Downtown Church: Memphis, TN: Recent Episodes

Downtown Church

Listen to sermons from Downtown Church in Memphis, TN.

1.Experience the hope of your calling (Verse 18)

2.Experience that you are God’s glorious

inheritance (Verse 18)

3.Experience God’s power at work in you (Verse 19)

“When we forget about the Spirit, we really are forgetting God...There is a big gap between what we read in Scripture about the Holy Spirit and how most believers and churches operate today.”

Francis Chan

Main Idea: The Holy Spirit guarantees God’s current presence and future blessing in our lives.

1. Signed - Signed with Good News. Verse 13a

2. Sealed - Sealed as God’s Possession. Verse 13b

“whoever believes in me as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive.”

(John 7:38-39)

3. Delivered - Delivered to Receive our Inheritance. Verse 14

Join us as we continue on a transformative journey through the pages of Ephesians. We will discover God’s plan for the world, the church, and God’s plan for you.

Ephesians uncovers for us the profound riches of God’s grace, the blessings of salvation, and how mankind can live in unity. We hope that as we walk through Ephesians: God’s Plan for All People, we will be ignited with a passion for God’s Word and empowered to live by faith.

As the new people of God, Christians / Saints have experienced the abundance of God's good pleasure in His Providing all insight and wisdom.

This spiritual blessing from the Father reveals to us God's secret plan, - that at the fullness of times, God will restore harmony to all Creation by uniting, in Christ, all things in Heaven and on Earth.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:3

Main Idea: Live in and enjoy the blessing of redemption

1. In Him: WHO of redemption

Colossians 1:13-14, “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. We have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, in Him.”

2. By His Blood: HOW of redemption

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God."

3. According to the riches of His Grace: WHAT of redemption.

Big idea: Our adoption is in and through Christ alone, we must live according to the purpose of His will.

Conforming to the image of Jesus Christ the Son of Man
Confidence in our blessed assurance
Committed to the Beloved Family

Chosen Unconditionally
Chosen to be blameless
Chosen to be holy
Chosen in Him
Chosen in His presence

1. Grace: Proof of God’s love.

2. Peace: Product of God’s Grace.

3. Praise: Bless God because, by His Grace, we have Peace.

Blessing:

1 God chose you in him before the foundation of the world. Verse 4
2 Adopted you to himself according to the purpose of his will. Verse 5
3 Redemption and forgiveness of our trespasses, because of the riches of his grace. Verse 7
4 Inheritance. Verse 11
5 Sealed with the Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of your inheritance. Verse 13

Main Idea: God's Word has the power to transform our lives, cities, and the world.

God uses SUBMITTED hands to accomplish His plans. Verse 8-12

Ways Paul Proclaimed:

Bold
Reasoned
Persuasive
Consistent
God uses COMPETING hands to accomplish His plans. Verse 13-17

Main Idea: Jesus being alive gives us reason to rejoice.

1. Jesus is Alive

Hymn: I serve a risen Savior

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today

I know that He is living, whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near

Refrain:

He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know he lives?

He lives within my heart.

2. Jesus is Accessible

3. Jesus is more than an Acquaintance. He is our Brother.

Big Idea: Because of God’s infinite authority we are sent out to the nations to make disciples.

John 17:18 (ESV): “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

John 17:20–21 (ESV): “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Central Idea: FORGIVEN PEOPLE FORGIVE.

Because God has forgiven us, we forgive others.

The What of Forgiveness
The Why of Forgiveness
Reason #1: Jesus commands us to.
"Forgiveness is not an emotional response but an act of obedience to God."
Reason #2: God is OUR Father
The How of Forgiveness.

Luke 23:34: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."

The following audio is from Downtown Church, a Kingdom focused, Gospel-centered, multi-ethnic, multi-class ministry in Memphis, TN. This week we continue our series, "Marks of a Disciple." Drawing from 2 Timothy, Dr. Julian Russell explains the importance of knowing God's Word and how to defend it. For more information, visit downtownchurch.com.

Main Idea: “God’s word answers life’s key questions.”

Question #1 PROVISION: Will God Provide? Verse 3-4
Question #2 POWER: Is God Able? Verse 5-7
Question #3 Purpose: Who will you Worship? Verse 8-10

Whatever you live for is who and what you worship. What you worship defines your life’s purpose.

Benefits of God’s Word:

Teaches Our Identity and Position
Teaches Truth and Protects us from Deception.

Guest Speaker Jason Cook from Fellowship Bible Church - Roswell, GA

Know who God is
Experience God

1 – Speech about the Lord as Shepherd (vv 1-3)

1a – Speech to the Lord as Shepherd (v4)

2a – Speech to the Lord as Dinner Host (v5)

2 – Speech about the Lord as Host (v6)

1.Know who God is

2.Experience God

Pray about who God is
Pray to God in need
Pray for and with others

Big Idea: We must live as godly people so that know we are disciples of Christ.

1. Dependent upon Christ alone vv 5-8

2. Hide God’s Word In Your Heart vv 9-11

3. Love One Another vv 12-13

Bottom Line: Following Jesus is free but requires a complete willingness to suffer for and with Jesus.

1. “Following Jesus requires you to do hard & unpleasant things” V 23

Self Denial means:

Submitting your natural/fleshly demands of the body to God’s Word so that you don’t give in to sin.
Self-denial means removing oneself as the center of existence and recognizing Jesus Christ as one’s new and true center.

Colossians 3:5-8:

2. Following Jesus requires constant self-reflection V 57-58

3. Following Jesus requires focusing on God’s kingdom. V. 59-62

1. Jesus' Pursuit

2. Jesus' Promise

Jesus has a vision of who you are to BE and a purpose that you are to DO.

Follow Jesus:

INTENTIONAL in spiritual growth
TRUST His will for your life
OBEY His commands
READ His word to know his character

1 Corinthians 4:14-16 "Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus.

3. Jesus' Purpose

Live the gospel
Live in unity
Live in confidence

Big Idea: When God reveals who He is, it forms our understanding of who we are thus we must walk in truth.

(The truth will set you free)

1 walk in fellowship with God v.6

2 walk in the light v.7

3 walk not in deception v.8

4 walk in confession v.9

5 walk in righteousness v.10

MAIN IDEA: God is WHO you need, to handle WHAT you need, WHEN you need it handled.

God Is: our REFUGE V. 1-3
God Is: Help in Trouble. V. 1

“In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

God Is: PRESENT in our present. V. 4-7
God Is: GOD. V. 10

"He's Worthy to Be Praised!"

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8

Main Idea: God deserves our praise for all that He has done & for all that He is.

1. The Lord is worthy of praise because He is the CREATOR.

2. The Lord is worthy of praise because He is the CONQUEROR.

Today's Scripture

Matthew 1:18-25

Big Idea: The Birth of Jesus Christ is the promise fulfilled that God is with us, so we must live with greater confidence in the grace of God.

We must have faith in God’s will.
We must be attentive to the voice of God.
We must worship God for making sovereign provisions.

Today's Scriptures

Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah 8:17
John 1:14
Matthew 4:13-17
2 Peter 3:9
Receive
Work
Wait

Main Idea: Trust God because the light of God’s goodness will overcome the darkness of the world.

3 Lies Satan tells:

God is holding back from you.
Sin carries no consequences.
You can be your own God.

1. God Calls. Verse 9

2.God Crushes. Verse 15

Big Idea: Because God’s Glory is Revealed in His Faithfulness, we must live as a Holy Nation.

Because God’s Glory is Revealed in His Faithfulness, we must deepen our intercession.

Because God’s Glory is Revealed in His Faithfulness, we must depend on His covenant/promise.

Because God’s Glory is Revealed in His Faithfulness, we must desire to dwell in the Temple of God.

"an idol is anything more important than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything you seek to give you what only God can give." Tim Keller

Main Idea: The need for control is a lack of faith that displeases God.

1. Our need for control and lack of trust creates false worship. V. 1 - 6

“In the beginning God created man in his own image and we have been trying to return the favor ever since by creating God in our own image.” Voltaire

Jeremiah 17:9 the heart is deceitful above all and desperately sick.

2. False worship ignites God’s wrath V. 7 - 10

3. God’s wrath is appeased by THE INTERCESSOR and REDEEMER V. 11 - 14

“Jesus is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since he always live to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

“Jesus was raised to life and is interceding on our behalf before the throne." Romans 8:34

Today's Scripture

Exodus 24:12-18

Main Idea: Because God graciously chose to live near His people, we should honor His presence with our lives.

Point #1 God's old residence

Genesis 1-2

Point #2 God's new residence

Exodus 25-31

Point #3 God's better residence

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Colossians 1:19

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51)

1.Everything Comes from God

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Deut. 16:3 – "Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt."

Feast of Weeks (or Feast of Harvest)

Deut. 16:11-12 – "And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees."

Lev. 23:43-44 - "Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

2.Share what you have (it’s not yours!)

Exodus 23: 10-12 – “For six years you are to sow your fields and harvest the crops, but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left."

3.Everybody has something to give

Exodus 23:15 – “Nobody is to appear before me empty-handed.”

4.Celebrate who gave you everything

Main idea: Celebrate God who gave you everything!

Main Idea: God's exclusive love for His people radically changes how we love Him and others

Point #1 God expects us to remember the foundation of his love for us. (vv.1-2)

And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery

Point #2 God expects a primary and unshared love with Him. (vv.3-11)

Point #3 God expects us to show off His love to other people. (vv.12-17)

D.T.R. = Defining the Relationship

Big Idea: God's special relationship with his people is a result of His love, which should motivate us to worship and obey him.

Point 1 God initiates our relationship with His redeeming love (v.4)

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8

6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Point #2 God strengthens our relationship through His presence and words (vv.12-20)

Ex. 19:16,18-19

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. . 18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.

Ex. 19:12-13

12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;[a] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Point #3 God reassures His love for us through His gracious gifts. (vv.24-25)

24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

God is faithful to keep his promises, save and deliver his people, and prove that he has no rivals.

The Problem: God uses trials & tests to DEEPEN and REFINE our trust in Him.
The Answer: In the midst of a trial, trust in Jesus the Rock, who will keep you lifted up.

“Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord.” (Exodus 14:31)

“Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. and the people grumbled against Moses.” (Exodus 15:22)

"The whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Saying “would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill us with hunger.” (Exodus 16:2)

“Do not fear, for God has come to test you so that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” (Exodus 20:20)

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. " (1 Peter 1:6-7)

"all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:4)

Bottom Line: "God didn't save you to keep you the same but for you to continually grow in holiness."

Exodus 11:4: "About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die."

1. Salvation: Salvation is found by seeking refuge in the Blood of Christ.

2. Sanctification: God’s salvation is given for us to pursue Holiness.

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ our passover lamb has been sacrificed.”

Holiness is doing things that please the Lord and not doing things that displease the Lord.

1. Evil is real and powerful

“he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart. And all the Egyptians dug along the Nile to get drinking water because they could not drink the water of the river.” (Exodus 7:23-24)

2.God is real and more powerful

Plague 1 –Nile River
Plague 2 – Frogs
Plague 3 – Gnats
Plague 4 – Flies
Plague 5 – Animals
Plague 6 – Boils
Plague 7 – Hail
Plague 8 – Locusts
Plague 9 – Darkness
Plague 10 – Death

3.Follow God – oppose evil out there and in here

“pharoah’s heart was hardened, as the Lord had said”

Exodus (7:22) (8:15) (8:19) (9:12) (9:35)

“After Moses and Aaron left Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the LORD about the frogs he had brought on Pharaoh. And the LORD did what Moses asked.” (Exodus 8:12-13)

“Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, and the LORD did what Moses asked.” (Exodus 8:30-31)

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have made you like God to Pharoah.’” (Exodus 7:1)

“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16)

"Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside." (Exodus 9:20)

“In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.” (Isaiah 19:19-22)

Main idea: With legitimate confidence, we can oppose evil out there and in here.

Today's Scripture: Exodus 5:1-7, 22-23, 6:1-6

Big Idea:

We can be encouraged in hard seasons because God is too good to forget about His people.

#1 The reality of our seasons of suffering. (5:1-7, 22-23)

Ephesians 6:12

Isaiah 55:8-9

#2 A few reminders during our seasons of suffering. (6:1-6)

“a suffering savor can comfort a suffering people”

-Lisa Fields Jude 3 Project

Big Idea: God wants His people to confidently obey Him because of His power, patience, and provisions.

I. We should confidently obey God because he’s all powerful. (vv.1-9)

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15)

II. We should confidently obey God because he’s graciously patient with us. (vv.10-14a)

III. We should confidently obey God because of his loving provisions for us. (vv.14b-17)

Central Idea: What God reveals of Himself strengthens our faith and deepens our hope.

I. God reveals that He is a Holy Creator. (Exodus 3:1-6)

II. God reveals His Immanence. (Exodus 3:7-12)

III. God reveals His Name. (Exodus 3:13-15)

Repeated Message: Trust God because He is Faithful to keep his promises, save & deliver His people, & prove that he has no Rivals.

Repeated Question: Whom will you serve? The God of Israel or idols?

1. Misplaced fear is destructive and oppressive.

2. Our fear of God fuels our faithfulness in hard times.

3. God is working even when He is quiet!

Main Idea: We need Jesus to save us from religious self-deception that leads to eternal destruction

I. Our empty words towards Jesus will ultimately be exposed Matthew 7:21-23

II. Our unwise confidence in self will not stand the test of time Matthew 7:24-27

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

III. Our humble submission to Jesus’ authority is our only hope of being saved. Matthew 7:28

“A person who claims to be God must belong to one of three categories:

First, if he claims to be God and yet in fact is not, he has to be a madman or a lunatic.Second, if he is neither God nor a lunatic, he has to be a liar, deceiving others by his lie. Third, if he is neither of these, he must be God. You can only choose one of the three possibilities. If you do not believe that he is God, you have to consider him a madman.If you cannot take him for either of the two, you have to take him for a liar.There is no need for us to prove if Jesus of Nazareth is God or not. All we have to do is find out if He is a lunatic or a liar. If He is neither, He must be the Son of God.”

