Oh How Sweet To Be Forgiven!

Psalm 32

Purpose: to rejoice in the forgiveness of sin found only in Jesus Christ!

1. The Sinner, Forgiven! (Ps 32:1-2)

2. The Sinner, Remembering, Confessing! (Ps 32:3-5a)
       1 John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive”
       Colossians 2:9-14 “forgiven” in the cross of Christ

3. The Forgiveness of God! (Ps 32:5b-7)
       How does God forgive sin?
       By grace through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
      Ephesians 2:8-10 made alive “by grace through faith”
      Luke 24:44-47, esp. 47 “repentance for the forgiveness of sins”
       See also 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

4. The LORD Instructs the Righteous (Ps 32:8-11)
       Notice: the wicked v. the righteous
       Philippians 3:1; 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoice in forgiveness!

No greater joy is there than to know that your sin is forgiven by God in Jesus Christ!

Courage in the Waiting

Psalm 27

Purpose: We are called to be confident and courageous in the LORD our Savior.

1. The LORD, our Confidence (Ps. 27:1-3)

2. The LORD, our Contentment (Ps. 27:4-6)

3. The LORD, our Champion (Ps. 27:7-10)

4. The LORD, our Counselor (Ps. 27:11-14)

Those who’s confidence is in the LORD, will not be disappointed. He gives courage in the waiting.

Jesus, the King of Glory, Our God!

Psalm 24

Purpose: to glorify Jesus Christ, the Creator-Savior-God, the King of Glory!

Introduction: Luke 24:44; Psalm 24 in the context of Psalms 22 & 23

1. Jesus, The Creator God (Ps 24:1-2)
       Isaiah 45:18 – YHWH is the Creator, there is none else!
       Psalm 136:5 – “lovingkindness”  is YHWH’s Covenant faithfulness
       1 Corinthians 10:26
       Colossians 1:15-20 – The Preeminent Creator Jesus Christ
       John 1:1-4, 14 – The Word, Jesus Christ, Creator God Incarnate
       Hebrews 1:1-4

2. Salvation by Jesus, the Holy God (Ps 24:3-6)
       Isaiah 1:15-18 – Pure hands are not stained with blood!
       Exodus 3:13-15 & John 8:58 – Jesus is YHWH
       Matthew 27:11 – Jesus is King!
       Luke 24:44-47 – the gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sin in Jesus to all nations!

3. Jesus, The King of Glory, Our Victorious God! (Ps 24:7-10)
       “LORD of hosts” = “YHWH Almighty” => “pantokrator” = JESUS!
       2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; 4:8; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15; 21:22

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates:

Behold, the King of glory waits!

The King of Kings is drawing near,

The Savior of the world is here.

Life and salvation He doth bring,

Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing.

-a hymn by Georg Weissel (1961):

Jesus is the Creator-Savior-God-King Who has come down to dwell in the midst of humans.

Jesus, Our Good Shepherd

Psalm 23

Purpose: Jesus restores, leads, and preserves His sheep, to the glory of His name.

1. YHWH, Jesus, Is All We Need (Ps. 1:1)

2. He Gives Rest (Ps. 1:2)

3. He Restores and Restrains (Ps. 1:3)

4. He Protects and Corrects (Ps. 1:4)

5. He Provides and Blesses (Ps. 1-5)

6. He Brings Us Home (Ps. 1:6)

Jesus is our good shepherd – who restores, leads, and preserves his sheep – to the glory of his name.

Our Suffering King

Psalm 22

Purpose: to see that Jesus, our suffering King glorifies God forever.

1a. Forsaken, Yet Sure (Psalm 22:1–5)

2a. Despised, Yet Known (Psalm 22:6-10)

3a. A Cry for Deliverance (Psalm 22:11-13)

4. Laid in the Dust of Death (Psalm 22:14-18)

3b. The Cry For Deliverance is Answered (Psalm 22:19-21)

2b. The Despised One is Heard (Psalm 22:22-24)

1b. The Forsaken One is Exalted, Lifting High the Name of Yahweh! (Psalm 22:25-31)

Jesus, our suffering King, bore the tremendous weight of our sin on the cross to glorify God among all the nations of the earth forever.

Resting in the LORD’s Justice

Psalm 9

Introduction: Acts 4:23-35

Purpose: to find peace and rest, praising the LORD for His sovereign justice

1. Me to the LORD (Psalm 9:1–2)

2. The LORD, Me, and My Enemies (Psalm 9:3–6)
       Freedom from worry is God’s gift to his children

3. The LORD, My Stronghold! (Psalm 9:7–10)
       Deuteronomy 31:6-8
       Joshua 1:5
       Hebrews 13:5-7
       Matt. 28:18-20
       John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

              A. OUR Praise and Prayer (Psalm 9:11–14)
                 Private praise gives way to public worship!

              B. The LORD’s Judgment on the Wicked (Psalm 9:15–18)

              C. Believers, Hope in the LORD’s Absolute Sovereignty! (Psalm 9:19–20)
                  Romans 8:31-39

YHWH, Jesus Christ, is so sovereign that His people find rest, trusting in and praising Him no matter the circumstances of life.

The Majesty Of Our Lord
Psalm 8

Purpose: We are called to praise the name of the Lord of heaven and earth who created all and reigns supreme over all He created.

1. Praise the Name of the Lord (Ps. 8:1-2)

2. Man In Light of Creation (Ps. 8: 3-4a)

3. The Son of Man Crowned With Glory (Ps. 8:4b-8)

4. Praise the Majestic Name of God (Ps. 8:9)

The Lord created all things including man. He is Lord, Creator, and Master; all praise, honor, and glory belong to Him alone.

