12-22-2013
"Anyone Need Some Good News?"
Luke 2. 1-14

ANYONE NEED SOME GOOD NEWS?
Luke 2. 1-14

 

I.            Seven Reasons Why Angel’s Announcement Was ____ News.

 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4.Cross references:


    1. -  IT BANISHED ________ – (v. 10- “Fear Not” )
a.    Fear Not…message of the angels…often said by Jesus
b.    “fear not” is one of the ___________ messages of the Bible

    1.  THE NEWS BROUGHT/BRINGS GREAT ______!
      1. Joy…not laughter…but longer lasting… 
      2. Deep, inward feeling of good…God’s promise was kept

    1. THIS ______ NEWS IS FOR ALL PEOPLE- (v. 10 “good news of great joy for all the people…” )
      1. _____ everyone thought Jesus’ coming was good news…Herod & people of Jerusalem
      2. The good news of Jesus’ salvation is really for all persons

    1. THE GOOD NEWS IS ____________
      1. For all persons…yet only those who _____ the Good News actually benefit
      2. No Good News for you unless the it becomes personal

    1. THE GOOD NEWS BRINGS SALVATION FOR THE ______ (V. 11)
      1. There are many ways in which I NEED HELP. 
      2. MOST PROMINENT WAY- is with my ______…my eternity.  I need someone to bring me into God’s presence

    1. The GOOD NEWS __________ GOD…”Praising God and saying…Glory to God in the highest…” 
      1. There is something very ___________ about “good news”
      2. Counting our blessings, honoring the Giver of Grace…should be part of our worship

    1. The GOOD NEWS BRINGS ________ PEACE: and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
a.       The most peaceful place on earth is “______ of the will of God.”
b.    Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace…


II.         CONCLUSION: Do YOU need some good news?

1.   The angels brought good news- of Jesus’ birth  


2.   We have good news to _________.

12-15-2013
"What Will You Give Christ This Christmas?"
Matthew 2. 1-12

WHAT WILL YOU GIVE CHRIST THIS CHRISTMAS?
Matthew 2. 1-12

I.  Christmas- a time of giving ____________
A.  Giving gifts - Practiced in many cultures…
B.  The ________ - persons who offered gifts to Jesus at his birth

II.  THEY GAVE _________- A Gift That Honored Him As King
A.  Gold- carries obvious worth.
B.  A gift for ________ -  for a KING
C.  A FITTING GIFT FOR JESUS- for He is KING OF KINGS!
D.  What will you give to ________ Jesus Christ as YOUR King?

III.  THEY GAVE FRANKINCENSE- A Gift that       Honored Him As The ________ One!
A.  Many references to frankincense in the ____________
B.  The offering of incense to Jesus…a symbol of His Holiness.   
C.  The Magi offered their __________
D.  How do you offer worship to Jesus as The Holy One?

IV.  THEY GAVE MYRRH- A Gift that Honored Him as One Who Would _________
A.  Myrrh- an aromatic gum resin obtained from the sap of trees in India, Africa, Arabia.

B.  Used in Jesus’ day and even centuries before as _________ oil- used in the Jewish tabernacle…also in the embalming processes of Egypt.

C.  Symbol of _________ , death, sacrifice, loss. 
D.  How will you honor the One WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR YOU?

V.  THE MAGI RESPONDED TO MEETING JESUS- BY GIVING GIFTS-   
A.  Have YOU met Jesus? 
B.  ______ will you give Christ this Christmas!

12-1-2013
"Prepared for Christmas?"
Matthew 1. 18-25


PREPARED FOR CHRISTMAS?
Matthew 1. 18-25
Lights, music, programs, all part of PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
I.  HOW MIGHT MARY AND JOSEPH HAVE PREPARED FOR THEIR 1st CHRISTMAS?

A.  Preparing to get ___________
B.  Preparing to fulfill their families’ traditions and expectations
C.  Preparing for Mary’s ____________

II.  JOSEPH HAD PREPARED HIS _________ AHEAD OF TIME
A.  A “righteous man.”
B.  Righteous men/women make “right decisions” because they are the RIGHT __________ TO DO.
C.  Righteous men/women make “right decisions” because they want to please God

III. JOSEPH HAD PREPARED HIS HEART TO ________ AND THUS HE HEARD GOD’S MESSAGE…thru the Angel

A.  Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife
B.  She will give birth to the ___________…the Messiah
C.  Joseph heard the command to name the child __________

IV.  JOSEPH HAD PREPARED HIS HEART TO ACT ON GOD’S WILL:
A.  He ______ what the angel had told him to do
B.  Took Mary as his ______, loved and respected her
C.  Gave child the name Jesus.

V.  ______ CAN YOU PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS?
A.  Prepare your heart ahead of time to BE ______________
B.  Prepare yourself to HEAR GOD’S VOICE
C.  Prepare your Mind ahead of time to ________ HE WILL WORK IN YOU
D.  Prepare to Serve God- in action, and obedience

VI.  ARE _____ PREPARED FOR CHRISTMAS?
A.  Prepared ahead of time to be righteous
B.  TO HEAR, TO BELIEVE, TO DO?
C.  As you prepare for Christmas this season…prepare for _______ also.
11-24-2013


"So Blessed - So Forgetful"

1 Thessalonians 5. 18



So Blessed - So Forgetful
1 Thessalonians 5. 18

I.  WE ARE SO ___________:   How are we blessed?
A.  By things received
B.  By things _______ received
C.  By the loving & gracious people in our lives
D.  God’s grace and ___________

 
II.  WE PURSUE ____________- RELENTLESSLY
A.  One of our inalienable rights…   
B.  “We _________ our work, work at our play and play at our worship.”  


III.  WE DON’T SAY IT ENOUGH-  _________ You!
A.  Give thanks in ______ circumstances…
· A positive, thankful person is a great witness in this dark world.

· Giving thanks is God’s will for our lives.
· Giving thanks to God and others is what pleases the Lord.

B.  Are you thankful in hard times?

C.  Can you thank God for your ___________? 

D.  Make sure you say it

· There are things that _________  to be said…
· You need to say it…and others need to hear it
· Or you can _________  IT!