The Word Became Flesh and Moved in Next Door
John 1:1-18
Sermon Notes:
1) Creation through the Word, 1-5
2) Illumination by the Word, 4-13
3) Glorification from the Word, 14-18
Reflection Questions:
1. John says that Jesus came to his own, and his own received him not (v11). Why is this? Why would anyone reject a gracious savior like Jesus? What does this savior say about them? See also John 1:5; 3:19.
2. While John does not tell you about the Savior’s birth (and His miraculous conception), how does he tell you that Jesus was Divine, the Son of God? How many different ways do you see evidence of Jesus’s divinity in John 1:1-18?
3. John emphasizes the grace that is found in Christ several times in vv. 14-18. How would Jesus manifest that grace to the world? For one clue, see John 1:29.
The Blessing of a Magnificent God
Luke 1:39-56
Sermon Notes:
1) Elizabeth's Exclamation of Faith
2) Mary's Exclamation of Fear
Reflection Questions:
1. Elizabeth and Mary would have had very little authority and status in their culture and world. Yet, the Holy Spirit spoke scripture through them both. How does the Spirit speaking through Elizabeth and Mary show God's love for the last, the least, the lost, and the little?
2. While we don’t know much about Mary, vv. 46-56 show us a great deal of her faith and understanding of God's promises. What passages in scripture can you think of that Mary might have been recalling? How do you think Mary's familiarity with scripture impacted her faith?
3. God isn't simply taking from those who have too much and giving to the needy, like some Robinhood of the sky. Instead, God is removing the idols of pride, self-sufficiency, and riches, from those who have rejected him. But God fills those who are humble before him with blessing and mercy. How is your pride, might, or wealth getting in the way of you fearing God more fully, and humbling yourself before him?
Did Mark Forget the Nativity Scene?
Mark 1:1-15
Sermon Notes:
1) The Call of the Wild, vv. 2-8
2) The Tamer of the Wild, vv. 9-15
3) The Good News for a Wild World, vv. 1, 14-15
Reflection questions:
1. John the Baptist made a simple observation about Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) How are you seeking to make Christ increase in your life? In your interactions with others, and in how you present yourself?
2. Immediately after Jesus’ baptism where the Father said he was “well pleased” with Christ, He was driven to the wilderness where He was tempted. What might this tell us about the timing of temptation in our lives? See I Cor. 10:12.
3. What are the first words that Mark records Jesus saying? What are the first words Matthew records about the mission of Jesus (see 1:21)?
The Divorce that Never Happened
Matthew 1:18-25
Sermon Notes:
1) An Unexpected Pregnancy, 18-19
2) An Angelic Proclamation, 20-21
3) A Prophetic Explanation, 22-23
4) An Obedient Conclusion, 24-25
Reflection questions:
1. How was “just” Joseph (v19) planning to deal with the unexpected circumstances in his life? What does this show us about the limits of human wisdom, and how we should approach God with our plans? See Proverbs 3:5-6; 14:12; 16:9; Matthew 6:33.
2. Isaiah 7:14 was probably written about 700 years before Christ was born. What does the 700-year 1 -plan of God tell you about His wisdom and His care for you? See Romans 8:27-39; Romans 12:33-36.
3. What does this story teach us about obedience in the face of difficulty circumstances? Consider: 1 Cor. 15:58.
Israel Restored and Regathered
Isaiah 56:1-8
Sermon Notes:
1) Justice Commanded, Blessings Promised, v 1-2
6 Reasons keeping the Sabbath (v2, 4, 6) is emblematic of the justice (v1) God commands:
The Sabbath is about rest for you, and rest for those who serve you.
The Sabbath proves we believe that God is Lord over our time. (Thomas, Isaiah, 354.)
“The Sabbath is … not an end in itself, but … a sign that the whole of life was to be lived in submission to God.”2
“True Sabbath observance is to refrain from evil, not just work.” (Webb, The Message of Isaiah, 221)
The Sabbath looks forward to the final rest that God promised.
The Sabbath proves that His people are other-worldly.
2) Legacy Promised, Pessimism Prohibited, v 3-5
3) Outcasts and Prodigals, Gathered and Accepted, v 6-8
Reflection questions:
1) Read v1. Is God promising salvation to those who obey? Or is God’s salvation a motivation for His people to obey? Which one gives you greater assurance of His love? How can remembering that help you in your daily life?
2) God promised acceptance to foreigners and eunuchs despite their outsider status with the people of God in Isaiah’s day. One author says of this, “They [God’s people] were to be an open community, warmly embracing all who genuinely bound themselves to the Lord (3, 6).” (Webb, The Message of Isaiah, 222) How can we live out that exhortation today?
3) Meditate on this verse: “All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.” Ps 25:10
The Letter to Smyrna
Revelation 2:8-11
Sermon Notes:
Suffering is Standard:
1) The Background
2) The Cause
3) Their Expectations
4) Our Implications
Reflection Questions:
1) What areas of life are most tempting to have guaranteed peace with the world? Politics, culture, school friends, co-workers, classmates, teammates, children, spouse…?
2) How might the contemporary church be failing or succeeding in hearing and keeping the words written to Smyrna?
3) What parts of being a disciple of Christ might need the most support and encouragement in order to be able to be faithful and keep the words of our Lord?
The Pleading Servant: Come to the Waters!
Isaiah 55
Sermon Notes:
1) A Generous Invitation, 1-5
2) A Mysterious Invitation, 6-9
3) A Sovereign Invitation, 10-11
4) A Joyful Invitation, 12-13
Reflection Questions:
1. How can offer us such lavish blessings for free? See Isaiah 53; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Acts 20:28
2. Are there things about God’s mercy and grace that you don’t understand? Are there things about God’s nature and plans that you don’t understand? When is the last time you thought about those things so that you could remember how much “higher” God’s thoughts are than your thoughts? See Is 55:8-9; Romans 12:33-36.
3. Is the certainty and sovereignty of God’s plans and purposes (Is 55:10-11) comforting or troubling to you? Why? What about the certainty of His promise of future joy (Is 55:12-13)?
The Victorious Servant
Isaiah 54
Sermon Notes:
1) The Joy of Peace for the Barren, 1-6
2) The Covenant of Peace for the Unfaithful, 4-10, 13
3) The Security of Peace for the Shaken, 11-17
Reflection Questions:
1. Can you think of examples (beyond Isaiah 54) where God provided or gave hope to those who were barren? Barren women who gave birth? Or other barren, seemingly-empty situations where He provided? Have you experienced His hope in your barrenness, as well?
2. Can you think of any other religion or any other supposed god who makes covenants and promises to His people? What effect are God’s covenants supposed to have on His people? See Hebrews 6:13-20.
3. How do we live in between the giving of God’s promise and the attainment of the promised reality? See Hebrews 11:8-16.
The Suffering Servant
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Sermon Notes:
1) The Surprising Servant, 52:13-15
2) The Sorrowful Servant, 53:1-3
3) The Suffering Servant, 53:4-6
4) The Silent Servant, 7-9
5) The Substitutionary Servant, 53:10-12
Reflection Questions:
1) Was Jesus the kind of Savior that Israel expected? Why or why not? Consider what I Corinthians 1:17-31 says about our Savior and about His people.
2) Isaiah 53:6 says that we are all like wayward, stubborn sheep going our own way. Think of the last sin that you had to repent of. Can you see an element of lawlessness and rebellion that led to it? See also I John 3:4.
3) Consider the meaning of vv.10-11. How will the Servant make many to be righteous? Compare 2 Corinthians 5:21.