SERMON SEEDS L38 FOR 12/21/08
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SERMON SEEDS FOR DECEMBER 21, 2008
WE HAVE MOVED! Rev. Jack Peters is now the pastor of Ringwood Baptist Church in Ringwood, NJ. You may visit their website at http://www.ringwoodbaptist.org.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM PASTOR JACK AND DOTTIE PETERS
THIS WEEKS SERMON SEEDS ARE RERUNS
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE STUDY IN JOHN 1:1-5, 14-17!
FOR ADDITIONAL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR OUTLINES
GO TO http://www.sermonseeds.org AND CLICK
ON CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS.
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SUPERNATURAL INVASION (A Complete Lesson)
John 1:1-5, 14-17
· What are some of the greatest military invasions of all time?
· What are some of the characteristics and results of a successful invasion?
· In what sense is Christmas an invasion?
· How was this invasion different from military invasions?
Some people would not think of John 1:1-5 and 14-17 as a Christmas passage. In reality, it is, because it speaks of the incarnation or God the Son becoming man. Christs arrival can be thought of as a friendly, supernatural invasion. This passage describes our Lord Jesus Christ in the following ways:
HIS ETERNAL IDENTITY - Vss. 1-2
· Vs. 1 - Before the heavens and earth were created the Lord Jesus Christ existed. Genesis 1:1
· The verb was indicates continuing action in the past. There never was a time that Jesus did not exist. He is not a created being.
· Jesus is called the Word. This had significance to both Jewish and Gentile readers.
· To the Jew a word was something concrete, something much closer to what we would call an event or a deed. A word spoken was a deed done. James Montgomery Boice, The Gospel of John, Volume I, The Coming of the Light,(Grand Rapids MI, Baker Books,1999), p.34
· To the Greek philosophers, the logos was the impersonal, abstract principle of reason and order in the universe. It was in some sense a creative force, and also the source of wisdom. John MacArthur, John 1-11, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (Chicago, Moody Press, 2006), p.16
· Based on the two quotes above, how do you view Jesus as the Word?
· It says that the Word was with God. I was once with John Denver (along with thousands of others). Just about every day Im with my wife. Theres quite a difference. To be with someone is to be face to face. Jesus was intimate with God.
· and the Word was God. What are some of the attributes of God that Jesus displayed? Did He ever claim to be God? John 8:56-58
· Vs. 2 Why is this verse significant?
HIS EARTHLY IMPORTANCE - Vss. 3-5
· Vs. 3 - Creation involved the Trinity. That Jesus is creator is attested to in other Scriptures. Colossians 2:16, Hebrews 1:1-2
· Vs. 4 It is phenomenal to think that in Himself Jesus possesses life. We have life, but we are dependent creatures. Jesus has life because He is God.
· As Creator Jesus gives physical life.
· As Savior Jesus gives Spiritual life. John 14:6, John 10:10,
· God is light. As God, Jesus is light. 1 John 1:5, John 8:12, Revelation 21:23
· Vs. 5 The light of the Lord Jesus cannot be comprehended, overcome, or put out by darkness.
· In what ways are the threats of Spiritual darkness serious? Ephesians 6:12
· John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
HIS EXTRAORDINARY INVOLVEMENT - Vss. 14-17
· Vs. 14 When Jesus became flesh He was no less God. He voluntarily limited the use of his attributes. Philippians 2:5-8
· What was the greatest significance of the Old Testament Tabernacle? Exodus 40:34-35
· When Jesus dwelt among us, it means that He pitched his tent with us. In an intimate way God resided with man.
· In what ways did John and others behold the glory of the Lord Jesus?
· How was Jesus glory full of grace and truth?
· Vs. 16 We as Christians have received the fullness of His grace, so that God heaps on us grace upon grace. Ephesians 1:3-7, 2:7
· Vs. 17 Law and grace are both necessary. Why?
· Why are grace and truth wrapped up in our Lord Jesus Christ?
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Matthew 2
LESSONS FOR CHRISTMAS
The Christmas story is full of truths which we can apply to our own lives. Consider these four truths from Matthew 2:
1. GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT Vss. 1-2
Jesus was born at just the right time and in just the right place (Micah 5:2)
The wise men came at just the right time to just the right place.
