Why does our life and Jesus' life have to be so hard? What does this tell us of who He is and of how glorious His salvation is?

Matthew 1:18-2:23,4:1
Hebrews 2:17-18,4:14-16
John 3:16
Romans 6:23

Observe how the Lord Jesus was "a man of sorrows" even from His infancy. Trouble awaits Him as soon as He enters into the world. His life is in danger from Herod's hatred. His mother and Joseph are obliged to take Him away by night, and "flee into Egypt." It was only a type and figure of all His experience upon earth. The waves of humiliation began to beat over Him, even when He was a nursing child.

The Lord Jesus is just the Savior that the suffering and sorrowful need. He knows well what we mean, when we tell Him in prayer of our troubles. He can sympathize with us, when we cry to Him under cruel persecution. Let us keep nothing back from Him. Let us make Him our bosom friend. Let us pour out our hearts before Him. He has had great experience of affliction. J.C. Ryle Expository Thoughts on Matthew

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why did the announcement to Joseph have to be so hard?

• Why did Jesus' life have to be so hard?

• What impact did His trials have on our relationship with Him in our daily trials?

• Why is the mission of Jesus so accompanied by brutality?

• What does this tell us about the ultimate questions in life?

• Why does this make what He does for us glorious beyond description?

Jesus was sent on a mission which would involve an amazingly deep level of sacrifice, loss of status, and pre‑incarnate glory. All for you?

John 10:1-30,1:1-4
Philippians 2:5-11
Colossians 1:16-17
Galatians 2:20

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why do we not like to be inconvenienced or lose status?

• What was Jesus' situation like before He came to earth?

• What was the proposed mission?

• What did He answer and why?

• Can you personalize this?

Do you have hope? A hope that can carry you joyfully through the challenges and disappointments of life? Jesus came to give us such powerful hope.

Romans 8:18-25,5:2,15:13
Acts 23:6
Mark 7:34
1 Corinthians 15:42-43
Philippians 3:20-21
Titus 2:13
Colossians 1:3-5
Ephesians 1:18,2:12

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Why is it hard to get modern folks to look at eternal realities?

• What is Redemptive Hope, and why is its definition different than the one people usually use?

• What are our deepest longings (groaning)?

• Why does the gospel give us hope?

• What effect does hope have on people?

So now that we're trying to live for the Lord, what kind of changes are about to happen in our lives? You can expect real transformation and change by the Holy Spirit working in your life... You just need to keep in step with the Spirit!

Galatians 5,2:20
Romans 6:11,8:12-14,6:19

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is the Flesh?

• What is the war within; who are the combatants?

• What does it mean to be led by the Spirit?

• How does walking in the Spirit work?

• Can we expect real change in our lives?

In looking at how we should live as Christians we quickly see that Christianity is fundamentally different than all other religions and world views. God offers grace and a transformation that comes from within. The vital connection is the life-giving link with Christ.

Galatians 3:24-25,4:1-7,4:28,4:31-5:6,5:13-14,5:24,6:14-15
Romans 6:1-2,6:6-7,6:11
Colossians 3:1-3

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• How is Christianity different than all other religions?

• What is mankind's twofold problem?

• How does God, through grace, meet our greatest need?

• What are the two errors of the use of Christian liberty?

• How are Christians described?

• How can we know this is true?

Why did God allow a church to be attacked? What has God revealed in His Word to help us process this tragedy?

Romans 8:28-39
Isaiah 46:9-10
Daniel 4:34-35
Ephesians 1:11
Matthew 10:29
Acts 4:27-28
1 Timothy 1:17
Genesis 50:20
1 John 4:9-10
Philippians 1:21,1:23

God hath decreed in Himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably, all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears His wisdom in disposing all things, and power and faithfulness in accomplishing His decree. 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What are the three truths or attributes about God that should guide us as we seek to answer the question Why a Church?

• Explain how each one is important.

• Why does the unbeliever have no answers?

• Why should we pray for the victims?

• What should we pray for the victims?

Why would anyone get baptized? There are many great reasons!!!

Acts 8:26-40,2:37-38,2:41,8:12,9:18,10:47-48,22:16
Matthew 28:18-20
1 John 1:7
Romans 10:13,6:1-6,6:11
Colossians 3:1-3
Galatians 2:20,3:26-29
1 Peter 2:9-10

Sermon discussion questions for parents to use with their children:

• How are baptism and a wedding ring similar?

