LOVE PAID THE RANSOM FOR ME
Matthew 27:45-50

LIFE LESSON FROM OUR SCRIPTURE:
Since Jesus paid the ransom for me because of his love for me, I will give my life for Him because I love Him too.

INTRODUCTION TO OUR SCRIPTURE:
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit” (Matthew 27:50). Why? How could this be possible? What does it mean to my life?

DISCUSSION OF OUR SCRIPTURE:
Why was Jesus’ death necessary?–Isaiah 52:13-53:12
God exalted him–Isaiah 52:13-15
Man rejected him–Isaiah 53:1-3
God punished him–Isaiah 53:4-6
Man buried him–Isaiah 53:7-9
God glorified him–Isaiah 53:10-12
Jesus died to fulfill God’s will.
Jesus died to make many righteous through intercession
How did Jesus die?–Psalm 22
Jesus died in emotional agony–Psalm 22:1-5
Jesus died in social agony–Psalm 22:6-13
Jesus died in physical agony–Psalm 22:14-18
Jesus died for spiritual hope–Psalm 22:19-31
What am I going to do?
I am going to die this world because that what Jesus did–Galatians 2:20.
I am going to acknowledge Him because He will acknowledge me–Matthew 10:32-33.
I am going to be baptized because He was and because he wants me to be–John 3:3-5.
I am going to be a good steward of my days because he was–Matthew 25:21.
I am going to be faithful to my word because He is–Matthew 19:9.
I am going to be faithful to services because He faithfully serves me–Hebrews 10:25.
I am going to preach the Gospel because He preached the Gospel–Mark 1:14-15.
I am going to be ready for Heaven, because He is ready to bring me home–John 14:1-4.

INVITATION TO OUR SCRIPTURE:
Is it for me, dear Savior,
Thy glory and Thy rest,
For me, so weak and sinful?
O shall I be so blessed?
O Savior, my Redeemer,
What can I but adore,
And magnify and praise Thee,
And love Thee evermore?

Why would God do this for me? Why would Jesus endure this for me? God did all this so that we can be together. God did all this so that we can be healed. God did all this to give us a reason for living. God did all this so we can have a life worth living.

Since Jesus paid the ransom for you, why not give your life in service to Him?

TO GOD BE THE GLORY
1 Corinthians 3:1-6

LIFE APPLICATION FROM OUR SCRIPTURE:
Humbly allow God to use us in His work so we can see his will being done on earth.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SCRIPTURE:
Why isn’t God using me? Why isn’t God doing great things in my life? Why has God blessed me so much? Why is God being so good to me? All these questions are formed by us viewing the world through our lives rather than through the will of God.
When we allow ourselves to see the world through our own prideful needs/wants/desires/comfort, God’s will takes a back seat to everything else. If we view the world through the lens of the Lord’s will, then God can begin to use us in and for his glory.

DISCUSSION OF OUR SCRIPTURE:
Where pride works, sin flourishes–1 Corinthians 3:1-4.
We are to be all things to all people.
We must avoid becoming “fleshly”.
Being “fleshly” or “carnal” has to do with the most debased characteristics of human nature.
Romans 13:14; Galatians 5:13, 19; & Ephesians 2:3.
Where there is an humble willingness to serve, God works–1 Corinthians 3:5-9.
Remember the example of Samson.
He became prideful in the strength his hair gave him.
He forgot it was actually God who supplied the strength.
He suffered because he forgot to allow God to work.
He did a great work for God’s people when he gave all to God’s service.
Illustration: We can’t be more thankful for the plate that holds our food than the cook who makes our food.
When we do our best, we can trust God for what is best–1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
The “grace given”
“Grace” refers to God’s wonderful use of an instrument previously made useless by sin.
God used Saul to do great things despite Saul’s attempts at being useless.
Allow ourselves to become instruments for God’s glory without reserve.
Job was a servant of righteousness.
Even when righteousness didn’t seem to pay off “Job held to his integrity”.
Job was blessed and God was glorified because Job was willing to be a righteous servant in any field God needed him.
Then we will be ready for “the day”–1 Thessalonians 5:4.

INVITATION TO OUR SCRIPTURE:
Are you ready to see God do great things in your life and in the Ripley church of Christ? Then you must all God to work. Abandon all the world offers and hide beneath the cross of Christ. It is only there that we find the blood of the Lamb.

KNOWLEDGE AND ITS PROMISE
2 Peter 3

LIFE APPLICATION FROM OUR SCRIPTURE:
God Word has always been true and will always prove to be true.

DISCUSSION OF OUR SCRIPTURE:
Truth assailed–2 Peter 3:1-4
Remember the value of God’s Word–2 Peter 3:1-2
Know that people will devalue God’s Word-2 Peter 3:4
Truth attested–2 Peter 3:5-10
God’s word of truth was accurate in the days of Noah–2 Peter 3:5-6
God’s word of truth accurately portrays the end of time–2 Peter 3:7.
God’s word of truth invites us all to God’s grace–2 Peter 3:8-10
Truth applied–2 Peter 3:11-18
Since God’s promises will come to pass we must be holy and godly–2 Peter 3:11-12
Since God’s promises will come to pass we must look for them–2 Peter 3:13.
Since God’s promises will come to pass we must be diligent to be worthy–2 Peter 3:14-18.