Covenant Naples

I. ABOUNDING JOY IN OBEDIENCE
II. Joy flows when people recognize Jesus is the Christ
III. Responding out of Joy in Worship

The advent season is a time of anticipation. Children often anticipate the gifts they will receive sometimes staying up really late and waking up really early in excitement. This spirt of anticipation is similar to what Mary experienced after hearing from the angel. She excitedly goes to Elizabeth to confirm the good news of the angel. This confirmation makes her belt out in song. Come hear about the Joy of the Lord on Sunday!

1. How is joy, anticipation, and excitement all a part of the advent season in our current culture? In what ways are they not?
2. Elizabeth and Mary were years apart in age, What does this teach us about inter-generational relationships?
3. Elizabeth never has an ounce of jealousy that Mary was chosen to carry the Savior of the world. Why do you think she was able to rejoice and not be jealous?
4. What is your attitude towards worship on Sunday mornings? Do you come expectantly and with joy ready to worship the God who saves? What helped Mary prepare her heart for worship and how does that inform how we should do the same?

The problems of humanity cannot be fixed by humanity. We need a hero from the outside to fix what we have irreparably broken. In this message, we will find out how God does for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Sermon Outline:
I. Our Salvation Begins with God’s Favor.
II. Our Salvation is Secured by God’s Promise.
III. Our Salvation is Accomplished by God’s Power.

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think some people are so slow to recognize that we have a sin problem we cannot solve ourselves? How can we help people see this sin problem in ways that are helpful?

2. Many sincere people in the Roman Catholic tradition pray to Mary believing that she is “full of grace” and able to give grace to those who ask. If someone asked why you don’t pray to Mary, how would you gently and respectfully engage with such view from this text? What light does Ephesians 1:3-10 shed on the question as to where grace is to be sought?

3. Re-read Isaiah 9:6-7. What is it about this promise that excites you the most and why?

4. Compare or contrast Zechariah’s question to Gabriel in Luke 1:18 to Mary’s question in Luke 1:34. Why do you suppose Zechariah is struck mute and Mary is not?

5. Does being a servant of the Lord relieve us from suffering in this life? How does Mary’s life speak to this question? How does Jesus’ life speak to it? (You may want to also visit Isaiah 52:13-53:12.)

The birth of John the Baptist was an occasion of great joy and anticipation. His call for repentance seeded the ground for the hopeful message of the Gospel. Zechariah’s prophecy concerning his son’s ministry constitutes perhaps the most complete and helpful guide to the nature of salvation in all of Scripture.

The Nature of Salvation
1. What we are saved from …
2. What we are saved by…
3. What we are saved to …
4. What we are saved for …

Questions for further study and discussion:

Why is fear a common response of people who observe a miracle in the Bible?

Zechariah speaks of a “horn of salvation.” Cross-referencing the term ‘horn’ in the Psalms (e.g. Psalm 18), what does this expression mean?

Why was the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist necessary?

Zechariah mentions the promises made by God to Abraham. What are those covenantal promises?

The prophecy of Zechariah addresses the expectations of the people of Israel. How do we know that the salvation spoken of is for us as well?

If the prophecy here applies to us as well, who are the enemies from whom we need rescue?

Jesus Christ had a forerunner, a herald of hope and warning - John the Baptist. Though his career was God-ordained and unique, we too are Christ’s messengers in the midst of a corrupt and apathetic generation, ‘preparing the way of the Lord,’ calling the lost to repentance and faith.


Sermon Outline:
I. John’s miraculous birth will demonstrate the power
and initiative of God to bring into the world people to accomplish his purposes.
II. John’s role was to prepare people to encounter Christ and His message
III. Like John, we who are in Christ are His forerunners.

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Why was it important that John’s birth was miraculous?

2. Did Christ really need a forerunner?

3. Bearing in mind the last verse of the prophet Malachi, what does it mean that John will ‘turn the hearts of the fathers to the children?’

4. Though it seldom happens in Scripture, the angel here reveals his name. What is the significance of Gabriel’s self-identification?

5. John is closely identified with the prophet Elijah. Compare and contrast their prophetic careers.

6. How did John the Baptist ready the people of Israel to receive the message of Christ?

To our modern ears, the “fear of the LORD” sounds like a crusty relic of a bygone era. And yet, in this week’s message we will see why that fear is so important in the daily life of a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

Sermon Outline:
I. The Source of Godly Fear.
II. The Wisdom of Godly Fear.
III. The Resolution of Godly Fear.

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about when you think about “the fear of the LORD”?
2. Why do you suppose the Bible says that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (e.g., Prov. 9:10)?
3. What are some of the marks of a person who fears the Lord?
4. If we do not have an appropriate sense of the fear of the Lord, what can we do to cultivate that fear?
5. Describe the difference between the fear of the Lord that causes us to run from or resent God, and the fear of the Lord that drives us to God in love. How does believing the gospel transform the former fear into the latter fear?

