity….

Text:  Matthew 24

Background….

  • Jesus condemns Jerusalem’s leaders – Matthew 23
  • He recognizes His rejection – Matthew 23:37-39
  • The disciples are awed by what they see

Jesus’ explanation….

  • Disciples think they are asking related questions, they are not….
  • Jesus explains –
    • Everything in this life is transitory
    • The world over-emphasizes its own importance – it is a deception
    • We must choose wisely

Why the persecution?

  • Jesus is honest with us
  • People don’t like their allegiances and values challenged
  • A life in Christ is inherently confrontational – John 3:19

Takeaways

  • Jesus is concerned with now
  • Don’t need to look for trouble
  • Hold on to the eternal

Strengthening the Body, Engaging the World

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Strengthening the Body, Engaging the World

Text:  II Corinthians 10:1-6

Must have a standard for interpretation

  • Tied to God’s will and work… John 5:19-20, 30
  • Allows for proper interpretation – John 7:21-24
  • Tied to what God has revealed – Mark 12:28-35

Must teach new generation….

  • Judges 2:10-11
  • II Kings 22:8-23:3
  • Proverbs ch. 1-9
  • I Timothy 1:18
  • Titus 1:4

World engagement

  • Acts 1:8-9 – Spirit empowered
  • I Corinthians 5:9-10
  • II Corinthians 10 – Starts with the church, expands to the world….

Blessed Assurance

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Blessed Assurance

Text:  Romans 8:14-39

God is listening to us in our struggles

  • It is a real struggle – Romans 8:17
  • It is temporary and cannot compare with the glory that awaits us – Romans 8:18

We live in hope of what we already have a taste of in Christ

  • We are baptized with a future orientation
    • Immediate forgiveness of sins
    • Immediate indwelling of the Spirit
    • Future redemption of our bodies v. 24, I Corinthians 15:42-44
    • Future inheritance – v. 24, 32
  • In Christ is key! – Romans 8:1, 39

Purpose in the Problems (Why Adversity?)

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Purpose in the Problems (Why Adversity?)

Adversity purges….

  • Zechariah 13:9
  • Isaiah 1:21-28
  • Jeremiah 6:27ff
  • Ezekiel 20:38
  • Matthew 3:12

Adversity – purifies us!

  • Psalm 66:8-18
  • Isaiah 48:10
  • Jeremiah 9:7
  • Daniel 11:35, 12:10
  • Malachi 3:2-3
  • I Peter 1:6-7

Adversity perfects us!

  • Jesus the example and pattern (Pressing doctrinal question, how can Jesus be made perfect when he is already perfect?  Answer – He wasn’t perfect for our need until he experienced our need – He was made perfect for us.  Our suffering helps us be perfect for others in their need.)
  • Hebrews 2:10, 5:9, 7:28

Keeping perspective….

  • Temptation is not trouble! I Corinthians 10:13
  • II Corinthians 1:8 – 9

Palm Sunday – A Time of Decision

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Palm Sunday – A Time of Decision

Text:  Matthew 21:1-17

The Triumphal Entry

  • Jesus sets the stage:
    • Walking vs. riding
    • Brings a crowd
    • Accepts the praise
  • Jesus is praised as king
  • Jerusalem has to make a decision

Jesus at the temple

  • Acts totally in charge
  • Enlarges the place of worship (money changers were in the Gentile section, excluding non-Jews from worship)
  • Specifically heals those who might be excluded – II Samuel 5:6-8
  • Does not back down – puts the decision in their hands

How will you decide?

Be Holy

By / February 17, 2022

Title:  Be Holy

Text:  Leviticus 11:44-45

If we are holy, we will be different….

  • Sometimes hard to square with – Deuteronomy 18:9; Luke 18:2; John 12:43
  • We are transformed – Romans 12:2; II Corinthians 3:18
  • It is noticeable – I Kings 22:8; Acts 4:13; Philippians 2:12-16
  • Contrasts: Galatians 5:19-26; Philippians 3:17-21; Ephesians 4:29-5:7

We will inspire fascination and awe

  • Mark 6:17-20
  • Acts 24:24-27
  • II Corinthians 2:14-15
  • Luke 5:8
  • Acts 16:16-34