Exponential: Sermon on the Amount

Biblical generosity: Mal 1:8, 10, 14, 3:6-12
- It is possible to rob God by not giving him my best. Am I bringing God my best? God does not want anything less than the best I have to offer.
- Give a tithe (10%), not just of your money, but of yourself also
- 2Cor 9:6-8, 8:1-2, Generous, cheerful, sacrificial giving.
- We need a plan. Give, save, spend.

Exponential: True Treasure

There's a fundamental connection between our spiritual life and how we handle our stuff. Lk 3, 19:8-10, Acts 2, 4. When our hearts are affected by Jesus, we will pour out generosity upon others.
1. 1 Timothy 6:17. Put your hope in God, not in your wealth. The main competitor for your heart is going to be your money.
2. 1 Timothy 6:18. Rich people should be good-er and generous-er. Always have your eyes open looking for opportunities to give to others.
3. 1 Timothy 6:17-19. We should view our riches in light of eternity. The motivation for our generosity should be eternal life. Lk 12:13-21 You leave it all behind when you die, so we should be rich towards God. Mt 6:19-21

The Name: Light Of The World

Light is vitally important.
John 8:12 ...I am the light of the world...
Isa 9:1-2, Luke 1:76-79

What does this mean for us?
1. Jesus is the light of salvation. The world has no other light than him. John 8:12, follow me and you will have the light. John 1:1-5, 8:12 those who do not follow him will walk in darkness. John 8:23-24 Jesus is not of this world, believe in him so you don't die in the darkness of your sins. John 3:16-21, we have to understand how lost we are, so that we can understand what Jesus did for us.  Isa 29:13-16 What are you doing with the light of Jesus? John 8:28-30, 20:30-31

2. Jesus is the light for life for every day. John 4:10, 6:32-33, 8:12, 10:10

3. Jesus is the light of eternity. Mt 22:31-32, Isa 60:19-20, Rev 21:22-25

The Name: The Lamb Of God

John 1:29-34
1. Who is the Lamb? Jn 1:29 John said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Ex 12:12-13, Lev 4:32-35
- the Lamb was to be unblemished. Ex 12:5, Lk 1:26-35, 1Jn 3:5
- the Lamb was to be slaughtered. Lev 4:33, Isa 53:10, Heb 9-10
- the Lamb's Blood was for forgiveness of sins. Lev 4:35, Atonement - the broken relationship was repaired
- the Lamb offered salvation. Ex 12:13
2. The Lamb was Jesus. Heb 9:11-15, 10:11-12
3. Our response to the Lamb of God
- believe in the Lamb. Jn 12:12-13, 17-18, 3:16, Rev 6:15-17
- tell others about the Lamb. Jn 1:35-41
- behold the Lamb. Rev 5:1-8

* from Ron's notes on youversion.

The Name: No Other Name

Jesus: Mt 1:18-21  Jesus means - God is salvation, the Lord saves.
Christ: the Messiah, the anointed one of God
Lk 1:31-32a Jesus is great
1. His greatness is seen in his birth through the Holy Spirit. Mt 1:18, Col 1:15-17, John 1:1,14, 8:56-58. C. S. Lewis - Lord, liar, or lunatic.
2. His greatness is seen in his life. We are not as great as we think we are. Mt 20:25-28. He turned our idea of greatness upside down. Phil 2:5-8. He was a servant and was sinless.
3. His greatness was seen in his death. Rom 3:23, 6:23, Col 2:13-15. 1 Pet 5:8 - Jesus conquered our enemy.
4. His greatness was seen in his resurrection. John 20:26-28. He rose from the dead.
5. His greatness will be seen in his return. Hallelujah!
6. His name is the greatest name! Acts 4:12, Phil 2:9-11

Rescued: Helpless 11/2/14

Rom 6:1-7

Rom 5:6,8 God loves me in all of my brokenness and sin.  He died for me while I was still in my sin and shame. v.8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

God takes sheer delight in me, he is crazy about me, even as I struggle with sin.  He wants to help, and stands ready and waiting.

Rom 6:1-1, 6-7 "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" v.6-7 "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin."  2 Cor 5:17 We become a new creation.

I am helpless on my own to change myself.  Only Jesus can change me, through the Holy Spirit.  He is maturing me every day to make me who He wants me to be.  I am freed up from trying to fix myself.

- It starts with repentance. To rethink, to change one's mind. Mk 1:14, Acts 2:38, 3:19, Rev 3:19  Coming to grips with those sin areas we need to overcome.  To agree with the change He has already given to us through his death and resurrection. Growing into who Christ has already made me to be.  To see our sin as God sees our sin, and to turn from it.

There is no such thing as a true Christian who is not changing.  We should always be changing to become more like Christ. 2Cor 7:8-9

Rescued: The Exchange

How do I overcome the sin with which I struggle?
Rom 7:14-25, 8:1-14
1. I have no power in myself to live the Christian life. (Chainsaw example: you won't cut the wood unless you turn on the power of the saw.) v.18
2. We are given the Spirit when we are saved. Rom 8:1-4
3. We have an obligation to live by the Spirit. Rom 8:12-14, Acts 1:8, Gal 2:20 & 5:16
4. We need to be filled with the Spirit.
Eph 5:18, let the Holy Spirit of God have control of you, and do this over and over again. Eph 4:30 Do not quench the Spirit.

How do we become filled with the Holy Spirit? 1 John 1:9
1. Confess our sin.
2. Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
3. Believe.