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Notes
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Introduction
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Bible Reading 12/27 - 1/2: Zech 10:1 - Mal 4:6; Gen 1 - 4; Rev 18:1 - 22:21; Mat 1:1 - 3:6; Psalm 146 - 150, 1 - 2; Proverbs 30:33 - 31:31; 1:1 - 9
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Review
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God Is Love (Part 1)
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Preparation - Genesis 1:26 - 2:3
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Expository Preaching
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Select the Passage - Genesis 1:26 - 2:3
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Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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God created us in order to love and bless us.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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Love is the determination to benefit others at your own expense.
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Bless ("barakh" in Hebrew) implies benefit, prosperity, wellbeing.
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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God is perfect and self-sufficient.
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God exists in perfect eternal relationship: Father, Son , Holy Spirit.
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God doesn't need us to do anything for him.
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The only purpose we can serve for God is as someone to bless.
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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The way you view God will determine how you relate to him.
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The way you view God will affect his ability to bless you.
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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God is love and love demands expression.
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Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
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Understand that God created you to love you.
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Expect God to be involved in your life.
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Allow God to give himself to you.
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Decide to be a channel of God's blessing to others.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Outline the Sermon
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Standing Issues
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From a word Bishop gave me:
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
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Make it plain:
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Use accessible language.
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Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
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Sitting at a stop light
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Driving through a green light
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Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
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Keep it simple.
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Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
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Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Introduction
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We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
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Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
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There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
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There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
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Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
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God is your Father - don't miss his party!
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We are called to worship together!
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Acts 2:42-47
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Hebrews 13:15
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1Peter 2:4-10
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My experience as BSU Co-Chair 1977 - 1979
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Office equipment from Procurement Department Director
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Computer equipment from IPS Director
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Bulletin board space from Association of Student Activities
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Resources that my peers considered hostile or indifferent were actually willing to help us.
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Many people treat God as if he's hostile or indifferent.
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Transition - What does the Bible say?
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God begins creating - Genesis 1:1-5
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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning — the first day.
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A perfect self-sufficient God goes to the trouble of creating . . .
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Read the Passage - Genesis 1:26 - 2:3
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Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
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Homiletical Idea
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God is love and love demands expression.
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Exegetical Idea
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God created us in order to love and bless us.
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What does this mean?
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Love is the determination to benefit others at your own expense.
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Bless ("barakh" in Hebrew) implies benefit, prosperity, wellbeing.
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Is it True? Do I believe it?
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God is perfect and self-sufficient.
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God exists in perfect eternal relationship: Father, Son , Holy Spirit.
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God doesn't need us to do anything for him.
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The only purpose we can serve for God is as someone to bless.
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What difference does it make? So What?
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The way you view God will determine how you relate to him.
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Just like my view of various MIT officials as a student leader.
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The way you view God will affect his ability to bless you.
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Take these steps:
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Believe that God created you to love you.
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Expect God to be passionately interested in your life.
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Allow God to give himself to you.
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Decide to be a channel of God's blessing to others.
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Believe that God created you to love you.
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God created man personally and with provision - Genesis 2:4-17
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Expect God to be passionately interested in your life.
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Illustrations
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My family was not very invested in me having a girlfriend.
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Uncle Charlie telling Gail to "go home".
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God cares about our relational needs - Genesis 2:18-25
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Allow God to give himself to you.
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God's ultimate plan for Adam and Eve was to give them himself.
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God wanted them to realize their need for him as their relationship progressed.
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Illustration
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My tendency to gravitate towards father figures.
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Decide to be a channel of God's blessing to others.
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God's children love - 1John 4:7-19
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Conclusion
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Believe that God created you to love you.
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Begin reading and reflecting on these Bible passages.
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Start thanking God several times a day for creating and loving you.
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Expect God to be passionately interested in your life.
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Set aside time to talk to God about what's going on in your life.
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If you need help with this ask someone to help you pray.
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Allow God to give himself to you.
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Set aside some time to let God speak to you. Have a notebook and pen available "just in case" he says something you want to remember.
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Write down what comes to mind as you listen.
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If you feel unsure of what you heard, ask someone to help you.
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Decide to be a channel of God's blessing to others.
