Westside Chapel Sermons

Modeling the Incarnation
Christmas in Carols
Philippians 2:3-11

Context
A model of selflessness: the incarnation, vs. 5-11.

• The mind of Christ, v. 5.
• The preexistence of Christ, v. 6.
• The incarnation of Christ, v. 7. 
• The humiliation of Christ, v. 8.
• The exaltation of Christ, vs. 9-11.

The Spirit of the Incarnation
The exhortation to selflessness, vs. 3-4.

Ken Mitchell, Pastor
Westside Chapel

Worship of the King
Christmas in Carols
Matthew 2:1-12, We Three Kings

Context
Matthew 1:25

The arrival of the magi, vs. 1-2.
Herod's response, vs. 3-4.
The prophecy of Messiah's birthplace, vs. 5-6.
Herod's plan, vs. 7-8.
The worship of the king, vs. 9-11.
Divine protection, v. 12.

What do we learn?

• In this child, God is again dwelling among His people.
• This child is worthy of worship 
• This child will one day receive the worship of the nations

Psalm 22:27-28

Ken Mitchell, Pastor
Westside Chapel

God with Us
Christmas in Carols
Matthew 1:18-2,  What Child is This?

What Child is This?
Written by William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898)
To the melody of Greensleeves

Context
Matthew 1 
Matthew 1:6 
Matthew 1:16 

Matthew’s Account of the Birth of Christ, 1:18-25
Isaiah 7:14 
Isaiah 8:9-10
Isaiah 9:6-7
Psalm 98:2-3 

Conclusion

Who is this child?
Messiah – He is the Anointed One. He is the promised king that has come from the promised line of Abraham, and the royal line of David.
Immanuel – He is God with us.
Yeshua – He is the salvation provided for all people to deliver them from their sins. 

What does this mean for us? 

• We are more sinful than we ever dared believed.
• We are more loved than we ever dared hope. 
• The God with us, is the God who delivers from sin. 

Billy Poe, Associate Pastor
Westside Chapel

Something to Sing About
Christmas in Carols
Psalm 98, Joy to the World 

Joy to the World
Context
Sing to the Savior, vs. 1-3
Exodus 15:4-6
Isaiah 52:9-10
Exodus 34:6
Sing to the King, vs. 4-6
Psalm 95:1-3
Sing to the Good Judge, vs. 7-9

Conclusion:
 According to the Psalm, Israel should sing to the Lord because:  

• He has provided them a great salvation. 
• He is their King who gives them joy with his rule over them. 
• He is their Judge who will provide them justice and peace. 

Likewise, Christians can sing to the Christ the Lord because:   

• He has provided them a great salvation from their sins.
• He presently rules and resides in the hearts of Christians, providing us joy and peace in times of need. 
• He will one day return as the Good Judge over this world, and He will make all things right in the world.

Revelation 21:1-5 

“No more let sins and sorrows grow,
 Nor thorns infest the ground;
 He comes to make his blessings flow
 Far as the curse is found.”

Billy Poe, Associate Pastor
 Westside Chapel

Loving Well
Life in the Son: Belief, Obedience, and Love, The Book of 1 John
1 John 3:10b-18

Context
Righteousness and love in the Christian life, v. 10b.
The command to love, vs. 11-12.
The reality of hate, vs. 13-15.
Hate in the world, v. 13.
Abiding in death, v. 14.
Hate is murder, v. 15. 

Loving like Christ, vs. 16-18
Our example for love, v. 16.
The essence of God's love, v. 17.
Loving in deeds, v. 18.

Summary and Conclusion
God desires righteousness and love
The command to love is the new commandment from Jesus
The failure to love is abiding in death and is tantamount to murder
Our example to love is found in Christ
God's love responds to those in need
Love must be more than words

Dr. Ken Mitchell
Westside Chapel

A Call to Conscientious Righteousness
Life in the Son: Belief, Obedience, and Love- The Book of 1 John
1 John 3:4-10

Outline: 

• Sin is an offense to God, v. 4. 
• Christ died because of sin, v. 5. 
• Indifference toward sin says we really don’t know God, v. 6. 
• Sin is a part of the lie of the devil, v. 7. 
• Sin is aligning ourselves with the devil, v. 8.
• Sin obscures our identity as a child of God, vs. 9-10.

So what is John saying to us?

• Sin is an offense to God.
• Christ died because of our sin.
• Indifference toward our sin says we really don’t know God.
• Sin is a part of the lie of the devil.
• Sin is aligning ourselves with the devil.
• Sin obscures our identity as a child of God.

Dr. Ken Mitchell
Westside Chapel 

Treansformative Realities
1 John 3:1-3
Life in the Son: Belief, Obedience, and Love- The Book of 1 John

Context
The transformative love, v. 1. 
The transformative presence, v. 2. 
The transformative hope, v. 3. 
Summary 

• The transformative power of the love of God
• The transformative presence of God
• The transformative hope 

Dr. Ken Mitchell
Westside Chapel 

The Battle Continues
1 John 2:24-29
Life in the Son: Belief, Obedience, and Love- The Book of 1 John

The deception in the world, vs. 25-27.
The certain promise of God, v. 25.
The reality of deceivers, v. 26.
Our sufficiency, v. 27.
The challenge of His coming, v. 28.
Those born of God, v. 29. 
Summary and Application

The battle for the truth continues… 

1. The cardinal truth of Christianity, that eternal life is in Jesus Christ alone, is under attack. John writes to warn us of deceivers.  
2. Our sufficiency in this battle for the truth is the anointing of the Spirit who enables us to understand the truth of the Word of God. 
3. We want to live in such a way that we will not be ashamed to stand before the Lord when He returns.
4. What is really needed are those who really live out the righteousness of Christ. 
5. What is really needed are those who really live out the righteousness of Christ. 

Dr. Ken Mitchell
Westside Chapel 

The Battle for Truth
1 John 2:18-24
Life in the Son: Belief, Obedience, and Love- The Book of 1 John

The enemy is all around us, vs. 18-19.
Our weapon in the battle, vs. 20-21.
The target of attack, vs. 22-23.
Our response to the attack, v. 24.
Summary
We are in a battle, and the outcome is worth fighting for… 

• The enemy are the antichrists.
• Our weapon is our anointing, the Holy Spirit Himself that resides in us.
• The target of the attack is the truth that Jesus is the Christ. 
• Our response in this attack is to abide in the Word of God

Dr. Ken Mitchell 
Westside Chapel 

A Very Real Struggle
1 John 2:12-17
Life in the Son: Belief, Obedience, and Love - The Book of 1 John. 

Westside Chapel
Dr. Ken Mitchell 
October 13, 2019