Northwest Gospel Church - Camas/Washougal

Genesis 2:1-17 | Max Janusch | At the finale of God's creation work, God rests and blesses the seventh day. Moses then returns his focus to the creation of man, the garden of Eden, and God tasking man to "work the ground" in obedience to God. Here, we are reminded that God is the Creator and we are the creatures.

MAIN IDEA

God places his people in paradise.

OUTLINE

I. God modeled rest for man as the finale to his creation. (vv. 1-3)

II. God created man from his creation. (vv. 4-7)

III. God put man in the best of his creation. (vv. 8-14)

IV. God tasked man to obediently cultivate his creation. (vv. 15-17)

Genesis 1:26-31 | Ben Potloff | God's work of creation comes to its high point with the creation of man on the sixth day. After speaking light and life, sky and seas, land and animals into existence, God forms human beings. Making them in his image, male and female, God then puts his creation under the stewardship of humanity who rule on his behalf.

MAIN IDEA

Humans bear God’s image to rule His world.

OUTLINE

I. God created man in His image (vv. 26-27)

II. God created humans as male and female (v. 27)

III. God created humans to have dominion (vv. 26, 28-31)

Genesis 1:2-25 | Ben Potloff | From the earliest verses of Genesis, we get a glimpse of how God brought forth something out of nothing. Here, it begins with God speaking the universe into existence.

MAIN IDEA

God’s Word is powerful.

OUTLINE

I. God created light and life by His Word.

II. God’s creation by His Word was good.

III. God’s shines light and creates new life by His Word.

Genesis 1:1 | Ben Potloff | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1 ESV). What Christians believe to be true comes from what the Bible teaches the most and the clearest (Gavin Ortlund, Finding the Right Hills to Die On). From the very first verse of our Bible, God clearly and epically reveals one of the most important and foundational truths about himself: Before anything was made, there was God, and God made everything.

MAIN IDEA

God made everything.

OUTLINE

I. There is a God who has always been.

II. There is a God who created all there is.

Ephesians 2:17-22 | Max Janusch | Regardless of what we know to be true, Christians often practice their faith in isolation from one another. But, God's plan for his people is so much greater than a personal faith lived out in the seclusion of one's living room. God is saving sinners and is building for himself a people who represent him to one another and the rest of the world. Here, we see that our unity in God is built by God for God.

MAIN IDEA

Our unity in God is built by God for God.

OUTLINE

I. We have been united in Christ with God and one another. (vv. 17-18)

II. We are built on God’s saving revelation of himself. (vv. 19-20)

III. We are being made into God’s holy house. (vv. 21-22)

Luke 2:22-38 | Ben Potloff | Lesser known than the other witnesses of Christ's first advent, Simeon and Anna play a crucial role in God's revelation and Luke's recording of the coming of Jesus. Here, we see two more actors in the Advent story who are left glorifying God after experiencing the Lord Jesus and witnessing the fulfillment of God's promises to his people.

MAIN IDEA

The wait is over, Salvation has come. 

OUTLINE

I. Israel was waiting for their promised salvation (vv. 22-26, 38b)

II. Jesus Christ is the promised salvation (vv. 27-32, 36-38a)

III. Some reject and some receive the promised salvation (vv. 33-35) 

Luke 2:1-21 | Ben Potloff | As God the Son, having taken on human flesh, is born in a manger another glorious scene takes place and another pair of Advent witnesses is introduced. Lowly shepherds are met by heavenly angels who point the way to the birthplace of the long-awaited Savior. Luke continues to highlight the wonderful and mysterious happenings that show just how remarkable the coming of Christ is.

MAIN IDEA

The birth in Bethlehem is reason to rejoice!

OUTLINE

I. The birth in Bethlehem was the fulfillment of a promise (vv. 1-7)

II. The birth in Bethlehem was good news of great joy for all (vv. 8-21)

Matthew 1:18-25 | Ben Potloff | While impossible to miss, we often lose the significance, glory, and mystery of the birth of Jesus. These wonders are put on display in Matthew's account of Jesus' birth, as the long-awaited Savior is born to a virgin in fulfillment of what the prophets spoke long ago. Here, we see that Christmas is about God coming to save us.

MAIN IDEA

Christmas is about God coming to save us.

OUTLINE

I. Immanuel: The baby to be born would be God (vv. 18-20, 22-24) 

II. Jesus: The baby to be born would be Savior (vv. 21, 25)

Luke 1:5-25, 57-80 | Ben Potloff | In Luke's Gospel account, the story of the birth of the one, promised Messiah actually begins with the birth of two babies. Preceding Jesus, we see the miraculous story of John the Baptist and how he testifies to the glory of Jesus even from within the womb!

MAIN IDEA

God’s promised mercy is our perpetual hope.

OUTLINE

I. God’s priest would have a son who would be a great prophet (vv.5-25, 57-63)

II. God’s prophet would prepare His people for the promise (vv. 64-80)

Philippians 4:14-23 | Max Janusch | By his grace and according to his own design, God has determined that one of the primary means for the sending, supporting, and sustaining of gospel workers is the Church. In part, ‘to be the Church’ means to support the work of gospel ministry, to partner with gospel laborers, and to be an agent of encouragement for those putting their hands to the plow of evangelism and church planting. God is exceedingly gracious for calling every Christian to plan a part in this most glorious of tasks.

MAIN IDEA

God is glorified in gospel-advancing fellowship.

OUTLINE

I. Paul commends the Philippians' partnership. (vv. 14-20)

II. Paul encourages with gospel connectedness. (vv. 21-23)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. In what way(s) is it easiest for you to contribute to gospel partnerships? In what way(s) is it hardest for you?

2. What are some barriers that you put up, or leave up, when it comes to engaging in gospel mission? How can the encouragement and support of others help you engage more?

3. How does the Philippians’ partnership with Paul weave through the entire letter? What does this teach you about gospel-advancing fellowship with other Christians?

4. How have you seen “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 23) with the spirit of our church?