Seeing God’s Spirit at Work
1 Samuel 16:13-23
I. GOD’S SPIRIT IS ESSENTIAL TO LEADING GOD’S PEOPLE
II. GOD’S SPIRIT WILL PLACE US IN UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS TO PREPARE US FOR SERVICE
III. GOD’S SPIRIT DESIRES TO USE US WHEREVER WE ARE FOR THE GOOD OF OTHERS
When God Chooses a Leader
1 Samuel 16:1-13
I. GOD CARES MORE ABOUT PROPER LEADERSHIP THAN ANYONE
II. GOD DOES NOT CHOOSE LEADERS THE WAY WE WOULD CHOOSE
A. The dangers of our own impressions
B. The necessity of allowing God to direct us
C. God is more interested in our hearts than anything external
D. External appearances neither qualify or disqualify us for God’s service
III. GOD CHOOSES BASED ON HIS WISDOM, NOT OURS
A. God’s wisdom sometimes defies parental wisdom
B. God wisdom tramples on human understanding and logic
C. God wisdom chooses unlikely people to accomplish his purposes
D. God wisdom upends our well-planned conventions
IV. GOD PREPARES AND EQUIPS HIS LEADERS FOR ADVERSITY
The Fall of a King - Part 2
1 Samuel 15:12-35
I. Saul is a man who wants to make his name great
II. Samuel is a man who wants to make God’s name great
III. Saul is a man who will use religion to excuse disobedience and please himself
IV. Samuel is a man who will obey without excuse to please God
V. Saul is man who fears and blames others for his failures
VI. Samuel is man who fears God and therefore does not fear any man
VII. Saul is a man who only understands external, formal worship
VIII. Samuel is man who understands that formal worship cannot be substituted for obedience
IX. Saul is a man who doesn’t understand who God is
X. Samuel is man who does
The Fall of a King Part 1
1 Samuel 15:1-11
I. GOD GIVES CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO SAUL
II. SAUL GIVES GOD PARTIAL OBEDIENCE
III. GOD REGRETS MAKING SAUL KING
Make Disciples
Matthew 28:16-20
I. THE POWER & AUTHORITY OF JESUS - I AM LORD OF ALL
II. THE PURPOSE & AIM OF ALL CHRISTIANS - MAKE DISCIPLES
A. What is a disciple?
A disciple believes that Jesus is the Christ
A disciple follows Christ as Lord.
A disciple learns from Christ
A disciple loves and obeys Christ
A disciple serves Christ by serving others
A disciple is sent like Christ to make disciples
B. How do we make disciples?
We make disciples by prayerfully sharing the gospel with people over time.
C. Where do we make disciples?
III. THE PROMISE & ASSURANCE OF JESUS - I AM WITH YOU
Love People
Matthew 22:34-40
WHAT LOVE IS NOT:
Love is not a random force.
Love is not an overwhelming force.
Love is not an uncontrollable force.
Love is not self-gratification.
Love is not positive affirmation.
WHAT LOVE IS:
Love is an act of the will, accompanied by emotion, that leads to action on behalf of its object (Voddie Baucham).
I. LOVING GOD AND LOVING PEOPLE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW
II. LOVING PEOPLE IS A VISIBLE DEMONSTRATION OF LOVING GOD
III. LOVING PEOPLE REQUIRES SACRIFICE
You must be willing to sacrifice partiality and prejudices
You must be willing to sacrifice comfort & convenience
You must be willing to sacrifice like Christ
Love God
Mark 12:28-34
WHAT IS LOVE?
Love is rooted in the nature of God.
“Love is an act of the will, accompanied by emotion, that leads to action on behalf of its object.” (Voddie Baucham)
Love is volitional; love is sacrificial; love is secure.
