Week 1 December 11, 2011 "Zachariah's Response"

Introduction:

"The Best Day of  Your Life"

As we approach 2012, as a church we have set our hearts and minds to "live and love like Jesus." In order to do this, we think it is key to examine up close the life and ministry of Jesus Christ at some length. That investigation begins now! This week we were thrilled to begin our series on "Jesus for Everyone" from the Gospel of Luke. In Luke we will observe  people responding in many different ways to Jesus as well as Jesus' response to them. We will see that Jesus came at the right time and the right place to reach the right people. Who were the right people? Jews and Gentiles, men and women, sick, crippled and healthy, rich and poor, Pharisee and sinner, powerful and powerless. It seems that in Luke, perhaps more so than any other Gospel we see the universal appeal of Christ inviting humanity into the kingdom of God. So what did these people have to do in order to enter God's kingdom? Come along on the journey with us as go back to the land if Israel to get a clearer picture of the man who was the True Israel.

Text: Luke 1:5-25

Sermon Notes:
Pastor Randy focused on the encouraging truths about God's heart for us that we see revealed in the Zachariah narrative:
      1.    He has chosen me (v.9)

o    God loves the "nobodies" of this world, so remain faithful.

2.    He has heard my prayer (v.13)

o    Are there things we have stopped praying for?

Depending on what service you attended you may, or may not, have heard the last two points. Because I know you wished that you could have heard them...here they are!

3.    He has spoken to me (v.19)

4.    He has taken away my disgrace (v.25)

o    Have you received His grace which forgives debts and removes shame?

Devotional Journal:
See http://b4lukejournal.blogspot.com/ for SOAP style journaling from the Gospel of Luke.