December 8, 2019

Clearwater Community Church - FL

December 8, 2019

Series: Behold The King :: Human Opposition to God’s King

December 8, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Matthew 2

Passage: Matthew 2:1–23
Theme: Human Opposition to God’s King

Sermon’s Point: God accomplishes his will in the face of opposition from people who reject him.

The Opposition: Even when God is working in powerful ways to accomplish his plan, people will oppose him.
• They simply will not give up their own autonomy and position to submit to God.
• They will even mask their opposition in religious ways.
• They will go to whatever means necessary to prevent God from having his way.

God: No matter the intensity or volume of the opposition, God accomplishes his plan.
• He sees his opponents no matter how well they hide their identity or intentions.
• He preemptively acts to accomplish his purposes.
• He stays true to his word despite the circumstances.
• He typically accomplishes his plan through the most unlikely people.
• He allows human opposition to do horrible things as he works in the context of sin to bring about his salvation.
• He directs his humble servants as they play their role in his grand scheme of redemption.

Will you submit or oppose the God who saves through his coming King?

Application Questions:
1. How are people today opposing God’s plan of salvation within this world? In what ways do you experience this here in your context?
2. From Herod’s example in this text, what motivation do people have to reject God? How do you manifest some of these same attitudes in your own life in reference to God’s will and work?
3. What amazes you about God from this story?
4. How would you answer someone that questioned why God allowed the horrible events depicted in 2:16–18?
5. Are you able to share an experience that you have had that demonstrates God’s direction and protection in your life from those who stand opposed to him?

December 29, 2019

December 22, 2019

December 22, 2019 • Pastor Josh Kee • Revelation 19

“Behold the King” Sermon Series // “The End of our Longing” Passage: Revelation 19 (19:1-5) Heaven’s Hallelujah Song • vv. 1-4 – the elders and living creatures praise God o for his salvation, glory, and power o because his judgments are true and just • v. 5 – the saints (believers) praise God o all those who fear God o includes the great and the small (19:6-10) The Marriage Supper of the Lamb • v. 6 – “Hallelujah!” o because God is Almighty and he reigns o King – sovereign; total authority • vv. 7-8 – Marriage of the Lamb o contrasted to Babylon’s judgment o Union, covenant relationship between Christ and his church • “clothed with fine linen” o the Groom’s (Jesus’) gift to his bride (the church) is his righteousness o this is the grace of the gospel – made righteous in Christ (Romans 3:19-21; Colossians 1:22) • v. 9 – “Blessed are those who are invited” o Luke 14:12-24 o True blessing, lasting possession belongs to those who are united to Christ • v. 10 – Worship God! – proper response to Jesus (19-11-21) The Conquering Christ • v. 11 – Jesus is Faithful and True • v. 13 - Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1; Hebrews 3:1-3) • v. 16 – Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords • vv. 17-18 – “the great supper of God” o a grotesque image of God’s judgment o contrasted to the joy of those at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb • v. 19 – the beast’s futile attempt to wage war against God • vv. 20-21 – Christ’s swift and decisive victory • Fulfillment of Psalm 2 Application: • Entrust yourself to God by faith • Study, meditate on, and contemplate regularly the works of God and allow them to inform your hope, joy, and peace in the present • Align yourself to God – discipleship is essentially the act of continuously re-orienting our lives around the person and work of Jesus Christ and it will progress until Christ returns • Rejoice with the angels in heaven over the goodness and grace of God in Christ! • Speak about these things as you have opportunity Discussion Questions: 1. What is the content of the elders’ praise in Revelation 19:1-6? What motivates your praise of God? 2. Why must we be careful to guard against materialism in our lives? Are there areas in your life where you are prone to long more for the world than for God? How can you guard against living for these things? 3. How does the second advent (coming) of Christ give his verse advent weight and glory? 4. How do the events in life that require waiting, longing, and anticipation help us to learn to long for Christ’s return? Where are you experiencing longing in your life now? How can this be turned to praise as you wait? 5. What is Jesus’ gift to his bride? As we are in a season of gift giving and receiving, how prominent is your excitement about Christ’s gift of righteousness? 6. How does the imagery of Revelation 19:11-21 help us remember why God’s gift of grace in Christ is so precious? How does it motivate us to pray for those who don’t know Christ and speak of his glory and grace where we have opportunity? 7. How does God respond to the threat of opposing armies in verses 20-21? How can this give us hope as we endure life’s various trials? Where are you feeling your hope, joy, or peace being threatened? Remember, God is for you if you are in Christ. He will vindicate his people and we will be blessed when Jesus returns. Take heart!

December 15, 2019

December 15, 2019 • Pastor Phil Burggraff • Revelation 12

Theme: Spiritual Opposition to God’s King Passage: Revelation 12 Scene 1: Signs in Heaven (12:1–6): Satan and the spiritual forces that have aligned with him have continually sought to destroy God’s Messiah and his rule. • God beautifully prepared deliverance for his people through the coming of Messiah even in the midst of difficulty times (12:1–2). • Satan sought destructively to undo all of this by devouring the child (12:3–4). • God has established Messiah’s kingdom by enthroning in heaven through his death, resurrection, and ascension (12:5). • God has a place for his people while they await Messiah’s rule (12:6). Scene 2: Spiritual War in Heaven (12:7–12): Satan has been defeated and cast out of heaven by the enthronement and current rule of Messiah. • Christ’s enthronement as king in the spiritual realm means that Satan has lost his place as the great accuser of God’s people. • Christ’s enthronement as king in the earthly realm means that God’s people stand victorious over Satan in this life … o Through their faith in Christ’s sacrifice o Through their witness to Christ’s victory o Through their giving up their lives for Christ • Christ’s enthronement as king in the earthly realm means that the defeated enemy is enraged and desperate. Scene 3: Spiritual War on Earth (12:13–17): Satan seeks to destroy God’s current plans for his people here on earth. • As hard as he tries, Satan will fail to prevent God’s plans for his people (the church) from happening. • Yet, Satan will continually wage war on the individual people of God. Main Takeaway: True victory in life comes through following God’s enthroned king no matter how difficult that may become. Application Questions: • From this sermon and the understanding of Revelation 12 presented, what do we learn about our spiritual adversary? Including what you know about him from other scriptures, where is he active and what is he trying to do? • How is this message and the content of Revelation 12 scary to you? • How is this message and the content of Revelation 12 encouraging to you? • From the content of this chapter, how is Satan defeated in both the spiritual and physical realms? • What does this passage call believers in Christ today to do? What does/should this look like in your life?