Alice Drive Baptist Church Podcast

God With Us in the Busyness

Guest Speaker: Dr. Pastor Brian Saxon

Matthew 2:1-12

People who missed the Christ of Christmas

King Herod: He missed Him because of jealousy.

The Religious Leaders: They missed Him because of indifference.

The Inhabitants of Jerusalem: They missed Him because of religion.

The Romans: They missed Him because of idolatry.

The People of Nazareth: They missed Him because of familiarity

The ones who found the Christ of Christmas

The Wise Men: They found Him and they worshipped.

Guest Speaker: Dr. Pastor Brian Saxon

Matthew 1:18-25

Guest Speaker: Dr. Pastor Brian Saxon

Isaiah 7:14, 9:6

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Matt Sprinkle

Sermon Notes:

• When is Jesus coming back?

• He’s coming back!

• Live as people who are awake

• 1 Thes 5:12-13 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

• Accept them. Appreciate them. Love them. Obey them.

• 1 Thes 4:14-15 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

• If our family matters, then we need to address the family matters

• ataktos - Disorderly or out of rank

• Are you idle? Does this stir anything in you?

• Our encouragement should push people to a stronger faith.

• Patience & Refusing to Retaliate

• “[God] is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.” Joel 2:13

• 1 Thes 5:16-22 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

• How can they rejoice like that?

• THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL

• Gossip. Selfishness. Pride. Slander. Bitterness.

• “What does the bible say?”

• 1 Thes 5:23-24 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

• When the world watches our church what do they see?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Starter Question: When you think of a healthy family—real or fictional—what qualities come to mind?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

1. What stood out most to you from Sunday’s message about “family matters” in the church? Why?

2. Of the three groups Paul mentions—idle, fainthearted, weak— which one do you find hardest to deal with, and why?

3. How can we tell the difference between someone who needs encouragement and someone who is being divisive?

4. Which of the three commands — rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks — is most challenging for you right now?

5. What does it look like to “test everything and hold fast to what is good” in a world filled with opinions, influencers, and spiritual noise?

6. How does Christ’s second coming (and the Advent season) shape the way we live as a church family today?

Our Song for Giving Thanks

Psalm 100

Brian Saxon

We shout, serve, and sing (vv. 1-2)

We acknowledge God (v. 3)

We enter His presence with worship (v. 4)

We never forget God is good (v. 5)

Pastor: Kevin Buynak

Sermon Notes:

· Jesus is over everything!

· 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

· How does Jesus describe himself? (put the next 3 verses on one slide)

John 10:30 – “I and my father are one”

John 14:9 – “He who has seen me has seen the Father”

John 8:58 – “Most assuredly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!”

· 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

· Jesus is not created, but He is the Creator!

· Worship only the true Creator.

· Don’t try to make God who you want Him to be!

· 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

· The greatest threat to us is not the circumstances we face, but our constant bend toward self-sufficiency.

· What did you bring with you today that you are carrying alone?

· Jesus holds everything together.

· 18 He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

· Jesus brings peace to his people.

· 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.

· 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

· Jesus gives us new identity

· The identity Jesus offers reconciles your past, redeems the present, and gives you a residence for eternity.

· Vs. 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

· Jesus commissions us to proclaim the Gospel.

· Is Jesus truly over your life today?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Starter Question

· When have you seen something “hold together” that you thought was going to fall apart? What helped it stay strong?

Read Colossians 1:15-16

· Paul calls Jesus “the image of the invisible God.” What does that mean to you personally?

· How does understanding Jesus as both Creator and Sustainer change how you see Him day to day?

Read Colossians 1:17

· Verse 17 says, “In Him all things hold together.” What are you trying to hold together?

Read Colossians 1:18-20

· What does it practically look like for Jesus—not a person—to be the true head of the church?

· In what ways do people today struggle with a “Jesus and” mindset—adding something else to their faith instead of trusting Jesus fully?

Read 1:21-23

· Paul says the gospel “has been proclaimed in all creation” and that he became a minister of it. What does it look like for you to live as someone sent to share Jesus over everything?

· If “Jesus is over everything,” what’s one area of your life that needs to come under His authority this week?

· If you’ve never written down your story, do so this week! Simply share what your life was like before Jesus, how you met Jesus, and what life is like with Jesus now.

Sermon Notes:

· Philippians 1:3 - 3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

· 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

· Joy means having a deep sense of well-being knowing that God is at work in us and for us.

· Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice!

· 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

· You are not done following Jesus until you see Jesus face to face.

· 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

· What the world needs now, is love, sweet love…

· 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God

· “What is wise?”

· Heaven is for people who can stand it. – Dallas Willard

· I think when I die, it may take me a few minutes to realize I am dead. – Dallas Willard

· Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; oh what a foretaste of glory divine.

· But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

· To the glory and praise of God.

· God, here I am. Use me.

· To glorify God is to live your life in such a way that people look at you and say, “What a good God there must be to use a person like that.” - John Ortberg

Life Group Discussion Questions

Starter: What makes you thankful for our church?

Dig Deeper

1. Read Philippians 1:3-6

a. Why do you think God wanted the followers of Jesus to be partners in his work instead of doing everything himself?

b. In verse 6, Paul speaks about his confidence. In your opinion, why does he have confidence?

c. What good work needs to be completed in your life? What good work needs to be completed in our church?