(Watchman Nee, Normal Christian Faith)

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24)

Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” (Daniel 10:12-14)

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:11-12)

Main Idea: Keep your eyes on Jesus so that you won’t be fooled by false teachers.

1. Jesus warns us not to choose and walk the wrong path. Verse 13-14

2. Jesus warns us against following the wrong teacher. Verse 15-20

3. Jesus invites us to experience The ABUNDANT LIFE today & forever more. John 15

Big Idea: God has authority over all truth, so we must pray for wisdom from God.

1. We Must Pray For A Knowledge Of Truth vv.7-8

2. We Must Learn The Nature and Character Of Our God vv.9-11

3. We Must Pray For Our Neighbors Welfare v.12

“But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another (5:15).”

“…when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews (2:14)?”

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16).”

I. The gospel of works fuels division precisely because it is rooted in works not faith.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder…But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire (Mt 5:21-22).”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Mt. 5:27-28).”

“…by works of the law no one will be justified (Gal. 2:16).”

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.’ Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law… (3:10-11).”

“What then has become of your blessedness (joy)?”

II. The gospel fuels love for it is based on grace, not the law.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Galatians 4:4-5).”

“Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you (5:2).”

III.The gospel’s demand is faith leading to love.

“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness (5).”

“Then they said to him, ’What must we do, to be doing the works of God?’ Jesus answered them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent (Jn 6:28-29).’”

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).”

I. Jesus is not commanding us to not make judgments, instead He is directing us how to do so redemptively…in a way that actually helps others.

II. The first step to becoming some good to others is to open your eyes to your own self.

III. The second step is to lovingly, humbly help others with their specks.

Main Idea: Seek God! Because God is TROUBLE for your trouble and promises to meet your every need.

1. Seek God! Because seeking anything else is wasting your life. Vs. 19-24

2. Seek God! Because God is capable, caring, and concerned to meet your needs. Vs. 25-30

4 Reasons not to worry:

Life is more than food and clothing Vs. 25
God takes care of the birds. Vs. 26
Worry doesn't do good but can harm. Vs. 27
God knows what you need. Vs. 32

3. Seek God! Because God is TROUBLE for your trouble. Vs. 31-34

“You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (14,16).”

I. Kingdom praying is first about God, not us.

"Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven (9-10).”

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me (Jn 6:38).”

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done (Luke 22:42).”

II. Kingdom praying is not about us, but God is.

“Give us this day our daily bread…”

“Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors…For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (14-15).”

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (13)."

III. Kingdom praying is centered upon God and us.

Main Idea: Christ warns his followers against living for the approval of people. Instead, he calls us to live from the approval of our Heavenly Father.

#1 Living from The Father’s approval protects us against people pleasing. (v.1)

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1)

#2 Living from The Father’s approval makes us humbles givers.

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2)

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

#3 Living from The Father’s approval reminds us that He alone meets all of our needs.

Main Idea: God calls and empowers us to love those who are impossible to love.

1. LOVE & PRAY for your enemies. V. 43-44

“Many have learned how to offer the other cheek but do not know how to love him by whom they were struck.” Augustine of Hippo

Romans 5:10 “We too were enemies of God, but we were reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ.”

2. LOVE & PRAY for your enemies because this is what God’s children do. V. 45

3. LOVE & PRAY for your enemies because God has called you to a higher standard as his children V. 46-48

I. Jesus invites us into a story where our work has meaning and Jesus accomplishes what we can't.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet (Mat 1:22)

And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet (Mat 2:15)

Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled (Mat 2:17)

So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets (Mat 2:23)

to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah (Mat 4:14)

II. Jesus brings us into His rest because He addresses the heart

III. Jesus shows us how to pursue righteousness

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Main idea: God is glorified when we as His Church are being a blessing to the world

I. Who has Jesus called His Church to be? vv.13-16

II. How does Jesus want His Church to live? vv.13-15

III. Why does Jesus want His Church to live like this? v.16

“He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem to Judea, and from beyond the Jordan." (Matthew 4:23-25)

Main Idea: God blesses those who realize their great need for Him. God blesses NEEDY people.

Main Application: So, BE needy and seek God’s grace in every area of your life.

1. Jesus is focused on who you are (BEcoming), not just what you are (DOing)

“God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by Grace, you have been saved - and raised us up with him and he seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)

2. Be needy because that is who God will bless.

3. God’s kingdom is here, but we’re still waiting on it, but it will come.

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” (Matthew 4:17)

“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom.” (Matthew 4:23)

The gospel of the kingdom is the good news that Jesus, the good King has arrived, and his kingdom rule is marked by healing, so leave all other kings and come under the rule of King Jesus.

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Gen 3:15)

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:2-3)

“Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (2 Samuel 7:16)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)

I. The Gospel of the kingdom is the good news that your long awaited King has arrived.

“In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as Sons through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:4b-5)

Because our King conquered sin and death and fully, completely and truly reconciled us to God, there is never a moment He is not loving us.

II. The gospel of the kingdom is for those who see their need for King Jesus.

“So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.” (Matthew 4:24)

“And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.” (Matthew 4:25)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

richard@downtownchurch.com

III. The gospel of the kingdom is that Jesus is a King worth living and waiting for.

Paul's Focus - Romans 15:23-24
Paul's Intentional Detour - Romans 15:25-29
Paul's Confidence - Romans15:30-33

Main Idea: Live a life and die a death that gives glory to God.

1. God has revealed enough of His glory for you to trust and worship Him—verse 25.

"Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30

21:25 "There are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

2. Christ's love frees us to give all glory to God —verses 18-19.

3. Glorify God by focusing on YOUR purpose and mission—verses 20-22.

Hebrews 12:2 “Lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the author and perfecter our faith."

In this episode, the Downtown Church Staff share their raw thoughts about the joys and pains of living in the City of Memphis.

Big Idea: the redemptive work of Christ empowers us to build up the body of Christ.

1. Proclaiming the Love of God

2. Pastoring one another in the Love of God

3. Press into our Vulnerabilities

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (Jn. 1:1).”

Main Idea: John has recorded the works of Jesus, that we might have life in Jesus. Hope & Life have a name and that name is Jesus.

I.Do you believe Jesus to be your hope, your Messiah?

1.Jesus, at the wedding feast in Cana, turns 230 gallons of water into the best wine.

2.Jesus heals the official’s son while being in a completely different town from the boy.

3.Jesus healed the man who had no use of his legs for 38 years at the pool of Bethesda.

4.Jesus feeds 5,000 men, and no telling how many women and children with 5 barley loaves and two fish and has 12 baskets full of leftovers.

5.Jesus appears to his disciples walking on the sea of Galilee.

6.He heals the man born blind.

7.Jesus raised Lazarus to life with the power of these words, “Lazarus, come out.”

II.It is foolish to not believe Jesus as your Messiah.

III.Are you experiencing the life of Jesus?

Main Idea: God is kind enough to meet us in our doubt and lead us into faith.

1. The Reality of Doubt: Doubt is normal and offensive. v.24-26

2. The Resolver of Doubt: Peace and Touch 26-27

John 14:1, Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

verse 27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither be afraid.”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Isaiah 53 “he was pierced for our transgression, crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace.

3. The Response to Doubt: Believe 28-29

Main Idea: Our encouragement is to be found in Christ’s peace, promises, and purpose for our lives.

#1 Our encouragement is to be found in the peace that Christ offers (vv.19-21)

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:19-21)

#2 Our encouragement is to be found in the promises of Christ (vv.21b-22)

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:21-22)

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)

#3 Our encouragement is to be found in Christ’s purpose for our lives (v.23)

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23)

And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” (Mark 2:5-7,10-11)

Today's Scripture: John 20:1-18

The resurrection tells us: God has NOT left you, nor FORSAKEN you! You can give your life to Him for He IS true life!

I.The resurrected Jesus overwhelms and dispels our unbelief.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?.” (Psalm 13:1)

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me…Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-14)

Jesus has the last word!

II.The resurrected Jesus is the only hope that can truly overwhelm and dispel our unbelief.

Faith is not a one-time event, but an ongoing struggle.

“’Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:3-5)

III.The resurrected Jesus is a Savior you can know.

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7)

“I have seen the Lord.” (John 20:18)

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:50-58)

Main Idea: God uses painful moments to help us die to our temporary kingdoms so we may LIVE fully for His Kingdom.

Today's Scripture (John 19:38-42)

1. The darkness of this world cannot & will not overcome the Light of God.

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

2. No matter what happens, Jesus is still king and his kingdom is coming.

Verse 38, “After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.”

Matthew: Joseph was a rich man who was a disciple of Jesus.
Mark: Joseph was a respected member of the council, who was looking for the kingdom of God.
Luke: Joseph, a member of the (Sanhedrin) council, a good and righteous man who did not consent to their decision and action; and he was looking for the
kingdom of God.
John: Joseph was a disciple of Jesus but in secret for fear of the Jews.

3. Jesus’ burial is the assurance that he has conquered death and is able to give everlasting life. v41-42

John 12:24 “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone: but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God. I heard a loud voice saying Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain… the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelations 21:1-4,23

Today's Scripture John 19:31-37

Main Idea:

God accomplished His promise of our redemption in Christ so that we can anchor our lives in Him.

Point #1 Christ accomplished our redemption in spite of our rebellious hearts towards Him. (v.31)

31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away (John 19:31)

It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13)

Point #2 Christ accomplished our redemption undoubtedly (vv.32-34)

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. (John 19:32-34)

Point #3 Christ accomplished our redemption to lead us to trust in Him. (vv. 35-37)

He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” (John 19:35-37)

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10)

Today, the DTC staff continue to discuss how Christians can engage with the world regarding sex and sexuality.

Big Idea: As a community of believers transformed by Jesus’ accomplishment on the cross, we must be a Believing and Christ-loving community.

Not succumb to pretentiousness
Love on purpose
Confess our vulnerabilities

Main idea: Jesus suffering on the cross is evidence that he is a present, loving, and sovereign King.

Main Application: So, in our times of suffering, look up at the cross of Jesus to find the strength and comfort needed to endure.

I. Jesus carried a cross, and commands His followers to carry one too. (Present)

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

II. The Cross proves that Jesus is the reigning King who you can trust. (Sovereign)

“There are times when we are called to believe, not because of, but in spite of. To Follow Jesus is to take up a cross, and that means there may be moments when life’s circumstances contradict our claims as surely as they did for Jesus at Calvary.”

III. The Cross lovingly invites us to bring all of our emotions (good and bad) to receive strength and hope to endure.

Today, the DTC staff recap the recently concluded "Sexual Wholeness" series, and discuss how Christians can engage with the world regarding sex and sexuality.

Today's Scripture: John 19:1-16

Jesus has been arrested

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (Jn 1:1-5, 14).”

Jesus was flogged

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed (Is 53:5).”

Jesus was mocked

“…cursed is the ground because of you…thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you (Gen 3:17b,18a).”

Jesus was hit with clinched fists

Jesus was questioned

“He did not open his mouth (3).”

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth (Is. 53:7).”

Jesus was betrayed

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him (Jn. 1:11)."

Jesus was released to be crucified

"So he delivered him over to them to be crucified (John 19:16)."

I. Submitting your circumstances to the Father provides unrivaled strength in the face of real suffering.

“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done (Luke 22:42).”

“’You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?’ Jesus answered him, ‘You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin (10-11).’”

“God works all things for the good of those that love Him and have been called according to His purpose (Rm 8:28).”

II. Evil will often seem to be winning, but don’t lose hope.

“In this world you will have trouble (Jn 16:33).”

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit (Jn 12:24).”

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).”

III. Jesus endured suffering to free us from its power.

“…the chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Is. 53:5).”

Main Idea: Christ died for us in love so that we could love Him with our lives.

#1 What makes Christ’s love so compelling?

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died (2 Corinthians 5:14a)

“because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died” (2 Corinthians 5:14b)

#2 How does Christ's love compel us to live?

“and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised“ (2 Corinthians 5:15)

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)

“Jesus’s command to follow him is a command to align our loves and longings with his—to want what God wants, to desire what God desires, to hunger and thirst after God and crave a world where he is all in all.” (James K.A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit)

In this episode, Hilary Denny, Kelsie Ellison, Artez Henderson, Richard Rieves, and Adrianna Steele continue their discussion of why BHM is still relevant today. They also discuss their exposure to BHM, or lack thereof, growing up, tensions they feel celebrating in a multicultural church, and give resources on how to celebrate black history and culture year-round.

Make Room for What's Best (Isaiah 58:1-11)

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord (Jesus) finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C. S. Lewis, The weight of glory

Main Idea: God wants you to let go of what’s good to receive what’s best.

So what do we need to change in our spiritual diet?

I. Using religion to manipulate and control God.

‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. (Isaiah 58:1-11)

II. Selfish individualism: a love for self that prevents you from seeing the needs of your neighbors.

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:3b-7)

If anyone says, 'I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar. for anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)

III. The Cost of letting go is great, but the reward is greater. (God promises to meet true fasting with true blessing.)

Promises of Blessings:

Christ's Presence & Protection verse 8
Guidance verse 11
Joy & Satisfaction verse 11

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full, in his wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

Helen H. Lemmel

A Much-Needed Sexual Revolution

Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12 - 7:5

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

“ 'All things are lawful for me,” and “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’ .” (1 Corinthians 6:12,13)

“But not all things are helpful/profitable.” (1 Corinthians 6:12b)

“What then, are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means.” (Romans 6:15)

Main idea: Sex, though a source of great blessing, can also be a source of real harm, and only God can be trusted to define the path to flourishing.

