Intro: (1) background (2) aging struggle → loss, regret, physical/mental changes, less control, lonelinessReflect on your past (4-8): (1) “birth” (cf. 139:13-16) (2) odds of you being here 1 in 400 trillion → God really wanted you to be here (3) furthermore, God created you with a purpose (cf. Jer. 1:5) (4) “youth” and “young men” in Proverbs → identifying both pos/neg experiences of growing up th...  Read More

Intro: (1) “fulfilled” (2) Luke 24:27, 44Our foundation in failure (13-15): (1) wise men go back a different way (2) another angel appearance to Joseph → commands of “rise, take, flee, remain” → legitimate danger from Herod (3) middle-of-night departure → MAP (4) first “fulfillment” from Hosea 11:1 (5) original context of remembering God’s rescue of his people from Egypt in the exodus (6) the stor...  Read More

Intro: responses to Jesus → every move toward Christ is a response to his offerAnxious Anger (3, 7-8, 12): (1) Jesus “king of the Jews” (v.2) → Herod “the king” (v.3) (2) background → puppet ruler, politically savvy, temple, building projects (3) paranoid in later life, killed family members (cf. v.7-8, 2:13-18) (4) “Jerusalem” also “troubled” → status quo about to be shaken up ((cf. Psalm 2, Mt. ...  Read More

Intro: (1) series overview (2) placing ourselves in the story (3) read entire passageMary: (1) v.18 → “betrothed” → pledged to marriage, broken only by divorce (2) discovered to be pregnant → imagine that conversation (3) supernatural conception → more on HS later (4) v.23 → virgin birth an OT prophecy of Messiah (cf. Isaiah 7:14) (5) originally given to Ahaz after he chooses human deliverance ove...  Read More

Intro: (1) series intro (2) background of genealogies (3) who is this person in Mt. 1:1? (4) v.17The Savior for Sinners: (1) hebrew “Joshua” → the LORD saves (cf. v.21) → similarities between Joshua and Jesus (2) Jesus’ earthly ministry (cf. rescue from danger, healings, feeding) → points toward greater restoration (3) advent reminds that Jesus is the savior for sin, not just a therapist for probl...  Read More

Intro: (1) series recap (2) Jesus as model and substitute (3) seven ways to affirm Christlikeness1. Obedient (John 5:19-21): (1) Jesus’ earthly ministry (2) v.20-23 → Father/Son equal and in aloving/mutual relationship (3) despite this, the Son is obedient (4) practical → kids quickly/fully, someone persevering with hard boss, praying for gov’t, recognizing spouse for service2. Forgiving (Luke 23:...  Read More