Second Sunday of Advent

Remarkable Redeemer

Jesus is the Redeemer

1. The basic idea of redemption. (Psalm 51:5; John 8:34; Romans 3:20, 23; 5:12 f.)
2. God, the Redeemer, provides redemption. (Psalm 19:14; Isaiah 44:6; Mark 10:45; Luke 1:68-69; 2:29-32; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 5:19)

Jesus redeems us from…

1. Sin. (Romans 3:24 with 6:7, 14; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 2:15)
2. Being under the Law and its curse. (Galatians 3:13; 4:5; Deuteronomy 21:23; 28:15-68)
3. From Satan’s realm of darkness. (Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:13; 1 John 5:19)
4. Futility. (Galatians 4:8; 1 Peter 1:18; Ecclesiastes 1:2, 13-14, 17; 2:11, 17 etc.)

Jesus redeems us to…

1. Forgiveness of our sins. (Matthew 26:28; Luke 1:77-78; Acts 2:38; 10:43; Romans 10:13; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 John 1:9)
2. Being justified and righteous. (Romans 3:24, 28; 4:5; 5:9, 17, 18, 19; 6:18; 10:10; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 4:24; Philippians 3:9)
3. Everlasting life. (John 3:15-16, 36; 6:40; 10:27-29; 17:37; Romans 5:21; 6:22-23; Colossians 1:13; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 John 5:11)
4. Being under grace. (John 1:14, 16-17; Acts 20:24, 32; Romans 5:2, 21; 6:14-15; 2 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Timothy 2:1; 2 Peter 3:18)
5. Purity. (Ephesians 1:4; 5:25-27; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 2:5; 1 John 3:3; Revelation 20:6)
6. The Holy Spirit being within us. (John 14:16-17, 26; Romans 8:9; Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30)
7. Serving God. (Romans 6:13, 18; 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 4:7-16; Titus 2:10, 14; 1 Peter 4:10)

Sermon #1 in 2025 Advent Series

Jesus is the Breath of Life.

1. The fact. (John 1:4; 5:21, 26; 14:6)
2. Exploring the fact. (Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 90:2; John 8:57-58; 1 Timothy 6:16; Revelation 1:8; 22:13)

Jesus gives the Breath of Life.

1. He spoke creation into being. (Genesis 1:1, 3, 6, 9, etc.; John 1:1-3, 10; 8:57-58; 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16-17; Revelation 1:8; 22:13)
2. He shaped and breathed life into Adam. (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7, 19, 21-22; Acts 17:24-29)
3. He gives eternal life. (John 3:16; 11:21-27; 14:6; 17:3; Romans 6:23; see also Ephesians 2:10; 4:7-8; 5:27; Philippians 4:13; 2 Peter 1:2-4, etc.)

God's Word - A Matter of Life and Breath

Theme: God's Word energizes your life.

A picture of worthless faith.

1. Self-deception of knowing without doing. (19-22, 26)
2. Carelessness of seeing without remembering. (23-24)

A picture of Word-energized faith.

1. Receiving God’s Word humbly. (21)
2. Studying God’s Word intently. (25)
3. Living God’s Word effectively. (19-22, 25, 27)

Life in the Torture Chamber of Temptations

James 1:13-18; 1 Corinthians 10:13

God’s perspective for our temptations.

1. Watch out for self-deception. (13, 16-18)
2. Recognize the primary factor in the desire to sin. (14)
3. Be fully aware of the process for sin. (14-15)

God’s provision for our temptations.

1 Corinthians 10:13

1. God will never allow you to experience anything you cannot move through with him, without sin, and without being crushed.
2. God will always provide the way for you to handle every temptation without sin.

Life in the Pressure Cooker of Trials

When trials put the pressure on…

What you need to know.

• Testing of faith produces endurance. (3; see also Romans 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7)
• Endurance is essential to maturity. (4; see also Romans 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:6-7)
• Perseverance will be rewarded. (12; see also Matthew 6:19-21; Romans 5:3-4; Colossians 3:1; 1 Peter 1:6-7)

What you need to do.

• Adopt the right attitude. (2)
• Ask God for wisdom. (5-8; Romans 4:20-21; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37)
• Keep yourself in perspective. (9-11; see also Ephesians 1:3)

The End of the Beginning

Exodus 35:1–40:38

Four Principles for Living and Working with God:

God gifts His people for serving Him.

1. The people of Israel building the Tabernacle. (35:30–36:2; see also 31:1-6)
2. The people of the church. (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; see also Ephesians 1:19; 3:7, 20-21; 4:7-16; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:10-11)

God’s people are to obey Him completely.

