Preacher: Caleb Ogle

Theme: Abiding With Christ

Text: John 15:1-8

Notes:

1. Jesus is the true vine
   • John 15:1a, “I am the true vine”
   • 2 Peter 1:2-4

2. God the Father is the vinedresser
   • John 15:1b, “my Father is the vinedresser”
   • John 15:2a, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,”
     • This does not refer to those who have put their faith in Him, but those who have made a false profession and yet bear no real fruit
       • 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith”
       • Matthew 16:7, “You will recognize them by their fruits.”
   • John 15:2b, “and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
     • This refers to those things in our lives which prevent us from bearing fruit, or from bearing fruit abundantly
3. We are the branches
   • John 15:5, “you are the branches.”
   • Are you abiding with God:
     • At church?
     • At work?
     • At home?
   • If you are abiding in Christ, Christ will bear fruit through you
   • How will you cooperate with God’s will so that he might do this?

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Suffering 101

Text:

• James 1:5-8
• 2 Corinthians 3:18

Notes:

4 Stabilizing Truths

1. God’s love for you will never change
   • If you don’t believe this then it will be hard to believe that God is working for your good
   • God’s love for you is based on the work of Christ–so it is unchangeable
   • You didn’t earn God’s love–so you can’t un-earn it either
   • Proverbs 3:11-12
   • Jeremiah 31:3
2. God’s purpose for you is Christ-likeness
   • If you don’t understand this you will be tempted to work at purposes against God’s purpose
   • 3 John 4
   • Romans 8:28
3. God’s word is the final right answer
   • 2 Timothy 3:15-17
   • If you don’t believe God’s word is authoritative in your life you will seek or accept solutions against what God’s word says
4. God’s grace for you is sufficient
   • Philippians 2

Growth works by you
reading and understanding Scripture
and consistently applying it
to every trial in your life.

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Preacher: Dr. Charles Surrett

Theme: Finding God In Time of Trouble

Text: Job 23

Notes:

Our tendency is often to prematurely and incorrectly diagnose both problems and their solutions–and when they ought to be solved.

We often think, like the disciples, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?”

• Christ came to earth because He cared
• He took on flesh because He cared
• He went to Calvary because He cared
• “He is despised and rejected of men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. ” –Isaiah 53:3

1. Find God’s Work
   • Job 23:8-9, “I can’t see Him…I can’t perceive Him….”
   • When we can’t seem to find God, it is not with God but with our perception
   • God is always at work in your life
   • We must learn to cooperate with what God is trying to accomplish in our life
2. Find God’s Wisdom
   • Job 23:10, “When He has tried me….”
   • God is omniscient
   • God knows what you are going through
   • When we pray we are not giving God new information
   • Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses….”
   • Our perception of what is happening in trials is limited by the capabilities of our human understanding
   • God knows if we should be delivered from a problem, and if so, how and when
     
3. Find God’s Way
   • Job 23:11, “His way have I kept….”

4. Find God’s Word
   • Job 23:12, “I have treasured the words of His mouth, More than my necessary food.”
   • All of our human companions may fail us–but God’s word will never fail
5. Find God’s Will
   • Job 23:13-14, “For He performs what is appointed for me”
   • God’s will for our lives is good–even if that involves suffering

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