sermon from Dec. 12

CHRISTMAS COURAGE

Matthew 1:18-25

Series on “Christmas 2010” (part 3)

Joseph and Mary are getting ready for their wedding. This can be a very stressful time, but it gets worse. Mary comes to Joseph and says that she is expecting! But she clarifies that she has not been unfaithful to Joseph, that the child in her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. Joseph’s first response as a “righteous man” (someone who kept the Old Testament law carefully) was to stay in control, save face, and quietly arrange to divorce her. This way he could perhaps save her some pain, and himself. Then the angel comes to him and tells him not to be afraid, but to marry Mary, adopt Jesus and to bet his entire life on God and His Word. Do you feel that to receive Jesus into your life is going to ruin everything? Are you afraid? How can you get the courage to receive Jesus into your life?

THREE PLACES WHERE WE AND JOSEPH NEED COURAGE TO HAVE JESUS IN OUR LIFE

• The disdain and rejection of the world, and family

1. Do you feel that to receive Jesus will not be understood by family and friends?

2. Do you feel that to receive Jesus will cost you professionally?

3. Do you tend to keep your Christianity a secret?

• The adventure of Jesus’ lordship

1. The angel says that Joseph is not to name the child. The child will be named for him. To name a child was to show your sovereignty, control over a child. The angel is saying, “You are not in charge, Jesus is in charge.”

2. Do you struggle with wondering what it might cost you to follow Jesus, for Him to make the decisions and not you?

• The courage to admit you are a sinner

1. “He will save his people from their sins.”

2. Can you admit that you are a sinner (hopeless and helpless) without Him?

HOW DO YOU GET THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW JESUS

• Joseph must have seeing Mary giving up her life for Jesus. He must have also seen Jesus giving up His life for the world. When you see his love for you it can break your love for the world, i.e. love of reputation, face, comfort.
• Consider that everyone else was forgotten except Joseph and Mary.
• Jesus says, “If you lose your life for my sake and the gospel you will find it.”
• Jim Eliot (martyr in Ecuador) said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

sermon from Dec. 5

How Can We Be Certain the Christmas Story is True?

I John 1:1-4

Series on “Christmas 2010” (part 2)

By the time John writes his first letter to some churches in what is known as modern day Turkey near the end of the first century, he is an old man. Probably many of his fellow workers have died like Peter and Paul. He has probably been released from his confinement on the Isle of Patmos where he wrote the Book of Revelation. False teachers are coming in, and he tells the young church to keep their eyes on Jesus and be confident that it is all true. Are you keeping your eyes on Jesus and do you know that it is all true?

JOHN THE MOST CREDIBLE WITNESS

• He was Jesus’ best friend and when Jesus was dying on the cross Jesus told John to look after His Mom.
• John says he was a witness of the events in Jesus’ life—“heard”, “saw”, “touched.”
• Is it wiser to believe in an eyewitness who had breakfast, lunch and dinner with Jesus for three years or someone who writes a book 2000 years later and criticizes the eyewitness testimony (as in the Da Vinci Code).

REVELATION NOT SPECULATION

• Vs. 2 – “The life appeared, we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim the eternal life, which was with the Father and appeared to us.”
• Religion is speculation about who God is, what our problem is, and how it can be solved. Christianity is revelation, i.e. it tells that God has come, explained our problem (sin) and how it is to be solved (through Jesus’ death, life and resurrection).

SO WE CAN BE FRIENDS WITH GOD, EACH OTHER AND HAVE COSMIC JOY

• Vs. 3 – “So you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.”
• He also wants “our joy to be complete.”
• There are four options (1) secularism, life has no meaning; (2) religion, work hard and hope god—whoever he or she is will like you; (3) trust yourself; (4) Jesus
• Is there a more credible witness than John and the four gospels? Is there a better alternative to build your life on than Jesus. If not, what is keeping you from repenting of your sin and believing in Jesus TODAY??? If you do believe in Jesus, why do we not exhibit the joy that John talks about?

sermon from Nov. 28

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

Selected texts

Series on “Christmas 2010” (part 1)

Why did Jesus come from heaven to earth? How does that make Him different than all of the other founders of different religions? One time he said that he came “to seek and to save the lost.” Another time he said that he came to fulfill all of the promises in the Old Testament. Your Bible is divided into two parts—Old and New Testament or promise and fulfillment. In the Old Testament, there were prophets, priests and kings. They all looked forward to the ultimate prophet, priest and king who is Jesus. Let’s also see how practical it can be for your life.

JESUS WAS A PROPHET (ONE WHO SPEAKS FROM GOD TO US)

• A prophet is someone who speaks boldly and confronts sin. In Deuteronomy 18, Moses looked forward to a greater prophet than he was. Hebrews describes Jesus as being greater than Moses because the “builder of the house is greater than the house itself.”
• Jesus didn’t just point to the truth, He said “he was the truth.” It’s like talking about a story and having the author walk in to interpret it for you.
• One way Jesus is a prophet in our lives is that He sends the Holy Spirit to “convict of us of our sin” (i.e. living our lives as if God didn’t exist).

JESUS WAS A PRIEST (ONE WHO SPEAKS TO GOD FOR US)

• A priest would take the hopes, fears, dreams, needs, and sins of the people and bring them to God as a mediator.
• Jesus comes to earth as both God and man so he can identify with us and represent us to God the Father (Jesus is God the Son).
• Hebrews tells us because we have a good high priest (Jesus) we can go directly to God the Father and get the mercy and help we need.
• No matter what problems you have gone through, Jesus has experienced them and more so he is a faithful and sympathetic high priest.

JESUS WAS A KING (ONE WHO RULES AS GOD OVER ALL THINGS)

• Before Pilate he said that “his kingdom was not of this world.” Jesus challenges all despotic powers in the world. Desmond Tutu said that Jesus and the Bible were the biggest threat to dictatorial powers.
• Philippians 2 says that Jesus who became a humble man is exalted by God so that someday all will acknowledge His lordship.
• What it means for Jesus to be a prophet, priest and king in your life.