Gardendale Nazarene Sermons

Today, we are joined by Pastor James as he walks us through the story of Joseph.

Count the Stars

Genesis 15:1-6

Genesis 11:27 These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot.

Genesis 12:1-3

1 The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

The Three-Fold Promise:

1. Land- "Go from your land..." (12:1)

2. Descendants- "I will make you into a great nation..." (12:2)

3. The Whole Earth- "...all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (12:3)

Genesis 15:1-6

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield;

your reward will be very great.

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”

4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

What are the unfulfilled promises God has made to you?

What are the unfulfilled promises God has made to you?

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

The primary aspect of 'righteous' is to trust God's future and to live assured of that future even in the barrenness of the present.

Romans 4:18-25

18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone, 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Where are you looking?

Often, resignation is where God enters the story with a reminder of His promise.

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Life: Health, Growth, and Fulfillment

John 6:47-51

Luke 12:23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

For life is more than...

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

There is no life without divine power.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 6:47-51

47 “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

John 6:47 “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life.

αιώνιος- aiōnios

indeterminate as to duration

eternal

To be aiōnios (eternal) was to be greater than time and decay itself.

John 6:47 “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life.

Truly I tell you, anyone who believes (pistis- who puts his/her loyalty in me) has life that is my life and that is a life outside the bounds of decay.

John 6:48 I am the bread of life.

I am the bread (the very sustenance) of life.

John 6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 12:25 The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

John 15:13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

• Life is found on the Vine (John 15:1-17)

• Life is Light: Purpose & Direction (John 8:12-20)

• Life is Finding Sustenance in Christ: Bread & Water (John 6:35-40, 47-51, John 4:13-15, 7:37-39)

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Fellowship: Sharing One Life

Philippians 1:1-11

What does the New Testament mean when it uses the word 'fellowship'?

κοινωνία- koinōnia

Spatial- commonness, partnership, 'sharedness'

Relational- sharing one life

Christian partnership, Christian community, Christian sharing

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

4 I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge. 6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The heart of Christian fellowship is the gospel that draws us in and forms us into one body and life.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We can only truly know genuine fellowship with each other when we are restored to proper fellowship with God.

Philippians 1:1-11

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you,[a] 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you[b] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart,[c] and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

The Gospel is the story of the transforming work of Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the message that God has come to us, and has offered to share His life with us (koinōnia), and to fill us up with Himself.

And a key component of that new life with and in Him is living life with others.

Our distance from one another signals our distance from God.

Fellowship is not an optional benefit of faith, it is a necessity.

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Faithful Witness

Revelation 1:1-5

Acts 22:19-21

19 “But I said, ‘Lord, they know that in synagogue after synagogue I had those who believed in you imprisoned and beaten. 20 And when the blood of your witness Stephen was being shed, I stood there giving approval and guarding the clothes of those who killed him.’

21 “He said to me, ‘Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”

μάρτυς, martys

a judicial witness
a witness to a circumstance
a martyr

martyr- A witness to the truth of the gospel who gave his/her life for the gospel

Revelation 1:1-6

1 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.

4 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

To be a faithful witness:

• To bear witness to the TRUTH

• Jesus is the standard we look to

• We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)

• Scripture is the faithful witness to the interactions of God with the whole creation (Isaiah 43:10-12).

• Jesus is the beginning of new life and the Amen (Revelation 3:14).

Isaiah 43:10-12

10 “You are my witnesses”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.No god was formed before me, and there will be none after me.

11 I—I am the Lord. Besides me, there is no Savior.

12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—and not some foreign god among you. So you are my witnesses”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I am God.

Revelation 3:14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation:

Amen- "So be it."

To be trusted, to be reliable, sure

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Ready, Set, Holy

1 Peter 1:13-25

While the message of holiness is shared by many, it is the heart of the Church of the Nazarene's calling, deeply rooted in the revelation of the Triune God throughout the Old and New Testaments. Holiness is not just an aspect of our faith; it is the very essence of our identity and mission.

Philippians 2:1-11

1 If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man,

8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.

9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—

11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

"For Paul, then, Christ reveals the essence of God's own character as the one who displays his power through his vulnerable love. "

Andy Johnson

Holiness and Missio Dei

In salvation, we get God.

In sanctification, God gets us.

1 Peter 1:13-25

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

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Believing and Loving

1 John 3:13-24

God, Love, & Scripture:

Love Across Testaments: Love is not limited to only the New Testament.

Created for Connection: We were created for relationship, rooted in the divine love of God.

A Story of Pursuit: The entire Bible is the story of God seeking a relationship with His creation.

Motivated by Love: God's seeking is motivated by love.

God is Love: Love is the motivating factor for salvation and our lives.

1 John 2:3-6

3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know him,” and yet doesn’t keep his commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should walk just as he walked.

1 John 2:3 This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commands.

1 John 3:23 Now this is his command: that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us.

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.

1 John 3:13-24

Our Model of Love

• God is Father. He loves us and calls us His Children (vs. 1).

• Jesus is THE example of sacrificial love (vs. 16).

• Love takes shape in real-world action and personal commitment to others (vss. 3:17-18).

• Love is central to remaining in the Triune God (vs. 24 & John 15:9-17).

Life is found, not in seeing how close I can get to 'the line' without breaking God's law. Rather, life is found in remaining in God's love.

We can walk the path Jesus walked because he has first walked it for us. Sometimes we can’t find it in us to forgive. Jesus shows us how still to love. We are people who are trying to learn what love really means. Thank God that, with Christ and the saints, we never walk alone.

–Sam Wells

Learning What Love Really Means:

1. Recognize Your Worth: You are loved, you are holy, you are mine.

2. Commit Fully: Love requires full devotion. Ask yourself, what am I serving?

3. Foster Family Bonds: Love requires treating each other as family.

4. Embrace Forgiveness: Love requires loving those who hurt us and our enemies.

Luke 6:27-31

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.

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Righteousness: The Proper Standard for Goodness

(Matthew 3:13-17)

“Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill _____________________.”

Matthew 3:13-17

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

Ancient Religion vs. Modern Religion

1) Religion was not optional.

2) Religion was not private.

3) Religion was not limited to the spiritual, it was also material.

"The biblical writers and the people of God did not associate 'salvation' with heaven, inner peace, or spiritual enlightenment per se. They saw the redemption vision of the gospel in the Old and New Testaments as a world restored to righteousness. Not souls and spirits rescued and reclaimed, but bodies and communities, trees and forests, sky and earth restored to health and vitality. All things made right from the utter wrongness of sin and wickedness."

–Nijay K. Gupta

To be righteous is to live and behave according to a standard of what is good and right toward the other.

Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

Self-Righteousness

• The root of self-righteousness is the belief that your own personal works justify you before God.

• Self-righteousness believes that you are good enough or can be if you try hard enough.

Matthew 5:21-22

21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.

How do we move towards righteousness?

• It starts with hunger and thirst (Matthew 5:6).

• We must be people who know what fills us.

• This means seeking His kingdom, trusting Jesus the Messiah, walking with Him and following in His footsteps.

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The Character of Grace

Ephesians 1:3-10

Ephesians 1:2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all who have undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.

χαρις- charis, grace

χαρα- chara, joy

χαίρε- chaire, hello, a greeting

Mercy is withholding a deserved punishment.

Grace is giving a gift that is not deserved.

Grace flows out of the very nature of who God is.

Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin, yet it does not condemn.

The Character of Grace

• We are rich because of God's grace.

• God's grace is undeserved (which is the very definition of grace).

• Grace as calling

• Grace as community

Ephesians 1:5-8

5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesians 2:4-10

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Ephesians 3:2-9

2 assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. 3 The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above. 4 By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5 This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: 6 The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.

8 This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ, 9 and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.

Ephesians 4:1-7

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Grace

She takes the blame

She covers the shame

Removes the stain

It could be her name

Grace

It's the name for a girl

It's also a thought that

Changed the world

And when she walks on the street

You can hear the strings

Grace finds goodness

In everything...

...She carries a pearl

In perfect condition

What once was hurt

What once was friction

What left a mark

No longer stings

Because Grace makes beauty

Out of ugly things

Grace finds beauty

In everything

Grace finds goodness in everything

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Today, we are joined by our Youth Pastor, James Dolinger

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Salvation: Rescued, Reconciled, and Eager

(Romans 10:8-13)

Salvation is primarily about God.

"To save" comes from the Greek word soter, meaning "to rescue."

Salvation is the work of God. The story of Jesus gives content to the word, salvation.

Romans 10:8-13

8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and oneconfesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame,12 since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Confess with your mouth

Believe in your heart

Salvation is not just a destination, it is our vocation.

"Salvation isn't just a question of who is saved and who is damned, who will get to heaven and how, but also how we are swept up into participation in the mystery of God who is Jesus Christ."

–William H. Willimon

Luke 19:1-9

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.”

9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham.

Points from the Story of Zacchaeus:

• Zacchaeus- chief tax collector

• "He was trying to see who Jesus was..."

• "All who saw it began to complain..."

• "I'll give half of my possessions to the poor..."

• "Today, salvation has come to this house."

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Repentance and Refreshing

Acts 3:19-20

Acts 3:12-20

12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you. 15 You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets—that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.

μετανοέω- metanoeō- metanoia

to undergo a change in frame of mind and feeling, to repent, to make a change in principle and practice

Meta:

beyond

above

over-arching

more comprehensive

Noia:

Greek- nous

all that shapes how we see the world

a new way of seeing the world that is contrary to anything we've known before

Acts 3:19-20

19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.

Mark 1:14-15

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Repentance is a constant turning (and returning) to God and away from _____________________.

A new way of seeing the world that is contrary to anything we've known before.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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Why the Cross?

1 Corinthians 2:2

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery of God to you, I did not come with brilliance of speech or wisdom. 2 I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

Why did Jesus die on the cross?

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

Mark 8:34-35

34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it.

Why the Cross?

• The problem of sin is more than wrongdoing. It is an infection that has so corrupted the person that we must be retrained how to think, to will, and to live.

• The cross is not just a wooden object or a place. The cross is the context in which God uses the life of Jesus (life, suffering, death, resurrection) to teach believers a whole new way to think and live.

1 Corinthians 1:11-18

11 For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers and sisters, by members of Chloe’s people, that there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: One of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.

1 Corinthians 1:28-31

28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one may boast in his presence. 30 It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption— 31 in order that, as it is written: Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Cruciformity

• Living life in the shape of a cross

• "It is the ministry of the living Christ, who reshapes all relationships and responsibilities to express the self-giving love of God that was on display on the cross."

What does it mean to become like the cross, to become like the Jesus who died on the cross?

• Cruciformity is about a Person

• Cruciformity is about Dying to Live

• Cruciformity is all about Love

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The Gospel for Today

Philippians 1:12-20

Can we seriously believe that God would establish a plan for us that essentially bypasses the awesome needs of present human life and leave us with our problems: psychological, emotional, social, and global?

Can we believe that being saved has nothing to do with the kinds of persons we are?

Philippians 1:3-30

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this, I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him,but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Philippians 1:27-28a

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.

Psalm 23:1-6

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.

2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

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The Gospel Received

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, so we proclaim and so you have believed.

1 Corinthians 15:20-27

20 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception.

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel (euangelion) I preached (euengelisamen) to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached (euengelisamen) to you—unless you believed in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5

3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.

that Christ died,

that Christ was buried,

that Christ was raised,

that Christ appeared,

that Christ ascended,

that Christ will come again,

that Christ will abolish all rule and all authority and power (and the last enemy is death).

1 John 5:11-12

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

John 17:3 This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and the one you have sent —Jesus Christ.

The Gospel is the story of the transforming work of Jesus the Christ.

Jesus is THE example of living this new life.

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We are joined this morning by our Youth Pastor, Pastor James.

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One in Unity

Acts 2:1-4

What do you need this morning?

euangelion- good news, the gospel, an announcement usually pertaining to a victory in battle

The good news does not only pertain to what we traditionally refer to as the 'gospel.' It is an announcement of the victory of God. The good news for us on this Pentecost Sunday is:

The Holy Spirit can fill only empty hearts.

Luke 24:36-53

36 As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

44 He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.”

50 Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple praising God.

"Why are you troubled?"

"And why do doubts arise in your hearts?"

"You are witnesses of these things."

Acts 1:9-14

9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

The Holy Spirit can fill only empty hearts.

Acts 2:1-4

1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

What do you need this morning?

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Essential Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15: 1-26, 51-57

Mark 16:5-8

8 They went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.

1 Corinthians 15:1-26

Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. 15 Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

The brute reality is–death is a force. Death is not merely the last breath, death is the enemy (vs.26).

God created people as whole people and God cares about whole people.

Mark 16:5-8

5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; they were alarmed.6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he told them. “You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’”

8 They went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.

What was supposed to happen in the future has broken into the present.

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It All Comes from the Same Place

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

Your value is in your created-ness by God. Your value is not based on your gift or giftedness.

Gifts, ministries, and activities find their value in how they demonstrate God's Kingdom.

Outline of 1 Corinthians 13:

• The Vitality of Love (vss. 1-3)

• Description of Love (vss. 4-7)

• Eschatological Nature of Love (vss. 8-13)

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. 13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.

John 3:16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:7-10

God is love. Love is the motivating factor of salvation. Love is the motivating factor of our lives.

What are you orienting your life?

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The Essential Truth

Acts 17:1-9, Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Thessalonians 1:1-6

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy:

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.

2 We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit, 6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.

Acts 17:1-9

17 After they passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As usual, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.” 4 Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of God-fearing Greeks, as well as a number of the leading women.

5 But the Jews became jealous, and they brought together some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city. Attacking Jason’s house, they searched for them to bring them out to the public assembly. 6 When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too, 7 and Jason has welcomed them. They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus.” 8 The crowd and city officials who heard these things were upset. 9 After taking a security bond from Jason and the others, they released them.

Acts 17:7b They are all acting contrary to Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king—Jesus. “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too…"

Acts 17:2b-3

"…reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead: 'This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.'"

What was it about their message that was turning the world upside down?

Whatever it was, we need to recover it again today.

