Luke 1:5-25

Zacharias’ Story

Luke 1:5-25

Lots of unlikely circumstances

                Elizabeth was barren

                Zack and Beth were both advanced in years

                ~Zack was chosen by lot to enter the temple (he won the incense burning lottery)

Things in their favor

                They were both righteous

                Zach was a priest

                Zack was a praying man v13

New American Standard Bible
3 John 1:4   

How do you describe the joy of having your children following the Lord?

As we read this next section see if you can figure out how Zacharias looked at Jesus.

Luke 1:57-80

Zacharia’s Prophesy talks about John’s calling, but it also describes Jesus in several verses.

What does this prophesy tell us about Jesus?

Christmas Stories

Christmas Stories

Matthew 1

Genealogy of Jesus

Conception of Jesus – told to Joseph in a dream

Visit of the Magi – Wise Men

Flight to Egypt / Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus

Luke 1

Gabriel announces the situation to Mary

Mary visits Elizabeth

Mary’s Magnificat

John born to Elizabeth and Zacharias

Luke 2

Jesus birth in Bethlehem / Shepherds / Angels (heavenly host)

Jesus presented at the temple (Simeon / Anna the daughter of Phanuel).

OT

Micah 5:2 Bethlehem is Jesus’ birthplace

Isaiah 7:14 Virgin birth

Which one of these stories hold the most meaning for you and why?

How would you describe the amount of information we have about Jesus birth? A little, a lot, somewhere in between?

What do you think God’s purpose(s) was in including these stories in the Bible?

Jonah

Jonah’s Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Summarize Jonah Chapter 1

Read Jonah chapter 2. (NASB)

Conjecture = What was Jonah’s situation two weeks before the events in chapter 1?

God had appointed a task for Jonah that would make a huge difference in the lives of the Ninivites, but Jonah decided that he didn’t want to cooperate.  (Noah getting in his car seat)

God could have used anyone – a native, another Hebrew, a donkey… Why do you think he chose Jonah?

God loves people. He loved the citizens of Nineveh. He loved Jonah.  See verses below:

Revelation 3:19 –Those whom I live I rebuke and discipline

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

God’s reproof to Jonah did the trick! It worked perfectly. Once Jonah had a chance to think about what God had directed him to do for a while (3 days) he decided that he should turn back to God instead of fleeing from God.

His prayer included an acknowledgement of his current situation, and several statements about God, and in V 9 the ribbon on the whole “prayer Package” is his spirit of thanksgiving. Some translations use the term grateful.

Keep in mind that this prayer is prayed while he was still in the belly of the fish.

Is thankfulness a normal response to discipline?

Is thankfulness a common response to terrible circumstances?

As you are facing challenges, when do you usually get around to thanksgiving?

We don’t often consider Jonah a hero of the faith, but his response to discipline was a good one, and it only took him 3 days to figure out what he should do.

Jonah knew as soon as his cruise director woke him up that God’s discipline was behind the storm. How can we tell the difference between God’s discipline, trials that give us the opportunity to grow in our faith, the result of our own poor choices, or other possible reasons for bad things that happen in our lives?

I believe that just as Jonah knew, God will let us know if our circumstances are a reproof.

As we start the holiday season, and consider all that you might be thankful for, remember to be thankful for God’s love. Sometimes that feels like the Lord is providing for all your needs and you know that He is with you no matter what, but it can sometimes feel like getting kicked off the boat in the middle of the sea. Regardless of your circumstances, God still loves you and is always working to draw you to Him.

Revelation 3:14-22

Message to Laodicea The last of the seven cities, Laodicea (modern Eski-hisar, "the old fortress"), lay about 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia, and 90 miles east of Ephesus. It was "one of the wealthiest cities in the world” that specialized in banking, producing black woolen cloth, and health care.

*Pattern

Description of Christ

Commendation

Condemnation/Criticism

Exhortation

Promise to Overcomers

*This church received no commendation; a fact that makes this letter unique compared to the other six.

This passage contrasts wealth and poverty to help the church at Laodicea understand their true situation.

*How could people whose major achievements to date included the wheel and the nail (Maybe a few other comforts) consider themselves rich?

As of September 30, 2015 there are 545 billionaires in the U.S. How are their lives different from the people who lived in Laodicea?

