What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know:Not God’s Equal (Part 1 of 3)

 Intro:  Dismissive vs. excessive… avoiding the extremes I.     Satan is PowerfulA.   A personal being, not evil personifiedB.   AKA1.    The accuser / adversary (Job 1:6/1Pe 5:8)2.    Lucifer – morning star / light-bearer (Is 14:12)3.    Beelzebul (Lk 11:15)4.    The great dragon, that ancient serpent (Rev 12:9)5.    The tempter (Mt 4:3)6.    Murderer & father of lies (Jn 8:44)7.    Ruler/god of this world (Jn 14:30/2Co 4:4)8.    The evil one (Mt 13:19)9.    The devil (Mt 4:1)C.   Army of soldiersII.    His Power has LimitsA.   A created beingB.   Not a mind-reader, but a diligent observerC.   “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.’” – Job 1:12D.  “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.” – Luke 11:21–22III.  God has already Conquered SatanA.  “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” – Luke 11:20B.   “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” – Hebrews 2:14–15 In recognizing the influence of Satan and his demons in the world, how have you avoided the extremes of being dismissive or excessive?

 How does God’s complete power over Satan give you peace and comfort in light of any fears that weigh on you?

Meeting the World with Kindness: “Caring for the Least of These”

Intro: Does God have a bias toward the poor?

I. God’s People Reflecting God’s HeartA. The Metaphor of the Sheep and GoatsB. Judgement Day for the RighteousC. Caring for the “least of these brothers of mine”

Public domain

II. Who are the “least” and how do we care for them?

A. The Alien

1. Immigrants in Israel2. Treated as native-born3. Love him as yourself, better than that…

4. You were immigrants5. Our immigrant situation

B. The “Not So” Wise1. The ability to mislead or cheat the simple

2. Doing things honestly3. Protecting people from the scammers

C. The Weak in Faith1. The mystery of faith2. Be merciful to those who doubt3. Snatch others from the fire/mercy mixed with fear

III. Are you strong enough for this?A. Expectations proportional to our abilityB. By the Spirit you are capable of more than you think

C. When you become a giver rather than a taker

Has this sermon challenged you in any way? If so, how?

What other ways can somebody be part of the “least of these”?

“Meeting the World with Kindness: Loving Your Enemies” (Part 2 of 3)

Intro: Who comes to mind when you think of the word “enemy”?I. Who is my enemy?A. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of anenemy.” – Proverbs 27:6B. What about unbelievers? (Romans 11:28–29)

II. How do I love?A. “Through love serve one another, for the whole law is fulfilled in one word:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Galatians 5:13–14

* “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be gladwhen he stumbles.” – Proverbs 24:17 2. Confront in love (Matthew 18:15–20)* Disassociate (2 Thessalonians 3:14–15) 4. Forgive (Matthew 18:21–35)* Proclaim the Gospel (Mark 13:10–11)B. “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy”? – Matthew 5:43* “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, butlove your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” – Leviticus 19:18* “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:44–45III. Main PointA. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Matthew 5:48 B. “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through thedeath of His Son.” – Romans 5:10In what ways have you failed to love your enemies, and what steps can you take to change this?How does God’s love for you change your heart towards your enemies?

“Meeting the World with Kindness: Overcome Evil with Good”Romans 12:9-21

Intro: Kindness is an increasingly rare thing in our society

I. How do the worldly get things done?A. The methods1. At least an eye for an eye2. Protest and bullying3. Gossip, slander, and name callingB. The results

II. The radical approach of the Kingdom of GodA. Often takes longer for changeB. Pleases God and is rewardedC. Has the chance of being an agent for change and salvation

III. What do we do?A. Bless and pray for those who persecute youB. Hold the high moral groundC. Never take revenge. Leave that for GodD. Specifically do good for those who do you wrong – assertively!E. Is this for the individual or can it be a movement?F. Jesus’ response to evil

Can you think of a situation where you responded in a worldly fashion to evil? What did you do?