Paul uncompromisingly preached the essential truth of the gospel:

• Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah).

• Jesus is the suffering and resurrected Lord of All.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

• Jesus, not Caesar is the King.

• It was never Paul's intention to turn the world upside down. it was simply to proclaim Christ and Him crucified.

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What I Have

Acts 3:1-10

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

To remain in Christ is to be caught up in His life and His mission. It is in the going, that we remain in Him.

"It is not the church that has a mission of salvation to fulfill in the world; it is the mission of the Son and the Spirit through the Father that includes the church."–Jürgen Moltmann

Acts 3:1-10 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.“I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”

Who is the lame man for you?

Some of us feel paralyzed in our own lives

The lame man may be a person or persons in your life.

The lame man may be the paralyzed world around us.

Outline of Chapter 3

• Acts 3:1-10: What actually happened

• Acts 3:11-16: Why it happened

• Acts 3:17-26: How it can happen now

Acts 3:19-2019 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.

Acts 3:25b-26And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.

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Sent

Acts 1:1-14

"We need a sense of moving toward something, but we can discern that busyness can't provide a destination to anything outside of us. It draws us deep within ourselves. Busyness asks us to run faster, not to go anywhere in particular but just to remain busy so we can feel full..."

–Andrew Root

The Congregation in a Secular Age: Keeping Sacred Time Against the Speed of Modern Life

Acts 1:1-14

1 I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Truths of Discipleship in Acts 1:

• Disciples are people who know who Jesus is.

John 16:7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you.

• Disciples learn to wait for God (vs. 4).

Acts 1:4-5 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

• Disciples wait on God's promise.

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

• Disciples live as witnesses of the resurrection (Christ's and our own).

"How many people in our lives know without any shadow of a doubt our forgiving and accepting love? Witnessing is not just spouting concepts or outlining plans of salvation. It is profound caring for and sometimes suffering with and for people. People are first on God's agenda."

–Dr. Lloyd Ogilvie

Drumbeat of Love

Who are five people who need the love, wisdom, knowledge, and faith of Jesus?

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The Triumphal Entry

Mark 11:1-11, 14:3-9

Mark 11:1-2

1 When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it.

1 Kings 1:32-35

32 King David then said, “Call in the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada for me.” So they came into the king’s presence. 33 The king said to them, “Take my servants with you, have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and take him down to Gihon. 34 There, the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan are to anoint him as king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and say, ‘Long live King Solomon!’ 35 You are to come up after him, and he is to come in and sit on my throne. He is the one who is to become king in my place; he is the one I have commanded to be ruler over Israel and Judah.”

Mark 11:7-10

7 They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their clothes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

The triumphal entry is a coronation event. Jesus is seen as the King and the people welcome Him as their King.

1.What does Jesus' kingship look like in Mark's gospel?

2.What does Jesus' kingship look like in your life?

Mark 15:16-20

16 The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the governor’s residence) and called the whole company together. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 They were hitting him on the head with a stick and spitting on him. Getting down on their knees, they were paying him homage. 20 After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his clothes on him.They led him out to crucify him.

1.What does Jesus' kingship look like in Mark's gospel?

• Jesus' power is not reliant on man's perception of power, but only on God's power.

Mark 9:35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”

Mark 10:15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• Power over others is not something Jesus sought. He relied on God's power to use Him.

2.What does Jesus' kingship look like in your life?

• Who sits in authority over your life?

• What makes you come alive? What is life-giving?

"The basic requirement for being a disciple is, as a deliberate act of loyalty and self-denial, to walk in the footsteps of your King toward the cross, trusting that it will be the path to true life for yourself and others."

Matthew Bates

Why the Gospel?

Mark 8:34-35

• What is the posture I take as one living under the reign and rule of Jesus?

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The End of the Age

Mark 13:1-13, 24-37

Apocalypse- the complete final destruction of the world

apo- un-

kaluptein- to cover

apokaluptein- to uncover, to reveal

Apocalypse- a revelation, a disclosure, an uncovering that shapes the way in which you see things

Mark 13:1-3

1 As he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!”

2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another—all will be thrown down.”

3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,

The center of the religious institution was an elegant building- the Temple.

The Temple:

• where atonement was made

• where the sacrifice was offered

• where God was understood to be uniquely present

• the gathering point for the worshipping community

The apocalyptic moment in Mark's gospel is the passion (the death and resurrection) of Jesus the Christ. This is THE world-altering event.

The Cross:

• where atonement was made

• where the sacrifice was offered

• where God was understood to be uniquely present

• the gathering point for the worshipping community

What are our instructions?

1. Watch out that no one deceives you (13:5).

2. Our calling is to preach to gospel (13:10).

3. The Holy Spirit is with us and will speak through us (13:11).

4. The world will not accept the message of Christ (13:13).

Mark 13:28-29

28 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door.

5. God is near (13:29)

1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

10 For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,

11 and let him turn away from evil and do what is good.Let him seek peace and pursue it,

12 because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.

6. Watch! Be alert! (13:5, 23, 33, 37)

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From Regulations to Relationships

Mark 12:28-44

Mark 12:28 One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?”

"Which command is the most important?"

"What matters?"

Mark 12:29-31

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one.30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.”

Mark 12:32-33

32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Mark 12:34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

What does Jesus mean by 'not far' from the Kingdom?

• We are called to be people of love.

"The faith that we are called to live knows the God form whom all blessings flow is also the God to whom all alliance is owed."

• He is 'not far' because he can see that relationships, not regulations, are key in our relationships with God and man.

• Moving towards the kingdom of god means we understand the direction of our relationship with God.

Genesis 3:8-9

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

• We must become like children to receive the kingdom of God (10:14).

• "What must I do?" moves from law to love (10:17).

"I take upon myself the commandment, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. And by this merit, I shall open my mouth."

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Death to New Life

Mark 12:1-17

Mark 12:1-9

1 He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from them. 3 But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent another servant to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 Then he sent another, and they killed that one. He also sent many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6 He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenant farmers said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9 What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill the farmers and give the vineyard to others.

Mark 11:9-11

9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted:

Hosanna!Blessed is he who comesin the nameof the Lord!

10 Blessed is the coming kingdomof our father David!Hosanna in the highest heaven!

11 He went into Jerusalem and into the temple. After looking around at everything, since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Psalm 118:25-29

25 Lord, save us!Lord, please grant us success!

26 He who comes in the nameof the Lord is blessed.From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God and has given us light.Bind the festival sacrifice with cordsto the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks.You are my God; I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;his faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 118:19-24

19 Open the gates of righteousness for me;I will enter through themand give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the Lord’s gate;the righteous will enter through it.

21 I will give thanks to youbecause you have answered meand have become my salvation.

22 The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone.

23 This came from the Lord;it is wondrous in our sight.

24 This is the day the Lord has made;let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

The final triumph of Christ (and now those who are 'in Christ') is not by avoiding death but by moving through death to new life.

Mark 12:13-16

13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words. 14 When they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”

15 But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” 16 They brought a coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

Exodus 20:3-4

3 Do not have other gods besides me.

4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth.

Ti[berivs] Caesar Divi Aug[vsti] F[ilivs] Avgvstvs

Caesar Augustus Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus

Mark 12:17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.

"Whose image and inscription is this?"

Beings bearing the image of God belong to God.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

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“What do you want me to do for you?”

Mark 10:32-52

Isaiah 42:18-20

18 “Listen, you deaf!Look, you blind, so that you may see.

19 Who is blind but my servant, or deaf like my messenger I am sending?Who is blind like my dedicated one, or blind like the servant of the Lord?

20 Though seeing many things, you pay no attention.Though his ears are open, he does not listen.”

Isaiah 43:2

2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you, and the rivers will not overwhelm you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you.

Isaiah 43:5-8, 10-12

5 Do not fear, for I am with you;I will bring your descendants from the east,and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’Bring my sons from far away,and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

7 everyone who bears my nameand is created for my glory.I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.”

8 Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes,and are deaf, yet have ears.

11 I—I am the Lord.Besides me, there is no Savior.

12 I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—and not some foreign god among you.So you are my witnesses”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I am God.

Prediction

Misunderstanding by the disciples

Corrective teaching

Call to the disciples

Mark 10:32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were astonished, but those who followed him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that would happen to him.

Mark 10:36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

Mark 10:37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”

Mark 10:46-52

46 They came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!”

49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50 He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

51 Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.”

52 Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.

What do you want me to do for you?

Mark 10:43-45

43 But it is not so among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Lord, when I look around in this world, I see Your work, but they are like 'trees walking.' Lord, I want to see. I want to be aware of Your presence in my life. I want to see You working in the darkness. I want to live into what You are giving– Yourself.

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Walking Away From Transformation

Mark 10:17-31

Mark 10:17-22

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “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 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”

21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not bear false witness.

Do not defraud.

Honor your father and mother.

You lack one thing ...

What is keeping you from totally relying on God?

The focus of this story is not the act of selling possessions. It's about the fact that when you have nothing, you open yourself to be vulnerable to God.

The rich young ruler cannot follow because he cannot bear the transformation that following Jesus would bring.

Transformation seems elusive because we can't control it.
Transformation begins when we leave one story for a whole new story with Christ at the center.
Transformation is the impossible giving way to the impossible.

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Losing One's Life

Mark 8:27-9:8

Mark 8:22-26

22 They came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and brought him out of the village. Spitting on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”

24 He looked up and said, “I see people—they look like trees walking.”

25 Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. 26 Then he sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

"I see people, they look like trees walking."

The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.

Mark 8:27-30

27 Jesus went out with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”

28 They answered him, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he strictly warned them to tell no one about him.

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 8:31-38

31 Then he began to teach them that it was necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. 32 He spoke openly about this. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning around and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”34 Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. 36 For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? 37 What can anyone give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

The coming of the Messiah ushers in a time that is fundamentally aligned with God's vision for the way the world should be.

The question Jesus asks is not just for His first disciples, it is for us.

"Who do you say that I am?"

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The Mission of Proclamation

Mark 6:1-29

Basic Outline of the Passage:

• Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

• The Commissioning of the Twelve

• Herod and the death of John the Baptist

Esther 5:3 “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked her. “Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be given to you.”

Esther 5:6 While drinking the wine, the king asked Esther, “Whatever you ask will be given to you. Whatever you want, even to half the kingdom, will be done.”

Mark 6:23 He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

We see in all of these stories the need to proclaim TRUTH even when the powers try to suppress the truth.

Mark 6:4-13

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.

7 He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt. 10 He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11 If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Mark 6:30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught.

At the heart of these stories is a theme–hospitality.

Mark 6:8-9

8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.

Christian Hospitality:

Christian hospitality is community-focused.

Hospitality and humility go hand-in-hand.

We are called to be people who:

• Enfold and embrace the lonely into the community

• Recognize and include those who feel invisible

• Allow God to sustain us through food, and also through the relationships He designed us to walk in

• Share the truth to prodigal sons and daughters that their Father is looking for them

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Healing and Saving

Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21 When Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the sea.

Jesus

The sea

Jairus

Jairus' daughter

The bleeding woman

The disciples

The people at Jairus' home

Both Jairus and the woman bleeding have reached the end of their ropes. They are desperate.

Desperation: so helpless that the situation is impossible to deal with.

Fear of abandonment or rejection
Childhood trauma or neglect
unmet emotional or physical needs
unfulfilled dreams or goals
substance abuse or addiction
chronic stress or anxiety
insecurity or low self-esteem
depression
financial difficulties
broken relationships
lack of purpose or meaning in one's life

Mark 5:23 and begged him earnestly, “My little daughter is dying. Come and lay your hands on her so that she can get well and live.”

Mark 5:28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.”

Mark 5: 25-34

25 Now a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years 26 had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse. 27 Having heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothing. 28 For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I’ll be made well.” 29 Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

30 Immediately Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 His disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing against you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”

32 But he was looking around to see who had done this. 33 The woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction.”

In our moments of desperation, what can we learn from this story?

There is a God who wants to rescue you.
The woman helps us understand the posture we should take.
Jesus desires to call you son or daughter.

What would change in your situation/life if the desperate places of your life were given over to the reign and rule of God?

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We are joined this morning by Kristofer Labenske.

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The Secret of the Kingdom

Mark 4:1-34

Mark 3:20-30

20 Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”

22 The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “He drives out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

23 So he summoned them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand but is finished. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.

28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Mark 3:29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”[

Mark 1:16 As he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen.

Mark 2:13 Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them.

Mark 3:7 Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee, and a large crowd followed from Judea,

Mark seems to use 'the sea' as a sign of a teaching concerning discipleship.

Mark 4:1 Again he began to teach by the sea, and a very large crowd gathered around him. So he got into a boat on the sea and sat down, while the whole crowd was by the sea on the shore.

The Parable of the Soils:

• The Path- the birds devoured the seed

• Rocky Ground- shallow roots, scorched by the sun

• The Thorns- the seed was choked out by the thorns

The Parable of the Soils:

• The Path- the enticement of evil is too much for their faith

• Rocky Ground- there is temporary faith, but the pressure of this world becomes too much

• The Thorns- genuine faith that falls short due to the demands of discipleship

Matthew 24:21 KJV For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Mark 4:17 But they have no root; they are short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, they immediately fall away.

If you live under the reign and rule of King Jesus and His Kingdom, you will have to live with the friction of the thlipsis (Kingdom Pressure).

Mark 4:20 And those like seed sown on good ground hear the word, welcome it, and produce fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundred times what was sown.”

Hear the word

Welcome the word

Produce fruit

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Mark 2:1-22

1 When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. 3 They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: 7 “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic— 11 “I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”

12 Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

13 Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 Then, passing by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.

15 While he was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who were following him. 16 When the scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. No, new wine is put into fresh wineskins.”

Blasphemy

• To say something untrue about God.

• To claim that another god is God.

The Christian Witness:

1. Who is Jesus?

Daniel 7:13-14

13 I continued watching in the night visions,

and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.

