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.

October 4 2015 Game On: Selfishness

Game On: It's Time To Change Our World

“Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.”  - Philippians 2:4

Jesus on Being a Servant: (Jesus) “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,whoever wants to be first must become your slave.  Even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:26-28 

SIX SIMPLE WAYS TO BREAK FREE OF SELFISHNESS

1.  CONNECT MY FAMILY. 

“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God will give you.” - Exodus 20:12 

2. ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES. 

“Don’t use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” - Ephesians 4:29 

3. PRAY FOR MY FRIENDS. 

“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks.” - 1 Timothy 2:1

4. INVITE MY FRIENDS TO CHURCH. 

“Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.” - Colossians 4:5 

5.  HELP SOMEONE IN NEED. 

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD –  and he will repay you!” - Proverbs 19:17

6. ADOPT THE HUMILITY JESUS.

“Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his  rights as God. made himself nothing; took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross.” - Philippians 2:5-8

Memory Verse: (Jesus) “The greatest among you must be a servant.” - Matthew 23:11

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 27 2014 Finding My Significance Through Service

Finding My Significance Through Service 

God on Film Part 5

Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)“We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Job 10:8 (NIV) “Your hands shaped me and made me.”

Spiritual Gifts

• Heart
• Abilities
• Personality
• Experiences

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) “Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.”

Matthew 20:28 (LB) Jesus: “Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...”

LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS

1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.

Matthew 20:30-32 (NIV) “Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.”

Proverbs 3:28 (TEV) “Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”

1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

Philippians 2:4 (MSG)“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)“If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.”

3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

Luke 16:13 (NIV)“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money."

2. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING THANKFUL

John 11:41-42 (NIV) “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here...’"

Psalms 100:2 (KJV) “Serve the Lord with gladness.”

2 Timothy 1:9 (LB) “It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was His plan...”

1st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING

Romans 14:4 (GW)“Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful.”

2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS

Matthew 6:1 (CEV) “When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.”

August 18 2013 Beyond GPS Staying The Course

Beyond GPS: Staying The Course

James 1:5 “If you need wisdom – if you want to know what God wants you to do – ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.”

THE DANGERS OF GETTING OFF COURSE

• I will miss Relationships God has for me.
• I will miss Opportunities that God has for me.
• I will miss the Spiritual Growth that God has for me.

Ephesians 4:14-15“We are not meant to remain as children ... but to grow up in every way into Christ...”

Memory Verse: Proverbs 14:14“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

THREE REGULAR HABITS THAT KEEP ME ON COURSE

1. I Apply WHAT I READ FROM THE BIBLE.

2 Timothy 3:16-17“The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God's way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.”

James 1:22“Do not fool yourselves by just listening to the Word. Instead, put it into practice.”

2. I Talk to God WITH PERSONAL PRAYERS.
 
Philippians 4:6“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

3. I Invite My Friends TO A SUNDAY SERVICE.

Matthew 20: 19-20“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.