• Did Jesus command His followers to be baptized?

• Where in the Bible?

• What three things does baptism symbolize: clues (bathtub drain, grave and empty tomb, joining a gang)?

How should I live? When people were trying to move the Galatians back to legalism... Paul says "Live like sons not slaves".

Galatians 3:1-4:11,4:28,5:1-6,5:13-14,5:16,5:18,5:22-23
Matthew 23:23-28

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What is legalism?

• What is wrong with it?

• What did Paul say to the Galatians when people wanted to put them back under the Law?

• What was the purpose of the Law?

• When were sons and slaves treated the same, and when were they treated differently?

• What did Paul conclude was the status of the Christian and how the Christian should live?

As we study How Should I Live it is absolutely important that we are clear that salvation is not merited, but a gift! And our response is not a works righteousness but faith working through love and gratitude.

Romans 3:9-31
Matthew 21:28-32,7:22-23
Luke 12:21,18:19
Isaiah 64:6
Proverbs 4:19,11:5,12:26
Psalms 146:9,134:3,143:2
Jonah 2:9
Ephesians 2:8-9
Titus 2:14

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• Who goes to heaven?

• Who goes to hell?

• How did Jesus turn the usual answer to these questions upside down?

• What are the realizations a person must come to in order to be saved?

• Salvation is a gift, a great gift, and expensive gift, a gift given by grace, a gift received by faith... explain how these were described in the sermon.

• What is the objective and subjective response to this gift?

Today people are angry, short tempered, and hostile to those who disagree with them... As we ponder how we should live as Christians, how can we be loving in this atmosphere and not be just like the world?

1 Corinthians 13
Philippians 2:14-15
Romans 1:21-22,1:24,1:26

• Having shown the nature and tendency of charity or Christian love, in respect to our receiving injury, and doing good to others — that it "suffers long and is kind;" and also with respect to the good possessed by others as compared with that possessed by ourselves — that charity "envieth not;" the apostle now proceeds to show, that in reference to what we ourselves may be or have, charity is not proud — that "it vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly." As, on the one hand, it prevents us from envying others what they possess, so, on the other, it keeps us from glorying in what we possess ourselves. Paul had just declared that charity was contrary to a spirit of envy, and now he declares that it is equally contrary to that spirit which specially provokes men to envy others, and which they often make a pretense or apology for envying them, viz. that they are puffed up with their honors and prosperity, and vaunt themselves on their possession of these things. When men have obtained prosperity, or are advanced, and others observe that they are puffed up and vaunt themselves in it, this tends to provoke envy, and make others uneasy at the sight of their prosperity. But if a man has prosperity or advancement, and yet does not vaunt himself or behave in an unseemly manner on account of it, this tends to reconcile others to his high circumstances, and make them satisfied that he should enjoy his elevation. As already observed, when men envy another, they are prone to excuse and justify themselves in so doing, by the pretense that he does not make a good improvement of his prosperity, but is proud of it, and puffed up on account of it. But the apostle shows how Christian love, or charity, tends to make all behave suitably to their condition, whatever it may be: if below others, not to envy them, and if above others, not to be proud or puffed up with the prosperity. Jonathan Edwards The Spirit Of Charity Is An Humble Spirit

• But so soon as he had transgressed against God, these noble principles were immediately lost, and all this excellent enlargedness of man's soul was gone; and thenceforward, he himself shrank, as it were, into a little space, circumscribed and closely shut up within itself to the exclusion of all things else. Sin, like some powerful astringent, contracted his soul to the very small dimensions of selfishness: and God was forsaken, and fellow creatures forsaken, and man retired within himself, and became totally governed by narrow and selfish principles and feelings. Self-love became absolute master of his soul, and the more noble and spiritual principles of his being, took wings and flew away. Jonathan Edwards The Spirit Of Charity Is An Humble Spirit

Sermon discussion topics for parents to use with their children:

• What in our culture causes us to be angry, irritated, short fused?

• What are some of the ways love is described in the passage?

• How can we be like this to everyone?

• Why is love so important?

• How does this teaching cause us to seek God more fervently?