14 He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Mark 14:62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

2. What does Jesus bring?

Mark 2:10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic—

3. What does the fullness of His reign bring?

Mark 2:5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

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The Beginning of the Good News

Mark 1:1-20

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

euangelion- good news, the gospel, an announcement usually pertaining to a victory in battle

If Jesus brought the 'good news,' what was the 'bad news?'

• Our world is filled with the brokenness of the human condition.

• This brokenness has led to great evil and a deep darkness.

• Humanity ceased to worship God and instead worshipped bankrupt idols–money, power, sex, and human pursuits of holiness.

2 Kings 21:2-5

2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, imitating the detestable practices of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed and reestablished the altars for Baal. He made an Asherah, as King Ahab of Israel had done; he also bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served them. 4 He built altars in the Lord’s temple, where the Lord had said, “Jerusalem is where I will put my name.” 5 He built altars to all the stars in the sky in both courtyards of the Lord’s temple.

The Good News:

• God was fulfilling His plan to save the world.

• Jesus is at the center of God's rescue mission to restore and give life to His people.

euangelion- good news, the gospel, an announcement usually pertaining to a victory in battle

Euangelion reminds us of conflict and announces a change in the powers that be.

Here's the good news, how will you respond?

Mark 1:14-15

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Repent (metanoia)- a reorienting of what life is all about

• Repentance calls us to turn away. If we are turning away, what are we turning towards?

• In repentance, we turn away from the powers of sin that have held people captive and we turn toward the power of God that sets us free.

How does the story of the grace of God become the center of the life that follows?

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Promises Kept

Luke 2:1-2

Jeremiah 33:15-16

15 In those days and at that time I will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is what she will be named: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:6 Yet I will certainly bring health and healing to it and will indeed heal them. I will let them experience the abundance of true peace.

Isaiah 40:1-5

1 “Comfort, comfort my people, ”says your God.

2 “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and announce to her that her time of hard service is over, her iniquity has been pardoned, and she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

3 A voice of one crying out:

Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

4 Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.

5 And the glory of the Lord will appear, and all humanity together will see it,for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Ezra 3:11-13

11 They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord: “For he is good; his faithful love to Israel endures forever.” Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s house had been laid.

12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads, who had seen the first temple, wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple, but many others shouted joyfully. 13 The people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shouting from that of the weeping, because the people were shouting so loudly. And the sound was heard far away.

Luke 2:1-8

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole empire should be registered. 2 This first registration took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So everyone went to be registered, each to his own town.

4 Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, 5 to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.

Luke 2:10-11

10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Good News:

• God was fulfilling His plan to save the world.

• Jesus is at the center of God's rescue mission to restore and give life to His people.

Luke 2:7 (KJV) And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Do you have room for the Good News that Christ has come?

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This morning, we are joined by our District Superintendent, Arnie Wilson.

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https://www.bible.com/events/49179625

The Promise of Comfort

Isaiah 40:1-11

Malachi 4:4-5

Matthew 3:1-3

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” 3 For he is the one spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, who said:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

Mark 1:1-4

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way.

3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:2-6

2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight!

5 Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth,

6 and everyone will see the salvation of God.

John 1:19-23

19 This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”

21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?”

“I am not,” he said.

“Are you the Prophet?”

“No,” he answered.

22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said.”

In the church, it isn't Christmas until we hear from John the Baptist.

Isaiah 40:1-11

John the Baptist is announcing a new day of God. It is a day when the age of sin and death pass away.

Matthew 3:2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”

What was at the heart of John the Baptist's message?

• Repentance

• Reconciliation

• Forgiveness

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled; the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.

Malachi 4:4-6

4 “Remember the instruction of Moses my servant, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

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The Promise of a King

Jeremiah 33:10-11; 14-18

Deuteronomy 6:10-15

2 Kings 22:15-17

Jeremiah 33:10-11

In the silence, the brokenness, and/or desolation can we imagine a God who still acts?

Jeremiah 33:1111 a sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the groom and the bride, and the voice of those saying, Give thanks to the Lord of Armies, for the Lord is good; his faithful love endures forever as they bring thanksgiving sacrifices to the temple of the Lord. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as in former times, says the Lord.

Jeremiah 33:14-1614 “Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will fulfill the good promise that I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.15 In those days and at that timeI will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is what she will be named:The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:15 In those days and at that timeI will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout up for David, and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.

The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

What is God up to?

Amy Robertson (Director of Lifelong Learning at Congregation Or Hadash):The thing about this text–the beauty and the really awfully challenge of it–is that it asks us to hold both the real, and legitimate suffering and fear and uncertainty alongside hope that a seemingly impossible dream will yet come true. It feels particularly pointed to me that at this moment in the text at this moment that the hope is offered, we have not yet hit bottom. We are far from the bottom. This text is not saying, “It’s all up from here, your suffering is over.” It doesn’t actually tell us anything about what will happen tomorrow or even what will happen to our bodies, or in our lifetime. It’s not that kind of prediction, and it doesn’t tell us not to be afraid, or that the suffering isn’t real. It says what seems impossible is not impossible. At any moment it could be the moment that God will break through and bring this vision of peace. It reminds me of our conversation about Sarah and how she laughed to hear that she’d have a child. Everything in her life, everything she had ever known, indicated very clearly to her that this was not the case. Sometimes in those painful moments, the certainty of resignation to that fate, to that loss, is more comfortable, is almost easier than perpetuating the state of uncertainty forever.So, Sarah laughed at this truly ridiculous prediction, and then the impossible happened to her. It sure did! As we talked about in that episode, though this doesn’t negate the suffering of women who cannot bear children. It doesn’t promise that God is going to make a habit of doing this kind of thing and it doesn’t tell anyone, except Sarah in this case, how things will turn out.All it says is the impossible is not impossible. Whether or not, you can hold that vast expense between the suffering of this moment, and the promise of relief from that suffering in some mysterious hazy future, they are both true. It is so easy and so tempting to try to use hope to erase the suffering or let the suffering take up all the space and leave no room for hope but this chapter asks us to hold both.Hope should never be wheeled as a weapon against those who are suffering, nor should we let our world become so small, that our imagination shrinks down so tightly that we can no longer dream of peace and envision it, and taste it, in our soul to remember what it looks like because peace is what’s coming.

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Josiah Finds the Scroll

2 Kings 22:1-10; 23:1-3

Manasseh- 12-years-old, reigned for 55 years

Amon- 22-years-old, reigned for 2 years

Josiah- 8-years-old, reigned for 31 years

2 Kings 22:1-7

2 Kings 22:8-13

2 Kings 23:1-7

2 Kings 23:3 Next, the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant in the Lord’s presence to follow the Lord and to keep his commands, his decrees, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul in order to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book; all the people agreed to the covenant.

Deuteronomy 6:1-15

1 “This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. 2 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

10 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you—a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, 11 houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant—and when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. 13 Fear the Lord your God, worship him, and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you, 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise, the Lord your God will become angry with you and obliterate you from the face of the earth.

Mission Creep- a gradual shift in objectives during the course of a military campaign

• Mission Creep- a gradual shift in our purpose/focus during the course of our lives

• We return to the original mission.

• Ask two questions: What matters? Who matters?

• We must shed the cultural artifacts who have built altars in our lives.

If Christ is truly King, what does that mean for how we live out lives? What does that mean for how we spend our time and resources? What does that mean for how we live in the world and love our neighbors?

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This morning, we have the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Tim Green.

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Tonight, we have the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Tim Green.

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God's Beloved Children

Hosea 11:1-9

Hosea 1:2 When the Lord first spoke to Hosea, he said this to him:

Go and marry a woman of promiscuity,and have children of promiscuity,for the land is committing blatant acts of promiscuityby abandoning the Lord.

Hosea is the story of God's faithful love in spite of Israel's desire for other gods (promiscuity).

Jezreel- son #1, vs. 1:4

Lo-ruhamah- daughter #1, vs. 1:6

Lo-ammi- son #2, vs. 1:8

Jezreel- "Valley of Massacre"

Lo-ruhamah- "No compassion" or "Not beloved"

Lo-ammi- "Not my people"

"I will put an end to the house of Israel."

"The Lord will no longer have compassion on Israel."

"For you are not my people, and I am not your God."

Hosea 11:1-4

1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 Israel called to the Egyptianseven as Israel was leaving them.They kept sacrificing to the Baalsand burning offerings to idols.

3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,taking them by the hand,but they never knew that I healed them.

4 I led them with human cords,with ropes of love.To them I was like onewho eases the yoke from their jaws;

I bent down to give them food.

Hosea 11:5-7

5 Israel will not return to the land of Egyptand Assyria will be his king,because they refused to repent.

6 A sword will whirl through his cities;it will destroy and devour the bars of his gates,because of their schemes.

7 My people are bent on turning from me.Though they call to him on high,he will not exalt them at all.

Hosea 11:8-11

8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?

How can I surrender you, Israel?

How can I make you like Admah?

How can I treat you like Zeboiim?

I have had a change of heart;

my compassion is stirred!

9 I will not vent the full fury of my anger;

I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim.

For I am God and not man,

the Holy One among you;

I will not come in rage.

10 They will follow the Lord;

he will roar like a lion.

When he roars,

his children will come trembling from the west.

11 They will be roused like birds from Egypt

and like doves from the land of Assyria.

Then I will settle them in their homes.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

The story of Hosea 11 is the story of a parent who refuses to give up on their children.

God has chosen a people and loved these people. No sinfulness, no idol worship, no stubborness to repent, can overcome the love of a God who desires to pull you into Himself as a parent holds a child.

Jezreel- God sows/Valley of Massacre

Lo-ruhamah- No compassion/Not beloved

Lo-ammi- Not my people

Hosea 2:19-23

19 I will take you to be my wife forever.I will take you to be my wife in righteousness,justice, love, and compassion.

20 I will take you to be my wife in faithfulness,and you will know the Lord.

21 On that day I will respond—this is the Lord’s declaration.I will respond to the sky,and it will respond to the earth.

22 The earth will respond to the grain,the new wine, and the fresh oil,and they will respond to Jezreel.

23 I will sow her in the land for myself,and I will have compassionon Lo-ruhamah;I will say to Lo-ammi:You are my people,and he will say, “You are my God.”

Jezreel- God sows

Ruhamah- I have compassion, My beloved

Ammi- You are my people

We believe a child is a part of our community when he or she is prayed for.

My job is for ______________ to know they have a new name.

1. We pray for our children.

2. We live as people of character.

3. We remember that the Kingdom looks to children as the example of faith.

We must slow down and recover the delight of a child. Delight is peace.

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Today we are joined by our youth pastor, Rev. James Dolinger.

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Notes and Scripture:

• Provision

• Protection

• Power

Anytime I look outside of God for provision, protection, and power; I have made that an idol.

What do I place between God and myself?

1 Kings 11:43 Solomon rested with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam became king in his place.

1 Kings 12:1-17

12 Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king. 2 When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard about it, he stayed in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon’s presence. Jeroboam stayed in Egypt. 3 But they summoned him, and Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam: 4 “Your father made our yoke harsh. You, therefore, lighten your father’s harsh service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

5 Rehoboam replied, “Go away for three days and then return to me.” So the people left. 6 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon when he was alive, asking, “How do you advise me to respond to this people?”

7 They replied, “Today if you will be a servant to this people and serve them, and if you respond to them by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

8 But he rejected the advice of the elders who had advised him and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and attended him. 9 He asked them, “What message do you advise that we send back to this people who said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?”

10 The young men who had grown up with him told him, “This is what you should say to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you, make it lighter on us!’ This is what you should tell them: ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist! 11 Although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.’”

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had ordered: “Return to me on the third day.” 13 Then the king answered the people harshly. He rejected the advice the elders had given him 14 and spoke to them according to the young men’s advice: “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with barbed whips.”

15 The king did not listen to the people, because this turn of events came from the Lord to carry out his word, which the Lord had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat. 16 When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people answered him:

What portion do we have in David?We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse.Israel, return to your tents;David, now look after your own house!

So Israel went to their tents, 17 but Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah.

1 Kings 12:25-30

25 Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. From there he went out and built Penuel. 26 Jeroboam said to himself, “The kingdom might now return to the house of David. 27 If these people regularly go to offer sacrifices in the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, the heart of these people will return to their lord, King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and go back to the king of Judah.” 28 So the king sought advice.

Then he made two golden calves, and he said to the people, “Going to Jerusalem is too difficult for you. Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 29 He set up one in Bethel, and put the other in Dan. 30 This led to sin; the people walked in procession before one of the calves all the way to Dan.

Both of these stories show us the inappropriate use of provision, protection, and power.

Luke 22:14-34

Power in the Kingdom of God is countercultural service rather than domination, with Jesus as the pattern (or the incarnation of service).

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Scripture and Notes:

1 Samuel 8:4-9

1 Samuel 8:19-20

2 Samuel 5:1-5

2 Samuel 6:1-19

6 David again assembled all the fit young men in Israel: thirty thousand. 2 He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart 4 and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark. 5 David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments, lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

6 When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. 7 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. 8 David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is today. 9 David feared the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 So he was not willing to bring the ark of the Lord to the city of David; instead, he diverted it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his whole family.

12 It was reported to King David, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 14 David was dancing with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod. 15 He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn. 16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence. 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Armies. 19 Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women. Then all the people went home.

What does it mean to place God at the center of your life?

What does it mean to place God at the center of your ____________?

"...if the being of God breaks into our lives through ministry in the shape of the cross, then faith is much more than just an epistemological shift. Faith is the very transformation of our ontological condition."

The first step in putting God at the center of your life is to move from a knowledge of God to allowing God to transform your life (or very being).

Stop trying to be perfect on your own strength–you can't.

Start by keeping God at the center and see how God works.

1 John 3:16-18

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.

Do not underestimate the power of God.

The transformation that God wants to bring about in your life, cuts to the very core of who you are as a person.

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Bitterness to Gentleness

Ruth 1:1-17, 4:13-17

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him.

Ruth 1:1-5

1 During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife’s name was Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the fields of Moab and settled there. 3 Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 Her sons took Moabite women as their wives: one was named Orpah and the second was named Ruth. After they lived in Moab about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was left without her two children and without her husband.

Ruth 1:6-17

6 She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the Lord had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food. 7 She left the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.

