JESUS BRINGS JOY (pt.3): Luke 1:46-55

OUTLINE

I. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, He has looked upon your low estate (v. 48a)

II. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, you are blessed (v. 48b)

III. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, the Mighty God has done great things for you (v. 49a)

IV. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, the thrice holy God is your benefactor (v. 49b)

V. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, God promises you never-ending mercy (v. 50)

VI. Magnify the Lord & rejoice in Him because in Christ, God has strongly brought down the proud & elevated the lowly (vv. 51-52) 

VII. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, God has fed your empty belly with the Bread of Heaven (v. 53) 

VIII. Magnify the Lord and rejoice in Him because in Christ, you are the offspring of Abraham, receiving mercy forever (v. 54) 

JESUS BRINGS JOY (pt.2): Luke 1:75-79

OUTLINE

VIII. We must praise the Lord because Christ saves to worship Him in holiness & righteousness (v.75)

IX. We must praise the Lord because Christ had prophets such as John prepare His ways (v.76)

X. We must praise the Lord because Christ brings salvation to His people (v.77a)

XI. We must praise the Lord because Christ brings forgiveness of His peoples’ sins (v.77b)

XII. We must praise the Lord because Christ is the culmination of the tender mercy of our God (v.78a)

XIII. We must praise the Lord because Christ is the sunrise that has visited us from on high (v.78b)

XIV. We must praise the Lord because Christ guides our feet into the way of peace (v.79b)

JESUS BRINGS JOY (pt.1): Luke 1:68-74

OUTLINE

I. We must praise the Lord because Christ has visited and redeemed His people (v. 68b)

II. We must praise the Lord because Christ is the horn of salvation for us (v. 69a)

III. We must praise the Lord because Christ is the promised forever-king (vv. 69b-70)

IV. We must praise the Lord because Christ saves us from our enemies and all who hate us (v. 71)

V. We must praise the Lord because Christ shows promised mercy to tired saints (v.72a)

VI. We must praise the Lord because Christ seals the holy covenant by shedding His blood (vv. 72b-73a)

VII. We must praise the Lord because Christ delivered us to worship Him without fear (vv.73b-74)

JESUS BRINGS JOY: Advent 2020

  1. JESUS BRINGS JOY (pt 1): Luke 1:68-74
  2. JESUS BRINGS JOY (pt 2)

YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS: Philippians 4:13 (pt 2)

OUTLINE

  1. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT.
  2. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
  3. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT LOVE GOD.
  4. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.
  5. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT GLORIFY GOD.
  6. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT ENJOY GOD.
  7. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT WORSHIP GOD.
  8. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT STAND FIRM IN SUFFERING.
  9. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT STAND FIRM FOR THE TRUTH.
  10. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT BE CONTENT WITH GOD’S PROVIDENCE.
  11. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT LIVE WITH CONFIDENCE.
  12. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT BE FREE FROM SIN.
  13. Apart from being united to Christ by faith and strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING BUT SIN.
  14. Apart from Christ, YOU CANNOT FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION.
  15. Apart from being united to Christ by faith & strengthened by Him, YOUR VERY MEMORY WILL BE SOUR.
  16. Apart from being united to Christ by faith & strengthened by Him, YOU CANNOT SURVIVE THE JUDGEMENT.

YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS: Philippians 4:13 (pt 1)

OUTLINE

I. PHIL. 4:13 DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH YOUR DREAMS THROUGH CHRIST (Phil. 4:10-12)

II. PHIL. 4:13 MEANS YOU CAN BE CONTENT NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE—YOU CAN FACE ALL THINGS WITH HAPPINESS AS YOU GLORIFY GOD

III. APART FROM CHRIST YOU CAN DO NO GOOD THING (Jn. 15:5)

IV. IN CHRIST YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS GOOD (Phil. 4:13)

DISCUSSION

1. According to verse 13, what is “the secret of facing” all the things mentioned in verse 12? What exactly does Paul mean? What does he not mean?

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Beloved, I encourage you to get an Advent devotional and read through it each day with your family or by yourself if you are not married. Let us meditate upon the love of God in sending His only Son to redeem us!

