Wonder: Week 4

Written By Abby Sholar
SERMON NOTES PDF

[John 1:14-18 NLT] 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. 15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, 'Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.'" 16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart. He has revealed God to us.

  • When I pause to wonder, this allows me to remember God's past faithfulness and miracles which restores wonder of Christ in my life. 

    • His provision.

    • His protection.

    • His presence.

    • His forgiveness.

    • His grace.

    • His answered prayers.

    • The people He has placed in my life.

    • The difficult places He has brought me through.

  • His lifestyle is not that of a superstar, someone incredibly wealthy, a renowned religious preacher, or someone who has chosen a solitary life, deeply knowledgeable of scripture. Instead, it’s the people around us, those who are “like you and me.”

  • Jesus Sees People - Jesus sees what others overlook -Zacchaeus — Luke 19:1–10

  • Jesus Touches People - Jesus moves toward those others avoid - The Leper Mark 1:40–42

  • Jesus Responds with Grace - Jesus sees beyond our sin to who we can become - The Woman Caught in Adultery — John 8:1–11

  • Jesus Forgives - Failure does not have to be the end of our story - Peter -Luke 22:31–32

  • Jesus Knows Us - Jesus knows us completely and loves us still - The Samaritan Woman at the whale John 4

  • Jesus Has Compassion - His love moves toward people in need.

  • Jesus Invites Us to Follow - The wonder of Christ is not only something to admire—it is a way of life to follow.

[Matthew 13:53-58 NLT] 53 When Jesus had finished telling these stories and illustrations, he left that part of the country. 54 He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, "Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?" 55 Then they scoffed, "He's just the carpenter's son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers--James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. 56 All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?" 57 And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family." 58 And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.

  • What hinders my wonder of Christ’s ways?

    • Familiarity dulls wonder

    • Hurry crowds out wonder

    • Distraction steals wonder

    • Pride blinds wonder

    • Control resists wonder

    • Disappointment questions wonder

    • Cynicism dismisses wonder

    • Pausing before Christ restores wonder

Abby Sholar
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Wonder: Week 3