Ross Road Community Church

SERMON NOTES "God fully welcomes you as a treasure child into His family. David Mephibosheth Adoption Points to consider: How does to doctrine of adoption help us to more fully understand the gospel? How often do you consider that God really, truly loves you and delights in you? What stops you from receiving this? Spend time in prayer asking God to make His love known to you.

SERMON NOTES Gods People Reflect Gods Promise to One Another and the World 1. A Promise to David 2. A Promise Fulfilled 3. A Promise Continued **Points to Ponder:** How does seeing the storyline of Gods grand drama of Scripture help you understand Jesus more clearly? How might God be calling you to become more active in covenant community at Ross Road? Whats holding you back? How and to whom might you reflect more of Gods promise today?

SERMON NOTES God uses the wilderness to make us who He wants us to be Reality #1: Sometimes things go from bad to worse Lesson: Reality #2: Gods protection and presence exist even in the desert. Lesson: Reality #3: Doing the right thing is always the right thing. Lesson: Reality #4: God alone knows how long the wilderness will last. Lesson: Response: Write a psalm or letter to God about your wilderness experience, expressing not only your emotion and pain but also your trust in God.

SERMON NOTES A faithful friend is closer than a brother David Jonathan: Deep Friendship: The friendship of Jesus: Questions to consider: What is the state of your friendships today? How can you become a better friend in your relationships? How can you experience the friendship of Jesus this week? Put this into practice by choosing one way to bless a friend this week.

SERMON NOTES We fight our battles with unconventional weapons 1 Samuel 17 Notes: We fight with unconventional weapons (Ephesians 6:10-18) Put it into practice: Start each day this week with prayer, putting on the armour of God. Picture each piece of armour on your body and reflect on what each piece means for you in the battles you face.

SERMON NOTES God calls the unlikely for His purposes Prayerfully consider: How willing are you to follow Gods call upon your life? Take a piece of paper and write down all of the ways you can think of in which God has called you in your current station in life.

SERMON NOTES Jesus surprising victory enables us to live in a surprising new way Jesus surprising victory A Surprising New Way to Live: A freedom that no one can take away A grander vision of reality An eternity that is full of glory Respond: What do you need to do in response to Jesus victory? Surrender? Worship? Give thanks? How have you or can you enter into this new way of living that Jesus offers?

SERMON NOTES Will you follow King Jesus wherever He leads you? Jesus the King The Divided Crowd The Tears of Jesus Following the King Put it into practice: Spend some time in prayer with Jesus committing yourself to following Him no matter what and admitting/confessing what has been difficult about doing so.

SERMON NOTES Grace is a gift from God that we dont have to earn Put it into practice: Examine your life and note the ways in which you try to earn Gods favour. Write them down and ask God to help you stop striving for acceptance. Spend 15 minutes in silence with God receiving His love for you.

Dont Be a Hypocrite Luke 11:37-54 Love is the truest test of spiritual growth Put it into Practice: Identify someone in your life that is difficult for you to love. What can you do this week to love them well? Are there ways in which you are like a Pharisee and how can you shift your attitude and/or actions to be Christ-like?

A Wee Little Man Luke 19:1-10 True disciples recognize their need for Gods extravagant grace Put it into practice: Are you like Zacchaeus or like the crowd in Luke 19:1-10? Spend some time with God asking Him that question and asking Him to reveal to you where you need his grace in your life. How can you respond wholeheartedly to Jesus?

On Purpose Mark 8:27-38 Art Birch 1) What Jesus MUST do a) What b) Why 2) What would-be disciples must do a) What i) ii) iii) b) Why i) ii) iii) To truly follow Jesus, we must truly grasp what he has done for us. Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you in the way you will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve you; let me live to you who are life itself. Amen. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) Put it into practice: Take some time alone with God to affirm your faith in him as Saviour and Lord AND to ask him to show you how to live fully as his apprentice. If you can, discuss this with a trusted friend. Follow through as God empowers you.

Community Disciplines James 5:12-20 Active discipleship happens in community 5:12: Be Honest in Your Speech 5:13-18: Prayer, Healing, and Confession 5:19-20: Pursuing the Wanderer Put it into practice: Which of the three categories above needs your attention and action this week? How will you take a step of active discipleship? Take some time this week to read through James in one sitting, asking God to reveal to you one way in which your faith can be put into action.

Patient Perseverance James 5:7-11 Active disciples wait patiently for Gods justice Remember Jesus is coming to make all things right (5:7-8) Rely on one another (5:9) Learn from the examples of the past (5:10-11) Put it into practice: Take some time this week to journal/pray about whats challenging for you in life right now. Include some lament to God about the difficulty. Express your trust in Him. Describe your homesickness, that is, your longing for heaven. Then, choose one of the prophets and observe their perseverance in difficulty.

The Perils of Wealth James 5:1-6 Those who hoard wealth will be judged by God. Four Reasons for the Wealthy Landowners to Weep: Their wealth is temporal and subject to the ravages of time They are guilty of a crime against the poor They will be judged and condemned for their selfish use of material goods They have been adding to their material treasure as if the world will go on forever Questions to reflect on: How might we properly reflect on our own use of wealth? What parameters might we use to monitor our thoughts and behaviours regarding money? In what ways can you practice generosity this week?

The Sin of Presumption James 4:13-17 Humble disciples submit everything to Gods plan, including the future James 4:13-17 Application: Seek Gods will - humbly Watch out for greed Boast properly Question for reflection: In what ways do you intentional posture yourself to submit to Gods will for your future?

Our speaker this week shares about his life in Central Asia and the passion he has to see God move in his country, and throughout the world. He encourages us to be risk taking in our obedience to God in sharing His love to everyone. - Watch at: https://vimeo.com/908491375?share=copy

Often, we easily perceive faults or foolishness in others' motives, while we excuse our own actions by assuming good intentions. - Watch at: https://vimeo.com/908437682?share=copy

In his sermon on Colossians 3:1-17, Travis Martens asks us how can we refocus our heart on God as we start the New Year? Because we are made alive in Christ, that should change how we live. - Watch at: https://vimeo.com/908479444?share=copy

True Reality Hebrews 1:1-3; Luke 2 Jesus is the truest and the best Jesus is true joy (Luke 2:10-11) Jesus is true peace (Luke 2:14) Jesus is true hope (Luke 2:28-33) What does worship look like for you this Christmas?