“The Hope of Advent”
Romans 15:8-13
I. THE PATIENCE OF HOPE
II. THE PURPOSE OF HOPE
III. THE POWER OF HOPE
“Thank God for Do-Overs”
John 21:1-19
I. Jesus Calls the Disciples
II. Peter Denies Jesus Three Times
III. “Follow Me”
“The Grace and Glory of Adoption”
Romans 8:14-17
I. SPIRITUAL ADOPTION GIVES US A NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST
II. SPIRITUAL ADOPTION GRANTS US ACCESS AND INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER
III. SPIRITUAL ADOPTION GUARANTEES AN INHERITANCE
“Unless the Lord Builds the House”
Psalm 127
I. The uselessness of human self-sufficiency and effort
II. The blessing of divine gifts.
“The Need of Personal Faith in Jesus”
Matthew 11:25-30
I. THE SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS HIDDEN FROM THE WORLD - v. 25-26a.
II. THE ABSOLUTE CONNECTION OF KNOWING JESUS AND KNOWING THE FATHER - vv. 26b-27.
III. JESUS ALONE REVEALS THE FATHER AND INVITES US TO KNOW THE FATHER THROUGH HIM - vv. 28-30.
“The Spiritual Habit of Sharing the Gospel”
John 20:19-22
I. JESUS CAME TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS.
II. JESUS EXPECTS HIS DISCIPLES TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE OF GOSPEL SHARING.
III. JESUS CONTINUES TO SEND US TO SHARE THE GOSPEL.
IV. JESUS EMPOWERS HIS DISCIPLES FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT
“The Spiritual Habit of Stewardship”
A definition of biblical stewardship: Utilizing and managing all of God’s provided resources for his glory and the benefit of creation – “The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it" (Psalm 24:1).
I. JESUS STEWARDED HIS TIME
II. JESUS STEWARDED HIS RESPONSIBILITIES AS A JEWISH CITIZEN
III. JESUS STEWARDED HIS RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS
IV. JESUS STEWARDED HIS CALLING AND MINISTRY
“The Spiritual Habit of Fasting”
Matthew 6:16-18 & 9:14-17
I. THE MEANING OF FASTING
II. THE TYPES OF BIBLICAL FASTS
III. JESUS’ TEACHING ON FASTING
IV. THE SPIRITUAL HELP THAT FASTING FROM THE HEART CAN BRING
1. Fasting from the heart helps you strengthen your prayers.
2. Fasting from the heart helps you seek God’s guidance.
3. Fasting from the heart helps you lament and express grief.
4. Fasting from the heart helps you seek deliverance and protection
5. Fasting from the heart helps you to express repentance and the return to God
6. Fasting from the heart helps you to express humility before God
7. Fasting from the heart helps you to express concern for the work of God
8. Fasting from the heart helps you to minister to the needs of others
9. Fasting from the heart helps you to overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God
10. Fasting from the heart helps you to express love and worship to God
“The Spiritual Habit of Service”
John 13:1-17
I. JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE OF SERVING OTHERS
II. JESUS SERVED OTHERS OUT OF LOVE
III. JESUS SERVED OTHERS IN THE MIDST OF HIS CIRCUMSTANCES
IV. JESUS SERVED OTHERS DESPITE HIS POSITION
V. JESUS SERVED OTHERS DESPITE THEIRS
VI. JESUS SERVED OTHERS TO ULTIMATELY POINT THEM TO THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL
“The Spiritual Habit of Worship”
John 8:25-30
I. JESUS LIVED A LIFE OF UNCEASING WORSHIP
II. JESUS UNCEASINGLY WORSHIPED BY THE THINGS HE DID
“Teach Us to Pray…Like Jesus” Part 2
Matthew 6:5-13
I. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES EXPECTING THEM TO PRAY
II. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY BASED ON THEIR INTIMACY WITH THE FATHER
III. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY FOR GOD’S GLORY AND PURPOSES
IV. JESUS TEACHES HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY FOR THEIR DAILY NEEDS AND STRUGGLES
“The Second Coming of Jesus Christ”
Revelation 19:4-16
I. Our Loving God controls all things and will have the last word. Revelation 19:4-6
· He reigns from His Throne in Heaven today. 19:4- “The twenty four elders…fell down and worshipped God that sat on His Throne, saying, Amen, Alleluia.”
