Intro:  What is Sisu, and do you have it?

* “As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” – Luke 9:51

II.  What constitutes Sisu, and what does not…

A.  Feeling like your efforts have been futile and that you are 

              alone

B.  Cultural Clash

C.  Calling fire down from heaven to destroy

1.  Wind, Earthquake, & Fire

2.  Whisper 

D.  Following in spite of uncertainty

E.  But first let me…

1.  What takes priority over following Jesus?

2.  “Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the   

                        plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom     of God.’” – Luke 9:62

F.  Exercising Freedom

1.  Works of the flesh

2.  Fruit of the Spirit

G.  “Passing the Mantle” on to someone else

III.  Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem – True Sisu

In what areas of your life can you exercise greater Sisu?

How does the Sisu demonstrated by Jesus as He resolutely set out for Jerusalem give you encouragement and motivation?

Isaiah 65 & Luke 8 

Intro:  Horror movies a popular genre

I.  Is it real?

A.  Science dismisses as myth

B.  Our culture has reacted to the ignorance of the past

II.  Satan and Demons

A.  Satan’s position (Rev.12:7-9,17)

1.  Before Jesus’ victory on the cross

2.  After

B.  What are demons and what was/is their position (Jude 6, Luke 8:31)

1.  Some imprisoned

2.  What is the abyss?

C.  Occultism in Isaiah 65

D.  Practices at the time of Jesus

E.  Occultism in America today

III.  Freedom and Power in Christ

A.  God keeps a remnant

B.  They have their time

C.  Elementary spirits of this world (Gal. 4:2)

D.  Jesus breaks their leverage

E.  The Spirit takes their place

What events in history do you think had a strong demonic influence?

Have you ever experienced directly something that you think was demonic?

“

John 8:42-59

Intro:  Jesus has a contentious conversation with the Jewish leadership

I.  Jesus does most things well, why not always communication?

A.  Jesus’  Words are not meant to be understood by some

B.  The Holy Spirit makes Jesus’ words clear to those who     belong to God

C.  The Leaders see the miracles, but they can’t     comprehend God incarnate

D.  Why not?  Is this still a problem for some people?

E.  Waiting for some to be “born of God”

II.  Claiming to worship the God of Abraham is not enough

A.  The God they do not know

B.  What is the difference between knowing and knowing     about God?

C.  Children of the Devil vs children of God

III.  Jesus knows the Father

A.  The proof isn’t in His words

B.  Abraham knows of the coming of Jesus

C.  Who is Jesus?  Yahweh

What is the biggest thing you learned from this passage?

Do you feel like you know God or just know about Him?

“Jesus’ Prayer”

John 17:20-26

Intro:  Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

I.  Jesus’ Greatest Concern for His Disciples

A.  Satan’s tactic:  divide and conquer

B.  For whom is Jesus praying?

1.  The initial 11

2.  Also for those who believe through their message

C.  Was Jesus concerned for no reason?

D.  How can Satan have so much success at this?

E.  Was Jesus’ prayer answered?

II.  Acknowledging Our Ongoing Unity and Disunity

A.  One in the body of Christ

B.  The “invisible” church

C.  Doctrine and institutions

1.  Where are our fault lines?

2.  How does it matter?

3.  Do we need institutions?

III.  Moving Forward

A.  Unity and Love matter

B.  Jesus must teach us

C.  Grace must cover

D.  We will have complete unity

What bothers you the most about denominational divisions in the Church?

How do you feel we should or should not interact with Christians from other church bodies?

Intro:  Are you surprised by trouble in your life?

 

I. You will have trouble and tribulation

A. Struggling to understand

B. Troubles faced by the apostles

C. Scattered by failure

II. Jesus has overcome the world

A. Jesus faced trouble and tribulation

B. Resurrection

C. Leaves the world and returns to the Father

III. You may have peace

A. Biggest question answered

1. Lamb =

2. Bride =

3. 12 gates & 12 foundations =

4. “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:22-23, 27

B. Living in love and faith = joy complete

C. Loved by the Father

D. You are not alone

IV. “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this

world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

– John 16:33

 

How are the troubles of this world robbing you of your joy?

“

Acts 20:17-35

Intro:  What would be your parting words?

