This week the sermon talks about looking up and seeing God's power. There are two points:

1) Beholding God’s Power: God’s power is immeasurable, infinite, limitless. Going to look at Jer. 32 and God’s power in creating, rescuing Israel from Egypt, giving Israel the promised land, bringing Babylon to judge them, and one day in restoring them- which really looks forward to the new covenant- where God’s power is supremely made known.

2) Responding to God’s Power: 1) worship, 2) humility 3) trust

This is the first sermon in a series of four: In part one of the series, Look Up! we will be looking at God's Independence: There are two main points:

1) We Are Needy: We are needy physically, emotionally, relationally and most of all spiritually. As Acts 17 says, he gives life, breath and everything else. Most of all, in Christ, he gives us spiritual life- we are supremely needy and he supplies our greatest needs through Christ.

2) God is not Needy: God does not have any need for anyone or anything. He never has, never will. He is completely sufficient in himself for his existence and everything else.

This week's sermon the the last of a sermon on Our Purpose in 2021. How can we glorify God in our daily lives?

1) Through our Good Works - we glorify God through our good works- they show that he is good- that he is worth obeying, etc.

2) Through our Dependence upon God - we glorify God through our dependence- as we depend on him we declare him to be the all-sufficient and good Giver

3) Through our Sexual Purity- we glorify God through our sexual purity- we communicate that he is wise and good in his commands, that he is the Sovereign Lawgiver, etc.

4) Through our Unity- we glorify God through our unity- it shows his wisdom in bringing diverse people together, it shows his reconciling power and grace.

We are to be mirrors to reflect God and to show what He is like. How do we do this in our daily lives?

1) Reflecting God’s Work: we image and show and point to God’s glory in his work in two ways 1) through creativity- as we are creative and as we enjoy others creativity we have an opportunity to point to the glory of God as the ultimate Creator. 2) through having dominion, subduing- in other words through managing, utilizing resources, organizing, etc. through so many of our daily tasks we get to reflect God’s glory in our work.

2) Reflecting God’s Character: we image and show and point to God’s glory when we reflect his character. When we love like he loves, when we forgive like he forgives, when we show patience like he shows patience, when we are holy like he is holy. There are countless daily opportunities for us to reflect God’s glory in who we are and in the way we reflect his character.

Problems are opportunities where believers respond in faith. The Bible is full of stories where there are problems. God uses men and women who respond in faith to problems, to transform them, and for His glory and kingdom growth.

When we respond to problems with faith and courage, we are more fruitful, and God is glorified through our lives.

How do we live out our purpose in 2021? How do we respond when we come to God?

1) Embrace the Gospel: we glorify God by embracing the gospel. 3 ways- 1) when we embrace the gospel we renounce all the lesser idols we’ve worshiped in exchange for Christ. 2) when we embrace the gospel we admit we couldn’t save ourselves- God had to do it all- and he displayed his glory in doing it all. 3) when we embrace the gospel we are brought home to God’s glory- to behold and bask in it.

2) Enjoy God: we glorify God by enjoying him- enjoying God shows that he is worthy- that we see him as valuable- that he is satisfying and glorious.

What is God's purpose? What is our purpose in light of God's purpose? Let's find out.

Why do we have confidence? The basis for this confidence is: 1) The blood of Jesus, 2) Jesus' priesthood continues. So what should we do? 1) Let us draw near, 2) Let us hold fast to hope, 3) Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Merry Christmas! Today we look at the birth of Jesus. There are two parts to this sermon:

1) A Lofty Order: Casear was showing his greatness and claiming dominance through this order. This is how the world views greatness- money, power, etc. We tend to fall into this- but it turns out that here God was actually in charge and he was about to show his greatness- not in some lofty order but in a lowly birth.

2) A Lowly Birth: Jesus’ birth was marked by lowliness. Luke records it without fanfare- and when we think of what it was it certainly wasn’t impressive. A hard journey by foot, lodging in a stable, unsanitized birth, etc.

Today's sermon has three points:

1) A Favored Mother: Mary was favored by God- to think that sent an angel to her and to think that he included her in his plan. This was pure, sovereign grace. And this is how God works- he shows grace to save and he also shows grace to include flawed and ordinary people in his plan.

2) A Promised Baby: this baby is the fulfillment of God’s promises. He is 1) Jesus- meaning Jehovah saves- this is what he came to do- we couldn’t save ourselves- only he could. 2) Son of the Most High- far beyond any prophet- he represents and reflects God perfeclty- he is the divine Son- only God himself could save us 3) the King- he is the promised King who will rule- he is a far better King than we are

3) A Miraculous Conception: Mary asks how this will happen and is told it will be miraculous- a creative act of the Holy Spirit in her- so that the baby will be God in the flesh- forever become human with us- so that we could be with him forever.