I. LOVING GOD IS THE GREATEST COMMAND OF ALL
II. ALL OF OUR BEING AND FACULTIES ARE MEANT FOR LOVING GOD
III. LOVING GOD CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM LOVING CHRIST
Finding Rest in Jesus
Matthew 11:28-30
I. COME TO JESUS
II. TAKE HIS YOKE
III. LEARN FROM HIM
The Song of the Redeemed
Revelation 5:1-14
I. NO ONE IS WORTHY TO BRING ABOUT GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSES
II. THE LAMB ALONE IS WORTHY
A. The Lamb is worthy because he has conquered through his death
B. The Lamb is worthy because he has all power
C. The Lamb is worthy because he sees all things
D. The Lamb is worthy because he gives the Spirit without measure
E. The Lamb is worthy of the worship of heaven
F. The Lamb is worthy of the prayers of the saints
G. The Lamb is worthy of a new song
H. The Lamb is worthy of the worship of every nation, tribe, & tongue
I. The Lamb is worthy of the worship of everything in all of creation
Simeon and Anna’s Song
Luke 2:8-21
I. JESUS IS BORN TO RIGHTEOUS PARENTS
A. They demonstrate their righteousness by obeying God’s Word to circumcise Jesus
B. They demonstrate their righteousness by obeying God’s Word to name Jesus
C. They demonstrate their righteousness by obeying God’s Word to dedicate Jesus
D. They demonstrate their righteousness by obeying God’s Word for purification after pregnancy
II. JESUS IS MET BY RIGHTEOUS & READY WORSHIPERS
III. JESUS’ DESTINY IS REVEALED
A. Jesus brings peace according to God’s Word
B. Jesus brings salvation for all peoples
C. Jesus is the Light of the world
The Angels’ Song
Luke 2:8-21
I. THE ANGELS BRING THE GOSPEL TO LOWLY SHEPHERDS
A. The gospel is shared first with those that are detested and despised
B. The gospel reveals the glory of God
C. The gospel brings great joy for all people
D. The gospel is about Jesus
II. THE ANGELS REJOICE IN THE GOSPEL
III. THE GOSPEL LEADS TO TRANSFORMATION
A. The shepherds believe the gospel
B. The shepherds share the gospel
C. Mary treasures the gospel
D. The shepherds praise God for the gospel
Mary’s Song
Luke 1:46-56
I. MARY RESPONDS IN FAITH
A. She responds personally
B. She responds from the deepest part of her being
C. She responds in praise to God
II. MARY RESPONDS IN FAITH FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE
A. God saw her lowly state
B. God has graciously blessed her
C. God has shown His might, holiness, and mercy
D. God’s promises have never failed
III. MARY RESPONDS IN FAITH FOR WHAT GOD WILL DO
A. In Christ’s coming Kingdom, the first will be last.
B. In Christ’s coming Kingdom, the last will be first.
C. In Christ’s coming Kingdom, every wrong will be made right.
D. In Christ’s coming Kingdom, every promise will be fulfilled.
Zechariah’s Song
Luke 1:67-79
I. Zechariah Praises God for His Promises to David
A) God will establish His Kingdom through David’s line
B) This coming ruler will be unlike any before him
II. Zechariah Praises God for His Promises to Abraham
III. Zechariah Praises God for His Promises to John
A) John will be a prophet with a mission
B) John will be a preacher with a message
IV. Zechariah Praises God for Fulfilling All of His Promises in Christ
Giving Thanks in All Circumstances
1 Thessalonians 5:18
I. GIVING THANKS IS COMMANDED
A. God commands it because it is right
B. God commands it because it is true
C. God commands it because it glorifies Him
II. GIVING THANKS IS UNQUALIFIED
A. We should give thanks for God’s good gifts
B. We should give thanks when God allows difficulties and trials
C. We must guard against giving thanks sinfully
III. GIVING THANKS IS GOD’S WILL FOR HIS CHILDREN
Stewardship & Contentment
1 Timothy 6:2b-10 & 17-19
I. CONTENTMENT MUST BE FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE
A. Stewarding our relationship to Christ must be our highest priority.
B. Lack of contentment in Christ leads to discontentment everywhere else
II. CONTENTMENT IS CONNECTED TO GODLINESS, NOT GOODS
A. Spiritual contentment leads to material contentment
B. Contentment understands the limits of life
C. Contentment is not about self-sufficiency, but Christ-sufficiency
III. CONTENTMENT IS AN ONGOING, DAILY BATTLE
IV. CONTENTMENT IS VISIBLE
A. Those who are content set their hope on God and not riches
B. Those who are content are open-handed and generous toward others
C. Those who are content are free to live for eternity
The Glory of God’s Grace
Ephesians 2:1-10
What grace is: Grace is the unmerited, undeserved, free, favor of God.
What grace is not:
Grace never incurs a debt.
Grace is not conditional or contractual.
Grace is not God grading on the curve.
Grace is not a license to sin.
Grace is not cheap.
I. The Requirement of Grace
A. We were dead in our sins
B. We followed the course of this world
C. We were followers of Satan
D. We lived in the passions and desires of the flesh, body, and mind
E. We were by nature under God’s wrath
II. The Reality of Grace
A. Grace Is Given by God through Christ
B. Grace Is Received through Faith as a Gift
III. The Response to Grace
A. Worship
B. Humility
C. Gratitude
D. Good works as God’s workmanship
Are We There Yet?
Revelation 21:1-8
1. Eternity is about God (v.1-3)
a. God is making all things new
b. God is making a place to dwell among his people
2. Eternity is not like and like this current life (v.4-5)
a. The former things have passed away
b. God is redeeming all things
3. There is no alternate ending (v.6-8)
a. God will bless the faithful
b. God will punish the unfaithful
All of Life on Mission
John 20:19-23
I. TWO FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE ON MISSION - We should live all of life on mission because . .
A. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything
B. We have been sent like Jesus
II. THREE IMPLICATIONS FOR LIFE ON MISSION
A. We have been sent with the peace of Jesus
B. We have been sent with the presence of Jesus
C. We have been sent with the authority of Jesus
III. THREE APPLICATIONS FOR LIFE ON MISSION
A. See yourself as a missionary right now
B. Be gospel fluent
C. Use the bridges in your life for mission
