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Reflecting The Son

Nathan Morrison
11/07/21 - Gospel Meeting

Series: Fall 2021 Gospel Meeting

The Third Lesson in our Fall Gospel Meeting, 2021

Text: Matthew 5:16; Romans 8:29-30

Intro

I. Jesus is the ___________ of the world (the source of light) - Jn. 1:4-5; 8:12
II. Saints are to reflect His Light in letting our lights shine!

• A. Mt. 5:14-16 (Light to be seen); Rom. 8:29-30 (Must conform to image of the Son)

III. Parallel as visual aid:

• A. The sun provides light to the earth (source of light)
• B. The moon provides light at night in varying degrees (reflects the light of the sun)

IV. The amount of light the moon reflects from the sun is determined by its phase:

• A. New Moon (Current use, but originally called the Dark Moon): No light reflected
• B. Crescent Moon, waxing or waning: Very little light reflected, a thin crescent ring
• C. Half Moon, waxing or waning (1st & 3rd Qtr Moon): Half the moon reflects the sun
• D. Gibbous Moon, waxing or waning: Nearly all the moon is reflecting the sun
• E. Full Moon: The whole moon reflects the sun and brightens the night sky!

V. What phase of the moon are you in as you reflect the Light of the Son (Christ)?

I. Dark Moon

A. Reflection of the Son: No light! Complete darkness!

1. Men love the “darkness” of ______ and reject the word of God – Jn. 3:19-21
2. Mt. 13:19-22: This is the state of one who is an unbeliever or fallen away!

B. Sin is a state of spiritual _______________ (I Thess. 5:5)
C. Those in _________ need to repent and be baptized to wash away sin! (Acts 2:38; 22:16)
D. Those who dwell in the darkness of sin, not reflecting the Son, will be eternally punished!

II. Crescent Moon

A. Reflection of the Son: Minimum, sliver of light

1. Acts 26:16-18, 22-23: Paul was sent to the Jews and Gentiles to rescue them from _______________!

B. Waxing:

1. This could be the state of a new convert ever growing in the knowledge of Christ, or a weak saint becoming stronger – I Pet. 2:1-3; II Pet. 3:18

C. Waning:

1. Weak saints due to lack of growth – Heb. 5:12-14
2. Weak saints falling away for various reasons – Mt. 13:20-22: Rocky & Thorny

D. I Pet. 2:2: Crescent Moon Saints needs to “_______ ____ _______ ___ ____________!”
E. Will your light brighten as you reflect the Son, or will it wink out?

III. Half Moon

A. Reflection of the Son: Bright, half-light, half-darkness

1. Col. 1:13-14: Saints are those rescued “from the domain of ______________.”

B. Waxing:

1. Heb. 6:1-2: Leaving behind the basic (first) principles, this is the saint growing brighter for Christ and more and more reflecting His glory! (Rev. 2:19)

C. Waning:

1. Could describe one who compromises with the world: one foot in the world and one foot in Christ – Rev. 2:12-15 (Pergamum), 18-25 (Thyatira)

D. I Thess. 5:21-22: Half Moon Saints need to “________ _________” to the good and “_______________” from even the appearance of evil!
E. Are you growing or weakening in your reflection of the Son?
 

IV. Gibbous Moon

A. Reflection of the Son: Brighter, nearly complete reflection

1. Jn. 12:46: Faith in Christ (by obedience) leaves the darkness into the _______!

B. Waxing:

1. Jn. 3:21: By practice (Heb. 5:14) the saint leaves the dark for the light!
2. Rom. 13:12-14: The “armor of ___________” is put on to contrast the darkness of night, and the saint more and more reflects the Son!

C. Waning:

1. A saint burning this brightly starts to lose their light by becoming distracted and unfocused – Mt. 13:22: The Thorny Soil Saint becomes unfruitful!
2. II Thess. 3:13: Perhaps this is one who becomes weary of doing what is right.

D. Gal. 6:7-9: Gibbous Moon Saints need to “not lose heart in doing __________!”
E. Will your light ever brighten as you reflect the Son, or do you grow weary and lose heart?

V. Full Moon

A. Reflection of the Son: Radiant, complete reflection

1. Mt. 5:16; Lk. 11:33-36: Complete light, with no “________ part in it!”

B. Complete reflection of the Son – Rom. 8:29-30

1. Eph. 4:14-16: Saints are to “grow up in all aspects into Him!”
2. I Thess. 5:4-8: God has called us to be “Daylight Disciples!”

C. Jn. 8:12: Jesus makes “daylight disciples” having the “_________ of life.”

1. His disciples are “children of light.” (Eph. 5:8)
2. His disciples “walk in the light.” (I Jn. 1:7: contrasted to 1:6)

D. Eph. 5:7-11: God’s people are not to ________________ the deeds of darkness but expose them! (Jn. 3:19-21: Evil hates the light for fear the dark will be exposed!)
E. I Cor. 15:58: Full Moon Saints need to ________ “_______ __ __ ____ __ ___ ____!”
F. Let your light continue to shine as bright as the Son so that men will “glorify” God!

Conclusion

I. People in the world live in the _______________ of sin, full of despair and hopelessness! (Eph. 2:11-12)

• A. For that reason God’s people are to be lights, beacons of truth that offer hope to the sick and dying (spiritually) – Mt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15

II. God’s people are to be “Daylight Disciples” as they walk in the _____ of truth (Ps. 119:105).
III. Do you stray into the dark or stand in contrast to it?

• A. Going just a little into the _________ is to walk in _______________ and should no longer be a part of a Christian’s life – Eph. 5:3; I Pet. 4:1-3

IV. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, saints reflect the ______ of the Son of God (Mt. 5:16).
V. People around us (in the dark world) will only see the light of Christ in us as we reflect the Son.
VI. In reflecting the Son, what phase of discipleship are you in?
VII. Can others see the light?