Burtonsville Baptist Church Sermons

Title: Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline

Main point: Fasting is a precious means of grace that God has given us to express our desperation and hunger for God and his purposes, and therefore it should be a normative practice in our lives.

Should we fast? 

What is a fast?

 - normal fast

 - absolute fast 

 - partial fast 

 - non-food fast

 - private and corporate

Why do we fast? 

 - To express love and worship for God

 - To strengthen prayer

 - To see God’s guidance

 - To express grief, repentance, and humility

 - To intercede and engage in the work of God

 - To dedicate ourselves to God

 - To desire the King’s return

How should we fast? 

 - Fast to be seen by God and not man

 - Start small

 - Expect the distractions

 - Schedule your fasts

 - Helpful resources

A Hunger for God by John Piper

God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (ch 9) by Donald Whitney

Sermon Notes - Psalm 119 - Bible Intake

Main Point: We can, and must, devote ourselves to the Bible, because it is the Word of God.

How to Approach the Bible

  The Authority of the Word

  The Unity of the Word  

  The Diversity of the Word

How to View the Bible

  Depend on the Word

  Delight in the Word

How to Read the Bible

  Read the Word

  Hear the Word

  Study the Word

  Memorize the Word

  Meditate on the Word

  Apply the Word

  Time in the Word

Sermon Notes - Luke 11:1-13 - Prayer

Main Point: We can, and must, pray boldly because of who God is and how he answers prayer.

-How to Pray (1-4)

  -Jesus Prays

  -Jesus Expects Us to Pray

  -Jesus Teaches Us to Pray

-What Prayer Looks Like (5-8)

-Why We Can Pray (9-13)

Sermon Notes - John 17:20-26 - Jesus Prays for His Church

Main Point: Jesus prays for his church, that we would be one and be with him forever.

-Jesus prays for our unity (20-23)

  -What our unity is

  -What our unity is based on

  -What our unity's purpose is

-Jesus prays for our eternal destiny (24-26)

Sermon Notes - John 17:6-19 - Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Main Point: Jesus prays for his disciples, that God would keep and sanctify them because of who they are and who he is.

-Reasons for Jesus' Requests (6-11a)

  -Who Jesus' Disciples Are

  -Who Jesus Is

-Jesus' Requests: (11b-19)

  -Keep Them in Your Name (11b-16)

   -For Joy

   -From the Evil One and the World

  -Sanctify Them in Truth (17-19)

   -So They Can be Sent

   -So They Can be Saved

Sermon Notes - John 17:1-5 - Jesus Prays for Himself

Main Point: Jesus prays for himself, that the Father glorify him because he is the way for us to know God and so have eternal life.

-Jesus prays that the Father glorify him that he may glorify the Father as the Father has given him authority to give eternal life to all the Father has given him. (1-2)

  -Jesus prays

  -Jesus prays that the Father glorify him

  -Jesus prays that the Father glorify him that he may glorify the Father

  -Jesus prays that the Father glorify him that he may glorify the Father as the Father has given him authority to give eternal life to all the Father has given him.

-Eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ. (3)

-Jesus has glorified the Father on earth by accomplishing his work and so prays that the Father glorify him with the glory they shared before the world existed. (4-5)

  -Jesus has glorified the Father on earth by accomplishing his work

  -Jesus has glorified the Father on earth by accomplishing his work and so prays that the Father glorify him with the glory they shared before the world existed.

Sermon Notes - Luke 18:1-8 - Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart

Main Point: True faith means never giving up on praying.

I. The Coming King Calls His People to Stay Awake in Prayer Luke 18:1

II. God Makes the Powerless Widow a Example of Faith Luke 18:6–7

III. The Righteous Judge Welcomes the Cries of His Chosen People Luke 18:6–7 

IV. God’s Timing Trains Us to Seek Justice Without Losing Hope Luke 18:7–8

V. Every Prayer Confesses Dependence on the Returning Christ.

VI. Ordinary Faithfulness Resists a World That Forgets God.

VII. Grace Sustains the Weary When Willpower Fails.

VIII. Through the Crucified and Risen Son We Approach the Father.

IX. Christ Will Return for a Praying and Faithful Church.

Sermon Notes - John 16:16-33 - Jesus: Has Overcome the World

Main Point: We can take heart because Jesus has overcome the world and gives us his joy, love, and peace.

-Joy (16-24)

-Love (25-28)

-Peace (29-33)

Sermon Notes - John 16:4b-15 - Jesus: Glorified by the Spirit

Main Point: Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to reveal the guilt of the world and his glory, which primarily happen through his disciples.

-Jesus Sends the Holy Spirit (4b-7)

-The Spirit Reveals the Guilt of the World (8-11)

  -Sin

  -Righteousness

  -Judgment

-The Spirit Reveals the Glory of Christ (12-15)

Sermon Notes - John 15:18-16:4a - Jesus: Hated by the World

Main Point: In Christ, we will be hated by the world.

-Hatred from the World (18-25)

  -The world hates Jesus and we are in him, not the world (18-20)

  -The world hates God and Jesus reveals its sin against Him (21-24)

  -The world hates without a cause (25)

-Help from the Lord (26-4a)

  -Witness in the Spirit (26-27)

  -Stand firm on God's word (1-4a)