Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, December 13, 2020

Third Sunday of Advent

Text: Luke 2:8-20

I. JOY—

A. Not an emotion

C. Grace—unmerited work of God on our behalf

B. State of being

1. Salvation

2. Hope

3. Peace

4. Joy

II. God fills us with JOY

A. Romans 15:13

B. “by the power of the Holy Spirit”

C. 1 Thessalonians 1:6

III. JOY is part of the fruit of the Spirit

A. Galatians 5:22

B. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives

C. No limit

IV. No one can take JOY from us

A. John 16:22

B. Gary S. Paxton

V. So, why does JOY matter?

A. 2 Corinthians 1:20

B. Isaiah 35:10

C. Nehemiah 8:10

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Second Sunday of Advent

Text: Luke 2:8-14

Advent Readings: Isaiah 64:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126

Sin has a way of swindling us out of peace. Peace opens the door for harmony, wholeness, completeness, health and soundness.” Peace was also intended to be permanent rather than temporary. The permanence of peace was due to the permanence of God.

Text: Luke 2:8-14

I—Shalom

          Definition—

          Isaiah 9:6—The Prince of Peace

          John 10:10

II—Benefits of peace

1. Philippians 4:7—guards our minds and our hearts

• Proverbs 29:11—gives us strength

• Isaiah 54:10—helps through tough times

III—Three kinds of peace

1. Pease with God

Romans 5:1

• Peace with others

Ephesians 2:14-16

• Inner Peace

John 14:27

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Text: Genesis 6:5-8; Luke 2:11

Advent Readings: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7

The “Christmas Story” as found in the New Testament is very much like starting a movie in the middle or entering a conversation long after it had started. You miss out on so much. The need for HOPE and the message of HOPE begins in the Old Testament book of Genesis.

Text: Genesis 6:5-7

Verse 6: The Lord regretted—

Question: What caused the Lord to grieve?

Question: Does our sin still cause the Lord to grieve?

“Obedience to God is to come from our love for God and not from following rules”

Mark 12:30—”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself.”

The problem: 2 Timothy 3:2 “people will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money.”

          Question: What happens when I love something more than I love God?

Genesis 6:8—Noah found favor

Favor—God’s grace. God giving us the ability to do things that we otherwise would not be able to do.

Example: to save ourselves from sin. It’s impossible for man to save himself

Luke 2:8-13—But there is HOPE

Luke 2:14—The favor of God is to bring salvation and HOPE for eternal life.

Advent Fact: Advent started as a season of fasting about 400 years after the birth of Christ. It was a call to look back and celebrate the HOPE of Jesus’ birth and it was also a call to look forward in anticipation of Jesus’ Second Coming

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sermon Notes

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-18

Bible Reading for today: Psalm 9:1-2, 7-10

Paul wrote these two letters, 1 and 2 Thessalonians to encourage the believers to continue living their lives in the hope that was theirs as they continued to work while waiting in hope for the return of Christ.

Seven benefits to having an attitude of gratitude:

Gratitude opens the door to more relationships

Gratitude improves physical health

Gratitude improves psychological health

Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression

Gratitude helps us sleep better

Gratitude improves our self-esteem

Gratitude increase mental strength

(borrowed from Psychology Today, April 2015)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-18

Verse 16–Rejoice Always—

          Philippians 4:4—

          Matthew 5:11-12—

Verse 17-Pray Continually—

Continually refers to recurring prayer that grows out of a settled attitude of dependence upon God

Verse 18–Give Thanks for all circumstances—

          Romans 8:28

Aggravations are temporary and God will use them to grow us; to work them out for our good

True victories in life are won by Christ Followers who are joyful, prayerful, and thankful

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Texts: Matthew 24:37-44; 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Today’s Bible Reading: Psalm 27:1-3 (NIV)

I. Matthew 24:37-44 (Luke 17:26-36)

A. As it was in the days of Noah

B. One Taken, One Left

C. Be Ready

II. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

A.Terrible Times (perilous times)—

B. Last Days—

C. Selfish, greedy, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, reckless, conceited and lovers of pleasure

Questions for consideration:

1. Do you see any comparison to 2 Timothy 3:2-5 and the days in which we live?
2. In the face of “perilous times” what are you doing to “be ready?”
3. What are you doing to ensure those you love will “be ready?”

