City Harbor Church – Hampden, Baltimore, MD

1 John 5:11-13 Jesus predicted his death, burial, and resurrection with specifics. Jesus predicts his own death: Matthew 17:22-23, 20:17-19, Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:32-24, Luke 9:22, 44, 18:31-33, 24:6-8 The witness accounts of the prediction of Jesus fulfilled: Matthew 26:44 – 28:10, Mark 14:31 – 16:8, Luke 22:47 – 24:50, John 18:1 – 21:25, Acts 1:1-11 Who is Jesus? John 11:25–27 CSB “the Christ/Messiah” – The expected ultimate anointed One (refer to God’s promise to David of an eternal heir to the throne), set apart for a special task, OT king or high priest occasionally a prophet, deliverer from their sins, Why did he rise from the dead? 1 John 5:11–13, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 15:50–58, Romans 3:21-26, Revelation 21:3–4 What do we learn? The sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus redeems us into the freedom of new spiritual life. What should we do? “everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” – John 3:15 NLT “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” – Romans 10:9–10 NLT “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” – 1 John 1:9 NLT “’What should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’” – Acts 2:37–39 NLT

Ephesians 1:7 Jesus predicts his own death: Matthew 17:22-23, 20:17-19, Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:32-24, Luke 9:22, 44, 18:31-33, 24:6-8 The witness accounts of the prediction of Jesus fulfilled: Matthew 26:44 – 28:10, Mark 14:31 – 16:8, Luke 22:47 – 24:50, John 18:1 – 21:25, Acts 1:1-11 Who is Jesus? Luke 9:18-22 “the Christ/Messiah” – The expected ultimate anointed One (refer to God’s promise to David of an eternal heir to the throne), set apart for a special task, OT king or high priest occasionally a prophet, deliverer from their sins, Why did he die? John 3:16-17, Matthew 26:26-29, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 3:18, Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-9, Galatians 3:13, Hebrews 9:12, Romans 3:24-25, 4:25 This is also a truth God had been building all along: Exodus 6:6, 12, 20:5-6, Deuteronomy 7:8, 9:26, 15:15, 24:18, Psalms 44:26, Isaiah 50:2, chapter 53 What do we learn? The sacrifice of Jesus redeems us into the freedom of new spiritual life. What should we do? “everyone who believes in him will have eternal life” – John 3:15 NLT “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” – Romans 10:9–10 NLT “If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” – 1 John 1:9 NLT “’What should we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.’” – Acts 2:37–39 NLT

Colossians 3:16, 4:2 Life in Christ – Part 4 I. Let Jesus’ Words Live Among You: Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” – Colossians 3:16 CSB II. Devote Yourselves to Prayer: Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” – Colossians 4:2 CSB What do we learn? 1. Jesus Christ is first, above all, our Savior King, the fullness and the image of God. 2. Jesus Christ has redeemed us, making us right with God, bringing us from spiritual darkness to the light of God’s Kingdom. 3. Jesus leads us in a spiritual journey with our local church family. 4. We are actively learning more about the truth of Jesus and rejecting deceptive narratives and their sources. 5. God gives us the voice for speaking the word of Jesus, singing, praying, and sharing gratitude. What should we do? 1. We are called to focus on Jesus and set our minds on God’s Kingdom. 2. We respond by actively putting off our old sinful nature, putting on our new identity and the ways of Jesus. 3. We choose to take steps in this journey with our local church family. 4. We share the words of Jesus as most valuable guidance. 5. We sing heartfelt gratitude to God. 6. We persist in prayer with clear eyes and grateful hearts.

