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!

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 27, 2022

First Sunday of Advent

Bible Reading: Psalm 33:20-22 “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.” (NLT)

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-5

Tis the Season! —Thanksgiving; Hope; Joy, Peace, and Love

1 Peter 3:15— “set apart”

Paraphrase—Live your life with so much hope, so much joy, so much and so much love, that folks wonder what makes you so different.”

Old Testament Prophecies—

Genesis 3:15—First mention of the Messiah

Seven hundred years before Christ was born, Isaiah made forty prophecies about the coming Messiah

Read all forty prophecies at the following web site:

http://www.preceptaustin.org/messianic-prophecies-in-isaiah

Isaiah 9:6—

Many Old Testament Messianic Prophecies were written as if they had already happened

Isaiah 53:5—

Hope—always looks to the future

Jeremiah 29:11—God has promised us a future, which means He has promised we would always have hope

Romans 8:37—More than conquerors

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

Romans 15:13—Hope may abound

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 100:4-5 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (NIV)

Text: Ephesians 5:17-20

Four levels of gratitude—

Level One—Never give thanks

Level Two—They don’t complain, grumble, or argue, but never give thanks

Level Three—Grateful for the obvious

Level Four—Those who are “always giving thanks”

Question: What do we give thanks for?

Question: Why should be give thanks when tough things happen?

          Romans 8:28–

          Romans 8:31—

          Romans 8:35-39—

Our thanksgiving should be daily—

          Psalm 68:19

          Psalm 103: 1-5

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Bible Reading: “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an at of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves toward the goal of true maturity.” (J.B. Phillips New Testament)

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

#1—All of this is going to happen very quickly—in a twinkling [think blink] of an eye.

#2—Why a trumpet call?

          Judges 3:27; Judges 6:34; Nehemiah 4:18-20; Numbers 10:2-10

#3—Why a “shout”—1 Thessalonians 4:16

          John 11:43

#4—What will the “last days” be like for us?

          2 Timothy 3:1

          What does “perilous” mean?

          The “antichrist”—2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

          What does “son of perdition” mean?

#5—Even though life gets tough in the Last Days, we have a “blessed hope.”

          Titus 2:11-13

          What does “live soberly” mean?

          What are we supposed to be doing in the “Last Days?”

          Acts 1:4-8–

#6—Rapture—Catching away; caught away; rescued from danger

          The word “rapture” is not in the Bible but it is taught.

          Acts 8:39-40—Philip was “caught away”

How to be sure you are ready?

Romans 3:23; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 10:13

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, November 6, 2022

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 5:6-7 “So, humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (NLT)

Text: Acts 1:9-11

Question #1—What happens during the Last Days?

          Matthew 24:3-8—The Rapture

          2 Thessalonians 2:3–Appearance of the Antichrist

          Matthew 24:21-22—The Tribulation

          Revelation 19:11-16—The Second Coming

Question #2—What is the purpose of the Second Coming?

          Revelation 19:11-6

Question #3—What is the Blessed Hope?

          Titus 2:11-13

Question #4—What are we to be doing during the Last Days?

          Acts 1:4-8

Question #5—What can we do to make sure we are ready?

Watch—Matthew 24:4                                  Encourage one another—Hebrews 10:24

Stand firm—Matthew 24:13                         Be in fellowship—Hebrews 10:25

Witness—Acts 1:8                                         Submit to God; resist the devil—James 4:7

Forgive one another—Matthew 6:15

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Bible Reading: Numbers 23:19; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 119:89 ““God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.” (NLT)

Text: Acts 1:9-11

Question #1—When did the Last Days begin?

Question #2—What happens during the Last Days?

          Matthew 24:3-8–Rapture

          Revelation 19:11-16—Second Coming

Question #3—What is the purpose of the Rapture?

          1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

          Matthew 24:9-14

          2 Timothy 3:1-5

          1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Question #4—What is the purpose of the Second Coming?

          Revelation 19:11-16

Question #5—What are we supposed to be doing during the Last Days?

          Acts 1:4-8

Question #6—What can we do to make sure we are ready?

Watch—Matthew 24:4                                  Encourage one another—Hebrews 10:24

Stand firm—Matthew 24:13                         Be in fellowship—Hebrews 10:25

Witness—Acts 1:8                                         Submit to God; resist the devil—James 4:7

Forgive one another—Matthew 6:15

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 32:3-4 “I will proclaim the name of the Lord; how glorious is our God! He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” (NLT)

Text: Matthew 5:17-20

#1–“to fulfill”—

          No short cuts–

          “jot & tittle”—

#2—v20—righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees

          Jeremiah 31”31-33–Performance vs Matters of the heart

          A marriage proposal—

          No more “just getting by”—

          “In their minds & hearts—

#3—v21—You have heard that it was said

          Jesus was not “correcting the Old Testament.” Rather, He was correcting the scribes

          And Pharisees

          Matthew 5:21; 27; 31; 33; 38 & 43

#4–The issues of the inside

 What’s on the inside will eventually come out.

          Luke 6:45

James 1:13-15     

#5–Provision for the healing of our inside

Isaiah 53:5

Transgressions—sin we do

Iniquities—sin we think about

#6—Prvention of inside issues

Philippians 4:8

Troy Mills Christian Church

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Bible Reading: Psalm 28:6-8a “Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. The Lord gives his people strength.” (NLT)

Text: Matthew 5:17-20

#1—v17–Law or the Prophets—

#2—v18—For assuredly—

#3—v18-19—jot & tittle

#4—v20—righteousness of the scribes & Pharisees

          Matthew 23:25-28

#5—v21—You have heard that it was said

          Matthew 5:21; 27; 31; 33; 38 & 43

          The inside matters. What’s on the inside will eventually come out.

          James 1:13-15

          Isaiah 53:5

                    Transgressions—sin we commit

                    Iniquities—sin we contemplate

          Philippians 4:8