8 Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. 9 May the Lord grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.

10 They said to her, “We insist on returning with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, 13 would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me.” 14 Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.”

16 But Ruth replied:

Don’t plead with me to abandon youor to return and not follow you.For wherever you go, I will go,and wherever you live, I will live;your people will be my people,and your God will be my God.

17 Where you die, I will die,and there I will be buried.May the Lord punish me,and do so severely,if anything but death separates you and me.

Where do we turn in our times of bitterness, barrenness, and brokenness?

The book of Ruth is a story of God's hesed (lovingkindness, steadfast love).

It is in the brokenness of life where we most easily see God's hesed.

Psalm 31:7 I will rejoice and be glad in your faithful love because you have seen my affliction. You know the troubles of my soul

Psalm 31:15-16

15 The course of my life is in your power; rescue me from the power of my enemies and from my persecutors.

16 Make your face shine on your servant; save me by your faithful love.

Ruth 4:13-17

13 Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. He slept with her, and the Lord granted conception to her, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him. 17 The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

How do we walk through the valleys of life?

"For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."

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Today we are joined by our youth pastor, James Dolinger.

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Mission and Naming

Exodus 1:8-2:10; 3:1-15

Exodus 1:8 A new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

Exodus 1:9-22

Exodus 2:10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Exodus 3:1-15

Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

To know the name of God is to be an intimate friend; it is to have a place in God's being.

"A pet name or nickname is allowed to be spoken only by those who share intimately in the other’s being. They share in that other person’s being by sharing in events. There is a shared history that allows us to use that single name. And using it becomes a way—with just that single word—of saying a whole narrative of love and encounter...Often these names are secrets, not just because the depth of intimacy makes them embarrassing but more so because they are sacred. Only the one who truly shares in the other’s being by being present in the most important of events can say the name."

Root, Andrew. The Pastor in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #2) (p. 243). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

"To say the name is to have God’s being...Those who do not know the intimate acts of God’s saving love—not respecting the events of God’s arriving—haphazardly call him by name...For Moses to speak God’s name, then, is to say a whole narrative. The whole narrative of events of God’s past and coming arrivals is revealed in the speaking of the single name."

Root, Andrew. The Pastor in a Secular Age (Ministry in a Secular Age Book #2) (pp. 243-244). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Exodus 3:7-10

7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people in Egypt, and have heard them crying out because of their oppressors. I know about their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. 9 So because the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me, and I have also seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them, 10 therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.”

I have observed the misery of my people...have heard them crying out...I know about their sufferings...I have come down to rescue them from the power of the ...therefore, go. I am sending you...

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Blessing and Naming

Genesis 32:9-13, 22-30

Motif- a dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition

Genesis 16:8 He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.”

Genesis 16:13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?”

Genesis 21:2-3

2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. 3 Abraham named his son who was born to him—the one Sarah bore to him—Isaac.

Genesis 32:6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau; he is coming to meet you—and he has four hundred men with him.”

Genesis 32:24-32

24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 “What is your name?” the man asked.“Jacob,” he replied.

28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel—limping because of his hip. 32 That is why, still today, the Israelites don’t eat the thigh muscle that is at the hip socket: because he struck Jacob’s hip socket at the thigh muscle.

"Jacob was left alone..." vs. 24

"What's your name?"

"Jacob"

"Who are you?"

"I'm a heel."

Genesis 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Jacob's identity was defined by struggle, but that struggle was defined by his unwillingness to let go.

Important Statements:

• Jacob was left alone.

• Jacob's story is characterized by struggle.

• Struggle is a better descriptor for faith than comfort.

Genesis 32:30 Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.”

"For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared."

Genesis 32:31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel—limping because of his hip.

"limping"

Genesis 32:31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel—limping because of his hip.

Genesis 32:28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

"struggled with God..."

Let faith be characterized by the struggle.

Your name is _______________________.

Will you tell us about your limp/struggle?

We can trust the God who ____________________, ____________________, ____________________, and ____________________ struggled with because it is the same God who named Jacob, who gave him a limp, who delivered Israel from the slavery of Egypt and resurrected Christ on Easter morning.

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When Promises Turn to Laughter

Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7

Stories between Genesis 2-18

Noah and the Great Flood

Tower of Babel

Call of Abram

Sodom and Gomorrah Introduced

Abram's Vision and Covenant

Ishmael and Hagar

Genesis 15:1-6

After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield;

your reward will be very great.

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.”

6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 17:15-16

15 God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. 16 I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

"I will bless her.

I will give you a son by her...

I will bless her.

She will produce nations...

kings of people will come from her..."

Genesis 17:17 Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?”

Genesis 18:1-15

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. 2 He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, 3 and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”

“Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.”

6 So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. 8 Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.

9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he answered.

10 The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.

11 Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”

13 But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ 14 Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”

15 Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said because she was afraid.

But he replied, “No, you did laugh.”

What has God promised you?

Abram believed the Lord... (Genesis 17:17)

Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed... (Genesis 17:17)

So she laughed to herself... (Genesis 18:12)

Is there something in your life when you think about it, you laugh? Not because it is funny, but the laughter is out of the deepest part of your soul and you don't know what else to do.

vs. 14- "Is anything impossible for the Lord?"

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

"Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?"

Genesis 21:6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.”

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The First Family

Genesis 2:4b-25

"It's Him again, the Creator of the universe. It's Him again."

Genesis 2:4-25

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.”

Genesis 2:20 The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found corresponding to him.

ezer (ayzer)- helper, ally

Psalm 33:20 We wait for the Lord;he is our help and shield.

Psalm 115:9-11

9 Israel, trust in the Lord!He is their help and shield.

10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!He is their help and shield.

11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!He is their help and shield.

Psalm 121:1-2

1 I lift my eyes toward the mountains.Where will my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord,the Maker of heaven and earth.

ezer (ayzer)- helper, ally

"someone who drops everything and comes running when a cry of distress goes out."

Genesis 2:22 Then the Lord God made the rib he had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

This creature is fundamentally like me in a way that nothing else is.

Genesis 2:15-17

15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

vs. 15- We are given a vocation.

vs. 16- We are given permission.

vs. 17- We are given prohibition/constraint.

Vocation

Freedom

God's Prohibition

Genesis 3:2-5

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

How do I live in the balance of vocation, freedom, and God's prohibition?

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

Galatians 5:13-14

13 For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

1 John 4:18-19

18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

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Learning as We Go

John 15:9-17

9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Matthew 7:15-23

15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

Summary:

•vs 14- How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

•vs 21b- …only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

•vs 24- everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Axiom 8: God transforms us through embodied participation.

Acts 1:4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about;

The first command given to the church was to wait.

Putting the teaching of Jesus into practice is more like learning an instrument than studying for a multiple-choice test.

Love is a capacity we mature into. Love is rooted in action and relationship.

Being a disciple is understanding that failure is part of the journey.

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Power Redefined

Isaiah 2:1-4

Axiom 7: God's love always reckons with power.

Exodus 23:1-9

1 “You must not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked to be a malicious witness.

2 “You must not follow a crowd in wrongdoing. Do not testify in a lawsuit and go along with a crowd to pervert justice. 3 Do not show favoritism to a poor person in his lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.

5 “If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, and you want to refrain from helping it, you must help with it.

6 “You must not deny justice to a poor person among you in his lawsuit. 7 Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent and the just, because I will not justify the guilty. 8 You must not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and corrupts the words of the righteous. 9 You must not oppress a resident alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be a resident alien because you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt.

Psalm 103:6 The Lord executes acts of righteousnessand justice for all the oppressed.

Psalm 140:12 I know that the Lord upholds the just cause of the poor,justice for the needy.

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do what is good.Pursue justice.Correct the oppressor.Defend the rights of the fatherless.Plead the widow’s cause.

Justice is not something that God does. It is who God is. God is just.

God is Just:

• God loves everyone.

• God sees those who society overlooks.

• God comes to the aid of those mistreated.

• God's power is not the power to control, but the power to love.

Mark 9:35-37

35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” 36 He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”

Mark 10:35-37

35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, approached him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask you.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked them.

37 They answered him, “Allow us to sit at your right and at your left in your glory.”

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

Acts 2:1-6

5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Acts 2:6 NRSV And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

"Native language"

"Mother tongue"

What do we learn about God's power in these passages?

• God's power aligns itself with the last, the servant.

• God's power is seen in valuing people.

• God's power is seen in the intimacy of the relationship.

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What is a disciple?

• A disciple is one who follows Jesus

• A disciple is someone who has been changed by an interaction with Jesus

• A disciple is someone committed to the mission of Christ

You are invited to be a disciple, but it is not something we are left to accomplish on our own strength.

We have an inner-life and an outer-life.

Isaiah 5:1-5

1I will sing about the one I love, a song about my loved one’s vineyard: The one I love had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

2 He broke up the soil, cleared it of stones, and planted it with the finest vines. He built a tower in the middle of it and even dug out a winepress there. He expected it to yield good grapes, but it yielded worthless grapes.

3 So now, residents of Jerusalem and men of Judah, please judge between me and my vineyard.

4 What more could I have done for my vineyard than I did? Why, when I expected a yield of good grapes, did it yield worthless grapes?

John 15:1-17

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.

Axiom 6- God does the same work in us and through us.

Here is the heart of deepest spiritual struggles– we want people to see the outward fruit of our spiritual life but don’t want to allow God into the recesses of our hearts.

Abiding is the only means for fruitful living.

• Abide in me and I in you (vs. 4).

• Abide in my love (vs. 9).

• Jesus appointed you–to go, produce fruit, and your fruit should abide.

How do we abide in Jesus as He abides in us?

• As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love (vs. 9).

• If you keep my commands you will remain in my love...(vs. 10)

• This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you (vs. 12).

• This is what I command you: Love one another (vs. 17).

As a disciple, how do I give my entire self to God?

• The goal of abiding is to bring together through and in.

• Sin (or separation from God) begins in the heart.

• Love reorients our life away from ourselves and towards God and others.

• "If you seek holiness, you will not find it. If you seek Jesus, you will find holiness." –Rich Villodas

• You reproduce who you are.

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John 11:17-27

"...when we open the Bible–we enter the totally unfamiliar world of God, a world of creation and salvation stretching endlessly above and beyond us. Life in the warehouse never prepared us for anything like this.

Typically, adults in the warehouse scoff at the tales the children bring back. After all, they are completely in control of the warehouse world in ways they could never be outside. And they want to keep it that way.”

Eugene Peterson, Eat this Book

Matthew 4:18-22

18 As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for[a] people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 4:19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

What is a disciple?

• A disciple is one who follows Jesus

• A disciple is someone who has been changed by an interaction with Jesus

• A disciple is someone committed to the mission of Christ

If the God who is love , who is always present and at work, who looks just like Jesus, is meeting us right in the middle of our messy reality, then it follows that God cares about all of it more than we do (Axiom 5).

You are invited to be a disciple, but it is not something we are left to accomplish on our own strength.

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.[a]5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.[b]9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time[c]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

11 In him we have also received an inheritance,[d] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

You are invited to see a new way to live.

If God cares about all of it more than we do, that means the stuff that’s most important to you, your family and friends, your church community, your job and vocation, your neighborhood and world—all of it—is of keen and specific concern to God. Every good thing that’s worth caring about, everything that you care about, God cares about more.

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In the Middle of Our Mess

(Romans 8:5-11)

Axiom 4: God meets us in our messy reality.

God doesn't despise the sinner. He desires to be with the sinner, to heal and forgive and save the sinner.

The God who is love, who is always present and at work, who looks just like Jesus, always meets us right where we really are, in the middle of whatever mess we find ourselves in.

Three Questions dealing with Axiom 4:

What do we mean by 'messy?'
Why don't I allow God into my messy reality?
How do I allow/invite God into my messy reality?

1. What do we mean by 'messy?'

2. Why don't I allow God into my messy reality?

• We hide our brokenness.

• We conceal our mess with hypocrisy.

• We overlook our mess with spiritual bypassing.

3. How do I allow/invite God into my messy reality?

• Attune to reality.

• Accept God meeting you right here in the mess.

• God loves the actual you, mess included.

Romans 8:5-11

5 For those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit. 6 Now the mindset of the flesh is death, but the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God’s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. 10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

• God delights in meeting you where you are–even in your messy life.

What if my reality is really messy?

• Acknowledge the truth.

• Name the bad stuff.

• Face the bad stuff.

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:27 (The Kingdom New Testament)

And the Searcher of Hearts knows what the spirit is thinking, because the spirit pleads for God’s people according to God’s will.

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Axiom 1- God is love, so it is all about love. Axiom 2- God is always present and at work.

The bottom line of this second axiom is that God is present, actively working among us right now and always. This is not a nice idea to make us feel better; it is the bedrock reality of the universe. It is the truest thing about the world.

We have all built a custom god who lives in our imaginations. These gods must be confronted with the light of the truth of who God is.

My goal is to present the clearest picture of who God is, because, I believe that if you see who God really is, you can't help but fall in love with Him.

The Distant Deity The Demanding Judge The Deterministic Micromanager

Axiom 3- God is just like Jesus. Jesus perfectly reveals the true nature of God (Hebrews 1:3). In Jesus, the fullness of God dwells (Colossians 2:9) If you know Jesus, you will also know God (John 14:7-11). Jesus makes God known in a final, definitive way (John 1:18).

The Distant Deity John 14:16-18

The Demanding Judge God doesn't despise the sinner. He desires to be with the sinner, to heal and forgive and save the sinner.

The Deterministic Micromanager

Exercise If we all have custom gods in our imagination, in what ways have you replaced the one true God for these lesser gods?

Pay attention over the next few days whenever you are aware of your limitations, weaknesses, sin, flaws, or anything else you consider undesirable. Notice the moments when you weren’t at your best, or when you felt shame about something. Keep a list of these moments. This might be hard. You may need to do this as you go (keeping a journal or making notes on your phone), or you could do it at the end of each day, but make sure you write these moments down, rather than just try to remember them.

