Unlikely Gifts of Christmas: Don’t Get Rid of Herod

Sermon Text: Matt 2: 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Sermon Title: Unlikely Gifts of Christmas: Don’t Get Rid of Herod

Point 1: No evil then there is no good vs 3 - 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

Point 2: Evil reminds us we need a new ruler. Vs 8 - 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 

Point 3: Evil reminds us we have to go a different way vs. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.  

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Matt 4: 4, 7, 10 - 4 But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’””

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Just Say Thank You!

Sermon Text: Luke 17: 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well

Sermon Title: Just Say Thank You!

Point 1: Thanks will change your direction vs. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

Point 2: Thanks open up doors vs. 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

Point 3: Thanks separate you from the pack vs. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

Point 4: Thanks draws you closer to Jesus vs. 16 He threw himself at Jesus feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.

Point 5: Thanks makes room for more vs. 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well

Homework:

(1) When you are confronted with the challenges of life this week Just Say Thank You!

(2) Expect more from God when you do!

(3) Let thank you be verbal and an act of faith in God!

So Much to be Thankful For!

So Much to be Thankful For

Sermon Text: Psalms 118: 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Point 1: He made a way out of no way! Phil 4: 19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Point 2: He answered an old prayer. Luke 1: 13 …Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son…

Point 3: He healed your body?

Point 4: He is God and that’s enough! Psalm 118: 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good…

Life Application:

1.  Start a family tradition tomorrow of everyone telling how thankful they are before you eat

2.  Record it so it can be played back next year to see how much more God has done

3.  Post, tweet, text, tell an unbeliever what God has done for you

Like a Good Neighbor Pt 3 - Serving Thankfully

Sermon Text:  Luke 10: 33 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

Sermon Title:  Like A Good Neighbor…Pt 3 Serving Thankfully

Point 1. The Sympathetic Samaritan vs 34 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

5 Actions of Compassion

Ø Compassion is the catalyst to real ministry

Ø Compassion is based on need not worth

Ø Compassion feels something

Ø Compassion does something

Ø Compassion cost something

Point 2. The Caring Inn Keeper vs 35 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

Ø Courageous - He could have lost customers dealing with the wrong nationality. He could've invited trouble if the attacker knew the man wasn't dead.

Ø Challenge - He rises up to the challenge. When confronted with the moment he didn't shrink.

Ø Completely honest - The innkeeper didn't spend more money. Given the lost time he lost money

Point 3. The Serving Savior vs 3636 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

7 requirements for serving

Ø Your created to serve Eph 2:10 - For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ø Proves you belong to Christ Roman 7:4 - So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

Ø Serving Others Serves God – Matthew 25: 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Ø You owe God Rom 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Ø Best use of you 1 Cor 15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Ø Make life meaningful Mark 5:35 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Ø You will be rewarded John 12:26 - Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.                   Matthew 25:21 - “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Like a Good Neighbor...?: The Missed Opportunity

Sermon Text:  Luke 10: 25- 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Sermon Title:  Like A Good Neighbor…Pt 1 The Missed Opportunity

Four Missed moments

1. Living Moment

2. Learning moment 

3. Loving moment 

4. Leading moment 

Point 2. The Mugged Man vs 30 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

Ø  He fell

Ø  He was stripped

Ø  He was left half dead

Six Missed needs

1. Physical need

2. Safety need

3. Clothing need

4. Transportation need

5. Shelter need

6. Financial need

Life Application:

1.  Identify someone in need

2.  Meet that need between now and Thanksgiving

3.  Bring two cans/non-perishables every Sunday November and December for the food pantry.