daddy4ms

Introduction : Joy.  It is a word that we hear often during this time of year.  We even sang about it this morning. We read it often throughout Scripture and especially with the announcement of Jesus birth. It is a fruit of the Spirit. “An attitude God’s people adopt not because of happy circumstances but because of their hope in God’s love and promise.” (The Bible Project) What brings you joy? Discourage vs. 5-7,18,24-25 ·          Christmas time is typically a time of joy, but for many it is a time of discouragement. ·          What causes discouragement in you? It might be a friendship, a strained relationship in family, a loss of job, a loss of a loved one, frustrations at work or school, health issues, COVID. ·          Zechariah and Elizabeth are experiencing discouragement as well. o    Vs. 7-They had no children & They were advanced in years o    Vs. 18-I’m old and my wife is advanced in years o    Vs. 25-Take away reproach (disgrace or state of dishonor, sham

  Introduction: Carol Conner Why don’t we pray? Some answers: we don’t know what to say, what if we don’t hear, what if we don’t like what we hear, we don’t have time, I’m not good at it, I can’t pray like… We have an Enemy who does not want us praying.   Stop feeling guilt, shame, and condemnation for the reasons we don’t pray and recognize that Satan will lie to you and do everything to keep the church from praying together. See (vs. 5-6) ·          Vs. 5-The Problem: It’s all about them and being seen by others o    Hypocrites- those who profess to do a pious action, but do so with their eye on people... [1] ·          Vs. 6-Solution: Secret Place. Matthew Penner talked about this last Sunday. We need to abide and be with Jesus in the Secret Place.   It is not out of obligation, but from relationship. ·          Not a rule against praying in public or in groups Hear (vs. 7-8) ·          Vs. 7-The Problem: It’s all about them and being heard by others o    Gentile

Introduction: The title for today’s sermon comes from a song recorded in 1966 by Buddy Holly and the Crickets and then the Bobby Fuller Four.  It basically repeats this line over and over “I fought the law and the law won.” It was a song about rebellion.  In today’s passage we see Jesus explaining our relation to the law.  We typically respond to the law in one of two ways: work really hard to keep it (old brother in the parable) or rebel against it (younger brother) which leads to either pride or despair.  As older brothers, we think we are pulling it off and/or judge others who are not as spiritual as us OR as younger brothers, we acknowledge we can’t do it based on our past or repeated mistakes and just give up.  Jesus provides a third option that is great news. Complete (vs. 17-18) ·          Law (The Torah or first five books of the Bible) or the Prophets (Major & Minor) o    Basically a description of the entire Old Testament o    We understand the Old Testament bette