Remember Me

 Intro:  Coping with death by remembering

* “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.” – Luke 23:42* We long to be remembered* We too easily forget* “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” – Luke 23:31* Some things we want forgotten* Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your lovingkindness remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD. – Psalm 25:6–7* “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” – Luke 23:43* God remembers His people (Genesis 8:1; 19:29; 30:22; etc.)* God remembers His promises (Exodus 2:24…Luke 1:72)* “Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, stretching out the heavens by Myself and spreading out the earth all alone.” – Isaiah 44:21–22, 24* Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His name. “They shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up My treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” – Malachi 3:16–17* I will cause Your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore the peoples will give You thanks forever and ever. – Psalm 45:17.

How do you want to be remembered?

In what ways does God’s remembrance of you impact your life as a disciple?

Intro:  Discouragement about the world

I.  God loves the world, but… (John 3:16-20)

A.  His desire isn’t to damn or destroy

B.  The price Jesus was willing to pay to save

C.  BUT..Men loved darkness instead of light

D.  God will judge because people choose evil

II.  Should we be discouraged or defeated

A.  The day waits so that some may be saved

B.  How do we fight evil?  With good!

C.  What will be the response?

D.  We must be realistic

III.  The Day of Vengeance

A.  Enough is finally enough

B.  Judgment Day:  A day of reward and destruction

C.  The resurrected body..ashes and stubble?

D.  Does this teach a final, non-eternal judgment?

E.  Our response on that day

1.  Leaping like calves released from the stall

2.  The sun of righteousness with healing in its wings

What discourages you about the world’s future or the people in it?

How does this picture of Judgment Day make you feel? 

God of the Living 

Intro:  Honoring Veterans 

* What is a Veteran?* “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this He called you through our Gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:13–14* “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’” – Exodus 3:11* God does not call the qualified, God qualifies those He calls* The Church Militant* “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:15* Wear the uniform* Robe of Righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 7:9)* Armor of God (Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:10–17)* Train* For war (2 Samuel 22/Psalm 18)* With perseverance (2 Timothy 2:3-6; Romans 5:1-5)* Through Scripture (2 Timothy 3:10–17)* Maintain* Trajectory (Matthew 28:19-20)* Encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:4; Hebrews 3:13)* Accountability (Galatians 6:1-5; James 5:16)* Mentorship (Proverbs 27:17)* “But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” – Luke 20:37–38

How did God call you through the Gospel?

How are you actively living out God’s call in your life?

Intro:  How do you want to be grieved?

I.  What are we?

A.  We are body and spirit

B.  Created for a relationship

C.  Severely damaged

D.  Still loved and redeemed

II.  Death

A.  It is a consequence of our damage

B.  We wouldn’t want to live forever as we are

C.  The sorrow that comes with death

1.  The struggle with the aging and dying process

2. The loss(interruption) of relationships    with those we love

III.  Life that is truly life

A.  Washed in the blood of the Lamb

B.  The end of sin and the curse

C.  The end of sorrow

D.  What about those left behind

1.  The separation of death is inevitable

2.  Love people enough to grieve them

3.  Live well enough to be missed

4.  Celebrate death in Christ

What is the most difficult part of losing somebody to death for you?

Do you tend to think of death as the end of something or the beginning of something?  Why?

John 8:31-36

 Intro:  As Americans we are free, right?

I.  What the Constitution can’t grant you

A.  The Bondage of Sinful Nature

1.  Genetic tendencies for life

2.  Can’t “find” Jesus

B.  Condemned by the Law

C.  Under the influence of Satan

II.  The Truth will set you free

A.  What is truth?

B.  “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”

C.  Satan’s top mission was to obscure the truth

III.  Freedom

A.  No worries about death or Judgment Day

B.  Not free of sinful nature yet, but it’s coming

C.  Empowered to live free by the Holy Spirit

1.  Not addicted

2.  Motivated by love

3.  Resistant to temptation

Where are you still not taking full advantage of your freedom in Christ?

What does being “free indeed” mean to you?