When you get a few moments for reflection, perhaps at the end of each day, reflect on your list of “moments of badness” and ask yourself this question: How do I imagine and experience God responding to me right now? Not what you know about God, but how you actually experience God in your body, in your emotions, in your thoughts. Use your imagination and discern how you feel when you become aware of your badness. Whatever picture or feeling comes up in these moments (not on your best day) is likely who you think God really is.

As you reflect on how you experience God relating to you in your badness, think about which false image of God it’s most like: Are you experiencing the Distant Deity? Are you experiencing the Demanding Judge? Are you experiencing the Deterministic Micromanager?

Perhaps you’d characterize your false image of God in some other way (like the Doting Grandparent? The Disappointed Teacher? The Naive Idealist?). What image or words would you use to describe the God who shows up when you’re not at your best? Take some time to describe this God.

Notice the God Jesus reveals. After spending a few days on noticing God in your imagination, set aside thirty minutes when you can be alone and quiet, without interruptions. Slowly read and meditate on the passages below in which Jesus gives us a picture of how God interacts with people in their badness. For each passage, see what you notice as you imagine the scene, and write down the good news Jesus decWhat lares in each passage. What does he say to people in their badness? What does he do for people in their badness?

How does Jesus communicate God’s goodness to people in the midst of their badness? John 8:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 John 21:1-19 Luke 19:1-10

Think about other Gospel passages you know of. What do you notice about how Jesus regularly treats people he loves in their badness? How is this the same or different from how you experience God in your badness? Now go back to your list of “moments of badness,” and imagine a God who is just like Jesus meeting you in those moments. What changes about the way God relates to you in your badness? Take some time to describe this, and rest in it.

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God is Present

Psalm 139

In our story, God creates the world on purpose and in love, providing for it, caring for it, and calling it all very good. This is God's own temple where He dwells with humanity. It is where we meet God because it is where God resides.

John 1:1-5

John 1:10-14

10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Revelation 21:1-7

1 Then 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. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

Revelation 21:22-25

22 I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 Its gates will never close by day because it will never be night there.

Axiom 1: God is love, so it's all above love.

Axiom 2: God is always present and at work.

1. Stop. Sit down.

2. Start with a reminder of God's presence in your life.

3. Remind yourself of the times when you didn't feel God's presence, only to see Him in hindsight.

4. Know that God is present. God is working, and it is more beautiful than you can imagine.

John 19:5 ESV

5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!”

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God is Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Axiom- a statement that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.

Eight Axioms to Cultivate a Robust Faith

• God is love, so it is all about love.

• God is always present and at work.

• God is just like Jesus.

• God meets us in our messy reality.

• God cares about all of it more than we do.

• God does the same work in us and through us.

• God's love always reckons with power.

• God transforms us through embodied participation.

1 John 4:7-19

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. 16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17 In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

God is love and love is the greatest power in the world.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

What are we without love?

I am a noisy gong.

I am nothing.

I gain nothing.

It seems like this has always been a temptation for Christians: to privilege knowledge and power at the expense of love.

Salvation cannot be separated from God's love.

It is hard for us to trust love to get the job done.

• Living with clinched fists is exhausting.

• How often do you walk around with clinched fists and not realize it?

• What are you holding on to that hinders your ability to love?•Living with clinched fists is exhausting.

• How often do you walk around with clinched fists and not realize it?

• What are you holding on to that hinders your ability to love?

•_____________________________________

• Living with hands open enables us to live out love.

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This morning we are joined by Rev. Kristofer Labenske.

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The Opportunity for Freedom

Galatians 5:13-18

"God has given us a wonderful exercise for training in truthfulness. That exercise is called prayer. To learn to pray is to have our bodies formed by the truth and love that move the sun and the stars.ul exercise for training in truthfulness."

–Stanley Hauerwas, The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godchild

John 8:30-38

30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus responded, “Truly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. 37 I know you are descendants of Abraham, but you are trying to kill me because my word has no place among you. 38 I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father; so then, you do what you have heard from your father.”

There is an important relationship between TRUTH and freedom.

Galatians 5:1-7

1 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.

7 You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?

Two Types of Freedom:

• Negative Freedom- freedom 'from'

• Positive Freedom- freedom 'for'

• For Jesus and Paul, freedom is about choosing, choosing the good.

"Freedom isn't about autonomy from authority but about liberating loving relationshps from sin."

–John Mark Comer

Galatians 5:13-14

Paul's use of slavery leads us to a question, "What owns you?"

What Jesus and Paul call slavery, we call addiction.

Galatians 5:13-18

16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:7 You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?

The Law of Returns

• Every cause has an effect.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Matthew 7:2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.

Galatians 6:7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap,

• The effect is often disproportionate to the cause.

Galatians 6:7-10

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At Home in the Truth

Colossians 1:9-14

Here's my advice–

"Do not lie."

"A Christian is someone who is unable to lie."

–Stanley Hauerwas

“...the truth can be spoken only by someone who is already at home in it, not by someone who still lives in untruthfulness..."

–Wittgenstein

What does it mean to be at home in the truth?

Colossians 1:9-14

9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

...that you may...

be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding

walk worthy of the Lord

bear fruit in every good work and

grow in the knowledge of God,

being strengthened with all power...

great endurance and patience

joyfully giving thanks to the Father...

share in the saints’ inheritance in the light...

Why would we ever lie?

• Our lives are constructed of stories.

• We are often tempted to lie because of pride and power

"This distance between how we live and what we know to be true is painful and tempts us to change the truth rather than change our lives."

–Stanley Hauerwas, The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godchild

• We often lie because we don't want our limits exposed. We fear our foolishness will be on display.

Ephesians 4:15-16

15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Two of the richest fruits of truthfulness are trust and peace.

• Speaking the truth means we must be what we seem to be.

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

• A life of isolation and lies deforms us into the image of the devil.

• The exemplary life of Christ is a life that is at home in the truth. It is a life that has undergone training to keep pride in check.

–Stanley Hauerwas, The Character of Virtue: Letters to a Godchild

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Prowling Like a Lion

1 Peter 5:8-9

Two Truths Concerning the Devil:

• I believe in the devil because Jesus believed in the devil.

• The devil's end goal is to spread death.

John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

There is a devil.

diabolos- to slander, to accuse, "The Accuser"

Genesis 3:1-7

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

"Did God really say...?"

"...you will be like God..."

Two statements that delve into the very core of the devil's deception:

1) to remove God's rule over your life

2) to redfine good and evil based on ourselves over trusting the will of God

These statements lead us to three questions:

Who is God? (or the gods? or is there a God or gods?)

Who are we?

How do we live?

Or to say in another way:

What role does God play in my purpose?

What does it mean to be human?

What is a life of meaning?

John 6:32-51

John 8:30-41

John 6:37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.

John 8:42-45

How are we transformed into the image of the Son?

We are transformed by the Holy Spirit and living in the truth.

A life of isolation and lies deform us into the image of the devil.

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The Role of Virtue

Romans 1:20

Romans 1:18-25

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.

Points:

• God's truth is evident (vs. 19).

• God's attributes have been clearly seen since the beginning (vs. 20).

• God's truth and life (attributes) were exchanged for idols (vs. 22).

• The truth of God was exchanged for a lie (vs. 25) and worshipped the created.

Bearing witness to Jesus as Lord is the central calling of the Church.

John 13:34-35

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 17:20-23

20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.

What would my life be like if I fully embraced God's divine attributes and allowed His truth to shine through me?

The Transcendentals:

• Goodness

• Beauty

• Truth

Goodness

• Goodness is that which works for the benefit of another.

• Human goodness has one important characteristic: love.

• To love is to will the good of another.

• Sin is the failure to love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Beauty

• "Beauty is goodness made manifest to the senses." –Dallas Willard

• Beauty, when seen, pleases. Goodness, when experienced, benefits.

To love is to will the good of another, but it is also an act of beauty.

All good things are also beautiful.

Beauty, goodness, and truth point to something else–God. God is the creator of all things, so when we experience beauty, we need to thank God.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13

What would my life be like if I fully embraced God's goodness and beauty and allowed His truth to shine through me?

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Three Theories for the Nature of Truth

1) The Correspondence Theory- A statement is true if it corresponds to the way the world is

2) The Coherence Theory- A statement is true if it is consistent with other statements we take to be true.

• The coherence theory is put under pressure when other truths are questioned.

3) The Pragmatic Theory- A statement is true if it works.

• The pragmatic theory values power over principle.

John 18:33-38

33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about me?”

35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”

36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

“You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no grounds for charging him.

John 14:1-7

1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.”

5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

The Church is the people of God.

If you know Jesus, you know the Father.

Bearing witness to Jesus as Lord is the central calling of the Church.

Central to our call is proclaiming Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.

John 18:37

Beth Moore Story:

Years ago at an event during a Q&A, a woman asked, Beth, what’s the knot in your rope? I thought it was the best question. In other words, what do I hold onto when I’m sliding down a rope, palms burning & blistering & all my formulas failing? I didn’t even have to think about it.

The words of Jesus in John 15:9. “As the Father has loved me, so I love you. Now abide in my love.” Jesus follower, try to grasp the magnitude of what he is saying about you. In the same way God loves Jesus, Jesus loves you. Then he says, LIVE IN THIS TRUTH. IT’S HOME TO YOU.

This is how I think of it: no matter what is happening in my life, this truth must be firmly rooted and grounded, as Paul said in Eph 3, as the deepest belief and reality in my entire existence. In the whole of my day in and day out living.

This way, come what may, in all the losses & gains & tears & doubts & bewilderments & betrayals, & when my body aches with the pain of aging or I’m sick or depressed or worse yet, one of my loved ones is, I know this with all my being, none of this is because I’m unloved by God.

Jesus loves me like God loves him. And, man oh man, does God love Jesus. Let that sink down into the deepest part of you. Let that root deep into the soil of your consciousness and unconsciousness. Jesus loves you like God loves him. Live in it. Don’t leave it for a minute.

What's the knot in your rope?

In a world that says there is no truth, what do we hold on to?

John 18:38

What is truth?

We believe that Truth has a name, a face, a mother, a birthdate, a death date, and a resurrection date.

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This morning, we are joined by our youth pastor, Rev. James Dolinger.

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Freedom from Sin

Romans 6:1-14

1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.

Romans 5:20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more

Three Misunderstandings Dealt with in Romans 6:

1) We don't understand sin.

2) We don't understand grace.

3) We don't understand the work of the cross concerning transformation.

1) We don't understand sin.

• Original Sin

• Personal Sin- the sin of commission and the sin of omission

The Sin of Commission

Galatians 5:19-21

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Sin of Omission

James 4:17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it.

Nazarene Articles of Faith, Article 5.1

• corruption of the nature of all the offspring of Adam

• averse (opposition) to God

• without spiritual life

• inclined to evil

"It is impossible to be 'in Christ' and remain 'in Sin.' ...there is absolutley no place for cheap grace in the Christian life. In baptism believers have relocated. They have died to the power called Sin; they have terminated their bondage and alligence to it. Therefore, now we present our bodies to God, not to Sin."

–Michael J. Gorman

2) We don't understand grace.

2) We don't understand the continuing role of grace in our lives.

Romans 6:11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Grace makes me a part of a new movement in the world– "walking in the newness of life."

3) We don't understand the work of the cross concerning transformation.

Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come.Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Romans 6:8-11

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him. 10 For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.

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God Sought Life

Romans 3:28-30, 5:1-11

Romans 3:9-10

9 What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, 10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.

Romans 3:23-24

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:28-30

28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Both Jews and Gentiles are in need of God's saving grace because we all suffer from the same condition- SIN

How do we define "justify"?

Definition 1- "Can I find a good excuse for my situation?"

Definition 2- to straighten out

How does God straighten out relationships with humanity?

• Through a gospel that evokes faith

• If sin is a relationship with God gone wrong, then faith is the relationship with God set right.

• This 'setting right' is done through the power of the gospel

• The gospel brings about a trusting relationship with God and we are justified.

Romans 5:1-3

1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance,

"We boast in what God does. Even when we suffer, because God's action is not limited because of my suffering."

Romans 5:4-11

4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. 11 And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Don't miss the repetition of 6-10:

vs. 6- ...while we were still helpless...Christ died for the ungodly.

vs. 8- ...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

vs. 10- ...while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son...will we be saved by his life.

God sought life.

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Called to be Saints

Romans 1:1-17

Romans 16:19-20

19 The report of your obedience has reached everyone. Therefore I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise about what is good, and yet innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures— 3 concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. 5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, 6 including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.

7 To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, a servant (slave, doulos) of Christ (Messiah) Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God...

"Ultimately the source of each aspect of his identity is God, who has called him to set him apart to be an apostle, one sent with the authority of the sender as the sender's representative and agent."

–Michael Gorman

Romans 1:8-17

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith is being reported in all the world. 9 God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

13 Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Paul uses the phrase, "obedience of faith" to bookend the letter to the Romans (1:5, 16:26).

Romans 1:16-17

In the culture of the New Testament, what was the most shameful thing?

Why would one not want to be publicly identified as a Christian?

Who is the God you believe in?

• God is working to set things right (reconciliation).

• God is bringing life.

• God's new life starts with divine grace and leads to faith.

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Stand on Your Feet!

Acts 13:1-3, 14:8-18

Acts Outline from Acts 1:8

A. ...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you (chp. 2)

B. ...you will be my witnesses...

1) in Jerusalem and Judea (chp. 2-7)

2) in Samaria (chp 8-12)

3) the ends of the earth (13-20)

Acts 13:1-3

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

Acts 14:8-18

8 In Lystra a man was sitting who was without strength in his feet, had never walked, and had been lame from birth. 9 He listened as Paul spoke. After looking directly at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the town, brought bulls and wreaths to the gates because he intended, with the crowds, to offer sacrifice.

14 The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their robes when they heard this and rushed into the crowd, shouting, 15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own way, 17 although he did not leave himself without a witness, since he did what is good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18 Even though they said these things, they barely stopped the crowds from sacrificing to them.

Acts 14:15 “People! Why are you doing these things? We are people also, just like you, and we are proclaiming good news to you, that you turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them.

What are the worthless things that you look to bring you value?

