Sermon Notes & Slides 1.4.2015

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Sermon Notes

New Year, Renewed Focus
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Pastor John Sloan

Introduction: Introduction: There’s something about the beginning of the New Year that brings with it a sense of hope. Perhaps this is the year when some of those perpetually frustrating habits can finally be broken. And new (healthier) ones established. Turning the page on the paper calendar is a visual reminder of God’s new mercies for a new day. But just as important as doing new things is re-committing to some old practices, with a greater dependence on God than ever.

Questions for Discussion & Discovery

1. Do you have a personal mission statement? If so, what is it?

2. How would you answer if someone asked you why you exist?

3. Consider Northpoint’s six core values; how have you embraced these individually? Which value has been the greatest struggle to embody?

4. Our culture values independence above all other virtues, it seems. Why is dependence a most critical disposition for the believer?

Sermon Slides

1. “As the majestic God whose qualities know no boundary, God’s being is infinitely above his creatures. Moreover, as distinct from creation, he does not depend on anyone or anything to bring him into existence or to sustain him in his being. And, of course, there is only one being with such majesty and perfection. He is the unique God.” – John Feinberg

2 We exist to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus who make other disciples.

3. 01. Gospel | We believe and treasure the Gospel of Jesus Christ and will proclaim it as central.

4. “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.” (Colossians 1:3-6 ESV)

5. “Even as a Christian, my faith will actually be weakened when it is assumed that I already know the gospel and now just need a steady diet of instructions. I will naturally revert to my moralistic impulse and conclude that either I am fully surrendered or that I cannot pull this off and might as well stop trying.” – Michael Horton

6. 02. Worship | We embrace all of life as worship and will nurture our worship by faithfully gathering together.

7. “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1-2)

8. 03. Community | We recognize that we were made for relationship—with God and each other—and we will endeavor to live life together.

9. “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5)

10. 04. Service | Motivated by God’s reconciling work in Christ, we will serve one another with our gifts.

“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:6)

12. 05. Multiplication | We will equip and expect all believers to be missional disciple-makers.

13. “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

14. 06. Prayer | We will depend on God through prayer.

15. And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mark 9:29 ESV)