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Theme: Three lessons to learn from the beginning of our Lord’s final evening with the disciples, so you will appreciate the solemnity of this night.

I. The Explanation for the evening helps us understand it’s immense importance vv. 1-3

A. The two things Jesus knew before the Feast began vv. 1, 3

1. His hour had come (cf. vv. 23, 27) v. 1

This signaled two vital factors:

a. He would return to the Father
b. He had loved His disciples

2. The Father had given Him all things (cf. 3:35) v. 3

B. The one thing none of the disciples knew until the Feast began v. 2

II. The Example of Humble Service provides us the pattern for Christian practice vv. 4-17

A. Understanding the role He accepted vv. 4-5

B. Understanding the resistance He encountered vv. 6-11

C. Understanding the reason for His actions vv. 12-17

III. The Exception to the Rule reminds us of the danger of deception vv. 18-20

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Introduction:
12 reasons why people don’t accept Jesus
Review:
37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.

38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet which he spoke:“ Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah said again,

40 “ HE has blinded their eyes and HE hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and perceive with their heart, and be converted and I heal them.”

41 These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him.

42 Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;

43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God
(John 12:37-43 NASB)
Theme: Three realities to recall about faith in Christ so you won’t grow discouraged by persistent unbelief

I. Miracles don’t produce faith in Christ vs. 37

II. God may prevent faith in Christ vv. 38-41

III. Man fears the price of manifesting faith in Christ vv. 42-43

A. Negatively: What they feared most vs. 42

B. Positively: What they treasured most vs. 43

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27 “ Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘ Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven:“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

29 So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “ An angel has spoken to Him.”

30 Jesus answered and said, “ This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.

31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

34 The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 So Jesus said to them, “ For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.

36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light
(John 12:27-36 NASB)

Theme: Six reactions to Jesus’ announcement that His hour has come so that you will understand its significance.

I. The Distress of Jesus vs. 27

II. The Prayer of Jesus vs. 28a

III. The Testimony to Jesus vv. 28b-30

IV. The Purpose of Jesus vv. 31-33
A. The Consequence of the hour is judgment vs. 31
B. The Occasion of the hour is the cross vv. 32-33

V. The Objection to Jesus vs. 34

VI. The Exhortations of Jesus vv. 35-36
Command 1: Walk vs. 35

Command 2: Believe vs. 36

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12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written,

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

17 So the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify about Him.

18 For this reason also the people went and met Him, because they heard that He had performed this sign.

19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are not doing any good; look, the world has gone after Him.”

Theme: Three right responses to King Jesus so you will avoid the wrong one.

I. The priority of worship vv. 12-15

II. The perception of what’s written vs. 16

III. The place of witnessing vv. 17-18

Conclusion: The Wrong Response vs. 19

Deviation

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Theme: Five timely exhortations to heed in your Christian life so you will live in a God honoring manner in 2016.

11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts
(Romans 13:11-14 NASB)

1. Lay aside sinful behavior vs. 12a

2. Arm yourself for spiritual battle vs. 12b

3. Be devoted to sensible living vs. 13

4. Become like Jesus vs. 14a

5. Starve your sensual desires vs. 14b

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8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, “ Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign for you:you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them
(Luke 2:8-20 NASB)

Introduction:

Theme: Four ways the birth of Christ motivates us to proclaim the death and resurrection of Christ, so you will do this more faithfully.
1. Remember what the message of Christmas is
2. Remember what the message of Christmas anticipates
The Setting: vv. 8-9
I. The witness of the angel vv. 10-15

II. The purpose of the message vs. 10b

III. The faithfulness of the shepherds vv. 15-17

IV. The worship of God vv. 18-20

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46 And Mary said:
“ My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 “ And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 “ He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53 “ HE has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty- handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever
(Luke 1:46-55 NASB)

Introduction:
The Setting: Luke 1:26-45
Theme: Three aspects of Christmas praise so you might enter into the joy of the season.
I. Christmas praise leads to God exalted vv. 46-47
II. Christmas praise results from God acting vv. 48-54
A. Toward Mary vv. 48-49
B. Toward God fearing generations vs. 50-51a
C. Toward the humble vv. 51b-52
D. Toward the hungry vs. 53
E. Toward Israel vs. 54
III. Christmas praise demonstrates God remembers vs. 55

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Introduction:

2 Kings 19:14-19

Hezekiah’s Prayer

14 Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord.

15 Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.

16 Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God.

17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands

18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them.

19 Now, O Lord our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God.”

Theme: Four necessary elements of prayer in a time of urgency so you will pray more effectively.

I. Ascribe to the LORD His greatness vs. 15

Three acknowledgements:

He is the True God
He is the Sovereign
He is the Creator

II. Implore the LORD to take notice of your circumstance vs. 16

To hear
To see
To listen

III. Voice the immediate threat posed by the enemy of the LORD vv. 17-18

They have destroyed . . .

The nations
Their lands
Their false gods

IV. Make your request known to the LORD vs. 19

Request for deliverance
Reason for the request

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