Colossians 3:1-14 Life in Christ – Colossians series part 3 Life in Christ: The call and response of Paul’s letter to the Colossians (more Biblical concept in background info) “Life in Christ” – our new spiritual life is IN Jesus, a close personal relationship, in alignment, in position Objective: Let’s take a closer look at who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. We can all grow spiritually stronger by studying Paul’s letter to the Colossians, learning what it says about how we see Jesus and hearing what it says about how we should respond. We will discuss what it means to live “in Christ” by putting on that which is new. Q + A: “Have you been surprised by anything in this letter so far?” “What have we already learned from this letter?” Colossians 3:10 “New self” aka new spiritual life or salvation is a rich spiritual truth taught by Jesus and found in the Bible. When we become “born again”, as Jesus taught in John 3, we receive salvation and new spiritual life by faith in God’s gracious gift. We receive what has been accomplished and we live in response to this gift. It is “life in Christ” · “saints in Christ at Colossae” – Colossians 1:2 “your faith in Christ Jesus” – Colossians 1:4 CSB · “In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:14 CSB · “mature in Christ, ” – Colossians 1:28 CSB · “in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” – Colossians 2:3 CSB · “the strength of your faith in Christ,” – Colossians 2:5 CSB · “walk in him, being rooted and built up in him,” – Colossians 2:6-7 CSB · “triumphed over them in him,” – Colossians 2:15 CSB · “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ, in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.” – Colossians 3:3-4 CSB · Scripture uses “in” to designate humans as those made “in” or “according to” God’s image, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6, James 3:9 · Newly created believers are those being renewed in knowledge “according to the image” Colossians 3:10 Life: “born again” – John 3:1-21 fresh start, transformative, new spiritual life in redemption, faith, repentance, and baptism as responses In Christ: living moment by moment in close personal relationship with Jesus, in alignment, in a relational position/placement/posture, living based on the teaching of Jesus as foundational & directional, I. Put on – Colossians 3:10-14 “you…have put on the new self. We put on our new self with: A. Image of God B. Compassion C. Kindness D. Humility E. Gentleness F. Patience G. Longsuffering H. Forgiving I. Love II. Put off – Colossians 3:5, 8-9 Remember the Biblical concept of death includes separation. We put off our old self with: A. sexual immorality B. impurity C. lust D. evil desire E. greed F. idolatry G. anger H. wrath I. malice J. slander K. filthy language What do we learn? 1. God gives us new spiritual life in Christ. 2. Jesus Christ is first, above all, our Savior King, the fullness and the image of God. 3. Jesus Christ has redeemed us, making us right with God, bringing us from spiritual darkness to the light of God’s Kingdom. 4. Jesus leads us in a spiritual journey with our local church family. 5. We are actively learning more about the truth of Jesus and rejecting deceptive narratives and their sources. “Truth is about God’s good world, redeemed and remade in the Messiah, with behavior calibrated appropriately for God’s new world.” – N. T. Wright The Vision of Ephesians What should we do? 1. Read Colossians chapters 3 and 4 this week. 2. Write down one thought we have learned. 3. Apply the truth to how we see Jesus and pray and how we see ourselves. 4. Learn the Colossians 3 ”put on and put off” proactive actions and reflexes. 5. By Wednesday, read Colossians 4 and memorize one phrase from it. 6. We are called to focus on Jesus and set our minds on God’s Kingdom. 7. We are actively learning more about the truth of Jesus and rejecting...

Life in Christ – Colossians series 2026 City Harbor Church Life in Christ: The call and response of Paul’s letter to the Colossians (more Biblical concept in background info) “Life in Christ” – our new spiritual life is IN Jesus, a close personal relationship, in alignment, in position Let’s take a closer look at who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. We can all grow spiritually stronger by studying Paul’s letter to the Colossians, learning what it says about how we see Jesus and hearing what it says about how we should respond. We will discuss what it means to live “in Christ” by putting on that which is new. I. Our Response “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude. Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ.” – Colossians 2:6–8 CSB see background info What does this mean? A. We receive Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, King. B. We follow Jesus, by faith in grace, and obeying his teaching. C. We daily build our values, beliefs, decisions, and lifestyle based on Jesus. D. We refute and reject any human teaching that would diminish the sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus, add requirements to this New Testament teaching, or attempt to lead us away from following Jesus, in the local church. We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11) “when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” – Colossians 2:12 CSB We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the Name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:34-36; 19:1-6) “Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ. Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.” – Colossians 2:16–18 CSB We are to reject teaching that would draw us away from following Jesus Christ, in the local church. We are to reject teaching that would add requirements of us for our salvation, to the New Testament. See background info. II. Our Focus: “So, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1–4 CSB “Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2 CSB Aim-Assist Questions: A. Do we start our mornings thinking about Jesus first? B. Do we give priority energy to seeking Jesus and his Kingdom? C. Does this include learning activity? D. Do we give mental focus to that which will last forever, more than anything temporary? E. Do we end the evening in conversation with God? Explain how to do it. What do we learn? 1. Jesus Christ is first, above all, our Savior King, the fullness and the image of God. 2. Jesus Christ has redeemed us, making us...