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Find someone new to be a blessing to this week.
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Get a partner to help you if necessary.
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God Is Love (Part 2)
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Preparation - Genesis 3:8-24
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Expository Preaching
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Select the Passage - Genesis 3:8-24
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Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
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Study the Passage
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|
NIV
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|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
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|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
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|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
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|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
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|
|
|
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God pursues a relationship with us despite our sins.
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Love is the determination to benefit others at your own expense.
|
|
|
|
Bless ("barakh" in Hebrew) implies benefit, prosperity, wellbeing.
|
|
|
|
God could have responded to man's sin with indifference. Instead he demonstrates how much our sin matters to him.
|
|
|
|
God could have responded to man's sin with instant destruction. Instead he delays it.
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|
|
|
God could have responded to man's sin with complete alienation. Instead he continues to relate to man albeit differently.
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|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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|
|
|
God continues his customary visits with Adam and Eve - Gen 3:8-9
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God confronts Adam and Eve about their actions - Gen 3:10-13
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God declares the serpent's judgement - Gen 3:14-15
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God declares the woman's judgement - Gen 3:16
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God declares the man's judgement - Gen 3:17-19
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God provides Adam and Eve with clothing - Gen 3:21
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God banishes Adam and Eve from Eden - Gen 3:22-24
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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God is still reaching out to you!
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God is still going to hold you accountable.
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Expect it.
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Making excuses and shifting blame won't work with God.
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God's judgement is redemptive.
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The serpent's judgement reveals God's plan of salvation.
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Serpent - satan - Revelation 12:1-17;
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The woman will have seed (i.e. offspring).
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Her seed will crush the serpent's head and experience wounding in the process.
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The woman's judgement
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Producing the seed will hurt physically.
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Producing the seed will hurt relationally.
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The man's judgement
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The fulfillment of his destiny becomes painful.
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God cares about your vulnerability.
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God restricts our access to life.
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Eternal life = knowing Jesus - John 17:1-3
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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God loves us even when we blow it.
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Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
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Recognize that God's love doesn't stop when they fail.
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Stop hiding from God.
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Cooperate with God's redemptive plan.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Outline the Sermon
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|
|
|
Standing Issues
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|
|
|
From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Make it plain:
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
|
|
|
Sitting at a stop light
|
|
|
|
Driving through a green light
|
|
|
|
Approaching a yellow light
|
|
|
|
Being cut off in traffic
|
|
|
|
Going shopping
|
|
|
|
Going to a mall
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|
|
|
Going to school; sitting in class
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|
|
|
Going to work; sitting in your office;
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
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|
|
|
We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
|
|
|
|
Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
|
|
|
|
There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
|
|
|
|
Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
|
|
|
|
God is your Father - don't miss his party!
|
|
|
|
We are called to worship together!
|
|
|
|
Acts 2:42-47
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|
|
|
Hebrews 13:15
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|
|
|
1Peter 2:4-10
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My experience in the hospital over Thanksgiving.
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Shame and guilt about my health.
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Many people think God stops loving them when they blow it.
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Transition - What does the Bible say?
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The Fall - Genesis 3:1-7
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Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
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How will God respond?
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|
Read the Passage - Genesis 3:8-24
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|
|
|
|
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
God loves us even when we blow it.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
God pursues a relationship with us despite our sins.
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Love is the determination to benefit others at your own expense.
|
|
|
|
Bless ("barakh" in Hebrew) implies benefit, prosperity, wellbeing.
|
|
|
|
God could have responded to man's sin with indifference. Instead he demonstrates how much our sin matters to him.
|
|
|
|
God could have responded to man's sin with instant destruction. Instead he delays it.
|
|
|
|
God could have responded to man's sin with complete alienation. Instead he continues to relate to man albeit differently.
|
|
|
|
Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
God continues his customary visits with Adam and Eve - Gen 3:8-9
|
|
|
|
God confronts Adam and Eve about their actions - Gen 3:10-13
|
|
|
|
God declares the serpent's judgement - Gen 3:14-15
|
|
|
|
God declares the woman's judgement - Gen 3:16
|
|
|
|
God declares the man's judgement - Gen 3:17-19
|
|
|
|
God provides Adam and Eve with clothing - Gen 3:21
|
|
|
|
God banishes Adam and Eve from Eden - Gen 3:22-24
|
|
|
|
What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
God is still reaching out to you!