2. GOD'S ENEMIES ARE TREACHEROUS Vss. 3-8
Satan, through Herod, would do all that he could to destroy the Lord Jesus, including trying to deceive the wise men.
3. GOD'S SERVANTS ARE FAITHFUL Vss. 9-14
a. To go. Vss. 9-10
b. To share. Vs. 11
c. To obey. Vss. 12-14 (The wise men and Joseph obeyed God's directions.)
4. GOD'S PROTECTION IS POWERFUL Vss. 15-23
Satan through Herod tried to destroy Jesus, but God protected His Son.
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Luke 2:21-35
SIMEON
INTRODUCTION - Vss. 21-24
A PROMISE - Vss. 25-26
A Godly man, Simeon was promised that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.
A PERSON - Vss. 27-33
Please note that God's salvation is found in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Simeon saw God's salvation, he had seen Jesus. Vs. 30
A PROPHECY - Vss. 34-35
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Philippians 3:17-21
FOR THE NEW YEAR! NEW YEAR
As we face another year, these words of Paul are a good reminder for us to follow.
OUR CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW YEAR - Vs. 17 - Follow the example of Paul in Godly living and those who are also following his example. Paul and others were not perfect, but still excellent role models.
OUR CAUTION FOR THE NEW YEAR - Vss. 18-19 - Avoid following the example of those who are ungodly.
OUR CITIZENSHIP FOR ETERNITY - Vss. 20-21 - Our citizenship (conversation) is in Heaven right now. We are away from home temporarily. We should be looking for the coming of our Savior, who will transform our bodies to be like His.
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Hebrews 13:5-6
4 C'S FOR THE NEW YEAR NEW YEARS!
As a New Year approaches this passage gives us some positive encouragement.
CONDUCT - "Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness;"
CONTENTMENT - "... and be content with such things as ye have:"
COMPANION - "... for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
CONFIDENCE - "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my
helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
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Ezra 7:10
A NEW YEAR'S EXAMPLE
As we approach another New Year, it is always good to have an example follow. Consider Ezra the Scribe.
EZRA'S PURPOSE - "For Ezra had prepared his heart"
EZRA'S PURSUIT - " to seek the law of the LORD,"
EZRA'S PRACTICE - "... and to do it,"
EZRA'S PROCLAMATION - "... and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."
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PSALM 119:15-16
THIS TIME NEXT YEAR
Christian, where will you be this time next year?
Will you be at the same job?
Will you live in the same house?
Will attend the same school?
Will you have the same friends?
Will your health or the health of your loved ones be the same?
Where will you be this time next year? You can't answer one of these questions with certainty. You can only think you'll be at the same school or be at a new school. You can only think you'll have the same job or a new job. You can only think that your health or the health of another will be same or get worse. You can only think that you'll live in the same place or that you'll move. You can only think that you'll have the same friends or new ones.
Where will you be this time next year? Although you can't answer that question, if you want things to be different, in most cases you'll have to work at it.
Granted, there are things that we can't control, and only God knows for sure where will be and what we will be doing.
But if you want a different job, you'll have to work at finding one.
If want to be in a different school, and you are in a position to make your own decision, you'll have to work at applying at a new school
If you want new friends you'll have to work at developing new friendships.
If you want to live in a different house, you'll have to work at finding a place and moving there.
Health is not as definite. We can't guarantee health. But I do know this, if we want this best health possible next year at this time, we need to work at being healthy.
Now, Christian, let me ask you another question. Where will you be Spiritually this time next year? Will you have become more like Jesus in your behavior? Will you have licked any bad habits? Will your prayer and devotional life improve? Will you be a better witness for Christ? Will you have obeyed 2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ?
You are probably thinking, "I really don't know!"
But let me tell you this: You will be no better off Spiritually this time next year, unless you work at being more Spiritual this year.
To grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is a command to be followed.
So how are we going to make sure that at this time next year we have grown Spiritually?
Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. [2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
First of all, in order to grow in this coming year, we must be yielded to God. Because God has shown us great mercy by saving us, keeping us, loving us, and protecting us, we should present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice. That means we make ourselves available to God to go where He wants us to go, to do what He wants us to do, and to be what He wants us to be.
When we are holy, we are set apart for God.
