Who is Jesus? The King of Kings

Matthew 2:1-12

Sermon Notes:

Main Point: Jesus, alone, is the King of kings.

1. The Jewish Heart was not Ready (vv.1-3)

2. Forsaking Plausible Deniability (vv. 3-8)

3. How the Magi were Right (vv. 9-11)

4. How Herod was Right (v.12)

Reflection Questions:

1. What does Herod's antagonism against the messiah teach us about mankind? Sin?

2. What do you make of the star phenomena in Matthew 2? What conceptions are challenged by this miracle?

3. How might we benefit from more precisely meditating on Christ's reign as the King of kings this Christmas?

4. What application to our lives today can be made from the reminder that rulers who rage against Christ, like Herod, will be subjected to the King of kings?

Who is Jesus? The Savior of Sinners

Matthew 1:18-25

Sermon Notes:

1) No good deed unpunished | 18-19

2) No good thing withheld | 20-23 (Ps 84:11)

3) No temptation not common | 24-25 (1 Cor 10:13)

Reflection questions:

1) “Christians believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. Atheists believe in the virgin birth of the universe.” - Glen Scrivener. Which miracle has more evidence? What does the miraculous birth of Jesus tell you about God’s purpose in sending His Son to earth?

2) Matthew 1:21 says that Jesus “will save his people from their sins?” Does God promise to save us from our sins? Does God promise to save us from the sins of others on this side of heaven? Are we promised inner renewal, enabling us to be salt and light in a dark world? Or are we promised more than that until Jesus returns?

3) When difficulties happen to you, are you quick to accuse God of “withholding” His goodness? Read the following passages (Ps 84:11; Phil 4:19; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Peter 1:3; Ps 73) and ask how we should view of God’s provision to us?

Who is Jesus? The Son of David

Matthew 1:1-17

Sermon Notes:

1) The Lord is Faithful to His Promises | 1, 6, 11-12, 16-17

2) The Lord is Gracious to the Undeserving | 1-6

3) The Lord is Just to the Wicked | 7-11

4) The Lord is Powerful for the Weak | 12-17

Reflection Questions:

1. What can you learn from a list of names in the Bible? Would you agree that it proves that “God never tires of naming the names of His people”? (Ralph Davis)

2. How can you see God’s grace to characters like Rahab (see Joshua 2); Ruth (See Ruth, especially chapters 2-3); David (see 2 Sam 7, 11-12 and Psalm 51) and others?

3. How can you see God’s justice in this story, which mentions the Exile, or Deportation? How should we respond when we see God’s justice? See Romans 3:23-26. 4. How can you see God’s power for the weak in this story? Joseph was a Son of David (cf Mt. 1:20), but was he a powerful person? Also see Luke 1:46-56, aka, The Magnificat.

Called to Put on Truth, Righteous Anger and Hard-working Generosity

Ephesians 4:25-28

Sermon Notes:

Put on Truth, Righteous Anger, and Hard-Working Generosity, because:

1) God’s Son died to make obedience possible | (Eph 2:8-10)

2) God’s People belong to each other | 25

3) God’s Enemy wants our anger to destroy our Body | 26-27

4) Other People may need our help | 28

Reflections questions:

1) Are you saved by your good works? Are you saved for good works? Read Ephesians 4:25-28 and then read 2:8-10. Why does God expect you to be able to meet His high calling?

2) What are all of the commands in vv. 25ff supposed to promote within the Church? See Ephesians 4:1-6.

3) What are some obvious ways that lies, anger, and greed tear apart Christ’s body? What are some of the less obvious ways that we break the commands regarding truth, anger, and generosity? Think of one supposedly “respectable sin” for each category that you can Put Off in the future. (No sin is supposed to be respectable. Jerry Bridges used that term to describe sins that aren’t as widely condemned that we should still repent of.)

Anger: God’s Command, or the Devil’s Foothold?

Ephesians 2:26-27

Sermon Notes:

1) Put On Holy Anger, and Make Sure It’s Holy | 26a

2) Put Off Cancerous Anger Quickly | 26b

3) Beware the Enemy, who Seeks an Opportunity for Destruction in Our Anger | 27

Reflection questions:

1) Does God’s word ever endorse hatred or anger? See Eph 4:26; Psalm 4:4; and Ps 119:53. Regarding Ps 119 – Does the Psalmist hate people, or their actions?

2) Does this passage warn against the dangers of anger? Can you name all three qualifications or guardrails for our anger? Which is easier – putting on holy anger for the right reasons, or avoiding the sinful excesses of anger? What are three steps you can take to avoid the three common errors of anger?

