My notes for Wednesday night, Nov 29^th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. Our study over the next few months will be “The Roots of the Faith.” This study will focus on key biblical truths that will transform our thinking and allow us to faithfully live out the Christian life. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Resources for this Study

50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith – Gregg R. Allision

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine – Wayne Grudem

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth  – John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue

Basic Christian Doctrines – Curt Daniel

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What did Jesus accomplish when He died on the cross?

INTRO

• The offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King.
• The Works of Jesus Christ. His work on the cross.
• Jesus died on the cross in place of sinners that He might purchase their freedom, reconcile them to God, and thereby satisfy the righteous demands of a holy and just God.

Substitution

• Romans 5:6-8;1 Peter 2:21-24
• He is the Passover Lamb.
• He died instead of sinners and in their place.
• He bore the penalty

Propitiation

• Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 4:7-10
• On the cross, Jesus bore our sin and guilt.
• Jesus faced the wrath of God in instead of us, and fully paid on our behalf the debt we owed.
• Because God is holy and righteous, He cannot overlook sin, through the work of Jesus Christ, God is fully satisfied that His righteous standard has been met.
• Through union with Christ, the believer can now be accepted by God and be spared His wrath.
• Propitiation is Godward; God’s holiness is vindicated and satisfied by the death of Christ.

Propitiation means “averting the wrath of God by the offering of a gift.” It refers to the turning away of the wrath of God as the just judgment of our sin by God’s own provision of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. – Ligon Duncan

Redemption

• Mark 10:45; Ephesians 1:7
• The act of being set free from the bondage of sin.  In NT times, the word conveyed being bought in the marketplace.
• In regard to the bondage of sin, it conveys in the NT:
  • Being purchased
  • Being removed
  • Being set free
• Redemption is sinward; mankind was in bondage and sin and in need of release from the bondage and slavery to sin.

Implementing our ALL IN Vision

A vision that considers every generation

• What is our average age?  What needs to change?
• Structuring our ministries with the family in mind.
• Having a “whatever” it takes mindset.
• Being intentional, yet flexible.
• LESS I and more THEM.
• Longing for the future rather than clinging to the past (Phone and fax example).

An emphasis on spiritual growth over numerical growth

• Intentional evangelism and discipleship strategies (Reaching Out and Building up)
• Putting a strong emphasis on Sunday worship, SS, Wednesday nights, and DLIFE.
• Having seasonal topical studies/small groups… other than SS and Dlife. (Wed & Sundays)
• Weekender Conferences
• Biblical counseling and discipleship training
• Emphasis on the Word
• Emphasis on personal holiness (personal study and growth)
• Emphasis on prayer
• Expectations and accountability (Biblical and loving)

An excitement and priority for gathering on the Lord’s Day

• Make Sunday a big deal!  Who are we worshiping!!!!!
• A worshipful (Singing) church
• A welcoming church
• Worship services that are theologically sound and congregationally involved
• Keeping in mind the next generation

A priority on our grounds and facilities

• Welcoming and Inviting
• Excellence in all things
• Taking care of our grounds
• Refurbishing our facilities

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, November 18^th, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

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My desire is to see Tabernacle be a church that truly makes a difference for the Lord. A difference in Macon, Middle Georgia, and beyond. But what will it take? Personally, I think it is going to take all of us being ALL IN. ALL IN on God’s plan for His Church as revealed in Scripture. God has given us a great pattern. Let’s just do what they did!.

Matthew 28:18–20 – [18] And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] 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, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (ESV)

Go – With confidence.

• He has all authority.  He is Lord. He is sovereign
• We can be all in because…
• He is ALL knowing, powerful, every present.

Make Disciples – Followers of Jesus Christ

• Process, Lifestyle
• Each disciple is making disciples
• Instruction, Example.

Acts 2:42–47 – [42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (ESV)

Devoted – Passionate and Dedicated

• Continue, steadfastness
• To be earnest towards
• Goal of completion
• Devoted to the Word
• Devoted to one another
• Devoted to prayer

All who believed were together

• All means All
• Were together

Acts 11:19–26 – [19] Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. [20] But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. [21] And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. [22] The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. [23] When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, [24] for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. [25] So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, [26] and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (ESV)

Preaching the Gospel

• The Gospel
• In a tough setting

Hand of the Lord was with them

• The joy of being in His will
• Experienced His Grace

Remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose

• His whole heart was on this endeavor….Remain true to the Lord.
• HE HAD PURPOSE
• My personal purpose statement

For a whole year

• Investing in one another

Ephesians 4:11–16 – [11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)

