Living For God's Will

James 4:13-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow [a]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

An Example Of What True Giving Should Be

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4 imploring us with much urgency [a]that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

SERMON NOTES

Introduction: In this passage, Paul shows to us, through the example of the Macedonian believers, what true giving should be. When we understand principles of Biblical stewardship, then our giving will be like this, too.

1. They gave ______________________________ (vs. 1,6,7)
   Their giving was their response to the GRACE of God.

2. They gave ______________________________ (v. 2)
   Their giving was done in spite of their affliction.

3. They gave ______________________________ (vs. 3,4)
   Their giving was not coerced or forced.

4. They gave ______________________________ (v. 5)
   Their giving started with the giving of themselves.
   

What Makes A Great Woman

2 Kings 4:8-17 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a [a]notable woman, and she [b]persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 Please, let us make [c]a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”

11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ”

She answered, “I dwell among my own people.”

14 So he said, “What then is to be done for her?”

And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, [d]“About this time next year you shall embrace a son.”

And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!”

17 But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.

SERMON NOTES:

Introduction: In this story, we see an example of a woman described by Scripture as “great”. But what made her so? Based on the story, there are 3 things she showed that contributed to her greatness.

1. Her _________________ for the _______________ of God (vs.8-12)

2. Her _________________ with the _____________ of God (vs. 13-17)

3. Her _________________ in the _______________ of God (vs. 18—37)

Come Follow Me All The Way

John 21:15-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of [a]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [b]love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of [c]Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [d]love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of [e]Jonah, do you [f]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

22 Jesus said to him, “If I [g]will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

SERMON NOTES

Introduction: The 21st chapter of John is an epilogue, which, among others, answers the question, “Was Peter ever restored?” the narrative reveals how the Lord Jesus dealt with the disciple who denied Him 3 times and challenged him to follow his Lord anew. to do so, the Lord presented 4 demands to Peter as he would follow Jesus all the way.

1. _________________ Christ ____________________(vs.)15-17)

2. Accepting ____________________ willingly (vs.15,16)

3. ____________________ for Jesus ____________________ (vs. 18,19)

4. Being ____________________ personally (vs. 20-22)