Fletcher Church

Faith Trusts that God can do the Unimaginable . . .

I. Like fight for us in the Face of Major Obstacles; so that we can Simply Walk Faithfully. (30)

II. Like Adopt as Children those who were Enemies; so we can now Put our Faith in Action! (31)

Practical Implications

o If you really believed this, how would you respond differently today?

o What are some things that take functional control of your heart?

o What are you letting define you that isn’t the Gospel?

Seeing Christ Uproots You from the Pull of the World . . .

I. Making You Defiant, So You Can Leave a Legacy of Faith! (23)

II. Reorienting Your Treasure, So You Choose God’s People over This World’s Comforts! (24-26)

III. Stirring Up Enduring Worship That Replaces Paralyzing Fear with Active Faith! (27)

Practical Implications

o Who has your allegiance?

o Who has your treasure?

o Who has your gaze?

Display your Faith by Continuing in the Face of Uncertainty …

I. Leaving the Comfortable and Known for the Unknown with God! (8-10)

II. Waiting with Persevering Fitful Faithfulness! (11-12)

III. Living as Strangers on Earth because we are Looking for a Better Home! (13-16)

Practical Implications

o How comfortable is your Christianity? Why?

o What would full faithfulness to Jesus look like right here/right now?

o What are some ways your life looks “at home” here? What about “foreign”?

By Faith we are Saved from the Coming Judgment . . .

I. We see the Extent of Depravity and the Beautiful Glory of God’s Grace! (4)

II. We see Widespread Warning but Precious Few Believe and Act! (5-6)

III. We see Universal Condemnation but God’s Security for those He Declares Righteous! (35-39)

IV. We see the Need for Ongoing Grace in our Worship and Weakness! (Gen 8:20ff; 9:18ff)

Practical Implications

o What evidence of grace do you see in the world around you? In your own life?

o What are some ways God warns us of spiritual dangers ahead? How do you generally respond?

o What are some ways you are putting your faith into action?

A Few Things to Devote Yourself to This Year...

I. Devote Yourself to Meaningful Time in the Word Daily!

II. Devote Yourself to Genuine Community!

III. Devote Yourself to Hospitality and Shared Meals!

IV. Devote Yourself to Meaningful Prayer Times in Private and in Groups!

Practical Implications

God’s Glory is Seen in Christ’s Birth as . . .

I. He Moves an Empire to Fulfill Thousands of Years of Prophecy! (1-7)

II. He Displays Himself most Clearly in Grace by Sending His Only Son! (8-14)

III. He Evokes a Response of Worship, Meditation and Mission! (15-20)

Practical Implications

o What are some ways/reasons you struggle to believe God’s power?

o How can you cultivate the practice of meditating on Jesus/the Word?

o Who are you going to intentionally pursue w/ the gospel this year? If no one, why not?

In All the Details of Christmas, Don’t Miss Who Jesus Is…

I. Jesus Is the Forever King from the Tribe of Judah Who Will Rule on the Throne of David!

II. Jesus Is the Promised Seed of Abraham, Whose Kindly Rule Will Bless All the Nations!

III. Jesus Is Emmanuel, the Virgin Born Son of God, Uniquely Qualified to Rescue the Nations!

Application Questions for the Christmas Season . . .

o What is the ultimate deliverance I am looking for in life? What would my life’s pursuits say that it is?

o What is my identity in Christ? How should that influence how I view my past, live my present, and aim for in the future?

o Who in my circle of influence needs to hear about the Hope of Christmas found in Jesus?

Praise God for Jesus’ Birth Because . . .

I. Jesus brings Salvation from our Truest Enemy and Ultimately All Enemies! (67-71)

II. Jesus Restores Our Original Purpose of Holiness, Intimacy and Service! (72-75)

III. Jesus Lights the Path to Living at Peace w/ God! (76-79)

Practical Implications, For the Christmas season . . .

o How can you cultivate more abiding in Christ and holiness in life?

o How can you tangibly serve people around you?

o How can you intentionally serve and share w/ people?

God’s heart for the nations is primarily bent toward grace…

I. Who would be perfectly just to judge our sins! (Joshua 6:15-17a)

II. Who delights to extend grace to the least deserving! (Joshua 6:17b)

III. Who uses the weak to write His story of redemption! (Joshua 6:24-25; Matt. 1)

Practical Implications

1. Do the priorities of your life prove that you love your neighbors & the nations?

2. How can you live a radically ordinary life to reach the nations?

3. Is your life your best answer to the Great Commission?

Give Thanks for God’s Covenant Love . . .

I. Which Floods our Souls w/ Mercy! (1-5)

II. That leads Him to Work to Make things Right and Make Himself Known! (6-10)

III. Which Fills Him w/ Immeasurable Fatherly Compassion on our Frailty! (11-14)

IV. That Gives Eternal Promises to People w/ Brief Passing Lives. (15-22)

Practical Implications:

o What should a Christian response to unrighteousness and injustice be?

o How can you take the book past the head into the heart?

o What about your view of God is confronted by vs. 8?