12-25-2016
"The Greatest Gift of All"
John 1. 1-14

THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL John 1. 1-14 I.  “THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US” A.  THE WORD- IS A _________ word- o’ logos-  logic, reason, deductive and inductive B.  _______- gives understanding and meaning.  C.  The O’ Logos- became flesh and blood- and dwelt on earth for a while…and John and many others “saw him.” II.  THE BIRTH OF JESUS – O’ LOGOS- SHOWS GOD’S AMAZING _________. A.  He shows God’s love for us B.  If God is love does it not make sense that He would desire _____________ to love? C.  God risked rejection D.  That is where GRACE  comes in III.  THE BIRTH OF JESUS – O’ LOGOS- SHOWS GOD’S AMAZING TRUTH A.  Jesus came to invite us to join God’s heavenly _____________. B.  God’s purpose for us…those who believed have the right to become “children of God.” C.  How are people born of God-   Jesus says, they are “born _________” D.  Because God offers us this GREATEST GIFT OF ALL…what should we do? IV.  ______________ HIM:  Worship God A.  Who?  Father, Son, Holy Spirit? B.  How do I worship God?  Many ways True worship comes from our _________…from our souls…from our minds.

12-11-2016
"How to Have a Song in Your Heart"
Luke 1. 39-56

HOW TO HAVE A SONG IN YOUR HEART Luke 1. 39-56 I.  INTRO:  Background: A.  Two small sentences give us a glimpse of Mary’s amazing faith * “May it be to me as you have said.” (v.38) * “Blessed is she who has believed …” (v. 45) B.  QUESTION: Would YOU have believed the angel?  II.  SERMON TITLE:  HOW TO HAVE A _______ IN YOUR HEART A.  A song in your heart goes with you thru the day, or thru _____ B.  _______ would you want to have a “song in your heart” C.  How can you have this?  III.  #1- MARY _______________ A.  What God was doing in her…accepted the message of the angel as truth B.  What God was going to do in the world? IV.  #2- MARY ___________ GOD OUTWARDLY A.  “May it be to me…” to angel Gabriel (v.38) B.  Something must have been said to Elizabeth…who commended her for believing that “what the Lord said to her would be accomplished.” (V.45) V.  #3- MARY REMAINED HUMBLE – INWARDLY A.  “He has been mindful of the humble state of his ________.” (v. 48) B.  Mary appears in scriptures…never as proud, arrogant, or over-bearing VI.  #4- MARY SURROUNDED HERSELF WITH GODLY & SUPPORTIVE ___________. * “She stayed with Elizabeth for about three months…then returned home. VII.  SO HOW CAN YOU HAVE A SONG IN YOUR HEART? * BELIEVE-  Not only that God can…but that He ____do His will and purpose in you. * ________ GOD OUTWARDLY - Tell God how you feel about Him. * REMAIN HUMBLE & AVAILABLE-  If you are known all over the world, or nowhere in the world…may is be as “a ________ of Jesus Christ- saved by His amazing grace.” * SURROUND YOURSELF WITH SUPPORTIVE PERSONS.          Who or _______ are you surrounded by? SAY IT TO GOD: LORD, “MAY IT BE TO ME AS YOU HAVE SAID

12-4-2016
"A Christmas Question"
Isaiah 9. 6

A CHRISTMAS QUESTION ISAIAH 9.6 I.  A DOUBLE STATEMENT- UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, UNTO US A SON IS __________ A.  Jesus was a child- BORN…Jesus was also GIVEN.  B.  One of those ________ which is beyond the grasp of finite human beings. II.  TWO WORDS: “UNTO US.”  A.  Christmas Question: If a child is born UNTO US, what _________ does it make? B.  Is he born “UNTO US?” Is He given UNTO US? III.  IT WILL CHANGE MY ______________  A.  My future in Jesus’ eternal kingdom is promised B.  Whoever believes will have everlasting life IV.  IT ALSO CHANGES MY “_________  ______.”  A.  I have a living, and powerful relationship with Jesus now… B.  I can know His presence, and enjoy His counsel V.  IT WILL ALSO CHANGE MY HEART A.  It will change my ____________ B.  My desires C.  My ____________ VI.  IT WILL CHANGE OUR BEHAVIOR A.  How I treat others B.  I will strive to be “_____ _____” in things like honesty, and in purity, and in grace- my actions will show my loyalty to Him VII.  THE CHRISTMAS QUESTION: IF A CHILD IS BORN UNTO US, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? A.  Christ can be born in us _________ every day. B.  In other ways, Jesus cannot make the eternal difference in us, UNTIL WE MAKE A COMMITMENT-