1. To obey His commands. (35-40; 24:3, 7; Leviticus 19:37; Deuteronomy 8:1; 11:1; John 14:15; 2 Corinthians 2:9)
2. To do His work His way. (compare chapters 25-31 with 35-40; 39:32, 42-43; 35:1-3; cf. 25:8-9, 40; 26:30; 31:32, 42-43; see also 1 Corinthians 14:40; 2 Corinthians 9:6-12; Ephesians 6:10-20)

God’s people are to bless others and their faithful work.

1. Moses’ example. (39:43)
2. Our practice. (Romans 16:10-15, 23; Philippians 1:15-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4; 3 John 12)

God demonstrates His approval with His presence and direction.

1. To Moses and all Israel. (40:34-38; see also 25:8-9)
2. To us. (see Psalm 90:17; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Revelations from Rebellion

Exodus 32:1 -34:5

A Stark Contrast.

1. The people quickly deserting God. (32:1-10; see also Galatians 1:6-9)
2. Moses steadfastly holding to God. (32:11-35; 33:7-23; 34:9, 29-32)

A Solid Constant.

1. God being faithful to His promises. (32:10, 27-28, 35; see also Genesis 8:22; 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 26:14-33; Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Malachi 3:6; 2 Timothy 2:13; James 1:17)
2. God being faithful to His people. (32:27-28, 33-34; 33:1-23; 34:10)

Sermon #18 in a series on the book of Exodus

Worshiping Immanuel

The Tabernacle’s Importance.

1. To Israel. (25:1-2, 8-9, 21-22, 40; 26:30; 29:45-46; see also 26:9; 27:21; 39:22; Numbers 9:15; 1 Kings 8:27; Hebrews 8:1-5; 9:11-12)
2. In Scripture.

The Tabernacle’s Design.

1. Materials. (25:1-9)
2. Elements. (25:10–27:21; 30:1-10, 17-38; see also Leviticus 24:4; John 1:29; 8:12; 10:9; 14:6; Romans 8:34; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 7:25; 9:11-12)
3. Priests. (28:1–29:46)
4. Builders. (31:1-11)
5. Support. (25:1-2; 30:11-16)

The Tabernacle’s Value Today.

1. It pictures worshiping Immanuel, God who is with us. (25:8, 22; see also John 1:14; Revelation 3:20; 21:3)
2. It pictures worshiping our holy, majestic and sovereign God. (25:1–31:18; see also Leviticus 10:1-7)
3. It pictures worshiping Christ for His salvation. (Leviticus 16:1-34; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7-11; see also Hebrews 7:23-27; 8:1-6; 9:1-14, 27–10:4, 11-14)
4. It pictures worshiping God freely and generously. (25:1-7; see also 3:21-22; 11:2; 12:35-35; 1 Chronicles 29:14; 2 Corinthians 9:7)

Thanksgiving 2025

Let Us Give Thanks

Give thanks to God because He cares for our hurts and pains.

1. A few examples of our hurts and pains. (2, 3, 6)
2. God’s care for our hurts and pains. (2-6)

Give thanks to God because He supplies our physical needs.

1. A few examples of our physical needs. (8-9, 13-18)
2. God’s care for our physical needs. (8-9, 13-18)

Give thanks to God because He meets our spiritual needs.

1. God acts and speaks. (19-20)
2. God showers His people with lovingkindness. (10-11)

Sermon #17 in a Series on Exodus

Exodus 20:22 - 24:17

The Law

God’s Law for Israel.

1. The foundation and function. (20:1-17, 20; see also Genesis 2:16-17; 15:6; Leviticus 19:2, 19, 27-28; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 4:3)
2. The features. (20:22–23:33)

God’s Law for Us.

1. Stating some relevant truths:

• law and grace.

(Exodus 34:6; Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 32:4; John 14:34; Romans 3:4, 31; 5:1-2; 6:15; 10:4; Galatians 6:2; James 2:8)

• covenant and new covenant. (Exodus 19:5; Luke 22:20)

2. Synthesizing the relevant truths.

(Genesis 15:6; John 1:29; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:11-12; 10:10; 1 Peter 1:18-19)

God’s challenge for Everyone.

1. For Israel then. (24:1-18; see also 20:20)
2. For us today. (Deuteronomy 27:10; Matthew 28:20; Luke 14:16-33; John 3:14-16; 14:6, 15; 15:10; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:23; 6:23; 10:9-10; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Peter 3:15)