I.  Would your words have credibility?

A.  What have people seen in you?

B.  Paul’s cred

1.  Served with humility

2.  Spoke fearlessly the whole counsel of God

3.  “Innocent of the blood of all”

4.  Never covetous

5.  Hard work

6.  Giving of himself

C.  Regaining credibility

II.  What do you value?

A.  What is learned from the world

B.  Paul’s values and message

1.  His meaning of life (Acts 20:24)

2.  Be alert

a.  Fierce wolves

b.  Twisted truth

C.  What should be valuable to us?

What sort of impression have you left with people so far in life? (What do they think of you?)

What is the meaning of your life?

Revelation 5:1-14

Intro:  How would you describe Jesus?

I.  What came next for Jesus?

A.  His descent into Sheol

B.  Deliverance of the Old Testament righteous

C.  Resurrection and appearance to His disciples

D.  Expulsion of Satan from Heaven

E.  The opening of the Scroll

II.  Who is worthy?

A.  Worthy is the lamb who was slain  

B.  Righteous enough, Loving enough, Brave enough

C.  He “purchased” men for God

D.  What is the scroll?

1.  The power of God’s Word

2.  A conditional future

3.  Judgment and deliverance

III.  We join the inhabitants of Heaven in praise!

A.  Angels, Cherubim and the Elders

B.  Every creature

C.  We praise Jesus for what He has done for us

What do you feel about the scenes described in the Book of Revelation?

Do you ever struggle to come up with motivation to worship Jesus?

Intro:  The power of keys

* Key of Knowledge*  “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” – Luke 11:52* But these are written that you may believe… (John 20:31)* Key of the House of David*  “I will place on His shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut, and none shall open.” – Isaiah 22:22* Revelation 3:7* Keys of Death and Hades* “Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the living One. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” – Revelation 1:17-18* Given to an angel (Revelation 9:1 & 20:1)* Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven* “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” – Matthew 16:19* Given to all disciples (John 20:23)* Other Keys* Hiding behind locked doors in fear (John 20:19)* Jesus brings peace, sends, & gives the Holy Spirit* Yet fear and doubt linger* Open the prison doors (Acts 5:19)* To tell people the words of Life* Paul in Rome & John in Patmos* “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.’” – Acts 5:29-30

What sort of “locked doors” do you hide behind that hinder you from carrying out God’s will?

What doors has God opened for you to tell others the words of Life?

“Delivering On the Promise”

Intro:  “If God is who He says He is this wouldn’t have happened”

I.  He promises a New Heaven and New Earth (Isa. 65, 2 Peter 3:10, Rev. 21 & 22)

            A.  God didn’t have to promise or do anything.  He wanted to.

                        1.  He loves us

                        2.  He sympathizes with us

            B.  God wants to remake creation similar to how it was supposed to be

                        1.  No sin or the curse

                        2.  No Satan 

                        3.  Resurrected body

                        4.  Incorporated nature

                        5.  Heaven and Earth

                        6.  Post-judgment Day creation

II.  From Death to the Day

            A.  This is where we can experience Heaven

            B.  Only those covered by the death of Jesus

            C.  What is it like?

III.  From now until our death

            A. What is not promised

                        1.  Exemption from the curse

                        2.  Elimination of your sinful nature

            B.  What is promised

                        1.  God’s presence, forgiveness and love

                        2.  A sharing of the divine nature

“Serving Jesus”

John 12:20-43

Intro: “You’re too young for that”

I.  Why is this the hour?

         A.  Greeks want to see Jesus

         B.  A sign of Satan’s weakening grip

II.  The hour for what?

         A.  Jesus’ mission

         B.  Jesus’ sacrifice for mankind

         C.  Satan’s expulsion from Heaven

         D.  The removal of Satan’s absolute hold on mankind

         E.  It would not be easy

III.  Why did the people misunderstand the mission of the Christ?

         A.  Because God needed them to misunderstand

         B.  The Christ will remain forever

                  1.  Psalm 110:4

                  2.  Isaiah 9:7

                  3.  Ezekiel 37:25

                  4.  Daniel 7:14

IV.  We serve Jesus

         A.  He served us first

         B.  We have been “drawn” to Him

         C.  What is our “life”?

         D.  The Father will honor the one who serves me

Have you ever held back from serving Jesus for any reason?

How can you honor Jesus this week for “serving” you?