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Bible Reading: Romans 8:38-39

We discovered:

• The Last Days began at Pentecost in Acts 2.
• Jesus warned of wars, earthquakes, famines
• Jesus warned us about spiritual warfare
• Jesus Himself told us that no man or angel would know when the end would be
• Our job in the Last Days is to make sure we are prepared and to do all that we can to ensure our friends and families are ready

Biblical Prophecy:

• The Bible contains over 1,000 prophecies
• Over 500 have come to pass
• The Bible contains 100 prophecies about the First Coming of Christ
• All of them came to pass
• The contains 300 prophecies about the Second Coming (including the Rapture & Tribulation)
• The Rapture and Second Coming are separate events

Today:

1. Acts 1:9-11

1. Matthew 24:37-44
2. As it was in the days of Noah
3. One Taken, One Left
4. Be Ready

1. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
2. Selfish, greedy, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, reckless, conceited and lovers of pleasure

1. 2 Peter 3:3-10
2. Scoffers
3. Be ready

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 1, 2020

Text: Matthew 24:36-44

Bible Reading: Psalm 46:1-3, 7

Last week: Matthew 24:4-8

We discovered:

• The Last Days began at Pentecost in Acts 2.
• Jesus warned of wars, earthquakes, famines
• Jesus warned us about spiritual warfare
• Jesus Himself told us that no man or angel would know when the end would be
• Our job in the Last Days is to make sure we are prepared and to do all that we can to ensure our friends and families are ready

Biblical Prophecy:

• The Bible contains over 1,000 prophecies
• Over 500 have come to pass
• The Bible contains 100 prophecies about the First Coming of Christ
• All of them came to pass
• The contains 300 prophecies about the Second Coming (including the Rapture & Tribulation)
• The Rapture and Second Coming are separate events

Today: Matthew 24:36-44

Four pictures:

• Like the Days of Noah
• One man taken, the other left
• One woman taken, the other left
• Like a thief coming to rob you

Questions for your consideration:

What do you think about when you hear someone talk about End Times?

What have you done to be prepared?

What have you done to help your family & friends be prepared?

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Bible Reading: Psalm 84:10-12

Text: Matthew 24:4-14, 36

1. Last Days—Acts 2
2. God gave marching orders to the Church—Acts 1:8
3. God empowered the Church to carry out our marching orders

1. Matthew 24—
2. Verse 6—wars and rumors of wars
3. Nation against Nation
4. Kingdom against kingdom
5. John 10:10
6. Verse 7—Earthquakes
7. Verse 7—Famines
8. Verse 8—accelerating as birth pains

1. Our Response
2. We should be challenged to live our life in such a manner that no matter when the end might be, we will not be caught off guard
3. Mark 13:33
4. Live in gratitude for the gift of salvation
5. Romans 10:9
6. After we accept Christ as our Savior, the only concern we should have to deal with as far as eternity is, “where will our family and friends spend eternity?”
7. Acts 1:8
8. We should be doing the works that God established for us
9. Ephesians 2:10

Questions for consideration:

1—What do you think about when you think about the “End Times?” Do those thoughts frighten you?

2—What can you do to ensure your family and friends are ready?

3—Are you living as though the “End” could be today? If not, what do you need to do to be ready?

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 18, 2020

Text: Genesis 15:9-11

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 16:1, 2,5 & 11 (NLT)

Text: Genesis 15:9-11

1. Covenants—
2. Two parties, one strong and independent; one weak and dependent
3. Animals used for this covenant were the same animals prescribed for the sin sacrifice
4. The “flaming torch” and “smoking firepot” appear later, to lead Israel out of Egypt (a pillar of fire and a cloud of smoke)
5. Two parties walk through the pooled blood of the animals
6. Declaring the life and death consequences of keeping the Covenant
7. But…. God puts Abram into a deep sleep. Now it’s all on God

1. What’s being promised?
2. Genesis 13:14-16

1. Vultures
2. Unclean bird
3. Likened to demonic spirits (Revelation 18:2)
4. Trying to disrupt the covenant ceremony
5. Abram drove them away

1. God has made promises to us (you).
2. John 10:10—God’s plan for us is to have a rich and satisfying life
3. Satan tries to “steal, kill and destroy” John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8
4. Satan has “vultures” or “schemes 2 Corinthians 2:11
5. We are to “draw near to God” James 4:8
6. We are to “guard our heart” Proverbs 4:23

Questions for consideration:

1. What are the promises of God you are hanging on to today?
2. What “vultures” are trying to steal, kill or destroy God’s promises to you?
3. What are you doing to “draw near” to God or to “guard your heart?”

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Today’s Bible Reading: Psalm 91:1-6

Text: Hebrews 10:24-25

1. Review of Birds on a Wire, Part I

A–Acts 2:42, 46-47—Daily Bible Study; Daily Fellowship; Daily Lord’s Supper; Daily Prayer

“They continued” in these things; signs & wonders; conversions; the church grew Daily

B. Birds on a wire: they formed a flock; they work together; they found a place of warmth; they face the same direction; they give space to one another; they are the same variety

Birds on a Wire, Part II

I Hebrews 10:24-25–

1. Prod or incite—

• The Day–

1. Matthew 28:19-20

1. As you are going
2. Sally & Light
3. Sphere of Influence
4. Social Media

• Daily, Continual; Assimilate; Encourage; Pray; Teach.

1. One another Verses:

Love One Another—John13:34                    Honor one another—Romans 12:10

Accept one another—Romans 15:5                       Serve one another—Galatians 5:13

Bear one another’s burden—Galatians 6:2           Forgive one another—Ephesians 4:2             

Encourage one another—1 Thessalonians 5:11    Pray for one another—James 5:16