Be the Blessed Remnant!

Jer. 42:1-43:7

Outline

As the true remnant—unlike Judah’s deceptive refugees—we must sincerely…

◊ respect the blessing of spiritual leaders (vv. 1-2a, 4; 43:6b)

◊ seek the blessings of God’s will (vv. 2b-9, 20), which…

▪ humbly asks for prayer (vv. 2b-3)

▪ courageously pledges obedience (vv. 5-6)

▪ waits patiently (v. 7)

▪ calls all (regardless of status) to faithfulness (vv. 8-9)

◊ trust the blessings of God’s preservation, which

◦ builds us up (v. 10a)

◦ plants us for growth (v. 10b)

◦ reveals God’s presence (v. (11a)

◦ removes our fear (v. 11b)

◦ displays God’s power (v. 12a)

◦ offers God’s mercy (v. 12b)

◦ fulfills our calling (vv. 13-18)

◦ accepts God’s discipline (vv. 19-20)

◦ obeys God’s Word (43 :1-7)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

The Joy Connection!

John 15:9-17

◊ STAY in the Father's and Son’s love (vv. 9-11)

◊ OBEY the Father's and Son’s commands (vv. 12, 17)

◊ LAY down our life (vv. 13-15)

◊ PRAY for the Father's will (v. 16)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

Obey Anyway

Gen. 37:1-17

Obedience means that…

◊ with a broken past, you’re willing to grasp the future anyway (v. 1)

◊ when others practice deception, you’re committed to truth-telling

anyway (v. 2)

◊ when others are jealous and hateful, you value relationships

anyway (vv. 3-4)

◊ when others challenge your God-given gifts, you humbly, excitedly offer

those gifts anyway (vv. 5-10)

◊ when others doubt, you inspire belief in possibilities anyway (v. 11)

◊ when tasks ahead are unpleasant, you eagerly serve anyway (vv. 12-14)

◊ when circumstances are confusing, you persist in mission anyway (vv. 15-17)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

What is a Christian?

Col. 2:6-7

A Christian has…

◊ received Christ as Lord through the Good News taught by the apostles—an instructed

faith requiring spiritual humility (v. 6a, see Heb. 1:2-3 and 3:6)

◊ a relationship with Christ, a disciple daily shaped into Christ’s image (v. 6b)

▪ It’s a relationship rooted in Christ, an inwardly conformed faith ensuring spiritual

stability (v. 7a).

▪ It’s a relationship built on Christ, an outwardly confirmed faith displaying spiritual

strength (v. 7b).

▪ It’s a relationship growing in Christ, an onwardly affirmed faith producing spiritual

maturity (v. 7c).

▪ It’s a relationship thankful in Christ, a joyfully displayed faith lifting spiritual

gratitude (v. 7d).

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

Making Spaces for God

Ez. 3:22-27

◊ A listening space to hear God’s instruction

“…I will speak to you there” (vv. 22-23a)

◊ An expectant space to encounter God’s presence

◦ encountering God’s glory: “…I saw the glory of the Lord…” (v. 23b)

◦ responding in worship: “…I fell face down…” (v. 23b)

◊ A Spirit-space to receive God’s empowerment

“…the Spirit came into me…” (v. 24a)

◊ A frustrating space to learn godly patience

“…shut yourself in” (vv. 24b-26)

◊ A freeing space to fulfill your God-given purpose

“…I will loosen your tongue…” (v. 27a)_

◊ A free-will space to allow for godly or ungodly choices

“…those who choose…those who refuse” (v. 27b)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

The (Real) Health and Wealth Gospel

Rev. 3:17-19

Bible Talk Outline

A. Jesus harshly exposes spiritual poverty (v. 17)

The Christians in Laodicea are, and all believers, can become:

1. spiritually poor (v. 17a)

2. spiritually blind (v. 17b)

3. spiritually naked (v. 17c)

B. Jesus graciously supplies spiritual wealth (to the faithful, implied, v. 18a)

1. In believers’ faithfulness, Jesus supplies:

a. pure gold for spiritual investment (v. 18b, solves v. 17a; cp. 2 Cor. 8:9)

b. a pure garment for spiritual clothing (v. 18c, solves 17c)

c. a healing ointment for spiritual sight (v. 18d, solves 17b)

2. In believers’ unfaithfulness, Jesus supplies loving discipline for spiritual correction (v. 19)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Be Different than Indifferent!

Rev. 3:14-16

Bible Talk Outline

A. Jesus faithfully proclaims ultimate spiritual truth

1. He is a faithful witness/proclaimer (v. 14a, Rev. 22:6), unlike those unfaithfully indifferent

2. He is a Truth-telling witness/proclaimer (v. 14b), unlike the half-changed indifferent

3. He is the new-creation witness/proclaimer (v. 14c, Rev. 1:5), unlike the half-changed

indifferent

B. Jesus finally rejects spiritual indifference (vv. 15-16)

Spiritual indifference is:

1. revealed in works (v. 15)

2. displayed in half-heartedness (“lukewarm,” v. 16a)

a. neither “hot” with zeal (v 16b)

b. nor cold with refreshment (v. 16c)

3. results in rejection (v 16d, literally “vomit”)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

The Greatest Father

Eph. 1:3-14

Bible Talk Outline

God is the most…

· generous Father—lavishing us with spiritual blessings (v.3)

· decisive Father—devising for us the plan of salvation (vv. 4-5a)

· pleased Father—delighting in joy and satisfaction (v. 5b)

· empowering Father—supplying us with the Holy Spirit (vv. 6-8)

· uniting Father—restoring us, and creation, to harmony (vv. 9-14)

- uniting everything, everywhere (vv. 9-10)

- uniting everyone in the Spirit (vv. 11-14)

· praised Father!—deserving of all glory (vv. 3, 6, 12b, 14b)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman