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The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.
You are invited to watch and listen to the entire sermon here.
Go With Grateful - Grateful To The Max - December 16, 2018 (Message Only) from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.
You are invited to watch and listen to the entire sermon here.
Taking Grateful to the Max
What does life lived in gratitude look like when it is lived to the max?
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the lord, or who has became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen - Romans 11:33-36*It looks like worship.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. - Romans 12:1
*Present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. Our lives spill out (like a bucket) with worship and sacrifice.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-25Mary and Joseph were two of the very first Christ-followers.
What kind of person is grateful to the Max?
*A Just Person. Joseph is a good example of a just man. He was obedient, compassionate, and tender-hearted. He did not want to put Mary to shame.
Let's look again at Matthew 1:19 and verse 24. Then, look at Psalm 140:13.
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. - Matthew 1:19
And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife. - Matthew 1:24
Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;How does a person live grateful to the Max?
The upright will dwell in Your presence. - Psalm 140:13
A person lives grateful to the Max when truth is lived out in obedience. Joseph had to believe in the impossible and he was willing to risk everything for it. It takes trust to live in obedience.
Courage was lived out under a death sentence. Mary and Joseph had to "die" to their good names, to their families, and to their homelands.
John Bunyan was a non-conformist. Because his beliefs differed from the Church of England, he was thrown into prison. He wrote that the parting of his wife and children after visiting him in prison was like tearing the flesh from his bones.
A grateful life is lived out in sacrifice, in joyful self denial, like Joseph.
Joseph, the "foster-dad" to Jesus witnessed the greatest rescue mission this world has ever known - and it began in Joseph's home.
Are you grateful to the max? Are you willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the gospel? It is easy to SAY we are grateful, yet we refuse to (insert anything you believe God is telling you to do but you are not doing it.)
Are you really grateful for what God has done for you if it is costing you nothing?
*Note: Between the message above and New Year's Day, there was another message titled "The Best Christmas Ever" and it was preached by one of our associate pastors, Rick Hermann.
The following are my Bible study notes based on the sermon titled "The Best Christmas Ever.
The Best Christmas Ever
1. Choose worship instead of worry. Instead of worrying, Mary chooses to praise and trust God.And Mary said:And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. - Luke 1:46-56“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
“For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
“For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
“And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
“He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
“He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”
*Mary was a woman of submission.
Dealing with Worry, Ask Yourself Two Questions:
A. Do you have a problem?
B. Is God in control? If your answer is yes, then why worry?
2. Choose God over gifts.
The best gift is Jesus. If you are not a Christian, the best gift you can receive is Jesus' gift of salvation. Learn more about Jesus' gift of salvation here.
Watch and Listen to the sermon titled "The Best Christmas Ever" here.
