SN - notes from 12/18/10
LOVE - TRUTH
AWARENESS - ACTION
a 4 part SN study
action (spliced with a little bit of Christmas)
We have been looking at a four pronged concept of the gospel and how we should love it - lovingly, truthfully, and with much awareness. Tonight we look at action -
To me, the best all time example of action was that of the incarnation - God stepped into time and did something about the fact that we were not able to have a relationship with Him - He came, lived, died, and rose again - tonight, we focus on His 1st gospel action.
A. CHRISTMAS 1 AD
GOD’S ACTION OF THE INCARNATION, PROMPTED SPECIFIC ACTIONS IN ALL INVOLVED - IT SHOULD STILL WORK THE SAME WAY.
LUKE 1
1) Gabriel (Lk 1:26) - the angelic herald of God
From Gabriel, we learn obedience
2) Joseph (Mt. 1:19) - the just, descendant of David
From Joseph, we learn mercy
3) Mary (Lk 1:27) - the poor, pregnant teenager whose reputation will be ruined
From Mary, we learn faith
4) The angels (Lk 2:13) - rejoicing in the sky
From the angels, we learn praise
5) The shepherds (Lk 2:17- 20) - watching from the earth
From the shepherds, we learn responsiveness - they heard, and they acted “with haste”
6) Simeon (Lk. 2:25) - The old man waiting for the Consolation of Israel and whose last ”wish” was just to see Jesus
consolation = paraklases = to call near, to summon
From Simeon, we learn the one key purpose of the incarnation - to call us near to Him (relationship)
7) Anna (Lk 2:36) - the old prophetess ministering in the temple night and day with fasting and prayers
From Anna, we learn another key purpose for the Incarnation - redemption (so relationship is possible)
B. CHRISTMAS 2010 AD
With all 7 scenarios, we see that the birth of Jesus prompted ACTION of some sort. We respond to His actions of creation, incarnation, redemption, and glorification by our own actions as well -
talk is cheap in Christendom.
action 1 - we believe (that He is)
Jhn 6:29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
action 2 - we repent
Mark 1:14-15 - Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent…
action 3 - we believe in the gospel (in the fact that He alone can redeem us)
Mark 1:15b - “… and believe in the gospel.”
action 4 - we love God and walk with Him.
Mar 12:29-30 - Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
And you shall love the LORD
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
Mic 6:8 - He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
action 5 - we love people and walk with them.
Mark 12:31 - “…And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
1 John 3:18 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed (actions) and in truth.
C. APPLICATIONS
Application 1 - respond to God’s action of sending Jesus with your own specific actions.
Jam 2:22 - “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
Application 2 - This Christmas, let’s be less focused on whose not saying “Merry Christmas” vs “Happy Holidays”, and lets be more focused on loving and sharing the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus.
