Preacher: Chris Ritter

Big Idea: The Cross creates the great dividing line, exposing hypocrisy in the unbelieving and folly in the unrepentant.

1. The Cross kindles the fire and creates the division (vv. 49-53)

- Specific context: Israel responding to Christ

- Enduring application: Embracing Christ means embracing rejection

2. Hypocrites cannot discern their greatest need (vv. 54-56)

- Specific context: The Lord is bringing judgment to Israel

- Enduring application: The responsibility of discerning the time you're in

3. Fools do not consider the path to judgment they're on (vv. 57-59)

- Specific context: Unbelieving Israel refusing to turn to Christ

- Enduring application: The razor's edge of unbelief

Preacher: Zak Graves

Big Idea: True servants, who truly know the Master, stay vigilant and are rewarded.

1. Vigilance Rewarded with the Master’s Favor (12:35-40)

a. Main Point: Stay Vigilant!

b. Jesus serves those who know him

c. Unexpected arrival of Jesus

2. Negligence Receives the Master’s Wrath (12:41-48)

a. Keep the Main Point in mind: Stay Vigilant!

b. The negligent servant KNOWS OF the Master

c. Vigilance Outlined: Ephesians 6:14-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: When your faith is in God’s good pleasure to provide, you are freed to live out life’s true purpose.

Christ cure for anxiety in 4 shifts:

1. A shift in how you think (vv. 22-24)   

2. A shift in what you admit (vv. 25-28)           

3. A shift in what you seek (vv. 29-31)

4. A shift in where you invest (vv. 32-34)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Christmas is the celebration of God the Son becoming what we are without ceasing to be who He’s always been (to save us). 

1. His emptying was a veiling of His glory in humanity   

2. He didn’t empty himself OF anything; He emptied himself

3. His emptying was by addition, NOT by subtraction  

4. His emptying was the epitome of humiliation

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Life is not found in relationship to stuff but to the Savior.

1. The problem (vv. 13-14)  

2. The point (v. 15)

3. The parable (vv. 16-21)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Following Jesus demands uncompromising loyalty.  

4 expectations and assurances:

1. Avoid hypocrisy (vv. 1-3)

Assurance: The truth will come out

2. Fear God (vv. 4-7)

Assurance: God knows you and cares about you

3. Acknowledge Christ (vv. 8-10)

Assurance: Christ will acknowledge you

3. Trust the Spirit (vv. 11-12)

Assurance: The Spirit will give you the words

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Jesus shines light on lives in conflict with the kingdom. 

6 woes that should make all listening go “whoa”:

1. Woe to you who major in the minors (v. 42) 

2. Woe to you who love the honor reserved for God (v. 43)

3. Woe to you who defile others unaware (v. 44)  

4. Woe to you who burden God’s people (vv. 45-46)

5. Woe to you who bury God’s prophets (vv. 47-51)

6. Woe to you who block the path to salvation (v. 52)

Preacher: Chris Ritter

Big Idea: The heart of unbelief expresses itself in response to Christ’s power, Christ’s Word, Christ’s sign, and Christ’s light.

1. In response to Christ’s power, unbelief remains empty

2. In response to Christ’s Word, unbelief remains disobedient

3. In response to Christ’s sign, unbelief remains unrepentant

4. In response to Christ’s light, unbelief remains in darkness

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: You are either with Jesus or against Jesus. 

1. Are you blinded to a proper interpretation of Christ’s works? (vv. 14-16)

a. You have a slanderous interpretation of Christ's works

b. You have a skeptical interpretation of Christ's works   

2. Are you deaf to a proper refutation from Christ’s words? (vv. 17-22)

a. Unbelief makes you irrational

b. Unbelief makes you inconsistent   

3. Then you're scattered among those counted Christ’s enemies. (v. 23)

Preacher: Scott Hollingshead

Big Idea: Come boldly to God in prayer for your God is a willing Friend and a good Father. 

You will pray boldly when:

1. You grasp the willingness of God as Friend (vv. 5-10)

2. You grasp the goodness of God as Father (vv. 11-13)