Colossians 1:15-20 Life in Christ – Colossians series Part One • Who Jesus is: Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10 • What Jesus has done: Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22, 2:13-15 I. Who Jesus is: Colossians 1:15-20, 2:9-10 Image – likeness, formed to resemble a person, the appearance or depiction of, · Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” 2 Corinthians 4:4 Colossians 1:15 John 12:45, 14:9 · God made humans in his image and according to his likeness, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1. · Jesus is the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature”, in Hebrews 1:3. · In the face of Jesus, God’s glory is seen, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6 · Scripture uses “in” to designate humans as those made “in” or “according to” God’s image, Genesis 1:26-27, 5:1, 9:6, James 3:9 · Newly created believers are those being renewed in knowledge “according to the image” Colossians 3:10 ”fullness of God in Christ,” – Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the fullness of God in Him, Jesus Christ is God. We believe that God in Trinity is One, inseparable “For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” – Colossians 2:9-10 CSB We believe in the Eternal Godhead who has revealed Himself as One God existing in Three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinguishable but indivisible. (Matthew 23:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of men, conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, very God and very Man. (Luke 1:26-35; John 1:14-18; Isaiah 714; 9:6) I. What Jesus has done: Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22, 2:13-15 “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14 CSB “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him,” – Colossians 1:21-22 CSB “And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.” – Colossians 2:13-15 CSB We believe Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25) We believe in the bodily ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal and bodily coming again the second time for His Church. (John 14:2, 3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins. (Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 9:12,22; Romans 5:11) What does this mean? Jesus took our sins on himself, on the cross, so we can be made right with God, receiving new spiritual life and forgiveness. What do we learn? 1. Jesus Christ is first, above all, our Savior King, the fullness and the image of God. 2. Jesus Christ has redeemed us, making us right with God, bringing us from spiritual darkness to the light of God’s Kingdom. 3. Jesus leads us in a spiritual journey with our local church family. 4. We are actively learning more about the truth of Jesus and rejecting deceptive narratives and their sources. What should we do? 1. Read Colossians chapters 1 and 2 this week. 2. Write down one thought we have learned. 3. Apply the truth to how we pray and how we see ourselves. 4. Try to identify one deceptive narrative that we should reject. 5. By Wednesday, read Colossians 3:1-4 and memorize one phrase from it. “Life in Christ” series “saints in Christ at...

1 Samuel 17:32 David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” NIV 1 Samuel 17:22-24 1 Samuel 22:2 2 Samuel 23:9-12 1 Chronicles 12:22 Ephesians 4:12 2 Samuel 16:17 2 Samuel 7:1-3 Acts 15:16-18

Ephesians 4:10-13 God speaks thru prophets and apostles. Jesus loves you so much that he gave the church gifts. “The One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.” – Ephesians 4:10-13 The Message by Eugene Peterson “And he (Jesus) himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.” – Ephesians 4:11-13 CSB 1. Prophets God speaks. Prophecy – speak on behalf of God before others Prophet – one who speaks inspired utterances on behalf of God “The name ‘prophets’ (in Eph. 4:11) is given to those who, having received the Spirit of God, spoke beforehand of Christ and his advent. These were the prophets who “were until Christ.” But after he arrived, was there no reason for any further prophecy? What prophets does Paul speak of here? It is obviously those who being full of the Spirit spoke of God after his coming, continuing to expound the divine teaching.” – Marius Victorinus 280-363 Old Testament prophets spoke the message God gave them, and many pointed to Jesus Christ. “Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet.” – Matthew 1:22 CSB Some New Testament prophets: John the Baptist, Anna in Luke 2:36, Agabus in Acts 11:29, 21:10, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen in Acts 13:1-2, Silas & Judas Barsabbas in Acts 15:32, 4 daughters of Phillip in Acts 21:8-9, John in Revelation “the spirit of prophecy” – Revelation 19:10 “This means that prophecy at its very heart is designed to unfold the beauty and loveliness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – John Walvoord Training, Discernment, and Accountability: “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” – 1 Corinthians 14:29–33 CSB “many false prophets will appear and fool many people,” – Matthew 24:11 Elijah school of the prophets in 1 Kings 19:18, training people in understanding the Scripture, discerning God’s voice, and speaking it. In 2 Kings 2 we see groups of prophets interacting with Elijah and Elisha. Paul & Barnabas – described as “prophets and teachers” then commissioned, sent in apostolic ministry “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.” – Acts 13:1-3 CSB 2. Apostle – an envoy of Jesus, a representative messenger sent, a “special” messenger (having been commissioned by Jesus Christ for a particular task or role, invested with the authority to speak on his behalf) …borrowing and changing a Greek term for, emissaries, one who is to carry a message and is commissioned to extend the kingdom (military or naval) a commander of a naval expedition (generally restricted to the...