I. Sexual wholeness and flourishing are rooted in believing God’s commands are meant for our good: He is for our bodies!

“The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.” (1 Corinthians 6:13-14)

(John 14:15-17a)

“The body is not meant for sexual immorality." (1 Corinthians 6:13)

“With each viewing of pornography, a person's brain releases a burst of dopamine that strengthens the connection between cells. The more reward released from viewing porn, the stronger the path of communication to repeat that behavior in search of more reward (National Center on Sexual Exploitation, Miller, Ben. 1/7/19).”

II. Sexual wholeness and flourishing are rooted in believing we are united, even married to Christ Jesus.

(1 Corinthians 6:15-20)

“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast (cleave) to him.” (Deuteronomy 13:4)

“The man shall leave his father and mother and be united/cleave to his wife and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:5)

“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:13)

“In a 2011 study, Fisher and her colleagues looked at brain scans of couples who had been married for an average of 21 years and found similar activation in dopamine-rich brain regions associated with intense romantic love.” (How Love Rewires the Brain, Howard, David)

III. Sexual wholeness and flourishing are rooted in believing that married sex is more about what you give, not what you get.

“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.” (1 Corinthians 5:1)

“…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)

In this episode, Hilary Denny, Kelsie Ellison, Artez Henderson, Richard Rieves, and Adrianna Steele tackle the question, "Is BHM still relevant in 2023?" They also discuss CRT and the impact of learning about black history on their lives.

Today's Scripture: Psalm 119:97-104

I. There is a Good God, who made me Good and has Good for me.

II. Scripture calls us to sexual obedience through Chastity in Community

Today's Scripture: Genesis 2:19-25

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast (cleave) to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:24-25)

I. Achieving Sexual Wholeness demands we restore sex, and sexuality to its rightful place.

“Ask a man how he defines success in life, and chances are his answer will include variations on three themes: money, sex, and power. If a man has a job, a woman, and a skill that makes him stand out from the crowd, people consider him successful…But here Christian men face a conundrum: Jesus was poor (Matthew 8:20), unmarried (Matthew 19:12), and a servant (Matthew 20:28). If money, sex, and power are markers of manhood, even in a secondary sense, we must conclude that Jesus failed to be masculine in important ways. Such a conclusion is untenable, obviously. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh, the Son of God, the Second Adam, the Lord of heaven and earth. If our markers of manhood find Jesus to be less than masculine, then our standard of measurement is wrong, not His.” (George Wood - Journeyonline.org)

"Sexual wholeness is the ability to be naked and unashamed before God and others. It is finding deep satisfaction and identity in and with God that empowers us to give ourselves to Him and others so as to experience healthy relational bonding. In the context of marriage, it is the ability to be naked and unashamed before your spouse utilizing the amazing gift of sex to enhance intimacy and love.”

“Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.” (I Corinthians 6:16)

II. Achieving Sexual wholeness demands relational and emotional maturity building.

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25)

III. Sexual wholeness is achieved when we understand we can live without sex.

“…the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (I Samuel 18:1)

“Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” (I Corinthians 6:16-18)

Repent of making life and others about your needs. Repent of replacing intimacy with sex or sexual content, fantasy, etc. Repent of using others to meet your needs.
Receive the forgiveness that only Christ Jesus can provide. Fill up on His love that you might give yourself in a healthy way to others. Become the friend you want. Through vulnerability and humility trust God to build deeper relationships with friends and spouse.
Refuse to be isolated with your brokenness, instead talk to someone about your brokenness.

In the midst of New Year's Resolutions, goals, and intentions, we want to invite you to make space for God. This week's episode is a throwback conversation we had with DC member and YoungLives Area Director, Danita Calhoun. In the final installment of the series, we talked about rhythms of rest and solitude and how our time with God informs our service to others. If you are looking for practical ways to incorporate rest and solitude into your life, this is the episode for you!

Today's Scripture: Jeremiah 29:1-14

Main idea: God has redeemed a people to serve their place/city by seeking it’s shalom that He might redeem the world.

“This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 29:2)

I. God has placed you in this city at this time.

“These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.” (Jeremiah 29:1)

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:” (Jeremiah 29:4)

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:7a)

“I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:14)

II. God has placed you here to settle not assimilate.

“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease (5-6).” (Jeremiah 29:5-6)

III. God has placed us here for the city’s welfare/shalom.

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

“…the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:14)

“…I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:14)

In the midst of New Year's Resolutions, goals, and intentions, we want to invite you to make space for God. This week's episode is part 2 of a throwback conversation we had with DC member, Alison Bradsher. At the time of the recording, she had recently completed the Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction program at Moody Bible Institute. We delved deeper into spiritual disciplines and how we can incorporate them into our everyday lives. Part 3 coming soon!⁠

Restored by Family

Today's Scripture Genesis 1:26-27, John 17:20-26

Main idea: God is creating a family that is radically diverse to showcase His glory and love to the world!

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9)

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:20)

I. We are created for relationships.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27)

"When we attune with others we allow our own internal state to shift, to come to resonate with the inner world of another. This resonance is at the heart of the important sense of ‘feeling felt’ that emerges in close relationships. Children need attunement to feel secure and to develop well, and throughout our lives we need attunement to feel close and connected.”

-Dr. Dan Siegel

II.In a broken world, Jesus’ Church is to be the place of restorative healing.

III.How do we become the new loving family of God?

“I am worse today than I am even willing to admit, but simultaneously, more loved and accepted and delighted in by God through the finished work of Jesus than I dare to hope.”

In the midst of New Year's Resolutions, goals, and intentions, we want to invite you to make space for God. This week's episode is a throwback conversation we had with DC member, Alison Bradsher. At the time of the recording, she had recently completed the Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction program at Moody Bible Institute. We delved into what spiritual disciplines are, and she even led us in meditation at the end! If you need some time to just step away from the busyness of life, this is the episode for you. Part II coming soon!

Main Idea: Downtown Church must be formed by the gospel of Jesus!

Today's Scripture (Romans 1:16-17)

I. Righteousness is our biggest need!

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed.” (Romans 1:17a)

“It is for freedom that Christ set us free!” (Galatians 5:1)

II. The Gospel secures certain and immediate righteousness!

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)

a. It begins with desperation.

“None is righteous, no not one…All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:10,23).

b. It ends with faith in the sufficiency of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith (3:21-25).”

III. The gospel is power!

“…it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (1:16b).”

“…we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ…(1:5-6).”

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (1:16).”

Big Idea: God is at work, we must believe in His promises

Mary Visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-45)39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

1. Discern the promises of God

2. Declare the promises of God

Today, in preparation for Advent, DTC Pastors Sir Gregory Thornton, and Artez Henderson discuss Jesus, his birth, and the reason he came to us.

Luke 1:26-38, 46-56

Eager Expectation: Rejoice!

"In this life, we have some trouble. But when you worry you make it double. Don’t worry. Be happy. Ain’t got no place to lay your head. Somebody came & took your bed. Don’t worry. Be happy. " - Bobby McFerrin

Main Idea: Rejoice in spite of, because of the Person, Presence, and Promises of God.

I. Rejoice! Why? God is with you. (Presence)

II. Rejoice! Why? God’s Kingdom is forever. (Promise)

“in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44)

III. Rejoice! Why? God gives you the strength that you need to face today’s trouble. (Person)

Main Idea: God's faithfulness to fulfill His promises in Christ will never be hindered by anyone or anything.

Today's Scripture: (Luke 1:5-25, 67-80)

I. God’s promise is given. (vv.5-17)

And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. (Luke 1:6-7)

And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. (Luke 1:11)

II. God’s promise is rejected. (vv.18-25)

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)

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.” (Luke 1:20)

III. God’s promised One is praised (vv.67-80)

And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied (Luke 1:67)

“There's a praise on the inside

That I can't keep to myself

A holler stirring up

From the depths of my soul

So excuse me if I seem a little giddy

Or maybe even strange

But praise is the way I say thanks”

-J Moss

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people (Luke 1:68)

That we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; (Luke 1:71)

I. The King comes to bring righteousness and justice to the poor and oppressed

(Isaiah 11:4-5)

“When you see the word righteous and you see the word wicked, let me tell you what it means. The righteous person is the person who disadvantages him or herself for the community. And the wicked person is the person who sees his or her resources as just belonging to them." (Bruce Waltke)

(2 Cor. 8:8-9)

“The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in equity, fulfillment and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We translate it peace, but it means a lot more than that. In the bible shalom means universal flourishing, wholeness and delight, a rich state of affairs in which natural needs are satisfied, and natural gifts are faithfully and fruitfully employed all under the arc of God’s love. Shalom, therefore, is the way things ought to be." (Neal Platinga)

(Isaiah 11:6,8-9)

(Luke 3:10-14)

II. This King will also unite the nations

(Isaiah 11:11-13)

(Matthew 24:31)

(Isaiah 66:18-19)

(Galatians 6:2)

III. This King will bring real rest

(Isaiah 11:10)

“So, the glorious Church which is to be is described under the image of an oracle to which all nations shall resort, and which shall be filled with the visible glory of God.” (Bible Commentary)

(Matthew 11:28-30)

Simple Thought: Jesus wants Kingdom People who will surrender control and trust him as king.

1. Kingdom People must surrender control and say “Lord, your will be done.”

John 11:46

“but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them,... you do not understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”

2. Kingdom People live for a kingdom that is not of this world.

John 6:15 V15 “Jesus perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountains.”

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele talk about how our families shape us, and how to process some of the dysfunction we may have experienced growing up. Stay tuned for part 2 where we'll discuss how to set healthy boundaries!

With the holidays coming up, we are all reminded there is no perfect family on this side of heaven. In today's episode, Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Kelsie Ellison, and Adrianna Steele discuss some of the unique joys and pains that come with setting boundaries with family and what they have learned along the way.

Today's Scripture: John 18:15-27

“My most common prayer request these days is that God would give me consistent, uninterrupted sleep, because in the middle of almost every night, I lay awake for several hours wrestling. I wrestle with preoccupation, with self-doubt, with the dissatisfaction of unmet expectations and unrealized goals and dreams, with pressure that I put on myself or that I fear others will put on me, with the burdens of the day behind me and the day ahead of me, and with the sense that my work is never going to be satisfactory or complete. In other words, I wrestle over the unique calling of leadership—which is both an unspeakable privilege and a burden that must be carried, often alone...” Scott Sauls

Main Idea: Jesus uses our sin and betrayal to draw us deeper into His love. Jesus doesn’t abandon us in our betrayals, He actually uses them for His glory and our good.

I. Sin exposes in us the object of our real and authentic trust.

(Jeremiah 17:9-10)

(John 13:36-38)

(Romans 1:16-17)

(Hebrews 11:1, 17-19)

II. Sin is always an issue of identity.

(Galatians 2:11-14)

(Galatians 5:14-15)

III. Jesus is the way to and the essence of acceptance and love!

(John 6:38)

(John 3:35)

(John 5:20)

(John 10:17)

(John 15:9)

(John 17:24)

Big Idea: We must trust Christ in our dark and chaotic days because He’s still in complete control and cares for us.

Today's Scripture: John 18:1-14

#1 Christ is prepared to handle all of our adversities because he knows all things. (vv.1-4)

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

#2 Christ is Lord and has complete authority over all things. (vv.5-7)

5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

#3 Christ will preserve His disciples by His promises and love. (vv.8-9)

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

#4 Christ’s obedience on His darkest day secured eternal comfort for all of our days. (vv.10-11)

10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant[a] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Main Idea: The church is to be unified, so God may be glorified, and the world sanctified.

Main Application: We are to pray and work to be one as God’s children so we can complete the work God has given us.

I.Protection … “Don’t take them out of the world but protect them from the evil one. V. John 17:15-18

15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.[a] 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

II. Unity… “Father, allow them to be ONE, so the world may see you and believe” John 17:11b, 20-23

11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. ...20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

III. A Family Reunion… “Father, allow them to be with me in my eternal glory.” John 17:24

24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

Big Idea: Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will live victoriously.

1. Jesus came to fulfill His promise, so that we will have direct access to God the Father vv.25-28

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

2. Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will know why we believe vv.29-31

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

3. Jesus came to fulfill His promise so that we will have peace vv.32-33

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

In today’s episode, DC Staff continue their conversation with Jacky Gatliff of New Hope Grief Care and share their personal stories around grief. Learn more about Jacky and find more resources at new hope grief care.org.

Main Idea: Joy is rooted in God, not dependent on our circumstances, and is an inevitable fruit of living by faith in the Christian Gospel.

I. Christian joy does not ignore grief, pain, and sorrow.

Process of Healing Pain:

We are to name what has been done to us or not done for us. (Lamentations 1:15)
We are to feel the resulting feelings. (Lamentations 1:16)

"Time and distance do not fool an emotional system. " - Ronald Richardson

II. Christian joy overwhelms, doesn't ignore the pain

(John 16:21)

III. Christian joy is rooted in seeing and experiencing Jesus

(John 14:19)

(John 16:17)

Final Thought: The Spirit is Jesus' presence to and in us, and we meet the holy Spirit in His Word, prayer, worship, and community.

Main Idea: Jesus knows the hardships that we will face so he sends the Spirit of God to act as our helper and guide.

Main Application: Because the Spirit is our Guide and Help we are to position ourselves in a place where we can listen to the Spirit.

Question #1 “Why did Jesus leave and send His Spirit?

Jesus left and sent His Spirit so that you and I may have full access to the power needed to live out God’s will for our lives.

