On Time and On Purpose - Traditional

In one paragraph

On the second Sunday of Advent, the pastor walked First Baptist Jackson through the theme of peace by asking two questions about the birth of Jesus: did it happen at the right time, and did it happen for a reason? The answer to both, he argued, is yes, and the Bible says so explicitly and repeatedly. the pastor opened by drawing a distinction between two Greek words for time. Kronos is clock time,...

Read together

1. Galatians 4:4-7 primary text on God sending His son at the fullness of time, for redemption and adoption as sons
2. Romans 5:6-8 Christ dying for the ungodly at the right kairos moment, while we were still helpless sinners
3. Matthew 1 (Emmanuel prophecy) fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy that the virgin shall bear a son called Emmanuel
4. Matthew 2:14-15 Joseph fleeing to Egypt with Mary and Jesus so that it might be fulfilled: out of Egypt I called my son
5. Matthew 4:13-16 Jesus dwelling in Capernaum fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about Galilee and people in darkness seeing a great light
6. Luke 1:1-4 Luke's stated purpose for writing his gospel, so that Theophilus might know with certainty
7. Luke 5 (paralyzed man) Jesus declaring the son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, healing the paralyzed man
8. Luke 18:15 people bringing infants to Jesus so that he might touch and bless them, rebuked by disciples
9. Mark 1 (Jesus preaching) Jesus saying let us go to surrounding towns so that he may preach, because for this purpose he came forth
10. Mark 3 (healing on Sabbath) Pharisees watching Jesus to see if he would heal on the Sabbath so that they might accuse him
11. John 1 (John the Baptist) John the Baptist came as a witness to testify about the light so that all might believe through him
12. John 3:17 God did not send the son to judge the world but so that the world might be saved through him
13. John 6 (works of God) the work of God is that you believe in him who he has sent
14. John 12 (sons of light) believe in the light while you have it so that you may become sons of the light
15. John 15:11 Jesus speaking so that his joy may be in his disciples and their joy may be made full
16. John 16:24 ask in Jesus' name and you will receive so that your joy may be made full
17. John 16:33 Jesus speaking these things so that in him his disciples may have peace, for he has overcome the world
18. John 17 high priestly prayer full of purpose clauses, including that they may be one and be sanctified by truth
19. Acts 16 (Philippian jailer) jailer asking what he must do to be saved, Paul and Silas answering believe in the Lord Jesus Christ
20. John 20:30-31 signs written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ and have life in his name
21. 1 Peter 2:24 Jesus bore our sins on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness
22. Romans 15:4 scripture written for instruction so that through perseverance and encouragement we might have hope

Talk about it

1. Pastor James talked about two Greek words for time, kronos and kairos. Think of a moment in your own life that felt less like ordinary clock time and more like an 'opportune moment.' What made it feel that way?
2. Galatians 4:4-5 says God sent Jesus 'when the fullness of the time came,' so that he might redeem those under the law and so that we might receive adoption as sons. What does it mean to you personally that God acted with that kind of deliberate purpose rather than by accident or coincidence?
3. Pastor James pointed out that in John 3:17 the word 'might' is intentional: 'so that the world might be saved through him.' He said the might depends on the will of the individual. How do you hold together God's sovereign purpose to save and the real weight of a person's own response?
4. The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, 'What must I do so that I may be saved?' and someone in the congregation asked Carl that same question the very morning of this sermon. What keeps people from asking that question openly, and what could we do to make it easier for someone to ask it?
5. Pastor James said the whole chapter of John 17 is Jesus praying purpose-driven prayers for his followers, and that the scripture itself was given 'so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.' How consistently do you actually turn to scripture for that kind of encouragement, and what gets in the way?