First General Baptist

Message: Job as a father Text: Job 1:1-5

The book of Job is one of the earliest Bible stories written. Israel as a nation and the priesthood had not happened yet. Job is the priest/pastor of his home, nothing changes that. The priesthood/pastorate were designed to help the larger community, not take the place of the father in the home (Esau and his birthright)

According to the number of them all—a sacrifice for each of his children, individually (Susanna Wesley)

See how busy Job’s life must be, but he’s up early in the morning sacrificing for his children. This is important to him, his children are important to him and their relationship with his God is important to him. Job does not join them and they do not join him. (The Prodigal Son)

Message: The gospel according to Luke        Text: Luke 22:31-34

The devil doesn’t get it:                                                                        

Satan has asked for you by name (Job, Sceva’s sons)

Martin Luther, “Whenever I enter my study, close the door, and open my Bible, the devil meets me there.”                       

“You can tell the character of a man by looking at his enemies.”

We don’t get it:                                                                                           

No one knows themselves like they think they do.                       

Matthew Henry, "The stronger the temptation to sin is, the stronger the resolution must be against it."   

Beware of “self righteousness” which is technically an oxymoron.                                                                           

We need to do what we can, only problem with that is  John 15:5.

Jesus gets it:                                                                                              

Satan asked and Jesus said yes.                                                               

We grow thru our tests. Our failures make us more than our successes.

Message: The gospel according to Luke

Text: Luke 22:21-30

Vs 24 Who is the worst? Who is the greatest?

No one really changes grudgingly, but by the calling of Jesus.

The calling: A strong impression upon the soul; A still small voice like a whisper over your shoulder—Isaiah; A Shepherd’s Voice—Jesus.

Worldly discontent—not content until we have more of the same.

Godly discontent—more of the same no longer contents us at all. God has something else for us, something more, but it’s not of this world.

I Corinthians 16:15, “…they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.”

Vs 15 “This Passover…” Why is this Passover so special?

A Tale of Two Cities—Charles Dickens

Vs 19-20 Passover has always been a meal of remembrance. The Lord’s Supper is still a meal of remembrance…remember something new God has done. Passover pointed backward and forward. The Lord’s Supper points backward and forward. Backward to the cross, forward to…what?

Teresa of Avila, "Check them by remembering that your kingdom is not of this world, and that everything comes quickly to an end, and that there is nothing in this life that goes on unchangingly."

Message: The gospel according to Luke            

Text: Luke 22:1-6 (3, 5)

The devil doesn’t get it:

Genesis 1:27  Every human is created in the image of God.    

Romans 3:12, James 1:17  That’s where our good comes from.                                                                                          

Philippians 2:13, 1 John 4:19 Christians ramp it up a notch.

Satan’s temptation of Eve: he tempts her to be like God (more than the image of God) Why? Because he wants Eve  to be like him and he wants to be like God…Satan wants to be God.

Satan’s temptation of Jesus: he wants Jesus to worship him. Why? Satan despises our worship of Jesus and craves our worship of himself probably more than anything else. Satan wants to be worshiped as if he were God.

Satan is the ultimate prejudiced bigot and the ultimate narcissist. He hates everything and everyone who is not him; he wants everything to worship him; he wants everything and everyone to revolve around him.

…and you’re not like that and he doesn’t get it! Satan can’t fathom your love and repentance.

Message: The gospel according to Luke            

Text: Luke 22:1-6

Chief priests, scribes, Judas, captains—the devil and his angels. Ephesians 6:12 The devil loves to work thru people…people just like you and me. Has the devil ever used you? Those who are in the most danger of being Satan’s tool are those who don’t think he is or can use them.

Satan didn’t really understand God’s plan, he still doesn’t. 1 Peter 1:12. The cross didn’t surprise him, but the resurrection did!                                                        

 Did the devil’s plan work? ______

Romans 8:29. “God takes what the enemy means for evil and turns it for good.” But no one can see it at the time.

John Stott, "The wiles of the devil take many forms, but he is at his wiliest when he succeeds in persuading people that he does not exist."

Message: Mother’s Day. Faith may seem like the scariest thing but it’s actually the safest thing.

Text: 1 Kings 17:9-16 Elijah and the widow of Zarephath

Vs 12, They don’t have anything to lose, they’re on a path to death anyway

Vs 13, “First” give it to God. There is an order to things in God’s economy and life doesn’t work until we get the order right. Giving back to God “first” is where the test of faith is.

Faith may seem like the scariest thing but it’s actually the safest thing.

~The best thing you can do for your “son” is to put Jesus first, then let Jesus take care of your “son.” You are giving your “son” to Jesus to care for.

~The worst thing you can do for your “son” is to put your “son” first. You are then trying to remove your “son” from Jesus’ care and depending on your own care for him.

Replace “son” with whatever ________, the test of faith might be for you.

When the widow of Zarephath obeyed God’s Word she opened the way for God to take care of her son. Faith, love, obedience to God’s Word opens the way for God to get involved in your life and your son’s life.

Text: Luke 21:5-36                                                                 

2nd Coming of Jesus,   21:27-28, 36

70AD, destruction of Jerusalem/temple,   21:5-6, 20

Stand--Luke 21:36, “…stand before the Son of man.”

Postures:

Stand--Romans 14:9, “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Kneel--Philippians 2:9-11, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Fall--Revelation 4:10, “the 24 elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne…”

We can approach Jesus out of fear or out of love.

Love instead of fear  (want to instead of have to)

1 John 4:17-19, “Love has been perfected among us in this:  that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.”

Message: The gospel according to Luke             (4-5-20)

Text: Luke 20:27-38

Believing faith…

Romans 10:9, “If you will confess with your mouth…”

Romans 10:17, “Faith comes by hearing…”

then growing faith that builds a strong hope by experience.

The most important second in your life.

Hebrews 11:1, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for...”                                                                             

Romans 5:4, “Tribulation, patience, experience, hope.” (KJV)

Hope for the present and future is built on what God has done in the past. He is still building hope in you thru experience.

What are you hoping for?

The most important second in your life.