|
|
|
|
God is still going to hold you accountable.
|
|
|
|
Expect it.
|
|
|
|
Making excuses and shifting blame won't work with God.
|
|
|
|
God's judgement is redemptive.
|
|
|
|
The serpent's judgement reveals God's plan of salvation.
|
|
|
|
Woman's seed, heel, serpent's head - Revelation 12:1-17;
|
|
|
|
The woman will have seed (i.e. offspring).
|
|
|
|
Her seed will crush the serpent's head and experience wounding in the process.
|
|
|
|
The woman's judgement
|
|
|
|
Producing the seed will hurt physically.
|
|
|
|
Producing the seed will hurt relationally.
|
|
|
|
The man's judgement
|
|
|
|
The fulfillment of his destiny becomes painful.
|
|
|
|
God cares about your vulnerability.
|
|
|
|
God restricts our access to life.
|
|
|
|
Eternal life = knowing Jesus - John 17:1-3
|
|
|
|
Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
|
|
Recognize that God's love doesn't stop when they fail.
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Stop hiding from God.
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Cooperate with God's redemptive plan.
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Let your sphere of influence know: God's not mad at them!
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Recognize that God's love doesn't stop when you fail.
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Believe that God created you to love you.
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God created man personally and with provision - Genesis 2:4-17
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God created man with the capacity for choice.
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Stop hiding from God.
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He's not trying to hurt you or get revenge on you.
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Cooperate with God's redemptive plan.
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Say "Yes!"
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Embrace the pain.
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Let your sphere of influence know: God's not mad at them!
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Conclusion
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???
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God Is Love (Part 3)
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Preparation - Matthew 2:1-12
|
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Expository Preaching
|
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|
Select the Passage - Matthew 2:1-12
|
|
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|
Study the Passage
|
|
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|
NIV
|
|
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|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
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KJV
|
|
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The Message
|
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NASB
|
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RSV
|
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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Jesus' birth had meaning beyond his immediate culture.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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|
Magi (latin) <-- Magos (Greek Plural) <-- Magus (Persian) <-- Magauno (Avestan religious caste of Zoroaster)
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Magi were astrologers from Persia who followed the teachings of Zoroaster.
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The Magi came from somewhere in the east to worship Jesus.
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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It provoked Herod to slaughter the innocents.
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It resulted in Jesus' family becoming refugees.
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
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Jesus transcends culture. He came to save the whole world.
|
|
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God allowed his infant Son to be a target. He loves us enough to identify with us in our vulnerability.
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God allowed his infant Son to be a refugee. He loves us enough to identify with us in our exile.
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God allowed his infant Son to retrace Israel's time in Egypt. He loves us enough to identify with us in our bondage.
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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God's love is for everyone.
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|
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Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
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|
Take Jesus beyond your comfortable circle.
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|
Take Jesus to the vulnerable and rejected.
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Take Jesus to those in bondage.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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|
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|
Outline the Sermon
|
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Standing Issues
|
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From a word Bishop gave me:
|
|
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
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Make it plain:
|
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Use accessible language.
|
|
|
|
Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
|
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Sitting at a stop light
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Driving through a green light
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Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
|
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
|
|
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|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Introduction
|
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|
We had another party for God this morning! Were you there?
|
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|
Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today?
|
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|
There is no substitute for your individual experience with God!
|
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|
There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God!
|
|
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Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents?
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God is your Father - don't miss his party!
|
|
|
|
We are called to worship together!
|
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|
Acts 2:42-47
|
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|
Hebrews 13:15
|
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|
1Peter 2:4-10
|
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|
Cain and Abel - Genesis 4:1-16
|
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|
Mark of Cain
|
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|
God is looking for ways to bless you.
|
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|
You are growing
|
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|
Cain's offering vs. Abel's offering.
|
|
|
|
Two options:
|
|
|
|
independence from God or dependence on God.
|
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|
|
You are always growing on one or the other of these two directions.
|
|
|
|
Transition - What does the Bible say?
|
|
|
|
Read the Passage - Matthew 2:1-12
|
|
|
|
|
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on 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. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
God's love is for everyone.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Jesus' birth had meaning beyond his immediate culture.
