Certain Future.

Caleb James Schonrock�Born 9/28/22 at 9:58PM�6lbs 4oz and 19 inches 

Inspire multigenerational communities towards a life of

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• FOLLOWING Jesus
• BUILDING Community
• SEEKING Transformation of our homes, neighborhoods, and world.

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“The problem comes when we mistake the vessel for the treasure, �for the treasure is the life and power of Jesus.” �- Dallas Willard�

What’s in a Name?

havecertainty.

Where in your life today is the most uncertainty?

⁵⁷ Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸ And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.⁵⁹ And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰ but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ⁶¹ And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶² And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 

⁶⁴ And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. ⁶⁵ And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, ⁶⁶ and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,�    for he has visited and redeemed his people�⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us�    in the house of his servant David,�

⁷⁰ as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,�⁷¹ that we should be saved from our enemies�    and from the hand of all who hate us;�⁷² to show the mercy promised to our fathers�    and to remember his holy covenant,�⁷³ the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us�⁷⁴ that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,�might serve him without fear,�⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.�⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,�

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�⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people�    in the forgiveness of their sins,�⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,�    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high�⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,�    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Big Idea:

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Luke invites us to see Zechariahs journey of ongoing spiritual transformation of increased certainty in God’s grace and goodness. When we as individuals are CERTAIN of God’s grace and goodness, it inevitably leads to the profound impact on those around us.

Disagreement around naming John.

Key Narrative Questions

• What happened?
• Why here?
• What does it mean to us?

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⁵⁷ Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸ And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.⁵⁹ And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰ but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ⁶¹ And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶² And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 

• Disagreement around naming John.

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• Zechariah boldly declares his son’s name.

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Healthy Spiritual Life

How we respond to God's promise of power reveals our faith.

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and MANY will rejoice at his birth… (Luke 1:11-14)

Healthy Spiritual Life

How we respond to God's promise of power reveals our faith.

… for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

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(Luke 1:15-17)

How we respond to God's promise of power reveals our faith.

And Zechariah said to the angel, “HOW shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” (Luke 1:18)

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“WHO vs. HOW”

Sarah/Isaac

How we respond to God's promise of power reveals our faith.

And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

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(Luke 1:19-23)

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Healthy Spiritual Life

Healthy Spiritual Life

⁵⁷ Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸ And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.⁵⁹ And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰ but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ⁶¹ And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶² And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 

⁶⁴ And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. ⁶⁵ And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, ⁶⁶ and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,�    for he has visited and redeemed his people�⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us�    in the house of his servant David,�

Healthy Spiritual Life

• Disagreement around naming John.

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• Zechariah boldly declares his son’s name.

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• Zechariah transforms from doubting to praise.

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⁶⁴ And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. ⁶⁵ And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, ⁶⁶ and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,�    for he has visited and redeemed his people�⁶⁹ and has raised up a horn of salvation for us�    in the house of his servant David,�

⁷⁰ as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,�⁷¹ that we should be saved from our enemies�    and from the hand of all who hate us;�⁷² to show the mercy promised to our fathers�    and to remember his holy covenant,�⁷³ the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us�⁷⁴ that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,�might serve him without fear,�⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.�⁷⁶ And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,�

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�⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people�    in the forgiveness of their sins,�⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,�    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high�⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,�    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

NOT with a sword.

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NOT through bloody war.

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NOT just with might.

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NOT with coercion or the controlling use of power.

He Leads.

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He rescues.

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He leads.

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He transforms.

BUT with His word.

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BUT with a new way.

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BUT with light- His teachings and life.

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BUT as a matter of character, addressing the forgiveness of sins.

�⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people�    in the forgiveness of their sins,�⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God,�    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high�⁷⁹ to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,�    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all round her. She gazed up into the large wise face. 

 �    “‘Welcome, child,” he said.  �    “AsIan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”  �    “That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.  �    “Not because you are?”  �    “I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”�C.S. Lewis, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia The Chronicles of Narnia.

• Help me recognize where I am on this spiritual journey.
• Help me want to want you MORE today.
• Help me to TRUST that your better is better (Reliable, not predictable).
• Help me be increasingly intentional about loving people in my workplace, neighborhood, school or home who are more challenging for me to love.
• Help me declare your GRACE and GOODNESS in my life.
• “What are you inviting me into TODAY?

Ready to share with mouths (and eyes and hearts) wide open.

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Take-Aways: Radically DEPENDENT Kingdom living Today.

Certain Future.