HBC 21st December 2014Advent series –part 4

Jim Harrison

Interaction 1• Introduce yourself to someone nearby,

preferably someone less known to you.• Take 1 minute and then let them introduce

themselves to you.

How did you introduce yourself?

• First name• Family name• Family context? Spouse/parent/child• Occupation?• Where you live?• Where you grew up?• Interests?

Interaction 2:In the same pairings

Introduce Jesus to each other

• Again take 1 minute and swap over

How did you introduce Jesus?

• What tense? He is/ He was? He will be?• Personal? I believe? My LordImpersonal: ‘He is said to have been’• His purpose on earth?• His names?• His ancestry?• His death?• Modern perception/current global influence?

Read Isaiah 9 v 6,76 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,And the government will be on his shoulders.He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the increase of His government and peace

there will be no end.He will reign on David’s throne and over his

kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah• 700 years before Christ• 700 years ago Edward 2 was king of England(born 1284)

Ch7-12 The Immanuel chapters

To us...

• v6 To us• Child/son – incarnation– In=in– Caro=flesh– Natio=to be born

• Government will be on His shoulders

He will be called...

What’s in a name?

Jesus names

• Substance (who he is – what He is like)– Wonderful, Counsellor– Mighty God– Everlasting Father– Prince of Peace

• Purpose (why He came)– Jesus, Christ, Messiah, Redeemer

The Trinity

What is the most important decision you have made/will make

in your life?

Who is Jesus?Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus the mythical figure?

Jesus the lovely Christmas baby?

Jesus the one who died for mankind?

The living Jesus - my saviour and my Lord

Of the increase...

• What is happening in the world?

http://www.pewforum.org/files/2014/12/christianity-graphic-04.png

v7 His government

• David’s throne• His kingdom• Justice and righteousness• From that time and for ever

The Kingdom – where he rules

• 53 references - Matthew• 42 references - Luke• Luke 17.21 ‘The kingdom of God is within you’

Forget the maps – His kingdom is not terratorial

...It is in our hearts

• There are 80,000 new Christians each day• There are 79,000 new Muslims every day• There are 300 fewer atheists each day• There are 270 Christian martyrs every day(First things George Weigel)

http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2011/02/christian-number-crunching

Is His kingdom within me?How is He leading me to bring His kingdom?

Refresh

• Jesus is God’s gift to us• The most important question is ‘who is Jesus?’• We are on the winning side!

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this v7