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1.  Compelled to Sacrifice

a.  Sacrifice: “anything consecrated and offered fully to God.”

i.  typically associated with death

b.  Sacrifice is painful

c.  Sacrifice is difficult

d.  Sacrifice can feel unrewarding

e.  Sacrifice draws us closer to Christ

Romans 15:1-6

2.  “have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak” vs 1

a.  “Obligation” or “ought to”

i.  a moral obligation or debt to help those who are weaker

b.  Sacrifice requires death to self

i.  Submit our life to Him (“living sacrifice”)

ii.  In Christ through faith, we give our life fully to Him.

1.  “Deny himself” Mark 8:34

2.  “and take up his cross and follow” Mark 8:34

c.  Dead to self means alive in Christ

i.  Romans 6:6-7, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

ii.  Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

iii.  2 Timothy 2:11, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him.”

d.  Alive in Christ means our heart is for others

3.  “bear with the failings of the weak”

4.  Christ did it first (“for Christ” vs 3)

a.  “the reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” Vs 3

5.  God is our source

a.  “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you” vs 5

6.  Harmony is our Individual Goal

a.  “you to live in harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus” vs 5

7.  His Glory is our Collective Purpose

a.  “together with one voice glorify…for the glory of God.” vs 7

Romans 12:1-2

8.  We die to self and live for Him.

a.  But how? Romans 12 continues and tells us. A “living sacrifice”

9.  Submit our passions to Him (“do not be conformed”)

a.  1 John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”

10.  Submit our mind to Him (“transformed by the renewal of your mind”)

a.  God’s Word

i.  Hear, read, study, memorize

ii.  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

iii.  “With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

b.  Holy Spirit

i.  “Be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18

Compelled to Love

John 13:12-16, 34-35

1.  Agape love

a.  Conditions of this type of love

i.  None. It’s unconditional!

ii.  Intense, complete devotion

2.  God’s Love is the Source

a.  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7)

b.  “This love is only possible because we are grafted into the life and love of Christ. We love as he loved, because we love with his love.” -Piper

3.  Christ’s Love is the Example

a.  “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” vs 15

i.  Humility

ii.  Sacrifice

iii.  Suffering (Physical and Emotional)

b.  Do you trust His love for you?

i.  1 John 3:23, “that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.”

1.  Believe Him and His love for you and you will love one another. You can’t separate them.

4.  Others are the Recipients

a.  “love one another…if you have love for one another” vs 34-35

5.  Your Love is Now the Example

a.  “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

b.  This type of love can only come from God, so when others see it, it immediately identifies who the follower belongs to.

6.  Application

a.  Philippians 2:1-8

i.  Am I in Christ?

1.  Then I will find encouragement in that and strive for unity.

ii.  Am I comforted in the love of Christ?

1.  Then I will comfort others in the same way.

iii.  Am I full of joy because of the unity I have with God?

1.  Then I will make my goal to be “of the same mind and the same love” with unity as the goal.

iv.  Am I doing anything from selfish ambition or conceit? Am I humble in this moment and counting that person as more significant than myself? Am I looking to the interests of others or just myself? Am I a servant?

b.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

i.  Am I patient? Am I kind? Am I envying or boasting? Am I arrogant? Am I rude? Am I insisting on my own way? Am I irritable? Am I resentful? Am I rejoicing in wrongdoing? Am I rejoicing with the truth? Am I bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, and enduring all things? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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Who is my Neighbor?

Worship the King

Ephesians 2:1-10

READ EPHESIANS 2:1-10

1)  The Need for Christmas

a)  We are separated from God because of sin.

b)  We need Christmas because we need a Savior, because we have sinned.

2)  The Reason for Christmas

a)  His mercy

b)  His love

3)  The Response to Christmas

a)  We offer gratitude

b)  We offer worship

c)  We offer obedience

Jesus’ Royalty

Matthew 2:1-11

1.  Jesus’ Royalty

a.  His earthly royalty

i.  “Joseph, of the house of David” Luke 1:27

ii.  “throne of his father David” Luke 1:33

iii.  “reign over the house of Jacob” Luke 1:33

iv.  He fulfilled the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7)

1.  God reaffirms His promise of land in the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants.

a.  2 Samuel 7:10, “I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.”

2.  God promises that David’s son will succeed him as king of Israel and that this son (Solomon) would build the temple.

a.  2 Samuel 7:12–13, " I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name.”

