Bible Talk Outline

On-Schedule with God

Lk. 2:1-7

The circumstances of Jesus’ birth remind us that God graciously (and sometimes sovereignly) guides us to be on-schedule with God’s will for our lives, just as…

◊ Caesar’s decree was on-schedule (vv. 1-2)

◊ The multitudes’ travel was on-schedule (v. 3)

◊ Micah’s prophecy was on-schedule (vv. 4-5a, Is. 11:1; Mi. 5:2)

◊ Mary’s delivery was on-schedule (vv. 5b-6)

◊ Jesus’ incarnation was on-schedule (v. 7)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Bible Talk Outline

Expect a Special Christmas Delivery

Lk. 1:67-80

God’s gift of Jesus the Messiah both delivers us from sin’s effects and delivers to us abundant life. Christmas brings…

◊ the delivery from uncertainty into INSIGHT, like Zechariah

experienced (v. 67)

◊ the delivery from slavery into FREEDOM, like Moses and

Israel experienced (v. 68)

◊ the delivery from worldly kingdoms into a DYNASTY, like

David experienced (vv. 69, 74-75)

◊ the delivery from threat into SECURITY, like the prophets

promised (vv. 70-71)

◊ the delivery from incomplete community into a FAITH-FAMILY,

like Abraham experienced (vv. 72-73)

◊ the delivery from spiritual darkness into SALVATION light, like

John the Baptizer proclaimed (vv. 76-80)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

Mary the Magnifier

Lk. 1:46-55

God is…

◊ magnified through Mary’s praise of Him (vv. 46-47)

▪ Mary the humble worshipper (v. 46a)

▪ The Mighty Lord, worthy of worship and praise (v. 46b)

▪ Mary the humble sinner (v. 47a)

▪ God, the Mighty Savior (v. 47b)

◊ magnified through Mary’s blessings from Him (vv. 48-49)

▪ Mary, one humble servant, is blessed (v. 48a)

▪ Generations, many voices, call her blessed (v. 48b)

▪ God, the Mighty One, provides

◦ powerful blessings (“mighty,” v. 49a)

◦ pure blessings (“holy,” v. 49b)

◦ personal blessings (“for me,” v. 49c)

◊ magnified because inequity is reversed by Him (vv. 50-53)

▪ God’s inequity-reversing mercy (v. 50) to the…

◦ powerless (v. 51a)

◦ poor in spirit, humble (v. 52b)

◦ poor materially (v. 53a)

▪ God’s inequity-reversing might (v. 51) toward the…

◦ proud (v. 51b)

◦ privilege3d and powerful (v. 52a)

◦ prosperous (v. 53b)

◊ magnified by fulfilling Israel’s covenant with Him (vv. 54-55)

▪ Israel, God’s humble servant (v. 54a)

▪ God, Israel’s mighty and merciful Promiser (vv. 54b-55)

Dr. Jim R. Coleman

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