Demonstrating that preaching can be simultaneously expository, doctrinal, and applicational, this sermon series presents to the congregation (1) a knowledge of the biblical doctrine of God and His attributes, and (2) the relevance of this doctrine for their lives. With the exception of the last sermon, each consists of a meaning-based exposition of a primary biblical passage, with application given throughout. Old and New Testament are equally balanced, and the preacher will take care to familiarize the congregation with the purpose and function of each passage in its context. The series assumes that the congregation understands the doctrine of the Trinity; this may be covered in one or more sermons prior to this series.
The text used for the sermons is available in KJV, NKJV, ESV, NASB, and NIV on this page.
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the recent history of Israel from 2 Kings 21-23. | ||
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- Manasseh's idolatry brought an irrevocablle prophecy of judgment on Israel. - Josiah's reforms could not change the peoople's hearts. - Now Josiah is dead and a new king is folllowing the ways of Manasseh. | ||
| Familiarize the congregation a biblical understanding of fear. | ||
| - reverence, awe, and worship borne out of a respect for power and potential for judgment. | ||
| I. Do Not Fear the Gods of the Nations. | ||
| - throughout section, find parallels with contemporary culture (this won't be difficult). | ||
| A. Because their customs are delusions. | ||
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1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2 Thus says the LORD, "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens Although the nations are terrified by them; 3 For the customs of the peoples are delusion; | ||
| B. Because their gods are artificial. | ||
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Because it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool. 4 They decorate it with silver and with gold; They fasten it with nails and with hammers So that it will not totter. | ||
| C. Because their religion is irrelevant. | ||
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5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, and they cannot speak; They must be carried, because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good." | ||
| II. Fear the Living God. | ||
| A. Because He is worthy. | ||
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6 There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might. | ||
| B. Because He is superior. | ||
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7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, There is none like You. 8 But they are altogether foolish in their discipline of delusion– Their idol is wood! 9 Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, The work of a craftsman and of the hands of a goldsmith; Violet and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skilled men. | ||
| C. Because He is alive. | ||
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10 But the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation. | ||
| - The chapter continues with examples of God creating, controlling the forces of nature. | ||
| - Close on verse 16, in which He is not only the God, but our God. | ||
| Orientation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Establish the significance of the event and its timing in the life of Moses from Exodus 32-33. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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- This follows the golden calf incident andd Moses' intercession for the people. - Moses has asked God to show him His gloryy. - Key introductory text: "Let me know Your ways that I may know You." (Exod. 33:15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| I. Call upon the Lord's Name. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD.
| II. See Him for Who He Is.
| | A. That which makes us comfortable.
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6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, | "The LORD, the LORD God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7 who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin; | B. That which makes us uneasy.
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yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, | visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." III. Worship the Lord (the Prayer of Moses)
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8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship. | 9 He said, "If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession." | ||||||||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish God as Creator from Genesis 1 and John 1. | ||
| Establish Paul's purpose in correcting false teachings about Christ in Colosse. | ||
| - Note the possibility that Paul is using aan early Christian hymn. | ||
| I. Live in Recognition that God Owns You. | ||
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13 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 14 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities | ||
| II. Don't Treat the World Around You as if It Is for Your Sole Benefit (or that of humankind). | ||
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both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities –all things have been created through Him and for Him. | ||
| III. Reject Pantheistic Notions of Nature as God. | ||
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15 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the probable context of the rededication of the temple from Ezra 6 and Haggai. | ||
| I. Praise God all day, every day...because we are His servants. | ||
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1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, Praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD From this time forth and forever. 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the LORD is to be praised. | ||
| II. Praise God all day, every day...because He is so far above all things. | ||
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4 The LORD is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD our God, Who is enthroned on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold The things that are in heaven and in the earth? | ||
| - Note the divine condescension best demonsstrated in the Incarnation of Christ. | ||
| III. Praise God all day, every day...because He is above our circumstances. | ||
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7 He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8 To make them sit with princes, With the princes of His people. 9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD! | ||
| Orientation: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Establish the author's purpose in Hebrews: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - to encourage the audience's constancy in Christianity, as opposed to returning to Judaism. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I. Look to God for Your Security. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A. The uncertainty of money. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B. God's promise (from Josh. 1:5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you," | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| - Greek is emphatic here (a quintuple negative). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. The result: a life without fear. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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6 so that we may confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid, what will man do to me?" II. Look to Consistent Ministers for Your Example.
| | A. Examine their teaching.
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7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you;
| | B. Consider their conduct.
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and considering the result of their conduct,
| | C. If those are in line, imitate their faith.
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imitate their faith.
| III. Look to Jesus for Your Assurance.
