Franklin Crossroads Baptist Church Sermons

Five Elements of this Christmas Story A Curious Conception (v18) A Strange Justice (vv19-20) A Powerful Name (v21) A Fulfilled Prophecy (vv22-23) Precise Obedience (vv24-25)

Two Actions in this passage: 1) Action of God through Revelation 2) Action of Man through Response Three Sermon Takeaways: 1) The Lord uses the weak to shame the strong 2) God uses the Christmas story to strengthen our faith 3) We must respond to the revelation we have received

The Intentionality of Prophecy 1. The Messianic Prophecies are Intentionally Specific  2. God Intentionally Chooses the Receiver of Prophecy to be a Wicked Man because Man is Wicked  3. Christ Intentionally Fulfills the Promised Hope

Micah 5 tells us THREE THINGS God's Shepherd-Ruler will do… He will Shepherd a Flock into Hostile Lands  He will Expand His Flock into Every Land  He will Deliver His Flock Forever from All Enemies

Three practical instructions... Answer Slander with Praise — vv 1-2, 8 Trust God for Protection and Vindication — vv 3 & 7 Rest in Confident Prayer — vv 4 & 5-6

People will keep DIVIDING over WHO Jesus IS (40-43) The Prophet OR The Christ?  Surely NOT the Christ People will keep DEBATING over WHAT to DO with Jesus (44-49) Arrest Him Hear Him Out Insult & Threaten  Jesus will keep DRAWING People TO Himself (50-52) Chief Priests and Pharisees Officers  Nicodemus 

Are You Listening? Jesus calls urgently Jesus calls compassionately Jesus calls everybody  Are You Thirsty? Are You Drinking?   What does it MEAN to drink?  WHAT are we drinking?  What HAPPENS when we drink? Quotations read were from: The Silver Chair, by CS Lewis Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of John, by JC Ryle

They’ve Absorbed “Folk” Theology  They’ve Rejected Sovereignty  They’ve Practiced Inadequate Faith

We study the power and importance of our speech from verses all across Proverbs 10-31, and the New Testament, ESPECIALLY... Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

The Responses of Jesus's Critics: Unmet Expectation  The Human Paradigm Jesus’s Paradigm Unholy Exaltation The Result: All Manner of Sin The Remedy: Obey First  Untrue Exclamation  We Ought to Honestly Assess Our Own Hearts We Ought to Be Careful What We Say

We study God's beautiful gift of friendship from verses all over Proverbs.

God is Always on Time A Long Silent Gap  A Lost Opportunity? Jesus Knows Exactly When (and How) to Go  People are Usually Out of Sync with God… Three Wrong Responses to God’s Schedule  Murderous Urge  Mocking Unbelief Muttering Uncertainty  WHY We Respond These Ways — FEAR

God’s Treasure  God’s Jars  God’s Power Takeaways  --We won’t lose heart (vv1 & 16) despite our difficulties BECAUSE…  --We have a ministry to do (v1), and we’ll refuse to use gimmicks in our ministry (v2). --We’ll keep in mind that suffering is temporary (vv14-18). --We’ll keep thanking God (v15). --We’ll rejoice that our inner man is constantly being renewed (v16) through reading and memorizing...

Difficult Divine Truths  Jesus’s Hard Sayings   You Think THAT Was a Hard Saying?… You Can ONLY Understand by a Work of the Spirit Many Make Tracks… Passive Abandonment  Temporary Denial  Complete Apostasy  A Few Fasten Tight  Pouty Jesus?  Two Great Reasons for Faith

Why the Jews Grumbled Offended  Perplexed   Convicted What Jesus Taught  I’m the Way to God I’m the True Bread From Heaven You Must Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood How You Justify Yourself  I’ve Got a History in Church (INADEQUATE justification)  I’ve Got Bible Knowledge / Good Doctrine (INADEQUATE justification)… I’ve Got Good Morals (INADEQUATE justification)  He Draws me and I Keep Coming (TRUE...

THREE TRUTHS…  OUR "WORK" IS TO BELIEVE GOD OUR FAULT IS TO DEMAND PROOF OUR SECURITY IS IN CHRIST'S GRIP TAKE-AWAYS: — COME to Christ!  — KNOW that you will NEVER be lost! — REST in Christ! … and WORK for his glory!

Disciples want Jesus; Diners only want what Jesus can give; Disciples receive FAR MORE. Diners want...   Physical Health & Full Bellies (Forever) Political & Military Liberation Disciples want (and get)… Fellowship  Testing (not Tempting)  Provision Knowledge of who Jesus REALLY IS (He’s God)