1 John 4:7-11
I. GOD LOVES US
A. Shown in sending His Son (1 John 4:7-11; John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:16-19)
B. Love is the foundation of salvation (Romans 5:6-8; John 15:13)
C. Jesus’ sacrifice was a conscious, calculated decision, understanding the consequences (Mark 10:17-22)
II. JESUS IS OUR ULTIMATE EXAMPLE
A. He was willing to give; we must be willing to give (1 John 3:16-18; James 2:15-16)
B. The example of the first century church (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 5:4)
III. GENEROSITY BASED ON LOVE
A. Looking for opportunities (Galatians 6:2, 7-10)
B. The example of Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:2-5, 9, 12-15)
IV. LOVE IS SHOWN NOT ONLY IN GIVING, BUT IN LIVING
A. Love is the basis of how we treat one another (Romans 13:8-10)
B. Love is the basis of how we treat God (John 14:15; 1 John 5:2-3)
1 Peter 1:13-16
I. OUR CONDUCT MUST DEPICT THE HOLINESS OF CHRIST
A. Christians are not only expected to be holy; we are commanded to be holy (Hebrews 12:14)
B. To be holy is to be different from the world (1 Peter 1:13-16)
C. Christians are a part of “a holy priesthood” and “a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:4-5,9-10)
D. The world opposes holiness (1 Peter 4:1-4)
II. THE SCRIPTURES HELP US TO BE HOLY AS GOD IS HOLY
A. Psalm 1:1-2 – Be careful where you walk, stand, and sit; and meditate on the Word
B. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 – Be on guard against temptation and look for God’s way of escape
C. 1 Corinthians 15:33 – Choose your closest friends wisely
D. 2 Timothy 2:22 – Run away from sin, and run toward righteousness, faith, love, and peace
E. 1 John 1:9 – Confess and ask for forgiveness to be cleansed, justified, made holy and set apart (cf. Psalm 103:2)
F. Romans 12:1-2 – Fully committed to God’s will as a living sacrifice
G. Philippians 3:12-16 – We are on a journey to eternity
Matthew 17:22-23
I. CONFIDENCE OF CHRIST AND HIS APOSTLES
A. Jesus had confidence in the power of God to establish and sustain His church (Matthew 6:13; 24:35; 16:13-18)
B. Jesus had confidence in the scheme of redemption (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23)
C. Because of His confidence, the apostles developed a similar confidence (Acts 2:22-36)
II. CONFIDENCE OF DISCIPLES TODAY
A. We can have confidence in what God has done (Romans 6:1-10)
B. We can have confidence in what God will do (2 Corinthians 4:13-14)
C. Humility is needed to acknowledge God’s power (Psalm 44:6-8; James 4:10; Philippians 4:13)
III. WHAT CONFIDENCE CAN DO FOR US
A. We can approach His throne in prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 5:14-15)
B. We can boldly proclaim His truth (Acts 4:29; Ephesians 6:13-20; Romans 1:16)
Luke 2:8-14
I. PEACE WITH OUR FELLOW MAN
A. We cannot control how another person acts, but we CAN control how we react (Romans 12:17-21)
B. We cannot be apathetic about peace – PURSUE IT! (Romans 14:19; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 3:11)
II. PEACE WITH GOD
A. There is a connection between faith and peace (Mark 5:24-34; Luke 7:36-50)
B. Through Christ we can have peace not only with each other, but with God Himself (Ephesians 2:11-16)
C. Does this mean our lives will be free from conflict when we obey the Lord? (Romans 5:1-4; Matthew 10:34-39; John 16:33)
III. WE SHOULD BE SPIRITUAL PEACEMAKERS
A. Lead others into a peaceful relationship with the Almighty (Matthew 5:9; Ephesians 6:14-15)
B. You know someone who needs the peace of Christ – what are you doing about it? (Romans 10:13-15; James 3:18)
Matthew 14:13-21
I. THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST
A. Feeding the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21)
B. Feeding the 4000 (Matthew 15:29-38)
II. COMPASSION NOT ONLY FOR PHYSICAL NEEDS, BUT SPIRITUAL CONDITION
A. “Like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
B. Jesus had compassion and demanded action (Matthew 9:37-38)
III. COMPASSION IN RESTORATION
A. The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24)
B. Our role in restoration (Galatians 6:1,10; James 5:19-20)
Philippians 2:5-8
I. THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST (Philippians 2:5-8)
A. Who is Jesus? (Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:4)
B. Why did He come? To accomplish the will of God (Matthew 26:39,42; 1 Peter 2:18-23)
C. The result of Christ’s humility: God exalted Him (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:10)
II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “HUMBLE YOURSELF”?
A. The example of Christ: serving (John 13:3-17)
B. The struggles of the apostles (Mark 10:35-45)
III. THE BLESSINGS OF HUMILITY
A. God will lift you up (James 4:10)
B. God will guide and teach you (Psalm 25:9; Jeremiah 10:23)
C. God will give you grace (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; Luke 18:9-14)
D. Humility is accompanied by wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)
E. Humility is honorable (Proverbs 16:18-19; 29:23)
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
ConcerningJesus.com 