Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:22-24 “The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; Lord, your loyalty is great. I say to myself, “The Lord is mine, so I hope in him.” (NCV)

Text: Matthew 6:33

Lessons I’ve learned:

#1—Try hard to not do or say thins that I’m going to regret

#2—When in doubt, don’t

#3—Try hard to live your life so that you have no regrets

Three common regrets at the end of our lives:

#1—Not spending enough time with loved ones

          James 4:13-14

          Proverbs 19:11

          Hebrews 12:14

          Ephesians 4:31-32

#2—Spending too much time at work

          Exodus 20:8-11

#3—Failing to pursue our passions

          Psalm 37:4

• Scripture gives us permission to enjoy our family and friends
• Scripture gives us permission to enjoy life; to be rest; to be healthy; as well as permission to work
• Scripture gives us permission to be fulfilled in our lives and to accomplish wonderful things that bring honor to God and blesses us and others

John 10:10—Satan’s purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. God’s purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life.

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Fourth Sunday of Advent: LOVE
Text: John 3:16

Bible Reading: 1 John 4:9-10 “God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (NLT)

Text: John 3:16

God so loved the world—

Love—Agape’—to esteem; to cherish; to favor; to honor; to respect; to accept; to prize; to relish; and to be devoted to.

Definition of Agape’—1 Corinthians 13:4-8a “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails.” 

Three Scriptures that talk about God’s “forever love”–

#1–1 John 4:19–God’s love for us began before we existed

          Psalm 139:13-14—He loved us while we were being formed in our mother’s womb

Psalm 136:1-26—God’s love is forever

#2–Lamentations 3:22-23—The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

#3—Romans 8:38-39—Nothing can change the love God has for us!

Nicodemus and his late-night visit with Jesus—

          John 19:39—

John 3:16—a literal rendition, “that His Son, the only begotten, He gave.”

The only begotten Son of God—Messiah. The HOPE of all the world. The source of PEACE, both the PEACE of God and PEACE with God. And the JOY of mankind.

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Third Sunday of Advent: JOY

Bible Reading: Colossians 1:11-12a, 13-14 “We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

Text: Luke 2:8-10; Matthew 2:9-10

Definition of JOY: Feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence and from hope in His Word.”

JOY vs Happiness—

          Happiness is temporary

JOY is supernatural—

          JOY comes from the Holy Spirit, God in you

                    Galatians 5:22-23

JOY is based upon God and His faithfulness—

          Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; 2 Corinthians 1:20

JOY comes from confidence in God—

          Romans 8:28—All things work together for good….

          Romans 8:37—We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus

          Romans 8:38-39—Nothing can separate us from God’s love

JOY—the prospect of the righteous

JOY—comes in the morning

          2 Corinthians 5:17; John 16:20; Romans 15:13

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, December 4, 2022

The Second Sunday of Advent: Peace

Text: Luke 2:8-14

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

Text: Luke 2:8-14

This Season: GRATITUDE and HOPE

Ecclesiastes 9:4—

PEACE—harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. It is more than the absence of conflict.

#1—Genesis 1:2—

Chaos vs Peace—without form and void

Pictures of chaos in the history of Israel: 400 years of bondage to Egypt; bondage to Babylon, Persia, and Rome

Other pictures of chaos—disease, death, famine, and storms

#2—Romans 5:9-10—Enemies of God

Even while we were still at enemies of God, God loved us; sent His Son; and promised us peace

#3—Peace of God—

          Philippians 4:6-7—

          Heart—our inner person; intellect, emotions, will, and our values

#4—Peace with God—

          Romans 5:1—

          Reconciled with God, through Jesus’ death

If you have not made peace with God, invite Him into your life today!