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Magi (latin) <-- Magos (Greek Plural) <-- Magus (Persian) <-- Magauno (Avestan religious caste of Zoroaster)
|
|
|
|
Magi were astrologers from Persia who followed the teachings of Zoroaster.
|
|
|
|
The Magi came from somewhere in the east to worship Jesus.
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Read the rest of the story - Matthew 2:13-23
|
|
|
|
It provoked Herod to slaughter the innocents.
|
|
|
|
It resulted in Jesus' family becoming refugees.
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
Jesus transcends culture. He came to save the whole world.
|
|
|
|
God allowed his infant Son to be a target. He loves us enough to identify with us in our vulnerability.
|
|
|
|
God allowed his infant Son to be a refugee. He loves us enough to identify with us in our exile.
|
|
|
|
God allowed his infant Son to retrace Israel's time in Egypt. He loves us enough to identify with us in our bondage.
|
|
|
|
Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
|
|
Take Jesus beyond your comfortable circle.
|
|
|
|
Take Jesus to the vulnerable, the rejected, and the enslaved.
|
|
|
|
Take Jesus beyond your comfortable circle.
|
|
|
|
There are people outside your comfort zone who will welcome the good news.
|
|
|
|
Eva and I watched our grandchildren and cousins enthusiastically opening their Christmas gifts. We need to take Jesus, the ultimate gift, to others. God wants to enjoy others "opening" their gift and we need to be the delivery service.
|
|
|
|
Take Jesus to the vulnerable, the rejected, and the enslaved.
|
|
|
|
God's comfort when you suffer is not just for you - 1Corinthians 1:1-11
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
|
|
|
???
|
|
|
|
New Material
|
|
|
|
Preparation
|
|
|
|
Expository Preaching
|
|
|
|
Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage
|
|
|
|
Study the Passage
|
|
|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Subject
|
|
|
|
Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
|
|
|
|
Complement
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Make it plain
|
|
|
|
Use accessible language and modern parables.
|
|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
|
|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
God Is Love (Part 4)
|
|
|
|
Preparation - John 1:29-51
|
|
|
|
Expository Preaching
|
|
|
|
Select the Passage - John 1:29-51
|
|
|
|
Study the Passage
|
|
|
|
NIV
|
|
|
|
Hebrew Study Bible
|
|
|
|
KJV
|
|
|
|
The Message
|
|
|
|
NASB
|
|
|
|
RSV
|
|
|
|
Discover the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Jesus expresses God's love by welcoming people who have a sincere interest in him!
|
|
|
|
Analyze the Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Jesus is open to people who want to check him out.
|
|
|
|
Jesus doesn't make you "jump through hoops" to get to know him.
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
"I am willing." - Matthew 8:3
|
|
|
|
|
When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
|
|
|
|
Jesus and little children - Matthew 19:13-14
|
|
|
|
|
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
|
|
|
|
Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52
|
|
|
|
|
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
|
|
|
|
The Samaritan woman - John 4
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
Jesus is the Lamb of God - John 1:29, 35-36
|
|
|
|
Jesus is accessible
|
|
|
|
You can get to know Jesus
|
|
|
|
Formulate the Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
The door is open - come on in!
|
|
|
|
Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
|
|
Pay attention when the Lamb of God walks by. - John 1:36
|
|
|
|
Drop what you're doing and start following Jesus. - John 1:37
|
|
|
|
Check Jesus out seriously - spend the day with him. - John 1:38-39
|
|
|
|
Tell the rest of your circle about Jesus. - John 1:40-42
|
|
|
|
Let Jesus change your name. - John 1:42
|
|
|
|
When Jesus calls you follow him. - John 1:43
|
|
|
|
Tell the rest of your circle about Jesus. - John 1:45-47
|
|
|
|
Let Jesus reveal who you really are. - John 1:47-48
|
|
|
|
Let Jesus reveal himself to you. - John 1:50-51
|
|
|
|
Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
|
|
|
|
Outline the Sermon
|
|
|
|
Introduction
|
|
|
|
Introduce Jacob
|
|
|
|
Grandson of Abraham
|
|
|
|
Wanted the birthright that his brother Esau despised.
