Jesus, 700 B.C.?
Isaiah 53:1-12 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Passion Week, the vivid display of God’s love in action.
Prophets were God’s . The Bible is comprised of 66 books,   by His prophets.
Deuteronomy 18:18-20

  1. Who has believed?  Isaiah 53:1
  2. The “tender shoot.”  Isaiah 53:2-3
    He was not  and was received with .  I Peter 2:22
  3. He died for   and secures our .  Isaiah 53:4-6
    Of this passage, Martin Luther said, “These words, OUR, US, FOR US, should be written in gold letters. Who does not believe this is not a Christian.”
  4. He would be  condemned.  Isaiah 53:7-9
    The price Jesus paid speaks to   of sin.  Proverbs 6:16-19
  5. Predicts of the results.  Isaiah 53:10-12
    Jesus’ “offspring.”  John 1:11-13
    Don’t buy Satan’s lie that you are than others.  II Corinthians 5:21

    He is , and one day everyone will acknowledge Him.  Philippians 2:9-11

Did Judas Have a Choice?
Mark 14:12-21 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Possible Reasons

  1. Money.  Matthew 26:15
  2. Embezzlement.  John 12:4-6
  3. Demon-possession.  Luke 22:3, John 13:27
  4. His nationalism.

    Contrast Mary – Mark 14:3-9 – and Judas – Mark 14:18-21

We see the tension between God’s sovereignty and human freedom in this drama with Judas and Jesus

  1. The determinative will of God.  Mark 14:21
    God seeing the future is not to say He predetermines the future.
  2. The  will of God.  Mark 14:22-24
    Jesus, having the will of God, declares to freely do the will of God. 
    Humans, created in God’s image, uniquely have freedom to choose God’s  and embrace .
  3. The  will of God.  Mark 14:25
    The guidance for open choices is that they  .  I Corinthians 10:31
  • Trust the determinative will of God  .
  • Rejoice in the declarative will of God with  living.
  • Choose  that honor Jesus.

Personal Notes

Dying Grace
Luke 23:46 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Luke 23:46
Jesus was quoting Psalm 31:5.

Now I lay me…
Dr. Elizabeth Ross identified five stages.
“Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
Not words of resignation, but of .

John Wesley’s Four Avenues of Grace: prevenient, , sanctifying, and .

I Thessalonians 4:13

The source of this peace is   and it comes through a couple of channels:

  1. As we  His promises.
    Isaiah 41:10
    Psalm 46:1-2
    Deuteronomy 31:6
    John 14:1-3
  2. A deepening  with Jesus.
    Psalm 32:6
    Philippians 4:7

    Illustration – a blind man received a cornea transplant.
    Our sight results from years of   .

    God’s plan is  for everyone.

Personal Notes

The Kingdom Belongs to Children
Mark 10:13-16 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Mark 10:13-16
Mark uses “paida” = children under 13
Luke uses “brephé” = infants or babies

Parents weren’t seeking .
Illustration from Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo.
Mark 9:34

What is it about children that Jesus is showing us?

  1. recognized  on God.
    The greatest obstacle to a relationship with God is .
    I Peter 5:5-7
    II Corinthians 12:9-10
  2. For a child, faith is .
    Matthew 18:2-3
    Faith is not : it is a decision to .
    Illustration: Bridge rail. “My mother was fearful, I wasn’t because my father’s was wrapped  .”
    Hebrews 11:1-2,6
  3. Children know they  to a .
    In the midst of trouble, watch who they run to.
    John 1:12-13
    Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,”

Believe (John 3:36)
Repent (Acts 3:19)
Receive (John 1:12)
Confess (Romans 10:9)

Personal Notes

Why We Do What We Do
II Corinthians 5:16-21 |  Rev. Karl Moore

  1. Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV and NIV
    a.  vs. .
    b.  vs. .
    c.  vs. .
    d.  not .
    e. Understanding these basic  of the of the church is the to understanding why we do what we do.

    II Corinthians 5:16-21

  2. Our point of view.
    a. We are .  II Corinthians 5:14a
    b. We are .
    c. We are    .
    Acts 1:7-8b, II Peter 9:1
  3. Our product is valuable.
    a. We experience  .  II Corinthians 5:17
    b. Our message  the .  II Corinthians 5:19
    c. We become  of the .  II Corinthians 5:19b
    I Corinthians 15:1-5, I Corinthians 9:16-18
  4. Ephesians 4:11-13 – This is the process that places people into the public with the purpose of producing disciples who powerfully persuade others to become Christ followers.
  5. Ambassador: The highest-ranking diplomatic officer of their country in a foreign nation or international organization.
    John 17:13-19

Personal Notes

Changed Your Passwords?
Psalm 25 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

We have constantly improved security, and yet  regularly occur.

