week 2
December 11, 2016
Scott Simmerok
lead pastor
PREPPING YOUR HEART In him was LIFE, and that LIFE was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5
How is Jesus life? 1. Jesus is _____________________ life. “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life….” John 1:3-4
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:15-17
2. Jesus is _______________________ life: the ability to have a relationship with God.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6
What keeps people from opening their hearts to Jesus? 1. They remain _________________________ of Jesus’ identity. “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31
3. Jesus is ____________________ life. “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” John 17:3 “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:2-4
Prepping my heart means . . . 1. To ___________________ Jesus is God’s Son. 2. To ________________ Jesus as my Savior and Lord.
2. Their __________________ – “God can’t love me.” “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” John 3:19-20
3. The darkness ___________________ – “Why would God allow…?” “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5 Jesus brings life to a 12-year-old girl barely dead.
Mark 5:39-42
Jesus brings life to a widow’s son during the funeral.
Luke 7:14-15
Jesus brings life to Lazarus already buried, stiff, and decaying. John 11:43
3. To ________________ Jesus is the only way to relationship with God. 4. To __________ in friendship with Christ today and for eternity. “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:10-12
Jesus can bring life to anyone, no matter the depth of darkness or death they have experienced. ~ Jesus invites you to get up and come to him to find life.