Genesis 9:18-29: Summary:The flood has ended. The ark has emptied. A covenant's been cut. What kind of world will follow? What has the flood actually achieved? Are God's people fully at rest? The text gives us the world that falls out from the ark, beginning with Noah's sons. We quickly find that the war within has not finally concluded, as Noah and his son, Ham, blow past the free bounds of righteousness into the bars of sin. Shem and Japheth, in contrast to Ham, do righteousness. In this new world, the old war between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman persists. In response, Noah, the object of Ham's sin, curses Ham's son, Canaan, while blessing the God of Shem and Japheth. It will soon be acknowledged that the whole world still abides under the curse of sin and death, and yet there's hope in the lines of Noah. 'Dwell in the tents of Shem,' one of the great-grands of Abraham and his Offspring, Christ. Noah dies, but not without leaving God's hope for a world that remains in need of the Christ through Whom the accursed may instead receive the blessing of Heaven.

Main idea(s):Though sin abides a problem in all mankind, God's Christ abides the definitive Savior of all who take refuge in Him.

Sermon Outline:

The world outside Noah’s ark. (9:18-19)

The war within Noah’s tent. (9:20-23)

The win within Noah’s lines. (9:24-27)

The witness of Noah’s life (and death). (9:28-29)

Genesis 9:1-17: Summary:God blesses Noah and his family, recommissioning them for his service. It takes the form of a covenant, God committing to their care, even in knowledge of their sinful hearts. The bow set in the sky will be a reminder to all of God's mercy, and their sin, and his forbearance against a coming day of judgment.

Main idea(s): The sanctity of life, the foundation for government, the obligation to deal with murder, God's merciful covenant with creation, encouragement for walking in God's mission

Sermon Outline:

God's blessing (9:1-7)

God's promise to remember (9:8-17)

Genesis 8:1-22: Summary:In the belly of the Ark, raging storm without and perishable stores within, God remembered faithful Noah and his ecosystem. Divine remembrance leads to a calming of the storm. Day by day, the waters abate, the land drys, and Noah draws the nearer to salvation completed. As the Ark rests on dry ground, it's successfully completed its purpose. Those who believed have been spared the justice of God. Not a drop remains to touch them. God calls Noah then to go out and begin again what He commissioned Adam to do. God's purpose goes beyond Noah. He's after a humanity that reflects His glory to the world. Accordingly, Noah worships the Lord by building an altar upon which he offers clean sacrifices that are pleasing and moving aroma to God's own heart. It's figural of the sacrifice God will make, the Sacrifice that satisfies God's justice, cleanses the human heart, and certifies a new creation that will never come to an end.

Main idea(s):God never forgets, but always remembers His people, bringing them, through Jesus, to rest in/as a new creation, free from wrath, and on worshipful, Christ-diffusing mission.

Sermon Outline:

The God of the flood remembers Noah. (8:1a)

The God Who remembers acts for and through Noah. (8:1b-19)

Noah worships the God Who so remembered him. (8:20-22)

Romans 15:1-13: Summary:By the Scriptures, and through Christ our Lord, God our Father acts to create a family that lives in such harmony with one another that it shows the gracious glory, telling truth, and palpable power of God. This Christian harmonization, majoring in corporate forbearance, edification, Bible study, prayer, and praise, finds its tuning fork in the death of Christ, the Word of God, the animation and/or ambition of the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing prophecy to its fulfillment in the diverse but united local church.

Main idea(s):Christ came with the power of God to create a harmonized Christian family.

Sermon Outline:

Christ died to obligate our pursuit of Christian harmony. (15:1-3)

Scripture exists to motivate our pursuit of Christian harmony. (15:4)

God waits to animate our pursuit of Christian harmony. (15:5-6)

We are meant to substantiate the Christian harmony promised. (15:7-13)

Luke 1:26-45: Summary:

Luke faithfully records the conception narrative of Jesus, along with His reception by Elizabeth and the baby within her womb. Though not the most immediate purpose of the text, it proves useful in communicating what exactly we're dealing with in the womb, from conception, and either way, backward or forward, into eternity. The in-utero stories of Jesus and John are undoubtedly descriptive of a redemptive-historical miracle and revelation, but not to such a degree that God's view upon the fruit of the womb in the text can't be understood as normative for the way He wants us to view each and every person residing there. God knows us as worshipping people with definite purpose from the womb. It's a sanctuary, and the children within it ought to be protected, and not harmed, as such. It's a matter of divine justice and grace.