|
|
|
|
On the run from his brother Esau.
|
|
|
|
Jacob's Ladder - Genesis 28:10-22
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
|
|
|
|
Transition
|
|
|
|
Jacob's desire for the birthright became a vehicle for all of us to receive a birthright.
|
|
|
|
Through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God has granted all of us the riht to access tohim.
|
|
|
|
What will you do with your rights?
|
|
|
|
Read the Passage - John 1:29-51
|
|
|
|
|
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
Jesus expresses God's love by welcoming people who have a sincere interest in him!
|
|
|
|
Homiletical Idea
|
|
|
|
|
The door is open - come on in!
|
|
|
|
Explain It: What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
Jesus is open to people who want to check him out.
|
|
|
|
Jesus doesn't make you "jump through hoops" to get to know him.
|
|
|
|
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
|
|
|
|
This is consistent with what we see Jesus say and do in other passages.
|
|
|
|
"I am willing." - Matthew 8:3
|
|
|
|
|
When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
|
|
|
|
Jesus and little children - Matthew 19:13-14
|
|
|
|
|
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
|
|
|
|
Bartimaeus - Mark 10:46-52
|
|
|
|
|
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
|
|
|
|
The Samaritan woman - John 4
|
|
|
|
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
|
|
|
|
Jesus is the Lamb of God - John 1:29, 35-36
|
|
|
|
Jesus is accessible
|
|
|
|
You can get to know Jesus
|
|
|
|
Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do):
|
|
|
|
When Someone Tells You About Jesus
|
|
|
|
Pay attention when the Lamb of God walks by. - John 1:36
|
|
|
|
Drop what you're doing and start following Jesus. - John 1:37
|
|
|
|
Check Jesus out seriously - spend the day with him. - John 1:38-39
|
|
|
|
Tell the rest of your circle about Jesus. - John 1:40-42
|
|
|
|
Let Jesus change your name. - John 1:42
|
|
|
|
When Jesus Calls You
|
|
|
|
When Jesus calls you follow him. - John 1:43
|
|
|
|
Tell the rest of your circle about Jesus. - John 1:45-47
|
|
|
|
Let Jesus reveal who you really are. - John 1:47-48
|
|
|
|
Let Jesus reveal himself to you. - John 1:50-51
|
|
|
|
You need to be accessible to the people who are drawn to Jesus in you!
|
|
|
|
Allow God to use you to draw and transform others.
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
|
|
|
|
There is no fear in love - 1John 4:7-19
|
|
|
|
|
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
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Let's let God's love drive us to love and serve one another.
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Let's let go of our fear in approaching God.
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Let's be people who make God approachable rather than scary for the people who come to us.
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Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion
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Welcome Cards - refer to script
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Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26
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“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
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Men's Prayer
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Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
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Genesis 28:10-22
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Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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Consider Jacob's vow in response to God's promise. How do you respond to God's love? How does your response compare to Jacob's?
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John 1:29-51
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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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The first two disciples spent the day getting to know Jesus. How do you get to know Jesus? What role does prayer play? What about the Bible?
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What opportunities have you had to spend time with spiritual leaders? How have you taken advantage of these opportunities? How can your life group or your church help you in this area?
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How available are you for other people to learn about Jesus from you?
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Jesus gave Simon a new name. How has Jesus changed your identity?
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1John 4:7-19
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Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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How do you show your love for other followers of Jesus? Can they count on you? Can your life group count on you? Can your church? How so?
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Through Jesus, God is inviting us to a closer relationship with him. Do you struggle with any fears about a closer relationship with God? Are you afraid of punishment for any reason? Discuss.
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Witnessing Activities
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1John 4:7-19
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
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Allow God to give himself to you.
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Take some time to let God speak to you.
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Write down what comes to mind as you listen.
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If you feel unsure of what you heard, ask someone to help you.
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Decide to be a channel of God's blessing to others.
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Is there anyone that you could be a blessing to this coming week? Tell your life group and get a partner to help you if necessary.
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Scriptures For 01/03/2010 Life Church Sermon
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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
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Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”
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The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote — Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip.
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
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|
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Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he first loved us.
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