John 2:13-22: Summary:

It's Passover. An obedient Jewish man, Jesus goes up to Jerusalem to celebrate the historical deliverance typified in the Exodus and fulfilled in Him, the Lamb of God. He enters the temple. He doesn't like what He finds. His Father's house, a direct allusion to His Sonship, has been made a convenience store. Worship as it's supposed to be has been (literally and spiritually) muddied by religious-trading. The purpose of the temple is obviously not being fulfilled. We know that by the response of the owner of that 'house.' He drives out all that's contrary to the biblical worship of God. His disciples see the fulfillment of Psalm 69:9 in it. It confirms that He is the Christ. But the religious leaders are not sold. Ironically, in asking for a sign, they admit the sight of something different about Jesus. Still, their question presupposes an unwillingness to believe. They feel their authority threatened. It has been. They want to know where Jesus comes by such an action. He speaks of the sign of signs: His death and resurrection. Their dull hearts find nothing but supposed arrogance in this. They don't understand Him. He's speaking about His body. His disciples understand this only after He has been raised from the dead. By it, their true faith is strengthened in Jesus as the Christ of Scripture. He has all authority to govern the worship of God. Indeed, He is the fulfillment of the temple and all that it stood for in the Scriptures. In Him, we come to God, meet with God, worship God, become a living stone in the new-age house of God.

Sermon Outline:

Jesus can cleanse this temple (2:13-17).

The Lamb to Jerusalem, 2:13.

The Son in the temple, 2:14-16.

Jesus to His disciples, 2:17.

Because Jesus will raise the Temple: Himself (2:18-22).

Authority challenged: seeking a sign, 2:18.

Authority declared: giving the Sign of signs, 2:19.

Authority dismissed: sign criticized, 2:20-21.

Authority confirmed: sign achieved and activated, 2:22.

John 2:1-12: Sermon Outline:

We have found the Messiah…

Cana of Galilee (vv1-2)

Distance in the relationship (vv3-4)

Exemplar (v5)

We have all received, grace upon grace…

Water (vv6-7)

Wine (vv8-10)

We have seen his glory…

First place (v11)

Glory revealed (v11)

Heading to Jerusalem (v12)

John 1:35-51: Sermon Outline:

Discipleship: helping people to Jesus, 1:35-46.

From John to Jesus, 1:35-39.

From Andrew to Jesus, 1:40-42.

From Philip to Jesus, 1:43-46.

Discipleship: Jesus helping His people, 1:47-51.

His welcoming grace.

His convincing knowledge.

His assuring word.

His surpassing glory.

John 1:1-18: Sermon Outline:

The Word and His glorious Person, 1:1-5.

The Word and His greatest prophet, 1:6-8.

The Word and His gracious purpose, 1:9-18.

To bear and bring a family to God, 1:9-13.

By becoming flesh and manifesting God to us, 1:14-18.

Acts 1:1-11: This sermon was preached by Tyler Miller as part of TMC's annual missions week. Tyler and his wife, Brooke, are missionaries with Cru. They serve in Charlotte, NC and internationally in East Asia. Their desire is to help the church make disciples through evangelism and discipleship by sharing the gospel and teaching others how to do this in their everyday life.

Summary:

Luke, having recorded his Gospel, now embarks on the continued work of the ascended Jesus through His people by the power of the Holy Spirit. He begins by speaking of the proof Christ gave to His apostles, and the directive Christ gave them to wait for the Gift of His ascension for ministry, along with its local and global commission. The section closes with Christ's ascension and the promise of His return as fuel for the church's mission in the in-between.

Sermon Outline:

A Surprising Promise, 1:4-5

A Surpassing Purpose, 1:6-8

A Simple Push, 1:9-11

Esther 9:23-10:3: Sermon Outline:

Recounting redemption (and the God behind it), 9:23-25.

Resolving to celebrate it (and the God behind it), 9:26-29.

Recognizing the redeemers (and the God behind them), 9:30-32.

Rejoicing in the Redeemer (and the God behind Him), 10:1-3.

Esther 9:23-10:3: Sermon Outline:

Recounting redemption (and the God behind it), 9:23-25.

Resolving to celebrate it (and the God behind it), 9:26-29.

Recognizing the redeemers (and the God behind them), 9:30-32.

Rejoicing in the Redeemer (and the God behind Him), 10:1-3.

Esther 9:1-22: There is no suspense. The author tells us the end of the ensuing battle from the beginning. The enemies of God's people, hard-hearted as they proved to be, could *not stand against them *on account of an exalted Jewish man, Mordecai. They make a complete end of their enemies. Ironically, were it not for this book, their memory would've been cut off. *Judgment is certain. By *grace, so too is *victory for God's people. Having gained it, Mordecai records it and obligates God's people to observe the feast of *Purim. At its heart is the theme of *redemptive reversal. As with all the feasts in the OT, this too points to Christ crucified and raised as the apex of redemptive reversal; and thus, it typifies and enriches the *Day we gather to celebrate the Gospel, in all its fullness, together which, itself, is a foretaste of *the assembly in Heaven.

Sermon Outline:

The great reversal completed: God's people win, 9:1-16

Their great rest and rejoicing: Mordecai institutes Purim, 9:17-22

The great Redeemer: our celebration of Jesus

Esther 9:1-22: There is no suspense. The author tells us the end of the ensuing battle from the beginning. The enemies of God's people, hard-hearted as they proved to be, could *not stand against them *on account of an exalted Jewish man, Mordecai. They make a complete end of their enemies. Ironically, were it not for this book, their memory would've been cut off. *Judgment is certain. By *grace, so too is *victory for God's people. Having gained it, Mordecai records it and obligates God's people to observe the feast of *Purim. At its heart is the theme of *redemptive reversal. As with all the feasts in the OT, this too points to Christ crucified and raised as the apex of redemptive reversal; and thus, it typifies and enriches the *Day we gather to celebrate the Gospel, in all its fullness, together which, itself, is a foretaste of *the assembly in Heaven.

Sermon Outline:

The great reversal completed: God's people win, 9:1-16

Their great rest and rejoicing: Mordecai institutes Purim, 9:17-22

The great Redeemer: our celebration of Jesus

Esther 8: Sermon Outline:

Esther's winning intercession, 8:1-8.

Mordecai's life-giving edict, 8:9-14.

The world's initial response to it, 8:15-17.