[Luke 24:13-16] That same day two of Jesus' followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. [16] But God kept them from recognizing him.

Jesus is _______________ even if you don't _______________ Him.

[Luke 24:17] He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?" They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.

Jesus is not intimidated by your _______________.

[Matthew 28:20b] And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

God is with us even when we are _______________.

[Luke 24:21] We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

When you’re focused on your ____________________ you’ll struggle to see God _______________.

[Luke 24:25-27] Then Jesus said to them, "You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. [26] Wasn't it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?" [27] Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

What God is building in you is _______________ than what you’re asking for.

[Luke 24:30-32] As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. [31] Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! [32] They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

Your _______________ can sense what your _______________ can't see.

Courage is not the opposite of fear, it is acting _____ ______________ ______ our fears. In our spiritual journey there is always a call to move ________________. [Proverbs 3:5-6] Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Faith will always ___________________ fear. [Romans 10:17] So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. [Matthew 14:25-31] About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. [26] When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” [27] But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” [28] Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” [29] “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. [31] Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” The Two Reasons the Other Disciples Didn't Step Out They were _____________. They preferred the _____________ of the boat. [2 Timothy 1:7] for God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind God isn't calling us to the safety of a boat, but to the ___________________ of stepping out! Don't let a __________ __________ hold you back! [Judges 6:14] Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

[Luke 24:1-7] But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. [2] They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. [3] So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. [5] The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? [6] He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, [7] that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day."

If God had done things our way we might have been ______________________, but we wouldn’t have been ________________.

[1 Corinthians 1:18] The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

Only God can build a ________________ plan around ________________.

[Matthew 27:42] "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!

The cross wasn’t a ________________, it was the ________________.

[Colossians 2:13-15] You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. [14] He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. [15] In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Jesus didn’t come to fix your ____________________, He came to fix your ____________________.

[Luke 24:21a] We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel.

The resurrection begins where people ____________________ the story is ____________________.

[1 Corinthians 15:54-57] Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" [56] For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. [57] But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What looked like ____________________ was actually ____________________ in disguise.

[Nehemiah 6:15-16] So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. [16] When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Rebuilding the wall was not ______________. [2 Chronicles 7:14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. Turning from our sin comes before God's ______________. [Nehemiah 10:28-29] Then the rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, Temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the pagan people of the land in order to obey the Law of God, together with their wives, sons, daughters, and all who were old enough to understand— [29] joined their leaders and bound themselves with an oath. They swore a curse on themselves if they failed to obey the Law of God as issued by his servant Moses. They solemnly promised to carefully follow all the commands, regulations, and decrees of the Lord our Lord. If we want God to bless us then we need to make some ______________. Personal ______________ of God’s truth must be the goal of any spiritual change. [Matthew 7:24-27] “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. [25] Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. [26] But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. [27] When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” True commitment to God means ______________. [2 Chronicles 16:9] The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war. The depth of our commitment determines our ___________.

[Luke 19:36-38] As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. [37] When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. [38] "Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!"

Jesus came to ___________ their __________________.

[Luke 19:35] So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

[Zechariah 9:9] Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey--riding on a donkey's colt.

It’s possible to lay something down in a moment, and still not _______________________ your life.

[Luke 19:41-44] But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. [42] "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. [43] Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. [44] They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not accept your opportunity for salvation."

Jesus came to bring __________________ with God.

Jesus didn’t come to meet our ________________________, He came to save our __________________.

[Romans 5:1] Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

God doesn't do what we __________________, he does what is __________________.

[Hebrews 12:6] For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child."

Just because you don’t ______________________ what God is doing doesn’t mean He isn’t __________________.

[Nehemiah 2:19] But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. 20 I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.” When you serve God, there is going to be ______________. [Matthew 5:11-12] “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. [12] Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. Whenever you are doing something good, you will be ______________ and ______________. [Nehemiah 4:7-9] But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. [8] They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. [9] But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves. Instead of giving in, Nehemiah chose to find new ______________ and determination through faith in God. [Romans 8:31] What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? _____________ should come from the Lord rather than you. [Nehemiah 4:14-20] Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” [15] When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. [16] But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah [17] who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. [18] All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm. [19] Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. [20] When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” Our God will ______________ for us.

[Luke 19:1-5] Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. [2] There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. [3] He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. [5] When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today."

______________ knows you by ______________.

Jesus knows ___________ before you know ___________.

[Luke 19:6] Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.

Jesus doesn’t expect us to _________________, before we ______________ Him in.

[Luke 19:7] But the people were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled.

Your __________________ doesn’t ______________ Jesus.

Grace may seem ______________, but the Good News is it’s ___________________ to all of us.

[Romans 2:4] Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

[Luke 19:8] Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

When Jesus moves _____, priorities move ______________.

[Luke 19:9-10] Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

[Romans 5:6-11] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. [9] And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. [10] For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. [11] So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Jesus comes to us as a ______________ not a __________.

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