1 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Intro:  Jacob wrestles with God

I.  Wresting with (against) God

A. We struggle with what we do not see

B. We struggle with God’s way of responding          to prayer

C.  We struggle with our mission in life

II.  Being trained through the power of the Word

A.  Wise for salvation

B.  Training in righteousness

C.  Equipped for every good work

D.  Able to continue

III.  The real wrestling

A.  The sinful nature of man

1.  Not everybody wants truth

2.  They want “their” truth

3.  The myths of our age

B.  Satan’s kingdom

C.  Fulfill your ministry

Is there some issue that is causing you to wrestle with God?

How are you wrestling with your ministry?

Intro:  Life is full of changes.

* Ruth* Ruth’s Story

1.    Elimelech & Naomi; Mahlon & Chilion

2.    Famine – moved to Moab

3.    Elimelech dies; sons marry Moabite women – Orpah & Ruth

4.    Mahlon & Chilion die

5.    Famine over

* “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’” – Ruth 1:16* Through family, many come to know the Lord* Naomi* Naomi’s story

1.    From full to empty

2.    Boaz – relative of Elimelech – wealthy land owner

3.    Boaz meets Ruth – fall in love & marry

4.    Son = Obed, Jesse, David

* “Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may His name be renowned in Israel!’” – Ruth 4:14* Redeemer – from Boaz to Jesus* “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” – 2 Timothy 2:8–10* Changes & Challenges

1.    Those who are hurting

2.    Those who are missing

3.    Those who are stuck

4.    Your God is My God is Their God

What changes are you currently facing, and how might God be working through these changes?

Whom do you know who is facing changes and may benefit from you reaching out?

“Children of God”

Intro:  Foster care and adoption are a part of our world

I.  Why do we have foster care and adoption?

A.  “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will     receive me.”  – Psalm 27:10

B.  “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s       desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the 

                  truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his 

                  own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” – John 8:44

C.  “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in 

                 order that we might be justified by faith.” – Galatians 3:24

II.  What does foster care and adoption mean for us as Christians?

A.  “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all 

                of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves      with Christ.”  – Galatians 3:26–27

B.  “But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the 

      right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the 

      will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12–13

C.  “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into 

                 fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by 

                 whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears 

                 witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if 

                 children, then heirs.” – Romans 8:15–17a.

D.  “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are 

      mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through 

      the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you 

      shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the 

      LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” – Isaiah 43:1b–3a

How can you be a blessing in tangible ways to people around you who are impacted by foster care and adoption?

How does your adoption as a child of God, connected to Christ in your Baptism and through faith, give you comfort, joy, and hope?

Intro:  If someone told you that we have been invaded by aliens…

I.  Satan Cast Down

A.  His role and access before Jesus’ victory

1.  Heaven and Earth

2.  A Guardian Cherub (Ezek. 28:12-15)

3.  His capabilities? (Job 1 & 2)

4.  Accusations  (Rev. 12, Zech. 3, Jude 9)

B.  Satan’s expulsion from Heaven

1.  War

2.  Cast out

a.  Some to prison (the Abyss?) 2 Pe.2:4

b.  Some to Earth

3.  His demeanor

a.  Filled with fury

b.  Enraged at the woman (Israel)

c.  Making war on the disciples of Jesus

II.  The Effect of Spiritual Beings on Us

A. Not revealed to everyone

B.  An ongoing struggle here

C.  What is their influence on the actions of mankind?

D.  The authority of the name of Jesus

1.  Resist

2.  Pray

What are your reasons to doubt the existence of Satan and demons?  What are the reasons to believe it?

Do you feel that you have had any direct or pronounced interaction with Satan or demons?

Intro:  Is it hard to relate to the lost sheep?

I.  Who Does Jesus Care About?

A.  Who are “His” sheep?

1.  A group that can/will ultimately be His

2.  No one identifiable group

3.  I don’t know who is and who isn’t in the group

B.  Lost sheep

1.  Those who are wandering, but are baptized

2.  Those who have not been part of the “flock” so far

3.  These people come in all types

4.  We were once lost sheep

5.  Our “brotherhood” with lost sheep

II.  Who Is Looking for the Lost Sheep

A.  Jesus is

1.  We don’t lead the search

2.  We are only brought into the search

3.  How does He do this?

B.  Our role versus His role

1.  Availability

2.  Sharing a heart for the lost

3.  Understanding what you can’t do

4.  Spirit led inclusion in the process

Do you feel like you value the salvation of other people?  How do you show it?

Are there certain groups of people you dislike or dismiss as permanently lost?