Theme: Jesus points us to four amazing qualities of true faith. 1. Faith receives the testimony of God in Christ. vv. 9-12 2. Faith sees who Jesus really is. vv. 13-15 3. Faith sees and understands the amazing love of God in Christ. vv. 16-18 4. Faith comes to the light that shines in Jesus Christ. vv. 19-21

Theme: Our Lord Jesus Christ ministers to His own on the First Day of the week. I. Jesus Ministers Peace and Assurance. vv. 19-20 (1) Jesus comes to them! (2) Jesus greets them with words of peace! (3) Jesus addresses their fears and misapprehensions II. Jesus Empowers His Own for Service. vv. 21-23 (1) Jesus again ministers peace to them! (2) Jesus immediately commissions them. (3) Jesus empowers them for their gospel service. (4) Jesus assures these Apostles of His authority in their gospel service.

Theme: Jesus encourages us to pray. I. From the Nature of Prayer vv. 7-8 1) The Simplicity of Prayer 4) The Simplicity of Prayer 2) Success in Prayer 5) Success in Prayer 3) Persistence in Prayer 6) Persistence in Prayer 4) The Distinctive Features of faith - "Ask"- "Ask" - "Seek"- "Seek" - "Knock"- "Knock" II. Given our Privilege as the Children of God vv. 9-11 1) We, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our children! 2) How much more will our Heavenly Father answer and give to His children! - He loves to give good gifts!- He loves to give good gifts! - He gives the very best gifts!- He gives the very best gifts! - He entreats us as His children to ask for the very best gifts!- He entreats us as His children to ask for the very best gifts! Further Application

Theme: Jesus describes the miracle of the new birth in three ways: I. A Birth from Above. vv. 1-2 1) The man Nicodemus 2) Jesus confronts Nicodemus with his true need - The absolute necessity of the new birth - The power of the metaphor II. A Birth by the Spirit vv. 4-6 1) Nicodemus' good question 2) The answer- This birth involves: - An inward supernatural cleansing wrought by the Spirit - A new life supernaturally wrought by the Spirit III. A Birth that is Mysterious, and Sovereignly Brought About. vv. 7-8 1) Nicodemus stunned- and Jesus continues to press! 2) The New Birth - Invisible in its origin - Wrought sovereignly, irresistibly - Bearing unmistakable evidences and effects

Theme: It is through prayer that I commune with Jesus, and bear fruit to the glory of God. I. Prayer is a central feature of our communion with Christ- of our abiding in Christ. 1.) Jesus calls us to abide in Him. I am to be cultivating a dependence upon Him in all things. 2.) Whatever hinders my communion with Christ, hinders my prayer. 3.) If I am not communing with Christ, I will have little taste for prayer. 4.) Recognition of my helplessness is essential to my communion with Christ and to prayer. II. An Astonishingly Big Promise with respect to Prayer III. Prayer is indispensable to all of our Fruit-bearing. 1.) We cannot bear any fruit apart from abiding in Christ! 2.) We cannot bear any fruit apart from abiding in Christ! 2.) We will bear much fruit as we abide in Christ. 3.) All of my fruitfulness comes in answer to prayer! 4.) Jesus clearly intends that through prayer we should bear much fruit. Further Application

Theme: Jesus, the True Bridegroom, has kept the best wine until now. I. The Setting vv. 1-5 1.) A Wedding (the Scriptures replete with the wedding figure!) 2.) The Need 3.) Mary's Request- a prayer. ('faith waiting') 4.) A Mild Rebuke or Corrective II. The Sign vv. 6-10 1.) Six Stone Water Jars 2.) Jesus' Authority and Power 3.) Jesus hides His glory- and reveals it! III. The Significance 1.) The Beginning of the Display of His Glory 2.) The Result: "His disciples believed in Him." Further Application

Theme: God graciously seeks out our first parents. I. Man in His Fallen Condition. 1.) Man has become a sin-dominated being 2.) The stirrings of conscience 3.) Man hiding from God II. The Three Questions of Grace 1.) "Where are you?" 2.) "Who told you that you were naked?" 3.) "Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

Theme: Jesus Christ knows us intimately and has by His redeeming work opened heaven to us. I. Jesus' Revealing Greeting 1.) To a skeptical Nathanael 2.) Jesus: the Discerner of the heart! II. Jesus' Intimate Knowledge of Nathanael 1.) Privy to Nathanael's private devotions 2.) Nathanael's confession of faith III. Jesus' Remarkable Claim Concerning Himself 1.) Jesus: the fulfillment of Jacob's marvelous dream! 2.) Jesus' declaration and His promise to all of His own

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 I. Paul reminds the church they know that Christ is returning. II. Paul warns the church to stay ready for the return of Christ. III. Paul exhorts the church to be faithful until Christ returns.

I. Door (vv.7,8) II. Pasture (v.9) III. Life (v.10)