Is there a danger that those of us who have something less than a billion dollars could say “I am rich and have need of nothing”?

Christ advises the Laodiceans to get these white garments eye salve to anoint their eyes so that they can see. What is he talking about here?

V19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.

How does God reprove and discipline those He loves? Does it feel like love when God disciplines you? 

Revelation 3:7-13

Message to Philadelphia

Rev 3:7-13

Key of David – Christ’s total authority – Hezekiah’s servant

Isaiah 22:20-23

I know your deeds. Do you ever think about Jesus knowing your deeds? When does it occur to you that Jesus is watching? Do you think of Him as looking over your shoulder, walking beside you, cheering you on, or like the little angel on your shoulder saying “do right”?

God put an open door in front of the people of the church at Philadelphia. Why does it say He gave them this opportunity? – You have a little power, kept my word, not denied my name.

Several Promises – What are they?(I will)

We have lots of opportunities. At work I get invitations every day to attend events. They are always having something for the students and faculty is invited to death. I also get opportunities to do things in the community. I’ve served on the Leadership Texarkana board, I’ve worked with the city staff on an economic impact study, and I served on the Red Cross board for a while. I also have plenty of opportunities to do stuff here at church. There is always something going on that could be considered an opportunity. Question: How can I tell the difference between an opportunity to do something and an open door that Jesus has put in my path?

I think that it helps me choose which opportunities I should take when I remember that Jesus knows my deeds.

Revelation 2:18-29

Message to Thyatira

Thyatira was the smallest and least significant of the seven cities, but it was the one that received the longest letter.  This town stood about 45 miles to the southeast of Pergamum. It was famous for its textiles, but especially for its production of purple dye (cf. Acts 16:14), and its trade guilds. According to extant records, there were more trade guilds in Thyatira than in any other Asian city. There were trade guilds for clothiers, bakers, tanners, potters, linen workers, wool merchants, slave traders, shoemakers, dyers, and copper smiths. Thus it was a business center. 

How does Jesus describe himself?

"Son of God" emphasizes Jesus Christ's deity and His right to judge. This is the only use of this title in Revelation. Flame-like "eyes" suggest discerning and severe judgment. "Burnished (highly reflective) bronze" feet, in this context, picture a warrior with protected feet (cf. 1:15; Dan. 10:6).

What was the church commended for?

love and faith and service and  perseverance – Growing and getting better!

What do you think the church might have been doing to demonstrate love, faith, service, and perseverance?

What was the criticism?

Tolerance! Of Jezebel leading others to acts of immorality and idolatry.

How can the church be growing in their love, faith and service, and also be tolerating these acts of immorality and idol worship?

Exhortation

hold fast until I come

This is the first mention in Revelation of the Lord's coming for the church, the Rapture

Promise to overcomers

to him I will give authority over the nations; ²⁷ and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; ²⁸ and I will give him the morning star (Rev 22:16)

Going back to Jesus description of Himself as the Son of God – He has received the authority from His Father to give authority to whom he wants to give authority.

Revelation 2:12-17

Message to Pergamum

Pergamum was the center for many pagan religious cults.

Description of Christ Two edged sword

Commendation - The Pergamum Christians had held firmly to their commitment to Jesus Christ and their witness for Him, even though they lived in one of Satan's strongholds. What kinds of challenges do you think the Pergamum believer’s faced? Do you see any strongholds for Satan in our community? Where?

Criticism - some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. ¹⁵ So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Are we in danger of adopting false teaching? How would Satan try to worm his way in?

Exhortation REPENT! What is the first step in repenting?

Potential Judgement Christ will make war against you with the sword of  his mouth – Judgement.

Promise to overcomers

A white stone represented a vote of acquittal or a favorable vote. Victors in contests or battles also received a white stone. Perhaps God will elevate the overcomer to the position of ruler over the earth, and will give him or her a new name, as He did for Joseph, Abraham and Jacob. The "name" on that stone is "new" in the sense of being different, not new in contrast to what is old. However, the "name" is probably that of "Christ" (cf. Phil. 2:9). It is "unknown" to others ("which no one knows but he who receives it"), in the sense that others who are not overcomers do not possess it.