Here are my recommendations:

I) COME THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS edited by Nancie Guthrie

Big idea: This is a collection of sermon and book excerpts both current and from church history that will help you say, “Come thou long expected Jesus.” I personally read this devotional every year leading up to Christmas. I treasure Nancie Guthrie’s books that she has edited.

((There is a book like this for the Good Friday and Easter season as well. It is called “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” and it specifically made me weep when I read an excerpt by Charles Spurgeon, “Then did they spit in his face.”))

II) LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS by Sinclair Ferguson

Big idea: “This Advent devotional contains 24 daily readings from 1 Corinthians 13. Sinclair B Ferguson brings the rich theology of the incarnation to life with his trademark warmth and clarity. We’ll see what “love” looked like in the life of Christ and be challenged to love like him.”

LINK

III) THE CHRISTMAS WE DIDN’T EXPECT by David Mathis

Big idea: “No Advent calendars for sale this Christmas can offer what lies behind the windows David Mathis opens in The Christmas We Didn’t Expect. True to its title, it is full of surprises. So, buy it, and carefully unwrap each Advent treat (no more than one a day, or you may spoil your appetite). Then let it melt slowly on your spiritual taste buds and enjoy what Isaiah (the Christmas prophet) called ‘rich food.’” — Sinclair Ferguson

LINK

In Christ alone,
Brett

THE SECRET TO FACING ALL THINGS WITH JOY: Philippians 4:10-13

OUTLINE

I. SINFUL DISCONTENTMENT IS A COMMON DISGRACE

II. CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT IS A RARE JEWEL (v.11c)

III. CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT IS A DIVINE ART TO BE LEARNED (v.11b-12)

IV. THE SECRET TO LEARNING AND PRACTICING CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT: GET STRENGTH FROM CHRIST (v.13)

DISCUSSION

1. Read verse 10. Why did Paul “[rejoice] in the Lord greatly”? What exactly is he referring to?

2. In verse 11, what is Paul quick to clarify? What does it mean “to be content”? Are you content in whatever situation? How can you grow in Christian contentment?

3. Read verse 12. What does Paul know how to do? What do each of these mean? What is he getting at?

4. According to verse 13, what is “the secret of facing” all the things mentioned in verse 12? What exactly does Paul mean? What does he not mean?

WE MUST STAND FIRM BY DOING: Philippians 4:9

OUTLINE

I. YOU MUST STAND FIRM BY DOING (v.9a)

II. GOD MUST CALM YOU WITH HIS PRESENCE (v.9b)

DISCUSSION

I. What is the last “[final]” exhortation Paul gives in this section, according to verse 9? What promise is given to those who “practice these things”?

WE MUST STAND FIRM BY THINKING: Philippians 4:8

OUTLINE

I.You must meditate on whatever is TRUE
(factual, legal evidence)

II. You must meditate on whatever is HONORABLE
(revered, venerable, dignified, respectable)

III. You must meditate on whatever is JUST
(righteous, holy, Phil 1:7 “it is ‘right’ for me to think this way)

IV. You must meditate on whatever is PURE
(clean, innocent)

V. You must meditate on whatever is LOVELY
(acceptable, pleasing)

VI. You must meditate on whatever is COMMENDABLE
(well spoken of, of good report, good-fame)

VII. You must meditate on any EXCELLENCE
(moral excellence)

VIII. You must meditate on anything is PRAISEWORTHY
(worth that leads you to praise)

DISCUSSION

I. What is the first of the “[final]” exhortations Paul gives in this section, according to verse 8? How can you better “think about these things” day to day?

Ekklesia Muskogee is a reformed baptist church that gathers for worship in Muskogee, Oklahoma. We confess the 1689 second London baptist confession of faith. We affirm the five solas of the Reformation as well as the doctrines of grace (otherwise known as the five points of Calvinism), and each of our pastors would not be ashamed to be called a Calvinist. We are a church led by elders, of which there is a plurality (also called pastors and overseers in the Scriptures). Our mission is to make disciples, love cities, and plant churches.