Question #2: What is the Purpose of the Spirit?

Purpose 1. The Holy Spirit exposes our sins.
Purpose 2. The Holy Spirit shows us how to live righteous lives.
Purpose 3. The Holy Spirit reminds us that enemy is defeated and victory is ours.

Question # 3: How do we hear the Spirit?

Study and meditate on God’s word:
Sit in Silence

In today’s episode, DC Staff sat down with Jacky Gatliff of New Hope Grief Care to learn how we process grief. Learn more about Jacky and find more resources at newhopegriefcare.org.

In today’s episode, DC Staff sat down with Jacky Gatliff of New Hope Grief Care to learn how we process grief. Learn more about Jacky and find more resources at newhopegriefcare.org.

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:8)

17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (Matthew 5:17-18)

Big Idea: The Father’s purpose for true disciples is to bear lasting fruit as we abide in Christ.

1. True disciples abide in Jesus by being completely dependent upon Him (vv.1-9)

“apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:6)

2. True disciples abide in Jesus by following his commandments out of love (vv.10-11)

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:10-11)

“We can’t live however we want to live, and claim to still love God, he defines what love is, loving God means obeying God, and how awesome that this leads to fullness of joy, this is abundant life, this is supernatural living, this is how to live above your circumstances, you're not being tossed by every storm in life because you are abiding in the Lord over the storm” Kim Cash Tate

3. True disciples abide in Jesus by loving one another like Jesus loves (vv.12-17)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13-17)

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:8)

17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (Matthew 5:17-18)

Big Idea: The Father’s purpose for true disciples is to bear lasting fruit as we abide in Christ.

1. True disciples abide in Jesus by being completely dependent upon Him (vv.1-9)

“apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:6)

2. True disciples abide in Jesus by following his commandments out of love (vv.10-11)

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:10-11)

“We can’t live however we want to live, and claim to still love God, he defines what love is, loving God means obeying God, and how awesome that this leads to fullness of joy, this is abundant life, this is supernatural living, this is how to live above your circumstances, you're not being tossed by every storm in life because you are abiding in the Lord over the storm” Kim Cash Tate

3. True disciples abide in Jesus by loving one another like Jesus loves (vv.12-17)

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13-17)

Today the Downtown Church staff continue their discussion of the overturning of Roe v Wade and the heart of God in the issue.

Today the Downtown Church staff continue their discussion of the overturning of Roe v Wade and the heart of God in the issue.

The Father sent us The Holy Spirit to help us live for him and to be confident in His eternal presence.

1. The Holy Spirit gives us the perception to know God.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

2. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to love and obey God.

v.21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)

“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11)

“The Spirit is willing but the flesh is_____”

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

“The more we ignore that conviction from the Spirit the quieter the voice will become. Not because he’s no longer speaking but because we have built a callous of disobedience.. its better to obey to keep those airways clear so that our disobedience won't muffle his voice”

-Priscilla Shirer

3. The Holy Spirit gives us peace in times of trouble.

v.27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

True Peace

The Father sent us The Holy Spirit to help us live for him and to be confident in His eternal presence.

1. The Holy Spirit gives us the perception to know God.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

2. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to love and obey God.

v.21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)

“For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11)

“The Spirit is willing but the flesh is_____”

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

“The more we ignore that conviction from the Spirit the quieter the voice will become. Not because he’s no longer speaking but because we have built a callous of disobedience.. its better to obey to keep those airways clear so that our disobedience won't muffle his voice”

-Priscilla Shirer

3. The Holy Spirit gives us peace in times of trouble.

v.27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

True Peace

“Don’t allow your hearts to be overcome with trouble.”

John 14:1-14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me, for in my father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

I. Jesus promises a place and a presence.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (1-3).”

“Lord, we don’t know where you are going.”

“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things — the beauty, the memory of our own past — are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshipers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never visited.” CS Lewis, The Weight of Glory

II. Jesus is an unrivaled present hope.

III. Jesus empowers us to be a present hope.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (12-14).”

“Don’t allow your hearts to be overcome with trouble.”

John 14:1-14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me, for in my father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

I. Jesus promises a place and a presence.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (1-3).”

“Lord, we don’t know where you are going.”

“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing. These things — the beauty, the memory of our own past — are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshipers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never visited.” CS Lewis, The Weight of Glory

II. Jesus is an unrivaled present hope.

III. Jesus empowers us to be a present hope.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it (12-14).”

Today the Downtown Church staff discuss the overturning of Roe v Wade and the heart of God in the issue.

Today the Downtown Church staff discuss the overturning of Roe v Wade and the heart of God in the issue.

Unfortunately, more want to be part of that community, but are not willing to sacrifice to create it.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (34-35).”

Main Idea: Jesus calls us to be an apologetic; a witness to the world of His good news by BEING a community of self-sacrificing love.

Downtown Church exists to create a radical new community loving God and neighbor.

I. Love will not go unchallenged.

First, the other 11 disciples had no clue Judas was Judas.
Second, every indication is that Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and yet He still washed his feet, he still loved!

...if Jesus can love Judas, He can also empower you to love the Judas’ in your life.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that (Mt. 43-47)?”

Third, you will not win everyone with love, but don’t stop loving.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

II. The Love to which we are called is defined by Love Himself. Jesus calls us to Jesus' love, not an invention of our imagination or culture.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (34).”

WE are created and redeemed to be a reservoir, not a lake.
Our hearts must continually be humbled by our sin, more than hardened by the sins of others.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17).”

The way of sin is hiding, the way of Jesus is vulnerability, honesty, confession, repentance, faith and delight in the sufficiency of His finished work that empowers a radical, thus self sacrificing love.

III. The world will know us, not by a perfect witness, but a sacrificial love.

“Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times (37-38)!”

“We are philosophers not in words but in deeds; we exhibit wisdom not by our dress but by truth; we know virtues by their practice rather than through boasting of them; we do not speak great things but we live them.” Cyprian of Carthage describing the early Christians.

Unfortunately, more want to be part of that community, but are not willing to sacrifice to create it.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (34-35).”

Main Idea: Jesus calls us to be an apologetic; a witness to the world of His good news by BEING a community of self-sacrificing love.

Downtown Church exists to create a radical new community loving God and neighbor.

I. Love will not go unchallenged.

First, the other 11 disciples had no clue Judas was Judas.
Second, every indication is that Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and yet He still washed his feet, he still loved!

...if Jesus can love Judas, He can also empower you to love the Judas’ in your life.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that (Mt. 43-47)?”

Third, you will not win everyone with love, but don’t stop loving.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

II. The Love to which we are called is defined by Love Himself. Jesus calls us to Jesus' love, not an invention of our imagination or culture.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (34).”

WE are created and redeemed to be a reservoir, not a lake.
Our hearts must continually be humbled by our sin, more than hardened by the sins of others.

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing (Zeph. 3:17).”

The way of sin is hiding, the way of Jesus is vulnerability, honesty, confession, repentance, faith and delight in the sufficiency of His finished work that empowers a radical, thus self sacrificing love.

III. The world will know us, not by a perfect witness, but a sacrificial love.

“Peter asked, ‘Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.’ Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times (37-38)!”

“We are philosophers not in words but in deeds; we exhibit wisdom not by our dress but by truth; we know virtues by their practice rather than through boasting of them; we do not speak great things but we live them.” Cyprian of Carthage describing the early Christians.

Main Idea: Jesus commands those that he saves to live a life of humble sacrificial service.

Philippians 2:6-7 “though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant.”

1. Jesus washes us because we all have been made filthy by sin. (6-11)

2. Jesus washes us for us to wash each other. (12-17)

Opheilo - to owe or to be obligated.

How do we wash each other’s feet today?

Forgive other's offenses toward us
Sacrificially serve & Give

“Who can I serve this week?”

“What need can I meet this week? In the life of: my students, my co-workers, my children, my roommate…”

Today's Scripture: John 12:27-50

Main Idea Christ’s purpose was to please the father through His obedient death so that we might have life in Him through faith

Point #1 Christ’s ambition was to bring honor to the Father even at the expense of comfort.

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” (John 12:27-28)

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1)

Point # 2 Christ’s sacrificial death renewed our purpose to glorify the Father.

v. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Point #3 Christ will justly judge those who reject His words.

“We live in a world that is unimpressed with God as someone who stays seated for the bride at a wedding” -John Onwuchekwa

V. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (John 12:48)

Main idea: Jesus is worth giving anything and everything up to possess, and when you see His glory, you will be compelled to do just that.

I. The life that King Jesus gives comes through death.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:24-25)

We find our true selves only when we find God.

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” (John 12:23)

“I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38)

“…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

“I am the resurrection and the life (11:25).” (John 11:25)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.” (Galatians 5:1, 13-14)

II. Jesus is a King you can trust!

Jesus spoke truth to power, but not before speaking truth to His own power. He leveraged His power for the good of others, He did not leverage others to increase His own power.

III. When you see the glory of King Jesus you will worship Him supremely!

“Lazarus, come out.” (John 11:43)

“…took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.” (John 12:3)

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:25-26)

Do you see His glory? Will you receive Him? Everything else will take care of itself.

Big Idea: Christ has given us saving faith, so we must live with hope in the Glory of God!

1. Christ has given us a saving faith, so we must discern the signs of God. (John 11:38-44)

I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:42)

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

2. Christ has given us a saving faith, so we must confront our doubts. (John 11:45-53)

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:45-48)

"So how does doubt become unbelief? Unbelief is the decision to live your life as if there is no God. It is a deliberate decision to reject Jesus Christ and all that He stands for. But doubt is something quite different. Doubt arises within the context of faith. It is a wistful longing to be sure of the things in which we trust. But it is not, and need not, be a problem. Just because I can’t prove my faith in God doesn’t mean that it is wrong." -Dr. Allister McGrath

3. Christ has given us a saving faith, so we must die to ourselves. (John 11:49-57)

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. (John 11:49-53)

Main Idea: God uses difficult situations in our lives to reveal His power & to deepen our faith.

1. God wants to increase your trust in Him by showing you His glory and power.

“You and I cannot possibly comprehend why God allows things into our lives that cause us to cast ourselves on him, to come to the end of our own strength so that we don't rely on ourselves. Sometimes the very thing that we most want to avoid—the thing that we most dread—is precisely the thing that God uses to draw us to himself.” Hershel York

2. God wants you to trust in Him because He is the Resurrection and the Life that you long for.

3. God wants you to trust in Him because he is a present God who enters into life’s mess with you.

Today's Scripture: John 10:22-42 ESV

The Jews are predisposed to hate Jesus because they are dead set against being sheep.
Religion is a way to make self the shepherd and God your sheep.

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)

Main Idea: Jesus calls us into the kind of oneness with God He enjoys.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

I. True sheep have moved from pride to humble submission to the Shepherd’s voice.

False sheep will not listen to the Shepherd.

“…you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.” (John 10:26)

II. True sheep abandon their way to follow the Shepherd.

False sheep don’t want a relationship with Jesus, they want a god who will rubber stamp their way, their plans, their dreams.

The bottom line is this: Jesus calls us into the kind of oneness with God He enjoys. This is the nature of Christianity. It is not judicial, but the judicial, Jesus’ atoning work in our place to satisfy the wrath of God toward sin, and His act of fulfilling the righteous requirements of God’s law are the springboard into relationship with the living God who created us to be satisfied only by loving relationship with Him!

“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus ” (Romans 6:5-11)

“The triune God came for more than making us right with Him. He came to make us one with Him. He came for more than cleaning us up and making us right. He came to marry us and make us His. He came for more than making a way to what we want. He came to make a way for us to want Him most.” Voskamp, Ann. WayMaker

Today's Scripture: John 10:1-21 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

“Toxic leadership is a type of leadership that is destructive to members of a team and the overall workplace. It's a selfish abuse of power on the part of the leader. Under toxic leadership, it's difficult for you and your peers to thrive. A toxic leader will usually have their own self-interest at heart....” (Shonna Waters, Ph.D., The 8 toxic leadership traits (and how to spot them) betterup.com)

Main idea: Jesus is the worthy shepherd of our souls, whom we can trust and follow.

1. Jesus is a life-giving shepherd (vv.9-10)

2. Jesus is a compassionate shepherd (vv.11-13, 16, 17-18)

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)

3. Jesus is a familiar shepherd (vv.14-15)

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (1 John 3:1–3 NIV11)

1. Who are we as disciples?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

“if you know that he is righteous or just, you know that everyone who practices righteousness or justice has been born of him.” (1 John 2:29)

2. Where are we as disciples?

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

while we have been born of God, “the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:18)

3. When are we as disciples?

“we are God’s children now, but what we will be has not yet appeared. But we know that when he appears, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

Discipleship in the meantime:

“Everyone who has this hope purifies themselves as he, Jesus, is pure.” (1 John 3:3)

This is the message that we have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16 NIV11)

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother or sister in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (1 John 3:17)

Big Idea: Jesus reveals divinity through signs and wonder so that we will know & proclaim Him.

Scene One: We must be certain of our proclamation vv.13-17

Scene Two: We must count the cost of following Christ vv. 18-23

Scene Three: We called to be worshipers & witnesses of God (not merely thinkers of God) vv.24-34

Scene Four: We are to live free from all guilt vv.35-41

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known. I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.” (Isaiah (42:16–17)

Today's Scripture (John 9:1-12)

9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.

8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10 So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12 They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

Jesus Sees Us
Jesus Can Do Something About It.
Jesus Sends Us

Today's Scripture John 8:42-59

“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires.”(John 8:44)

The Principle is this: you do what your father says.

Main idea: Relationship with your spiritual father either produces good or evil in and through your life depending upon if that spiritual father is the devil or God! So, the question is, “Who’s your daddy?”

