Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: 1 Samuel 25, Ecclesiastes 9

Theme: Abigail

Notes:

A woman who acts with wisdom and faith in God’s promises will rescue others by her godly influence.

“Saul didn’t like God’s plan…that happened a lot in the life of Saul”

Three Lessons From Abigail

1. She had a knowledge of, and a trust in, the character of God
   • She repeatedly invokes God’s name
   • She points David back to God
2. She acted boldly by faith on her knowledge of God
3. She wisely counseled others to trust in the character of God

Live It Out

• Counsel biblically
• Act faithfully
• Respond thoughtfully
• Encourage always

2 Corinthians 1:19-20

For Men:

• Be thankful for the Abigail-influences in your life
• Praise them for their faithfulness
• Do not be like Nabal–harsh, selfish, and foolish

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Luke 7:17-23

Theme: You can face your doubts without deconstructing

Notes:

3 Questions:

1. What is my motive for asking?
   • Do I seek to believe and follow, or do I seek a way out?
2. What evidence do I need to believe?
   • Judas and Peter saw the same evidence, yet came to different conclusions and two different destinies
3. What do I really want?
   • Demas wanted the world; Thomas wanted Christ

John the Baptist sent word to Christ to see if He really was the Messiah

How to Deal With Doubts:

1. Ask for the right reasons
   • Questions and doubts are normal
   • Things That Prompt Doubts:
     • Trauma
     • Difficult Challenges
     • Failure in Responsibilities
     • Introduction to New Worldviews
     • Being Surrounded by Unbelievers at Work/School/Etc
     • Trials
     • Weak Faith
2. Ask the right people
   • Ask those who believe
   • Read the best sources
3. Ask the right questions
   • Assume that there is an answer
     • Everyone starts with a belief system
     • Everyone has preconceptions
     • Everyone starts with motives

Jesus isn’t afraid of your doubts or questions

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Preacher: Caleb Ogle

Text: Hebrews 11:1-12:2

Theme: Live By Faith

Notes:

12:1, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,”

12:2, “looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”

12:3, “Consider him…so that you may not become weary”

Our race is a consistent exertion of effort toward Christ-likeness

Philippians 1:6, “he who began a good work in you will complete it”

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Preacher: Bruce Miller

Text: Ephesians 5:8-16

Theme: Letting Your Light Shine in Darkness

Notes:

• John 8:12, “I AM the light of the world”
• As God’s children we should be imitators of our Father
• Matthew 5:14-15, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men….”
• John 3:19-20, “…light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than light because their works were evil.”
• 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
• Proverbs 4:19
• Romans 13
• Isaiah 5:20
• Romans 6:21-23
• John 1:4-5
• 2 Corinthians 4:6
• John 3:21

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Colossians 2

Theme: How Do I Live In Christ’s Victory?

Notes:

Because we are united with Christ, we share in His victory

Because of Christ’s vicarious sacrifice,
we are not only declared “not-guilty”,
but declared to be righteous
–because Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us

1. Trust the supremacy of Christ
   • Colossians 1:15-20
   • “Firstborn” isn’t a designation of birth order, it is a title
     • John 1:3, “All things were made through Him….”
2. Trust the sufficiency of Christ
   • Colossians 2:9-10, “all the fullness of the godhead dwells in Him”
   • 2:6-7, “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him”
3. Live in solidarity with Christ
   • Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God“
4. Rest secure in Christ
   • Luke 15, three parables of lost things: a lost sheep, a lost coin, a lost son
5. Be sanctified through Christ
   • Colossians 3
6. Shine for Christ
   • 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 25-26, 1 Peter 3

Theme: Dealing with Doubters and Skeptics

Notes:

1. Godly Examples
   • A committed life
     • 1 Peter 3:13-15, “sanctify the Lord in your hearts”
     • Exodus 20, “You shall have no other gods before [besides] me”
       • Is Christ Lord of your finances?
       • Is Christ Lord of your time?
       • Is Christ Lord of every part of your life?
   • A changed life
     • People can discredit or debate your beliefs, but they can’t argue against a changed life
   • A courageous life
     • 1 Peter 3:13-15, “being prepared to make a defense to anyone “
   • A convinced heart
     • 1 Peter 3:13-15, “reason for the hope that is in you”
2. Gracious Experiences
   • Paul tailors his responses to each audience in the book of Acts–while maintaining the truth of the gospel in every case
   • 1 Peter 3:13-15, “with gentleness and respect”
   • The goal is not just to win arguments
   • We treat people with humility and respect
   • Ephesians 4:15, truth AND love
   • Jude 22-23, compassion, mercy
   • Care about the person you are speaking to
   • Gentleness–4x in the pastoral epistles
   • Listen humbly
   • Be gracious when personally attacked
   • Stay focused on the gospel

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Text: Acts 26:1-32

Theme: Dealing with Doubters and Skeptics

Notes:

Matthew 7:14, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life and  those who find it are few.”

Doubters and skeptics needs to see a changed life coupled with a courageous witness.

Some reasons for skepticism

1. People are blind and bound by Satan
   • Acts 26:17-18, “…to open their eyes, so that they may turn…”
   • 1 Corinthians 1:18
   • The Holy Spirit draws blind and bound sinners to Christ by the preaching of the gospel from the Scripture
   • Romans 10:14
   • Acts 17:30
   • Mark 1:15
   • John 6:44
   • Trusting God’s internal work will keep us from 1) watering down the gospel or 2) manipulating people emotionally in order to force a false decision
   • Hebrews 10:26-27, 31
   • Acts 26:20-23
2. Bad examples
   • Agrippa II was used to using religion as a means to obtain wealth and power
   • His experience with the Jewish leaders proved that they were no different than him
3. Bad experiences
   • Jewish historian Josephus records a number of bad experiences between the Jewish leaders and the Roman government
   • In this narrative the Jewish leaders were using their power to attempt to wrongly influence Festus to side with them
   • Christians who rely on politics have lost sight of the main thing–the gospel
4. Bad explanations
   • Syncretism between Christianity and culture

Some remedies for skepticism

1. Godly examples
   • Christ expects that true faith ought to produce true change
   • Unbelievers expect this as well
   • Even if unbelievers don’t believe our doctrine–they can’t deny our changed lives
     • Unless there is no change
   • 1 Peter 3:15

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