Big Thought: To conquer our lostness, God gave us the gifts of Jesus in the Flesh, our current Faith, and in the coming Fullness of His second coming.

I. The Gift of Jesus in the Flesh — “God with Us” (Matthew 1:23)

a. The Gift foretold in Isaiah 40:1-5

b. The Light of the Nations (Isaiah 42:6-7; 49:6; 52:10)

c. “I am the Light of the World” (John 12:8)

(MULTILINE)

II. The Gift of Jesus in the Faith — “I am with you always”

a. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)

b. “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-16)

(MULTILINE)

III. The Gift of Jesus in the Fullness of His Second Coming

a. “I will come again” (John 14:2-3)

b. “Will see the Son of Man coming” (Matthew 24:30)

c. “…and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” (Revelation 21:23)

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: God’s favor and blessing to us is not based on our status, effort, or our . We are because God loves us, chooses us, and calls us for His glory and our good.

(MULTILINE)

1. We are worthy because God us. 

a. God’s love casts out .

1 John 4:18a (ESV) – There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

b. God’s love is .

Romans 1:16 (ESV) – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 15:1—8 (ESV) – Now I would remind you, brothers, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, the to all the apostle. Last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared also to me.

c. God’s love .

John 3:16 (ESV) – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

(MULTILINE)

2. We are worthy because God us.

a. We don’t have to belong to the social .

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV) – Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

b. We don’t have to be the at what we do.

c. Our is founded on God and what He says about us.

(MULTILINE)

3. We are worthy because God us.

a. God is as we believe His Word.

John 14:15 (ESV) – “If you love Me, you will obey what I command.”

b. God is to His good news to us.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) – But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

c. God is as we and God for all we see and hear.

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: God’s gift of hope we find in Jesus our situations.

(MULTILINE)

1. Our hopelessness without .

a. The hopelessness of shattered .

b. The hopelessness of placing our trust in the .

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

(MULTILINE)

2. The hope that brings.

a. In our , God brings us .

b. In our , God brings us .

c. In our , He provides .

(MULTILINE)

3. Our to hope.

a. Our response involves .

b. Our response involves .

c. Our response involves unspeakable .

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: God’s gift of hope we find in Jesus our situations.

(MULTILINE)

1. Our hopelessness without .

a. The hopelessness of shattered .

b. The hopelessness of placing our trust in the .

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

(MULTILINE)

2. The Hope that brings.

a. In our , God brings us .

b. In our , God brings us .

c. In our , He provides .

(MULTILINE)

3. Our to hope.

a. Our response involves .

b. Our response involves .

c. Our response involves unspeakable .

(MULTILINE)

I. A familiar . 

a. We have from the past under the Old of how God works.

b. Luke takes time to Joseph to King .

c. Mary is called “,” not “.”

(MULTILINE)

II. A familiar .

a. Mary received grace from God and a of grace.

b. The Messiah will be .

c. The Messiah will be the .

d. The Messiah will on the of David.

e. The Kingdom and reign of the Messiah will .

(MULTILINE)

III. An unfamiliar . 

a. The word “” is used here to characterize Mary means and not young maiden.

b. This Hebrew expression of a man “” a woman means .

c. Genesis and Isaiah clearly teach that the Messiah would be virgin-born.

(MULTILINE)

IV. A familiar .

a. The scriptures teach that will be impossible with God.

b. What do you need this Christmas season?

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: God gives us that overcomes doubt, but we’re called to that faith against the of doubt.

(MULTILINE)

1. Understand the of doubt.

a. Doubt is rooted in the lack of in God’s Word.

b. Doubt is rooted in basing truth only on personal .

c. Doubt is rooted in not believing God’s .

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV) – Not wo Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.

(MULTILINE)

2. Continue to while you’re dealing with your doubt.

a. Bloom where you’re .

b. Pick up your doubts and them along.

(MULTILINE)

3. Respond in spite of your doubts.

a. Don’t let your doubts your actions.

James 1:6-8 (ESV) – But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

b. Keep obeying and .

Matthew 11:1-6, 11a (ESV) – When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” … Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.

(MULTILINE)

4. your faith to what God is doing you, not merely you.

a. We have to look .

b. We have to look .

c. We have to look .

d. We have to look .

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: As we grow in holiness, we will (personal and corporate) prayers of thanksgiving, supplication and assurance – especially when it comes to praying for one another.