3.  God expands the promise

a.  2 Samuel 7:13, 16 “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” and “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever”

b.  The promise of an everlasting kingdom. Son of David (not Solomon) would rule forever. Jesus is the Son of David (Matthew 21:9)

b.  His divine royalty

i.  “reign…forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” Luke 1:33

ii.  Jesus reigns at God’s right hand.

iii.  Ephesians 1:20-23, God “raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

READ MATTHEW 2:1-11

2.  Jesus as King is threatening (vs 1-3)

a.  King Herod took Jesus as a threat to his throne.

b.  Jesus is a threat to our life (if we value our sin)

i.  Luke 9:23-25, “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”

3.  Jesus as King is meaningful (vs 4-6)

-“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:5

-“wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” Proverbs 2:10

a.  He would come to change the world by His life.

b.  He would come and offer salvation by His sacrifice.

c.  He would come and give life by His resurrection!

4.  Jesus as King is powerful (vs 10-11)

a.  “fell down and worshipped Him” Matthew 2:10-11

5.  Why does this matter?

a.  He rules perfectly in righteousness

i.  “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” Psalm 89:14a

b.  He rules perfectly in love

i.  “steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.” Psalm 89:14b

c.  He reigns eternally

i.  “Your throne will be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:16

1)  Myrrh (*Note for screens: If possible, I’d like this portion of the outline to read A, 2, and D instead of A,B,C. It’s a purposeful mistake that is a reference to Home Alone. I want to hide it here for people to possibly catch the reference.)

(A)  Residue secretes from the tree and can be used in its liquid state as an oil, even used as part of an anointing oil; it can also be hardened into a resin for incense

(2) Used prominently in perfumes, cosmetics, and medicine and is still used today.

(D) Used in embalming

READ LUKE 2:1-21

2)  Jesus’ Sacrifice

a)  “a Savior” vs 11

(1)  “Sin is any want of conformity to the character of God, whether it be an act, disposition, or state. Sin is sin because it is different from what God is and God is eternally holy. Sin is always against God, even though it may be directed against human beings.” -Major Bible Themes

(2)  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

(3)  “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

3)  A Prophecy Fulfilled 1-7

a)  Micah 5:2, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

4)  A Joyful Announcement 8-12

a)  The purpose of this announcement is not fear, but joy!

b)  The words of this announcement are declarative

c)  The “sign” to confirm this is of God’s doing

5)  A Joyful Response 13-14

6)  Worship in Action 15-20

a)  The Shepherds proclaimed the news

b)  Mary treasured the truth and surrounding events

c)  The Shepherds glorified and praised God

7)  Jesus’ Sacrifice was intentional and purposeful

a)  The Love of God

b)  The Justice of God

8)  Jesus’ Sacrifice fulfilled prophecy

9)  Jesus’ Sacrifice is Joyful News

10)  Jesus’ Sacrifice produces a Joyful Response

11)  Jesus’ Sacrifice demands worship in action

Jesus' Divinity

(Luke 1:32-37, Matthew 2:1-12)

1.  Introduction

a.  The miracle of human conception

b.  The extraordinary miracle of Jesus’ conception

c.  Gifts of the Wisemen

i.  Frankincense

1.  finest burning incense, used in worship

2.  Jesus is fully God

a.  He is called the names of God

i.  “the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father” Isaiah 9:6

ii.  “Immanuel” (God with us) Isaiah 7:14

iii.  “The Lord our Righteousness” Jeremiah 23:6

b.  He has the characteristics of divine

i.  Eternal (John 1:1-2, Colossians 1:17)

ii.  Omnipresent (Matthew 28:20, Isaiah 9:6)

iii.  Omniscient (John 16:30)

iv.  Omnipotent (Isaiah 9:6)

c.  He has the works attributed to God

i.  Creator (John 1:3, 1:10)

ii.  Upholder of all things (Colossians 1:17)

iii.  Forgives sin (Matthew 9:6)

d.  He claimed His own deity (John 10:30, 14:7, 16:22,23)

3.  Jesus is self-sufficient (Acts 17:25)

4.  Jesus is perfect love (Deuteronomy 10:17)

5.  Jesus was a servant

a.  John 17:5 “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

b.  Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

6.  Why does this matter to your life? Remember these 2 truths as you celebrate the birth of Jesus

a.  Jesus’ Divinity gives us Hope

b.  Jesus’ Divinity gives us Life

Fit for a King: The Virgin Birth

Luke 1:26-38

1.  Virgin Birth implications

a.  Knit into the person and work of Jesus

b.  Scripture teaches it

i.  Matthew 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:24-25

c.  God is not bound by human processes

d.  God is not bound by human understanding

e.  Highlights the supernatural

2.  Salvation is a gift from God

a.  Man can’t create salvation

b.  Man can’t earn salvation

c.  By the grace of God Jesus was sent

d.  By the grace of God we are saved

3.  Jesus is both Divine and Man

4.  Jesus was Sinless

5.  What the Virgin Birth means for your Christmas

a.  God Cares

b.  God has a Plan

c.  God is Powerful

God gives Life