Trusting in God’s Promises – Week Two

Jim Mindling
Sunday, November 13, 2022
The Promises that Changed the World
Sunday Morning

Sermon Notes

The Promises that Changed the World
“Trusting in God’s Promises”
Luke 1:5-25

1. God’s promises always change our world.
• Zechariah: “God remembers“
• Elizabeth: “God of oath, promise”
• God: “I am here” (God’s name is a promise!)
• Gabriel: angel is messenger of God
• John: son of Zechariah and Elizabeth: God remembers His promise

2. God’s promises are based on God’s purposes
  • God is working in our lives and in our world to accomplish His purposes (and fulfill His promises!) for our good and His glory.
• God’s promises are not based on our performance.
• God will remember and fulfill every promise He has made.
• Even when it’s been a long time
• Even when it looks impossible
• Even when we have failed (to believe)

3. God’s promises are not affected by your failure
    • In the biggest moment of Zechariah’s life he failed miserably
• he failed to see how God was working
• he failed to believe
• he failed because of fear
• he failed to focus on God
• Fear seeks to keep you from hearing God’s promises, seeing God’s purposes and sensing God’s presence.
• Even when we fail, God is still faithful!

4. God’s promises are grounded in God’s faithfulness
• The antidote for shame is what God has done, not what you have done.
• Since God is so faithful, let’s trust Him!

Core CHRISTlike Characteristic: Trustworthy Steward of God’s Resources/Living Surrendered

 

LifeGroup Questions

  1. Icebreaker: Share the meaning behind your name! (Look it up if you don’t know!)
  2. The Jewish people of the First Century awaited the coming Messiah. What promises of God do we still await as New Testament Christians?
  3. Why is it so hard to wait for a promise to come true?
  4. What might God be trying to teach us as we, like Zechariah and Elizabeth, wait?
  5. Why do we fall into thinking that God’s blessings are based on our performance?
    What is the risk in falling into this way of thinking?
  6. How do God’s promises provide an answer to our fear and shame?

Read Hebrews 11:32-40. Many people lived and died in faith, not receiving the fulfillment of God’s promises. Yet, we live in a time when we can look back at the cross and see the fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus Christ.

As you end your time together, spend a moment reflecting on the fear and shame in your life that try to keep you from holding on to God’s promises. Then, thank God that fear and shame meet their end in His steadfast love displayed on the cross.

Scripture: Luke 1:5-25
Download: Audio Notes