Under Authority

The Main Idea: The Lord trains us in Covenant Certainty through Prayer.

*The Big Question: How does God get us to prayer?

*The Central Point: He Throws Us Into It by:

1.) Moving Us to Ask, “Well, what about…?” (vv. 1-9) – (Application: You learn covenant certainty by asking good questions)

2.) Moving Us to Gather Our Resources (vv. 10-11) – (Application: You build covenant certainty by acting in wisdom)

3.) Moving Us to Spell it All Out (vv. 12-14) – (Application: You get covenant certainty by laying out specific requests before the Lord)

The Main Idea: The Lord’s Covenant Certainty while Walking in the Valley of the Shadow

*The Big Question: How are we to mourn our dead?

*The Central Point: Bury your dead and raise your hope:

1.) Feel the Life (vv. 1-2) – (Application: God takes each life seriously… So should we.)

2.) Bury the Dead (vv. 3-16) – (Application: God takes each death seriously… So should we.)

3.) Live the Future (vv. 17-20) – (Application: God takes your life seriously… So should you.)

The Main Idea: The Lord’s Covenant Certainty: His Plan for the Seed of the Woman

*The Big Question: What’s the Lord’s Vision of the Seed’s ministry?

*The Central Point: His Heart in the Seed’s Calling:

1.) A Sacrificial Calling (vv. 1-8) – (Application: It costs him everything to have you; will you count the cost of following him?)

2.) A Substitutionary Calling (vv. 9-14) – (Application: He does everything to have you; is it worth what it costs you to follow him?)

3.) A Signature Calling (vv. 15-24) – (Application: He makes it clear he wants to have you; doesn’t this make following him worth it for you?)

The Great Aim: The Lord’s Heart in the Seed’s Calling: Providing SO GREAT a SALVATION for you…

The Main Idea: The Seed of the Woman is here to draw all people to himself!

*The Big Question: What’s Jesus here to do?

*The Central Point: He’s calls out to all – revealing:

1.) His Sword (vv. 1-4) – (Application: Are you thrilled or troubled to hear about Jesus?)

2.) His Guidance (vv. 5-10) – (Application: Are you directed or threatened by the appearance of Jesus?)

3.) His Humanity (vv. 11-12) – (Application: Are you joyful or upset at the thought of Jesus?)

The Great Aim: GOD SHOWS US HOW JESUS IMPACTS THE WORLD THROUGH HIS IMPACT ON US!

The Main Idea: The Seed of the Woman is with us to save us to the uttermost!

*The Big Question: Where’s Jesus?

*The Central Point: He’s with us to save us – in the midst of our:

1.) Chaos (vv. 18-20a) – (Application: As the adopted son of a carpenter he escapes death to later die for us)

2.) Rest (vv. 20b-23) – (Application: As the named Son of God he guarantees our salvation and our purpose)

3.) Obedience (vv. 24-25) – (Application: As the named son of Joseph he demonstrates he will be with us to the end)

The Great Aim: GOD WANTS US TO SEE HE WILL FINISH WITH US WHAT HE STARTED FOR US!

The Main Idea: God ensures that history leads us to see the Seed of the Woman’s ultimate work.

*The Big Question: What’s the heart of Jesus’ saving work?

*The Central Point: His Greater Glory – Saving Us…

1.) As a Perfect Representation (vv. 12-16) – (Application: Joseph is Jesus’ adopting Royal Father because God is in control of history for our salvation!)

2.) In a Purposeful Message (v. 17) – (Application: Joseph is Jesus’ adopting Royal Father because God wants us to get the message of salvation!)

The Great Aim: GOD MAKES SURE WE SEE THE WORK OF HIS PLAN FOR JESUS SAVING US!

The Main Idea: The Seed of the Woman who’s not ashamed to call us his brothers!

*The Big Question: How do I know Jesus is MY Savior?

*The Central Point: My guarantee he saves me – His backstory shows me:

1.) Bright Lights with some Dark Alleyways (vv. 2-6a) – (Application: Regardless of how good his people could be, God was determined to save!)

2.) Light Shining in the Dark of Night (vv. 6b-11) – (Application: Regardless of how bad his people could get, God was determined to save!)

The Great Aim: GOD MAKES SURE WE SEE WHOEVER AND WHEREVER WE ARE, JESUS SAVES!

The Main Idea: The Seed of the Woman whose rule blesses all the families of the earth!

*The Big Question: How do we know Jesus is truly our Savior?

*The Central Point:History is HIS STORY of Salvation… God Carefully Documents his GENESIS:

1.) Jesus’ Earthly Origin (v. 1a) – (Application: He alone represents us fully – So rest assured he saves you)

2.) Jesus’ Royal Origin (v. 1b) – (Application: He alone qualifies as our king – So rest assured he’s watchful over you)

3.) Jesus’ Saving Origin (v. 1c) – (Application: He alone binds himself to us – So rest assured he’ll always be with us and for us)

The Main Idea: The Lord’s Covenant Certainty: Isaac’s the Exclusive Heir of the Promise

*The Big Question: Why is everybody laughing?

*The Central Point: GOD names THE Heir…That’s Why!… And that’s why:

1.) Sarah Gets the First Laugh (vv. 1-7) – (Application: You get to enjoy God enjoying you enjoying him)

2.) Ishmael Gets the Next Laugh (vv. 8-14) – (Application: You get to enjoy God setting up your gospel joy)

3.) God Gets the Last Laugh (vv. 15-21) – (Application: You get to enjoy God enjoying being God))

The Main Idea: The Lord’s Great Covenant Reclamation: Unimpeded by Sin!

*The Big Question: Why does the Lord put up with Abraham?

*The Central Point: There’s No Stopping His Reclamation Determination… Not Even Abraham’s:

1.) Stubborn Worrying (vv. 1-7) – (Application: God’s at Work – Can you PERSEVERE?)

2.) Shameful Witness (vv. 8-14) – (Application: God’s at Work – Can you REPENT?)

3.) Successful Ways (vv. 15-18) – (Application: God’s at Work – Can you TRUST?)