I. When your father is the devil, you live his lies.

“We don’t need answers from God, we need attachment with God.” (Waymaker, Voskamp, Ann)

The primary lie that the devil wants us to believe is “You are a fool to trust God."

Reference (John 8:31b-32)

Reference (John 8:39b-42)

Reference (Genesis 15:5-6)

Reference (John 8:44-45)

II. The Devil is a familiar father.

Reference Ezekiel 28:13-17

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (I Peter 5:8)

“…who accuses them day and night before our God (Rev. 12).”

III. The truth will set you free, but such freedom comes only as we bring the lies we believe into the light.

Reference (II Corinthians 12:2-3)

Reference (James 4:7-8)

1. Identify the lies that have taken root in your own heart.

2. Counter by speaking the truth of God’s Word into your heart.

3. Be still and know He is your God (Ps. 46:10).

“So the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’” (John 8:57-58)

“As long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us…All that he possesses is nothing to us until we grow into one body with him.” John Calvin

Main Idea: Jesus shows us that freedom is found when we hold on to and surrender to His Word as Truth.

Today's Scripture John 8:31-41 ESV 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. 38 I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”

1. God, not us, determines and defines what Truth is.

2. Rejecting God’s Word as Truth is accepting a life of slavery.

3. Submitting To God and abiding in his Word actually frees you to live the life that you yearn for. V34-36

Main Idea: We desperately need The Light of the World to rescue us from darkness

Today's Scripture: I Am the Light of the World (John 8: 12-30)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.” Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he had been speaking to them about the Father. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

#1 We need the Light of the World to rescue us from our arrogance toward God. vv12-19

#2 We need the light to rescue us from our ignorance about Christ’s mission vv.21-26

#3 We need the light to rescue us from ultimate separation from God (v28)

Application

Pray
Proclaim
Practice

Today's Scripture - John 8:1-11

Main Idea: God in His Grace, is not waiting to condemn. He is longing to set you free to live a life of freedom, prosperity, and victory.

God’s grace doesn’t lead us to judge others but reveals to us our faults.
God’s grace teaches us what God is really like.
God’s grace teaches us how to change.

Today's Scripture: John 7:37-52

Reference (Ex 17:1b-6)

“With joy (we) will draw water from the wells of salvation,”(Isaiah 12:3)

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:38)

“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

I. The life of the Spirit comes in through faith in Jesus as the Christ.

“…for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:38)

Reference (Romans 8:13-17)

“But some said, ‘Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?’” (John 7:41-42)

Reference (Isaiah 55:1)

II. The life of the Spirit is what we all want!

Reference (Isaiah 44:3-4)
Reference (Romans 15:13)
Reference (2 Peter 1:3-4)
Reference (I Corinthians 2:7-13)

How do we get the Spirit?

Reference (Galatians 4:4-6)

“To practice this correctly, the heart must be empty of all other things. God will possess the heart alone. He cannot possess it solely without emptying it of everything else. He cannot act in the heart, and do what He wants within it, unless it is empty.” -The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence.

Reference (Psalm 62:1-2)

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day (6:38-40).”

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life (6:63).”

“The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood (18).”

What we learn is that we too can be so locked in to the Father’s glory that we can be in, but not of this world. His glory is just that good, that powerful, that persuasive.

I. Stop controlling and start following God.

“Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world (3-4).”

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil (7).”

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:6-9).”

II. Be all about His glory, and not your own.

“The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood (18).”

“Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him (13).”

III. Start Believing His Glory is your Good!

“Can this be the Christ (24b)?”

Today, Pastors Richard Rieves, Artez Henderson, Sirgregory Thornton, and Worship Director Adrianna Steele discuss the racial and political divide in the church.

Today, Pastors Artez Henderson and Sirgregory discuss the truthfulness and relevancy of the Bible in our lives today.

Main idea: Our soul’s hunger is only satisfied by trusting Jesus- the bread of life.

Today's Scripture: John 6:22-71

1. Jesus warns us against chasing the temporal “bread” of life.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.Do not work for the food that perishes” John 6:26-27

2. Jesus invites us to consume Him, as the living bread.

“I am the bread of life” John 6:35

“tell the people of Israel “I AM has sent me to you” Exodus 3:14

“This bread does what no other bread, including even the manna from heaven, has ever done or can ever do: The Living Bread imparts and sustains spiritual life; it banishes spiritual death” -Forerunner Commentary

How do we receive The Living Bread?

We eat his flesh and drink his blood!

3. Jesus challenges us to evaluate our trust in Him.

So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God. John 6:68-69

Today's Scripture: John 6:1-21

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 6 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[a] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on Water 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Main Idea: Jesus is the master of all trades and He is able to fix every problem. So we should trust in and submit to Him as God.

"he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick." (Matthew 14:14)

Point 1: Jesus, the master of all trades, specializes in healing.

Point 2: Jesus, the master of all trades, specializes in providing.

Point 3: Jesus, the master of all trades, specializes in EVERYTHING!!!

God's name given to Moses: I AM

EIMI EGO = I AM

The quote is from"Why The Past 10 Years of American Life Have Been Uniquely Stupid: It’s not just a phase," The Atlantic, April 2022.
Data Points on Millennial Trust from (The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2019)

I. Jesus wants to give you life, not control you.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." (John 5:39-40)

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." (Proverbs 14:12)

(Colossians 2:1-5)

We were made to receive truth, not create it.

II. Jesus’ testimony is true.

Don’t believe me, believe the Father:

“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.” (John 5:31-32)

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.” (John 5:36-38)

Don’t believe me, believe John.

“You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” (John 5:33-35)

“I (John) am not the Christ; Jesus is the Christ; he is the Lamb of God who is taking away the sin of the world; it is upon him that I saw the Spirit descending and remaining; he is the Bridegroom; he is the One who came from above and is above all; he speaks the words of God, and is himself the Son of God.” (John 3:22-26)

Don’t believe me, believe my works.

“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.” (John 5:36-38)

III. To believe Jesus’ words as true, produces humility and love, not arrogance and pride.

“I do not accept glory from human beings, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.” (John 5:41-42)

“I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:43-44)

“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." (John 5:45-46)

In today's episode, Pastor Richard Rieves, Assistant Pastor Artez Henderson, and Youth Pastor SirGregory Thornton discuss the death, burial, and resurrection of our savior as we celebrate this Easter Season.

Public Spectacle or Personal Encounter

Luke 24:13-35

“…these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:11)

Jesus is more concerned about personal encounters than public spectacles. ‬‬‬‬‬‬
Jesus is more interested in showing up to and for you than showing out for fame.

I. Jesus will meet you on your road to nowhere.

“And they stood still, looking sad.” (Luke 24:17b)
“…we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21)
When sex is god, body image is king.
https://youtu.be/z2T-Rh838GA
Beauty does not depend on who you are, but on whose you are!!

II. The road with Jesus, as with any road, is filled with evil and suffering.

https://youtu.be/DDUdK5SYa7w

A. Jesus eats and drinks with His disciples.

“For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (Luke 22:18)

B. Jesus is more physical than ghostlike.

“They were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.'” (Luke 24:37-39)

III. Jesus reveals Himself along the road in and through the Scriptures.

“Remember how He told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise .” (Luke 24:6-7)
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)
“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)
“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9:22)
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)

In today's episode, Youth Pastor SirGregory Thornton, Assistant Pastor Artez Henderson, and Worship and Creative Director Adrianna Steele discuss Good Friday as we celebrate this Easter Season.

“Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.” (John 11:57)

I. We all want a King.

II. Jesus is a King who is free to die.

“…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone....” (John 12: 24a)

“…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:20)

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:38-40)

III. Jesus is a King who frees us to produce many seeds.

“…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12: 24)

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12: 25)

In today's episode, Adrianna Steele, Pastor Richard Rieves, Assistant Pastor Artez Henderson, and Children's Director Rebecca Rhodes discuss Palm Sunday as we celebrate this Easter Season.

Today's Scripture: John 5:1-30 (NIV)

Jesus comes after people who’re looking for help in all the wrong places…
Jesus warns us not to let anything keep us from missing out on him in the end
Jesus wants us to know him for who he is…
Jesus wants us to know who he is so that we can share in his life now and share in his life forever

What does this mean for us today?

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Today, Adrianna Steele, Artez Henderson and Richard Rieves interview DC Member Whitney Hale about her experience as a woman working in Marketing.

Main idea: Jesus demonstrates great works so that we might trust in Him alone!

1. Faith in Jesus is evident by taking a desperate posture.

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” (John 4:46-49)

2. Faith in Jesus is evident by believing His promises.

Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. (John 4:50)

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)

3. Faith in Jesus is evident by surrendering our lives to his power.

As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee. (John 4:51-54)

Today, Adrianna Steele and Richard Rieves interview DC Member Jennifer Goolsby about her experience as a woman working in Finance.

Today's Scripture: Jesus and the Woman of Samaria (John 4:1-26)

I. We should drink the water Jesus offers because it makes somebodies out of nobodies.

“The chosen are simply the ones approached by an enamored God who can’t stop thinking about you. This turns and reorients a life.”

Voskamp, Ann. WayMaker (p. 28). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’” (John 4:7b)

“‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9a)

II. We should drink the water Jesus serves up because His love heals our wounds of rejection.

“The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) .” (John 4:9)

“Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.’” (John 4:16-19)

III. We should drink the water Jesus serves up because it offers the intimacy for which we were made.

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23)

Today, Adrianna Steele, Jessie Harvey, and Artez Henderson interview DC Member Caroline Bauman Steimer about her experience as a woman working in Journalism.

John 3:22-36

“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him (1:6-7).”

“Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease (29c-30).”

I. Joy, rooted in Jesus, comes from seeing Him as your Savior!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life (14-15).”

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (36).”

II. Joy comes as Jesus sets us free from the need to prove ourselves.

“’I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 1:26-28

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God (1:29-34).”

“The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God (1:35-36)!’”

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still (Ex. 14:14).”

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” To which Paul says, “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (I Cor. 12:9-10).”

III. The joy of salvation frees us to make much of Jesus!

“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure (34).”

Today, Adrianna Steele and Artez Henderson interview DC Member Adrianna Darnell about her experience as a woman in the United States Military.

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Main Idea: In love Christ gave his life so that we could have life in Him

1. Life in Christ begins with a renewed heart (vv.1-8)

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6)

Repentance is a discovery of the evil of sin, a mourning that we have committed it, a resolution to forsake it. It is, in fact, a change of mind of a very deep and practical character, which makes the man love what once he hated, and hate what once he loved. (Charles Spurgeon)

2. Life in Christ is accomplished by His Redemptive work (vv.9-18)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:17)

3. Life in Christ motivates us righteous living (vv.19-21)

[19] And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. [20] For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. [21] But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Today, Adrianna Steele, Artez Henderson and Jesse Harvey speak with DC Member Dr. Brook Laurent DO about women in medicine.

Jesus Clears the Temple Courts (John 2:13-25 NIV)

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a]

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[b] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Jesus acts, then talks
Jesus barely explains
No sign given when asked
No explanation when confusion happens

Main idea #1 – Give Jesus permission to both fill your table and overturn your table

“If Jesus Christ comes into your life, he will, on the one hand, sometimes fill your table with a feast and other times, he will turn your table over and spill everything on the ground.” – Tim Keller

“Destroy this temple and I will raise it“ John 2:19a NIV

"But the temple he had spoken of was his body” John 2:21 NIV

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." John 1:14 NIV

Main idea #2 – The Jesus who disrupts our lives has not hidden who He is

In today's episode, Artez Henderson and Adrianna Steele discuss Memphis History through the eyes of DC members Carlton Weatherby and Sara Lockridge Steckel-Lord.

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine (John 2: 1-12) 2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hourhas not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

In today's episode, Artez Henderson and Adrianna Steele discuss Memphis rich musical culture through DC band member members Cedric Keel & Charlton Johnson.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[a] 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[b] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas”(which means Peter).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you,[d] you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

(John 1:35-51)

Main Idea: Jesus invites us to enjoy the abundant blessings of following Him.

1. The blessing of learning from Him vv.35-39

[38] “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” [39] He said to them, “Come and you will see.”

10mins a day with Jesus
Start with Prayer
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2. The blessing of bringing others to Him vv.40-46

[40] One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. [41] He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). John 1:40-41

We’re all endorsers!

[45] Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” [46] Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:45-46

“Take heart; you would not be seeking Me if I had not already found You.” Saint Augustine

3. The blessing of witnessing His great works vv.47-51

In today's episode, Pastor Richard Rieves, SirGregory Thornton, and Adrianna Steele continue their discussion of Memphis History through the eyes of someone who lived it, DC member Donna Olds White.

John 1:19-36 The Testimony of John the Baptist

And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Behold, the Lamb of God

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

God gives our lives meaning and purpose so that we will bear witness of Him

1. Confess

2. Accept

3. Give

In today's episode, Pastor Richard Rieves, SirGregory Thornton, and Adrianna Steele discuss Memphis History through the eyes of someone who lived it, DC member Donna Olds White.

John 1:14-18

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father….” (John 1:14)

“…these are written s“o that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:31).”

I. The One who showed up is God, the only God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1).”

“the only Son from the Father (John 1:14).”

“the only God (John 1:18)”

“We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood … to be acknowledged in two natures inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably." (Howard Hendricks)

"We believe…in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made: of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end." (Nicene Creed)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Collosians. 2:15-20)

“…to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12)

II. The One who showed up is full of Grace.

“full of grace ,” (John 1:14)

“…from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace .” (John 1:16)

III. The One who showed up is full of Truth.

“Lord we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (Jn. 14:5)

“I am the way, truth and life, no one comes to the Father, except through me.” (Jn 14:6)

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death .” (Prov. 16:25)

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion .” (Prov. 18:1-2)

In today's episode, Adrianna Steele, Michael Rhodes, SirGregory Thornton and Rebecca Rhodes continue their discussion of the January 6 Capitol Riot, which took place on the Christian Holiday of Epiphany.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:6-13)

Main Idea: Be encouraged no matter what dark days are ahead because the True Light has come.

