Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme:

Text: Psalm 46, 1 Timothy 2

Notes:

The Gospel is for all people in all nations.

The church must pray fervently to our sovereign God that we might
love our neighbors and that they might come to faith.

God’s people ought to pray:

• for all people
• in all levels of authority

Prayer is the God-given and God-desired antidote for:

• ungodly anxiety
• ungodly anger
• ungodly despair

Paul instructs Timothy to make intercessory prayers for wicked men–and it has a historical precedents:

• Abraham prayed for Sodom and Gomorrah
• Moses prayed for Israel

“Any [theological] framework that wants you to pray less for the lost–there is a problem with it.”

• We are to pray for the lost
• We are to proclaim the gospel
• We are to rely on God’s providence

Where can I start?

• Start praying for 2-3 people
• Be ready for opportunities to share the gospel

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: How to View Difficulty God’s Way

Text:

• James 1:2-5
• Genesis 4
• Hebrews 12:2
• Philippians 3:

Notes:

Biblical Patience:

• Resilience of soul
• Steadfast
• Durable

Biblical Maturity:

• Healthy
• Resilient
• Complete
• Perfect
• It is important that we learn to go through trials well, so that God may mature us.

Trials/pain have a unique way of exposing what is truly ruling our hearts:

• What makes you happiest
• What hurts you most
• Trials are excellent times to see and know lurking sins that we otherwise might be blind to
• We must see / know our sin that we may properly confess and repent
• If we refuse to cooperate with what God is doing through trials the pain will have been of no profit to us

“It’s always easier to watch someone else go through trials and to just stay back and be the supporting friend”

A heart ruled by Christ will have the right:

1. Priorities
2. Pursuits
   • What brings you the most happiness?
   • How do you spend your free time?
   • What do I really want
     • What I will do to get it?
     • How will I react when I don’t get it?
   • Are my blessings rightly ordered–or have they become idols?
3. Principles
   • What voice pops in your head when you are making a decision?
   • What do you do when what you desire is at odds with what Scripture says?
   • God will give grace to do what He desires
     • “Lord command what you will, and grant what you command” –Augustine
   • People have a tendency to make commitments based on negative experiences–but those commitments are often at odds with what Scripture commands
4. Protection

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