1 Timothy 3 “Although I hope I can come to you soon, I am writing these things to you now. Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” – 1 Tmothy 3:14-15 NCV Context: God provides a place. God gives life, gives love, and provides a place for us. From the Garden to the travels of his people with Tabernacles and a Temple, God lives among his people. God’s design always includes his purpose, passion, pleasure, and places for relationship. God showed us love by sending Jesus Christ to be “God with us”, creating an opportunity for constant access. From the Garden to Tabernacles, Temple, and the local church, God’s design has always included opportunities for stewardship and shared responsibilities. The stability of our lives is found by building our lives on the teaching of Jesus. The House of God is cared for and given further strength by Jesus’ followers, ‘a priesthood of all believers’ and 4 Gifts of equipping leaders who serve. With agape love as motivation, following the example of Jesus and the New Testament leaders, today’s local church serving leaders function in their gifts and equip the believers to do the same. Jesus-followers lead by serving: “I am among you as one who serves.” – Jesus in Luke 22:20-27 Mark 10:43-45 Serve – to give help by performing certain duties, often of a humble or menial nature Choosing acts of service that show love and respect. “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.” – Jesus in Mark 9:33-37 John 12:26 “the leader should be like a servant,” – Jesus in Luke 22:26 Jesus’ word “servant” = server, dedicated focused faithful – helper, attendant, apprentice, collaborator, companion “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” – John 13:14-15 “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26, 28 “Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” – John 12:26 Deacon “Deacon” 1 Timothy 3:8 – servant of the master, helping/caring for the needs of believers according to their assignment (such as the stewardship of food provisions for those in need, in Acts 6:3) Please review our Deacon Bible Study. Qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Our church family is served by a team of leaders, including deacons and elders, who meet the qualifications, seen in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9. A City Harbor Church Deacon is a person who has been selected, equipped, and recognized with specific serving leadership assignment (s). They have been chosen. They have responded with a commitment to a specific responsibility, within the vision, values, and expectations of City Harbor. Elder Elder – overseer of the local church The Eldership has a spiritual responsibility for and is accountable to the Lord for their stewardship of the overall vision, values and doctrine of the church as well as the spiritual health of the congregation. This is all to ensure that the gospel is preached, people are added to the church and people are discipled in order to live like Jesus and to share His love. Being an Elder is not about having position but fulfilling a call to servant leadership through the care, oversight and leadership for the flock. An Elder is an overseer of God’s household which means they are a steward, charged with the care of God’s family. Paul says “he must be” as he starts to list out fifteen qualifications to be an Elder. Fourteen of these qualifications are not describing gifting, but the character of an Elder that is needed to be an overseer of God’s family. Lastly, Paul says an Elder must be...

Ephesians 4:11-13 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’” – Matthew 9:35-38 NLT “like sheep without a shepherd” – Mark 6:34 1 Kings 22:17 Ezekiel 34:5 Zechariah 10:2 Jesus to Peter, “Feed my sheep / Shepherd my sheep.” – John 21:15-17 CSB Jesus loves us. Jesus gives us gifts. Spiritual gifts given by Jesus, not to be limited (There is no prescribed formula or “gift mix” for any particular office, as God uses different people in different ways in each of these five ministries Christ has given.), not to be confused with gifts given by Father God listed in Romans 12:6-8, or gifts given by God the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. “And he (Jesus) himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.” – Ephesians 4:11-13 CSB Ephesians 4:11-13 with context of Ephesians 4:1-16. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors/Teachers: Jesus’ agape love = motivation and evaluation. A person who functions in a particular way for the purpose: “Jesus gives some a gift for ___ and equipping each of us to be active in ___.” Equipping – making, preparing, training, perfecting, making fully qualified for service, (in classical language the word was used to describe setting a bone during surgery – The Great Physician is now making all the necessary adjustments so the church will not be “out of joint”) Shepherds – one who is responsible for the care and guidance of a Christian congregation “pastor or minister” Pastors – Care-giving leadership Shepherd understanding from: Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34, Luke 2:8-20, John 10:7-18, Luke 15:4-7, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Acts 20:28, “In Ephesians 4:11 there are four classes of person, not five, for the last class involves two complementary roles, pastor and teacher, in other words, to guide and help a congregation as well as to teach.” – Louw & Nida Greek – English Lexicon Teachers – feeders Teacher – one who explains or shows how to do something, one who provides/imparts instruction, 70 times Jesus is referred to as a teacher. “You have one Teacher…one Instructor, the Messiah.” – Jesus in Matthew 23:8-10 CSB (teaching disciples humility when they lead, in contrast to the Pharisees) Biblical – a spiritual leader who explains God’s Word, guides believers into spiritual maturity, equips them for ministry, and models Christ-likeness, acting as a conduit for divine truth to build up the church and lead people to obedience and worship. This role involves diligent study, sound doctrine, discipleship, and fostering growth. In the New Testament, this includes the apostles, Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, Priscilla, Aquila, and Timothy. Paul – 1 Timothy 2:7 2 Timothy 1:11 Teachers recognized in Antioch, Acts 13:1. Elders/pastors are required to be able to teach the local church, in 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:9. How would we describe the pastor-teachers mentioned in Ephesians 4:11? Jesus-following, care-giving, feeding, serving leaders, equipping the local church members for the work of the ministry, growing into great spiritual maturity, stability, and ability to refute deceptive narratives. Leading you to a place that you may not have been able to arrive at on your own. If Jesus gives good gifts, for his purpose and our benefit: What are pastors? What are pastors NOT? What is the purpose of...

