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2022 Messages

Big Words

Big Words

Oct 2022 - Dec 2022
Welcome to the message series about some Big Words in the Bible.

The gift of Jesus Christ is the culmination of many good gifts God gives to the people He loves. Gifts that help us believe in a promising eternity. Gifts that encourage us to grow up into spiritual and relational maturity, together. Gifts that give us great hope for the glory that lies ahead in the world to come. Jesus is the greatest gift: He shows us God, takes our place, and saves us from hell. His sacrifice turns God’s anger away so that now God treats us just as if we’d never sinned! He doesn’t just take away our sin but gives us his righteousness, freeing us to be raised from death to life. God not only buys us back, through Jesus, but he even makes us his sons!

God gives us many other gifts in Jesus, too: His Bible, His Spirit and His Church - each other! In fact, God gives us many good gifts we can’t really discover without one another. This term we’ll discover some surprising gifts we might not have noticed before: ‘Big Words for the Church God Loves’. Big words that may sound intimidating at first, but soon we’ll find them promising, hopeful, encouraging and even liberating:

When I turned 21 my uncles gave me my first car. It was a 1963 Humber Vogue, a big old English vehicle with beautiful lines yet as solid as a Tiger tank. It was a lovely gift from two men who’d always been there in my childhood, guiding and preparing me for the life ahead by giving gifts of Lego, good books and then, on the cusp of adulthood, a car. They helped me believe in a promising future. They gave gifts that encouraged me to look forward to growing up, in hope. They loved me.

The gift of Jesus Christ is the culmination of many good gifts God gives to the people He loves. Gifts that help us believe in a promising eternity. Gifts that encourage us to grow up into spiritual and relational maturity, together. Gifts that give us great hope for the glory that lies ahead in the world to come. Jesus is the greatest gift: He shows us God, takes our place, and saves us from hell. His sacrifice turns God’s anger away so that now God treats us just as if we’d never sinned! He doesn’t just take away our sin but gives us his righteousness, freeing us to be raised from death to life. God not only buys us back, through Jesus, but he even makes us his sons!

God gives us many other gifts in Jesus, too: His Bible, His Spirit and His Church - each other! In fact, God gives us many good gifts we can’t really discover without one another. This term we’ll discover some surprising gifts we might not have noticed before: ‘Big Words for the Church God Loves’. Big words that may sound intimidating at first, but soon we’ll find them promising, hopeful, encouraging and even liberating:

  • Revelation: God shows himself to us,

  • Substitution: Jesus takes our place,

  • Salvation: Sinners saved from hell,

  • Propitiation: God’s anger turned away,

  • Justification: Just like we never sinned,

  • Imputation: Jesus’ righteousness is mine,

  • Resurrection: Raised from death to life,

  • Redemption: Sinners bought by God,

  • And Adoption: Sinners made God’s sons.

We’re learning these big words together with sister churches across Queensland. Eight pastors have developed this series, working as brothers in Christ. We come from churches as far away as Gordonvale in North Queensland to Stanthorpe in the south, from Roma out west to Graceville in the suburbs of Brisbane. We love that God loves us so much, that he gave us these Big Words to share in, together, as part of the great big family of God.

Our big idea for this series is this: God gives us nine big words, to show us just how big is Jesus’ love for his church.

Our theme song for the term is by the famous 21st century Australian scholar, theologian and poet, Colin Buchanan: ‘Big Words that End in Shun’. Amazingly, his nine big words line up perfectly with ours! (Thanks Colin)

We’ll also have some hand signs to help us remember each big word, and to help our kids in church to learn them too.

To help our teenagers and adults learn these Big Words for the Church God Loves, we’ve developed this growth group booklet for all our churches. Use a notepad to take notes as you listen to the sermon. Write in your reflections as you study. And pray for God to use you in growing up your brothers and sisters.

