Search Results

Esther 2:7, 2:17, 3:13, 4:1-14 Introduction: God strategically placed Esther in the royal court of Persia to use her as an instrument of liberation for His people. To this day, it is still true that: I. GOD PUTS THE RIGHT PEOPLE. a. 2:7 “She was lovely and beautiful” b. God doesn’t want anyone else to be exactly where you are – He wants you! II. GOD PUTS THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES. a. Waco b. McLennan County c. Timber Crest Baptist Church III. GOD PUTS THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES AT THE RIGHT TIME. a. An urgent time b. An opportune time c. A final time IV. GOD PUTS THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES AT THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING. God puts whom He wants where He wants when He wants to do what He wants.

Ephesians 4:11-16 Introduction: One of the most remarkable and impressive elements in human life is the velocity and extent of biological growth. But impressive as biological growth is, personal spiritual growth and church-wide spiritual growth are even more important. Like pencil marks on the doorpost that measure our children’s increasing height, Paul gives us four marks by which to measure spiritual growth. These four concrete evidences show that we are growing spiritually, just as Paul told the Corinthians that we have left off the milk of spiritual babes and have begun to eat the solid meat of God’s Word as mature believers. The “pencil marks” Paul gives us are: I. STEADFAST CONVICTIONS (v. 14) a. One sure sign of spiritual immaturity is to be susceptible to the latest religious fad. b. The apostle James described such people as a cork bobbing up and down. (James 1:6-8) c. We must all be convicted that: i. Life is short – James 4:14; Luke 12:20 ii. Death is sure – Hebrews 9:27; Ezekiel 18:4 iii. Sin is the curse – Psalm 14:3; Romans 3:23 iv. Christ is the cure – John 14:6; Acts 4:12 II. SENSITIVE COMPASSION (v. 15) a. Conviction can become cold, rigid rules and regulations. b. True spiritual maturity balances strong convictions with forgiving compassion, humility, and love toward others. c. Jesus, as always, is our model to follow at this point. III. SELFLESS CONTRIBUTIONS (v. 12) a. This means contributions made to Christ, His church, His servants, and their families. b. Spiritual maturity is always characterized by unselfish service which contributes time, talents, and treasure to the building up of the body of Christ. c. Matthew 10:39 IV. SINGULAR CONSISTENCY a. We must commit to the Bible just as it is written. b. We must commit to persons just as they are. c. We must commit to the church just as she is. d. We must commit to Christ just as He commands.

Ephesians 3:14-21 Introduction: The apostle Paul had a God-given dream of the Ephesian Christians growing into mature believers. I have a dream for Timber Crest Baptist Church. I dream of a church: I. INUNDATED BY THE POWER OF GOD a. This power is supernatural. b. This power is explosive-like dynamite. II. BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH a. Faith more than feeling b. Hebrews 1:1, 6 III. KNOWN FOR ITS LOVE a. Galatians 5:22 b. Colossians 3:14 c. 1 Corinthians 13:13 d. John 13:35 IV. GUIDED BY BIBLICAL KNOWLEDGE a. Philippians 3:10 V. SUPPORTED BY ACTIVE, ATTENDING MEMBERS a. Acts 2:46, 47 b. Hebrews 10:25

Genesis 1:26-31 Genesis 2:7, 15-24 Psalm 139:13-17 Jeremiah 1:4, 5 Galatians 1:15 God’s knowledge of, and involvement with, human life begins long before physical conception occurs. God told the prophet that He “knew” him long before he was conceived in his mother. The Hebrew verb used in this verse for “to know” is yada, which conveys great meaning in the Old Testament, going far deeper than mere intellectual knowledge or awareness. Yada means personal commitment and intimate experience with the person known. Yada is used for the sexual union between husband and wife (Gen. 4:1). God not only knew “about” Jeremiah, he “knew” him and was involved in a personal way with him before he was conceived. This personal and intimate involvement by God in individual lives extends to this personalized involvement in their conception and development. God says that each life is “woven” (Hebrew, sakak “to weave”) by Him (Gen. 2:7, Ps. 139:13) and that He knits together (Hebrew, raqam “to embroider”) each human frame (Hebrew, estem “skeleton”) in the womb (Ps. 139:15). God’s personal, detailed, intimate, divine involvement with each human life is what imparts to each life its sacred value and unique worth. It is God’s personal interest in, and involvement with, each human life which reveals that He has a “personalized” plan for each human being even prior to actual conception (Ps. 119:16; 127:3; Is. 43:7-8; Eph. 2:10). Thus, abortion (the killing of an unborn human being), infanticide (the killing of the ill and the infirm), and homicide (the murder of human beings at any stage in life) are all a revolt against God and an attempt to usurp the prerogatives and plans of the Creator. God loathes such bloodshed and rebellion and has made it clear that He will judge those who perpetrate or condone such bloodshed (Gen. 9:5-6; Ex. 20:13). Sermon Video