1. Where is the Light? Rejoice for The Light is Here.

2. Where is the Light? We are to be witnesses of the Light so others may see and believe.

Look again at verse 8.

He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. (John 1:8)

In today's episode, Adrianna Steele, Michael Rhodes, SirGregory Thornton and Rebecca Rhodes discuss the January 6 Capitol Riot, which took place on the Christian Holiday of Epiphany. Part 2 premiers next week on 1/25

“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5)

I. Jesus should be our EVERYTHING because he IS God’s Word, existing as God from all eternity!

“The Word became flesh and dwelled among us. The Word didn’t become a religious system. The Word didn’t become a political movement. The Word didn’t become as ecstatic experience. The Word became flesh. Loving embodied existence.” (Rich Villados, Instagram)

II. Jesus should be our EVERYTHING because He is our Creator and thus knows how the world and life should work.

“All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3)

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)

“The soul which enjoys God desires nothing but Him.” (Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God In Modern English (p. 26). Kindle Edition)

III. Jesus should be our EVERYTHING because he is the Life and Light for which we long!

“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

“Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning. Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray. O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice….” (Psalm 5:1-3a)

“The spiritual life is neither an art nor a science. To arrive at union with God all one needs is a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, do nothing but for His sake, and to love Him only.” (Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God In Modern English (p. 12). Kindle Edition.)

Join Worship Leader Adrianna Steele, Dr. Artez Henderson, Youth Pastor SirGregory Thornton, and Pastor Rieves as they kick off 2022 with the NEW Season of the Take One Podcast!

The God With Us in Matthew 2 1. God Sends Great Invitations The Visit of the Wise Men (2-12)

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

2. His (Jesus') Arrival Generates Rejection

King Herod Rejected Jesus
The Religious Leaders of Judea Rejected Jesus

3. We meet a God Who Demands A Costly Pledge of Allegiance

The Flight to Egypt (13-15)

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

4. The God Who is With Us Offers OUTRAGEOUS JOY. The Visit of the Wise Men (2-12)

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

5. Even in Unimaginable suffering, God offers Unimaginable Hope.

Herod Kills the Children (16-18)

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and loud lamentation,

Rachel weeping for her children;

she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

The Return to Nazareth (19-23)

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50 ESV)

Big Idea: Because Christ’s generously forgives undeserving sinners we should respond with gratefulness to his love.

1. Christ’s forgiveness humbles grateful sinners. vv.36-38

Jesus says “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

“The skeleton rattler” (RC Sproul)

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2. Christ’s forgiveness offends self-righteous sinners. vv.39-43

v.39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.

(Picture of Mr. Robert R Smith)

3. Christ’s forgiveness secures peace for sinners. vv.44-50

V. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little”

We conclude our 2021 Advent Series with a sermon from our own Wayne Denny.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11)

I. Jesus Came Down

II. Jesus was lifted High

III. How do we live now?

Never use the example of Jesus to manipulate
Recognize that our service to others is not because we are worthless nor because others deserve it.

Join with us as we celebrate the advent of our lord and savior Jesus!

Have you seen His glory?

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:12-14)

“The Word became flesh...” (John 1:14)

I. When you know Jesus you’ve come in contact glory.

“…we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son of God.” (John 1:14)

“These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)

II. If you know Jesus, you know the glory of His grace.

"...full of grace...." (John 1:15)

III. If you know Jesus you know the glory of his truth.

"...full of...truth." (John 1:15)

“’We are fighting a holy war, and this time we are going to win.’ ” - Jerry Falwell

“Let’s broach a sensitive example but one we simply can’t skirt around, as it is the leading moral question of our generation—human sexuality. And remember as you read this, I’m a pastor, not a politician. My goal is to journey with your soul on its way to healing in God, not to legislate anything. I don’t expect secularists to live like Christians. As Paul put it, ‘What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?’ The move of the Spirit is inward to conviction, not outward to critique. I’m not trying to critique the culture, much less control it; I’m trying to flourish a counterculture.”

Comer, John Mark. Live No Lies (p. 28). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)

Big Idea: The Incarnation of Christ appears so that we might imitate His character.

1. Be imitators of Christ's Freedom

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death that is the devil and deliver all those who fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

2. Be imitators of Christ's Love and Compassion

"True mission is incarnational. It necessities entering humbly into other people's worlds, identifying with their social reality their sorrow and suffering and their struggles for justice against oppressive powers."- Lausanne Conference

3. Imitating the God's Glory

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isaiah 52:7)

“Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem .” (Isaiah 52:8-9)

I. The “God with us” is King!

“I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” (Genesis 17:6)

“I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (II Samuel 7:12-13)

“A queen is somebody in her force, accepting all that she is, embracing her weakness and strengths. Believe in the royal highness within. The sovereign in you will rise above all the struggles and turmoil you come across. Recognize, embrace and celebrate the grace, classy and warrior queen in you.”

II. Our King’s rule is good news!

III. King Jesus came in weakness, but will return in power.

“Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.” (Psalm 143:2)

"Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God." (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

“The whole point of the kingdom of God is Jesus has come to bear witness to the true truth, which is nonviolent. When God wants to take charge of the world, he doesn't send in the tanks. He sends in the poor and the meek.” (NT Wright)

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him "Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. (Matthew 1:18–25 NRSV)

“the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”(Matthew 1:20–21 NRSV)

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:22–23 NRSV)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. . . before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:14–16 NRSV)

You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. (Exodus 19:4–6 NRSV)

“I will dwell among the Israelites, and I will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.” (Exodus 29:46, NRSV)

“yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone.”(Ezekiel 11:16b NRSV)

“something greater than the Temple is here” (Matthew 12:6)

“to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

What does this mean for us today?

1. Jesus still offers himself as “God with Us” today! Let’s receive him!

2. We need to ask: Have our lives been shattered and re-made by our encounter with “God with Us?”

"But God himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the [rope], perhaps approaching at an infinite speed, the hunter, King, husband-that is quite another matter. There comes a moment when the children who have been playing at burglars hush suddenly: was that a real footstep in the hall? There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (“Man’s search for God”!) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us?” CS Lewis

James 5:13-20

"If my sadness brought you gladness, I’d be glad to be sad, If my feeling bad made you feel good, I would always feel bad [Chorus] And I wouldn’t think twice about the sacrifice, Anything that I’d have to do, ‘Cause whatever makes you happy makes me happy too." (Miracles, Whatever Makes You Happy)

“If it makes you happy, It can't be that bad, If it makes you happy, Then why the (heck) are you so sad?" (Sheryl Crow, If It Makes You Happy)

“It ain't nobody's business, How you turn it up, If they don't like it, Tell 'em we don't give a what, I ain't nobody's business, Who you wanna love, If they don't like it, You can tell 'em that ya do, Whatever makes you happy, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Whatever makes you happy." (The Cast of Empire, Whatever Makes You Happy)

I. Praying for physical healing is fueled by a belief that one’s body belongs to the Lord.

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up (13-15).”

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live (Jn 11:25).”

“Instead of throwing themselves into a crazed life of sexual abandon with a string of partners, Dad sneaks a look at porn on his phone in the den, while upstairs his wife loses herself in Fifty Shades of Grey on her Kindle, before they both make it an early night to get the kids to football training in the morning (Sayers, Mark, Disappearing Church).”

II. Confessing our sin to one another, and bringing fellow sinners back, not canceling them is essential to a flourishing community.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (16).”

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins (19-20).”

You bring a sinner back as a sinner. You are not reaching down, but out. Romans 3:23,

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rm 3:23).”

You bring a sinner back acknowledging you are an undeserved object of God’s love. Grace is getting the opposite of what you deserve.
You bring a sinner back patiently, but boldly, willing to risk the relationship.

Big Idea: God has designed you for His purpose by His promises, so we must be rooted in our faith.

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (James 5:7-12)

1. Our faith must be rooted in the sufficiency of God's Word.

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. (1 Peter 4:7)

1a. God's purpose for our patience ought to be rooted in the promised word of the Lord.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds (James 1:2)

2. Our faith must be rooted in the hope to come.

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18)

[1] Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. [2] Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. [3] Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. [4] Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. [5] You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. [6] You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (James 5:1-6)

Main idea: God gives us wealth to Worship Him and love others, so we must guard against the idol of wealth.

#1 The idol of wealth gives us a false sense of well being vv.1-3,5

[1] Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. [2] Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. [3] Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. (James 5:1-3)

[19] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-20)

The Rich Young Ruler

[17] And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [18] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” [20] And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” [21] And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [22] Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-23)

[23] And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”

#2 The idol of wealth hinders us from loving our neighbor vv. 4,6

[4] Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts…. [6] You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (James 5:4,6)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost

Amen

Main Idea: Because life is so fragile and short we must live every moment under the Lordship of God.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin (James 4:13-17)

1. Your Life is... a life surrendered to the Lordship of God.

2. Your Life is... like a mist, short and fragile

“Our days on earth are like a shadow” (1 Chronicles 29:15)

“Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath” (Job 7:7)

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth, the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure” (Psalm 39:5)

As for man, his days are like grass— he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more. (Psalm 103:15-16)

3. Your life is... in the hands of the Most Loving & Faithful God.

Will DC be a Community of Truth AND Grace?

“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin (Romans 3:19-20).”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same (Mt. 5:43-47)?”

“Who are you to judge your neighbor (4:12c)?”

I. Slander and Judgment have the aim of harm, not healing.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. (Mt. 5:21-22).”

II. Slander and judgment are not the same as speaking truth in love.

“…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Eph. 4:15).”

1. We are not the law.

“The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law (11b).”

2. We are not the Judge.

“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able…to destroy (1:12a).”

3. We accept the nature of our salvation.

“There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save…(1:12a).”

Thus, when we speak the truth ,we do so:

As rescued, saved sinners, thus, humbly.
As those longing for God to bring salvation and good to others. Fighting for others, not against them.
And as those not making repentance/conversion the basis of our love.

Big Idea: Christ satisfies our deepest desires, so that we will corporately draw near to God.

1. We must have a Growing And Grounded Prayer Life. vv.1-3

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3)

2. We Must Posture Our Hearts Towards God. vv.4-6

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James4:4-6)

3. We must be quick to repent and lament. Vv.7-11

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (James4:7-11)

Main Idea: God’s wisdom transforms us and teaches how to bring peace where there is chaos.

1. Godly Wisdom empowers you to actively live a life that seeks the good of others.

Wisdom is the practical outworking of a heart submitted to the Lord.

1 Peter 2:21-23

“21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness."

2. Mankind’s demonic desires & motivations cause the evil and division that we see in the world and the church.

James 3:1-12

I. Words have purpose.

(Genesis. 1:1-3)

“In Genesis 1, the world of communication was a world of peace, truth, and life. Words were never used as weapons. Truth was never used to tear down. Words were always spoken in love, and human communication never broke the bonds of peace.” Tripp, Paul David. War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (p. 12).

We were created to thrive on words of blessing, affirmation, and encouragement from God.

We were also created to receive purpose and mission from God through His Words.

(Genesis. 1:28-30)

We were also created to have God speak law, boundaries, and words of warning.

(Genesis. 2:16-17)

We also were created for God to explain our deepest emotions and feelings.

(Genesis. 2:18)

We need God to speak to us to 1) Bless us, 2) put us on a purposeful mission, 3) give us directives that will protect our lives, 4) makes sense of our internal longings.

(James 3:1-2)

(Genesis. 3:1-6)

When the serpent speaks, he speaks to deceive, pull hearers away from active listening to God, and the result is always death, confusion, skepticism and suspicion.

II. Words have creative power.

(Matthew 3:16-17)

(Matthew 5:21-23)

(James 3:8-10)

(James: 5-6)

(Proverbs 18:21)

III. Words are a window to our heart.

(James 3:6)

(Luke 6:43 - 45)

(Jeremiah 17:9)

IV. The Word is our hope.

(James 9-10)

(John 1:14,16)

(Matthew. 7:3-5)

(Romans 5:20)

James 2:14-26

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created (1:18).”

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So, you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Mt. 23:25-28).”

I. True, living faith must work.

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments (Jn. 14:15).”

“You believe that there is one God. That’s fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear (2:19).”

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’(Rm 1:16).”

II. True, living faith must work in a specific direction.

“You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone (2:24).”

“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law (Rm 3:28).”

“…of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Eph. 2:4-5).”

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9).”

“Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.”

“If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that (2:15-16)?”

III. True, living faith accompanied by faith motivated acts is simply biblical.

Our faith in Christ must reflect our hearts, in the way we dignify all people. vv.1-7

Our faith in Christ must reflect our hearts, in the way we show mercy. vv.8-13

19] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

[22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. [23] For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. [24] For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. [25] But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

[26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Main Idea:

God calls his beloved to respond accordingly to His word , in every season of life.

1. We respond by accepting God’s word.

19] Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; [20] for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. [21] Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

2. We respond by acting on God’s word.

22] But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

3. We respond by applying God’s word.

[26] If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. [27] Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

“We are to be involved in their distress the pressures which squeeze them in their circumstances- pressure due to illness or fractured relationships or unemployment or family tensions” Kent Hughes

James 1:12-18

Main Idea: Your earthly desires are good and will only be fulfilled when you receive what God wants for you

There is a Reward at the End of the Trial

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. " 1:12

"Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself temps no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

2.Desiring is Good, but Some Desires will lead you to destruction

Desiring is Good, and Points Us to the Only One Who Can Satisfy Them.

