Sermon List

www.thegospelcoalition.org/resources/newtestament/revelation/doncarson/lecture7

I. The Vision of Things Unseen    vv. 5-6 

   A.  The Consolation

   B.  The Explosion of Categories

   C.  “The Admirable Conjunction of Diverse Excellences”

                                                            --Jonathan Edwards

         (The beautiful combination of opposite virtues)

The Heavenly Church Part 2

                 Revelation 5:1-10

I      The Testimony of a Credible Witness   v.1

II     The Spectacle of a Universal Ruler    v.1

III    The Riddle of an Ultimate Mystery v.1

IV    The Search for a Worldly Interpreter  vv. 2-4

V     The Tragedy of an Unanswerable Question  v.4

VI    The Book is Opened by a Heavenly Person v.5

        A  That Person Proceeds from a Particular People

             -The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

        B  That Person Precedes a Particular Person

The Heavenly Church

Revelation 5:1-5

I    The Testimony of a Credible Witness  v. 1

     A  Personal Testimony in John's Writings I John 1:1-4

     B The Authority of  the Eye-Witness Accounts John 1:18

II   The Spectacle of a Universal Ruler v. 1

     A.He is Powerful for He is Enthroned

     B He is Wise for He Holds the Book

III The Riddle of an Ultimate Mystery v.1

     A The Unfolding Drama of Heaven v. 1

     B What we Know of Eternity and Time

Christ Our Treasure:   A Text for the New Year

Part 2

Colossians 2:2-3

I. Christ is Our Treasure because of His Uniqueness

   A.  He is Unique as Creator

            1.  All Things were Made by Him 

                                                Colossians 1:16

            2.  All Things were Made for Him

B.  He is Unique in Comprehensive Reconciliation

            For it was the Father’s good pleasure…

Christ Our Treasure:   A Text for the New Year

Colossians 2:2-3

Wisdom is the skill of navigating the path of

the uncertain with the compass of certainty.

The Uncertainty of the Year Ahead of Us

The Certainty of Eternity Around Us

Underneath are the everlasting arms. 

                                                Deuteronomy 33:27

His banner over me is love.                           

BETHLEHEM

Part 2

Micah 5:2

I.  The Coming Forth is a Going Forth

    “…out of thee shall He come forth…

    whose goings forth have been from of old…”                               

   A.  Jesus’ Birth was an Active Decision on His Part

   B.  The Birth in Bethlehem was not the first “Going Forth”

      1.  The Angel of the Lord and Hagar      Genesis 16:10

      2.  The Angel of the Lord and Jacob      Genesis 32:28, 30

BETHLEHEM

Micah 5:2

I.  God Speaks to Cities

   “But thou, Bethlehem, …”

II. God Regards Obscure Places

   “…though thou be little…”

   “I am poor and needy;

    yet the Lord thinketh upon me.”

                                   Psalm 40:17

III. Out of Bethlehem He shall Come Forth

   “Bethlehem…out of thee shall He come forth…”

   A.  From Whom? From the Father

   B.  To Whom?  To the Father

Eight Marks of New Testament Ministry

Acts 13:38-51

What is New Testament ministry?

   - Ministry which is biblical in its patterns, apostolic in its emphases, and spiritual in its essence.

   - Because the presence of the Holy Spirit is necessary for New Testament ministry to take place, the work of the Holy Spirit becomes obvious over time as New Testament ministry is attempted by faithful believers.

I. The Gospel is Preached    vv. 38-39

   A.  Forgiveness is a Needful Thing

Eight Marks of New Testament Ministry

Acts 13:38-51

What is New Testament ministry?

   - Ministry which is biblical in its patterns, apostolic in its emphases, and spiritual in its essence.

   - Because the presence of the Holy Spirit is necessary for New Testament ministry to take place, the work of the Holy Spirit becomes obvious over time as New Testament ministry is attempted by faithful believers.

I. The Gospel is Preached    vv. 38-39

   A.  Forgiveness is a Needful Thing

Jesus and the Old Testament in the Preaching of Paul               

Acts 13:26-39

I.  The Peril of Unrecognized Truth   vv. 26-27

   A. The Truth which was Meant for Us

     1.  “To us the word of this salvation is sent out”    v. 26

     2.  The Danger of Misunderstanding the Message

     “ Their rulers recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets”    v. 27

     “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it”   John 1:5

Romans 12:1-2

Worship, Conformity, and Transformation

I.  Worship as an Appropriate Response    v. 1

   A. Because of the Lavishness of the Ransom

       1.  God’s mercy is shown by His willingness to sacrifice His Son.

       2.  Christ’s willingness to give up His life was acceptable to God as an atonement for us.

    B.  Because of the Worth of What was Paid for

       1.  A Living Gift

       2.  A Holy Gift

II.  Worship as the Better Alternative    v. 2

The Worship Imperative Part 2

Romans 12:1-2

I  The Personal Appeal to Worship

 " I urge you..." v. 1

II The Polemical Perspective of Worship

(By polemics we mean the making of a case against an opposing point of view)

A. The Polemic Against Pagan Philosophy

   "...present your bodies..." v.1

B. The Polemic Against the Older Judaism

   " a living sacrifice" v. 1

1. Contrasting OT and NT Sacrifice:

2. Uncomprehending vs. Informed

3. Unintentional vs. Deliberate

4. Resistant vs. Willing

Roman 12:1-2
The Worship Imperative

The Practice of New Testament Stewardship I Corinthians 16:1-4

I. Giving is to be Weekly
"On the first day of EVERY week..." v. 2
Not necessarily a disbursement-but a setting aside