Equip the saints for the work of the ministry

• Make fully ready
• Completion
• The doing and going of ministry

Mature manhood…fullness of Christ

• Spiritual maturity.  Christlikeness
• Progressive sanctification

A built-up body is a maturing body

• Doctrinal stability – v.14
• Speaks the truth in love – v. 15
• Joined and held together. AS ONE – v.16

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Our “ALL IN” Core Values

Passion

• I love the Lord
• I love living my life for the Lord
• Excited about what God is doing in and through my life
• My Christian life and my Church life is the same life. (Look at the early church)

Purpose

• Where are we going. Our Vision
• What we do determines where we go. (Why do churches decline?)
• Disciple making mindset.
• Encouraging others to live for Christ (KNOW, GROW, GO)

Excellence

• Do a few things very well. An attitude of excellence.
• Our ministries
• Our worship services
• Our facilities
• Expectation. Where we set the bar will determine who we become.
  • ex. – Happiness goal or Holiness goal. Keeping people happy or encouraging people to be holy.
• Evaluation (Our scorecard is our purpose…disciple making)

Truth

• The unchanging truth of God’s Word
• Never comprising the truth
• God blesses obedience.

Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King

INTRO

• God established three offices in Israel: prophet, priest, and king.
• Held by different people, these three offices featured three different types of work.
• The Old Testament projected the coming of One who would be Prophet, Priest, and King, uniting the three offices.
• The Son of God fulfills this Old Testament expectation.
• As Prophet, he reveals God and his ways.
• As Priest, he mediates between God and his people.
• As King, he rules over creation, including humanity.^[1]

Prophet

• Spoke God’s Word
• Proclaiming truth
• Revealing God’s plans
• Matthew 21:11 – And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
• Jesus spoke the Word.
• ‌Mark 1:22 – And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Priest

• Served as mediators between God and Man
• Offered sacrifices
• 1 Timothy 2:5 – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
• Hebrews 4:14–16 – Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a – high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

King

• King David
• ‌2 Samuel 7:16 – And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.
• ‌Gabriel and Mary
• ‌Luke 1:32–33
• His authority and rule
• Matthew 28:18–20
• Return one day as King
• 1 Corinthians 15:24–28 – Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

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Additional Reading

Ligonier Ministries – Jesus Christ: Our Prophet, Priest, and King

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^[1] Gregg R. Allison, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A Guide to Understanding and Teaching Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2018), 155.

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, November 12^th, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

Luke 10:38-42

INTRO

• Follow up on the good Samaritan.
• Priorities in life
• Serving and loving
• Devoted and Distracted

Mary – Devoted

At the feet of Christ

• Her position
  • Student to a Rabbi
• Her proximity
  • Listening intently
  • Not questioning like the lawyer Luke 10:25

Listening to His Words – THE WORD

Don Whitney writes,

No Spiritual Discipline is more important than the intake of God’s Word. Nothing can substitute for it. There simply is no healthy Christian life apart from a diet of the milk and meat of Scripture. The reasons for this are obvious. In the Bible God tells us about Himself, and especially about Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God. The Bible unfolds the Law of God to us and shows us how we’ve all broken it. There we learn how Christ died as a sinless, willing Substitute for breakers of God’s Law and how we must repent and believe in Him to be right with God. In the Bible we learn the ways and will of the Lord. We find in Scripture how to live in a way that is pleasing to God as well as best and most fulfilling for ourselves. None of this eternally essential information can be found anywhere else except the Bible. Therefore if we would know God and be Godly, we must know the Word of God—intimately.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life [Colorado Springs, Colo.: Navpress, 1991], 24

Love, Listen, Learn, Live

• Luke 6:47 – Comes, listens, and acts
• Luke 8:21 – Hear and do.

Martha – Distracted

Loved by Jesus

• John 11:5

Serving Jesus

• She opened up here home to serve Jesus.
• Doing the work of ministry (80/20 rule)
• 1 Peter 4:9-10 Hospitality

SERVING IS GREAT, but the context tells us there is something going on with her heart

She lost her focus.

• Distracted in her work
  • “to be dragged away”
  • Priorities are in question
  • Serving is great… BUT
• Overwhelmed
  • Worry set it. She was anxious
  • Anxious over what needed to be done Philippians 4:6
  • God will provide – Our needs
  • God accepts us in Christ – What will people think
  • God has us forever – What will happen
• Resentful
  • She lost her joy in serving
  • Took it out on others

Notice how fast it escalated. She opened up her home for Christ and now she is questioning him.

Lessons to Learn

• Doing ministry is greatly and crucial as we fulfill the Great Commission.
• We must keep a balance over the Temporal (good things) and the Eternal (Best thing).
• For those that are busy… we must learn to find as much JOY in BEING with Jesus as we do in BUSYNESS for Jesus.
  • Love, Listen, Learn, Live