Main idea(s):God knows us as worshipping people with definite purpose from the womb. It's a sanctuary, and the children within it ought, not to be harmed, but protected at all cost.

Sermon Outline:The life of the unborn is a matter of justice.For unique people.Of definite and divine purpose.

2 Peter 1:13-21: Summary:As his time of departure draws near, Peter discloses his final will and testament to the church. His finishing desire is the church's assurance via godliness and their steadfastness therein. This passion presses him beyond himself to a time when he will no longer be with them and, therefore, to a foundation for faith more firm than a mere man can give. The light of the world exists in a dark place, meaning to deter the church's recollection of God's revelation. But Peter, in order to establish recollection, directs the church to the nature and, therefore, the certainty of Scripture concerning the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this vein and over against opponents, a holy people gives a measure of certainty. Eyewitness testimony adds to it. And the divine disclosure of Jesus' identity in His transfiguration gives still more. And yet, Peter says we have something even more sure: the prophetic Word. Scripture. It's the Lamp of God in this dark place and, thus, in keeping to Christ, we have no greater call than to give it our alertest attention. Spiritual wellness is measured in spiritual attentiveness to the Spirit's testimony in Scripture.

Main idea(s):We do well as Christians to give spiritual attention to Scripture.

Sermon Outline:

Peter's undying passion: powerful Christianity. (1:13-16a)

The church's present problem: a habitat of darkness. (1:19)

God's sure guide: the lamp of Scripture. (1:16b-21)

Acts 4:23-31: Summary:Rescued from jail and threatened for sharing what Jesus has done for his people, Peter and John join the gathered church for prayer. They reflect on the work of Christ, and the sustaining power of Christ that will push the gospel and the church forward.

Main idea(s):The trinitarian backbone of prayer, allegiance to heaven's king and trust in God's providence, the furtherance of the gospel through the church

Sermon Outline:

Divine Providence

Divine Operation

Shaken, Not Stirred

1 Corinthians 2:1-5: Summary:As we head into a new year, Paul's ambition serves to remind us of the heart of ministry: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Crossing barriers, Paul came to the Corinthians to proclaim the testimony, not of men, but of God, not as man, but as a new man, not in exaltation of himself, but finding all in Jesus Christ and Him crucified; and not in a show of manly strength and ability, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, and all to this great end: that our faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Paul's ambition was the divine application of the divine articulation of the divine revelation for a divine congregation. Powerfully and comprehensively, it was Christ over all in the heart of God's elect. May the Lord be pleased to continue such a work in us as we head into a new year.

Main idea(s):We exist to display the glory of God's grace in Jesus Christ BY PROCLAIMING HIM to all peoples for their everlasting joy in God.

Sermon Outline:

Paul's determination in faithful proclamation (2:1-2)

Paul's demonstration in faithful proclamation (2:3-4)

Paul's destination in faithful proclamation (2:5)

Leviticus 19:1-18: Summary:Through His prophet, the Lord calls on His people to be holy, because the Lord their God is holy. Underlying this call is love for God above all else. Love is the affection of holiness, and holiness is the application of love. This posture of the heart will not remain hidden in secret devotion or private religion. It will become visible in deeds of faith. With respect to God, it will, without compromise, receive God's structures of authority, allegiance, and atonement, and the effect will be God-wrought formation. This is first and, from it, follows what's like it: love for those created in the image of God, and especially the household of faith. This love-filled holiness will prove tangible in self-sacrificial, God-honoring, others-edifying works, works that mirror the love of God toward us in Jesus Christ. His advent makes this plain and possible for us.

Leviticus 16: Summary:As Adam and Eve were cast out of the garden, the question hung in the air east of Eden, "Is all lost?" And God answered with a solid and comforting, "No!" Though sin corrupts and defiles, God will make a place with us. The picture in Leviticus 16 is of a perpetual sacrifice that points ahead to the need of a final reckoning, a once-for-all resolution to the mess of sin and the chaos unleashed on creation. But here-and-now, the priest is himself a sinner, and the people's sin continues to corrupt the place where God has set his name and glory. God provides a means for cleansing, for purging sin from priest, place, and people. There is a Day for the punishment of sin, as well as a Day for bringing an end to the guilt of sin.

Main idea(s):The coming of Jesus fulfills the message of the Day of Atonement, which points the way to restored relationship with God, as sin is punished and the guilt of sin is removed

Sermon Outline:

The advent of God’s glory and a holy priest

The advent of God’s glory and a holy place

The advent of God’s glory and a holy people