Acts 14:8-10

What have you held on to for your entire life as "just the way it is," yet God wants to do something new?

Acts 14:10 Paul said in a loud voice, “Stand up on your feet!” And he jumped up and began to walk around.

• Do you have the faith that God can create a new future?

• Do you have faith that God can change your future despite your past?

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A New Vision

Acts 10:1-17, 34-48

Acts 1:8 as an outline for the book of Acts:

A. ...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you (chp. 2)

B. ...you will be my witnesses...

1) in Jerusalem and Judea (chp. 2-7)

2) in Samaria (chp 8-12)

3) the ends of the earth (13-20)

Three Beginnings in Acts:

• A Room (Pentecost)

• A Road (Saul's Conversion)

• A Roof (Peter's Dream)

Acts 10:1-17

1 There was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man and feared God along with his whole household. He did many charitable deeds for the Jewish people and always prayed to God. 3 About three in the afternoon he distinctly saw in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, “Cornelius.”

4 Staring at him in awe, he said, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel told him, “Your prayers and your acts of charity have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa and call for Simon, who is also named Peter. 6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, he called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, who was one of those who attended him. 8 After explaining everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

9 The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon. 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”

15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” 16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, right away the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simon’s house, stood at the gate.

Acts 10:34-48

Acts 10:15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

If the point of the vision was people, why were there animals in the vision instead of people?

Acts 10:9-10

Acts 10:15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.”

• Do we believe God has the power to make clean what was formally unclean?

• Do we pray and hunger to see God's transformative power in the lives of others?

• Does God have the power to transform someone who is loving the wrong things?

Acts 10:19-20

19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”

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Resurrection Mission

Matthew 28:16-20

Genesis 12:1-3

1 The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s house

to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make you into a great nation,

I will bless you,

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,

and all the peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.

Exodus 19:5-6

5 Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, 6 and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

Isaiah 42:5-9

5 This is what God, the Lord, says—

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

and spirit to those who walk on it—

6 “I am the Lord. I have called you

for a righteous purpose,

and I will hold you by your hand.

I will watch over you, and I will appoint you

to be a covenant for the people

and a light to the nations,

7 in order to open blind eyes,

to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,

and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.

8 I am the Lord. That is my name,

and I will not give my glory to another

or my praise to idols.

9 The past events have indeed happened.

Now I declare new events;

I announce them to you before they occur.”

Matthew 2:1-3

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

There is a deep calling in Scripture that God's calling and blessing are to flow out of His people into "all the people of the earth."

Matthew 4:8-10

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

Matthew 28:16-20

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Why is it difficult to live out the Great Commission?

We must begin by realizing SIN is an actual/real problem.

Sin is a problem that required the incarnation, death, and resurrection of the Son of God.

The Great Commission reminds us that the presence of the risen Christ is active in the world.

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Scripture References and Notes:

Resurrection Faith

Matthew 28:1-10

Matthew 27:62-66

62 The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take guards,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” 66 They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.

Matthew 28:1-10

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. 9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Matthew 28:4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.

Matthew 28:5-6

5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”

Matthew 17:7 Jesus came up, touched them, and said, “Get up; don’t be afraid.”

Matthew 28:5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.

Matthew 28:8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.

Matthew 28:9-10

9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

"Don't be afraid. Go and tell...and they will see me there.

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When Did We See You?

Matthew 25:31-46

Focused Assignment (Matthew 24)

• Enduring Love (vs. 12-14)

• Discernment for the Things of God (vs. 33)

• Alertness & Mindfulness to God's Work (vs. 42 & 46)

Matthew 22:9 Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’

What does it mean to wear the wedding garments of the Kingdom of God?

Colossians 3:12-14

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:40 & 45

40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

The Gospel of Matthew cares about the way you live your life.

The actions are simple.

The consistency of that life is hard.

For all of history, humans have desired a liturgical solution.

Micah 6:7-8

7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of ramsor with ten thousand streams of oil?Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,the offspring of my body for my own sin?

8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is goodand what it is the Lord requires of you:to act justly,to love faithfulness,and to walk humbly with your God.

Amos 5:22-24

22 Even if you offer meyour burnt offerings and grain offerings,I will not accept them;I will have no regardfor your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.

23 Take away from me the noise of your songs!I will not listen to the music of your harps.

24 But let justice flow like water,and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.

For all of history, humans have desired a liturgical solution.

I want to put on the wedding garment. I want to live a life where I know I have been set free by Jesus Christ to serve my neighbor.

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Bridesmaids

Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 24:36 “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son —except the Father alone.

Matthew 25:1-13

1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take oil with them; 4 but the wise ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 When the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’

7 “Then all the virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’

9 “The wise ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’

12 “He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you!’

13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

Matthew 24:3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples approached him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what is the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24 can be read as a three-act play about the end times.

Matthew 24:12-14

12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:33 In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near—at the door.

Matthew 24:42 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

Matthew 24:46 Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

Focused Assignment

Act 1- Enduring Love

Act 2- Discernment for the Things of God

Act 3- Alertness & Mindfulness to God's Work

Matthew 25:13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

This is a parable about discipleship, waiting, patience, and preparedness.

What is the character of our waiting?

Enduring Love

Discernment

Alertness/Mindfulness

2 Timothy 1:6-7

6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

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The Wedding Banquet

Matthew 22:1-14

During Lent, we are answering this question– What does it mean to be a disciple?

Matthew 22:1-14

1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to summon those invited to the banquet, but they didn’t want to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants and said, ‘Tell those who are invited: See, I’ve prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’

5 “But they paid no attention and went away, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged, and he sent out his troops, killed those murderers, and burned down their city.

8 “Then he told his servants, ‘The banquet is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet.’ 10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests. 11 When the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed for a wedding. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Outline of this Parable:

• The king has a banquet for his son (Revelation 19:9)

• Sends out servants (#1)

• Those invited didn't want to come.

• Sends out servants (#2)

• Those invited paid no attention– mistreated and killed the servants.

• The king is enraged and burns down the city.

• Sends out servants (#3)

• Invite everyone- good and evil

• Now the banquet was filled with guests

• Odd guest- "...was not dressed for a wedding."

Theme of Matthew:

God enters through the brokenness–always surprising, always transforming grace of God.

Matthew 22:10 So those servants went out on the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding banquet was filled with guests.

"...gathered everybody they found, both evil and good."

Col 3:8-9

8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices

Col 3:12-15

"Go then to where the roads exit the city and invite everyone you find to the banquet."

Matthew 22:14

“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

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This morning we are joined by Rev. Randy Jasper.

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The Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18:15-35

Matthew 7:1-5

1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. 3 Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.

Matthew 18:15-35

15 “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimonyof two or three witnesses every fact may be established.17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

21 Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”

22 “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.

23 “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him. 25 Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.

26 “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.

28 “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’

29 “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30 But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. 31 When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. 32 Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”

Garden–Egypt–Exodus–New Life (provided by God)

Perfection–Sin–Salvation–Mercy

Freedom–Oppression–Restoration–Forgiveness

God's forgiveness in my life flows out of the restoration of the relationship.

The goal is to hold one accountable for bad behavior and to restore the relationship.

Garden–Egypt–Exodus–New Life provided by God

Perfection–Sin–Salvation–Mercy

Freedom–Oppression–Restoration–Forgiveness

What is our proper response to God's action in the world?

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This morning, we are joined by Kristofer Labenske

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Faith Like a Mustard Seed

Matthew 13:24-43

Summary of the Sermon on the Mount in Two Points:

• Dependence on God.

• God's people assume a different stance/posture towards one another.

Matthew 13:24-43

Three Parables in this Passage:

The Wheat & Weeds

The Mustard Seed

The Leaven

Dependence on God.

God's people assume a different stance/posture towards one another.

1 Corinthians 3:4-9

4 For whenever someone says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not acting like mere humans?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s coworkers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

"You are God's field..."

What am I allowing to take root in my life?

God's people assume a different stance/posture towards one another.

Matthew 5:43-44

43 “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Mathew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Matthew 7:1-4

Matthew 7:12 12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

There are going to be weeds in life.

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Built on the Rock

Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29

Matthew 6:31-33

31 So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Matthew 7:1-6

How are we to use the Law in our lives?

The Law works best in the Christian life when you first apply it to yourself.

We begin by looking at ourselves.

Matthew 7:7-14

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him. 12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

"Whatever is hateful and distasteful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the entire Torah, the rest is commentary. Go and learn."

Matthew 7:24-29

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Where you build your house matters.

It is not about avoiding the storm. It's about withstanding the storm.

What does my life look like if it is built on rock?

Where are the places in my life where I have too much trust/value in the sand?

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How to Pray

Matthew 6:7-21

http://bible.com/events/49020117

Matthew 6:5-21

The Lord's Prayer is a model of prayer in its claim of relationship and simplicity.

God:

Your name
Your Kingdom
You will

Petitions:

Give us
Forgive us
not bring us
rescue us

Exodus 20:1-8

Do not have other gods beside me.
Do not make an idol for yourself.
Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath.

Exodus 20:7a- "Do not misuse the name of God."

Matthew 6:9b- "...your name because honored as holy."

God has a reputation and that reputation is largely dependent on what we do in the world in the name of God.

Ezekiel 36:22-23

Matthew 6:19-21

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

"Blessed..." (Matthew 5:1-20)

http://bible.com/events/49019040

Beatitude (Latin)

Makarism (Greek)

Two Statements Concerning the Beatitudes:

1) God is the acting agent behind the blessing.

2) "Blessed" is in the indicative tense.

Matthew 4:23-25

Matthew 5:1-12

1) God is the acting agent behind the blessing.

2) "Blessed" is spoken by Jesus as TRUTH.

The Beatitudes are true based on the authority of the One who spoke.

Your present experience does not define the future.

The Beatitudes are unconditional performative language. They bring into being the truth they state.

CROSS

EMPTY TOMB

The community that hears itself pronounced "blessed" by its Lord does not remain idle but acts in accord with the reign of the Kingdom of God.

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Serve Only Him- Matthew 4:1-17

When we reduce temptation to issues, we miss the heart of temptation.

Matthew 4:1-17

Stones to Bread

Matthew 4:4
"Man must live on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
John 4:31-34

The Pinnacle of the Temple

The High Mountain

Summary:

Bread- personal needs, nourishment
Temple- the need for love and a sign of that love
Mountain- power versus obedience

Temptation is not about the question, "Would you like to do something wrong?"

Genesis 3:2-5

"...you will be like God..."

Temptation is, "What am I going to do with my life?"

What is God's will for my life? What am I going to allow God to do with my life?

What is my life?

This is who I am, this is what I do

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Fruit, not Fathers

Matthew 3:1-17

Passage Outline:

1. John the Baptist's proclamation

a. Isaiah

b. Malachi

c. Fruit of repentance

d. Future Messiah

2. Jesus' baptism

a. Jesus' proclamation

b. The Father's proclamation

Matthew 3:1-6

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness:Prepare the way for the Lord;make his paths straight!

4 Now John had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

"Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!"

What is the difference between the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the "Kingdom of God"?

John the Baptist is calling for a turning towards a new way of life because there is a new sense of order in the world.

Matthew 3:7-17

7 When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. 9 And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire that never goes out.”

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

Matthew 3:15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.

What is the minimum I have to do in order to count myself as a believer?

Through His baptism, Jesus is demonstrating to us what it means to follow the Father and we see a community formed.

"Remember your baptism." –Martin Luther

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

The Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew 1:1-17

The Genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-17)

How do you introduce yourself?

What is my family story?

Where we come from matters, but we are not bound to that story.

Our bigger story helps us find our place in this world.

Matthew 1:1-17

How does knowing the bigger story of Jesus help us understand who He is?

Five Women:

Tamar

Rahab

Ruth

Bathsheba

Mary

How does knowing the bigger story of Jesus help us understand who He is?

The story of Jesus' family is a story of brokenness and 'un-usable' people being vessels of God's action.

God enters through the brokenness- always surprising, always transforming grace of God.

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

In the Morning

Luke 2:8-20

Advent is the time between–between the first coming of Christ and the second coming, between darkness and dawn, between kingdoms of this world, and the fulfillment of the Kingdom of our Lord and His Son, Jesus the Messiah.

Luke 2:8-20

8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace on earth to people he favors!

15 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the manger. 17 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.

Main Points:

Travel

The Inn

The Shepherds

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Light to the Nations

Isaiah 42:1-9

Isaiah 42:1 “This is my servant; I strengthen him,

this is my chosen one; I delight in him.

I have put my Spirit on him;

he will bring justice to the nations.

The original audience in this passage was God's people, Israel.

Isaiah 42:1-9

Verse 1

1 “This is my servant; I strengthen him,

this is my chosen one; I delight in him.

I have put my Spirit on him;

he will bring justice to the nations.

Ezekiel 36:25-27

25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will place my Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances.

You have the God-given capacity to transform someone's life now that the Spirit is upon you.

Verses 2 & 3

2 He will not cry out or shout

or make his voice heard in the streets.

3 He will not break a bruised reed,

and he will not put out a smoldering wick;

he will faithfully bring justice.

Verse 4

4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged

until he has established justice on earth.

The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.”

Verse 5

5 This is what God, the Lord, says—

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

and spirit to those who walk on it—

Verse 6

6 “I am the Lord. I have called you

for a righteous purpose,

and I will hold you by your hand.

I will watch over you, and I will appoint you

to be a covenant for the people

and a light to the nations,

Verses 7-9

7 in order to open blind eyes,

to bring out prisoners from the dungeon,

and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.

8 I am the Lord. That is my name,

and I will not give my glory to another

or my praise to idols.

9 The past events have indeed happened.

Now I declare new events;

I announce them to you before they occur.”

Three Disruptive Moments in the Old Testament

1. The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

2. Slavery in Egypt (Exodus 1-13)

3. Exile

God's Response:

• Form a people

• Give the people a mission

God is not done with you or His people.

God will always have a people who are evidence of God's goodness, kindness, love, and justice.