2. Read Philippians 1:9-11

a. What would a church with overflowing love look like?

b. Describe a time when you heard someone’s story and it helped you love them better?

c. What steps do you need to take to get ready for heaven?

d. Paul again refers to “the fruit of righteousness.” This is a call back to the fruit of the Spirit he mentions in Galatians: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What fruit seems to be blooming in your life right now? Why?

Sermon Notes:

· Jesus loves me this I know, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…

· The Bible is God telling us what is important to know about him and his story.

· 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, rebuke, correction, and discipline in rightness, 17so that the man of God may be sufficient for every good work, completely outfitted.

· All scripture is God-breathed…

· Gen. 1:2 And the spirit (breath) of God moved upon the waters…

· To teach

· The Bible is true because it teaches us about God who is truth.

· John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life…

· To rebuke.

· Blind people can’t fix blind people.

· In Christ there is no Jew nor Greek

· To correct.

· To discipline in rightness.

· 17so that the man of God may be sufficient for every good work, completely outfitted.

· Philippians 4:8 – Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think on these things.

· Read your Bible.

· Let the Spirit guide you

· Remember to Jesus is to be worshipped; the Bible tells his story.

· God is our ultimate authority.

· Don’t force the Bible to agree with you.

· The error of the liberal is to take what is black and white in the Bible and make it gray; the error of the fundamentalist is to take what is gray in the Bible and make it black and white.

· Focus on the Big Story.

· 2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearance and his Kingdom: 2Preach the word, stand at your post, when it is convenient and when it is inconvenient. Prove with evidence, rebuke sharply, encourage in all patient teaching.

· How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word…

Life Group Discussion Questions

Starter: What Bible verse is special to you? Why?

Dig Deeper

1. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17

a. How would you describe the inspiration of scripture to someone?

b. When has a verse from the Bible convicted you or shown you a etter way to live?

c. In your opinion, why do people not read their Bibles?

2. Read 2 Timothy 4:1-2

a. What are the teachings in the Bible that you struggle with? Why?

b. Can you remember a sermon from the past that really spoke to you? What was said?

c. Read Genesis 22:1-14. Where do you see Jesus in this story?

Sermon Notes:

· 2 Timothy 3:1-5 – Know this: in the last days there will be a dangerous season. 2People will self-lovers, lovers of money, braggarts, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3unloving, without truth, promoters of quarrels, without self-control, untamed, haters of good, 4traitors, reckless, conceited, pleasure lovers rather than God-lovers. 5They have a form of godliness but the power they deny. Turn away from them! – wcs

· Know this: in the last days there will be a dangerous season.

· When people who do not have the character of Jesus lead the church, do not expect the church to be like Jesus.

· Do you know anyone with these character traits?

· Do you have these character trait?

· 2 People will self-lovers

· lovers of money

· braggarts

· arrogant

· Slanderers

· disobedient to parents

· ungrateful

· unholy

· 3unloving

· without truth

· Do you know anyone with these character traits?

· Do you have these character traits?

· promoters of quarrels

· without self-control

· Untamed

· haters of good

· 4traitors

· Reckless

· Conceited

· pleasure lovers rather than God-lovers

· 5They have a form of godliness but the power they deny.

· Do you know anyone with these character traits?

· Do you have these character traits?

· Turn away from them!

· Examine your character.

· To change your character, change your model.

· Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

· Psalm 139:23-24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.

· If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off…

· Turn away from destructive people.

· Go against the flow.

· Broad is way and wide is the gate that leads to destruction…

· Bottom Line: Turn away from the toxic people; follow Jesus.

· Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. ‘Tis grace that brought me safe thus far; and grace will lead me home.

Life Group Discussion Questions

Starter: Name one toxic person you know. What makes them toxic?

Dig Deeper

1. Read 2 Timothy 3:1

a. Do you think the time we are living is dangerous? Why or why not?

2. Read 2 Timothy 3:2-5

a. This is long list of negative character traits. Which of these character traits do you see most in the toxic people around you?

b. Do you notice any of these traits in people in public life?

c. Which of these traits would you say you struggle against?

d. Paul tells Timothy to “Turn away from these people.” What does that mean to you?

e. Who would you say are positive role models in your life for the character of Christ?

Sermon Notes:

· Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know; fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.

· Before we argue about the little stuff, let’s get the big thing right.

· 2 Timothy 2:8 -8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.

· Do you ever focus more on your problems than on Jesus?

· Think about Jesus before you think about your problems.

· Praise sets the stage.

· Remember Jesus, raised from the dead.

· …descendant of David.

· This is my gospel.

· Is this your good news story?

· 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

· No matter your circumstances, God is at work.

· 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

· We exist to help as many people as possible take their next step toward Jesus.

· Is there a next step you are struggling to take?

· Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know; Fills my every longing, keeps singing as I go.

Life Group Discussion Questions

Starter: What song would you pick that describes your relationship to Jesus?

Dig Deeper

1. Read 2 Timothy 2:8

a. What are practical ways you might remember Jesus in daily life?

b. If someone were to ask you why the resurrection of Jesus matters, what would answer?

c. How would you answer someone who says, “Jesus does not understand me?”

d. This is Paul’s Good News story. If a person is not a believer, what might be their good news story? How would that compare to Paul’s good news story?

2. Read 2 Timothy 2:9

a. What would help you remember that God’s word, his message is stronger than your circumstances?

3. Read 2 Timothy 2:10

a. The idea of the “elect” bothers some people. Think of stories and passages in the Bible that indicate God chooses a certain group of people. What do those stories teach us? Think about stories and passages in the Bible that indicate God welcomes everyone. What do those stories teach us?