11-27-2016
"The Happiness Trap"
1 John 2.15-3.1

THE HAPPINESS TRAP 1 John 2. 15 – 3.1 I.  WE ALL LONG FOR A FAIRY TALE ENDING- “________ EVER AFTER.” II.  THREE HAPPINESS TRAPS ARE MENTIONED HERE: A.  1st Happiness Trap is: The _____ of the flesh- ___________ B.  2nd Happiness Trap is: The lust of the ______-  Possessions C.  3rd Happiness Trap: The ______ of life- ­­­­­­­­­­­__________ III.  MESSAGE TODAY HAS 2 GOALS: A.  A ________-  beware of the deadly traps.  B.   A word of _____________ IV.  SO HOW DOES A PERSON PURSUE ETERNAL “HAPPY EVER AFTER A.   (V. 24) - “See that what you have heard from the beginning _______ in you…”   * Q- What is  heard from the beginning?  *  A- The truth about Jesus Christ, and the gift of eternal life He offers  B.  (v. 27) - “The anointing you received from him remains in you…remain in him.” *  Q- What is the anointing?  *  A- The Holy Spirit, The Comforter…the One who lives in us continually. *  Q- How does one “remain in him? *  A- Stay ______– continue to worship and pray and trust. C.  (V. 28) - And now, dear children, _________ in him… *  We must hold strongly to the truth we know…even when the voices of pleasure, and possessions, and prestige call very loudly. *  We must continue to put Jesus first. He must be Lord over everything V.  JOHN REMINDS OF GOD’S PROMISES:  A.  “This is what he promised us- even __________ life.”  (v.25) B.  “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called _________ of God! And that is what we are!  (I John 3.1) C.  Walking with the Lord, and remaining in Him has marvelous benefits *  A genuine happiness *  Peace *  A powerful amazing realization of the Father’s love

11-20-2016
"An Empty Chair at the Thanksgiving Celebration:
Luke 15. 25-32

AN EMPTY CHAIR AT THE THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION Luke 15. 25-32 Question: Doesn’t it seem ironic that those who have so much are often the most ungrateful, while those who suffer trials, and losses seem to be the most thankful? 1. The Scripture Lesson-                    A.  The ________ son:  faithful, dependable, and obedient                   B.  Didn’t leave home; didn’t spend inheritance on foolish living                   C.  But neither does he have his _________  loving heart 1   2. THE Eldest Son Has Taken ______ For Granted:                   A.  His inheritance…he assumes the rest is rightfully his                   B.  He shows no _________ to his father for all he has already received                   C.  True, there was no celebration with his friends, but there is an _______                   D.  All that he has, has been given to him by his loving father 3. How Are WE _____ the Older Son?                   A.  Like him, many of us live in a land of __________.                    B.  Like him, we may feel entitled to much of what we have received                   C.  We may become jealous, or hurt, when others are noticed and we are                                    _______                   D.  Like Older Brother, we may not have our Loving Father’s _______ 4. SOME WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE MOST SEEM MOST                       GRATEFUL!                   A.  That person in the wheelchair or that person who has been through                                       times of hardship                   B.  Both the grateful & ungrateful receive grace, so what causes some to be                                    _________, while others become jealous or easily offended?                   C.  Question- Which way do you tend to be:  grateful, and appreciative or                                    jealous of others’ blessings? 5. The Point of the Parable is the Loving ______ of the                   Main Character- the __________.                     A.  He loves both sons-                   B.  He realizes that both sons have taken him for granted                   C.  He wants both to enter into the joyous celebration! 6. He also wants Us to Know His compassion; and HE                   INVITES US TO enter the joyful _________________                   celebration: