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

Fear (Psalm 56; Romans 8:31-39)

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When you are afraid, you can trust in the God who hears you and will deliver you.

I.    GOD ALLOWS HIS CHILDREN TO WALK THROUGH THE WILDERNESS (VV. 1-7)
    A.    The Wilderness is the Place of Suffering (vv. 1-7)
    B.    The Wilderness is the Place of Dependence (Numbers 13-14; Romans 8)
    C.    The Wilderness is the Place of Instruction (Deuteronomy 8:3)

II.    GOD HEARS HIS CHILDREN WEEPING IN THE WILDERNESS (VV. 8-11)
    A.    Your Weeping does not Fall on Deaf Ears (vv. 8-11)
    B.    Your Weeping is not a Lack of Faith (John 11:36)

III.    GOD WALKS WITH HIS CHILDREN THROUGH THE WILDERNESS (VV. 12-13)
    A.    God is With You (vv. 12-13; Romans 8:9-11)
    B.    God is For You (vv. 12-13; Romans 8:31-39)
    C.    God Provides for You in the Wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3; Psalm 23:5)
 

Frauds (Psalm 55; John 13:21-30, 36-38; 21:15-19)

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When all the world lets us down, we can take refuge in God, who never will.

I.    TAKE REFUGE IN GOD WHEN FRIENDS FORSAKE YOU (VV. 1-23)
    A.    The Danger of Placing our Trust in Men (vv. 4-16)
    B.    Beware Counsel that You Want to Hear (Proverbs 27:6; cf. Genesis 3:1-7)
    C.    Turn to the Only One Who Can Help (vv. 1-3, 17-23)

II.    TAKE REFUGE IN HIM WHO WAS FORSAKEN FOR YOU (LUKE 22:47-48; HEBREWS 4:14-16)
    A.    Jesus Knows what it is to be Betrayed by a Close Friend (Luke 22:47-48)
    B.    Jesus is Able to Sympathize (Hebrews 4:14-16)
    C.    Jesus will Never Leave You, Nor Forsake You (Hebrews 13:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:11-13)

III.    TAKE REFUGE IN GOD WHEN YOU ARE A FRAUD (JOHN 13:36-38; 21:1-17)
    A.    When the Fraud is in the Mirror (John 13:36-38; 21:1-17; Proverbs 24:16)
    B.    A Meal Shared with Frauds

Faith in the Fire (Psalm 54; 1 Samuel 23:13-25)

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Faith in the midst of trials means trusting that God will set all things right, even if that means through death and resurrection.

I.    FAITH TESTED (VV. 1-3)
    A.    David Among the Ziphites (1 Samuel 23:13-25)
    B.    The Inner and Outer Struggles of Affliction
    C.    Crying Out for Deliverance (vv. 1-3; Exodus 20:2; 34:5-7)

II.    FAITH CONFESSED (VV. 4-5)
    A.    What God Has (and Hasn’t) Promised (v. 5)
    B.    The Difference Faces of Deliverance
    C.    Why God Allows Suffering and Affliction

III.    FAITH EXERCISED (VV. 6-7)
    A.    An Offering of Praise (vv. 6-7)
    B.    Preparing for Affliction (in Worship)
    C.    You Are What You Eat

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)