Sermon notes:

The Master Gardener (John 15:1-8)

I. Jesus is the true Vine (as opposed to __________________ Israel) (v.1; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21, etc.).

II. Our Father (Vinedresser) does two things to produce fruit:

A. He _____________________ fruitless branches (vv.2a,6).

1. Jesus arouses our anxiety.

2. His goal is our ___________________.

B. He _______________ fruitful branches (v.2b).

1. We’ve been ________________ into the Vine (Romans 6:3-5; 11:17).

2. Pruning involves both ____________ and ____________ (vv.2b,3,5,7-8).

III. To _____________________ in Christ guarantees:

A. fruitfulness (vv.4-5);

B. effective prayer (v.7).

IV. The true Vine’s gracious invitation: “_____________________” (vv.4-7)!

A. Don’t go wild!

B. Only _________________ can branches live (v.6)!

Sermon notes:

What’s so good about this Shepherd? (John 10:11-18)

I. It is our nature to flee a crisis. It is the nature of Jesus to _______________________________(v.11b; John 18:4).

A. Ordinary shepherds protect their sheep by avoiding death; the Good Shepherd protects the sheep ___________________________ His death.

B. The death of an ordinary shepherd means disaster for the sheep. The death of the Good Shepherd means ________________________ for the sheep (John 10:10).

C. The death of an ordinary shepherd leaves the sheep exposed and scattered (v.13). The Good Shepherd’s death ______________________ the flock and draws it to Himself (v.16; John 12:32).

II. He knows us __________________________ (John 10:3).

A. Knowing is evidence of ______________________ (vv.14-15).

B. Knowing another involves _____________________________ (Exodus 6:7).

1. God loves; we are the ones loved.

2. God saves; we are the ones saved.

C. The Father loved the Son before the foundation of the world (John 17:24), but His Father loves Him all the more for ____________________________ (vv.17-18).

D. We know Christ (and, therefore, the Father) _________________________ when we believe that He lays down His life for us all (vv.11,16).

Sermon notes:

Living God’s Story (Luke 24:36-49)

I. ____________________ alone is not sufficient to produce faith.

A. It can produce terror (v.37).

B. It can seem “too good to be true” (v.41).

II. Faith comes by _________________________ God’s story [i.e. the Scriptures] (vv.45-47; Romans 10:17).

A. _________________________ is more than entertainment. It is a fundamental part of being human.

1. We live inside stories. We ___________________ in stories.

2. Stories enable us to make ___________________ of the world.

B. The Old Testament predicts/anticipates Christ’s death and resurrection less in _______________________ and more in _____________________ (vv.44-47; John 5:39).

1. Adam (Genesis 2:7).

2. Isaac, raised on the third day (Genesis 22:1-4; Hebrews 11: 19).

3. Joseph (Genesis 37:33; 45:28).

4. Israel, raised on the third day (Hosea 6:1-2).

5. Dry bones (Israel) brought to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

6. Jonah, raised on the third day (Jonah 1:17).

7. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego (Daniel 3:12-27).

8. Daniel (Daniel 6:16-22).

III. God’s (Christ’s) story shapes and gives meaning to our own.

A. _____________________ connects us to Christ’s story (Romans 6:3-4).

B. We daily die to self and live a new life (Galatians 2:20).