Sermon Notes for "Settle Down"

Settle Down

Jeremiah 29:1-12

1. Being where we do not want to be.

2. Build, work, raise your family, strengthen our community.

3. Seek the peace.

4. Pray for the place you do not want to be.

5. We need to settle down.

6. Be hopeful that God will bring us home.

Living For Jesus:

1. What place have you not wanted to be in? Why?

2. List one way you can build up your home, work, family.

3. What attitude or action have I committed that is not peaceful?

4. Pray for the peace of your community, city, state, nation, world.

5. Memorize Jeremiah 29:11.

Settle Down mp3

Living Hope's Prayer Of The Week

First Sunday of Advent
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of
darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of
this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit
us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come
again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the
dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.

Living Hope's Verse Of The Week- Matthew 6:19

Matthew 6:19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

-The anti Black Friday and Cyber Monday verse.

Delight In The Lord Song Of The Week- O Holy Night

Advent begins this Sunday.  Advent means coming.  So we celebrate the first coming of the Savior of the world and look forward to His second coming.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Living For Jesus

Living For Jesus”

1.     List 3 of your strongest temptations.

2.    How much it is written are you armed with to face temptation.

3.    List a verse for the areas of your life where you are constantly under attack.

4.    What are my personal goals that have taken short cuts to achieve?

5.    List one-way can I serve my family? Neighbors? Coworkers? Enemies?

It Is Written

1.      Lust.

-Matt 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

-I Cor 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.

-Job 31:1 I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.

2.    Pride.

-Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

-James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

-Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

3.    Greed.

-I Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

-Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

-Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

4.    Fear.

-Josh 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

-Isa 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

-I John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

5.    Worry.

-Phil 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

-Matt 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

-Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[a]?

6.    Anger.

-Ps 37:8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.

-James 1:20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

-Phil 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Living Hope's Prayer Of The Week

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your dearly beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

-Jesus invites everyone to come to the table of the Lord. To come together right now under me.  We humbly come.  We come repenting.  We come loving each other.  With Jesus as Lord of the feast.

Living Hope's Verse Of The Week-Matthew 6:17-18

Matthew 6:17-18 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

-Try fasting a meal this week.  I recommend lunch Friday.  Pray the Lord's prayer and your personal prayer list during the time you would have had lunch.  And wash your face.  I do not recommend the oil part for our culture.

Delight In The Lord Song Of The Week- Holly Jolly Christmas

Alright the delight in the Lord songs of the week for the rest of the year will be Christmas songs.

I know this song is not considered sacred, but I think it is.  For these reasons

The word "Christmas" occurs nowhere in the Bible. It is an old English word that means "Christ's Mass" which refers to the celebration of the Lord's Supper, i.e. the Mass. The earliest occurrence of the word on record is 1038 A.D. Christians at this time considered the Mass (Lord's Supper) to be the most important part of the celebration of Christ's birth, hence it came to be called Christmas.

So every time a song even has the word, "Christmas" in it, the song is saying more than maybe even the artist realizes.

And that part about the "mistletoe"and "kiss her once for me," Paul said in Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.  Yeah, yeah, I know that is not where the tradition came from, I'm just sayin.

This is just a joyful song.  I like it.

Limited Person

I am a limited person with so many failings and inadequacies.

But Jesus knows all my limitations.

I have given my limitations to Him.

They are in Him, through him, and with Him.

That makes me humble and bold.

Living For Jesus

Living For Jesus:

1. What areas of my life do I crave the spotlight?

2. How can I promote God with my life?

3. How can I serve, quietly?

4. This week, memorize James 4:6, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Ring of Power

-Jesus third alternative, the desire for the ring of power. A desire that tempts us all. We will discuss this topic, this Sunday. Invite a friend.

Living Hope's Prayer Of The Week

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Living Hope's Verse Of The Week- Matthew 6:16

Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Delight In The Lord Song Of The Week- Fail Us Not

Living For Jesus

Living For Jesus:

1. In what area of my life am I tempted to meet a legitimate need in an irresponsible way?

2. What desire has caused me to act selfishly?

3. What material need has had me worried this past month?

4. In what ways has God meet my material needs this past month?

5. Over every meal this week thank God for your daily bread. 

6. Pray the Lord’s Prayer 2 times every day this week.

Living Hope's Prayer Of The Week

 O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might
destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God
and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may
purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again
with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his
eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Living Hope's Verse Of The Week-Matthew 6:15

Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

There is a group, which I will not promote, their motto is, "We do not forgive, we do not forget."  I do not want to live like that.  Life is too short for those entanglements.  And eternity is too long to miss it.  Also, I have been forgiven so much, how can I not forgive others.  I am so unworthy, I have been treated much better than I deserve.  I guess that's how this grace thing works.

Delight In The Lord Song Of The Week- Our God Is Able

I heard this song this morning at Grand Rapids first CBC college. It was a sacred time of worship. I enjoyed the song, but more importantly I believe God enjoyed the worship.

5 Ways to Be Delivered From Evil

Psalms 50:15 and call on me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you and you will honor me.

Matthew 6:13 Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.

God will deliver you in the day of trouble.

1. Deliver means to pull off.

Have you ever broken up a fight? Had to pull two kids apart? God is going to pull that attacker off of you.  That situation that was fighting you God is going to deliver you from.

2. Deliver means to equip for the fight.

Police request new equipment because it makes their job easier. I get some new equipment in my possession when I ask for deliverance.  His word, His peace, His Spirit, His power, etc.  Without asking I will be ill-equipped.

3. Deliver means to strengthen.

Asking God through prayer builds spiritual, emotional, mental muscle. I wasn’t that strong and I needed a spiritual trainer.  Like spinach to Popeye, prayer is to a Christ follower.  Things that would have crippled me 5 years ago now I have the strength to go through.

4. Deliver means to make fat.

If you ever had to be in the hospital for three or four days, or if you had the flu, you lose weight.  You look in the mirror and you look gaunt, eyes droop, no energy, skin and bones.  During trouble my soul gets sickly, weak, starts wheezing.   Prayer is the rehab, the recovery.  It is chicken soup and antibiotics for my soul.  God delivers me by making me well.  By giving me the much needed rest.

5. Deliver means to prepare.

I can deliver a speech when I am prepared. I can deliver a song after MUCH preparation.  A women delivers a baby her body has prepared over 9 months.   Life came at me, trouble came at me, but I had prayed and God delivered me, He prepared me.  So I was ready.  He made me ready.  I was delivered at just the right time.


God will do the same for you as you call on him in the day of trouble.