The Word In The World, Parts 1 and 2 (Advent Week 4, plus Christmas Eve service)

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

John 1:14-18

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The Word In The World, Parts 1 and 2 — Lonnie Bell
4th Sermon of Advent and Christmas Eve sermon
John 1:14-18
23 December (part 1) and 24 December 2018 (part 2)

DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  Why does the world try to change Christmas, and in what ways do we see this happening around us?
2.  What is the Incarnation? Have you given much thought to this doctrine?
3.  How does the language “dwelt among us” push us back into the Old Testament?
4.  How do “glory,” “grace,” and “truth” relate to one another in v. 14? How does this impact the way we see and approach Jesus?
5.  Discuss some of the doctrinal errors we should avoid when thinking about the Word becoming flesh?
6.  In what ways does this passage push us to our knees?

References: John 3:19; Matthew 10:34-36; Hebrews 1:2-3; Exodus 40:34-35; Psalm 29:9; Exodus 33:18-19; 34:6-7; Romans 1:3; 1 Timothy 3:16; 2 John 7; Hebrews 2:14; 4:15; Philippians 2:9-10.

Response To The Light (Advent Week 3)

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

John 1:9-13

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Response To The Light — Lonnie Bell
3rd Sermon of Advent
John 1:9-13
16 December 2018
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DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What does it mean that Jesus is the “true light, which gives light to everyone”?
2.  What is the “world” and how does it relate to Christ’s “own people”?
3.  Why do people reject Christ?
4.  What does it mean to believe “in his name”?
5.  How do divine sovereignty and human responsibility come together in vv. 12-13?
6.  What are the main truths from these verses that we can explicitly celebrate with our families this Christmas?

References: John 14:30; 1 John 2:16; Isaiah 1:2-3; 65:2-3; Acts 2:22-23; John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 13:48; John 3:6; Ephesians 1:3.

The Light (Advent Week 2)

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

John 1:4-8

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The Light — Lonnie Bell
2nd Sermon of Advent
John 1:4-8
9 December 2018
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DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  To use the words of Leon Morris, how is Christ the “life-bringer and light bearer”?
2.  How is Christ’s coming both at Christmas and in conversion like what we read in Genesis 1:2-3?
3.  What does it mean to say that Christmas is a season of power and victory?
4.   How does the fact that “darkness has not overcome” the light give us encouragement in the Christian life?
5.  How does the text lead us to compare Jesus and John the Baptist, and how would you describe John’s role?
6.  What does it look like to be a credible witness of Jesus in our daily lives?

References: Colossians 2:3; Hebrews 12:2; 2 Corinthians 3:8; John 5:26; 8:12; 11:25; 12:46; 14:6; 17:3; Genesis 1:2-3; 2 Corinthians 4:6; John 12:35; Genesis 3:15; Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:43; 11:11; John 20:31; 1:23.

The Word (Advent Week 1)

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

John 1:1-3

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The Word — Lonnie Bell
1st Sermon of Advent
John 1:1-3
2 December 2018
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DEEP SHEET: Sermon Study Questions
1.  What does it mean to say that Christ is both predicted and present in the Old Testament?
2.  Discuss encounters that you have had with people who do not accept Christ as God. In addition to this passage, what are some other major biblical texts that support Christ’s eternality and deity?
3.  What does it mean to say that any view of Christ that does not see him as fully God steals his glory and refashions him into an idol?
4.  Why does John refer to Christ as the “Word,” and how would you explain what this means from Scripture?
5.  How does this text show that God is a plurality of persons? How would you characterize the relationship between God and his Word?
6.  How does understanding the deity and creative agency of the Word affect our worship and our love for God and one another?

References: Luke 24:44; John 5:46; 8:56; 12:41; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Matthew 1:18; John 17:5; 8:58; Isaiah 9:6; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Colossians 1:15, 19; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:1; Genesis 1; 15:1; John 17:26; Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:16.

Salvation's Song

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Luke 1:67-80

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Salvation's Song -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Advent - week 3.
Luke 1:67-80
17 December 2017

Deep Sheet:  Sermon Study Questions
1.  What titles of Jesus or prophetic passages have meant the most to you as you have celebrated Christmas over the years?|
2.  What does it mean that Jesus is a “horn of salvation”? What does Zechariah mean when he speaks of God’s people being saved from their enemies? (1 Samuel 2:10; Luke 2:38; Romans 11:25-29)
3.  How does Jesus fulfill God’s promise to Abraham? (Joshua 24:2; Genesis 12:1-3; 22:16-18).
4.  Based on vv. 74-75, how does Christmas call God’s people to service and a righteous life?
5.  How did John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus? How does Zechariah show us that forgiveness is at the center of Christmas? (Luke 3:3; 24:47)
6.  What is the image of Jesus given in vv. 78-79? In what ways does Jesus give us peace? (Revelation 22:16)

Mary's Master Magnified

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Luke 1:39-56

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Mary's Master Magnified -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Advent - week 2.
Luke 1:39-56
10 December 2017

Deep Sheet:  Sermon Study Questions
1.  How does Elizabeth confirm Gabriel’s message to Mary?  What does this communicate about God’s love and faithfulness?
2.  How does this passage speak to the issue of abortion? (Luke 1:15)
3.  What does Mary’s song of praise tell us about her view of herself and of God? (Matthew 1:21)
4.  How does Mary’s song serve as an implicit challenge to teenagers and parents?
5.  What are some of the attributes and activities of God that Mary magnifies?
6.  In light of Mary’s description of God’s might, why is Christmas both comforting and terrifying? (Matthew 23:12; 5:3-6)

The King's Conception Announced

FCC Vision Statement: Building on Exposition, Centering on Christ, Dying in Community, Serving on Mission

Luke 1:26-38

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The King's Conception Announced -- Lonnie Bell
Sermon Series: Advent - week 1.
Luke 1:26-38
3 December 2017

Deep Sheet:  Sermon Study Questions
1.  As you reflect on Luke’s purpose for writing (1:4), what would it mean to celebrate with “certainty” this Christmas?
2.  How does this passage communicate that humility is inherent to Christianity?
(John 1:46; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
3.  What does Gabriel’s greeting tell us about Mary? How is she a symbol of all who receive Christ? (Ephesians 1:6; Romans 3:24)
4.  What are some of the differences between John the Baptist and Jesus as portrayed in
Luke 1?  What do these differences tell us about the unique significance of Jesus?
5.  What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of David?  How does the never-ending nature of Jesus’ kingdom put hope at the center of Christmas?
(2 Samuel 7:12-14; Psalm 2:6-7; Isaiah 9:6-7)
6.  How does the virgin conception/birth practically increase your confidence in God?
(Genesis 1:2; John 1:1, 14)
7.  How does Mary’s response in v. 38 serve as a beautiful picture of the Christian life?