Life Church Message 2008-01-13

Obedience Through Suffering

We have a great high priest - Jesus - Heb 4:12-16

God uses his Word to evaluate us. - Heb 4:12-13

Our high priest outranks everyone else. - Heb 4:14

Our high priest understands us. - Heb 4:15; Heb 2:5-18

We can come to him confidently. - Heb 4:16

Jesus learned obedience through suffering - Heb 5:1-14

Jesus confronted difficulties with prayer - Heb 5:7

His prayers were heard because of his reverent submission - Heb 5:7

Jesus learned obedience - Heb 5:8-10

innocence vs. virtue

Temptation - the source of Jesus' suffering - Heb 2:18

Learned obedience perfected Jesus' high priestly ministry.

Temptation and the believer - James 1:2-4; James 1:12-18

Suffering as a result of temptation.

Temptation makes us feel unclean.

Uncleanness keeps us out of "the temple".

Perseverance results in crown of life.

Process of temptation: desire --> sin --> death

Don't let desire drag you away.

Christmas

Jesus' Birth - Luke 2:1-20

Jesus growing - Luke 2:39-52

Let little baby Jesus grow up in your life.

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God - Heb 1:1-4

Let's Go All The Way - Heb 12:1-13

Drop the baggage

Jesus is our example.

Have the right attitude about it - Prov 3:11-12; James 1:12-18

Satan misrepresents God as wanting to keep good things from us.

He did this in the garden of Eden

He does this today largely through the media.

1Cor 10:13 - God provides a way out.

Endure hardship as discipline - Heb 12:7

Endure - Mark 13:13; Luke 8:4-15; Rom 5:1-4; 1Pet 2:20;

Luke 21:19; Rom 2:7; Rom 8:25; 2Thes 1:4; 2Tim 2:11-13

Suffering -> Perseverance -> Character -> Hope - Rom 5:1-5

Our present sufferings - Rom 8:18-39

Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees!

Keep obeying.

Make level paths for your feet!

Get rid of the things that trip you up.

Get rid of the things that make others trip.

Walk In The Light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6

God reveals himself - 1John 1:1-4

This revelation is the foundation for everything else.

Complete joy is a major goal.

God is light - 1John 1:5

Walk in the light and live by the truth - 1John 1:6-7

Let God's light (i.e. his Word and his Spirit) illuminate your life.

Live in such a way that the saints can see what's going on in your life.

God's light exposes sin - acknowledge it. - 1John 1:8-10

Judge yourself - 1Cor 11:28-32; Rev 3:19

Confess without demanding forgiveness.

God can deal with our sin - 1John 2:1-2

Knowing God means obeying him - 1John 2:3-6

Obedience implies repentance.

Strength in Weakness

Don't mistake kindness for weakness - 2Cor 10

Don't measure strength by carnal standards - 2Cor 11

Don't boast about your strengths - 2Cor 12:1-6

When you're weak you are strong - 2Cor 12:7-10

"Thorns in your sides" - Num 33:50-56

Don't use your authority for selfish purposes - 2Cor 12:11-21

We too must learn obedience through suffering temptation

Get the right perspective - God's!

It's not about you - the Kingdom doesn't revolve around your desires.

Suffering can help you perfect obedience.

Anchor yourself to the principles of God's Word.

Let God schedule your good times - Luke 9:23-25; Rom 13:14

Fasting - not manipulating God but breaking our self-addiction!

Preparation

Main Passage

NIV

Hebrew Study Bible

KJV

The Message

NASB

RSV

Exegetical Idea

Subject

Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why

Complement

Developmental Questions

Explain It: What does this mean?

Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?

Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?

Homiletical Idea

Purpose of the Sermon

Make it plain

Use accessible language and modern parables

Make sure people do something with the word God gives you for them.

The Standard - Mat 5 - 7

How to be successful in your endeavors now that it's your season so that you can manifest in the natural what is being birthed in the spiritual.

New Rules - Mat 5:1-12

Context - addressed (and applicable) to disciples only

The Poor In Spirit - Dependent on God

Those Who Mourn - sorrowful over the state of things

The Meek - not self-promoting

New Roles - Mat 5:13-16

New Responsibilities - Mat 5:17-20

Your Anger - Mat 5:21-26

Your Desires - Mat 5:27-30

Your Spouse - Mat 5:31-32

Your Word - Mat 5:33-37

Your Rights - Mat 5:38-42

Your Enemies - Mat 5:43-48

Your Reputation

Alms (Giving) - Mat 6:1-4

Prayer - Mat 6:5-15

Fasting - Mat 6:16-18

Your Property

Accumulating - Mat 6:19-21

Stinginess - Mat 6:22-23

Lifestyle - Mat 6:24-25

Kingdom First - Mat 6:26-34

Your Observations - Mat 7:1-6

Final Points

Look to the Father for whatever you need - Mat 7:7-11

Treat others the way you want to be treated - Mat 7:12

Embrace the restriction of the Kingdom life - Mat 7:13-14

Beware careful whom you follow - Mat 7:15-23

Practice what Jesus preaches - Mat 7:24-27

Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)

Group A: Mat 5:1-12

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples. Are you in that category?

In what ways if any does the term "poor in spirit" apply to you?

What makes you mourn?

How do you feel about meekness?

What do you hunger and thirst for?

Have you received mercy recently? Have you been merciful recently?

Have you been a peacemaker recently?

In what ways have you been persecuted, insulted, or lied about because of Jesus.?

Group B: Mat 5:13-16

In what ways do you act as salt - preserving those around you?

In what ways are you a light for those around you?

Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings

Make sure everyone in your life group has a prayer partner.

Pick a base of operations as a focus for your group's outreach ministry.

Plan a social event for your group to which you can invite some of the unbelievers you've been praying for.

The Standard (Part 1)

Pastor Rocklyn E. Clarke - Sunday January 13, 2008