“Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark.” (Genesis 8:1a)

I. God Remembered Noah.

A. “And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.” (Genesis 8:1; Proverbs 30:4; Job 38:8-11; Psalm 135:7)

B. God gave Noah a sign of hope. (Genesis 8:6-12; Habakkuk 2:3)

C. God spoke to Noah. (Genesis 8:16-17; Psalm 27:14)

II. Noah Remembered God.

A. Noah left the Ark. (Genesis 8:18-19)

B. Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings to the Lord. (Genesis 8:20)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
Have you ever felt forgotten?
How has God remembered you?
How will you remember God today?
How will you remember God this week?
How will you remember God in this season of your life?

The Ark of Our Salvation (Genesis 6)

I. A Portrait of Noah

A. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:8-9; Romans 5:1-2)
B. Noah was a family man. (Genesis 6:10)
C. Noah was a righteous man in a world of corruption. (Genesis 6:5, 11-12)
D. Noah obeyed God completely and absolutely. (Genesis 6:22)
E. Noah was a bold preacher of righteousness. (II Peter 2:5; Matthew 24:37-39)
F. Noah was a man of faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

II. Jesus Christ is the Ark of Our Salvation (John 3:16; 6:37; 10:9; 14:6; II Peter 3:9)

Our Godly Heritage: One Generation to the Next (Genesis 5)

I. “And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.” (Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1-3; 9:6; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22)

II. “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him.” (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 14-15; Colossians 1:10)

III “Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son. And he called his name Noah, saying, ‘This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord has cursed.’” (Genesis 5:28-29)

Application Questions:
What does it mean to “walk with God”?
How will you “walk with God” this week?
How will you praise His works and declare the Gospel one generation to the next?

Bless the Lord: Part Three (Psalm 103:19-22)

I. Bless the Lord for His many benefits. (Psalm 103:1-5)

II. Bless the Lord for His abounding mercy. (Psalm 103:6-18)

III. Bless the Lord for His sovereignty. (Psalm 103:19; Romans 11:36)

IV. Bless the Lord through sincere worship. (Psalm 103:20-22)

A. Worship is a response of praise. (Psalm 103:1-2, 20-22; Hebrews 13:15)

B. Worship is a response of fear or reverence. (Psalm 103:11, 13, 17; Hebrews 12:28-29)

C. Worship is a response of obedience. (Psalm 103:18; 119:33-34; 1 Samuel 15:22)

APPLICATION:
-What element of Psalm 103 has had the most impact on you?
-What does it mean to “bless the Lord”?
-What are some reasons to “bless the Lord”?
-How will you express sincere worship in your life this week?
-Who will you share God’s love with this week?

The Mission of God’s Family

Mission Statement:
We are a family of God growing together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through a heritage of praising His works and declaring the Gospel one generation to the next by the power of the Holy Spirit and for the glory of God.

I. “We are a family of God…” (Psalm 68:6; John 1:12)

In 2017, how well did we function together as a family? Where and how have you seen relationships established and grow here at Heritage Village Church?

Will you commit to caring for the family of God at Heritage Village Church by promoting unity, encouraging one another, and helping us grow as God leads you in 2018?

II. “growing together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18)

In 2017, how have we grown together in grace and knowledge?

Will you commit to growing together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ throughout 2018?

III. “through a heritage of praising His works and declaring the Gospel one generation to the next” (Psalm 145:4)

In 2017 how have we praised His works and declaring the Gospel one generation to the next?

Will you commit to praising His works and declaring the Gospel one generation to the next throughout 2018?

IV. “by the power of the Holy Spirit and for the glory of God.” (Acts 1:8; John 15:5)

Bless the Lord: Part Two (Psalm 103:6-18)

I. Bless the Lord for His many benefits. (Psalm 103:1-5)

II. Bless the Lord for His abounding mercy. (Psalm 103:6-18)

A. “The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” (Psalm 103:6; Isaiah 1:17; Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 11:28)

B. “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” (Psalm 103:7-8; Exodus 34:6-7; 1 John 2:2)

C. “He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.” (Psalm 103:9- 10)

D. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12; 1 John 1:9 Micah 7:19).