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8 Jesus Christ is yesterday and today the same, and forever. [Greek word order]
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- This says to the Hebrews that Christianitty is not a mere novelty. | - This says to us that Christianity is not "on the way out." Reality is not "post-Christian." | |||||||||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the function of the passage within Isaiah's argument in Isaiah 40-48. | ||
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- Throughout, God's exhaustive knowledge (eesp. of the future) is linked to His credibility. - Israel "leans on the God of Israel" (48:2) but is filled with pride. | ||
| I. Give God the Glory for the Past and Present. | ||
| - Examples of prophecies fulfilled as of 700 B.C. would be helpful here. | ||
| A. Fulfilled prophecy leaves no room for obstinacy. | ||
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3 "I declared the former things long ago And they went forth from My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. 4 Because I know that you are obstinate, And your neck is an iron sinew And your forehead bronze, | ||
| B. Fulfilled prophecy leaves no room for idolatry. | ||
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5 Therefore I declared them to you long ago, Before they took place I proclaimed them to you, So that you would not say, 'My idol has done them, And my graven image and my molten image have commanded them.' 6 You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? | ||
| II. Give God the Glory for the Future. | ||
| - Examples of what we know and don't know about the future would be helpful here. | ||
| A. A future known only to God leaves no room for human pride. | ||
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I proclaim to you new things from this time, Even hidden things which you have not known. 7 They are created now and not long ago; And before today you have not heard them, So that you will not say, 'Behold, I knew them.' | ||
| B. A future known only to God limits human treachery. | ||
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8 You have not heard, you have not known. Even from long ago your ear has not been open, Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; And you have been called a rebel from birth." | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish Psalm 33 as a song of praise for God's works. | ||
| I. Stand in Awe of God. | ||
| A. God accomplishes His purposes. | ||
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8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitant of the world stand in awe of Him. 9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. | ||
| B. God is not thwarted by His enemies. | ||
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10 The LORD nullifies the counsel of the nations. He frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. | ||
| C. God favors His people. | ||
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12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. | ||
| II. Live Worthily in Sight of God. | ||
| A. God sees you as you are. | ||
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13 The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men; 14 From His dwelling place He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, | ||
| B. God made you who you are. | ||
| 15 He who fashions the hearts of them all, | ||
| C. God understands what you do. | ||
| He who understands all their works. | ||
| III. Do Not Trust in Anything but God. | ||
| A Government cannot save us. | ||
| 16 The king is not saved by a mighty army; | ||
| B. Human strength cannot save us. | ||
| A warrior is not delivered by great strength. | ||
| C. Technology cannot save us. | ||
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A horse is a false hope for victory; Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength. | ||
| - close with vv. 18-22. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the passage as the conclusion to chapters 9-11. | ||
| - how God's dealings with Jews and Gentiless accomplish His purposes, despite appearances. | ||
| I. Wonder at the Depth of God's Wisdom. | ||
| 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! | ||
| II. Be Humbled at the Incomprehensibility of God's Wisdom. | ||
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How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For "who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?" 35 Or "who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again?" | ||
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- Caution: God's incomprehensibility does nnot negate the use of the mind in the Christian life. - Balance by considering related statementss in 1 Corinthians 2. | ||
| III. Proclaim God Worthy to Use His Wisdom for His Own Glory. | ||
| 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. | ||
| - Answer the question: Is God selfish? | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the context of spiritual gifts in chapters 12-14. | ||
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- tongues and prophecy as practiced in Coriinth and in the first century - It is assumed the preacher has previouslyy grounded the congregation in an understanding of spiritual gifts. - Emphasize relevance of this principle to all forms of worship on the basis of 14:40. | ||
| I. Worship God in an Edifying Manner. | ||
| - Do we understand what goes on in worship?? | ||
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26 What is the outcome then, brothers? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter; he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. | ||
| II. Worship God in a Controlled Manner. | ||
| - What are our motives in participation? | ||
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29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; | ||
| III. Worship God in an Orderly Manner. | ||
| - Does God desire confusion? | ||
| 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the historical context of Paul's Sermon on Mars' Hill from Acts 17. | ||
| I. Ascribe All You Have to God, for He Gives Us Everything. | ||
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24 "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; | ||
| II. Treat Others as Fellow Creatures of God, for He Made Everyone. | ||
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26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they might seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' 29 Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. | ||
| - Clarification: In what sense are all God''s children, and in what sense may only some claim that status? | ||
| III. Repent, for He Will Judge Everyone. | ||
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30 Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the historical setting of the Esther story and note the total absence of God's name in the book. | ||
| - The story of Esther will be told in summaary fashion throughout the course of the sermon. | ||
| I. Don't Go It Alone. | ||
| - God may work through others' advice. | ||
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2:15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai who had taken her as his daughter, came to go in to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the women, advised. And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. | ||
| II. Don't Leave It Up to Somebody Else. | ||
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- God may work through our initiative. - We miss out if we are too passive. | ||
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4:13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" | ||
| III. What You Do, Do with All Your Might. | ||
| - God may work through our exertion. | ||
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8:3 Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept, and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. | ||
| - It is crucial to the effect of this versee to understand that it takes place after the banquet of ch. 7! | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish Jesus' relationship with the disciples at the end of His ministry. | ||
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- Jesus' shocking promise of departure and promise of the Spirit in John 16 - Jesus' post-resurrection teaching and asccension in Acts 1 | ||
| Introduction: The authority given to Christ is the basis for the privilege and responsibility of the Great Commission. | ||
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18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. | ||