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

The Faith to Leave 'Safe'

Esther 4:1-17

Characters:

• King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I)- King of Persia, a drunk pushover

• Vashti- the queen

• Mordecai- the older cousin

• Esther- the beautiful cousin

• Haman- royal staff, the villain

Esther 3:5-6

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage. 6 And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.

Chiasmus

"chi"

Esther 4:1-17

"If you keep silent at this time..."

"Who knows, perhaps you have been put in this place/position for such a time as this."

• Who are the people within arms reach of your life?

• What if you are exactly what is needed?

How would you respond differently to the world if you were exactly what is needed?

Esther 4:16 - “If I perish, I perish."

When you combine these two questions, doubt and excuses creep into our minds:

• Someone obviously could do better or has a better answer

• I am inadequate

• Someone else will go

• I'm comfortable with where I am

Do you have the faith to leave 'safe?'

What if you are the only one who can go?

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Faith as a Way of Life

Habakkuk 1:1-7, 2:1-4

Habakkuk 1:1-7

1 The pronouncement that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2 How long, Lord, must I call for help

and you do not listen

or cry out to you about violence

and you do not save?

3 Why do you force me to look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?

Oppression and violence are right in front of me.

Strife (lawsuits/court judgement) is ongoing, and conflict escalates.

4 This is why the law is ineffective

and justice (mishpat) never emerges.

For the wicked restrict the righteous;

therefore, justice (mishpat) comes out perverted.

5 Look at the nations and observe—

be utterly astounded!

For I am doing something in your days

that you will not believe

when you hear about it.

6 Look! I am raising up the Chaldeans,

that bitter, impetuous nation

that marches across the earth’s open spaces

to seize territories not its own.

7 They are fierce and terrifying;

their views of justice and sovereignty

stem from themselves.

"Why do you force me to look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?"

The way the world currently is– is not the way God wants the world to be.

Habakkuk 2:1-4

2:1 I will stand at my guard post

and station myself on the lookout tower.

I will watch to see what he will say to me

and what I should reply about my complaint.

God’s Second Answer

2 The Lord answered me:

Write down this vision;

clearly inscribe it on tablets

so one may easily read it.

3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

it testifies about the end and will not lie.

Though it delays, wait for it,

since it will certainly come and not be late.

4 Look, his ego is inflated;

he is without integrity.

But the righteous one will live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:2 (CEB)

2 Then the Lord answered me and said,

Write a vision, and make it plain upon a tablet so that a runner can read it.

Habakkuk 2:3

3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time;

it testifies about the end and will not lie.

Though it delays, wait for it,

since it will certainly come and not be late.

What would you write on your sign?

Maimonides

Ani Ma'amin- I believe

Thirteen Statements of Faith

I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah and though He may tarry, still I await Him every day.
How do we insist upon hope in the face of this immediate violence and fear?
In a world filled with injustice, violence, and impossibility, there is hope for the coming of the Messiah.
The proclamation of the possibility for a new way of life when it seems the most impossible– that is what Habakkuk and Advent is after.
What would you write on your sign?

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Swords into Plowshares- Isaiah 2:1-4

Isaiah 1:1- The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns[a] of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah.

Isaiah 2:1-4

1 The vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established

at the top of the mountains

and will be raised above the hills.

All nations will stream to it,

3 and many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us about his ways

so that we may walk in his paths.”

For instruction will go out of Zion

and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He will settle disputes among the nations

and provide arbitration for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plows

and their spears into pruning knives.

Nation will not take up the sword against nation,

and they will never again train for war.

Prophets struggle with verb tenses.

"It was all happening inside of Mary, and she was so sure of it that she was singing about it ahead of time--not in the future tense but in the past, as if the promise had already come true. Prophets almost never get their verb tenses straight, because part of their gift is being able to see the world as God sees it--not divided into things that are already over and things that have not happened yet, but as an eternally unfolding mystery that surprises everyone..."

–Barbara Brown Taylor (Singing Ahead of Time)

Luke 1:46-55

Luke 2:29-30

• Prophets struggle with verb tenses.

• Prophets desire to live-out life according to God's will for the world– in the present.

Isaiah 2:1-4

Are we willing to imagine a world where this is true?

2022 US Defense Budget: $1,640,000,000,000

Take listening to the Spirit seriously.
Tell our story faithfully. Open up yourself to the life of the story. We must learn to articulate a Christianity that is strange.
“Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future; faith is having the courage to dance to it today."

“Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future; faith is having the courage to dance to it today." -- Peter Kuzmic

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Sermon Passages and Notes:

Act, Love, Walk

Micah 6:1-8

Micah in Outline:

1:2- Addressed to all the people of the earth

3:1- Addressed to the leaders of Israel

6:1- Addressed to God's people

Psalm 15:1-2

Psalm 24:1-6

Structure of Micah 6:1-8

vss 1-2- Acolyte

vss 3-5- YHWH

vss 6-7- Worshipper

vs 8- Acolyte

Micah 6:1-7

1 Now listen to what the Lord is saying:

Rise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your complaint.

2 Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit,

you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,

because the Lord has a case against his people,

and he will argue it against Israel.

3 My people, what have I done to you,

or how have I wearied you?

Testify against me!

4 Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you from that place of slavery.

I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam ahead of you.

5 My people,

remember what King Balak of Moab proposed,

what Balaam son of Beor answered him,

and what happened from the Acacia Grove to Gilgal

so that you may acknowledge

the Lord’s righteous acts.

6 What should I bring before the Lord

when I come to bow before God on high?

Should I come before him with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves?

7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams

or with ten thousand streams of oil?

Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the offspring of my body for my own sin?

What would please the Lord?

• Burnt offerings with year-old calves

• Thousands of rams

• Ten thousand streams of oil

• My first-born

What would please the Lord?

What God wants is evidenced by three things:

• to act

• to love

• to walk

To act justly (mispat)

• Justice is what love looks like in public.

• Justice is setting up life following God's will for the world.

To love faithfulness (hesed)

mispat vs. hesed

mispat- concrete requirements of decency to other people

hesed- hesed is what is not required- being generous with acts of kindness, assuming the best, going out of your way to find ways to help the people you interact with, a movement towards other people, love of the fidelity of the relationship

To walk humbly

Matthew 4:19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.

Psalm 23:3-4

3 He renews my life;

he leads me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

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We are joined today by Dr. Michael Pasquarello. Dr. Pasquarello is the Methodist Chair at Beeson Divinity School.

Sermon Passages and Notes:

Wholehearted- Mark 12:41-44

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living.”

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Solomon's Wisdom (1 Kings 3:4-28)

2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hethite to be your own wife.’

1 Kings 3:4-15

"Ask. What should I give you?"

"...a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil."

Proverbs 1:20-22

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;

she makes her voice heard in the public squares.

21 She cries out above the commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22 “How long, inexperienced ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockers enjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

The simple- someone who doesn't know what they don't know, lacks experience

Mockers/Scoffers- someone who knows, doesn't care, and will ridicule you for trying to correct them

Proverbs 9:6-9

6 Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;

pursue the way of understanding.

7 The one who corrects a mocker

will bring abuse on himself;

the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt.

8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;

rebuke the wise, and he will love you.

9 Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still;

teach the righteous, and he will learn more.

Fool- someone who knows and doesn't care

Wisdom- the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement

"The owl of Minerva begins its flight only with the onset of dusk." –Hegel

"Wisdom begins its flight only with the onset of dusk."

1 Kings 3:9 So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?”

Discernment is peering around the corner when it is getting dark.

1 Kings 3:5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask. What should I give you?”

"Ask. What should I give you?"

"What should I give you?"

It is about gift, about what has been accomplished and what God is doing.
We are to receive what God has given and use it in the service of others.
It all comes back to God's loving kindness (hesed).
As God's people, there is a need to constantly resubmit to the answer to this question–"What should I give you?"

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"Create in me a clean heart..."

2 Samuel 11:1-5, 26-27; 12:1-9; Psalm 51:1-9

The first purpose of the Law is life. Abiding by the Law allows for a flourishing of life.

Exodus 20:2

Exodus 20:17

2 Samuel 7:8-11

2 Samuel 11:1-5

2 Samuel 11:4 ESV

2 Samuel 11:5 ESV

2 Samuel 11:15-17

2 Samuel 11:26-27

2 Samuel 12:1-9

1 Samuel 8:10-11

2 Samuel 11:4 ESV

2 Samuel 12:4

The first purpose of the Law is life. Abiding by the Law allows for a flourishing of life.

The flourishing of life is a gift.

The second purpose of the Law, as Nathan uses it, is to convict of sin.

The conviction of sin is also part of the flourishing of life and it, too, is a gift.

How is the conviction of sin a gift?

Jeremiah 26:1-6

Jeremiah 26:12-15

The conviction of sin is also part of the flourishing of life and it, too, is a gift.

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Our good friend and brother, Pastor Nilo DeJesus, joins us from the Mesquita Church of the Nazarene in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Pastor James brings us our message for the morning.

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Rescue at Sea- Exodus 14:5-7, 10-14, 21-29

Exodus 1:6-7

6 Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation eventually died. 7 But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them.

Exodus 2:23-25

23 After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labor, they cried out, and their cry for help because of the difficult labor ascended to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the Israelites, and God knew.

Exodus 6:6-7

Exodus 13:20-22

Exodus 14:5-14

Exodus 15:11-13

11 Lord, who is like you among the gods?

Who is like you, glorious in holiness,

revered with praises, performing wonders?

12 You stretched out your right hand,

and the earth swallowed them.

13 With your faithful love,

you will lead the people

you have redeemed;

you will guide them to your holy dwelling

with your strength.

Exodus 14:10-12

10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and there were the Egyptians coming after them! The Israelites were terrified and cried out to the Lord for help. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Isn’t this what we told you in Egypt: Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Has there been a moment in your life when you thought there was no way out?

One of the ways we exist in survival mode is to not allow hope for the future, "I just need to get through today."

There is a survival mode and there is a hope for the future mode.

Exodus 14:13-14

13 But Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation that he will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you must be quiet.”

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Presence in Darkness

Genesis 39:1-23

Genesis 37:3-11

How is God going to keep the three promises He made to Abraham?

Genesis 39:1-23

Genesis 39:23

The question is never, “How could God let this happen?” If the Lord was with him, then how?

The question needs to be re-framed, “This happened, where can God go from here?”

Where can God go from here?

Three Truths Concerning Suffering:

God is always working to redeem.
When suffering happens, we can expect God to show up to bring new life.
When you are in a difficult circumstance, God is with you.

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Call of Abraham

Genesis 12:1-9

Are you attentive to God's voice in your life?

Are you growing in your relationship with Him?

"Many times, what passes for normal is neither healthy or natural."

Genesis 12:1-9

1 The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s house

to the land that I will show you.

2 I will make you into a great nation,

I will bless you,

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,

and all the peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the site of Shechem, at the oak of Moreh. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.) 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord. 9 Then Abram journeyed by stages to the Negev.

Genesis 11:30 Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child.

The purpose of life was the continuation of your kinship group.

Kindred (Israel)

Tribe

Clan

House (three generations)

Genesis 12:1

1 The Lord said to Abram:

Go from your land,

your relatives,

and your father’s house

to the land that I will show you.

Genesis 12:2-3

2 I will make you into a great nation,

I will bless you,

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,

and all the peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.

God promises land, kindred (a great nation), and blessing to be a blessing.

Land- "Where do I belong?"

Kindred- "What is your life for?"

Blessing- "What does it mean to live out favor in ways that other people experience God's favor?"

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Restoration of Relationship

Genesis 6:5-22; 8:6-12; 9:8-17

Guided by God's Promises

What is God's promise in this text?

Genesis 6:5-8

5 When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. 7 Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky—for I regret that I made them.” 8 Noah, however, found favor with the Lord.Genesis 6:6

God doesn't just save Noah. He uses Noah as an agent for the renewal of creation.

Genesis 8:15-19

15 Then God spoke to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out all the living creatures that are with you—birds, livestock, those that crawl on the earth—and they will spread over the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” 18 So Noah, along with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, came out. 19 All the animals, all the creatures that crawl, and all the flying creatures—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark by their families.

Genesis 9:1-17

In these verses, we see God commit Himself to finding a new way to heal creation.

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storge- affectionate love, mother and child

philia- friendship love, two best friends

eros- sensual love

agape- love that wills the good of another

Galatians 5:22-25

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

The fruit of the Spirit loses its true nature when they are separated.

Joy flows out of living in perfect love.

Jesus stands for love like no one else in history.

We love God.

Because Christ loved/loves us, we too can love with our entire being. We are to love others with the love shown to us by Christ.

We can experience God's love not just through the Trinity, but through each other.

"We are loved by God who is love and in turn, we love Him, and others through Him, who in turn love us through Him." –Dallas Willard

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

14 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.

Philippians 4:2-9

Joy is not dependent on outside circumstances. It relies on our hope and life in Christ.

John 15:11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

John 15:9-10

Five Practices that help build joy into our lives:

Connection

Acceptance

Reframing

Gratitude

Generosity

Acts 20:35 In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

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Sermon Notes and Scripture References are available below:

Leaning into Love

Romans 5:8

1 Peter 5:2-4

2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing[a] out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

1 John 3:16-18

16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer[a] in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.

storge- affectionate love, mother and child

philia- friendship love, two best friends

eros- sensual love

agape- love that wills the good of another

Agape is not dependent on the qualities of the one loved.

Agape can love the unlovely.

Agape can even love an enemy.

Believing God is not present in all four forms of love leaves us with a pale understanding of love.

John 15:12-14

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Our ability to love (storge, philia, eros, and agape) are all direct reflections of our Creator.

1 Corinthians 13:13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.

Romans 5:1-8

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace[a] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we boast[c] in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

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Sermon Notes and Scripture References are available below:

Embracing Hope

Matthew 8:1-13

1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

Mathew 8:8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Knowledge- Past

Faith- Present

Hope- Future

Natural Hope- a desire for the future to go as we hoped

Supernatural hope is lived in the present as faith, but it is deeply rooted in the knowledge of the Triune God.

Acts 24:5-9 5 For we have found this man to be a plague, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, and so we apprehended him. By examining him yourself you will be able to discern the truth about these charges we are bringing against him.” 9 The Jews also joined in the attack, alleging that these things were true.

