Guest Speaker Blake Fullington

Text: Luke 2:21-38

Main Point: God’s faithfulness to His promises calls us to wait on Him with trust and hope.

Sermon Outline:

1. God’s faithfulness in his covenant. (vv. 21-24)

2. God’s faithfulness to Simeon. (vv. 25-35)

3. God’s faithfulness to Anna. (vv.36-38)

Text: Matthew 1:18–25

Main Point: The Incarnation reminds us that God is for us and with us in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Glory of the Incarnation

A. The story of how human beings need to escape their bondage to the material world.

B. The story that the physical world is all that there is.

C. The story of how the Creator invaded his creation to rescue a race of wretched rebels.

II. The Comfort of Immanuel

A. God’s Purpose

B. God’s Presence

III. The Centrality of the Gospel

Text: Galations 4:4–5

Main Idea: Becoming a child of God is not a matter of a one’s birthright or behavior but redemption and adoption through Jesus Christ alone.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Faithfulness of God

II. The Reason Jesus Came

III. The Benefit We Receive

Text: James 4:11-12

Main Idea: When we are judging fellow believers, we are not walking in humility before the Lord.

Sermon Outline:

I. What Does It Mean To Speak Evil Against Our Brother? (James 4:11a)

II. What Does It Mean To Judge Our Brother? (James 4:11b)

III. Why Does Judging Matter to God (James 4:11c–12)

Text: James 3:13-18

Main Idea: The wisdom from above will always produce righteousness and peace not arrogance and conflict. 

Sermon Outline:

I. The Necessary Link Between Wisdom and Works (James 3:13)

II. The Nature and Works of Earthly Wisdom (James 3:14–16)

III. The Nature and Works of Heavenly Wisdom (James 3:17–18)

Text: James 3:1-12

Main Idea: The tongue discloses more about our maturity than our doctrine ever will.

Sermon Outline:

I. TheThesis: The tongue measures our _________________ (James 3:1–2)

II. The Proof: The tongue cannot be controlled by ______________ _____________ (James 3:3–8)

III. The Conclusion: The tongue discloses the ____________________________ of our _______________ (James 3:9–12)

Elder Greg Griesemer filled in for Pastor Mark Kernan this week.

Text: Philippians 4:4-7

Sermon Outline:

1) Resolve: Keep your peace during trials by deciding that your joy will be in _______________ alone.

2) Relax: anticipating the return of _____________ Jesus.

3) Remember: God has your problems under _________ _____________.

4) Respond: by _____________ your energy where it matters.

5) Request: _______________ God to be God and letting God be God.

6) Receive: enjoy peace in your ________ and ____________.

Text: Jeremiah 23:1–14

Main Idea: The sovereignty of God and the promises of God encourage the people of God to pursue the welfare of their city in a way politics alone cannot. 

Sermon Outline:

I. God is Sovereign over His People’s Exile (Jeremiah 29:1–4)

II. God Has a Purpose in His People’s Exile (Jeremiah 29:5–9)

A. Establish a Presence in the City

B. Pursue and Pray the Welfare (Shalom) of the City

C. How Should We Seek the Welfare (Shalom) of Our City Today?

III. God Has Promised to Return for His Exiled People (Jeremiah 29:10–14)

Text: James 2:14-26

Main Idea: Good works are the necessary product of genuine, saving faith. 

Sermon Outline:

I. Faith that is Not Accompanied by Works is Not Saving Faith (James 2:15–17)

II. Faith and Works Are Not Two Different Paths to Salvation (James 2:18–19)

III. Saving Faith is Confirmed in a Life of Faith-Filled Works (James 2:20–26)

TEXT: James 1:26-2:13

Main Idea: Undefiled religion—that is true Christianity—is driven by a heart of mercy not self-serving partiality.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Difference Between Empty and Undefiled Religion (James 1:26–27)

II. The Not-So-Subtle Sin of Partiality (James 2:1–7)

III. The Law of Liberty and the Judgment of God (James 2:8–13)

A. The Danger of Partial Obedience

B. Two Important Questions

C. The Main Point