December 20 2015 Revealing The Purpose Of Christmas

REVEALING THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS

Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:10 – I bring you good news of great joy.

Five Wonderful Purposes of Christmas:

1. God reaches out to every person.

Verses 8-9- And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them.

Job 36:7 – He does not take His eye off the righteous.

Isaiah 64:8 – We are all the work of God’s hand.

2. God releases your fears.

Verses 10-11 – Do not be afraid, A Saviour has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.

Examples:

• Storm tossed sea Matthew 14:27
• At His resurrection Matthew 28:10
• At the last supper John 14:27

1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sin.

John 16:33 – But take heart, I have overcome the world.

Matthew 6:33 – Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all those things will be given to you as well.

3. God recovers your lost condition.
Verse 11 – A Saviour has been born to you.

Luke 19:10 – Jesus said, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 – I did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give My live a ransom for many.

John 12:47 – I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

4. God reproduces His life in you.
Verse 14 – Peace to men on whom His favor rest.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

5. God needs your response.

Verses 16-17 – So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a manger.  When they had seen Him they spread the word.

John 6:47 – I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

April 26 2015 Dealing With Difficult People

Dealing With Difficult People

“Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.” – Romans 12:18  

*The Story of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-10)*

When faced with a difficult person I should...

• Consider God’s Purpose.

“So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  For when your  endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”  – James 1:4

• God want to expose me
• God want to grow me
• God wants to deploy me

“And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?”  – Matthew 7:3

• Communicate Kindness.

A gentle answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  “– Proverbs 15:1

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.”  – Galatians 5:22-23

• Confront Conflict.

“For the spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.””   – 2 Timothy 1:7

“Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail. I assure you that you won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.”  – Matthew 5:25-26

• Cultivate Jesus’s Heart.

“I'm challenging you.  I'm telling you to love your enemies.  Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with prayer….If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that.”   – Matthew 5:44,46

Memory Verse: “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”   – 1 John 4:11

November 30 2014 The Good News of Christmas

The Good News of Christmas

Matthew 1:23 – The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son and they will call Him Immanuel, which means God with us.

Why God Sent Jesus At Christmas

I. To reveal God’s identity.

John 1:18 – No one has ever seen God.  The only one, who is the same as God has made Him known.

John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and lived among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only Son who came from the Father.

John 14:8-9 – Philip said, “Lord show us the Father”, Jesus answered, “Don’t you know Me Philip”?  “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”

II. To relate God’s Word to us.

John 18:37 – Jesus said, “In fact for this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth”.

Jesus said, “When you know the truth, the truth will set you free.”

John 12:46 – Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.

III. To recover God’s creation.

Luke 19:10 – Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Matthew 20:28 – I did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give My life as a ransom for many.

John 12:47 – I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

IV. To reproduce God’s life in you.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.”

2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

John 6:47 – I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

July 20 2014 Dealing With Difficult People

God on Film (Planet of the Apes) Dealing With Difficult People 

5 kinds of difficult Apes

1. The Hostile Ape.
2. The Know It All Ape.
3. The Complainer Ape.
4. The Back stabber Ape.
5. The Unreliable Ape.

• The Story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich.” - Luke 19:1-2

WHEN FACED WITH A DIFFICULT PERSON, I SHOULD...

1. DETERMINE GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE RELATIONSHIP.

Luke 19:3-5“[Zacchaeus] tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said.”

God allows difficult people in my life so He can...

• ŽUse Me
• Show Me
• Grow Me

James 1:2-4“Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

2. DECIDE to respond with kindness. .

Luke 19:5-7 “‘Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.’ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the crowds were displeased. ‘He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,’ they grumbled.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

3. DON’T Avoid the real issue .

Luke 19:8 “Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’”

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

4. DEVELOP Jesus’s heart for people. .

Luke 19:9-10 “Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.’”

Matthew 5:44-46(Jesus) “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven….If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.”

1 John 4:11 “ Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.”

December 9 2012 Experiencing Christ At Christmas

EXPERIENCING CHRIST AT CHRISTMAS
Luke 2:8-20

Luke 2:10 - I bring you good news of great joy.

Five Wonderful Facts.

1. God reaches out to every person.
Verses 8-9 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them.

Job 36:7 - He does not take His eye off the righteous.

Isaiah 64:8 - We are all the work of God’s hand.

2. God releases your fears.
Verses 10-11 - Do not be afraid, a Savior has been born to you, He is Christ the Lord.

Examples:

• The stormy sea. Matthew 14:27

• At His resurrection. Matthew 28:10

• The Last Supper. John 14:27

1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.

John 16:33 - But take heart, I have overcome the world.

Matthew 6:33 - Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all those things will be given to you as well.

3. God wants to recover our lost position.
Luke 2:11 - A Savior has been born to you.

Luke 19:10 - Jesus said, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.

Matthew 20:28 - I did not come into the world to be served, but to serve and give My life a ransom for many.

John 12:47 - I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.

4. God can reproduce His life in you.
Luke 2:14 - Peace to men on whom His favor rest.

John 10:10 - Jesus said, I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.

2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

5. God needs your response.
Luke 2:16-17 - So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in a manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word.

John 6:47 - I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.