November 29 2015 Realizing The Heart Of Christmas

REALIZING THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS

Matthew 2:1-10

Five Truths To Remember

1. We must move beyond religious practice.

Matthew 2:2 – We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.

Verse 6 – Who will be the shepherd of my people.

Matthew 3:7-8 – You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

2. Our faith must move faith to the heart.

Matthew 2:8 – Herod said..go and make careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.

Matthew 15:8 – These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

3. We must understand no one is too far away.

Matthew 2:1 – Wise men from the east came to Jerusalem.

4. We must make our surrender real.

Matthew 2:9 -11 – After they had heard the King, they went their way and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary and they bowed down and worshiped Him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

5. We must decide to be obedient.

Matthew 2:12 – They returned to their country by another route. They had diving instruction to go a different route.

May 22 2011 Grace And Mercy

GRACE & MERCY

1. Definitions of Grace and Mercy.

Mercy is not getting what we deserve.

What are some definitions of Grace:
G.R.A.C.E. God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
Unmerited favor.
Grace is getting what we do not deserve.

Ephesians 2:1-8
Acts 9:13
Acts 9:15

It is God’s Grace that saved Paul and it’s God’s grace that
saves us.

2. God’s Grace gives us the power to minister.

Acts 9:20–21
I John 3:15
I John 4:20
I Cor. 15:9-10

3. God’s grace gives us the ability to live an obedient life.

God’s Grace is the power of salvation, it is the power to be a minister of Christ and thirdly it is the power to live an obedient life.

How can God’s Grace be the power to lean an obedient life?

1. God’s Grace is amazing.
2. Develops a sense of gratitude, of thankfulness and a thorough understanding that a favor has been granted to them.
3. The Christian who operates under GRACE knows he is given the power to give God’s GRACE away.

Acts 16:25

When we give God’s Grace away souls are saved.

Acts 16:28
Acts 16:30

ISN’T GRACE AMAZING?