Introduction

• Philippians 4:8

A word about meditation

• I’m not talking about anything weird.
  • Psalms 1:2 vs. Genesis 6:5
• Meditation is a lost art
  • Joshua was very busy, but he was instructed to meditate to help with his problems.
  • Genesis 24:63; Joshua 1:7-9; Psalms 63:1-7
  • When is the last time you had quiet time to just think?
  • Psalms 4:4
  • Psalms 77:12
  • Psalms 119:78, 148
  • Psalms 143:5
  • Psalms 145:5
  • When should I meditate? Any time!

God is my Creator

• Psalms 33:6-9
• Proverbs 3:19
• Psalms 104:19-35

Jesus loved me enough to die for me.

• John 1:14
• Hebrews 2:14, 17
• Philippians 2:5-8
• John 15:12-13 – Jesus’ love motivates me to love.

I have an eternal soul.

• Genesis 1:26-27
• John 4:24
• Ecclesiastes 12:7
• Zechariah 12:1
• Hebrews 12:9; 9:27
• Romans 8:16-18 – Our time on earth is so short compared to eternity!

Luke 2

• This is the time that all followers of God were looking forward to.
• Overview of the chapter:
  • Luke 2:1-7 – Birth of Jesus
  • Luke 2:8-20 – Reception of the shepherds
  • Luke 2:21-24 – Sacrifices at the temple
  • Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon
  • Luke 2:36-40 – Anna
  • Luke 2:41-52 – Jesus in the temple
• Luke 2:1-7
  • Bethlehem means, “house of bread” and Jesus was described as the bread of life.
  • Rome was at peace at this time and Rome was roughly at the peak of its power. It was a massive transportation hub, which suited God’s purpose perfectly.
  • This was a fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 2:44.
• Luke 2:24 – Jesus’ earthly parents were not wealthy – they had to offer the “back-up” offering for those that could not afford a lamb. Goin gto pay the tax levied against them would have been especially burdensome.
• Luke 2:7 – This was an enormously humble birth. A manger (feeding trough) was not a clean place for a baby!
• Luke 2:14 – Even the heavenly host were excited about the coming of Jesus!
• Luke 2:21 – Mary and Joseph were both told independently that the baby’s name would be Jesus.
• Luke 2:22 – See Leviticus 12.
• Luke 2:24 – The fact that Mary offered a sacrifice and had to go through purification contradicts the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Introduction

• Colossians 2:12
• Galatians 3:27

Why do y’all talk about baptism so much?

• Mark 7:1-8 – Why did Jesus talk about hypocrisy or tradition so much?
• Baptism did not seem controversial in the New Testament. We don’t have records of anyone believing in Jesus and then balking at being baptized.
• Mark 16:15-16
• Acts 2:38
• Romans 6:3-4
• I Peter 3:21

What about all the other verses?

• Things involved in salvation:
  • Titus 3:4-6 – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
  • Ephesians 2:-5 – Mercy, love, and grace
  • Romans 8:24 – Hope
  • Ephesians 2:13-16 – Blood and cross of Christ
  • Romans 5:10 – Resurrected life of Christ
  • Acts 4:10-12 – Name of Christ
  • Romans 1:16 – Gospel
  • Romans 10:14-15 – Inspired preachers
  • John 8:32 – Truth
  • Matthew 17:5 – Reception of the gospel (hearing, reading)
  • Romans 5:1 – Faith
  • II Corinthians 7:10 – Repentance
  • Romans 10:9 – Confession and belief
  • I Peter 3:21 – Baptism
  • James 2:24 – Works
  • Revelation 2:10 – Endurance
• All these verses are true at the same time!

What about Ephesians 2?

• Ephesians 2:8-10
• Hebrews 11:4-5, 7-9, 11, 17, 20-24, 27-33 – These people took action because of their faith.
• Salvation is a gift from God, but we must obey His instructions in order to receive it.
• John 6:28-29 – Belief here was listed as a work.
• This passage is teaching against the idea of trying to save yourself.

Introduction

• Genesis 2:18

Companionship, part 2

I am here for you and always will be

• In the Bible, marriage is important and permanent.
• Matthew 19:3-12 – God’s marriage law has been the same from the beginning.
• Malachi 2:14
• Hebrews 13:5-6 – God is here for us and always will be.
• Romans 8:33
• Hosea 2:2, 7-13; 6:4 – God portrays Himself as a heartbroken husband to Israel.

My priority is to know you and share my life with you.

• The Bible doesn’t always use the word “marriage” to refer to marriage. It often uses descriptive phrases:
  • Genesis 2:24
  • Deuteronomy 24:2
  • Deuteronomy 7:3
  • Ezekiel 16:8
  • I Corinthians 7:2
  • Romans 7:3
• Deuteronomy 24:5 – Under the Law of Moses, a newlywed man had one year at home with his wife with no responsibilities or military deployments that took him away from home.
• I Corinthians 7:32-35
• I Corinthians 9:5
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
• Proverbs 18:22

You can trust me with your deepest feelings.

• James 5:16
• Proverbs 17:9 – Once a sin is dealt with, stop bringing it up!
• I Corinthians 13:4-7

Introduction

• Jonah 1:1-2
• Obadiah 1:1
• If Jonah had done what God asked, we might only have a single chapter like Obadiah.

I need to love souls like God does.

• Jonah 1:3-15
• It was about a month’s journey to get to Ninevah.
• Jonah 4:1-2 – Jonah was displeased that God was not destroying them! He didn’t want to go because he was afraid God would forgive them. This was a terrible attitude!
• While God is not afraid to punish sin, He always prefers salvation.
• Jonah 4:5-11 – Jonah’s priorities were all wrong. He cared for the plant, but did not care about 120,000 people!

Distress should help me turn to the Lord.

• Jonah 1:15-17
• Jonah 2:1-10 – In the water, Jonah thought he would die, but God sent a fish to save him.
• Sometimes hitting rock bottom is the only thing that will wake us up.

If the Ninevites could repent, so can I!

• Jonah 3:4-10
• Jonah 1:2 – These were wicked people!
• Nehemiah 1:1; 3:1
• The Ninevites even recorded their own cruelty in their history, amputating, impaling, and skinning prisoners.
• Matthew 12:41
• We should never feel like we’ve don’t anything so bad God can’t forgive us.