Christ Above All
Do Others See Jesus In You?
Colossians 1:3-8
Introduction:
– Clickbait
– Heresy in Colossae: – secret knowledge of God
– Colossians 1:1-8
– Back to Jesus
Three Virtues That Should Always Be Evident in the Believer’s Life
1. Evidence of Our Faith in , v. 4a
– Colossians 1:4a
– Can you be sure you have faith in Christ?
• Assurance of Faith Begins with New
1 John 5:1a
• Assurance of Faith Is Evidenced by New
1 John 2:15
2. Evidence of Our Love for God’s , v. 4b
– Colossians 1:4, 1 John 3:14, Luke 6:27-28
3. Evidence of Our Hope for , vv. 5-6
– Colossians 1:5-6, Job 14:14a
– Hope for Heaven
• Reminds us that we have
• Helps us be more
• Ignites our excitement for the
Philippians 1:23b
Conclusion:
• “What’s God doing in your life right now?”
Your New Year’s Plan
1 Timothy 6:11-12
Introduction:
The New Year’s Resolution
The plan we truly need to make
1 Timothy 6:11-12
Our New Year’s Plan Should Include . . .
1. What We From, v. 11a
“flee ”
1 John 2:16
2. What We After, v. 11b
Righteousness – the pursuit of personal
Godliness – pursuing a life that looks like
Faith – pursuing trustworthiness and
Love – pursuing love
Endurance – sticking to it when the going gets tough
Gentleness – pursuit of a spirit toward God and humility toward others
Psalm 63:8a, Hebrews 12:1b-2a
3. What We For, v. 12
2 Timothy 4:7
Your spiritual
Your and .
To protect the .
To keep from becoming .
Fight to be .
Conclusion:
• Turning passion into perseverance
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Greatest Gift
John 3:16, Luke 2:11, 1 John 4:19
Introduction
· The best Christmas gift
1. The of Love
· John 3:16
2. The of Love
Luke 2:11
3. The to Love
1 John 4:19
Conclusion
· Remember and celebrate the ultimate gift
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Prophesies and Promises of Christmas
A Statement of Fact: God with us
Isaiah 7:14 / Matthew 1:23
Introduction:
- What Child Is This?
- Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22-23
“God with us is” means . . .
1. God Will Never Leave or Us
Psalm 139:7, Joshua 1:5, 9
2. God Will Be Found When Life Us
Psalm 46:1, 2 Chronicles 20:12
3. God Will Not Allow Anything to Him from Us
Romans 8:38-39
4. God Will Provide Something for Us
Revelation 21:4, Matthew 1:21
Conclusion:
- God’s promise fulfilled!
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Prophesies and Promises of Christmas
A Despised Name: Jesus the Nazarene
Isaiah 53:3 / Psalm 22:6 / Matthew 2:19-23
Introduction:
- What’s in a name?
- Matthew 2:19-23
- John 1:46a
- Isaiah 53:3; Psalm 22:6
How does Jesus the Nazarene speak to us today?
- God Uses Our for His Glory
- John 19:19, Acts 22:8, Luke 8:39
- God Uses for His Glory
- Mark 1:9, Genesis 50:20a
- God Uses for His Glory
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
Conclusion:
- “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Prophesies and Promises of Christmas
Hope in Brokenness: The Massacre of the Innocents
Jeremiah 31:15/Matthew 2:16-18
Introduction:
- The original Christmas villain – Herod
- Matthew 2:16-18, Jeremiah 31:15
- The Jeremiah, Matthew Connection
What does the death of the innocents do to us?
- Breaks Our
- Opens Our
- Troubles Our
- Exercises Our
Where is hope in brokenness?
- Jeremiah 31:16-17
Finding hope at Christmas
- Accept God’s
- Matthew 11:28
- Reach Out to
- Cling to the of God
- Isaiah 9:6, John 14:18
Conclusion:
- Henry’s breakthrough
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Prophesies and Promises of Christmas
A Clear Call: Out of Egypt
Hosea 11:1/Matthew 2:13-15
Introduction:
- Ups and Downs
- Jesus and His family – a roller coaster ride
- Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13-15
What we learn on the journey to and from Egypt:
I. In This World We Will Have , v. 13
- Matthew 2:13
- Trouble never takes a holiday.
- Jesus’ guarantee – John 16:33b; 16:33a
- Psalm 46:1
II. At the Worst of Times, God Is Still at , v. 14
- Matthew 2:14
- Matthew 1:20
- Don’t miss these Two Activities of God:
The worst of times is about a .
The worst of times is about .
III. Waiting Is Part of God’s , v. 15a
- Psalm 40:1
IV. God’s Purpose and Plan Will , v. 15
- Matthew 2:15
Conclusion:
- “How did you know?”
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Prophesies and Promises of Christmas
A Particular Place: Bethlehem
Micah 5:2/Matthew 2:1-6
Introduction:
• Significant Places
Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:1-6
Practical Truths from Bethlehem:
1. God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense
- Rome and Jerusalem make sense
- Isaiah 55:8
- Ecclesiastes 11:5
- When God’s Ways Make No Sense – we can either:
Resist and Run
Distort and Deny
Tremble and Trust
2. God Always Meets Our Needs
- John 6:32-35
- Psalm 84:11b
3. God’s Identity Is Revealed
- Matthew 2:6
- John 10:14
- 2 Samuel 5:2
Conclusion:
• The birthplace effect
Do You Hear What I Hear?
The Prophesies and Promises of Christmas
A Particular Place: Bethlehem
Micah 5:2/Matthew 2:1-6
Introduction:
• Significant Places
Micah 5:2
Matthew 2:1-6
Practical Truths from Bethlehem:
1. God’s Ways Don’t Make
- Rome and Jerusalem make sense
- Isaiah 55:8
- Ecclesiastes 11:5
- When God’s Ways Make No Sense – we can either:
- and Run
- and Deny
- and Trust
2. God Always Meets Our
- John 6:32-35
- Psalm 84:11b
3. God’s Identity Is
- Matthew 2:6
- John 10:14
- 2 Samuel 5:2
Conclusion:
• The birthplace effect
Jonah – The Mercy and Mission of God
Losing Perspective
Jonah 3:10 – 4:11
Introduction
- Perspective
- Jonah 3:10 – 4:4
How do you lose Godly perspective?
- Being more focused on pleasing than .
- Romans 8:8
- Ephesians 5:8, 10, 2 Corinthians 5:9
- When your chance to becomes a .
- Jonah 4:5-8
- James 1:22
- Being more about minor things than major
- Jonah 4:9-11
- Institutional ~ Thom Rainer
How do you regain Godly perspective?
- Revelation 2:4
Conclusion
- Are you running from your Nineveh?