God Fulfills His Promises | Genesis 25:7-11, 19-34
Scripture: Genesis 25:7-11, 19-34“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” – Jonathan Edwards+ God uses our prayer to fulfill His promises+ God uses our weakness to fulfill his promises+ God uses our opposition to fulfill his promises.Philippians 3:18-21“We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – C.S. Lewis
Experiencing God | Genesis 24
Scripture: Genesis 24+ A life that experiences God is one oriented toward God’s purpose.“…you might ask, “Why should God speak to me? What am I doing in life that would make him speaking to me a reasonable thing for him to do? Are we in businesstogether in life? Or am I in business just for myself, trying to ‘use a little God’ to advance my projects?” – Dallas Willard, Hearing God.+ A life that experiences God is one of faith-filled action.+ A life that experiences God is one that is growing in prayer.Psalm 127:1
The Abraham Story | Hebrews 11:8-19
Scripture: Hebrews 11:8-19+ Faith alone secures ouracceptance with God.Genesis 15:6Ephesians 2:8–9 Romans 4:1–5+ Faith alone demands humilitybefore God and others.+ Faith obeys God's word withouthaving all the details or all the answers.James 2:21–24+ Faith is future oriented"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark rocky peak high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.” – JRRTolkien, The Return of the King.+ Faith believes God more thancircumstances+ Faith withholds nothing fromGod, no matter how precious
Give Thanks to the Lord | Psalm 136
Scripture: Psalm 136“For his mercy endureth for ever.We shall have this repeated in every verse of this song, but not once toooften. It is the sweetest stanza that a man can sing. What joy that there ismercy, mercy with Jehovah, enduring mercy, mercy enduring for ever. We are everneeding it, trying it, praying for it, receiving it: therefore let us for eversing of it.” – Charles H. Spurgeon + Give thanks to the Lord, forwho He is.Psalm 136: 1-3 + Give thanks to the Lord, forwhat He does.Psalm 136:4 + Give thanks to the Lord, forHis love.Psalm 136:10-15Psalm 136:16Romans 5:8Psalm 136:23-26
The Gifts of the Son | Acts 2:32-47
Scripture: Acts 2:32-47 And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. + The Holy SpiritWe are not powerless Romans 8:9Galatians 5:16+ The Church We are not alone + The Forgiveness of Sins Ephesians 4:4–6Romans 8:1 We are not condemned + The Resurrection and Future Glory John 6:35–40We are not afraid A Dialogue-Anthem by George Herbert Christian: Alas, poor Death! where is thy glory? Where is thy famous force, thy ancient sting? Death: Alas, poor mortal, void of story! Go spell and read how I have kill'd thy King. Christian: Poor Death! and who was hurt thereby? Thy curse being laid on Him makes thee accurst. Death: Let losers talk, yet thou shalt die; These arms shall crush thee. Christian: Spare not, do thy worst. I shall be one day better than before; Thou so much worse, that thou shalt be no more.