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” 16-18

James 1:1-18

“Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures (1:18).”

I. God gifted wisdom sees value in trials.

II. The Wise man knows where to go for wisdom.

III. The wise man knows where (maybe how) not to go.

IV. The wise man knows his trials are going somewhere.

Dirty Faith: Series Introduction - James - Richard Rieves - August 22, 2021

Rest Assured: Restlessness - What's At Stake? - Mark 14:32-42 - Richard Rieves - August 15, 2021

Rest Assured: Why Sabbath? - Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 - Sirgregory Thornton - August 8, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes for the this week's installment of 7 Minute Sunday School.

Rest Assured: Luke 5:16 - Richard Rieves - August 1, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes for the this week's installment of 7 Minute Sunday School.

Rest Assured: Clinging To The Rest Of God - Hebrews 3 - Wayne Denny - July 18, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes for the this week's installment of 7 Minute Sunday School. Link to "Six Big Political Ideas The Torah Gave The World" - https://youtu.be/5Plnmuk71vM

Rest Assured: Giving And Receiving Rest - Leviticus 25:1-7 - Michael Rhodes - July 11, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Rest Assured: Are You A Follower Of Jesus Or Are You Following Jesus? - John 14:6 - Richard Rieves - July 4, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Rest Assured: The Assurance To Rest In The Lord - Psalm 23 - Michael Davis - June 27, 2021

Rest Assured: Meeting With God - 1 Kings 19:1-18 - Wayne Denny - June 20, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Rest Assured: The Misconception Of Rest - Matthew 11:28-30 - Sirgregory Thornton - June 13, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Rest Assured: Series Introduction - Mark 1 29:-39 - Artez Henderson - June 6, 2021

DC Vision: Disciple-Making - Matthew 9:35 - Richard Rieves - May 30, 2021

Join Artez and Rebecca with guests and educators Callie Riddle and Brennan Steele as they discuss navigating the education landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DC Vision: Unity In Diversity - John 17:20-21 - Michael Davis - May 23, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

DC Vision: Gospel Empowered - Titus 3:1-10 - Michael Davis - May 16, 2021

Join us this week as we discuss the circumstances and implications of the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd.

DC Vision: A Kingdom Driven Life and Church - Mark 1:14-45 - Richard Rieves - May 9, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

YHWH Saves: Living In Light Of God's Final Future - Isaiah 65:17-66:24 - Richard Rieves - May 2, 2021

YHWH Saves: Everything Will Be Remade - Isaiah 63-65 - Michael Rhodes - April 24, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

YHWH Saves: Redeemed To Restore - Isaiah 61:1-62:12 - Richard Rieves - April 18, 2021

YHWH Saves: The Lord Will Do Whatever It Takes! - Isaiah 58-60 - Michael Rhodes - April 11, 2021

Join Michael Rhodes in this week's installment of the 7 Minute Sunday School series.

Be on the lookout for our new weekly Sunday school series led by Michael Rhodes.

HOPE REIMAGINED: Beyond the 'Insta' Gospel - 1 Peter 1:3-9 - Richard Rieves - April 4, 2021

Join Adrianna and Michael as they discuss spiritual practices with DC member and Young Lives staff Danita Calhoun!

HOPE REIMAGINED: Who Is This? - Matthew 21:1-11 - Michael Davis - March 28, 2021

Alison Bradsher (spiritual director) is back this week to dive even deeper into spiritual disciplines with Adrianna and Richard! Make sure you listen through to the end for another great guided practice by Alison!

YHWH Saves: A Sabbath That Fuels A Life Of Justice And Diversity - Isaiah 56:1-8, 57:1-5, 14-21 - Richard Rieves - March 21, 2021

Are you interested in deepening your relationship with God? This week we sit down with DC member, Alison Bradsher. She recently completed the Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction program at Moody Bible Institute and helped us understand what spiritual disciplines are and how we can incorporate them into our every day lives. She even leads us in one at the end! If you need some time to just step away from the busyness of life, this is the episode for you. Part II coming soon!

YHWH Saves: Your Savior Is Your Husband - Isaiah 54:1-55:13 - Richard Rieves - March 14, 2021

Listen in as guests Justice Locke and Aaron Tucker have another in depth conversation about singleness with hosts Artez, Adrianna, and Sirgregory!

YHWH Saves: The Servant Makes Many Righteous Through Suffering - Isaiah 52:13-53:12 - Michael Davis - March 7, 2021

YHWH Saves: Awake and Be Delivered! - Isaiah 51:9-52:12 - Michael Rhodes - Feb. 28, 2021

This week Adrianna and Sirgregory are joined by two long time DC members, Erin Cole (artist, writer, realtor) and Daniel Warner (teacher extraordinaire), to discuss the significance and necessity of BHM.

YHWH Saves: The Servant's Confidence and the Call to Obedience - Isaiah 50:4-51:8 - Michael Davis - Feb. 21, 2021

YHWH Saves: The Servant Wins! - Isaiah 49:1-50:3 - Richard Rieves - Feb. 13, 2021

Justice Locke (DC member and CEO of B.E.A.M.) joins Adrianna, Sirgregory, and Artez to discuss singleness and dating and how the church can better approach and accommodate the not-yet-betrothed!

YHWH Saves: Hear The Lord! - Isaiah 48:1-22 - Sirgregory Thornton - Feb. 7, 2021

Sirgregory and new DC staffer and podcast regular, Artez, sit down with DC members Michelle Gilchrist and LG Collier to discuss all things parenting!

This week Adrianna talks to special guest, Brennan Steele, author of BREATHE: A Guided Healing Journal for Black Men, along with Richard and Kyle, about integrating our mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

YHWH Saves: The Great God Gets The Victory Over Idols - Isaiah 45-47 - Richard Rieves - Jan. 31, 2021

YHWH Saves: The Lord Overcomes Every Obstacle to Accomplish His Mission - Isaiah 44:23-45:13 - Michael Rhodes - Jan. 24, 2021

This week Kyle and Adrianna talk to entrepreneur and photographer Emily Holmes and administrative assistant, writer, and fashion guru, Amber Johnson, about finding balance in work, family, faith, side hustles, and passion pursuits.

YHWH Saves: Witnesses for God's Uniqueness - Isaiah 43:8-44:20 - Michael Davis - Jan. 17, 2021

Join SirG, Richard, Adrianna, and this week's special guest, Michael Rhodes, as we respond to and discuss last week's attack on the Capitol, what it means for Christians, and how we might move forward.

YHWH Saves: Becoming the Magnetic People of God - Isaiah 42:10-43:7 - Richard Rieves - Jan. 10 2021

Advent 2020: An Everlasting Norm - Romans 8:18-39 - Richard Rieves - Jan. 3, 2021

Advent 2020: The Message of God's Choice of Mary - Luke 1:26-38 - Richard Rieves - Dec. 27, 2020

Advent 2020: The Light Dwelt Among Us - John 1:14-18 - Michael Davis - Dec. 20, 2020

Covid-19, the defund the police movement, and family dynamics are just a few of the things Richard, Rebecca, Michael, and Sirgregory discuss in a wide-ranging conversation about some of the 2020 topics that haven't been covered yet on Take One. Listen in and, as always, email media@downtownchurch.com with questions, comments, or topic ideas!

Advent 2020: Born That We Might Be Reborn - John 1:6-13 - Richard Rieves - Dec. 13, 2020

Advent 2020: The Light Of Humanity - John 1:4-5 - Michael Davis - Dec. 6, 2020

Pastors Richard and Michael discuss various traditions of Advent, where they come from and what they mean, and offer some encouragement for a Christmas season that is unlike any other.

Advent 2020: God Speaks Clearly In Jesus - John 1:1-3 - Richard Rieves - Nov. 29, 2020

Redeemed To Be God's Witnesses - Psalm 42 - Michael Davis - Nov. 22, 2020

YHWH Saves: The Fearful and Ministering Servant of YHWH - Isaiah 42:1-9 - Michael Rhodes - Nov. 15, 2020

We are processing last week's nail biting, history making, eye opening presidential election. This week's guests include Michael, Richard, Rebecca, and Adrianna. Agree? Disagree? Have a topic idea? Email us at media@downtownchurch.com.

YHWH Saves: God's Greatness, Our Renewal - Isaiah 40:27-31 - Michael Davis - Nov. 8, 2020

It's election day in one of the most divisive contests in American history. We're processing it all and invite you to listen in as we do.

YHWH Saves: He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Isaiah 40:12-26 - Richard Rieves - Nov. 1, 2020

In today's episode we discuss our take on a Christian's responsibility to vote, some things to consider when casting your vote, and how prayer plays into our approach to the election and the political landscape of our country.

YHWH Saves: Here Comes The King - Isaiah 40 - Michael Rhodes - Oct. 25, 2020

YHWH Saves: That All The Kingdoms Of Earth May Know - Isaiah 38-39 - Michael Davis - Oct. 18, 2020

Check out the new podcast from Downtown Church where DC staff and special guests discuss current topics in a raw, unfiltered way in one unedited take. To submit your feedback or pose a question email media@downtownchurch.com.

YHWH Saves: In Whom Will You Trust - Isaiah 36-37 - Michael Rhodes - Oct. 11, 2020

YHWH Saves: God's Judgement Should Cause Us To Long For His Return - Isaiah 34:1-10 and 35 - Michael Davis - Oct. 4, 2020

Waiting On God In The Storm - Psalm 62 - Richard Rieves - Sept. 27, 2020

EXPOSED: Lamenting In Isolation - Psalm 46 - Live at the Levitt Shell - Richard Rieves - Sept. 20, 2020

EXPOSED: Jesus' Call To Discipleship - Matthew 9:10-13 - Michael Davis - Sept. 13, 2020

EXPOSED: God's Plan - Matthew 16:21-26 - Sirgregory Thornton - Sept. 6, 2020

EXPOSED: Lay Up For Yourselves Treasures! - Matthew 6:19-24 - Richard Rieves - Aug. 30, 2020

EXPOSED: From Frustration To Glorious Formation - James 1:1-18 - Richard Rieves - Aug. 23, 2020

A Different World - Acts 2:42-27 - Michael Davis - Aug. 16, 2020

EXPOSED: Anxiety & Uncertainty - Philippians 4:6-7 - Michael Davis - Aug. 9, 2020

EXPOSED: Motivated By Love, Captivated By Jesus - 1 Corinthians 9:23-27 - Richard Rieves - Aug. 2, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah, The Prophet For 2020 - Isaiah 28-29 - Wayne Denny - July 26, 2020

The Cost Of Purpose - Jeremiah 29:7 - Terence Gray - July 19, 2020

YHWH Saves: The Supremacy Of God Over The Nations - Isaiah 24-27 - Michael Rhodes - July 12, 2020

YHWH Saves: The Silent Killer Of Pride - Isaiah 21:1-23:18 - Sirgregory Thornton - July 7, 2020

YHWH Saves: Our Response To The Triumph Of Grace - Isaiah 12:1-6 - Michael Davis - June 21, 2020

YWHW Saves: What Is The Bible All About? - Isaiah 11 - Richard Rieves - June 14, 2020

YHWH Saves: Waiting For The King - Isaiah 10:16-11:16 - Michael Rhodes - June 7, 2020

Why Can't We Breathe? - Genesis 1:26-28 - Michael Davis - May 31, 2020

YHWH Saves: Listening To God In The Midst Of His Discipline - Isaiah 9:8-10:15 - Richard Rieves - May 24, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - The Triumph of Grace Over Our Failure - Isaiah 8:9-9:7 - Richard Rieves - May 17, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - O Immanuel, You Are With Me - Isaiah 7-8 - Sirgregory Thornton - May 10, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - The Triumph of Grace Over Our Failure - Isaiah 6:1-13 - Michael Rhodes - May 3, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - The Prayer God Will Never Refuse - Isaiah 6:1-8 - Richard Rieves - Apr. 26, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - Receiving The Grace Of God In Vain - Isaiah 5:1-30 - Michael Rhodes - Apr. 19, 2020

Dying To Live - Easter Sunday - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 - Michael Davis - Apr. 12, 2020

Entering In Love - Palm Sunday - Luke 19:28-44 - Richard Rieves - Apr. 5, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - The Enriching Power of Loss and Gain - Isaiah 3:1-4:6 - Michael Davis - Mar. 29, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - The Transforming Power of Hope and Humility - Isaiah 2:1-21 - Richard Rieves - Mar. 22, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - Our Urgent Need: A New Self-Awareness 3 - Isaiah 2:1-21 - Richard Rieves - Mar. 15, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - Our Urgent Need: A New Self-Awareness 2 - Isaiah 1:10-20 - Michael Davis - Mar. 8, 2020

Sunday School Series #6 - Is Christianity the White Man's Religion?: The Cross and the Lynching Tree - Terence Gray - Mar. 8, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - Our Urgent Need: A New Self-Awareness - Isaiah 1:2-9 - Michael Davis - Mar. 1, 2020

Sunday School Series #5 - Is Christianity the White Man's Religion?: Why We Sing - Adrianna Christmas - Mar. 1, 2020

Sunday School Series #4 - Is Christianity the White Man's Religion?: The Doctrine of Discovery - Sirgregory Thornton - Feb. 23, 2020

Sunday School Series #3 - Is Christianity the White Man's Religion?: African Presence in the NT - Michael Davis - Feb. 16, 2020

Sunday School Series #2 - Is Christianity the White Man's Religion?: African Church Fathers - George Moore - Feb. 9, 2020

Sunday School Series #1 - Is Christianity the White Man's Religion? - Sirgregory Thornton - Feb. 2, 2020

