Experiencing the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ should fill believers with a new song, as life becomes an expression of our worship. As we approach Christmas, we remember that God acts in miraculous ways to save, and we eagerly await the day when Christ will return to judge and rule, making all things new.

Outline:

• The Lord Saves

• The Lord Reigns

• The Lord Will Rule

Realism about the world and our personal experiences are often difficult to reconcile with the hope to be found in us. Yet, there is perfect harmony between realism and hope, and reason for great hope and joy, as we look to God. Christmas reminds us of God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and love in sending His Son. King Jesus is the reason for the hope found in us.

Outline:

• Rebellious People

• Ruling God

• Reigning King

• Redeeming Response

1000 years before the birth of Jesus, King David is given a front row seat to a coronation ceremony and priestly anointing. As we open a text so influential to the Christian faith and to the New Testament authors, the majesty of the Incarnation unfolds with promise for every follower of Jesus.

Outline:

• The King of kings

• The Great High Priest

• The Righteous Judge

Like a movie trailer, Psalm 8 points to the unfolding of redemptive history from beginning to end. With the benefit of God’s revelation in the New Testament, we can look back with clear vision and worship the Christ and Savior so longed for by the psalmist.

Outline:

• The Glory of God Revealed to a Creation in Conflict

• God’s Amazing Love for Insignificant People

• The Divine Plan Fulfilled in Christ

The episode of Jesus restoring sight to a blind man is a living picture of Jesus’s teaching about salvation in the first eight chapters of John. Forgiveness, eternal life, salvation itself is exclusively based upon how one question is answered: Do you truly believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior?

Outline:

• The God Who Saves

• The Necessary Confession

• Truth Divides

With undeniable proof of his divinity and mission in front of them, three parties faced a decision about Jesus. Like modern-day responses, there were those who refused to believe, those who rushed to compromise to keep all parties happy, and only one willing to bear the consequences of standing for truth.

Outline:

• Obstinate Unbelief

• Who Do You Fear?

• Faith Strengthened by Trial

The Apostle John chose to recount seven miracles of Jesus to convey important spiritual truths. In healing the man born blind, Jesus not only displayed the power of God but gave us reason to be humble servants of Christ, proclaiming the saving gospel to the nations.

Outline:

• A Humbling Truth

• Work to Be Done

• The Wondrous Works of God

• The Testimony of a Transformed Life

The problem of suffering is neither unique nor unknown to Christians. When we see suffering or experience suffering it is natural to want to understand why. The Bible provides the answers.

Outline:

• The Perplexing Problem of Suffering

• The Danger of Unbiblical Answers

• God’s Glory in Suffering