Jesus, King of kings

Psalm 2

Purpose: to recognize and rest in the sovereignty of the King of kings, Jesus Christ

1. Man’s Powerless Bravado (Ps 2:1-3)
        “Predestined Plan” – Acts 4:25-28

2. God’s Sovereign Plan (Ps 2:4-6)
        “The Davidic Messiah” – 2 Samuel 7:5-16; also Daniel 7:13-14
        “Predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” – Acts 2:22-24

3. The Son’s Inheritance (Ps 2:7–9)
        “to the ends of the earth” – Psalm 72:8-11
        “My beloved Son” – Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22
        “all authority in heaven and on earth” – Matthew 28:18-20
        “the Son” – Hebrews 1:3-6
        “Ruler of nations” – Revelation 2:26-27; 19:15

4. Worship Jesus Before It’s Too Late (Ps 2:10–12)
        “King of kings” – 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Revelation 17:14; 19:16

The Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ is never thwarted by man’s miniscule schemes, therefore worship Jesus Christ before it’s too late!

A Call to Righteousness

Psalm 1

Purpose: We are called to live righteous lives, found in the true and only righteous man, Jesus Christ.

1. The Righteous Man (Ps. 1:1-3)

2. The Wicked Man (Ps. 1:4-5)

3. Reward for the Righteousness (Ps. 1:6)

4. Wrath for the Wicked (Ps. 1:6)

Christ is the only righteous man. We are called to righteousness found in Him and through him, resulting in the blessings of relationship with God.

The Holy Spirit in Your Life

Purpose: Six evidences of the Holy Spirit working in your life

1. You Have Been Born Again!  
       Genesis 2:7; Ezekiel 37; John 3
           “born again” (Jn 3:3)
           = “born of the Spirit” (Jn 3:5-8)
           = “believe in the only begotten Son of God” (Jn 3:16-18)

2. You Know The Holy Spirit is In You
       John 14:17, 20; 17:20-21
       1 Corinthians 3:16

3. You Experience the Holy Spirit’s Help   
       John 14:16-17, 26-27; 15:26

4. You Desire to Worship God
       John 4:21-26, 42
       Philippians 3:2-3

5. You Hunger for the Word of God
       John 16:12-15
       2 Timothy 3:16-17
       2 Peter 1:20-21

6. You Have a Powerful Desire to Tell Others Jesus is Alive!
       John 15:26-27
       Power to Witness
           Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8; 4:33

God is One! God the Holy Spirit, works with God the Father, to bring sinners to salvation in God the Son Jesus Christ!

Living Together to Glorify the Preeminent Christ

Colossians 4:7-18

Purpose: How ordinary Christians will live together.

1 Lord of All to Live For
        Preeminent Creator & Savior
        Master and Head of the Church

2 Churches to Learn From
       Colossae 
       Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22)

3 Ways to Live Jesus Together

1. Care For One Another
         Communication & Encouragement (Col 4:7-13)         
         Help & Hospitality (Col 4:10-11)               
         Prayer & Concern (Col 4:12-13)    

2. Grow In Christ
        The House Church (Col 4:14-15)               
        The Word (Col 4:16)
        The Ministry (Col 4:17)          

3. Go To The World
   Following the Example (Col 4:18)

Ordinary Christians will live together to advance the gospel and bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Ministry Under the Preeminence of Jesus Christ

Colossians 4:7-18

Colossians 1:1-23  “Jesus is God”

Colossians 1:24-2:8          “Follow Jesus”

Colossians 2:9-23  “Follow Jesus Only”

Colossians 3:1-17 “Jesus is Life”

Colossians 3:18-4:6          “Live Jesus”

Colossians 4:7-18 “Live Jesus Together”

Purpose: How exemplary Christians should minister together; 9 models of
                effective ministry 
Question: How is each person an example for how we should live Jesus together?

1. Ministry of Communication & Encouragement (Col 4:7-9)
        How is Tychicus described here? (three descriptions in v. 7, two-fold purpose in v. 8)
        How is Onesimus described here? (v. 9)
        Who is Onesimus (see Philemon)?

2. Ministry of Help & Hospitality (Col 4:10-11)
        Aristarchus is described as what? (v. 10)
        Mark is to be what (v. 10)?             By whom?
        Jesus/Justus
          These three Christians are described three ways (v. 11b)

3. Ministry of Prayer & Concern (Col 4:12-13)
        Epaphras is described how? (three things, v. 12)
        How does Epaphras “labor”?
            “in” what?
            Why?  “That”
            What is his personal reason why he prays this way?

4. Ministry in the Body: Greetings for the House Church (Col 4:14-15)
        Luke is the same Luke who traveled with Paul and wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts.
        Demas

5. Ministry of the Word (Col 4:16)
        What were they commanded to do with the writings of Paul?

6. An Exhortation to Ministry (Col 4:17)
        Paul exhorts Archippus to do what?

7. Ministry of Setting an Example (Col 4:18)
        Why would Paul want them to remember his imprisonment? 

Live Jesus together, be a body of believers on mission to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Heart of the Authentic Christian

Colossians 3:18-4:6

Purpose: To see how God wants us to live in Christ-like relationship with all people

Thesis: Love of God must beget Love of Others

1. First, In the Family (Col 3:18-21)

2. Second, In Everyday Life (Col 3:22-4:1)

3. Third, To the Rest of the World (Col 4:2-6)

The heart of the authentic Christian is to live “As Unto the Lord” in all relationships, because we represent Christ to one another and to a lost world!