There are eyewitnesses during every phase when Jesus walked this earth.
I. The Focus of Eyewitnesses - 1:1-4
1. Eyewitnesses of His birth -
2. Eyewitnesses of His life (Mt 2,14,28; I John 1:1-4)
3. Eyewitnesses of His death - many
4. Eyewitnesses of His resurrection - I Corinthians 15:1-8
5. But many eyewitnesses didn’t believe! True and the Scriptures readily admit that fact usually included with a sharp rebuke!
6. All will witness His return - Matthew 24:15-31
7. We may not be eyewitnesses of His birth, life, death, &
resurrection, but we are eyewitnesses of how Jesus has changed our
hearts, our minds, our passions, our priorities - Never underestimate
your testimony about the changed life that came from coming to faith in
Christ!
Longevity / Fidelity in spiritual disciplines - worship, fasting, prayer
because of their impact on our relationships with/ God and man. Break
down Matthew 6 after Anna
II. The Gospel Message (we all share)
1. The Consolation of Israel - Simeon keeps us thinking of Jesus at
Christmas
2. The Redemption of Jerusalem—Anna keeps us thinking about Jesus at
Christmas. Thank you, Luke, for all the reminders that the Savior saves,
the Redeemer redeems, and the Lord leads. Don’t lose the reasons why
Jesus came. We gather because God saved us. We serve because God saved
us. We send because God saved us. We share because God saved us.
3. The Theme of Redeemer & Redemption -
• Job said
• David said
• Isaiah said
• Peter said
• Paul said
• John said
MATTHEW 6:1-18
Galatians 3:13-14 - redemption connected to the cross
