Christ Church Bartlett

An Introduction to Ecclesiastes — Finding Meaning in a Meaningless World • Everyone is chasing time but time cannot be stopped. [Ecclesiastes 1:1-11] • Everyone is searching for significance but in all the wrong places. [Ecclesiastes 2:1-11] • Everyone is trying to cheat death but it is certainly coming. [Ecclesiastes 2:12-15] • Everyone experiences the simple blessings of life; enjoy them while you still can because they are a gift from God. [Ecclesiastes 2:24-26] As We Go … In light of the temporary nature of life, determine to keep your eyes fixed on God’s greatest gift — eternal life in Christ Jesus! (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Genesis 32 — Israel — Overcoming the Struggles of Life in Christ Jacob was stuck in the patterns of his old ways of deception and self reliance. [Genesis 32:1-8, 13-21] Jacob knew much about the God of his fathers but had yet to fully surrender his life to the LORD. [Genesis 32:9-12] Jacob finally met God face to face in a time of desperation and was brought to the end of himself. [Genesis 32:22-32] Jacob’s encounter with God forever changed his identity, mentality, and destiny. [Genesis 32:22-32] In this world we will suffer many troubles, but Israel will overcome by faith in Jesus Christ. [1 John 5:3-5] As We Go …. Remember that God never promises us a life without struggle and suffering, but He promises to be with us through it all to the very end.

Genesis 30 — Jacob, Judah, Joseph, Jesus • Jacob’s 12 sons would become the 12 tribes of Israel. • Judah would represent the royal house of Israel from which the Messiah would come. • Joseph would represent a mixed multitude of God’s people from all nations. • Jesus is the suffering Servant as the son of Joseph and the conquering King as the Lion of Judah! As We Go … Praise God who has given us immeasurably more than anything we could ask or imagine in Jesus!

Genesis 29 — God Wants an Undivided Heart • There is nothing in life more wonderful than finding true love. [Genesis 29:1-20] • There is nothing in life more tragic than feeling unwanted and unloved. [Genesis 29:21-35] • God created our hearts with the capacity to romantically love only one person at a time. [Genesis 29:21-35] • God’s love is perfect, but His heart still is crushed when we reject Him. [ Ezekiel 6:9] • In the end, God is simply looking for undivided hearts. [Deuteronomy 6:4-6] • As We Go … We love because He first loved us. Open your hearts first to God, receive His perfect love, and allow His love to overflow into the hearts of the ones you love.

The Stairway to Heaven and the House of God — Genesis 28 •The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would become a great assembly of God’s people from all the nations on earth — AKA the church. [Genesis 28:1-5] •God scattered the lost sheep of the house of Israel to the four corners of the Earth, where they would be mixed in and absorbed by the Gentiles. [Genesis 28:10-14] •Jesus is the stairway to heaven and the narrow gate which leads to life and restoration in the Father’s house. [Genesis 28:10-22] •When Christ returns, He will send out His angels to gather both Judah and Israel together and reunite them as one in God’s house. [Genesis 28:10-22] As We Go … Do not let your hearts be troubled. Christ has prepared a place for you in the Father’s house and has promised to bring you home!

Matthew 11:27-30 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Genesis 26 — How to Spiritually Thrive in the Dry Seasons of Life •Everyone goes through dry seasons of spiritual drought, when we face difficulty, feel discouraged and find ourselves distant from God. [Genesis 26:12-21] •The best way to overcome a dry season is to pray for perseverance, dig deeper into your relationship with God, and then get to work and be productive. [Genesis 26:22-25] •When we thirst after righteousness, we will be satisfied and blessed in Christ — the living water. [John 7:37-39] As we go … Draw near to God and rediscover the refreshing, life-giving presence of the Spirit within.

God’s Eternal Value System • God has an eternal value system called Torah. • God’s values and instructions for life never change. • God’s commandments are not burdensome but are a blessing to all who obey. As We Go … Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.

Sunday, July 9, 2027 Pastor Marcus Van Every The Older Will Serve the Younger Genesis 25

Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles John 7

Our Father in Heaven -- Matthew 6 • We have a good Heavenly Father • We can trust His perfect will • He provides all we need and more • He is a forgiving God • He has delivered us from evil AS We go… Run to the Father. He is waiting for you with open arms.

Micah 6 What God Requires • To do what is right • To love mercy • To walk humbly As we go — Let us Humble ourselves before God daily and obey His word, as vessels of His mercy to the world.

Encounters with Jesus — It’s Not How We Start but How We Finish that Matters • Peter at times demonstrated extraordinary faith in Jesus. [Matthew 14:22-32, 16:13-20] • Peter also was susceptible to the pitfalls of pride. [Matthew 16:21-23, John 18:1-11] • Peter eventually was publicly ashamed of Christ and failed his closest friend. [Matthew 26:69-75] • Peter ultimately was restored to Jesus and finished his race as a faithful servant of God. [John 21:15-19] As We Go … No matter how your journey of faith started or how far off track you may be, keep the faith, fight the good fight and finish well!

A Mother’s Heart — 1 John 3:1-2 * Mothers are the heart of the family, holding everyone together.  * Nothing compares to the love of a mother’s heart.  * The devil directly targets mothers by deceiving, discouraging, and destroying their hearts. * Mother … may you never forget that you first are a beloved child of God — a cherished daughter of your Heavenly Father.  As You Go ...  May we never forget that we are beloved children of God and that nothing can separate us from the love we have in Christ Jesus!

Deciding How to Decide James 1:5-7 Feelings, Faith or Circumstances I. Choices and decisions ought to be made by following God ordained priorities. 1. Put God first in your life Matthew 22:37 How to Know God’s Will for Your Life a. Study the Bible Psalms 119:66 b. Pray James 1:5-7 c. Seek Godly Counsel Proverbs 15:22 d. Follow the Holy Spirit’s Leading John 16:13 e. Circumstances Proverbs 16:1 2. Put your family second Ephesians 5:25, 28 3. Your job is third 1 Timothy 5:8 4. Your church comes 4th Galatians 6:10 Hebrews 10:25 5. Then recreation Proverbs 17:22

“. . . and Peter” (Mark 16:7) 1. JESUS’ KNOWS ABOUT OUR FAILURES • BEFORE They Happen (Mark 14:27-31) • AS They Happen “Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the

Encounters with Jesus Jesus Brings the Dead to Life — John 11 I. The Resurrection makes Jesus relevant. II. The Resurrection makes Jesus our righteousness. III. The Resurrection makes Jesus our Redeemer. IV. The Resurrection makes Jesus Ruler over all things. V. The Resurrection makes Jesus reliable. VI. The Resurrection makes Jesus relational. As We Go ... Do YOU believe this?

John the Baptist John 1:19-34 1. I AM NOT (v.19-22) • The Christ • Elijah • The Prophet 2. I AM A VESSEL (v.23-28) • INTRODUCING The Messiah • SERVING The Messiah 3. I AM THE VOICE , JESUS IS THE . . . • LAMB of God (v.29) • LORD God Eternal (v.30) • LEGITIMATE Messiah (v.31-33) • SON of God (v.34) Traits of a Christ Follower: • Self-Denial (“I am not . . .”) • Servant-Heart (“Jesus . . . is preferred before me”) • Surrendered to God’s Will (“I am the voice . . . crying”)