YHWH Saves: Isaiah - Isaiah 1:1 - Richard Rieves - Feb. 23, 2020

Matthew 4:1-11 - Michael Davis - Feb. 16, 2020

Isaiah 58:1-13 - Richard Rieves - Feb. 9, 2020

Joel 2:12-17 - Michael Davis - Feb. 2, 2020

Matthew 6:16-18 - Richard Rieves - Jan. 26, 2020

New Community - Colossians 4:7-18 - Richard Rieves - Jan. 19, 2020

Wisdom In Speech - Colossians 4:2-6 - Michael Davis - Jan. 12, 2020

Family Matters - Colossians 3:18-4:1 - Michael Davis - Jan. 5, 2020

Luke 4:16-22 - SirGregory Thornton - Dec. 29, 2019

Our Coming Kingdom - Isaiah 9:1-7, Matthew 2:13-18 - Richard Rieves - Dec. 22, 2019

Jesus is King: King of Kings - Matthew 2:1-12 - Michael Davis - Dec. 15, 2019

Jesus is Priest: Represents The People of God Before The Throne - Luke 22:14-23 - Richard Rieves - Dec. 8, 2019

Jesus is Prophet: The Word Made Flesh - John 1:14 - Michael Davis - Dec. 3, 2019

Solus Christus - Colossians 3:9ff - Richard Rieves - Nov. 24, 2019

Solus Christus: Keep Your Head Up - Colossians 3:1-8 - Michael Davis - Nov. 17, 2019

Solus Christus: No Gospel Replacements - Colossians 2:20-23 - Richard Rieves - Nov. 10, 2019

Solus Christus: Jesus Is Enough - Colossians 2:18-19 (partial recording) - Terence Gray - Nov. 3, 2019

Solus Christus: Rejecting Judgment For Unity - Colossians 2:16-17 - Richard Rieves - Oct. 27, 2019

Solus Christus: Just Remember The Cross - Colossians 2:8-15 - Sirgregory Thornton - Oct. 20, 2019

Solus Christus: Grow Up In Him - Colossians 2:6-7 - Richard Rieves - Oct. 13, 2019

Solus Christus: Hidden Treasure - Colossians 2:1-5 - Michael Davis - Oct. 6, 2019

Solus Christus: He Works Powerfully Within You - Colossians 1:24-29 - Richard Rieves - Sept. 29, 2019

Solus Christus: Reconciling The Broken - Colossians 1:21-23 - Michael Davis - Sept. 22, 2019

Solus Christus: Christ Is Reconciling Everything! - Colossians 1:15-20 - Michael Rhodes - Sept. 13, 2019

Solus Christus: A Gospel Prosperous Church - Colossians 1:9ff - Richard Rieves - Sept. 8, 2019

Solus Christus - Colossians 1:3-8 - Michael Davis - Sept. 1, 2019

Solus Christus: Ruler Of All - Colossians 1:1-2 - Michael Davis - Aug. 25, 2019

Psalm 137: Hanging On To God When It Hurts - Richard Rieves - Aug. 18, 2019

Learning To Talk Back To God (backup iPhone recording) - Michael Rhodes - Aug. 11, 2019

Covered: Psalm 105 - God's Faithfulness To A Sojourner People - Wayne Denny - Aug. 4, 2019

Covered: Psalm 59 - Bryce Stout - July 28, 2019

Covered: Psalm 23 - Sam Husband - July 21, 2019

Covered: Psalm 8 - Michael Rhodes - July 14, 2019

Covered: Psalm 25 - Michael Davis - July 7, 2019

Covered: You Better Appraise Him - Psalm 135 - Richard Rieves - June 30, 2019

Covered: Psalm 37 - Terence Gray - June 23, 2019

Covered: We Are Called To Worship - Psalm 100 - Michael Davis - June 16, 2019

Covered: Forsaken By God - Psalm 22 - Michael Davis - June 9, 2019

Covered: Worshipping With All Your Heart! - Psalm 103 - Richard Rieves - June 2, 2019

The Giver: Stewarding The Gifts Of God - Mark 12:1-12 - Terence Gray - May 26, 2019

The Giver: Becoming The Generous Family Of God - Deuteronomy 14:22-29 - Michael Rhodes - May 19, 2019

The Giver: A Generous God - 2 Cor. 8:1-15 - Richard Rieves - May 12, 2019

The Giver - Part 1 - Michael Davis - May 5, 2019

After Easter - 1 Corinthians 15:58 - Richard Rieves - Apr. 28, 2019

Do You Believe? - Easter Sunday 2019 - Richard Rieves - Apr. 21, 2019

Which Jesus? - Luke 23:6ff - Michael Davis - Apr. 14, 2019

DNA: The Centrality Of Mercy And Justice - Isaiah 58:1-12 - Richard Rieves - Apr. 7, 2019

DNA: Can We Live Together? (Part 2) - Colassians 3:1-17 - Michael Davis - Mar. 31, 2019

DNA: Can We Live Together? - Colossians 3:1-17 - Michael Davis - Mar. 24, 2019

DNA: Christ Preeminent - Colossians 1:15-23 - Richard Rieves - Mar. 17, 2019

DNA: The Glory Of God - Exodus 33:18-19 - Michael Davis - Mar. 10, 2019

DNA: Discipleship - Matthew 28:18-20 - Terence Gray - Mar. 3, 2019

DNA: The Second Coming - Revelation 22:6 - Michael Davis - Feb. 24, 2019

DNA: The True Church - 1 Peter 3:4-12 - Richard Rieves - Feb. 19, 2019

DNA: Grace Fueling Radical Community - Ephesians 2:1-10 - Richard Rieves - Feb. 10, 2019

DNA: The Person And The Work Of The Holy Spirit - John 16:13-14 - Michael Davis - Feb. 3, 2019

DNA: Jesus, The God Man - Daniel 7:13-14 - Terence Gray - Jan. 27, 2019

DNA: He Is God And God Alone - Deuteronomy 4:32-40 - Michael Davis - Jan. 20, 2019

DNA: God's Word Creates Loving Community - John 5:30-47 - Richard Rieves - Jan. 13, 2019

The Good In The Bad - Romans 8:16-30 - Richard Rieves - Dec. 30, 2018

Prince of Peace: His Rest Comes Through Prayer - Philippians 4:1-7 - Richard Rieves - Dec. 23, 2018

Prince of Peace: Anxious For Nothing - Matthew 6:25-34 - Michael Davis

Prince of Peace: The Invitation To Rest - Matthew 11:28-30 - Michael Davis

Prince of Peace: Lord Of The Sabbath - Matthew 12:1-14 - Richard Rieves

Prince of Peace: You Can Rest Under His Rule - Isaiah 9:6 - Richard Rieves

Money Is A Trap Jesus Frees Us From! - 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19 - Richard Rieves

Generosity And God's Grace - 2 Corinthians 8:9 - Michael Davis

I AM: Flourishing In Love To Love Pt. 2 - Matthew 5:1-12 - Michael Davis

I AM: Flourishing In Love To Love - Matthew 5:9 - Richard Rieves

I AM: Prioritizing Purity - Matthew 5:8 - Michael Rhodes

I AM: The Merciful Show Mercy - Matthew 5:7 - Michael Davis

I AM: Hungry and Thirsty - Matthew 5:6 - Richard Rieves

I AM: The Meek Will Inherit The Earth - Matthew 5:5 - Terence Gray

I AM: Happy are the Unhappy - Matthew 5:4 - Richard Rieves

I AM: Poor In Spirit - Matthew 5:3 - Richard Rieves

Beloved Community - 1 Peter 2:1-12 - Michael Davis

You Shall Not Covet - Exodus 20:17 - Terence Gray

Do Not Bear False Witness - Exodus 20:16 - Michael Davis

Do Not Steal - Exodus 20:15 - Michael Rhodes

Do Not Commit Adultery - Exodus 20:14 - Michael Davis

Do Not Murder - Exodus 20:13 - Michael Davis

Honor Your Parent - Exodus 20:12 - Michael Rhodes

Remember This Holy Day - Exodus 20:8-11 - Michael Davis

Do Not Misuse God's Name - Exodus 20:7 - Michael Davis

No Idols - Exodus 20:4-6 - Terence Gray

No Other Gods - Exodus 20:1-3 - Michael Davis

Forgiving Others - Matthew 6:5-14 - Michael Rhodes

Lead Us and Deliver Us - Matthew 6:5-14 - Michael Davis

Draw Near - Matthew 6:5 - Wayne Denny

Dying to Live! - Mark 10:32-45 - Richard Rieves

Three Reasons Why You Should Talk To Your Father - Matthew 6 - Terence Gray

Pray Like This - Matthew 6 - Michael Davis

Waiting on God Alone - Psalm 62 - Richard Rieves

Waiting on God - Psalm 62 - Richard Rieves

Worshiping Lips, Distant Hearts - Nehemiah 12:27-13 - Richard Rieves

Soul Stirring Confessions - Nehemiah 9 - Michael Davis

Making All Things New - Revelation 21:1-8 - Michael Davis

William 'Deuce' Branch

Michael Davis

Michael Rhodes

Richard Rieves

Michael Davis

Richard Rieves

Michael Davis

Michael Davis

Richard Rieves

Matthew 16:21-28

Luke 2:8-20

Isaiah 53:1-3

Installation service for Michael Davis. Sermon by Rev. Carlos B. Smith.

John 11:1-44

Sermon text: Romans 3:9-26

Galatians 2:4-16

Ephesians 4:15-16, Luke 1:1-4, 24:13-35- Samantha Rammaha

Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 2:16-23

Scripture Reading: Mark 14:26-31- Erin Cole

Job 42:7-10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

John 5:13-21

Luke 9:10-17

I John 4:13-18

Acts 2:41-46; 4:31-35; 6:1-7;

I john 4:7-12

I John 4:7-12

Philippians 4:4-13

I Corinthians 15:1-34

John 12:12-28a

1 John 3:11-4:6

I John 2:28-3:10

1 John 2:15-27

1 John 2:3-14

I John 1:1-2:2

Romans 8:18-30

Psalm 139:23-24

1 Corinth 11:17-34

Romans 3:21-25a

New Series

Matthew 1:18-25

Matthew 1:1-17

Luke 1:5-7, 26-38, 46-55, 67-80

Luke 24:44-49

Genesis 2:1

Micah 6:6-8

Matthew 5:1-12

Hebrews 13:7-18

Ephesians 1:15-23

Hebrews 12:26-13:6

Hebrews 12:26-13:6

Hebrews 10:19-33

Hebrews 10:1-18

John 4:1-42

Hebrews 4:1-13

Hebrews 5:11-6:12

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Hebrews 2:5-18

Hebrews 1:5-2:4

Ephesians 2:1-10

Matthew 28:16-20

Numbers 13:25-14:11

Philippians 3:12-4:1

Guest speaker Julian Russell, Pastor of Urban Missions and Mercy Ministries at Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, shares his heart for bridging culture for the good of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 16:13-20

Matthew 1:1-17

2 Corinthians 8:6-15

1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19

Matthew 13:47-50

Matthew 13:33

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Longing for the Kingdom Matthew 6:10

Ruth 4:1-12

Ruth 1:19-22, Getting Past A Shallow Faith

Ephesians 4:17-32

Ephesians 2:11-22

Ephesians 4:1-6

Ephesians 2:1-10

John 15:1-17

John 14:1-14

John 8:31-59

John 8:12-20

John 6:25-40

Mark 14:26-50

Exodus 20:17/Luke 12:13-21

The Ten Commandments: Eighth Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Steal” Exodus 20:15

The Fifth Commandment: Becoming a Child

Rest! Exodus 20:8-11, Matthew 11:28-30

What's in a Name? ~ Exodus 20:7

“What are You Worshipping?” Exodus 20:3, Romans 1:18-25

The Inseparable Bond Between Obedience and Love Exodus 20:1-2, John 14:15

Every Believer ~ Matthew 25: 31-46

Luke 2:1-7, 22-24

Isaiah 9:1-2/John 1:5

I Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:34-38

Genesis 1:26-28/I Corinthians 11:2-16, 14:34-38

John 4:1-42

Coexist: It’s just sex? I Corinthians 6:12-20

The Church is God’s community of Love in the World I Corinthians 1:2

How do we preach Christ to those that don’t want to hear? I Corinthians 1:22-23

Doesn’t Christianity Just Cause Division? I Corinthians 1:10-31

“Standing for truth without being a jerk or a sellout Acts 18:1-11, Selections from I Corinthians

Jesus, the answer to our doubting Acts 18:1-17

The "F" Word Matthew 6:12;14-15

How To Pray: Part 2 Matthew 6:11;13

Matthew 6:9-11,13

; II Cor 8:1-15

Romans 16:25-27

Corinthians 1:26-31

Philippians 3:1-11 The Resurrection Is THE Game Changer

Romans 7:7-25

Romans 7:1-6

Romans 4:1-25

James 3:1-2

Romans 3:9-20

Romans 2:12-3:8

Isaiah 57:1-2, 13-21

Galatians 5:22, John 16:22, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

Galatians 5:13-26

Also: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

Meaning and Work

Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Meaningless! Meaningless? Is my life meaningless?

God’s Will vs. Our Plans

When the Church Believes the Resurrection!

Manhood 101

Womanhood 101

The Church: God's New Community

Judges 2:6-13, Deuteronomy 6

Wounds From my Father

Christian Marriage Ephesians 5:21-33 "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death" even death on a cross!" Phil. 2:5-8 I. Mutual submission fuels deep friendship II. Wives are to submit, submit and respect their husbands. “Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. Gen 3:16b “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. John 6:38 “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 III. Husbands are to Love as they love their own bodies. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing wi

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!

A Fierce Love

Finding the Right One

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

Christian Relationships: Our only real hope!

The Purpose of Pain