SOVEREIGNTY DEFINED:

#1: God has ABSOLUTE RULE over creation as Creator and King; and TOTAL CONTROL AND DETERMINATION over all that happens.

#2: God's sovereignty is His RIGHT AND POWER to do ALL HE DECIDES TO DO.

CENTRAL TRUTH:

Even when people are OUT OF CONTROL, God is always IN CONTROL.

SO THEN:

God is sovereign in spite of the PERSONAL FLAWS of those He chooses.

God is sovereign in spite of FAMILY ORIGIN AND DYSFUNCTION.

CLOSING AFFIRMATION:

If God can use SOMEONE LIKE JOSEPH, then He can USE ME FOR HIS PURPOSES.

Passage: Zechariah 7:1-10, Luke 10:25-37

MAIN POINT:

GOD IS LESS CONCERNED WITH OUR ACTS OF RELIGION THAN HE IS WITH OUR ACTS OF JUSTICE.

NEEDED FOR BEING SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE:

COMPASSION (v33)

INVOLVEMENT (v34)

SACRIFICE (v34b-35)

CLOSING QUESTION: WHAT PREVENTS YOU FROM BEING SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE?

Passage: Luke 16:1-15

WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE PARABLE OF THE SHREWD MANAGER:

Jesus praises the use of TEMPORARY RESOURCES to build relationships that will have ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE.

OUR OBJECTIONS:

1. It's easy to be generous with SOMEONE ELSE'S money.

RESPONSE: All you have BELONGS TO GOD.

2. I don't have ENOUGH to be generous.

RESPONSE: With that perspective, you will NEVER HAVE ENOUGH.

3. I will LOOK FOOLISH.

RESPONSE: Only looks foolish in the eyes of those SERVING MONEY.

CLOSING QUESTION:

WHOSE KINGDOM are you building with GOD'S INVESTMENT IN YOU?

ROMANS 6:3-14

MAIN POINT: The reason we often don't share in the new life of Christ is we resist sharing in the death of Christ.

Passage: Matthew 21:1-11

CENTRAL TRUTH:

God saves the world not through force but through humility, meekness, and sacrifice as demonstrated by Jesus.

HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO KING JESUS?

1. With ADORATION.

2. With DEVOTION.

PASSAGE: GENESIS 22:1-18

MAIN POINT:

God, because He's God, must come before everything else in our life.

CLOSING THOUGHT:

In light of God sacrificing his son for us, don't withhold anything from God.

PASSAGE: LEVITICUS 16

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH: Sinful beings approaching a HOLY GOD, should not be done lightly.

PASSAGE: EXODUS 12:1-14

CENTRAL TRUTH: Biblical redemption can be described as salvation from (bondage, oppression); and a Calling to (community, relationship w/ God, blessing).

WHAT THE PASSOVER/LORD'S SUPPER TEACHES:

1. A great exchange has taken place: bondage to sin (Egypt) to freedom (in the presence of God).

2. God has purchased his people for himself and called them to relationship (sonship) with Himself and one another.

3. Redemption is costly and is received by faith.

PASSAGE: GENESIS 6:9-22

What the Flood Narrative Teaches Us:

1. The FLODD teaches us that God hates sin and sin must be punished.

2. NOAH teaches us that God is honored by the response of faith.

3. The ARK teaches us that God provides deliverance from his punishment.

PASSAGE: GENESIS 3

CENTRAL TRUTH:

Sin has corrupted mankind's relationship with God, each other, and creation to the displeasure of God.

THE 5 P's of GENESIS 3:

1. PREMISE (v1-5): God created all the world and it was good.

2. PROBLEM (v6-13): With the capacity to choose obedience or disobedience, Adam and Eve gave into temptation brought about by the evil one resulting in guilt, shame, and discord.

3. PUNISHMENT (v14-19,22-24): Because sin is such a disruption of the way things are supposed and goes against God's created order, it by nature needs to be dealt with.

4. PROMISE (v15): Though things are broken, they won't remain so forever.

5. PROVISION (v21): God does not abandon his creation even though the dynamics of the relationship changes. He remains benevolent and gracious as the source of all things necessary to live before him.