Sermons in this Series
Big Words - 9 - Adoption
04-12-2022
Series: Big Words
Duration: 41:36
Adoption: Message 9 in the series Big Words
In Christ, God adopts us into His family as sons, granting us the privileges of tender relationship with our Father, responsibilities to become like Him in holiness, and rights to share in His future inheritance.
Key references
• Exodus 4:21-22
• Hosea 11:1-11
• Matthew 5:43-48 (Loving enemies)
• Matthew 6:5-15 (Prayer)
• Matthew 25-33 (Provision)
• Luke 11:1-13 (Prayer)
• Luke 15:11-31 (Prodigal son)
• John 1:9-18 (God's children)
• Galatians 3:26-4:7 (Abba, Father)
• Ephesians 1:3-14 (Predestined for adoption)
• Ephesians 4:17-5:20 (Holiness)
• Hebrews 2:10-3:6 (Brothers & sisters of Christ)
• Hebrews 12:4-17 (Discipline)
• 1 John 2:28-3:10 (Father's love, holiness)
Resources
• JI Packer, Knowing God, Ch 19 "Sons of God"
The Gospel Coalition - Essay: "Adoption" by David Garner
• "Adoption", New Bible Dictionary
Big Words - 8 - Redemption
27-11-2022
Redemption: Message 8 in the series Big Words
In Christ, God has redeemed us from slavery to sin to live as slaves to righteousness.
Other key references:
• Psalm 111:9
• Isaiah 44:22
• Galatians 3:13
• Romans 3:24
• Romans 6:18
• 1 Corinthians 6
• Matthew 20:28
• Ephesians 1:7
• Colossians 1:20-22
• Revelation 5:9
Big Words - 7 - Resurrection
20-11-2022
Resurrection: Message 7 in the series Big Words
Since Christ is risen, we have great hope and sweet joy.
Other key references:
• Ezekiel 37:1-14
• 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
• Phil. 3:10-11
Additional Resources:
• Tim Keller: Hope in Times of Fear (book)
• Article from 1 Corinthians 15: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-the-resurrection-changes-everything/
Big Words - 6 - Imputation
13-11-2022
Imputation: Message 6 in the series Big Words
JESUS' RIGHTEOUSNESS IS OURS!

While Adam's sin brings upon us all the reign of condemnation and death, God credits grace and righteousness through the reign of Jesus.
Other Key Passages:
• Genesis 2:16-17
• 2 Corinthians 5:21

Big Words - 5 - Justification
06-11-2022
Justification: Message 5 in the series Big Words
JUST LIKE WE NEVER SINNED!

Condemned, Guilty and helpless, we will all stand before a righteous God, but for those 'In Christ', the assurance of future vindication is ours now, declared to be righteous in his sight.
Other Key References:
• Psalm 32,
• Isaiah 53:6,
• Habakkuk 2:4,
• Acts 13:39,
• Romans 5:1-5,
• 1 Corinthians 6:11,
• Galatians 2:15-16, 3:6-11,
• Colossians 2:13-15,
• Philippians 3:9,
• Hebrews 11:4,
• Luke 18:9-14,
• Romans 3:21-26

Big Words: 4 - Propitiation
30-10-2022
Propitiation: Message 4 in the series Big Words
GOD'S ANGER TURNED AWAY!

At the Cross, God puts forward Jesus as a propitiation to turn His righteous anger away from all who trust His Son.
Other Key References:
• Romans 3:21-26
• Numbers 25:1 -13,
• Exodus 25:17-22,
• Leviticus 16,
• Hebrews 9:11-10:18,
• Hebrews 2:17,
• 1 John 2:2,
• 1 John 4:10

Big Words: 3 - Salvation
23-10-2022
Salvation: Message 3 in the series Big Words
SINNERS SAVED FROM HELL!

God's Salvation is the rescue of people endangered by sin, death and hell by the power of King Jesus.
Other Key References:
• Acts 3:17-4:12,
• Exodus 12:31-42,
• Psalm 114,
• Romans 1:16,
• Romans 5:9-11,
• Ephesians 2:8-9,
• 1 Timothy 1:15-17,
• Titus 3:3-7

Big Words: 2 - Substitution
16-10-2022
Substitution: Message 2 in the series Big Words
JESUS TAKES OUR PLACE!

By submitting to death on the cross, Jesus takes onto himself the punishment for our sin and satisfies the demands of God's justice for us.
Other Key References:
• Isaiah 53:1-12,
• Leviticus 4:1-21 or 5:14-19,
• Genesis 22:1-19,
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-21,
• Romans 3:21-31 (key verses: 25-26),
• Romans 5:6-8,
• Hebrews 9:11-10:18,
• 1 Peter 2:11-25 (key verses: 22-25),
• 1 Peter 3:13-22 (key verse: 18)

Big Words: 1 - Revelation
09-10-2022
Series: Big Words
Duration: 32:19
Revelation: Message 1 in the series BigWords
GOD SHOWS HIMSELF TO US

In the World, by His Word and through his Works, God has been revealing himself to His people throughout history - climaxing in the unveiling of his very self in the person of His Son, in Christ, and now confirmed in us by the work of His Holy Spirit.
Other Key References:
• Genesis 1-2:3,
• Exodus 3,
• 2 Kings 6:8-23,
• Psalm 19,
• John 1:1-18,
• Colossians 1:15-20,
• Ephesians 1 (Paul's prayer)