“Body and Spirit”

2 Corinthians 4

Intro: The scope of mental illness in our society

I. What are we?

A. From a materialistic point of view

B. From a biblical point of view

1. A body (including your brain)

2. A soul (consciousness?)

3. A spirit?

C. The special nature of the brain

1. Its physical arrangement

2. Our perception of reality and of self

3. Which comes first?

II. What is mental illness?

A. Structure, communication or their product?

B. What can be done?

1. Insights from the Teacher

2. Insights from Paul

3. Treating the whole person

4. Cultivating mental health

What has been your experience or exposure to mental health problems?

What are your deepest questions about what we are as humans?

Isaiah 63 Intro: How would you feel about a rebellious child I. God’s Affection for the Human Race A. Created in His Image B. Jesus incarnate C. History tied to His work with us D. He desires all to be saved E. His pity and His patience II. Is God’s Love Unconditional? A. Yes and no B. Human rebellion 1. What we become when we hate our maker 2. Jealous God 3. His choice C. Salvation a product of God’s success not our obedience III. Love and Rebellion A. How do we love God? B. How do we still embrace rebellion? C. How does world react to God? 1. Herod a microcosm of many 2. Fighting the rule or even the thought of God 3. How does God feel about this?

Have you ever felt rebellious against God? If so, why?

Hebrews 1:1-12

Intro: Have you ever wanted to know a celebrity?

I. How can we know God?

A. God has interacted with humans in the past

1. Some stories survive

2. We learn about God’s powers and sometimes personality

B. Take a look at His work

1. The complexity of nature

2. Its vastness

3. Jesus had a hand in it all

4. Nature modified

C. Now He has spoken to us by His Son

1. The incarnation

2. Radiance of God’s glory

3. Exact representation of His being

4. Word is power

5. Obedience to the Law

6. Love enough to give Himself

7. The modes of His presence

II. What we will still discover

A. Scripture as an interpretive guide

B. Interaction with God because you have been made His child and friend

Does God feel distant or close to you?

“Is God Love?”

1 John 4:7-16

Intro: Defining love

I. God’s Love Questioned

A. The ugly history of mankind

B. Personal disappointment with life

C. What God never promised

II. This is why God is love

A. He gave His one and only Son (1 John 4:9-10)

B. His birth is what we celebrate tonight

C. He atones for your sin

D. Consequently we can have:

1. A life full of God-given purpose

2. A relationship with God starting now

3. Forgiveness

4. Heaven

5. A good seat on Judgment Day

6. A resurrected body

7. Access to a new Heaven and new Earth

III. What you may have wanted instead

A. An ideal family

B. Riches and pleasure

C. Good-looking and smart

D. A legacy

IV. The gift of Jesus trumps it all, because God is love

Have you ever felt like God didn’t love you? Why?

Do you realize what you have when you have Jesus?

Isaiah 7 and Romans 1

Intro: Keeping alive the history of Christ-mas

I. The Prophecy and It’s Context

A. The politics of the day

B. God’s point of view on Judah and Israel (Ephraim)

C. An offer to Ahaz

D. Too shattered to be a people

E. “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

II. A Spiritual and Political Blunder

A. “I will not put the Lord to the test”

B. Trying the patience of God

C. What kind of prophecy is this?

1. A child born to an “almah”

2. Why would a prophecy about a Messiah be presented like this?

a. God’s ways are not our ways

b. He communicates with types

c. Time is compressed

d. His eye is on the main struggle

e. Clues for those clued in

III. Why have a virgin birth?

A. Not the greatest sign

B. Not a comment on sexuality

C. Sinful nature and its transmission

D. A sinless human to fulfill the Law for all

Conclusion: Not just an excuse for a holiday. This story is about the struggle for the salvation of all.

Matthew 11:2-15

Intro:  How come Jesus and the prophets do not speak more plainly?

I.  Why would John doubt?

         A.  He has more clarity than any prophet before him

                  1.  He is foretold as “the voice” and the “Elijah”

                  2.  He understood his own prophetic message

         B.  He even pointed Jesus out to his disciples

         C.  Even John had partial information

         D.  His understanding and potential impact are possibly less than yours

II.  Do we have the right Messiah?

         A.  Messianic expectation was high.  Messianic understanding was low.

         B.  Many still expect a worldly kingdom

         C.  Jesus points out the signs

         D.  These are just the beginning of what will be

III.  Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me

         A.  How Jesus offends

                  1.  Does immediately create a worldly kingdom

                  2.  He becomes a sacrifice instead of a “king”

                  3.  He reveals an unknown and illogical aspect of God

                  4.  He loves even “sinners”

                  5.  He points conclusively to God

         B.  Who can connect with that?

         C.  The kingdom of God is advancing forcefully

Have you ever had a “breakthrough” moment, where you didn’t understand the plans of God and then suddenly you did?  If so, what was that like?

How do you think God might use you in a “great” way?

Intro:  Shallow roots

I.     Who is Jesse?

A.   Ruth

B.   1 Samuel 16-17

C.   Son of Jesse

II.    What is the Root of Jesse?

A.  There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. – Isaiah 11:1

1.    The Stump – Babylonian exile 586 B.C.

2.    Shoot/Branch = Davidic King = Messiah

B.   In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of Him shall the nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious. – Isaiah 11:10

1.    From roots to The Root (Revelation 22:16)

2.   And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even He who arises to rule the Gentiles; in Him will the Gentiles hope.” – Romans 15:12

3.    The Peoples = the Gentiles = You

4.    Rooted in Hope = endurance & encouragement, joy & peace

What things in life put you in danger of being uprooted?

How does being rooted in Christ bring you hope?

“Stay Awake”

Intro:  Waking up vs. staying awake

I.  The things that lull us to sleep

A.  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and 

    drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in 

    quarreling and jealousy.  – Romans 13:13

B.  For as in those days before the flood they were eating 

    and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until 

    the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were 

    unaware until the flood came and swept them all 

    away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 

    – Matthew 24:38–39

II.  Light keeps us awake (O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the 

    LORD. – Isaiah 2:5)

A.  God’s Word is Light

1.  Go up to the Mountain (Isaiah 2:3)

2.  Psalm 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19–21

B.  Clothed with Light

1.  Works of darkness vs. armor of light (Romans 13:12)

2.  Put on Christ (Romans 13:14)

3.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on 

    Christ.  – Galatians 3:27

C.  Light = Love

1.  Owe no one anything, except to love each 

    other, for the one who loves another has 

    fulfilled the law. – Romans 13:8

2.  Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him 

    there is no cause for stumbling. – 1 John 2:10

3.  For God so loved the world (John 3:16)…Light has come 

    into the world (John 3:19)

What particular sins or life activities do you need to guard against lulling you to sleep?

How are you walking in the light of Christ?