Admiring Jesus (Colossians 1:15-20; Psalm 33:4-8)

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Admire Jesus for everything he is for us

I.    JESUS IS LORD OVER THE WORLD (VV. 15-17)
    A.    The Revealer of God (vv. 15, 17; cf. John 1:18, Genesis 1:27)
    B.    The Creator (v. 16; cf. Psalm 33:6)
    C.    The Sustainer (v. 17; cf. Hebrews 1:3)

II.    JESUS IS LORD OVER THE CHURCH (VV. 18-20)
    A.    The Head of the Church (v. 18)
    B.    The Peacemaker (vv. 19-20; cf. Isaiah 53:2)
    C.    Admiring at the Table

When Being Tested Seems Impossible (Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:17-19)

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Trust God in times of testing.

I.    TEST PREPARATION (VV. 1-2)
    A.    A Reason for Testing (vv. 1-2; cf. Deuteronomy 8:2-5)
    B.    The Nature of the Test (v. 2)

II.    TEST TAKING (VV. 1, 3-10)
    A.    Being Present (vv. 1, 7, 11)
    B.    Answer 1: Faith (vv. 3-8)
    C.    Answer 2: Obedience (vv. 9-11

III.    TEST RESULTS (VV. 11-19)
    A.    The LORD Provides (vv. 11, 13)
    B.    A God-Fearer (v. 12; cf. Job 1:1, 9)
    C.    The LORD Blesses (vv. 15-18; cf. Hebrews 11:17-19)

IV.    TEST REFLECTIONS
    A.    Reflecting the Son
    B.    Testing that Changes (Cf. Exodus; 1 Peter 1:6-9)

When Unity Comes Down (Psalm 133, Acts 2:42-47)

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God comes down to bless a community that lives to serve one another

I.    SEEING UNITY (V. 1)
    A.    Beholding Unity (v. 1)
    B.    Qualities of Unity (v. 1; cf. Genesis 2:18)
    C.    Unity Among Brothers (v. 1; cf. Genesis 4:9; 11:3)

II.    GROWING IN UNITY (VV. 2-3A)
    A.    Serving Like Priests (v. 2; cf. 1 Peter 2:4-5)
    B.    Finding Refreshment (v. 3a)

III.    BLESSING OF UNITY (V. 3B)
    A.    Blessing from God (v. 3b; cf. James 1:17)
    B.    Unity and Heaven (v. 3b; cf. Revelation 7:9-10; Matthew 6:8-13)
    C.    The God of Unity
    D.    The Unity of Jesus
    E.    United Around a Table

Going Up For Worship (Psalm 122, John 4:19-26 )

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Life together must center around worshipping the LORD.

I.    GLADNESS OF WORSHIP (VV. 1-2)
    A.    A Cause for Joy (v. 1)
    B.    The House of the LORD (v. 2)

II.    UNITY IN WORSHIP (VV. 3-4A)
    A.    A Firm City (v. 3)
    B.    The Ascending Tribes (v. 4a)

III.    CALL TO WORSHIP (VV. 4B-5))
    A.    Praising in the House (v. 4b)
    B.    Thrones for Judgment (v. 5)

IV.    PEACE OF WORSHIP (vv. 6-9)
    A.    Extending Peace (vv. 6-9)
    B.    Worshipping Jesus (John 4:19-26)
    C.    Praise During Supper

The God Who Dwells with the Lowly (Isaiah 57:14-15; John 14:1-6)

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The God who is high and lifted stoops down to your lowliness. 

I.    PREPARING THE WAY (V. 14)
    A.    Building Up and Preparing the Way (v. 14; cf. Isaiah 62:10)
    B.    Removing our Stumbling Blocks (v. 14; cf. Leviticus 4:8-10)

II.    HIGH AND LIFTED UP (V. 15)
    A.    He is High and Lifted Up (v. 15; cf. Isaiah 6:1)
    B.    He Dwells Eternally(v. 15)
    C.    The is the Holy Lord (v. 15; cf. Exodus 20:7; Isaiah 8:11-15)

III.    CONTRITE AND LOWLY (V. 15)
    A.    God is with the Contrite (v. 15; cf. Isaiah 57:1)
    B.    God is with the Lowly of Spirit (v. 15; Proverbs 29:23)
    C.    The God who Revives (v. 15; Ezekiel 37:1-14)
    D.    Jesus Dwells with the Lowly (Isaiah 53:10; cf. John 14:6)
    E.    A Table for the Lowly

Wounds of Forgiveness (John 20:19-31)

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The crucified and resurrected life is shaped by forgiveness.

I.    JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES (VV. 19-23)
    A.    Peace Behind Closed Doors (v. 19; cf. John 10; 1 John 3:17)
    B.    When Seeing Leads to Joy (v. 20)
    C.    Forgiveness and the New Creation (vv. 21-23; cf. John 17:18; Genesis 2:7)

II.    JESUS AND THOMAS (VV. 24-29)

    A.    Doubting Thomas (vv. 24-25)
    B.    When Seeing Leads to Confession (vv. 26-29; cf. Genesis 2:22-23)

III.    JESUS AND OTHER BELIEVERS (V. 31)

    A.    The Word and Believing (v. 31)
    B.    The Word and Forgiveness
    C.    A Table of Forgiveness

The Deeper Bonds of Christian Unity (Philippians 1:1-18)

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Our bonds in Christ are displayed in our suffering together.

I.    Our unity is fundamentally in Christ Jesus (vv. 1-2)
II.    Our unity is best displayed through suffering (vv. 3-5, 7-8)
III.    Our unity helps us look past suffering to glory (vv. 6, 9-11)
IV.    This unity is the basis our witness (vv. 12-14)
V.    Paul's Final Takeaway (vv. 15-18)