BE READY TO LEAVE

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Truth: Be ready to leave. Be ready to live. Be ready for death. Are you ready for heaven?

I. BE READY TO LEAVE

1. MANY OF US WILL DIE. 2 Tim 4:6, Heb 9:27, 1 Kings 2:2. 2 Cor 5:8, Luke 23:43
2. Some will be changed. 1 Cor. 15:51-52, Dan 12:2
3. All need to be ready. 2 Tim 4:6-8, Matt 24:44, Matt 7:21-23, 2 Tim 1:12

II. BE READY TO LIVE

1. Know who you are. 2 Tim 4:1, 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:16-17
2. Know what you believe. 2 Tim 4:2-5, 2 Tim 2:15, 2 Tim 3:15, John 5:39.
3. Live who you are. 2 Tim 4:7, Phil 3:14, 2 Tim 2:2

III. BE READY FOR DEATH

1. Know that God provides dying grace! 2 Tim 4:8, Acts 7: 55-56, 60
2. Know that we will be with Jesus forever. 1 Thess 4:13-18.

ARE YOU READY FOR HEAVEN?

BEING BORN OF GOD

John 3:1-8

Truth: What does it mean to be born of God? What is it like to be born of God? What is the evidence you are born of God? Have you been born of God?

I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BORN OF GOD?

1. God calls us. John 3:1-2, John 1:12, John 6:44, 65.
2. God calls us through the gospel. John 3:3, John 3:14-18, 1 Peter 1:23-25
3. God’s Spirit comes and dwells in us. John 3:4-7, Rom 8:16, Eph 1:13-14, 2 Cor 1:22

II. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE BORN OF GOD?

1. A journey from darkness to light. John 8:12, 2 Cor 4:6
2. A journey from condemnation to eternal life. 1 John 3:19-21
3. A journey to a new creature in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17

III. WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE YOU ARE BORN OF GOD?

1. A genuine Christ-like love. 1 John 4:7
2. Hatred of sin. 1 John 3:9
3. A Spirit filled life. Gal 5:22-23, Eph 5:18
4. An assurance of sins forgiven, a desire to read the Bible and pray (and a sense that these are meaningful spiritual activities), a delight in worship, a desire for Christian fellowship, a sincere desire to be obedient to God’s Word in Scripture, and a desire to tell others about Christ.

HAVE YOU BEEN BORN OF GOD?

BE READY THE LORD IS COMING

1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

Truth: Be ready to live for Jesus. Be ready for the Lord’s return. Be ready for the unbeliever will be judged. Are you ready?

I. BE READY TO LIVE FOR JESUS

1. Live like you are saved for the Lord. 1 Thess 4:1-8. 1 Peter 3:15, 1 Cor 15:34, James 1:17
2. Live sanctified for the Lord’s church. 1 Thess 4:9-10, 1 John 3:16, Rom 13:8,10
3. Live as a soul winner for the sinner. 1 Thess 4:11-12.

II. BE READY FOR THE LORD’S RETURN

1. Know what the Lord says about His return. 1 Thess 4:13-15.
2. Know that when He returns the saints will be with Christ forever. 1 Thess 4:16-18.

III. BE READY FOR THE UNBELIEVER WILL BE JUDGED

1. The Lord will come suddenly. 1 Thess 5:2-3, 2 Peter 3:10
2. The Lord will gather all nations before Him. Matt 25:31-32, Rev. 20:11-13
3. The saints will be judged. Rev 20:12, 1 Cor 3:13-15
4. The unbelieving will be cast into the everlasting fire. Rev 21:8, Matt 25:41.

ARE YOU READY?

JESUS CHRIST IS ALWAYS THE SAME

Hebrews 13:1-8, Malachi 3:6

Truth: Jesus will always pursue us. Jesus will always provide what we need. Jesus will always protect us. Are you depending on the unchanging Christ?

I. JESUS WILL ALWAYS PURSUE US

1. Jesus pursues us because He loves us. Heb 13:1, Rom 5:6-8, John 15:13, Eph 5:2.
2. Jesus pursues us so we will continue in love for each other. 1 John 3:16, John 13:34-35.
3. Jesus pursues us so we will pursue the souls of others. Heb 13:2-3, Luke 14:23.

II. JESUS WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE FOR US

1. Jesus provides family wisdom. Heb 13:4, Matt 19:4-6, Eph 5:25, Col 3:18, Eph 6:1-4
2. Jesus provides earthly provision that we should be content with. Heb 13:5, Luke 12:15, Phil 4:11, Matt 28:20

III. JESUS WILL ALWAYS PROTECT US

1. Jesus provides godly protection. Heb 13:6, Psa 27:1
2. Jesus provides godly leadership. Heb 13:7, Heb 13:17. 1 Peter 5:2-4

ARE YOU DEPENDING ON THE UNCHANGING CHRIST?

JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE

1 Cor 15:1-8, Rev 1:17-18

Truth: Jesus Christ the Word has always been. Jesus Christ the Savior died for our sins. Jesus Christ our redeemer is alive.

I. JESUS CHRIST THE WORD HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOD

1. Christ the Word was always God. Rev 1:11,17, John 1:1-2.
2. Christ as God made all things. John 1: 3
3. In Christ is life and the Light so that all men could believe and have life. John 1:4-5.

II. JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR DIED FOR OUR SINS

1. Christ became flesh to die for our sins. John 1:14, Phil 2:8
2. Christ came to die for our sins. 1 Tim 1:15, 1 John 3:5
3. Christ died to be the Savior of all men. 1 Tim 4:10

III. JESUS CHRIST OUR REDEEMER IS ALIVE

1. Jesus Christ is alive and defeated death. 1 Cor 15:3-8, Acts 2:24, 1 Cor 6:14, Eph 1:20
2. Jesus Christ is alive and will save all who come to Him in faith. Heb 7:25, Rom 8:34
3. Jesus Christ is alive and is our Provider, our Helper, our Keeper. Heb 9:24, Phil 4:19
4. Jesus Christ is alive and will raise us up to be with Him forever. Rom 8:11, 1 Cor 15:51-57.

IS JESUS CHRIST ALIVE IN YOU?

HOW GOD TURNS PAIN INTO POWER

2 Cor 12:1-10

Truth: God allows us to glory in Him. God for our good humbles us. God’s grace is our strength. Are you in pain or in God’s power?

I. GOD ALLOWS US TO GLORY IN HIM (2 Cor 12:1-6)

1. We sit with God in heavenly places. Eph 2:6
2. God gives us position with Him. Eph 2:20-22
3. We share God’s glory now and will behold His glory in heaven. John 17:22,24

II. GOD HUMBLES US FOR OUR GOOD (2 Cor 12:7-8)

1. We all have thorns we have to deal with. Vs. 10, John 16:33, James 1:2-5
2. The difficulties of life humble us. James 4:6-10, Prov 16:18-19

III. GOD’S GRACE IS OUR STRENGTH (2 Cor 12:9-10)

1. God’s grace is sufficient. 1 Cor 15:10, 2 Cor 3:5
2. God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. John 15:5
3. We are to glory in our infirmities that God’s power may rest upon us. James 1:12, 1 Peter 4:14
4. For Christ’s sake I am to take pleasure in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, and in calamities. Phil 4:4
5. When I am weak, I am made strong. Phil 4:13

ARE YOU IN PAIN OR IN GOD’S POWER?

THINGS I CAN KNOW FOR SURE

1 John 5:5-21

Truth: Jesus is God. Believers have eternal life. God answers prayer. Christians do not practice sin. The Christian life is the real life. Do you know these things for sure?

I. JESUS IS GOD

1. The water is the first witness. 1 John 5:6, Matt 3:13-17
2. The blood is the second witness. 1 John 5:8, Acts 20:28, Matt 27:50-53
3. The Spirit is the third witness. 1 John 5:9-10, Rom 8:15-16

II. BELIEVERS HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

1. Eternal life comes through the Son. 1 John 5:11, John 3:14-16.
2. If you have salvation you have eternal life. 1 John 5:12-13, John 3:36

III. GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

1. We can have confidence that when we ask according to God’s will He hears us. 1 John 5:14, Matt 6:10
2. We know He answered according to His will. 1 John 5:15

IV. CHRISTIANS DO NOT PRACTICE SIN

1. Christians can sin unto death. 1 John 5:16, Heb 12:5-8
2. Christians can overcome the sin of the flesh. 1 John 5:17-19, 1 John 1:9, Gal 5:16

V. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS TRUE LIFE

1. We know the Son of God and that He is true. 1 John 5:20, John 17:3.
2. We know that we are in Him that is true. 1 John 5:20, John 15:7

DO YOU KNOW THESE THINGS FOR SURE?

THE LORD WILL MEET OUR NEEDS

Psalm 23:1-6

Truth: The Lord wants to be our Shepherd. The Lord Our Shepherd is always there for us. Is the Lord your Shepherd?

I. THE LORD WANTS TO BE OUR SHEPHERD

1. The Lord is the Shepherd of the saved and they shall not want. Psa 23:1, John 10:11,14, 2 Tim 2:19, Phil 4:19
2. He leads His people. Psa 23:2-3. John 14:26-27, Psa 119:105
3. He restores our soul. Psa 23:3, Phil 4:7, Isa 26:3
4. His Spirit covers us and fills us. Psa 23:5, Eph 5:18, 1 Cor 2:12

II. THE LORD OUR SHEPHERD IS ALWAYS THERE FOR US

1. He walks with us through fear and even death. Psa 23:4, Psa 139:7-10
2. His rod and staff comfort us. Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17
3. He provides in the mist our trouble. Psa 23:5, Psa 50:15
4. Goodness and mercy follow the people who are His house. Psa 23:6, 1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor 2: 9-10, 13-16.

IS THE LORD YOUR SHEPHERD?

THE LORD IS OUR HOPE

Psalm 34:1-22

Truth: The Lord is to be praised. The Lord is the one we are to seek. The Lord will bless the righteous. Is the Lord your hope?

I. THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED

1. We are to praise the Lord at all times. Vs. 1-2, Eph 5:20, Jer 9:23-24
2. We are to magnify the Lord and exalt His name. Vs. 3, Isa 12:4, Psa 105:1-4

II. THE LORD IS THE ONE WE ARE TO SEEK

1. When we seek Him, He delivers us from all our fears. Vs. 4, Matt 7:7, Heb 11:6
2. When we look to Him, He reveals Himself and delivers us from all our troubles. Vs. 5-6, Psa 50:15, Vs. 17,19.
3. The Lord blesses those that fear and trust Him. Vs. 7-10, Prov 3:5-6, Dan 6:22, 1 Peter 2:3, Psa 84:11

III. THE LORD WILL BLESS THE RIGHTEOUS

1. The Lord wants us to teach the fear of the Lord. Vs. 11-14, Psa 32:8,1 Peter 3:10-12
2. The Lord’s blessings are on the righteous. Vs.15, 17-20,22, Psa 145:18-19, Isa 57:15.
3. The Lord shall judge the wicked. Vs. 16,21, Psa 94:23. 2 Thess 1:7-9

IS THE LORD YOUR HOPE?