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!

The Authentic Christian Life Under the Lordship of Christ
Colossians 3:18-4:6

Purpose: The authentic Christian life testifies to the Lordship of the Preeminent Christ by declaring the gospel through our relationships.

Introduction: Context of Culture and the Unchanging Truth of God’s Word

1. Lord of the Christian Household (Col. 3:18-4:1)
       Wife to Husband
       Children to Parents
       Man as Head of the Home
       Slaves to Master
       Master to slaves

2. Lord of the Christian Prisoner (Col. 4:2-4)
       Prisoner to Persecutor

3. Lord of the Christian Citizen (Col. 4:5-6)
       Christian to non-Christian

How we live in relationship with others will serve to affirm or deny that Christ is the all-sufficient Savior and Lord of the world.

Fight For the Authentic Christian Life
Colossians 3:1-17

Purpose: The authentic Christian life is the spoils of a war already waged and won by the preeminent Christ. The outcome is sure, even as our battles rage.

1. The Conflict of Life (Col. 1-4)

2. The Strategy of Sin (Col. 5-11a)

3. Christ Our Champion (Col. 3:11b)

4. The Strategy of Christ (Col. 3:12-14)

5. The Spoils of Victory (Col. 3:15-17)

The Authentic Christian Life

Colossians 3:1-17

Purpose: The authentic Christian life is found in Christ alone, on earth and in heaven!

1. Focus on Future Glory (Col 3:1-4)
       A command: “keep seeking” what?
       Another command: “set your mind” on what?
       The REASON for this Focus: You have “died”
           See Gal 2:20

2. Consider Your Conversion (Col 3:5-8)
       Another command:  “kill” what?
          See Matt 6:24; Luke 16:13; 2 Peter 2:19
       Another command: “you put them all aside”

3. Authentic New Life (Col 3:9-11)
       Another command: “Do not to lie to one another”
       The REASON: “since” you “laid aside” the “old self
       NOW “put on” the “new self”
           See Rom 8:29; Eph 2:1-16, but esp. 13-16
       This is the “mystery” lived out! Christ “in all” who believe regardless of
       distinction!
           Col 1:24-29 & Eph 2:14-18, Saved Jew & Gentile become one body in Christ’s church

4. Live for CHRIST (Col 3:12-17)
       Another command: “Put on a heart of compassion”
           See Gal 5:22ff; Matt 18:23-35; Phil 2:1-8
       Another command: “be thankful” 

The authentic Christian life is found in Christ alone, on earth and in heaven!

The Risen Life in Christ

Easter 2024

Purpose: To live the Risen Life in Christ

1. The Risen Christ, Happy Easter!
      Matthew 28
          Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay for our sins!
          Jesus is Alive! He is Risen from the dead!
          Jesus is the Savior of all who believe!

2. The Root of our Risen Faith
      1 Corinthians 15
          The Risen Lord is the Reality of our Faith

3. Requirement of the Risen Life
       Luke 9:18-26; Romans 6:8-11; Ephesians 2:1-10
          Dead to self, Alive in Christ!

4. The Result of the Risen Life
       Romans 6:1-14; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:8-12;
       Colossians 3:1-11
          Free from Sin to Live in Christ!

To live the risen life in Christ:

Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sin and rose again to save you

Repent from your sin and cry out to Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord

Live your life in the certainty of His forgiveness and the power of a new risen life

Live by faith in Jesus Christ and all that he teaches in His Word, from baptism to full obedience

Set Your Face to Jerusalem
(Luke 9:51-62)

Purpose: The journey to the cross was one of focused, purposeful determination to bring life through death. When we take up our cross and follow Him there, we too participate in the triumphal procession of Christ who brought peace and reconciliation with God.

1. His Resolve Displayed (Luke 9:51)

2. His Reason Declared (Luke 9:52-56)

3. His Requirement Defined (Luke 9:57-62)