| I. Go, for Christ is with you. | ||
| - Briefly explain how this word relates to the rest of the command. | ||
| 19 Go therefore and make disicples of all the nations, | ||
| II. Baptize, for Christ is with you. | ||
| - Focus on implications of this command forr the non-ordained believer. | ||
| baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, | ||
| III. Teach, for Christ is with you. | ||
| - Focus on implications of this command forr the non-ordained believer. | ||
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20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the downfalls of Saul and Uzziah as related to worship from 1 Sam. 13; 15; and 2 Chr. 26. | ||
| I. Make Room for God's Glory as His Temple. | ||
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1 In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. | ||
| II. Declare His Glory like the Seraphim. | ||
| A. The description of the wings | ||
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2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. | ||
| B. The angels' proclamation | ||
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3 And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. | ||
| III. Be Ruined like Isaiah. | ||
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5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." | ||
| - Note the realization both of personal andd social sins here. | ||
| IV. Receive Purification for Ministry. | ||
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6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven." | ||
| - Note Isaiah's commission that follows. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the occasion and audience in view. | ||
| - Give attention to the prophecy of Israel''s future in Deuteronomy 4:24-31. | ||
| I. Love the Lord | ||
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4 "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. | ||
| II. Teach His Words. | ||
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6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. | ||
| III. Obey His commandments. | ||
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10 Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, 12 then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. 14 You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, 15 for the LORD your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the enthusiastic delight for God's word in Psalm 119. | ||
| I. Seek God's Statutes. | ||
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153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. 156 Great are Your mercies, O LORD; Revive me according to Your ordinances. | ||
| - Elaborate on the relationship between Godd's truth and salvation. (John 5:38-39; 8:32) | ||
| II. Despise God's Detractors. | ||
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157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies. 158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not keep Your word. | ||
| - Explain the paradox of loathing the wickeed and loving the lost. (Mark 10:21) | ||
| III. Love God's Law. | ||
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159 Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness. 160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. | ||
| - What are the implications for the Old Tesstament? (Matt. 5:18) | ||
| Orientation: | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Establish the providence and hardship prominent in Paul's first visit to Philippi and his present imprisonment. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| I. Be Confident in God to Perfect You. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. II. Be Partakers of God's Grace.
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7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, | because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. III. Make Your Love Abound in Knowledge.
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8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. | 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, IV. Be Filled with the Fruit of Righteousness.
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in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; | 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. | ||||||||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish correlation with Luke 6:35 and the nature of Psalm 145 as a beautiful song of thanksgiving. | ||
| I. Talk about God's Goodness. | ||
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8 The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. 9 The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works. 10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD, And Your godly ones shall bless You. 11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom And talk of Your power; 12 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations. | ||
| - When is the last time you spoke to a non--Christian about how good God is? | ||
| II. Look to God in Time of Need. | ||
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14 The LORD sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to You, And You give them their food in due time. 16 You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. | ||
| III. Call on God in Truth. | ||
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18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. 20 The LORD keeps all who love Him, But the wicked He will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the purpose of 1 John as offering tests for assurance that one is truly a believer. | ||
| I. Love One Another as Evidence of Your Salvation. | ||
| - God the Father is the source of love. | ||
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7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. | ||
| II. Love One Another with a Life Lived through Christ. | ||
| - Jesus Christ is the example of love. | ||
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9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. | ||
| III. Love One Another to Show God's Love to the World. | ||
| - the Holy Spirit is the power of love. | ||
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11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. | ||
| Orientation: | ||
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| Establish the tension between being in the last days (1 John 2) and yet still waiting for them. | ||
| I. Don't Be a Scoffer. | ||
| - define "scoffer," since this iss not everyday vocabulary | ||
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3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." | ||
| II. Learn from God's Established Pattern of Behavior. | ||
| A. God's judgment is swift and total. | ||
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5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. | ||
| B. God works according to His own schedule. | ||
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8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. | ||
| III. Take Advantage of the Time God Grants You. | ||
| - The purpose of "slowness" is repentance. | ||
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9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. | ||
| Review: | ||
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| Establish the character of God as presented in the previous sermons in this series. | ||
| I. Delight in God's Son. | ||
| A. God does - Isaiah 42:1 | ||
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1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations." | ||
| B. So should we - John 3:35-36 | ||
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35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." | ||
| II. Delight in God's people. | ||
| A. God does - Isaiah 62:4 | ||
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4 It will no longer be said to you, "Forsaken," Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate." But you will be called, "My delight is in her," and your land, "Married." For the LORD delights in you, And to Him your land will be married. | ||
| B. So should we - 1 John 5:1 | ||
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1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. | ||
| III. Delight in Unchanging Love | ||
| A. God does - Micah 7:18 | ||
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18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. | ||
| B. So should we - 1 John 3:18-19 | ||
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18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him. | ||
For a concise statement of my beliefs about God, see my Declaration of Faith.
