First Baptist Lenoir City

The Main Points will be as follows:1. The Bible is a Story about God.2. The Bible is the story of a God who makes a Promise.3. The Bible is the story of a God who makes a Promise about a Person.4. The Bible is the story of a God who makes a Promise about a Person who creates a People.5. The Bible is the story of a God who makes a Promise about a Person who creates a People to live in a Place with Him forever.

I. The Gloom of Our Sin - II. The Glory of Our Savior - III. A Jet Tour Through Isaiah:Isaiah 1:1-17, 18-20Isaiah 6:1-8 (John 12:36-41)Isaiah 7:14Isaiah 26:3Isaiah 40:1-5, 28-31Isaiah 53:1-12Isaiah 55:1-2, 8-9Isaiah 59:1-2Isaiah 64:6

“Being a Sound Senior Saint” (Sound doctrine produces sound faith) Titus 2:1-5 I. The Army of the Aged - 2:1-5 1. “Older men”… The essential examples of pastors and senior adults! • Being temperate - moderate, balanced, sober-minded • Being dignified - depth of character, worthy of respect • Being sensible - rational, wise, calming influence, avoids extremes • Being sound in faith - trusting in God, relying on God’s Word, through thick and thin, in the ups and downs • Being sound in love - a patient love, a kind love, a humble love, a selfless love, a truthful love, a hopeful love, an enduring love • Being sound in perseverance - don’t let go, don’t give up, don’t stay down after getting knocked down - Matthew 24:14

I. God is seeking, God is the initiator - John 4:10-26 II. Believers must share the Good News - John 4:27-38 III. Jesus sees your deepest secrets and offers himself, the Living Water The call for you this morning:1. have you given your life to Jesus?2. if you have given your life to Jesus, do you still see yourself in light of your sin?3. who are you bringing to Jesus?

= A New Testament Pastor is a Shepherd (points to his task)= A New Testament Pastor is an Overseer (points to his authority)= A New Testament Pastor is an Elder (points to his maturity) = Hebrews 13:7; 17 - congregation to pastor and pastor to congregation. I. Intensity & Intentionality Required - 1. Flee - Run from the wrong things 2. Pursue - Run to the right things 3. Fight the good fight (I Tim 6:11-12) 4. PO/PO - Ephesians 4 5. Flee - James 4:7 • We run away from sin (sanctification), but Satan runs away from you (submission) II. The Shepherds as Bond-Servants: 1. “Must not be” - “quarrelsome.” • I Timothy 2:8; 3:3; 6:4 • Titus 3:2; Titus 3:9 • II Timothy 2:14; 2:23; 2:24 2. “Must be” - Serving & Discerning • Kind to everyone - (leads to repentance - Romans 2:4) • Able to teach - unique word here and I Timothy 3:2. Ezra 7:10, The hand of the Lord is upon him because He SET HIS HEART to (3): Rigorous study; Regular obedience; Robust teaching. • Not resentful - (patient when wronged). Many commentators noted that this is one of the most difficult challenges of a pastor. What is the key to being faithful to this verse? Making sure ministry is about His Name; His Word; His Will. It’s not about us. • Correcting opponents w/ gentleness - (correcting carefully) - Look to Joseph of Genesis and Jesus of Nazareth! Genesis 50:20; I Peter 2:21-23 3. Must Trust God when correcting: We must trust God to change people - We follow His commands • God will grant them repentance • God will lead them to the knowledge of the truth • They will come to their senses - • They will escape from the trap of the devil - “who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Grace-Driven StudyGrace-Driven SanctificationGrace-Driven Shepherding= 5 Encouragements from Paul: being honorable; being holy; being useful; being ready; having a pureheart= The LAST words from LAST week - 2:19, “depart from iniquity” - still on that theme: How do you read that? How can it be read? Is it harsh or isit hopeful? We can depart from sin! We don’t have to stay in bondage. We don’t have to live in our past.I Cor. 6:9-11 is the main passageI Thess. 4:3-5; I Peter 1:14-16I. Being Honorable - 2:20II. Being Useful - 2:21III. Being Decisional - 2:22

I. The Language of Life & Faith - Jesus uses physical realities to picture spiritual truths. 1. You must be born-again, John 3:1-8 2. You must drink Water-John 4:1-15 3. You must eat Bread-John 6:22-40 4. You must drink Blood-John 6:41-60 5. You must know Who Jesus is - John 6:60-71 I Corinthians 11:23-26

The Vision of Cornelius (vv. 1-8)Peter's Vision (vv. 9-16)The Visitors (vv. 17-23)The Breakthrough (vv. 23b-35)The Gospel of Peace (vv. 36-43)

Montana Mission Trip Recap begins at 28:24.