When we do what is acceptable unto God, we do what pleases Him.
This is our reasonable service. I always think of it as the least we can do.
The work really starts after we yield ourselves to God.
Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to this world. Some have rendered this phrase as "Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold." The world here is the world system, and the Christian is warned against loving the world and being like the world. 1 John 2:15-17
Romans 12:2 tells us that instead of being conformed to this world, we need to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.
A greater transformation has already taken place in your life if you know Christ as Savior.
2 Corinthians 5:17
God's Holy Spirit lives inside of you and has made a great transformation, but He wants that transformation to go even further in this coming year. He wants transformation to continue by the renewing of your mind.
Why must your mind be renewed? Very simply, you are what you think. Luke 6:45
What does the Holy Spirit use to renew your mind?
He uses the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12
If God uses His word to renew our minds, that very simply means that we need to expose our minds as much as possible to the Word of God. That's why you should be in Sunday School, morning service, evening service and prayer meeting.
But there's another way to renew our minds with the Word of God, and that's what I want to talk about in the remaining minutes of this message.
Turn please to Psalm 119:15-16 - I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. [16] I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
There are four things to do here that will renew your mind, if you decide to do just as the psalmist had decided to do. Throughout this passage the psalmist says "I will"!
We are going to begin with the last statement in these verses which reminds us to
Remember - ...I will not forget thy word.
The psalmist says ...I will not forget thy word.
The psalmist was determined to remember God's Word. Why?
The psalmist was determined to remember God's Word because of the transforming power it has in the life. Psalm 119:11, 119:105, Jeremiah 15:16
So my challenge to you is to remember God's Word if you want to be different this time next year.
Here's what I suggest you do:
· Write out a verse on a 3 x 5 card with the verse on one side and the reference on the other. Carry it with you.
· Work on the verse throughout the week so you can say it to someone the next Sunday. Make yourself accountable to somebody for the saying of the verse.
· Save the cards and review them regularly.
Now if you say, I can't memorize, I beg to differ with you. Through repetition you memorize lots of things, including lists of numbers like Social Security or phone numbers. Through repetition you can memorize Scripture.
Also consider this week's memory verse. You can memorize because God will enable you. Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Reflect - I will meditate in thy precepts...
To meditate on something is to mull it over in your mind. It is to reflect on it. It is kind of like a cow chewing her cud. She chews on what she has eaten for awhile, then swallows it and it goes into one of her three stomachs. Later, she brings it up again and chews some more. This way she digests her food.
Reflect on the memory verses that you know.
Mull them over in your mind.
Apply them to your life.
Talk to the Lord about them. Make them a prayer, if that's applicable.
Will this process of meditation really help to renew your mind? Psalm 119:98-99
Respect - ...and have respect unto thy ways.
When I love and respect my Heavenly Father, I will strive not only to memorize and meditate on Scriptures, but I will strive to obey the teachings, the ways of God.
Psalm 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:112 - I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.
Psalm 119:100 - I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
And you know that God is pleased with obedience! 1 Samuel 15:22-23
Rejoice - I will delight myself in thy statutes...
Do you want to know what you really rejoice or delight in?
Consider what you think about most.
Consider what you talk about.
What you talk about will be a dead give away for where your priorities and interests really lie.
I want to go back to a verse we considered earlier.
Jeremiah 15:16 - Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
Jeremiah was called by the name of the Lord God of hosts. In Christian vernacular we would say that he was a child of God.
Because Jeremiah belonged to God, Jeremiah delighted in the Word of God.
Christian, you are a child of God.
Do you rejoice or delight in the Word of God.
Delighting in God's Word will help you meditate on God's Word. Psalm 119:97
Psalm 119:97 - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
So, this time next year where will you be?
Will you have grown Spiritually? Will you be further along in your walk with God?
You will grow Spiritually if you are transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Remember - ...I will not forget thy word.
Reflect - I will meditate in thy precepts...
Respect - ...and have respect unto thy ways.
Rejoice - I will delight myself in thy statutes...
It's decision time now.
Where will you will be Spiritually next year at this has much to do with your commitment to memorization and mediation.
Are you willing to strive to memorize, mediate and review the memory verses this year?
Are you will to be accountable to somebody else while doing it?
Let's Pray
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