Sermon notes:

Irreplaceable!  (Matthew 5:13-16) 

I.     You are ________________________ (vv.13a; 14, 15b-16)!  (Gospel)  

A.  You are the salt of the earth/light of the world. 

B.  You are the salt of the earth/light of the world. 

C.  You are the salt of the earth/light of the world.

D.  You are the salt of the earth/light of the world.

1.  Salt exists for the sake of food, and disciples exist for the sake of __________________________ (v. 13a; Matthew 28:18-20).

2.  After loyalty to Jesus, the disciple’s greatest desire is to _______________________________ (v.16; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 2:10).

II.    You can become _______________________!  (Law)

A.  Tasteless salt (v.13b).   

1.  We are not challenged to become, but to ___________________, salty. 

2.  Don’t let the world ___________________ your effectiveness. 

B.  Invisible light (v.15a). 

III.   Your ___________________:  to glorify God.     

A.  The glory of God is the goal of the church (v.16; John 15:8; Colossians 3:10; 1 Peter 2:12).   

B.  God’s glory is made visible through ________________________ (v.16; John 1:14; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 12:27).

Sermon notes:

Privilege and the reign of God (Matthew 5:1-12)

“Privilege” is unearned access or advantages granted to specific groups of people because of their membership in a social group. Privilege can be based on a variety of social identities such as race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, sexuality, age, education level and more.

I.     “Blessed” refers to those who are ____________ (vv.3-12). 

A.  “Blessed” describes the _______________________ we find ourselves in as recipients of Christ’s saving work.

B.  “Blessedness” (privilege) describes man in relation to Christ (Matthew 11:6; 13:16-17; 16:17).

1.  The privilege of being _______________ in Christ (vv.3-6).

2.  The privilege of being _______________ in Christ (vv.7-9).

3.  The privilege of being _______________ for Christ (vv.10-12; 2 Timothy 3:12).

II.    Blessedness is not without _____________ (vv.3a-10a,11). 

III.   Blessedness ___________________ the cost (vv.3b-10b,12; Romans 8:18).

Sermon notes:

“Follow Me”   (Matthew 4:12-25)

I.     Matthew emphasizes the absolute initiative of God in establishing communion with man (Martin Franzmann).

A.  Calling is an act of God (Genesis 1:3ff.; 12:1-3; Exodus 3:10; Proverbs 8:1-4; 1 Samuel 3:4; Hosea 11:1-2; Micah 1:1, etc.; Mark 3:13; Acts 9:1-6). 

1.  The Word of the Lord comes without our asking and often against our ___________ (e.g. Moses, Jeremiah, Jonah, etc.).   

2.  Jesus is no ordinary rabbi.  He is ____________, who “confiscates” us for His own purposes (vv.19, 21; John 15:16; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15;           Colossians 3:15; Galatians 5:13).

B.  Jesus does not seek ____________________ (Matthew 8:18-22; Luke 9:61-62).

II.    Christ’s call involves complete committal and relentless devotion.

A.  His call __________________ the claim of wife, family and home (v.22; 10:37).

B.  His call _______________ what it demands (v.19).  

1.  We love whatever we find _______________________.

2.  God’s love does not find, but _______________, what is attractive or     desirable. 

C.  Jesus is an ___________________, not a legislator.  His call is an _______________________ (Matthew 13:44; John 10:10; Galatians 1:15;              Ephesians 3:2). 

