First Baptist Lenoir City

The Beauty of the Love of God is far greater than anything we can comprehend.

If you don’t love God, you don’t love yourself, and if you don’t love yourself, you don’t love God.

Love is from God.

Love is defined by God Himself.

Love is displayed by God - and demonstrated by Jesus.

Love is embodied by believers.

Love Readies Us for Eternity

Why are we calling these groups LIFE GROUPS?

What is the Biblical Model for LIFE GROUPS in homes?

The Core Convictions & Practices of the Newborn Church (early)

Roles: Teachers, Hosts, and Attenders

Reproducible: Teachers need assistant teachers, prayer leaders, care leaders,

outreach leaders

When We See the Presence of Christ - vv 5-7

When We Understand the Presence of Christ - vv 8-9

When We Experience the Presence the Person of Christ - vv 10-13

The prophet Isaiah understood what it meant to experience the person of Christ

Isaiah 6:1-8

I. The Promises of Christmas: The Promise of the Prophets - The Promise of the Preparer - The Promise to the Parents - The Promise of the Person - The Promise of the Passover - The Manger of the Savior - 2:1-7 The Message of the Savior - 2:8-14 The Mission of the Savior - 2:15-21 The Messengers of the Savior - 2:22-38 The Meaning of the Passover - 3:38-40

I. God Commissioned Christmas:

God sent His Word

God sent His Prophets

God sent His Messages

God sent His Messenger 

God sent the World (2)

God sent His Angel(s)

God sent His Son

She gave birth to her firstborn Son

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes 

She laid Him in a manger 

There was no room 

Shepherds; Shone; *Savior; Suddenly 

Glory to God in the highest 

Peace on earth 

Goodwill to man 

With whom God is pleased 

III. The PROMISE is a Person (JC) - 

The Praise of Mary - 1:26-45; 46-56

Mary is a WITNESS of Christmas Truth: How so?

Mary is a WORSHIPPER - inward worship! Her soul & spirit moved with exaltation and rejoicing - This reaction flows from a heart of faith responding to God’s grace 

There are 3 Examples of Mary’s Faith that we must emulate: 

(1) Mary is SAVED - God my Savior! Like King David, when in Psalm 23 he declares, “God restores my soul”

(2) Mary is BLESSED - a recipient of blessing - not a giver of blessing

(3) Mary is THOUGHTFUL (theologically mindful) - She calls God “holy” and “mighty”; She reminds us of God’s “mercy”; of God’s “strength”; She confronts the “pride” of humanity bc she knows God values humility; She reminds kings that they are under God’s authority; She clarifies how God deals with the poor and the rich; She remembers “Israel”; She remembers “Abraham” -

I. The Grace of God in Galatians:

Galatians 1:3-10, 18-24

Galatians 2:15-21

Galatians 3:1-14

Galatians 4:4-6

Galatians 5:16-25

Galatians 6:11-18

Luke checks off all of the boxes. The WHO of Christmas. The HOW of Christmas. The WHERE of Christmas. The WHY of Christmas. The WHAT of Christmas.

The Clues of the Christ. Jesus has the right parents, the right line, the right birth, the right Name, the right life, the right ministry, the right Elijah to come, the right mission, the right death, the right resurrection, the right mission, the right Return, the right forever home.

I. The Birth of John the Baptizer -

The Witness of the Word-prophetic

The Witness of Luke - 1:1-4

The Witness of the Angel - 1:5-25

The Witness of Mary - 1:26-56

The Witness of Zechariah - 1:57-80

John is the Elijah to come; The one chosen to roll out the red carpet for the Messiah; The best man for the wedding for the Groom of His Bride (aka “The wedding coordinator” - Weddings in first-century Israel were a major undertaking and oftentimes lasted for a week-long celebration. John was born to get the people and the place ready. John 3:22-30

Matthew 11:11-19: Two games children played in the days of Jesus were called “Wedding” and “Funeral”. They would be dancing for the Wedding game and a dirge for the Funeral game. Jesus is indicting the JRE for their reasons for rejecting Him and John. John had a dirge and you want a dance. I have a dance and you want a dirge. You are proud. You are jealous. You are hypocrites. BUT WISDOM IS VINDICATED BY HER CHILDREN!

II. The Birth of Jesus (the) Christ -

The Manger of Jesus - 2:1-7

The Message of Jesus - 2:8-14

The Mission of Jesus - 2:15-21

The Messengers of Jesus - 2:22-40