Matthew 9:35-38 Introduction: When is Jesus coming to earth again? How near are we to this magnificent event that will consummate human history as we know it and usher in the Kingdom of God in all its fullness? Although we don’t know the precise answers to these questions, the indications are that the day is drawing near. Whenever this may take place, we can be sure that this incident from the life of Jesus tells us exactly what we are to be busy doing until He does come! While we await Jesus’ Second Coming: I. WE MUST VISUALIZE a. Matthew tells us that Jesus “saw” the multitude. b. This means much more than making visual contact – it means to perceive and to understand the soul. c. We must “see” what is around us. II. WE MUST AGONIZE a. Jesus was emotionally affected by what He saw. b. The lostness of those around us must be viewed as simply intolerable. III. WE MUST EVANGELIZE a. There is no shortage of work to do. b. There is a shortage of workers to do the work! IV. WE MUST STRATEGIZE a. This means we will have to organize, mobilize and utilize. b. To fail to plan is to plan to fail! Supplemental Scriptures: Luke 19:41 Matthew 23:37-38 Romans 9:3 Matthew 28:18-20 Acts 1:8 1 Peter 3:15 II Corinthians 5:14

Romans 8:26-39 Introduction: Almost everyone wants to start each new year right. We all try to begin the year in a better way than we did the previous year. We make resolutions. We give ourselves pats on the back and encouraging speeches. In this passage in Romans, God’s Holy Spirit inspired the apostle Paul to clearly outline three things every one of us needs to give ourselves for the new year. We all need: I. A CROSS TO CLING TO. (V. 32) a. God did not withhold that which was most precious to Him – His own Son. b. God’s investment in us is too great for Him to ever quit on us. II. A TRUTH TO HOLD TO. (V. 35. 37) a. In this day of relativity, we need some spiritual absolutes. b. Christ has overcome and given us the spoils of victory. III. A LORD TO LOOK TO. (V. 38, 39) a. Nothing in all of God’s created order can separate us from His love. b. God’s love is completely deposited in, and wrapped up in, the person of Jesus Christ. Supplemental Scriptures: John 8:10-11 Romans 8:16-17 Galatians 6:14

Luke 2:22-40 Introduction: A Christian author by the name of Jo Carr tells about a children’s Christmas program she attended. She writes: “The little girl playing the role of Mary almost forgot Jesus in the crib when she left the stage. Suddenly she turned back, snatched up the baby doll by the foot, clutched it under her arm, and left.” The Sunday after Christmas gives us one last opportunity to “clutch” the Christ Child as well, to reaffirm the simple truth of Christmas. It is three-fold. I. GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES. a. When God makes a promise, it will be kept. b. Isaiah 9:6 c. Micah 5:2 II. GOD DOESN’T PROMISE US A ROSE GARDEN. a. Authentic Christian faith is not to be confused with rose-colored glasses. b. There is a cradle in our faith. c. There is a cross in our faith. III. GOD PROMISES ARE TO BE SHARED WITH OTHERS a. We who follow Jesus are heirs to God’s promises. b. However, they are not ours alone. c. They are for the whole world.

BREATH OF HEAVEN Created and Arranged by Craig Adams Sunday December 19, 2021 10:45AM Pastor: Bill Swearingen Minister of Music: Tim Timmons The Adult Choir

Luke 2:1-20 Introduction: All true believers in Bethlehem’s babe can rejoice in God’s greatness. There were certain components that made up the fulfillment of God’s promises to man. They were: I. The city (v. 1-5) a. Bethlehem was prophesied as the Messiah’s birthplace. b. Micah 5:2 II. The scene (v. 6-7) a. The innkeeper gave what he had. b. Our challenge is to do the same. III. The shepherds (v. 8-14) a. I Corinthians 1:27 b. John 10:11, 27, 28 IV. The Savior (v. 11) a. A personal promise – “To you” b. A present promise – “This day” c. A precious promise – “A Savior” Supplemental Scriptures: John 1:14, 29 Galatians 4:4 Philippians 2:10-11 Revelation 11:15

Luke 1:26-38 Introduction: Mary, a young maiden of Nazareth in Galilee, was the recipient of a startling announcement. There are some areas of importance in this story where we need to focus our attention. I. The Personalities (v. 26, 27) a. God b. The angel Gabriel c. Mary d. Joseph II. The Promise (v. 28-33) a. Matthew 1:18-25 b. Mary’s child was God’s son. III. The Problem (v. 34) a. V. 34 “How can this be?” b. Mary not intimately involved with Joseph IV. The Proof (v. 33-37) a. God initiated the process miraculously. b. V. 37 “With God nothing is impossible” V. The Position (v. 38) a. Mary humbled herself before God. b. There is salvation only in Jesus. Check our Facebook page for the sermon video!