the word 'consider' in the original languages
a. One word has to do with the brain.
b. The other word has to do with the eyes.


Things we should consider
1. Consider what God has done. (I Sam. 12:24; Ps. 107:43; Ps. 143:5; Ecc. 7:13)

2. Consider creation.
a. Psalms 8:3 – consider the heavens
b. Job 37:14-18 – consider God's wonders
c. Proverbs 6:6 – Go to the ant, consider its ways
d. Luke 12:22-31 – consider how the lilies grow
                            consider the raven

3. Consider others
a. Phil 2:3 – consider others better than yourself
b. Hebrews 10:24-25 – consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

4. Consider the value of your faith.
a. James 1:2-4 – consider it joy whenever you face trials
b. Phil. 3:7 – consider everything a loss compared to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus.

5. Consider Jesus
Hebrews 12:3 – consider Him, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The 21st century church seems to be more concerned with getting right with God than we are with living right.

The problem is not so much of wanting to be holy as it is winning the battle to be holy.

Holiness begins in your mind.

1. Preparation
“prepare your minds for action.”
Every day, thousands of events and images attempt to influence the way you think.

Be careful to prevent the garbage from entering your mind, and take action to fill your mind with the Word of God.

2. Separation
“be self- controlled”
If we are intoxicated by the world, then we live by our emotions, and we will not be able to make good decisions.

We detach ourselves from our emotions, so they don't have the power to control us.

3. Concentration
“set your hope on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed”
“charis”- kindness shown to one who is undeserving

God shows kindness to us, not because we are good, but because He is good.

We cannot learn to live holy until we take our eyes off ourselves and concentrate on God.

Church becomes the object of weak priorities because of a false understanding of what the Church is.
a. The Church is not an organization.
b. The Church is a living, growing organism.

Colossians 3:16 – the life-blood of the church- things that contain the elements of teaching, discipline and worship.

Illustrations of the Church
1. the human body
a. the head
Jesus is “the brains of the operation.”
the first thing that is noticed or observed
b. the rest of the body
For a body to be healthy, each part of the body must be healthy.

2. a building (I Corinthians 3:9-11)
a. Jesus is the chief Cornerstone.
b. The rest of us are the little stones that make up the rest of the building. (I Peter 2:4)

3. a family (Ephesians 5-6)
a. The Church is called the bride of Christ.
b. Christ is called our brother.
c. The more the family breaks down, the more the Church breaks down.
d. We have responsibilities to each other.  

Keys to a new beginning
1.Release from captivity (1:1-5)

a. experience a mixture of joy and pain.
The temple foundation was a reminder of what had been lost. (3:12)

b. If we choose to remain in the past, all that can do is hold us in bondage.


2. They had a vision.

a. The work on the temple became a focal point of their new start.

b. Worship and sacrifices resumed even before the temple was built. (3:4)

c. If you are always waiting for something else to happen before you give yourself to the Lord, maybe you need to do a little evaluating.


3. Abandon sinful practices. (10:2-3)

They not only acknowledged their sin, but they abandoned it.

Steps to abandoning sin
1. Confession (Nehemiah 9:3)
2. Repentance (Psalms 51:10)


4. The ability to work together. ​

Everyone had a job and knew their role.

First words of the angels- “Don't be afraid.”

1. Joseph- the fear of immediate obedience (Matthew 1:20-24)

When you obey the Lord, He will bless what you do.


2. Zechariah – the fear of unanswered prayer (Luke 1:12-20)

Many of us go through some difficulties before we can get to the point of believing that God answers prayer.


3. Mary – the fear of the humanly impossible (Luke 1:26-38)

Let go of your fears that you are not strong enough or capable enough to accomplish what He wants you
to do.


4. the shepherds – the fear of salvation (Luke 2:8-18)

Without your Rescuer, you are doomed because of your own sin.

1. Calculate (vs. 15)
The Lord has been transforming lives for 2,000 years and continues to do so today. (Jeremiah 29:13)


2. Contemplate (vs. 17)
Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in heart.
The story of the manger doesn't mean a lot unless it is linked to prophecy.


3. Celebrate (vs. 20)

The best way to celebrate Christmas is with our lips and with our lives.


4. Circulate (vs. 17)
The shepherds lives in a world plagued by
a. confusion because people had no direction.
b. controversy because there had been no revelation.
c. conflict because there seemed to be no hope.

Jesus is the answer to our confusion, controversy and conflict.

Come home spiritually, even if you can't come home physically.  

1. Deception should never be a part of what  we do as Christians.

Often, we preach ourselves rather than Jesus as Lord.


2. We think we have to veil the glory, so the disappointment won't be too great when the
glory fades away. (3:7-18)

The glory of the new covenant will never fade away.


3. There is only one image we need to conform to.
The treasure is Jesus. The jar of clay is the life of a sinful, mortal human being. (7)
We are to call attention to the treasure, not the container.


4. When our lives show something good, people will see the the power must come from something outside ourselves.


5. This does not mean that we relax our standards.
When Jesus rules our lives, we will be perfect.
We don't need to deceive the world.
We don't need to deceive each other.
​You don't need to deceive yourself.

“Psuche” = life or soul
the real self- this is what we are all trying to hang on to.

Our obsession with rights
1. People want the right for the freedom to be  themselves.
They rebel against their roles.

I Corinthians 9 -”exousia” - refers to the idea of authority.
The Bible doesn't deny we are entitled to rights; it says it just doesn't matter.
When you give up yourself, you have an identity as a servant of God.


2. People want the right to seek personal fulfillment.

By seeking fulfillment in something else before God, you wind up losing that fulfillment.
Our rights are fulfilled in knowing Christ. (John 1:12)


3. People want the right to define life.
The authority to have life is given to those with washed robes. (Revelation 22:14)
God makes the rules about who lives or dies eternally.


Banana lesson: What you wish to possess the most will prove to be the most illusive.
You will never gain by grasping.
We must seek our rights on God's terms, not man's

1. A life-long relationship (1)
Not just is the Lord like a shepherd, He is my shepherd.


2. The necessities of life (2-3)
a. material needs
b. moral necessities


3. Strength through life. (4)

“The Lord will provide” doesn't mean that He will remove us from the valley.

rod- used for defense
staff- used for control


4. An abiding fellowship with Him forever. (5-6)

God is a gracious friend.

Fulfillment in Jesus
Need                                     Psalm 23                             Jesus
I lack rest                              green pastures                    Matt. 11:28
I lack refreshment                   still waters                         Matt. 11:29-30
I lack restoration                     restores my soul                 John 9:39
I lack guidance                       paths of righteousness         John 16:13
I lack companionship               Thou art with me                John 15:15
I lack comfort                          rod and staff                      II Cor. 1:3-4
I lack provision                        prepared table                    Matt. 6:33
I lack satisfaction                      cup overflows                    John 10:10
I lack a home                           house of the Lord               John 14:3