Have you truly experienced the grace of God? How can you tell? This week we continue our look at how to respond to God’s grace by loving people according to his commandments.

Sermon Outline:
I. We Love People by Showing Honor.
II. We Love People by Promoting Life.
III. We Love People by Practicing Sexual Integrity.
IV. We Love People by Respecting Property.
V. We Love People by Upholding Truth.
VI. We Love People by Desiring Their Good.

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. Read 1 John 4:20-21. Why do you think we cannot say we love God while not loving our neighbor?

2. The call to honor our parents is rightly extended to all who are in authority. What does an unwillingness to honor authority tell us about our heart condition?

3. The command not to murder calls us to the protection and promotion of life, both our own and others. What opportunities do you have on a regular basis to actively love your neighbors this way?

4. What are some of the various ways we can bear false witness against our neighbors? What are some ways that we steal from others?

5. The final commandment has to do with ultimately desiring the good of others. How is it that the gospel frees us from being concerned with ourselves to being concerned with the good of others?

Moses reminds the people of Israel and us that we have all been recipients of extraordinary grace. In light of the grace we have received, how can we express our love to God? The Ten Commandments show us the way.

Sermon Outline:
I. Remember God’s Grace
II. Respond to God’s Grace
1. Love God by Having No Other Gods
2. Love God by Not Making Images to Worship
3. Love God by Honoring His Name
4. Love God by Not Slavishly Working

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. How have you seen good laws or rules bring freedom to an individual or group? Or conversely, how have you seen a lack of good laws or rules bring bondage?

2. Why do you think that there has been less of an emphasis on teaching the Ten Commandments to children and new believers in recent years? What is the impact of that?

3. Discuss this statement: “The grace of God precedes the law of God and is the only proper context in which to view the law of God.” Why is this point so important?

4. Has the Holy Spirit convicted you recently about any of the first four commandments? What should you do when you become aware of the fact that you have broken God’s law?

When we fail to remember what God has done for us, we will be more inclined to turn to other gods—not necessarily in place of God, but in addition to God. But that is a road that leads to death. So, in this passage Moses reminds Israel and us that there is no other god than God, and because of that we must walk in his ways and keep his commandments.

Sermon Outline:
I. Examine the Historical Facts.
1. God’s revelation to Israel was unique.
2. God’s salvation of Israel was unique.
II. Contemplate the Theological Conclusions.
1. The LORD is God.
2. There is no other god.
III. Embrace the Ethical Implications.

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. Idolatry is frequently a sin that we slip into rather than one we deliberately run into. Where in your life have you seen a proclivity toward idolatry, or allowing good things to become ultimate things?
2. What were the two main ways God revealed himself and his salvation to his people as recounted in Deuteronomy? What are the New Testament parallels described in the sermon? What theological conclusions do these events lead us to about our God?
3. In light of who God has revealed himself to be, how should we view his commands and respond to them?
4. The Shorter Catechism says, “God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.” Reflect on this biblical truth and spend some time praising God in prayer or song for who he is.

Idolatry is the kind of sin we can run into headlong, but it’s also the kind of sin we can subtly get drawn into without even realizing we’re doing it. How can we avoid falling into this sin, and when we do find ourselves in it, how can we get back out?

Sermon Outline:
I. Take Care Not to Forget: Our God is a Speaking God
II. Take Care Not to Forget: Our God is a Jealous God
III. Take Care Not to Forget: Our God is a Merciful God

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. What significance do you see in the fact that God first revealed himself to his people through his saving actions and his speaking voice? What is significant about that fact that he has now spoken to us in his Son (Heb. 1:2)?
2. Why do you think Moses says so many times in this passage things like, “Watch yourselves” “beware” and “take care”? What does this say about us?
3. What are some ways that idolatry ultimately debases us and reduces us to less than we were created to be?
4. Do you have trouble believing that God is merciful? How might your life look differently if you believed to the very core of your being that God is full of mercy? How would you feel differently?

Among the greatest gifts that God has given to his people is the gift of his word. In this week's message we will see why obeying God’s word is not only good for us, but good for everyone.

Sermon Outline:
I. Remember the Priority of Obedience to God’s Word.
II. Remember the Missional Purpose of God’s Word.

Sermon Discussion Questions:
1. Read Psalm 19:7-11. Why do you think David felt so passionate about God’s law? How might you compare your own affection for God’s word?
2. One of the reasons we should obey God’s word is because it is our wisdom and understanding in the sight of the world (v.6). In what areas of life specifically do you see the wisdom of living according to God’s word as compared to living by the wisdom of the world?
3. Read James 1:22. How does James’ command relate to what Moses is saying in Deuteronomy 4? In what part of your life have you been more of a hearer than a doer of God’s word?
4. As a missional community of God’s covenant people, what are some ways you believe we need to embody the truth of God’s word more clearly than we are at present?