Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: The Apostle James

Text: John 7:1-9

Notes:

The Apostle James

• aka James the Just
• son of Mary and Joseph
• half-brother of Christ
• head of the Jerusalem church after Peter
• martyred 62 AD

God uses unlikely people to do His will

• God can use who you were–and who you still are–to do His will
• Don’t skip the skeptics when sharing the gospel
  • Even two years into Jesus’s ministry James is still a skeptic
  • CS Lewis was an avowed atheist into his 30s
  • “the hardness of God is softer than the kindness of men”

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: The Fear of the Lord: The appropriate response to a holy God

Text: Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Notes:

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Road Trip: Prayer

Thesis: Prayer is a journey with God
where He chooses the route and the destination
and along the way we get to know Him better

Text: Luke 11:1-13

Notes:

1. Prayer’s Perspective
   • “Our Father”, We are praying to a Father who cares for us
   • “in Heaven”, We are praying to a Father who is control of all things
2. Prayer’s Priorities
   • “Hallowed be your name”, pursue God’s glory and rejoice in God
     •  A person’s name represents their character and who they are
   • “Your kingdom come”
   • “Your will be done”, Christ will empower you to do God’s will
     • God is good, and His will is good
     • Psalm 84, “no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly”
3. Prayer’s Petition
   • “Give us our daily bread”,
     • Supplication – intense prayer / request
     • Intercession – supplication on behalf of others
   • “Forgive us our sins”,
     • God desires to show mercy through forgiveness
     • Those who desire to be like Christ will show mercy through forgiveness
4. Prayer’s Protection
   • “Do not lead us into temptation”, pray God will empower you to resist temptation
5. Prayer’s Patient Persistence
   • God may wait to provide an answer to prayer in order to train your heart through persistence
6. Prayer’s Proof
   • God’s provision for your needs reminds you how much God cares for you in particular

Christ taught this prayer to His disciples while He was in prayer.

Christ’s prayers for us are much greater than our own prayers for ourselves.

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Why Study Your Bible

Text: Psalm 1

Notes:

1. Reasons why people don’t study the Bible
   • Lack of time
     • We will always carve out time for what we think will bring us joy
     • “You don’t have a busyness problem–you have a belief problem” –Melissa Kruger
   • “I don’t understand what I’m reading”
     • The Bible was written in other times, other places, other languages, and other cultures
     • It will take time to understand
     • Even Peter acknowledged that some things that Paul taught were difficult–and they shared time, language, and culture
2. Hindrances to Bible study
   • Wrong goal
     • The goal isn’t just to read
     • The goal is to spend time with God
   • Distractions
     • There are things that can be multitasked–but some things are so important they require our undivided attention
     • Real fellowship requires focus
   • Disobedience
     • If you are running toward sin, it’s going to be hard to want to run toward God
     • “Choose today whom you will serve” –Joshua 24
     • James 1:8, double-mindedness
     • “Sin will keep you from this book or this book will keep you from sin.”
3. Prepare
   • Set a time
   • Set a place
   • Remove distractions
4. Pray
   • Before reading ask God to prepare you to hear His word
     • Is there any sin I am clinging to?
     • Is there any selfishness I am clinging to?
     • Is there anything senseless I am clinging to?
   • Pray for understanding
5. Portion Correctly
   • Don’t read verses in isolation
   • Don’t jump around
   • Read for
     • comprehension
     • application
6. Ponder with Pen and Paper
   • Don’t skip meditation
   • Meditation will help you to understand and apply what you have read
   • It would be better to read and apply a smaller passage than to read a larger passage and not apply it
7. Partner
   • Find a friend to walk this road with you
8. Practical Application
   • Don’t set unrealistic goals
     • If you don’t currently have daily time in the Bible, don’t plan to spend an hour each day
   • Build a good habit
     • Start small and be consistent

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