Healing: who God is, what God does, what God has done through Jesus, what Jesus’ followers do “Divine healing is a miracle. It is the power of Almighty God intervening in human affairs and suspending natural law in order to bring healing to our bodies. This is what God’s Son did when He was on the planet, and God desires His Church, the Body of Christ, to do the same today. He wants to see miracle working power in your body.” – Pastor Wendell Smith PhD in Faith for Healing Wisdom for Health Who God is: “They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you (Yahweh-Rapha).” – Exodus 15:22-27 NLT Who Jesus is: Isaiah 53 (Prophetic prediction of who Jesus would be and what He would do) 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; (Illness and mental/emotional pain) but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities.” – Isaiah 53 CSB What Jesus did and has accomplished on the cross: “He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, ‘He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.’” – Matthew 8:14-17 NLT (quoting Isaiah 53) “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.” – 1 Peter 2:24-25 NLT (quoting Isaiah 53) Matthew 4:24, Luke 4:38-39, Mark 1:32-34, 6:5-6 Jesus heals blindness, paralysis, leprosy, and raises from the dead… sicknesses of all kinds. Matthew 4:23-24. (that which was beyond medicine) “Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all.” – Matthew 4:23-24 NLT Jesus responds to the faith of those who want to be healed and those interceding for them. “A Roman officer pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’ Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come.’ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t...

Matthew 28:18-20 Main Idea: We are called to help others to follow Jesus, be changed by Jesus, and to be on mission for Jesus. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Mark 16:15-16 What is a disciple? A disciple is someone who follows Jesus, is being changed by Jesus, and is on mission for Jesus. Mark 1:17 “Follow me (Follow), and I will make you become (change) fishers of men (mission).” Principles for evangelism and discipleship Principle 1: Be motivated by love. Mark 12:30-31 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Principle 2: Care for our neighbors’ temporal earthly circumstances James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Principle 3: Keep first things first 1 Corinthians15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins inaccordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. Principle 4: Attack the root not the fruit Colossians 2:21-23 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle”…these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Principle 5: Love calls one to costly discipleship Mark 10:21 “Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing; go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Rosaria Butterfield: “I am grateful that when I heard the Lord’s call in my life and I wanted to hedge my bets, keep my girlfriend and add a little God to my life, I had a pastor and friends in the Lord who asked nothing less of me than that I die to myself. Biblical orthodoxy can offer real compassion because in our struggles against sin we cannot undermine God’s power to change lives.” Samuel Sey: “One of the most prevailing myths in evangelicalism is that worldliness is a distinctly leftist trait. Worldliness is any personal, cultural, or political thing that makes us stray from the narrow road of Christ, from the Left or the Right. The Right side exit off the narrow road is just as worldly and deadly as the left side.” Principle 6: Be patient according to God’s timing 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. Principle 7: We follow Jesus, others follow our example John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Principle 8: Jesus gives some a gift for evangelism and equipping us to be active in it Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some...