Pray for God's guidanceFind some common ground (don't set up barriers)Meet them where they areExplain who God is and what He is likeHe is CREATORHe CARES for each of usHe wants to be KNOWN by usHe gives us our PURPOSEHe will JUDGE USAt each step, look for ways to connect even deeper with themPresent them with a decision to make (repent or reject)Expect one of three different responsesSome will make fun of youSome will want to hear moreSome will believe

CHRIST: II Timothy 2:10 (Philippians 2:1-11) Last? Paul learned to be others-centered! CONTEXT: Paul writes first to Timothy. These three verses are personal; they are powerful; they are problematic.I. The Impact of the Gospel is Past, Present, & Future: Condition & Promise  1. IF WE DIED (past tense) - conversion language; Jesus died for us; We died with Him; In Adam or In Christ; Luke 9:23; Romans 6:1-8, 11; Galatians 2:20 (“Were you there”); Colossians 3:1-3  2. WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM (future tense) - see 4:8  3. If we can look back with confidence, then we can look forward with assurance -  4. IF WE ENDURE (Bear up under much pressure; under a load); Jesus endured to the end; Paul endured to the end (lion’s mouth); All of God’s people will endure; Matthew 24:14; Possess the endurance of a soldier; Possess the endurance of an athlete; Possess the endurance of a farmer!  • WE WILL ALSO REIGN WITH HIM (future tense) - right now counts forever! Great motivation to persevere under the pressure of persecution; I Cor 6:2-3; Rev 3:21; 20:4, 6 (The Millennium)  5. IF WE DENY/DISOWN HIM (negative promise but a promise nonetheless); Have you ever had momentary failures; Failing to speak; Failing to be silent; Timidity sets in; Shame enters in; Don’t take the Lord’s Name in vain (much more than coarse words); means to live in a way that misrepresents the One we claim to believe in - the One we claim to love; We can’t call ourselves Christ-followers and live any way we want; Is this falling from grace? AWOL - Loss of the pride of fighting? Loss of the prize? Loss of the crops? Denied joy, power, prayer (Ps 68:18); forfeiting much blessing  •HE WILL DENY US - “I never knew you”? Matthew 7:21-23;  6. IF WE ARE FAITHLESS (not false faith, but a faulty faith) - I Timothy 1 - “I am sure if your sincere faith”; 2:4 - don’t get “entangled”;  • HE REMAINS FAITHFUL - Hebrews He is not ashamed of us; Jesus predicted Peter’s denials AND He predicted Peter’s restoration!  • FOR HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF -

3 Key Words: Calling, Character, & Convictions! 1. For all Deacons - I Timothy 3:8-16 (see 3:1 “likewise”) 2. For Jason Benson - I Timothy 4:12 I. 9 Ways to Guard the Gospel: 1. By strength in God’s grace - v. 1 2. By training God’s pastors - v. 2 3. By sufferings w/ God’s blessings - vv. 3-6 4. By understanding God’s calling - v. 7 5. By remembering God’s King - v. 8 6. By courage in God’s will - v. 9a 7. By confidence in God’s Word - v. 9b a. Paul - II Timothy 3:16-17 b. Peter - II Peter 1:16-21 1. By Understanding the conditions of salvation - vv. 11-13 (1) THIS IS A TRUSTWORTHY STATEMENT • IF WE DIED WITH HIM, then WE WILL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM • IF WE ENDURE, then WE WILL REIGN WITH HIM • IF WE DISOWN/DENY HIM, then HE WILL DISOWN US (Matthew 10:33) • IF WE ARE FAITHLESS, then HE WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL - FOR HE CANNOT DENY HIMSELF (God is not impacted by our lack of faith)