How should you have responded? How people respond differently to some of the large scale evils of this world?

Guest Preacher, Pastor Khan from People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO)

https://www.poblo.org/our-people/

Intro: The word “love” is often confusing

I. God’s Love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-11)A. A holy people, a treasured possessionB. God “set” His love on you and chose you C. Because of AbrahamD. Is His love emotion, action, choice?E. What about everybody else?

II. God is love (1 John 4:7-21)A. God’s undeserved reputationB. God’s extraordinary effort to save: Jesus

1. All nations2. Almost all sins3. Undeserved and often unsought

4. No pre-requisites5. Unparalleled self-sacrifice

C. Why not just forget sin and save all?

D. Love is from God

III. Love in the culture of God (Matthew 20:20-28)A. “Sitting” at His right and His leftB. “Greatness” = “Sacrificial love”C. “Love” does not equal tolerance, enablement, compromise with evil

D. How about acceptance of you as you are?

E. How does this apply today?

Do you understand/believe/feel that God loves you?

Do you feel love for others that has come from God?

“The Culture of God: His Mysterious Ways” Isaiah 55:6-11

Intro: Differences in culture

I. The Culture of GodA. What God values B. How He operates C. The rules He follows

II. My thoughts are not your thoughtsA. We used to be closerB. Our unrighteous thoughts: selfishness, self-glory, unwillingness to forgive,the strong survive C. How He operates

1. It is written: the power of God’s Word2. Numerical and symmetrical3. Foreshadowing and remembering4. Inhabiting and working through means5. Patience while a majority is lost/ Israel’s hardening6. Uncompromising and still concessions made even to Satan 7. Doesn’t stop all evil and will even use it for good

III. We are straddling two culturesA. Remember who you are now and where you are going B. Imitate and trustC. Don’t judge what you don’t understand

Can you think of anything that God has done or allowed that really confused you?

What do you think people will not immediately understand about God’s most important action—Jesus’ death and resurrection?

The Trinity (part 2 of 3): “The Presence of God”

Intro: Is the doctrine of the Trinity an Old Testament or New Testament teaching?

I. God’s Trinitarian Presence from the Beginning A. God the Father

1. “In the beginning God created…” – Genesis 1:12. “Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our

likeness…God created man in His own image…” – Genesis 1:26–27

B. “…the Spirit of God was hovering over…” – Genesis 1:2 C. God the Son

1. Then God said, “Let there be…” – Genesis 1:3 2. “In the beginning was the Word…” – John 1:1

II. From Omnipresence to Special Presence A. In Worship

B. The Angel of YHWHC. The IncarnationD. BaptismE. The Lord’s SupperF. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within

you, whom you have from God?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19

III. Warning or Consolation?A. Nothing is hidden from GodB. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the

rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” – Isaiah 43:2–3

How does God’s presence bring you comfort? In what ways is the Holy Spirit at work in you?

“For All Nations”

Intro:  When you think of who you are, what terms do you use?

I.  God’s View of People

A.  The Image of God

B.  Jesus’ death for all

C.  The Gospel to be preached to all nations

II.  How We, As Jesus’ Disciples, Fail

A.  Profiling

B.  Not Accepting Differences

C.  Accepting Injustice

D.  Not Having Empathy or Sympathy

1.  A very different history

2.  Economic disability

3.  Not the same freedoms

4.  The stress of being treated differently

E.  Not confronting poisonous ideologies

III.  What will change this?

A.  Repentance

B.  Prayer

C.  Kindness

D.  A Shared Vision

E.  Influence 

IV.  Is this our mission?

A.  The mission of the Kingdom of God

B.  This present crisis

1.  Overcome evil with good

2.  “Black Lives Matter” vs #black lives matter

3.  Defund police, solving problems through incarceration

B.  If we fail in the United States of America

Do you think that you contribute to racial tension in any way: either through actions or failure to act?

How do you think the leadership of our country should proceed to make things better?

How have past hardships shaped you, and what might you still need to learn?