How should we respond to the birth of the King?

 I. We are called to be in the center of God's will (vs. 8)

 II. We are called to fear not (vv. 9)

 III. We are called to rejoice (vv. 10-13)

 IV. We are called to praise (vv. 14-19)

 V. We are called to experience and know the King (vv. 16-21)

 Conclusion: Has the King's birth changed your life?

God keeps and honors His promises to His people

 I. God fulfilled His promised miracle to preserve His people. (Isaiah 7)

a. Preserve them from destruction

b. Preserve them from hopelessness 

 II. God fulfilled His promised miracle to deliver His people (Isaiah 7)

a. The "miracle" of Judah's deliverance

b. The miracle of humanity's deliverance in Christ

 III. God fulfilled his promised miracle to rule His People (Isaiah 9)

 IV. God fulfilled His promised miracle to save His people (Isaiah 9)

a. Salvation from darkness and distress through Jesus Christ

b. Salvation from sin and death through Jesus Christ

 Conclusion: Handing over the darkness to the Cross and Christ 

The First Coming is part of an eternal plan that we do not deserve but are a part of anyway. 

 I. The First Coming occurred even though God knew our rebellion.

a. He knew before creation.

b. He knew in the garden.

 II. The First Coming occurred, in part, because of us and in spite of us.

a. Because of humanity's rebellion.

b. Because He doesn't give up on His children.

c. Because of His life for His children.

 III. The First Coming occurred to crush the head of Satan.

 Conclusion: The First Coming is God's love and victory for His People. 

I.    Christ the Eternal. (John 1)

a. He pre-existed creation. (John 1:1)

b. He was the agent of creation (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16).

c. He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8,  22:13).

 II.  Christ the God-Man. (John 1:1, 14).

A. What doesn't this mean?

1. He was NOT half-man and half-God.

2. He was NOT just a man.

3. He was NOT just divine.

4. He did not “become” divine.

B. What DOES this mean?

1. He has two eternal and distinct natures (Colossians 2:9).

2. He became flesh during the incarnation (Matthew 1:18-24).

3. God has literally walked in your shoes (Hebrews 4:15)

  | GOD | MAN

 | He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2, 11; 14:33) | He worshiped the Father (John 17)
| He was called God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8) | He was called man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5)
| He was called Son of God (Mark 1:1) | He was called Son of Man (John 9:35-37)
| He is prayed to (Acts 7:59) | He prayed to the Father (John 17)
| He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15) | He was tempted (Matt. 4:1)
| He knows all things (John 21:17) | He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52)
| He gives eternal life (John 10:28) | He died (Rom. 5:8)
| All the fullness of deity dwells in Him (Col. 2:9) | He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39)

Theme: In order for us to raise up this generation in Christ, we must be a reflection of Christ.

 Point 1- We must be unleashed for Christ. Verse 5.

Point 2: We must commit ourselves to the lord every day. Verse 6.

Point 3: We need to give this generation a firm foundation on Christ verses 6-9.

Point 4: We must then continue to train ourselves so we can then train and raise up this generation verses 6-9. 

Conclusion: Are we living every day for Christ and are we being a reflection of Christ?

Because we are a church seeking truth by embracing an authentic relationship with Jesus, we share the gospel locally and abroad. 

 I. We are called to be a spiritual "preservative" locally and abroad. (vs. 13)

a. We must retain our flavor

b. We must avoid pollution

 II. We are called to be a light in the darkness locally and abroad (vs. 14)

 III. We are called to be unashamed of our love for Christ locally and abroad (vv. 15-16)

a. Let others know who you serve

b. Show others who you serve

c. Don't forget who you serve

 Conclusion: How is your light shining to those around you? 

God is drawing the most unlikely of people into serving for His Kingdom, including you.

 I. We are called to minister to the most unlikely of people, even when others will criticize us. (vv. 1-3)

a. Loving others will get people talking.

b. Loving others will bring you criticism.

 II. We are called to minister to the most unlikely of people, especially when God will direct us. (vv. 4-10)

a. Like Peter, we must challenge our presuppositions of others.

b. Like Peter, we must make sure our views are in fact the Biblical view. 

 III. We are called to minister to the most unlikely of people, and not try to get in God's way. (vv. 11-18)

a. Go where God leads you and have no hesitation

b. Go towards and accept God's grace with no hesitation

Conclusion: No further objections and praise God for what he's doing in your life and the lives of others. 

What right do we have to be angry at God's justice and mercy?

 I. Just as His thoughts are not our thoughts, His justice and mercy are not our justice and mercy.

a. Jonah wanted vigilante justice

b. Jonah wanted vindictive retribution

 II. Just as Jonah would rather die than truly live, humanity chooses resentment over reconciliation.

a. Resenting others

b. Resenting God

c. Resenting grace

 III. Just as Jonah thought he had a right to bitterness, humanity chooses weight over bitterness

a. The weight of grudges

b. The weight of hatred

c. The weight of self

 IV. Just as Jonah had a short-sighted view of grace, God's people sometimes need an expansion of God's love.

a. God's love for the other

b. God's love for the lost

c. God's love for our neighbor

d. God's love for us

Conclusion: Lay down your anger at the Cross

Theme: God can raise us up from self-inflicted ruin

 I.  Repentance precedes restoration (vv. 1-4)

a. Jonah reached a literal and figurative bottom

b. Jonah brought about his decent 

c. Jonah was lifted up by God through repentance 

 II. Dead-ends precede new directions (vv. 5-6)

a. Jonah was facing literal and metaphorical death

b. Jonah found hope from hopelessness 

 III. Rebirth precedes resurrection (vv. 7-10)

a. Jonah was born-again

b. Jonah was delivered from death

c. Jonah's deliverance is a picture of the Cross

 Conclusion: Have you died to self and live in Christ? 

Theme: Embrace God's leading for your life.

 I. God's leading for our life sometimes will clash with our plans (vv. 1-3)

a. His thoughts are not our thoughts

b. His ways are always better than our ways 

 II. God's leading for our life will sometimes initially bring conflict (vv. 4-10)

a. Storms of our own creating

b. Rebellion of our own creating

 III. God's leading for our life will sometimes lead us to bottom out (vv. 11-17)

a. God's permissive will allows us to run

b. God's direct will causes us to listen

c. Our sin and rebellion will lead to personal bondage 

 Conclusion: Are you trying to resist God's great plan for your life?