(MULTILINE)

1. Prayers of in the Fellowship: Thanking God for what He has .

a. Our thanksgiving is .

b. Thankful that God is the ultimate of our connections.

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) – The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Psalm 37:23 (ESV) – The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way.

c. Thankful our faith is through connections.

(MULTILINE)

2. Prayers of in the Fellowship: Ask God to and in the present.

a. Increase in love for .

b. Increase in love for .

Matthew 5:43-44 (ESV) – You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

c. Key about love:

i. Love is a of true discipleship.

John 13:35 (ESV) – By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

ii. Love is to be and .

iii. Love requires divine .

(MULTILINE)

3. Prayers acknowledging and celebrating in our fellowship: Rely on God to His work in us.

a. Praying for .

b. Praying for .

c. Praying and .

i. Prayer connects us to God who makes us and holy.

ii. Holiness prepares us for Christ’s .

iii. Prayer and community fosters in holiness.

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: Because of the and of Christ, we have the absolute hope that we will triumph in our faith which us on to pursue holiness. 

(MULTILINE)

1. The Producer of our hope – the and of Jesus.

a. Christianity rises and falls on the of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:12-21 (ESV) – Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  

b. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we have the hope of resurrection. 

(MULTILINE)

2. The Profit of our hope – the .

“Rapture” is from the Latin word “raptura.”

a. This is a word from the .

b. The are raised first.

c. Then those who are still .

(MULTILINE)

3. The Practice of our hope – the .

a. Our .

  i. Because of hope we are in the not the .

 ii. Because of hope we are to remain not .

iii. Because of hope we are to remain not .

iv. We are destined for not for .

b. Our .

 i. Breastplate of and .

ii. Helmet of the of salvation.

c. Readiness in .

1) The responsibility to the .

a) To .

b) To exercise .

c) To .

2) The responsibility to the .

a) .

b) very highly in love.

c) Be at with each other and the shepherds.

d. Readiness in .

1) Admonish those in a .

2) Encourage those who are .

3) Help the .

4) Patient with .

5) Seek to do .

e. Readiness in . 

1) Have continuous .

2) Constant .

3) Be .

f. Readiness in . 

1) Discern the of the Spirit.

2) Discern the of the Word.

3) Discern .

(MULTILINE)

4. The Product of our hope – the .

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: As we grow in holiness, we will love both the and the more and more.

(MULTILINE)

I. Being to love by God.

a. He us on love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV) – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

b. He us to love.

John 15:12 (ESV) – This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

c. He love.

John 3:16 (ESV) – For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8 (ESV) – But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) – In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

d. He us to love.

John 15:5 (ESV) – I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

 Philippians 2:13 (ESV) – For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

(MULTILINE)

II. We love the .

a. We love our church family.

1 John 3:14a (ESV) – We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.

Romans 12:9-10 (ESV) – Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Membership : Why should I be a member of a local church?

Reasons: 

1. Christ is to the church.

Ephesians 5:25b (ESV) – … as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

2. We are commanded to live out the “.”

1 John 4:7a (ESV) – Beloved, let us love one another…

3. .

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) – Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

A Reason: It is an for society.

A Reason: It who can be counted on.

A Reason: It produces spiritual .

b. We love our church family.

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 (ESV) – We want you to know brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints –

(MULTILINE)

III. We love the .

a. Live quietly – Having a holy .

b. Mind your own affairs – Living with a holy .

c. Working with our hands to be to others – Doing holy .

(MULTILINE)

Big Thought: We are called to grow into wholistic because it is Jesus’ to us, God’s for us, and the Spirit’s in us.  

(MULTILINE)

 What is Sanctification?

• Sanctification is a part of the process. 

• • > Moment of being holy

Romans 5:1 (ESV) – Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• • Sanctified > of growing in holiness

• • > Eternal state of holy

• Sanctification is two things: a process and a .

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV) – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

(MULTILINE)

How do we grow in holiness?

1. Jesus’ commands.

a. We are urged to remember because we tend to .

 i. We forget Jesus is.

ii. We forget Jesus said.

b. We are urged to remember because Jesus’ command is God’s .

John 14:15 (ESV) – If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

2. to God’s will.

a. What is God’s will for my life?

b. God’s will is your holiness. 

  i. : Holy sexuality

 ii. : Holy bodies and holy passions

iii. and : Holy relationships

3. The gift of our .

a. Because God is the .

b. Because God us His Holy Spirit.

(MULTILINE)