E. “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14)

F. “As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103:15-16; 1 Peter 1:24-25)

G. “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.” (Psalm 103: 17-18; Titus 2:13; Psalm 145:4)

APPLICATION:
-What aspect of God’s mercy are you most thankful for?
-How will you respond to the Lord’s abounding mercy?
-Who will you extend God’s mercy to this week?

Five Promises for the New Year (Psalm 103:1-5)

1. God forgives you. (Psalm 103:3, 10-12, 13, 17; Micah 7:19, Isaiah 43:25; 1 John 1:9)

You serve a God who forgives you. Why is this promise relevant today?

2. God heals you. (Psalm 103:3, 13-14; Isaiah 53:5; James 5:14-15)

You serve a God who heals you. Why is this promise relevant to you today?

3. God redeems you. (Psalm 103:4, 6; 1 John 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13:12)

You serve a God who redeems you. Why is this promise relevant to you today?

4. God loves you. (Psalm 103:4, 8; John 3:16; Romans 5:8)

You serve a God who loves you. Why is this promise relevant to you today?

5. God renews you. (Psalm 103:5, 15-18; James 1:17; Isaiah 40:31)

You serve a God who renews you. Why is this promise relevant to you today?

2018 and Beyond: His Love Endures FOREVER (Psalm 136)

I. A Call to Worship (Psalm 136:1-3; Romans 8:38-39)

A. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! (Psalm 136:1; Psalm 34:8)
B. He is the God of gods and Lord of lords. (Psalm 136:2-3; Psalm 115:3)
C. His love endures forever. (Psalm 136; Romans 8:38-39)

II. Reasons for Praise (Psalm 136:5-26)

A. Creation (Psalm 136: 5-9; Hebrews 11:3)
B. The Exodus (Psalm 136:10-15)
C. The Wilderness (Psalm 136:16)
D. The Conquest (Psalm 136:16-22)
E. Throughout History (Psalm 136:23-25)

III. Closing with Praise (Psalm 136:26)

A. The center of history is God.
B. The Christian faith is based on facts.
C. His love endures forever.

For Further Reflection:
1. Where have you seen God’s guiding hand and providential care in 2017?

2. How might God be leading you in 2018?

Creative Exercise:
Write your own psalm reflecting on the past year using the pattern set forth in Psalm 136.

You Shall Call His Name Jesus: Worship the King of Kings (Matthew 2)

“The angel declared “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”” (Matthew 1:21)

I. Jesus’ Kingship Foretold (Matthew 2)

A. “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1)
B. “Rachel weeping for her children” (Matthew 2:16-18; Jeremiah 31:5)
C. “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23; Isaiah 53:2-3; John 1:46)

II. Jesus’ Rule and Authority (Matthew 2)

A. Jesus’ Rule Causes Opposition (Matthew 2:3, 7-8, 16; John 1:11)
B. Jesus’ Rule Causes Indifference (Matthew 2:4-6)
C. Jesus’ Rule Causes Worship (Matthew 2:10-11)

You Shall Call His Name Jesus: Emmanuel, God with Us (Matthew 1:18-25)

1. GOD WITH US: Throughout History. (Genesis 3:8; 9:9; 17:7; 26:3; 28:15; 39:3; Exodus 3:12; Joshua 1:5; Judges 6:16; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 43:1-2; Jeremiah 1:8)

2. GOD WITH US: Prophecy fulfilled. (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 1:28)

3. GOD WITH US: The Birth of Jesus (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:2)

4. GOD WITH US: Jesus’ Life, Death and Resurrection. (John 1:14; 1 Peter 2:21; Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Matthew 28:20; John 7:33; 13:33)

5. GOD WITH US: The Abiding Presence of the Holy Spirit. (John 14:16-17; Acts 18:9-10)

6. GOD WITH US: The Promise of Heaven (Ephesians 1:13-14; John 14:2-3; Revelation 21:3)