We’ve been looking at different components of the retelling of Jesus’ birth in Luke 2. This week we’re focused on the angel’s birth announcement.
Here’s 3 reasons why the angel’s birth announcement is good news:
As you surrender your will to God’s loving authority, you’ll grow in the “peace of God” (trust, joy, less fear and anxiety).
If you want the peace of God, you must be at peace with God. Jesus offers salvation and eternal life, but you must receive Him.
The Christmas Story: Part 2
This week we looked at the shepherds' perspective on the birth of Jesus in Luke 2.
The shepherds heard, believed, acted, and shared.
The good news of Jesus requires a response. What's yours?
We’re looking at the birth of Jesus in Luke 2. For some, this story may be so familiar you’re almost numb to it.
In this message, we looked at the narrative from the perspective of Mary and Joseph. Here’s a couple takeaways and questions to consider:
Faith deepens when you trust God, even when His plan looks nothing like yours.
Faith deepens as you reflect on how God is at work around you.
Searching for Joy: Part 4
What are you anxious about? Feeling overwhelmed with worry?
In Philippians 4, Paul writes about how to process our anxieties:
1. Trade worry for prayer
2. Train your mind to focus on the good and true
3. Turn truth into action
What Jesus did: in very nature God, he emptied himself and was humbled- even to death on a cross
What God did: exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name above every name
What we must do: every knee must bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
Here's a few key takeaways from this message:
1. Selfishness is a recipe for disaster. If you want to find joy, you need humility.
2. Disunity and division in our relationships steals joy.
3. Humility isn't about being passive, people pleasing, or thinking lowly of yourself. Humility is looking to the interests of others before yourself.
4. As followers of Jesus, we grow in humility by reflecting on the humility of Jesus. God sees our humility and will ultimately reward us for it.
We started a new 4-week series using themes of joy found in the book of Philippians. Paul found resilient and eternal joy because he found his hope in the Lord. As we enter the whirlwind of the holiday season, let’s look to God to reorder our priorities so we don’t settle for distractions or circumstantial joy.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 10
Second Timothy is the last book that Paul wrote before his death. As we wrap up our series on the book of 2 Timothy, we’re encouraged to finish well:
-staying faithful in our relationships
-persevering in our daily walk
-relying on Jesus' presence to sustain us to the very end
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused- Part 9
Helping people find and follow Jesus isn’t just the responsibility of a few- it’s a group effort. As individuals and as a church, we are called to share Jesus with the people in our circle of influence.
We can all be engaged in this work together by serving, giving, praying and inviting.
3 points to remember:
The Greatest Commandment:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." -Mark 12:30
How's it going with all that?
In chapter 3, Paul continues warns Timothy about being influenced by people who aren’t following Jesus. Paul urges Timothy to instead imitate the life that Paul has been developing:
This instruction is accompanied by 3 warnings from Paul:
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 6
When Paul is writing to Timothy in the book of 2 Timothy, he says “there will be terrible times in the last days.”
“The last days” refers to the period of time from Jesus’ first arrival to his return.
In a world where wickedness continues to increase, when there are hard days, how do we respond as followers of Jesus?
Ultimately, there’s no room for an “I’m better than you” mentality. Because we’ve received grace, we give grace. Because we’ve been loved, we love. Because we’ve been forgiven, we forgive.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 5Here's a few takeaways from this message:1. Rightly handle the Word of God so you have a firm foundation and aren't led astray.2. Stop quarreling and fighting over nonessentials. Your conduct matters if you want to be effective for the Lord. 3. Want to be counter-cultural? Be kind to everyone, not resentful, be patient and gentle (strength under control). Don't destroy your influence because our hope is others will come to saving faith in Jesus.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused: Part 4Here's a few takeaways from this message:1. As follower of Jesus we endure by relying on the grace of Jesus. 2. As followers of Jesus we endure by having the proper mindset (focus, sacrifice, discipline, conduct, hardworking, patient). 3. As followers of Jesus we endure by remembering the faithfulness of the risen Lord Jesus.4. Take comfort in this: though we may waver and fall into unfaithfulness, the Lord Jesus remains faithful to you.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused
Part 3 of 9
Here's a few takeaways from this message:
1. Following Jesus involves being disappointed by other followers of Jesus.
2. Hold onto the truth of God's word when others disappoint us.
3. When some people disappoint you, God sends others to encourage you.
4. How can you be faithful to other followers of Jesus?
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused
Part 2 of 9
Here's 3 takeaways from this message:
1. The good news about Jesus can bring hostility- sometimes in our reputation, sometimes in our relationships. In the midst of hostility or indifference, there's still a hunger for the hope that only Jesus can give.
2. Apply the gospel to your own life when experiencing fear, timidity, or shame. The gospel isn't just for us to give away to others. We need to be reminded daily that Jesus "has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)
3. The gospel of Jesus Christ is worth it. Any possible suffering is nothing in comparison to the life God has in store for us to share with him forever because of what Jesus has done for us.
Find, Follow, and Stay Focused Part 1 of 9
2 Timothy 1:1-7
We’re starting a new series called “Find, Follow, and Stay Focused.” We’ll be looking at themes from the book of 2 Timothy.
Here’s a few questions for reflection:
Peter- one minute he's saying that he'll give up his life for Jesus, the next he's denying that he even knows Jesus.
The details of our stories may be different, but the big takeaway remains: Jesus stays consistent no matter how many times we turn away from him.
Martha's Epic Meltdown
Questions:
1. What are some next steps you could take to cut out distractions that are pulling you away from Jesus?
2. Are you trying to earn God's love and acceptance through your "doing"?
3. Are you staying busy because you're trying to avoid the Lord?
4. What ways can you grow in your relationship with Jesus so your relationship is more like a friend and less transactional?
King Nebuchadnezzar's boastful pride wrecked his life until he ultimately acknowledged God. Do you have a story like that? On the other hand, are you wrecked by hopeless fear? You may or may not be driven to the wilderness in isolation until your fingernails resemble the claws of a bird, but there's likely something you can relate to in Nebuchadnezzar's story.