3) What kind of “opportunity” for the Devil is God (speaking through Paul) urging the church to avoid? Why should we be eager to avoid an opportunity for Satan, and what should we be eager to maintain as a Church? See Ephesians 4:1-6, 27.

The Christian's New Clothes

Ephesians 4:17-25

Sermon Notes:

1) Our Calling to Walk as Christians | 17-21

2) Our Calling to Dress as Christians | 22-24

3) Our Calling to Speak as Christians | 25

Reflection questions:

1. How does Paul describe the logical result of how Gentiles (non-Christians, in this case) walk, v17-19? Does he mean that there is no hope for non-Christians? Is he trying to show what this life will lead to unless someone changes course?

2. Is it possible for a Christian to not live like a Christian, to not dress like a Christian? What type of clothes has God given us, and why should we be grateful for them? (See Genesis 3:7, 21; Isaiah 61:10-11; Revelation 19:6-9.)

3. Truth, in love, builds up (Eph 4:15-16), so what would falsehood do to the Body of Christ? What is the next hard conversation you plan to have with someone? Have you thought about how you can speak the truth in love to that person?

Called to Grow in Mutual Maturity and Love

Ephesians 4:11-16

Sermon Notes:

1) God’s blood-bought gifts empower us to attain unity and maturity | 11-13

2) God’s blood-bought gifts empower us to clarify our essential doctrines | 14

3) God’s blood-bought gifts require us to grow together by truth and love | 15-16

Reflection questions:

1) Is Christian unity something you are thankful for, something you’re eager to maintain, or is it something you are striving to attain in its fullness? Which one(s) should it be for you? See Eph 4:1-6 and 11-13.

2) What does the Bible say about teaching, doctrine? It is something that can cause division and therefore should be avoided? Is it something we should learn more about, something that helps us grow together? (See Eph 4:13-15)

3) Are you more characterized by truth or love (v.15) in your interactions with others? Does God give us a choice, or does He call us to embrace both, speaking the truth in love? Is there one area (truth or love or both) that you need to grow in, for your own sake and for the sake of the body of Christ?

The Source and Purpose of Our Calling

Ephesians 4:7-12

Sermon Notes:

1) Every Christian receives a gracious gift | 7

2) Christ is the Champion and Giver of our Gifts | 8-10

3) The Word of God is the clarifying foundation for every gift | 11

4) Building up other Christians is the Purpose of Every Christian Gift | 12

Reflection questions:

1) How do our God-given gifts show us how God bestows value on His people? (See Gen 1:26-28; Eph 2:1-9) How does the purpose of our gifts keep us from becoming prideful and arrogant? See v.12.

2) What gift have all God’s people received? (see Ephesians 2:1-9) Do we also receive unique gifts? See v.7. Are those unique gifts meant to highlight our uniqueness, or do they have another purpose? See vv. 1-7, 12.

3) Who is our Great High Priest as Christians? Is there also a sense where every believer is a priest or minister or servant of God?

One

Ephesians 4:4-6

Sermon Notes:

We should be eager to maintain our unity (Eph 4:3) because…

1) We are One Spirit-filled Body, 4a

2) We have One Allegiance-demanding Lord, 4b-5

3) We have One Family with One Father, 6

Reflection questions:

1. Pardon the 17th -century English (and use Google for the hard words if you have to), and ask how this quote should motivate you to maintain unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ: “All saints … being united to one another in love … have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 26.1)

2. To borrow a line from John Calvin, do you dread every kind of animosity among the people of God? What are some reasons that you should want to strive for unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?

3. Read Ephesians 4:1-4 and Galatians 5:22-23. How does the Holy Spirit help us to stay unified as a Body of believers?

Clothed in Love

Colossians 3:1-17

Sermon Notes:

1. The God Context | vv 1-4

2. Garments of Death | vv 5-9

3. Wearing Love | vv 10-17

Reflection Questions:

1. What things do you think about most often? Are your thoughts shaped by what Jesus has accomplished and the hope of eternal life, or are they reflections of earthly pursuits? How might The God Context reframe those things that occupy your attention?

2. What ways does our world subtly excuse or even promote the sins and heart attitudes in verses 5-9? How can naming the root sins help you see and protect yourself from treating them as "respectable sins?"

3. Review the qualities in verses 12-13. If you remove love, what happens to these characteristics of the new self? How can we guard ourselves against this temptation?