Rockport Baptist Church

To become what we are, God's people need to understand who they are as God's holy temple, where God's Spirit dwells.

Embracing the good life means embracing meekness. This is the mindset that says, "I am not enough" and positions our heart to receive from God. When we set aside our reliance on what we think we know, what we think we can do, and how we think we will gain life, we are ready for the good life God gives as he makes us more like Jesus. This life comes to us as we meekly receive wisdom, meekly receive power, and meekly receive rescue.

Because there are many who seek to undermine or "update" our Faith in Christ in a way that would pervert it into something other than the biblical Gospel given by God, we must fight to hold on to this faith and defend it against all efforts to dilute or change it. I. The Reason Jude Has to Write this Difficult Letter v 3a II. We Must Contend for the Ancient Faith of the Gospel v 3b III. The Danger Comes from Those Who Want to Pervert this Gospel Faith v 4

Because our faith is always under attack, we must stand firm in it, knowing Who we are and to Whom we belong that we may contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints. I. The Identity of Jude: Who is this man? v 1a II. The Identity of the Christian: Who are we as believers? v 1b III. The Prayer of Jude: What does he pray our lives will be filled with? v 2

Because God knows us so completely, we ought to submit ourselves to his heart-searching gaze that our sin might be exposed and we might be led into a life of greater holiness. I. God Truly Does Know Us Through and Through! v 1f II. God's Knowledge of Me Can Be Used to Change Me! v 23 III. The Goal of God's Gracious Gaze in Our Lives Is the Sweet Grace of Repentance!. v 24

Because God has proven his faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah, we should trust Him and celebrate Him for the salvation Christ has won. I. Zechariah Praises God for Keeping His Ancient Promise of Salvation vv 67-75 (1) God has taken action as He promised vv 68-69 a. He has visited b. He has redeemed c. He has raised up (2) God has done what He promised through the prophets vv 70-73 a. He is the God who speaks v 70 b. He is the God who saves v 71 c. He is the God who keeps His covenant promises vv 72-73 (3) God has saved us into a life of fellowship and service vv 74-75 II. Zechariah is Amazed that God would use his son to prepare the way for Messiah vv 76-77 III. Zachariah's Joyful Declaration of God's Deep Mercy in Sending the Savior vv 78-79

Because of God's gracious gift of a Savior, we can rejoice with Mary in His undeserved mercy. I. Mary Praises God for the Gift of Salvation. vv 46-48 II. Mary Praises God for His Faithful Character vv 49-50 II. Mary Praises God for His Mighty Acts of Salvation! vv 51-53 Con: God is a faithful promise keeping God vv 54-55

Because it is so easy to be distracted by the pressures and pursuits and controversies of this world, we as believers must come back to those things that really matter and form the foundation and center of our faith in Jesus. I. Boast Only in the Finished Work of the Cross v 14 II. Trust Only in the Power of the New Creation v 15 III. Keep Walking in the Blessing of this New Life as God's People v 16 IV. We Who Follow Christ must Bear the Scars that Come from Him v 17 V. Keep Resting in the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ v 18

Because man-centered "show" religion is hypocritical and powerless to save, our only hope and our only boast must be in the finished work of Jesus on the cross I. Paul's Passionate Warning to his friends in Galatia v 11 II. Paul warns them to Watch Out for the Empty, "Show Religion" of the Legalists vv 12-13 (1) This kind of religion is all for show (2) This kind of "show religion" is motivated by a desire to avoid persecution (3) This kind of "show religion" leads to boasting in self, and yet brings no change of heart III. The Christian's Only Boast and Only Hope is in the Finished Work of Christ on the Cross! v 14 (1) The cross is the only thing worth boasting about for the Christian! (2) The Cross has changed everything, bringing new life in union with Christ!

Because we belong to Christ by faith and are led by His Spirit, we must continue to follow Him in the good works He produces within us, no matter the opposition, with confidence that it will be worth it when he reward us in the end.

Those who keep in step with God's gracious Spirit will follow Him in a life of open-handed generosity and holiness that refuses the fleshly self-centeredness that brings God's judgement, and instead will reap the grace-given reward of eternal life.

God made men to be strong and to use our strength for the good of others. Particularly in the home, husbands and fathers must recognize our critical role in leading our families to worship the Lord. If we fail to lead well, we fail to love well. Drawing on a number of passages, the message is a call to own our role and lead in family worship.

Because we belong to Christ and live by His Spirit, we must follow Him in a life of service to others, rather than a life of self-centered pride that judges and condemns others, knowing we will one day stand before Him. I. Be a Burden-Bearer for Others as You Walk in Christ-like Love. v 2 II. Don't be a Selfie-Stick Christian with Eyes Focused on You. v 3 II. Evaluate yourself with the Mirror of God's Word, rather than Nit-picking others with a Magnifying Glass of Self-Righteousness. vv 4-5

As those who belong to Christ and walk by the Spirit, we are called to care for one another's needs by restoring those who sin and helping each other bear life's heavy burdens I. When your Brother or Sister stumbles into sin, Go after them! Restore them! v 1 II. When your Sister or Brother has a heavy burden to carry, help them carry it! v 2a III. This is "Love in Action" that fulfills the Law of Christ! v 2b

The devil is a liar, and one of his most common lies is that God is not good – or, at least, not good to us. In this passage, James points us to a world full of goodness to demonstrate that God is not merely good, but is lavishly good, reliably good, freely good, and victoriously good.

Because every person is made with loving care by God who knows them from the womb, we must understand that every little life is precious to God and resist the heinous evil of abortion. I. The Precious Value of Every Little Life Made by God Psa 139:13-18 II. The Biblical and Historical Opposition of God's People to the Heinous Crime of Abortion III. "For Such a Time as This": Our Moment to Stand Against the Evil of Abortion.

Because we have been united to Christ in His death to sin and given new life by the indwelling Spirit, we can have victory over our sin by following the Spirit's lead day by day. I. We have a New Identity with Christ that Gives Us Power over Sin v 24 II. We must Keep Following the Holy Spirit Who is leading us into this New Life. v 25 III. We have a Precious Fellowship that must be Protected as We Follow Him v 26

Practical advice for men in bringing up children, preparing yourself to bring up children, helping others bring up children

Because the Spirit of Christ lives in us to produces the power of Christ-like holiness in our lives, we must give ourselves to following Him in the power of this new life I. This is the Power of Christ's Own Life in Us to Bring Us to Holiness vv 22-23a II. This Fruit Brings a Power for Holiness that is Greater than the Law v 23b

The eternal purposes of God are the foundation for his gospel message. He was rich in mercy and great love for us before he created anything! When we were dead in our sins and unable to save ourselves he made us alive with Christ. We will be seated with Jesus in the heavens. The eternal ages will show the riches of his grace toward us. We are saved solely by his grace and not by our works. But, he has saved us to do good works which he has ordained for us beforehand.