Sermons

John 5:1-17

Big Idea: The Power Of Jesus Provides Me Wholeness And Propels Me To Holiness

2 life-changing realities about Jesus:

1) Jesus’ grace is transformational (v. 1-14)

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of air .... But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.”
– Ephesians 2:1-2a; 4-5

My response to the realities of Jesus:
1) Get up (v. 8)
2) Take up (v. 8)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:17

3) Step out (v. 8; 14)

2) Jesus’ power is transcendent (v. 9-17)

And He (Jesus) said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’”
– Mark 2:27-28

John 4:46-54

Big Idea: Seeking, Surrendering, And Submitting To Jesus Provides Peace In My Problems, Confidence In My Crisis, And Direction In My Dilemmas

True Faith:

1) Goes to Jesus (v. 46-47)

2) Shares our heart with Jesus (v. 47-49)

How to share my heart with Jesus (v. 47):
1) Share authentically
2) Share humbly
3) Share specifically
4) Share fervently

3) Places our trust in Jesus (v. 48-53)

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
– John 16:33

4) Obeys the words of Jesus (v. 50-54)

Truth I can trust and obey:
1) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
- Matthew 11:28-30

2) “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
– John 10:9-11

3) “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
– Matthew 6:31-33

4) “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ... I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
– John 14: 1-3; 6

1 Peter 1:3-9

Big Idea: We Have Hope In The Fire Because We Have Been Born For Glory, Kept For Glory, And Prepared For Glorious Joy

Three things that give us hope in the midst of the fire...

1. A Guaranteed Inheritance (v. 3-5)

a. Our Inheritance is Prepared (v. 3)
b. Our Inheritance is Perfect (v. 4)
c. Our Inheritance is Protected (v. 5)

2. Genuine Faith (v. 6-7)

3. Glorious Joy (v. 8-9)

a. Love Christ
b. Trust Christ

“No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight in heaven who does not, in some measure, behold it by faith in this world.”
- John Owen

c. Receive from Christ

“If we love him, trust him, and rejoice in him, then we can receive from him all that we need to turn trials into triumphs.”
- Warren Wiersbe

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Big Idea: The Bible Is God’s Word, So We Must Continue In It Throughout The Christian Life

3 reasons to continue in God’s Word...

1) Because it points us to Jesus. (14-15)

2) Because God wrote it. (16a)

3) Because it’s the foundation for our discipleship. (16b-17)

Luke 2:1-20

Big Idea: Christmas Is The Greatest Giver Of All, Giving The Greatest Gift Of All, To Meet Our Greatest Need Of All

The Good News Of God:

1) Unwrap It (v. 8-14)

Free Gifts From God (v. 10-14):
1) Joy (v. 10)
2) Peace (v. 14)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”
– Ephesians 2:13-14

3) Salvation (v. 11)

2) Receive It (v. 15-20)

5 Ways To Apply The Good News Of God (v. 15-20):
1) Come to Jesus (v. 15-16)
2) Treasure Jesus (v. 19)
3) Worship Jesus (v. 20)
4) Share Jesus (v. 17-18)
5) Believe in Jesus (v. 20)

“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
– John 20:31

Luke 1:57-80

Big Idea: God’s Mercy Is The Foundation Of Our Redemption

God’s Mercy:

1) Produces transformation: worship God because of it (v. 57-68)

2) Provides redemption: surrender and serve God in response to it (v. 67-75)

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”
– Deuteronomy 7:9

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
– Romans 12:1

3) Proclaims salvation: believe and share it (v. 76-80)

3 Truths About Salvation (v. 77-79):
1) Salvation is personal and available (v. 77)
2) God’s mercy makes my forgiveness possible (v. 77-78)

“If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
– 1 John 1:9

3) God’s light is unstoppable (v. 78-79)

“In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
– John 1:4-5

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– Psalm 23:4-6

Luke 1:39-56

Big Idea: Rejoicing Is My Response To Recognizing The Surpassing Greatness Of God

Reasons to Rejoice:

1) Recognize God is always working in, through, and around me (v. 39-45)

2) Remember who God is to me (v. 46-56)

God Is:
1) My Savior (v. 47)
2) Mighty (v. 49)
3) Holy (v. 49)
4) Merciful (v. 50-53)

3) Rest in what God has done for me (v. 46-56)

Luke 1:26-38

Big Idea: A Life Fully Surrendered To God Is Used Powerfully To Accomplish The Purposes Of God

A Life Used Powerfully By God Is Marked By:

1) Humility in response to the grace of God (v. 26-33)

“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14

2) Faithful obedience to God (v. 34-38)

Propelled By God’s Power:
1) The power of the promises of God (v. 35)

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”
– Matthew 1:22-23

2) The power of our triune God (v. 35)
3) The power of the presence of God (v. 28; 35)
4) The power of the people of God (v. 36)
5) The power of the purposes of God (v. 37)

3) Complete surrender before God (v. 38)

Luke 1:5-25

Big Idea: Hope Is Believing The Promises Of God Will Be Fulfilled In The Timing Of God To Accomplish The Purposes Of God For The Glory Of God

When Tempted To Lose Hope:

1) Turn to God fervently because He always hears your prayers (v. 5-19)

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
– Jeremiah 29:12-13

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
– Hebrews 4:16

“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’”
– Lamentations 3:19-24

2) Trust in God fully because He always keeps His promises (v. 13-25)

5 reasons to trust God today:
1) Because God always fulfills His promises (v. 16-17)

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
– Malachi 4:5-6

2) Because it produces joy in all circumstances (v. 14)
3) Because not doing so has severe consequences (v. 18-20)
4) Because God always accomplishes His eternal purposes (v. 16-17; 20)
5) Because through it I experience deliverance (v. 24-25)

Titus 2:11-14

Big Idea: God’s Grace Is Available, Abundant, And Amazing, But It Requires Us To Respond

The Grace of God:

1) The grace of God brings salvation

2) The grace of God trains us to change

3) The grace of God gives us hope