Romans 12:18 Family of God #3 – Living as a Family Intro: Get ready to be visible! What fruit do we want evident in our church? “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” How do we do this as individuals? (we are family, made up as individuals, what the individual does, affects the whole family) 8. Prayer to pray: ‘Holy Spirit, please point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life and may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord , my rock and my redeemer.’ (Psalm 139:24, Psalm 19:14) Why does all this matter? What does the word say?

Adoption: Neither Rejection Nor Abandonment Could Stop God’s Adoption Plan Introduction The Lies We’ve Let Ourselves Believe The Phrases of Abandonment and Rejection i. “I’m not good enough and I need to be perfect or successful to be worthy of love.” ii. “Everyone secretly hates me and no one wants me around.” iii. “My emotions are too big to control, so I’m consumed by my anger and rage.” iv. “I should feel shame and fear [about my life or life experiences].” v. “I need to medicate the deep internal isolation/rejection I feel with [a physical stimulus].” vi. “I have no worth beyond what I can provide.” vii. “I’m a victim to circumstances I can’t escape.” viii. “I cannot find rest in this world.” ix. “No one else will ever understand me or what I’m going through.” x. “I’m in competition with other people; there’s not ‘enough’ for all of us.” What We Say About Ourselves Matters i. Key Scripture: Proverbs 18:21 [MSG] ii. There’s an enemy on the prowl 1. 1 Peter 5:8 2. John 10:10 iii. There’s an enemy on the prowl; he is looking to steal, kill, and destroy, but he has no real power over you. His time and power are limited and he’s looking for you to let him in. Your words can be his way in. iv. Book Recommendation: Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left out, and Lonely by Lysa Terkeurst v. We have to confront the lies we have allowed ourselves to believe. Jesus did not redeem you so that you can still be stuck believing that your temporary circumstances still define who you are. BUT GOD! Key Scripture: Ephesians 1:5 The Details of Adoption i. Greek word transliterated into “huiothesia.” ii. Huiothesia is derived from two Greek words: “huios” meaning “son” and “tithemi” meaning “to place, put, or set.” iii. Huiothesia literally translates to “placing as a son.” iv. Additional Scriptures where huiothesia is used: Romans 8:15, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:4, Galatians 4:5 New Testament View on Adoption i. Roman adoption was almost always something that happened to an adult, not a child Key point: You belonging, your adoption into a new family, was always the plan. Scripture vs. The Lies We Believe Lie: “I’m not good enough and I need to be perfect or successful to be worthy of love” i. Scripture: Ephesians 2:10 ii. Key point: You’ve already been called a masterpiece; the worth is already there. Lie: “Everyone secretly hates me and no one wants me around.” i. Scripture: Psalm 139:14 ii. Key point: How can someone shaped by God Himself not be wanted? This is a voice that’s meant to draw you into isolation, don’t follow it… Lie: “My emotions are too big to control, so I’m consumed by my anger and rage.” i. Scriptures: Romans 12:21; Galatians 5:16, 19-21 ii. Key point: Hey, all emotions are valid, all behavior is not. The Spirit of the LORD can and will help you not be consumed by your emotions. Lie: “I should feel shame and fear [about my life or life experiences]” i. Scriptures: Romans 8:33-34; 2 Timothy 1:7 ii. Key point: It’s okay to leave behind fear and shame. Lie: “I need to medicate the deep internal isolation/rejection I feel with [a physical stimulus].” i. Scripture: Colossians 2:10 ii. Key point: You can’t find the healing and fulfillment you’re craving anywhere else. Every “solution” will be temporary (yes, even healthy ones) when they’re not paired with Christ. When we draw near to God, He draws near to us and this is where healing actually begins. Lie: “I have no worth beyond what I can provide.” i. Scripture: Romans 5:6-8(MSG) ii. Key point: We, you and I both, had nothing to offer God. No skill, no talent, no resource, no activity He was interested in, no nothing. He thought and thinks you’re valuable in spite of that detail. We don’t need to beg for “scraps of His love” by presenting Him with our accomplishments, you already are loved and therefore have worth. Additionally, in relationships sometimes you will be the one giving help and other times you’ll be the...

