Who's Your One? (Part 2) John 12:24-26

Big Idea: Fruit-bearing requires cross-bearing

1. Life only springs from death (12:24)

2. The way to truly live is first to truly die (12:25)

3. To follow Jesus in life is to follow him in death (12:26)

How do I bear my cross for my one?

  • Share not only Jesus, but yourself (1 Thess. 2:8)

  • Seek not only your own good, but their good (1 Cor. 10:24, 33)

  • Accept discomfort for their comfort (2 Cor. 1:5-7)

  • Risk heartache until they receive Christ (Gal. 4:19; Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1)

  • Stoop as a humble beggar so they may be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20)

  • Endure suffering to experience the joy of their salvation (Heb. 12:2; Phil. 2:17)

On The Move (Part 3) Acts 11

Big Idea: Though we may be hesitant or even resistant to it, God is on the move to accomplish his purposes in the world

A) Peter's report of God's power melts the wills of the resistant (11:1-18)

B) Barnabas' witness of God's grace eases the fears of the hesitant (11:19-26)

C) The gift from the Christians in Antioch reveals God's wisdom to accomplish his purposes (11:27-30)

1. God doesn't need us to get his work done

2. Our hesitation and resistance to God's moving reveal that we think we know better than him

3. Though God doesn't need us, he invites us to join him on the move for our joy

Time Treasure Talents: Part 3 (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Pet 4:7-11)

Big Idea: We all have unique talents, but God gives us gifts so we can live for a glorious purpose

1. Our gifts lead to honest humility, not exaggerated superiority (Rom. 12:3)

2. Our gifts promote unity, not competition (Rom. 12:4-5)

3. Our gifts produce effects, not efficiency (Rom. 12:6-8)

4. Our gifts are meant to bless others, not benefit ourselves (1 Pet. 4:10)

5. Our gifts point to God's glory, not our fame and fortune (1 Pet. 4:11)

Time Treasure Talents: Part 2 (1 Tim 6:17-19; Ps 62:9-10)

Big Idea: We all could manage our money better, but God shows us how to invest for eternity

1. The one certain thing about riches is that they're uncertain (6:17a)

2. God is the only perfect wealth manager (6:17b-18)

3. Saving for retirement is too short-sighted; invest for eternity! (6:19)

  • Am I acting as I am the owner or steward of the money I am about to spend?

  • Am I obeying God's word in spending this way?

  • Can I offer up this purchase as a pleasing sacrifice to God?

  • Does this purchase lead me toward eternal treasures or only temporal pleasures?

Time Treasure Talents: Part 1 (Eph 5:1-16; Col 4:5)

Big Idea: We all could manage our time better, but only God can lead us to use our time for what is best

1. His wisdom keeps us from squandering our time (Eph. 5:15-16)

2. His wisdom guides us in maximizing our time (Col. 4:5-6)

Following the example of Jesus, the Lord of time:

(from Ordering Your Private World, by Gordon MacDonald)

  • Jesus clearly understood his mission

  • Jesus understood his own limits

  • Jesus focused on a few

Joy to the World (Psalm 98)

Big Idea: Christmas is the shout of joy to a world of sorrow

What is joy?

  1. We shout joyfully because of God's love (Psalm 98:1-3)

  2. We shout joyfully because of God's reign (Psalm 98:4-6)

  3. We shout joyfully because of God's justice (Psalm 98:7-9)

Where is the joy?

  1. The promise of joy: Genesis 3:15-18; Isaiah 9:6-7

  2. The arrival of joy: Luke 2:10-14; 2:25-32

  3. The hope of joy: 1 Peter 1:8-9; Revelation 21:1-5

Go Tell It On The Mountain (Isaiah 52:1-12; Romans 10:15)

Big Idea: Christmas is the good news that Jesus is King

1. Beautiful feet deliver good news (Is 52:7)

  • Peace

  • Happiness

  • Salvation

  • "Your God reigns"

2. Singing fills the city (Is 52:8-9)

  • Joy

  • Comfort

  • Redemption

3. Salvation stretches to the ends of the earth (Is 52:10)

  • Jesus loves even his fiercest enemies (Lk. 6:27-28)

  • So, we can also love those with ugly pasts (2 Cor. 5:14-19)

  • And, we can trust him to repurpose our own ugly pasts (1 Tim. 1:12-17)

From Past to Purpose (Acts 9:1-31)

Big Idea: Jesus takes ugly pasts and gives them beautiful purposes

1) Saul's ugly past (8:1-3; 9:1-2)
2) Saul meets Jesus (9:3-9)
3) Saul's eyes are opened (9:10-19)
4) Saul the persecutor becomes Saul the preacher (9:20-25)
5) Saul the foe becomes Saul the friend (9:26-31)

Three Lessons:

  • Jesus loves even his fiercest enemies (Lk. 6:27-28)

  • So, we can also love those with ugly pasts (2 Cor. 5:14-19)

  • And, we can trust him to repurpose our own ugly pasts (1 Tim. 1:12-17)

Make or Break Moment (Acts 6:1-7)

Big Idea: How we handle communal conflict will either make us or break us

How we handle communal conflict will either make us or break us

1. The threat of division can cripple even the strongest church. So, fight to protect our unity.


2. We must not ignore our brothers and sisters when they hurt or are in need. So, we must listen humbly and act lovingly.


3. Churches that truly honor Jesus take a both/and approach to proclaiming and demonstrating the gospel So, do good and keep the main thing the main thing.

Strategic Church-Planting (2 Timothy 2:22)

Big Idea: Strategic Church Planting isn’t really about church planting. It’s about Multiplication

1. Multiplication is an invitation into the creative work of God (Get 9:1; 17:6; 35:11)
2. Multiplication is tethered to, but dependent upon, our obedience (Jer 23:3)
3. Multiplication is about Jesus (Luke 9:1-2; 10:1)
4. Multiplication is a work of the Spirit (Acts 1:15; 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 14:23)
5. Multiplication happens in and through the Church (2 Timothy 2:2)

What does this mean for Monday?
a. Invest with us
b. Give with us
c. Live Sent

Passionate Worship (Daniel 3:1-4:3)

Big Idea: Worshipping the Lord requires all of me.

I. I worship the Lord with my character (3:1-15)

  • CONTROL: You know you have a control idol if your greatest nightmare is uncertainty

  • APPROVAL: You know you have an approval idol if your greatest nightmare is rejection

  • COMFORT: You know you have a comfort idol if your greatest nightmare is stress/demands

  • POWER: You know you have a power idol if your greatest nightmare is humiliation

II. I worship the Lord with my faith (3:16-25)

III. I worship the Lord with my heart (3:26-4:3)