Sermon notes:

“Who has God’s approval?”  (Matthew 3:13-17) 

v.13:      God works through people.

v.14:      We often think we know better than God (Matthew 16:22). 

v.15:  In the Old Testament, God’s righteousness often refers to His mighty acts of _________________  (Psalm 71:2; Isaiah 51:5-8).

v.16:  Christ/Messiah means “anointed one.” 

a)  The ____________ anoints, the ____________ is anointed, and the ____________ is the anointing.  Christian Baptism is Trinitarian Baptism (Matthew 28:19-20).

b)  The Baptism of Jesus—in water—is __________-Baptism.  Christian         Baptism—in water—is __________ -Baptism (John 3:5; Acts 2:38-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Titus 3:5).

v.17:  God approves of Jesus. 

a) “Jesus says, ‘Allow it now, John, for this is how God’s righteous act of __________________ is enacted—the mighty one becomes lowly, the righteous one steps into the water where sinners have stood.’ And God says, ‘This makes Me really happy.  This is the kind of Son I have sent into the world.  It’s fitting.  Why?  Because it looks like a _____________.  It looks like what Jesus will ultimately do at the _____________.’”  (Quote from Dr. Jeff Gibbs, “Issues, Etc.” podcast, November 29, 2016) 

b) Christian baptism is baptism “into Christ” (Romans 6:3-4; 1 Corinthians 12:13;         Galatians 3:27).

c) You are baptized into His _____________ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

d) Approval is really about Christ, and God approves of you _________________  (Romans 3:21-24; 6:23; 8:1; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17,21; Ephesians 2:13; Philippians 4:19).

Sermon notes:

Overcoming apathy

I.     The Magi may not know God’s Word, but God can speak their language. 

A.  Scripture forbids _________________.  It brings God’s judgment, and it is   inadequate for knowing God (v.2; Deuteronomy 4:19; 18:10-14; Isaiah 47:13-14).

B.  Those who seek Jesus must submit themselves to God’s _____________ (vv. 3-6).

II.    God’s people know God’s Word but may ignore it.

A.  The pagan astrologers seek Jesus; Israel’s leaders _______________ Jesus and fail to act on what they know (vv.5-6).   

B.  Akedia (acedia) = apathy/indifference (lit. “a lack of care”).  It is a sin of __________________, not commission.

1.  We become dull of hearing (Hebrews 5:11).

2.  “The last shall be first and the first shall be last” (Matthew 20:16).

III.   “The one who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Luke 21:19;  James 1:12).

A.  God’s _______________ is our foundation for daily life, not our feelings or lack thereof (Matthew 4:4).   

B.  We may stop ________________ God, but He does not stop ________________ us (Luke 15:4).

Sermon notes:

Watchfulness is a way of life  (Luke 12:35-40)

I.     Watchfulness (readiness):  it nature.

A.  “Stay dressed for action” means the Lord’s _________________ is near (Exodus 12:11; 1 Kings 18:46).

B.  “lamps burning” suggests readiness is ____________.

C.  Servants “waiting” and “awake” are those who _________________________ (vv.36-37).

II.    Watchfulness:  its need.

A.  We are tempted to “_________________” (a euphemism for spiritual death; Mark 13:36; Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:6).

B.  ______________ results from weariness, laziness, or self-indulgence.

III.   Watchfulness:  it’s motivation.

A.  “He who watches over Israel will neither ________________ nor ______________” (Psalm 121:4).

B.  We believe in a Master who __________________ (v.37; Luke 22:27; John 13:3-5). 

C.  Devotion to duty is ultimately ________________ (Philippians 3:8-9).

Sermon notes:

Becoming Jesus  (John 1:1-18)

I.     The Word is the Divine Person destined to speak to men.

A.  He is God’s ______________________ (v. 1a, Genesis 1:1ff.; ).

B.  He is ________________ from God (v.1b).   

C.  Yet He is ______________ (v.1c).

II.    The Word, remaining what He was, becomes what He was not (v.14a).

A.  God becomes _______________ (1 Peter 1:24-25).

B.  God becomes what God _________________.

For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, (Romans 8:3).

III.   His _______________ is the localization of God’s presence on earth. 

A.  He replaces both ____________________ and __________________ (v.14a; 2:19-22). 

B.  He reveals God’s glory in a way we can see and not be blinded (vv. 14b, 18; cf. Exodus 33:18-23; 1 Kings 8:11).

C.  God’s unique Son becomes human so that humans might become God’s ___________ (vv.12-14).