Church 12/4/2021
Offertory scripture:
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%205:1-2&version=NKJV
Sermon message: God loves those with limited means
(Christmas series, part 2)
Point #1: the Christmas story says God loves people with limited means
Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again to pay the price for our sins, because we can’t. We have limited means. We all have limited means. Therefore we all need God’s help.
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Luke 18:18-27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2018:18-27&version=NKJV
Focus verse from the above passage:
But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
Luke 18:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2018:27&version=NKJV
What is impossible with people is possible with God.
Jesus to a religious leader, Nicodemus:
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
John 3:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:5-7&version=NKJV
A human cannot pay his own price for sin. He needs to be born again.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:16&version=NKJV
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=NKJV
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:6&version=NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8&version=NKJV
Grace is a free gift from God.
God loves people of limited means.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:9&version=NKJV
Point #2: the Bible shows that God loves people with limited means
From Genesis through Revelation, there are examples as such.
Gideon (when God calls him)
David (God chooses him over all his brothers)
The woman who gave a prophet the last of food she had
Peter and John — religious leaders called them ignorant. But they had Jesus.
Mary Magdalene
God loves people with limited means, those in which God is all they have.
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:13&version=NKJV
Point #3: A story within the Christmas story says God loves people with limited means
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
Luke 2:8-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%202:8-17&version=NKJV
Point #4: God sees everyone
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Luke 2:8-9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%202:8-9&version=NKJV
And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a loyal heart:
2 Chronicles 19:9 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Chronicles%2019:9&version=NKJV
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=NKJV
Point #5: God wants all to be saved and blessed
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
Luke 2:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%202:10&version=NKJV
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:4&version=NKJV
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2011:28&version=NKJV
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=3%20John%201:2&version=NKJV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2010:10&version=NKJV
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=NKJV
Point #6: God wants us to share the good news
Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
Luke 2:17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%202:17&version=NKJV
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:11-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Romans%2010:11-14&version=NKJV
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