Ephesians 2:20, 3:6 Family of God: The Church I. Intro – I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…. II. God’s Purpose for the Family: a. Marriage and parenthood would reveal God’s character. b. Love. (God put children in families so they can experience His love and learn how to love others.) c. Relationship and a sense of belonging d. Support e. Provide resources f. Maintain physical and mental health g. Pass on values to the next generation III. Sin fragmented God’s plan for families. Part of God’s redemption plan is to adopt people into a new family, the Church. IV. Family is not just a social structure, we should see it through the lens of the Trinity. Humanity, created in the image of the three-in-one God, is designed for relationships that mirror the Trinity itself. a. This establishes family as not just about bloodlines but rather about covenant bonds. V. Covenant Refresher: Parts of the covenant a. Word – Jesus , living word, The Bible and it’s truths b. Terms c. Blessing & Cursing d. Oath e. Blood i. Sacrifice: Jesus death on the cross ii. Priesthood, Us (1 Peter 2:9) f. Seal – Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17) VI. God created humans and commanded them to fill the earth both with natural children and “godly offspring” (Genesis 1:28) to extend God’s Kingdom. VII. The Church family a. functions as an instrument through which God accomplishes salvation. Col 1:18–22 b. is a means through which God blesses his people. § Eph 3:6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body (family), and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus VIII. Quotes a. Lexham Survey of Theology The doctrine of the church can deliver us from individualism, from the idea that Christianity can all somehow be reduced or concentrated to fit into my experience, my personal relationship with God. As important as that relationship is, God has something much larger in mind. All of God’s ways move towards the end of establishing the people of God, who he has called out from the world to be set aside as his people b. Edmund Clowney – The Church The church is the community of the Word, the Word that reveals the plan and purpose of God. In the church the gospel is preached, believed, obeyed. It is the pillar and ground of the truth because it holds fast the Scriptures (Phil. 2:16) IX. The Church is to be: a. Holy – Set apart b. Universal – the application of teaching should be accessible to all people and should not be added to. c. Apostolic – remains faithful to the teaching and the mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus. X. How does the church function? Acts 2 a. Devotion definition: to preserve, constantly diligent, great care and perseverance, adhere closely to. b. Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching c. Devoted themselves to prayer d. Worshiped at the Temple each day e. Met in one place f. Devoted themselves to the fellowship § Some theologians say that the real miracle of Pentecost is “from every nation under heaven” a body of believers is formed. g. Devoted themselves to sharing meals (including the Lord’s Supper) h. Shared everything they had i. This communal spiritual and practical way of life created a “family” of people that were not only set apart from the rest of society in how they loved and cared for each other but which also produced “signs and wonders”. (Acts 2:43) XI. What are we to do? a. Have a personal relationship with Jesus – this affects the others in the church. Who am I when I show up? Does God want to give me a word of encouragement or a scripture to someone in my church? b. Go to church (Hebrews 10:25) c. Be Devoted to your church d. Be in unity · Unity affords the greatest identifying mark of the people of God. That’s why Luke emphasizes, all the believers were together and had everything in common. – “Acts”...

Old Testament examples: Ezekiel 3:17-19 Esther 4:1-3 Esther 4:12-14 New Testament examples: Isaiah 61:1-3 (NLT) (cf Luke 4) Matthew 28:18-20 Romans 10:13-15 Application: Posture – Ask God for His heart for the lost, and feel a sense of righteous urgency for salvations. Holman Commentary: “God’s charge to Ezekiel and Hosea is also a charge to every Christian. Christ warned His followers to “watch” for His return and to keep their lamps burning and trimmed. Servants of the Lord, who are found watching, will be given special favor for being ready. Jesus, the faithful watchmen of His sheep, has instructed us to follow Him. In so doing, believers keep themselves focused on the Lord, constantly growing in their relationship with Him.” Prayer – Keep a prayer calendar and intercede like Mordecai for your city. Isaiah 62:6-7a Purpose – Reach out to those in your sphere of influence. Invite them to church, and serve them as Jesus would. “Do the unbelievers in my life know that I am a Christian? Do they know how Jesus has affected my life?”

Luke 2:8-18 Advent Week 4: Love We’re going to explore the final theme of Advent: love. Because the coming of Jesus brings a turning toward love. There are 2 ways we can talk about love in today’s message. Luke 2:8-18 Our main theme for today is. He came. They went. Later in this story we see in Matthew 2 the Magi visit Jesus and his parents at their house. He (Jesus) came. The Magi go. Jesus’ “coming” inspired “going “ in the Gospels. As seen in the At the start of the story of Jesus, a pattern is set for God’s people and embraced by God’s people. This pattern and response is repeated in the middle and end of the gospels and all throughout the story of the Early Church. Shouldn’t we also embrace this same pattern? He came. We go. Is the U.S. Church going? Barna (2019) Is our church going? Jesus says Acts 1:8 – ‘You (all y’all) will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ‘ He came. We go to the ones nearest us.

