DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Sermon Series: Christmas

Sermon Title: Love

Sermon Text: 1 John 4:7-12

Sermon Points:

1. Where does love come from?

2. What does love look like?


Daily Devotional Guide

Love is probably the most misunderstood word in the English language. Many use it to mean acceptance or even celebration. In the Bible, it means something else. If there's one word in this week's passage that helps us to better understand the true meaning of love it's propitiation. Propitiation isn't really misused. It's not used at all. When's the last time you heard someone say propitiation who wasn't preaching a sermon at the moment? 

Propitiation means that God's perfect and just wrath has been satisfied. We deserved God's punishment but Jesus took it in our place. Now that's love. Love is more than a feeling. It's self-sacrifice for the good of another. Dig down to the root system of Christmas and that's what you'll find. 

Jesus didn't take on flesh to affirm us or celebrate us in our sin. No, he came to kill the sin that killed us so that we can have eternal life. 


Love serves. 


Love leads. 


And love bleeds. 


When you think of the birth of Christ this year, think of God the Father sending God the Son to die for his people. That's true love. 


Monday - Romans 3:1-8

Tuesday - Romans 3:9-20

Wednesday - Romans 3:21-31

Thursday - Romans 5:1-11

Friday - Romans 5:12-21

Saturday - Romans 8:1-30

Sunday - Romans 8:31-39


DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Sermon Series: Christmas

Sermon Title: Why Joy?

Sermon Text: Luke 2:8-14

Sermon Points:

1.) Because Jesus is our strong Savior.

2.) Because Jesus the Messiah is proof that the Father keeps his word.

3.) Because Jesus is both Lord and God. 


Daily Devotional Guide

Someone asked me recently why the Bible often describes angels in militaristic terms. That's a good question and the answer opens our eyes to the severity of what was going on during the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In this week's passage, we see one angel appear to the shepherds. Before too long, that angel is joined by a multitude of angels. But why? If they're just delivering a message, wouldn't one angel do the trick? 


It's true that angels are messengers. But they don't just exist to deliver heavenly mail. Ultimately they, like the rest of us, exist for the glory of God. Sometimes that means sending a message. Other times it means going to battle with their demonic counterparts. That night 2,000 years ago in the field was more than just an announcement. It was a continuation of a war that began shortly after the creation of the universe. 


These heavenly beings did not come to make war with the shepherds. They came to bring them good news about being at peace with God. 


But it wasn't good news for everybody. No, once this announcement was fulfilled it would mark the beginning of the end for the Enemy. He wouldn't take this news lying down. 


That's part of why God sent an army. 


Monday - Genesis 3:1-24

Tuesday - Daniel 10:1-21

Wednesday - Matthew 1:1-25

Thursday - Matthew 2:1-23

Friday - Matthew 4:1-25

Saturday - Revelation 12:1-6

Sunday - 1 John 4:7-12