First Baptist Lenoir City

“Who & Why do people miss Christmas? - Matthew 1 & 2

I. Christmas Unwrapped - 3 Ways
Christmas is Theological -
Christmas is Historical -
Christmas is Personal -


II. Missing Christmas in Matthew 1 & 2
Mary & Joseph didn’t miss Christmas - Mt. 1:18-25
The Magi didn’t miss Christmas - Mt. 2:1-2
Herod the king missed Christmas. - 2:3-4
The chief priests and scribes missed Christmas - 2:5-6

Christmas is about how Jesus gives us access to the One who can answer our prayers
1 Kings 18:25-29 (ESV)
1 Kings 18:30-39 (ESV)
Pray in Jesus’ name because prayer causes things to happen that wouldn’t happen otherwise
1 Kings 18:40-42 (ESV)
James 5:16-18 (ESV)

The New Heaven & New Earth -
Looking for hope by looking back before sin’s curse and looking ahead after sin’s curse.

I. The Stone Onyx (follow the stone)
1. The Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:11-12; Ezekiel 28:11-19*
2. The Temple of Jerusalem - Exodus 28:9-12*
3. The Foundation of the New Jerusalem (only NT use) - Revelation 21:10-21
4. The Place of innocence; Place of presence; Place of perfection – God dwelling with Man


II. The Tree of Life (follow the tree)
1. The Garden of Eden - Genesis 2:9-14 (access granted)
2. The Garden of Eden - Genesis 3:20-24(access denied)
3. The Church at Ephesus - Revelation 2:1-7 (promise of access revealed as tree is relocated)
4. The New Jerusalem - Revelation 22:1-5; Ezekiel 47:7-12*; Revelation 22:12-14; Revelation 22:17-21

(The FIVE Major Players in John 14: The Father; The Son; The Spirit; The Disciples; The Enemy)

The Classroom of Christ lasted three years yet three events prepare us to understand more of John 14. Jesus RAISING the dead – John 11; Mary ANOINTING the feet of Jesus – John 12; Jesus WASHING the feet of the disciples – John 13.

I. The Classroom of Christ in John 14:1-31
1. More FAITH marked by the hope of Heaven – 14:1-3
2. More FAITH marked by the unity of the Father & Son – 14:4-11
3. More FAITH marked by the works of those saved – 14:12
4. More FAITH marked by praying in Jesus Name – 14:13-14
5. More FAITH marked by the promise of the presence of Jesus – 14:18

6. More LOVE marked by obedience – 14:15, 21-24
7. More POWER marked by Holy Spirit indwelling – 14:16-17; 25-26
8. More PEACE marked by the contrast to worldly peace – 14:27
9. More JOY marked by the return of Jesus – 14:28
10. More FAITH marked by the fulfillment of Jesus – 14:29
11. Less CONVERSATION marked by the ruler of this world – 14:30
12. More ACTION marked by the loving obedience of the Son – 14:31

II. Less CONVERSATION marked by the ruler of this world – 14:30
1. This ruler has no claim on Jesus – Satan needs God’s permission
2. This ruler has been mentioned by John before – John 8:44; 10:10; 12:31-32
3. This ruler will be mentioned by John afterward – I John 3:10-12; 4:4; Rev. 2:2 (Ephesus); 10 (Smyrna); 13 (Pergamum); 24 Thyatira); 3:9 (Philadelphia); 5 of 7!
4. This ruler has a strategy - deception, distortion, distraction
a. Don’t believe – II Corinthians 4:3-4
b. Don’t forgive – I Corinthians 2:6-11
c. Don’t discern – II Corinthians 11:12-15

MORE THAN A MAN
“The Dilemma of the Disciples Back Then” (When Hopes are Dashed) / John 14:24-27
(The Word of God; The Spirit of God; The Peace of God)

I. What WE KNOW/UNDERSTAND –
II. What they DID KNOW
III. What they DIDN’T KNOW/UNDERSTAND
IV. The Classroom of Christ

The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John -
1. The Holy Spirit Empowers the mission of Jesus - 1:32-33
2. The Holy Spirit Empowers our salvation - 3:5
3. The Holy Spirit Unlimited Source in Jesus - 3:34
4. The Holy Spirit is Essential for true worship - 4:23-24
5. The Holy Spirit Source for spiritual life - 6:63
6. The Holy Spirit will Fill - will Flood - will Flow through us after Jesus is glorified - 7:39

I. The Classroom of Christ Heaven: we will be WITH HIM; we will be LIKE HIM
a. Home for Him now
b. Home for us later - Phil. 1; II Cor. 5; I Cor. 13; 15:49; I John 3:2; Phil. 3:20;

The Holy Spirit: Acts 5 “Why did you lie to the Holy Spirit?”