The ultimate source of security is  .  Psalm 25:1-2
Psalm 139:5

Threats to spiritual security

  1. Depression and .  Psalm 25:2
    God’s promises are greater than our .
  2. Pain and .  Psalm 25:3
    Whatever hurts us is .
    II Corinthians 4:17,18
    God helps us to .
    I Corinthians 10:13
  3. The threat of .  Psalm 25:5
    The Holy Spirit convinces us of our need for Jesus, but does not force us to , nor does he force us to continue to .
    Colossians 1:23 NLT
    Paul to Timothy:  I Timothy 1:19-20
    John 8:31-32

Reasons to be sure

  1. The Word of God
    John 3:35-36
    I John 5:9-13

  2. The  witness of the Holy Spirit.
    I Thessalonians 1:4-5a
    John 16:13-14
  3. I John 2:3-6
    This is only possible with   empowerment.

Spiritual security is not about new passwords; it is the result of trusting God and giving the Holy Spirit the keys to your .

Personal Notes

Favoritism Fails
James 2:1-13 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

  1. Clearly, God is   .  James 2:1
    God doesn’t show .  Romans 2:11
    His enemies knew this.  Matthew 22:16, I Timothy 5:21
  2. What’s the point of  church if we are not going to  the church?  James 2:2-4, John 13:34
  3. The world’s view is  .  James 2:5-7
    An annoying contemporary “so-called” truism is: “ is reality.”
    The world system is based. God’s kingdom is based.  Ephesians 1:4-7
    God ignores  and social/economic differences.  Acts 10:34, Acts 15
    Acts 15:6-9, I Samuel 2:7-8a, I Timothy 6:17-19
  4. Living like Jesus is  people the way He  people. “A  church has no at all.”
    Why “the royal law?”  James 2:8
    a. It was written   .  John 13:34
    b. It  all other laws.  Romans 13:10
    c. Obeying it   .  James 2:12
  5. Saying and doing must be .  James 2:12-13
    “Every Bible should be bound in  leather.”  -D.L. Moody
    Ephesians 4:29
    I John 3:16-18

We don’t earn  by showing. We show it because the Spirit of Christ is within us!  Matthew 5:1-12

 

Tested and Blessed
James 1:2-12 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

  1. Consider James 1:2 NKJV “count,” James 1:2 NLT “consider” to  carefully about something.
    In the Greek the word is a financial term meaning to .
    Being transformed into the image of Jesus is changed from valuing the material and physical to valuing the spiritual.
  2. Because you know.  James 1:3
    a. Faith is always .
    b. This works for us.  I Peter 1:6-9
    c. God values our maturity.  Romans 5:3-5
  3. Our character development requires our .  James 1:4
    Ephesians 2:8-12
    a. The work God does for us = .
    b. The work God does us = sanctification.
    c. The work God does  us = service.
  4. Ask for .  James 1:5-8
    “Knowledge is the ability to take things , wisdom is the ability to   .”

    James 5:13-18
    a. Without wisdom, we will the opportunity.
    b. Without wisdom, we will miss the only enduring motivator, .  James 1:12

“Great or Least?” In the Kingdom
Matthew 5:19 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Regardless   , it’s not too late to go from least to great.

Luke 14:11-14

Living generously has rewards . However, Jesus’ focus in Luke 14:14 is .

In New Testament, two Greek words describe rewards

  1. Misthos –    Luke 6:22-23
    Used in parable of vineyard workers.   Matthew 20; I Timothy 5:18
  2. Apodidomai – apo = back; didmai =  
    See the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10

All that we have been given, and all that we have    is the result of God’s g .

Our little is much in God’s .
Mark 9:41

Ephesians 2:8-10

A “good work” is an act we do for  that meets a need and  .

Personal Notes

Living For a Greater Reward
II Corinthians 5:6-10, John 3:16-18 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Focus today is not on salvation. It’s on rewards.

Two Factors Determine Our Destiny

  1. Our belief.
    Hebrews 11:1-3, 6
  2. Our behavior.
    “The kingdom of God will not be the same for all believers. Let me put it another way. Some believers will have rewards for their earthly faithfulness; others will not. Some will reign with Christ; others will not. (see II Timothy 2:12). Some will be rich in the kingdom of God; others will be poor (see Luke 12:21, 33). Some will be given true riches; others will not (see Luke 16:11). Some will be given heavenly treasures of their own; others will not (see Luke 16:12).  -Charles Stanley

    Matthew 16:24-27

Life’s Main Events

  1. God’s gift of life.
    John 3:3-5
  2. Our physical death. 
    Hebrews 9:27
  3. Our destination.
    Matthew 23:33
  4. Our resurrection. (see I Corinthians 15)
    Philippians 3:21
  5. Payment.
    Revelation 20:11-15
  6. Eternity.
    Matthew 25:46

Personal Notes