Luke 2:8-15 Third week of Advent is based around Joy Luke 2:8–15 recounts the angelic announcement to shepherds: “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” This joy is tied to the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem. Understanding Joy Joy is described as “an often cheerful contentedness,” rooted in hope and peace rather than circumstances. It’s marked by calm within a person and sustained by faith. Often means that maybe sometimes it may not be the same as just laughing and smiles. There is however peace. Peace that passeth understanding Sometimes you maybe grumpy but still have joy like Statler and Waldorf from the Muppets. Supporting Scriptures References to Philippians 4:6–7, 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, Romans 8:28, and 1 Corinthians 12 emphasize peace, grace in weakness, God’s purpose, and unity in suffering. For the world around us The world often feels joyless—seen in news, entertainment, politics, and mental health struggles—highlighting the need for authentic joy. That is where we as believers can step in and be the joy, be the peace, be the example of Jesus on Earth. Call to Action “Joy to the World!”—a reminder that hope has come through Christ. Highly suggest listenting to the words fo Hope has Come

Luke 1:26-37 – Matthew 1:18-25 Holy Night – Part One Again and again in the Old Testament, God promises a broken and pained world that he will send a Messiah — that is, a Deliverer — to start to renew and restore all things. Genesis 3:15 Isaiah 9:1-7 Micah 5:1-4 Because the coming of the Messiah was a long time coming, it was easy for God’s people to start to think of it as an impossibility. Most scholars agree that by the time we enter the period of the New Testament, nearly 400 years had passed since the last messianic promise had been given by God — and the Messiah still hadn’t come. Two messages that broke the 400-year silence — the angels’ messages to Mary (Luke 1:26-37) and Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25) Luke 1:26-37 – Matthew 1:18-25 I. The coming of the Messiah, Jesus, was never to be thought of as an impossibility, because all things had already been proven possible for God. Today marks the beginning of Advent: (1) the word “advent” means “coming,” (2) the season of Advent, which leads up to Christmas Day and includes four Sundays, is a time to reflect on the coming of Jesus to begin to renew and restore a broken and pained world, (3) it’s also a time to look ahead to when Jesus will come again to finish the renewing and restorative work he started at Christmas. God has indeed promised the Messiah, Jesus, will come again: Matthew 24 & 25 John 1 & 2 1 Thessalonians & 2 Thessalonians Revelation Because the second coming of Jesus has been a long time coming, it’s easy for us to start to think of it as an impossibility. As we consider what Joseph & Mary may have been thinking, we may also be experiencing doubt, distraction, or discouragement such as: “Maybe the powers of the world hold too much power for Jesus to topple them. Maybe the powers beyond this world hold too much power. Maybe we’ve sinned too much, and we’re undeserving. Maybe too much is needed by way of miracles to pull this off.” II. The second coming of Jesus is never to be thought of as an impossibility, because all things have already been proven possible for God. This is a time leading up to Christmas Day to remember the coming of Jesus. It’s a time to remember how his coming brought about a great turning point for the world. The world had been hounded by hopelessness, shame, great sadness, and the coldness of self-concern and self-preservation, and his coming caused a great turning toward hope, peace, joy, and love. Each of the four Sundays in Advent speak to these four themes, respectively: hope, peace, joy, and love. We’re going to speak to each in the four Sundays of Advent, and we’re going to do so by exploring the angelic messages that were passed along either in the days leading to the holy night of Jesus’s birth or on the holy night itself. We’ve already covered the first angelic message this morning, haven’t we? “Nothing is impossible with God.” Which, of course, gives us hope — a confident expectation that nothing is impossible for God, because nothing ever has been. Hope November 30 Peace December 7 Joy December 14 Love December 21 You’re probably familiar with the practice of the lighting of the Advent candles — four candles arranged in a circle (for Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love), with another larger candle in the middle (often referred to as “the Christ candle”). The lighting of the Hope candle takes place on the first Sunday of Advent, the lighting of the Peace candle on the second Sunday — and so on. The lighting of the Christ candle often takes place on Christmas Eve, but traditions vary. (Some wait until Epiphany in January.) Your church might already take part in this practice, but if your church has yet to do so, this series might be the perfect time to introduce it into the life of the congregation. If you decide to take part in the practice, you could explain the tradition and then during the conclusion of the sermon, you could light the first candle — the candle for Hope.

Matthew 6:9-13