Longing for His Return
1 John 2:28-3:10
- Those Longing for His Return Abide in Christ Now
- Those Longing for His Return Yearn to Be Like Christ Now
- Those Longing for His Return Understand Why They Need a Savior Now
Celebrating His Presence
Matthew 1:18-25
- The Presence of Jesus Comes as the Fulfillment of God’s Promises
- The Presence of Jesus Brings God to Us
- The Presence of Jesus Can Bring Difficulty to Our Lives
- The Presence of Jesus Brings Empowerment for His Mission
- The Presence of Jesus Comes to Us Through Faith
Preparing Him Room
Luke 2:1-20
- In Order to Prepare Jesus Room, You Must Understand Who He Is
- In Order to Prepare Jesus Room, You Must Desire What He Brings
- In Order to Prepare Jesus Room, You Must Respond to His Invitation
Longing for a Savior
Luke 2:22-38
I. We Should Long for a Savior When We See the Brokenness & Hopelessness of Our World
II. We Should Long for a Savior When We See the Oppression, Injustice, & Abuse in Our World
III. We Should Long for a Savior When We See Our Own Sinfulness and Selfishness
IV. We Should Long for a Savior When We Understand Our Need for Holiness and Wholeness
Stewarding Our Resources in Light of God’s Grace
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
I. GOD’S GRACE CAN BRING GENEROSITY OUT OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCE
II. GOD’S GRACE IS MOST CLEARLY SEEN IN CHRIST
III. GOD’S GRACE FUELS OUR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE
a. Christians are to give voluntarily
b. Christians are to give proportionately
c. Christians are to give reciprocally
d. Christians are to give generously
e. Christians are to give graciously
Stewarding Our Work for the Sake of Christ
Colossians 3:22-4:1
I. AS A STEWARD, HOW SHOULD I THINK ABOUT MY WORK?
- Work is part of God’s good purposes for you in creation
- Work is part of your imaging and reflecting God
- Your relationship to work is radically changed through the gospel
II. AS A STEWARD, HOW SHOULD I WORK?
- You should a representative worker
- You should be a thankful worker
- You should be an obedient worker
- You should be a sincere worker
- You should be a fearful worker
- You should be a hard worker
- G. You should be a future-minded worker
- H. You should be a fair and just worker
- I. You should be a generous worker
“The Fullness of Christ”
Colossians 2:11-15
I. WE ARE FULLY UNITED WITH CHRIST IN THE GOSPEL
II. WE ARE FULLY DELIVERED FROM BONDAGE THROUGH CHRIST
III. WE FULLY SHARE IN CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES
Principles of Perseverance Part 2
Colossians 2:8-10
IN ORDER TO PERSEVERE YOU MUST KEEP YOUR GOSPEL GUARD UP
IN ORDER TO PERSEVERE YOU MUST SEE JESUS AS SUPREME, SUFFICIENT, & SATISFYING
Let My People Think
Philippians 4:8
- Christians are to be thinking people
- Christians are to be dependent thinkers
- Christians are to think for the sake of loving
Principles of Perseverance
Colossians 2:6-7
- In order to persevere you must hold fast to your new identity in Christ.
- In order to persevere you must continue to follow Christ Jesus the Lord
- In order to persevere you must embrace complete dependence
- In order to persevere you must examine your heart
Christian Responsibilities
Colossians 2:1-5
- Christians are to love one another.
- Christians are to grow in their understanding of Christ together.
- Christians are to rejoice in the faith of other believers.
Servants of the Gospel
Colossians 1:24-29
- A servant of the gospel will suffer for the sake of Christ and the church.
- A servant of the gospel will rightly steward the word of God.
- A servant of the gospel will strive to make and mature disciples.