· He will reign universally in “That Day.” 19:6- “Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.”
II. The Church will not fail. Revelation 19:7-9
· The Lamb died for His Church and will come for her. 19:7- “For the marriage of the Lamb is come.”
· The Church will be the Bride of Christ.” 19:7- “His wife has made herself ready.”
· The Church is preparing herself with holy living. 19:8- “Fine linen is the righteous works of the saints.”
· The Church is God’s place of blessing now and in eternity. 19:9- “Blessed are they which are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.”
III. Prophecy will be fulfilled. Revelation 19:10
· Jesus is the Center of our worship. 19:10- “The testimony of Jesus- worship God.”
· Jesus is the Center of Bible prophecy.19:10- “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Luke 24:44- “And He said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you while I was yet with you, that all must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning Me.”
IV. Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord, will come again! Revelation 19:11-16
· He will come from Heaven- 19:11- “Heaven opened.”
· He will come as He promised- 19:11- “Faithful and True.”
· He will come as Judge and Sovereign- 19:11- “To judge and make war.”
· He will come as “The King of Glory.” 19:12- “Many crowns.”
· He will come to claim His earth. 19:13- “Clothed with a vesture dipped in blood.”
· He will come as God’s final word- 19:13- “And His name is called The Word of God.”
· He will come with His angels and His Church. 19:14- “Armies in Heaven followed Him.”
· He will come with a rod of iron- 19:15- “He shall rule them with a rod of iron.”
· He will come as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Amen and Hallelujah!
“Comfort one another with these words.” “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
“Teach Us to Pray…Like Jesus”
Luke 11:1-4
I. JESUS PRAYED AS THE REGULAR HABIT OF HIS LIFE
II. JESUS PRAYED BEFORE AND AFTER PUBLIC MINISTRY
III. JESUS PRAYED ALL NIGHT BEFORE NAMING HIS DISCIPLES
IV. JESUS PRAYED FOR HIS DISCIPLES TO PERSEVERE
V. JESUS PRAYED BEFORE HIS ARREST, TRIAL, AND CRUCIFIXION
VI. JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY
“Abiding in the Word of Christ”
John 8:31 & 15:7-11
I. JESUS SATURATED HIS LIFE WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
II. BELIEVERS MUST SATURATE THEIR LIVES WITH CHRIST AND HIS WORD.
“Growing in the Word”
Luke 2:41-52; 4:1-22
I. Jesus’ parents taught him the importance of spiritual habits
II. Jesus sought to know and understand the scriptures himself
III. Jesus grew in wisdom and understanding through his spiritual disciplines
IV. Jesus was committed to obeying God’s word
V. Jesus was committed to sharing what he had learned with others
VI. Jesus was committed to fulfilling God’s will for his life
“Broken Walls & Burned Gates”
Nehemiah 1:3-11
Introduction – More than Stones and Timber – the walls & gates represented the Identity, Security, and Prosperity of God’s people!
I. He was a Man of Anguish.
The news literally Dropped him to the Ground.
II. He was a Man of Boldness.
The Bold plan began to Unfold during his season of Prayer!
III. He was a Man of Commitment.
There are a Few things worth Fighting for!
IV. He was a Man of Determination.
We must never Quit; never Come Down from our Wall of God’s Call in our lives!
Question – Who do I Know that is Near to me, but Far from God?
“For the Purpose of Godliness”
I Timothy 4:6-10
I. THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL HABITS
II. THE PROMISE OF SPIRITUAL HABITS
“We Do Not Lose Heart”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
I. LIFE IS FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LOSE HEART
II. WE DON’T LOSE HEART BECAUSE GOD IS TRANSFORMING US IN THE PRESENT
III. GOD’S PRESENT POWER AND PERSPECTIVE FLOW TO US THROUGH FAITH
“Faith in Difficulties”
1 Peter 1:6-9
I. REAL JOY AND REAL GRIEF
II. TRIALS ALLOW US TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR FAITH
III. THE CONNECTION OF FAITH AND LOVE
“Hospitality, Partnership, and the Mission of the Church”
3 John
I. THE MODEL OF GAIUS
II. THE DANGER OF DIOTREPHES