Acts 24:14-16 14 But I admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. 15 I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.

Supernatural hope is real hope. It is hope, not in humankind, but in God. It rests on the resurrection of Jesus and looks for the resurrection in the life to come.

• Hope is grounded in the work of God. He defeated our two great enemies- sin and death.

• He promised to be with us always– even until the end of time.

• Hope comes from living from above (Colossians 3).

• Hope comes from growing in grace and knowledge.

• Hope comes from hearing God and interacting with Him in daily life.

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Sermon Notes and Scripture References are available below:

The Virtue of Surrender

1 Peter 5:5-9

5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because

God resists the proud

but gives grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

"All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another..."

" gives grace to the humble."

"Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God..."

Genesis 3:1-7

1 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”

The story of the Fall is not just about sin entering the world. It is also about who's story do you going to trust.

The root of pride is the belief that 'my story' or 'my truth' is the correct story.

Pride is the loss of humility. It is the root of every sin and evil.

You are an empty vessel where God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness.

1 Peter 5:5

5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because

God resists the proud

but gives grace to the humble.

The humble see all people as children of God.

The humble can praise God when others are praised and blessed.

The humble live out Ephesians 4:32.

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

The humble seek, like Jesus, to be the servant, the helper, and the comforter of others, even the lowliest.

1 Peter 5:6-9

Humble yourselves.

Cast all your cares on Him.

Be sober-minded and alert.

Resist the devil.

Know that you are not alone in your sufferings.

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Sermon from 08-07-2022

Sermon Notes and Scripture References are available below:

Listening to God's Voice

Genesis 28:16-17

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.

From the very beginning, we were created for relationship.

God has a pre-disposition to abundant communication.

We aare finite creatures, yet God chooses to draw near to us.

Drawing near to us shows a desire for relationship.

Relationship opens the possibility of us asking questions of our Maker.

Genesis 28:13-17

13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”

Genesis 32:19-20

19 He also told the second one, the third, and everyone who was walking behind the animals, “Say the same thing to Esau when you find him. 20 You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’” For he thought, “I want to appease Esau with the gift that is going ahead of me. After that, I can face him, and perhaps he will forgive me.”

Genesis 32:24-29

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 “What is your name?” the man asked.

“Jacob,” he replied.

28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.”

But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

Genesis 32:30-32

Genesis 33:10 But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me.

God has a pre-disposition to abundant communication.

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Sermon from 07-24-2022

Resist the Lies, Stand in the Truth (John 8:30-44)

John 8:30-33

Exodus 1:11

John 8:34-44

The Father should be the primary shaping/forming influence in our lives.

John 8:44

There is a real devil (diabolos- to slander or accuse).

The devil intends to end life.

John 10:10

"[The devil's] motto: 'Tear it all down.' Wherever he finds life, he tries to stamp it out. Beauty? Deface it. Love? Corrupt it. Unity? Fragment it into a million pieces. Human flourishing? Push it to anarchy or tyranny; either will do. His anti-life, pro-death, pro-chaos agenda is an insatiable fire." –John Mark Comer

The devil is the ruler of this world.

John 14:30

The devil is the father of lies.

John 8:44

1 Peter 5:8-9a

Luke 4:3-12

How do you stand up to the lies of the devil?

The truth of Scripture is our greatest weapon against the lies that seek to destroy our lives.

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Sermon from 07-17-2022. Today we are joined by Rev. Randy Jasper.

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Leading by Example

1 Peter 5:1-11

Jeremiah 3:15 I will give you shepherds who are loyal to me, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and skill.

Ezekiel 34:1-9

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? 3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd; they became food for all the wild animals when they were scattered. 6 My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. 8 As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—because my flock, lacking a shepherd, has become prey and food for every wild animal, and because my shepherds do not search for my flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

How do we turn a "Did Not Finish" into a "Did Not Fail?"

1 Peter 5:1-11

I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2 Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because

God resists the proud

but gives grace to the humble.

10 The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. 11 To him be dominion forever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ezekiel 34:4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

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The Will of God

1 Peter 4:1-19

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Peter has urged us to live by God's will, but what does it mean to live by God's will?

1 Peter 4:1-11

Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin— 2 in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. 3 For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you. 5 They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

What does it mean to live by God's will?

What is it to live by the will of God?

Living by the will of God means to be done with the former life.
Living by the will of God involves several specific patterns of behavior.
1. A disciplined prayer life (vs. 7)
2. A turning to one another in constant mutual love (vs. 8)
3. Practice hospitality without complaining (vs. 9)
Living by the will of God means using the gifts God has given you in service to the common good (vs. 10-11).

The fundamental sign of the Spirit in Acts is people being asked to do what they don't want to do.

Acts 10:11-16

11 He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. 12 In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. 13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”

15 Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” 16 This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

Acts 10:45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

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This morning Pastor James Dolinger brings us the message from 1 Peter 3:8-22.

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1 Peter 1:22-25

All flesh is like grass,

and all its glory like a flower of the grass.

The grass withers, and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

1 Peter 2:1-10

1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— 5 you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,

a chosen and honored cornerstone,

and the one who believes in him

will never be put to shame.

7 So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

The stone that the builders rejected—

this one has become the cornerstone,

8 and A stone to stumble over,

and a rock to trip over.

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

All malice

All deceit

Hypocrisy

Envy

Slander of every kind

1 Peter 2:9-10

Malice- any kind of evil or wickedness

1 Peter 2:16 Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.

Malice- any kind of evil or wickedness

Malice- the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm, draws us to the mean-spirited nature toward others

Deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander are relationship destroying words.

Deceit- trickery or falseness

Hypocrisy- actions that do not match one's words with their actions

Envy- jealousy, a longing for something that God has not given

Slander- moves from hostile attitudes to hostile actions

James 4:11-12

11 Don’t criticize one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who defames or judges a fellow believer defames and judges the law. If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation

Of all the evil Peter could have chosen, he chose malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

Luke 6:45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

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sermon from 06-05-2022

Speaking a True Word

Acts 2:1-21

http://bible.com/events/48902387

Psalm 85:1-7

Shavuot- The Festival of Weeks

Exodus 19:16-20

"This is the foundation of the Jewish way of being."

Acts 2:1

Acts 2:2-21

"This is the foundation of the Jewish way of being."

What does it mean for Pentecost to be the foundation of the Christian way of being?

Acts 1:6

Acts 2:4

This is the power of God. The power of God is not found in the desire to have power over people.

The power of God is found in the desire for people.

Pentecost is the birth of the church. We see what God is about and what the presence of the Spirit means.

The fundamental sign of the Spirit in Acts is people being asked to do what they don't want to do.

Go to the people and places the Spirit is telling them to go. Go here! Go there!

At Pentecost, God has created a new way of being. A life animated by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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"The church is always at its most daring and risking and dangerous and free when it sings a new song. Because then it sings that the power of the gospel will not let the world finally stay as it is."

–Walter Brueggemann

Psalm 40:1-8

Philippians 1:27-30

"Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News (gospel, εύαγγέλιον) about Christ."

Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 2:6 NRSV

6 who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

What would exploiting equality with God look like?

Philippians 2:7 NRSV

Philippians 2:8 NRSV

What is Christ willing to do to convey the love of God to humanity?

Philippians 2:9-11

Philippians 2:9-11 NRSV

Philippians 2:12-13

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Philippians 2:12-13 NRSV

12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

This is our call to action. "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..."

Know for whom you stand. Take this seriously. Here are all the facts, now you have to do the next part.

Verse 5- You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Paul gives us the Christ hymn, and then says, "Go work it out."

Salvation- God is the force that makes for salvation.

Salvation- How do you ensure that your soul is going to end up in heaven? This can send us down a dangerous path in this passage.

We are in Christ. What does it mean to be fully in Christ?

I think Paul here is equating being fully in Christ as being salvation. If you are fully in Christ in this world or in the age to come- that is salvation.

What does it mean to be fully in Christ? This passage is also communal. What does it mean for you, the church in Gardendale, to be fully in Christ?

How do I live fully in Christ and fully in a Christian community? Paul just gave us the answer.

You don't have to do this by yourself, the Spirit is with you, but you have to do the work.

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Sermon from 05-22-2022

Neighbor Love (Ephesians 1:15-23)

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

As a Christ-follower, we are people in whom Christ dwells. This is our fundamental identity. It is not up for debate.

I am first and foremost a Christ-follower. Christ dwells in me.

• My identity in Christ shapes my behavior.

• We must remember that our first task is not to forgive, but to learn to be forgiven.

• We look to Christ We do what He did because we are learning to be with Him in order to be like Him.

My security does not come from this world, but from the truth of the Kingdom of God.

If we are people in whom Christ dwells, what does it mean for how we live in our communities?

What would love have me do today?

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sermon from 05-15-2022

Sermon Notes:

"They weren't in the real wilderness...In the real wilderness, there has to be something that will kill you."

It is the dangerous wilderness that moves faith into deeper transformation.

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I must be reminded of my true identity.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Proverbs 3:1-12

The 11th Commandment: "Thou shall not forget."

Proverbs 3:1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.

• Store my commands in your heart.

• Never forget.

• Cling to loyalty and kindness.

• Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.

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Today, Pastor James brings us a message from Romans 8.

sermon from 05-08-2020

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sermon from 04-17-2022

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sermon from Palm Sunday, 04-10-2022.

Points from today's sermon:

The trademark of Jesus' kingship is His ability to give life.
In this divine kingship, the cross shows us a King who gives His life for you.
Royal power is expressed in divine love.
How do we embody this life-giving force of God's love?
Retrospection- Anamnesis- lived memory
Retrospection leads to testimony
When you look back, what has your experience with God been?

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sermon from 04-03-2022.

Sermon Notes and Scripture References are available below:

Who is Your King?

John 19:1-16a

Who is Jesus?

John 3:1-2

1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”

John 4:11-12

An Encounter with Jesus leads to

Judgment then asks the question of Rejection or Witness

John 19:9-14

9 He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?”

11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

12 From that moment Pilate kept trying to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Aramaic, Gabbatha). 14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

"There are limits to what I am willing to do in order to live out what I know is true."

–Pilate

Everyone Jesus encounters, the truth about them is disclosed. What is the truth about you? Does it lead to judgment or witness?

Do you reject Jesus' truth in your life or give your life in loyalty to Him?

John 19:14-16

14 It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon. Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

15 They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

16 Then he handed him over to be crucified.

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sermon from 03-27-2022

Sermon Notes and Scripture References are available below:

Weighing Out the Cons

John 18:12-27

John 1:10-11

John 18:36

What do we mean by 'kingdom?"

John 18:37

37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked.

John 18:39-40

39 You have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at the Passover. So, do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?”

40 They shouted back, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

We have a desire to create kingdoms.

Is it possible as humans to enact a kingdom without violence?

"What is truth?"

The content of truth is less important than the embodiment of truth.

Truth in Jesus is not a concept but embodied in Him.

What truth claims you?

“The test and norm is the reality of Jesus.

Look at Jesus, because Jesus confronts all the throne talk of the world. You want to know about joy, and well-being, and truth, and goodness.

Look at Jesus. Not being served, but serving.

I have no doubt that the world depends on Jesus.

I have no doubt that on a day-to-day basis, the world depends on the Jesus people who give their lives.

What else would you do but give your life?

Would you keep and save your life and let it grow sour?

No, give your life as a ransom.

We are at a crucial moment in our society.

This Lent, we are given a glimpse of a more excellent way.

Local churches, local conversations, local servanthood, local giving, local cups to drink, local baptisms to live, local ways of being faithful and joyous, local ways of power for life.

The story in Mark 10 with the disciples’ arguments over who is the greatest begins with greedy thrones.

By the end of the story, the subject is changed. Now the subject is servanthood and healing and ransom. What a way to be first and great!

Come and have the subject of your life, your throne, the truth changed.”

Adapted from Walter Brueggemann

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sermon from 03-20-2022.

Weighing Out the Cons

John 18:12-27

John 18:1-14

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 18:15-27

John 18:25-27 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Peter denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.

The Three Questions Peter is Asked:

• “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”

• “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

• “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”

John 13:14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

John 13:34-35 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Peter didn't just deny Christ. He denied his own identity as a disciple.

I am the Bread of Life (John 6)

John 6:48-51 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

I am the Light of the World (John 8)

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

I am the Gate (John 10)

John 10:9-10 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

I am the Good Shepherd (John 10)

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11)

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.

I am the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14)

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I am the True Vine (John 15)

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.

Are you one of His disciples?

How are you proclaiming, "I am not...?"

How are you denying the life that Christ wants to give you?

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sermon from 3-13-2022

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Sermon from 03-06-2022. Pastor James Dolinger preaching this morning.

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sermon from 02-27-2022

Sermon Notes and Scripture References:

Opening Eyes

John 9:1-41

Exodus 40:36-38

36 The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. 37 If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey.

John 8:20

20 He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

John 8:12

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

John 9:1-7

As he was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “This came about so that God’s works might be displayed in him. 4 We must do 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 After he said these things he spit on the ground, made some mud from the saliva, and spread the mud on his eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he left, washed, and came back seeing.

John 9:27-34

27 “I already told you,” he said, “and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t want to become his disciples too, do you?”

28 They ridiculed him: “You’re that man’s disciple, but we’re Moses’s disciples. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But this man—we don’t know where he’s from.”

30 “This is an amazing thing!” the man told them. “You don’t know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him. 32 Throughout history no one has ever heard of someone opening the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

34 “You were born entirely in sin,” they replied, “and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.

The Facts:

The man was born blind.

Jesus healed him on the Sabbath (vs. 14)

The man was interviewed twice. His parents interviewed as well.

Who is blind in this story?

John 9:35-41

35 Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

36 “Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked.

37 Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

38 “I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him.

39 Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind.”

40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, “We aren’t blind too, are we?”

41 “If you were blind,” Jesus told them, “you wouldn’t have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Maybe the problem is not that Jesus doesn't agree with our worldview, but that your worldview can't accommodate what God is doing.

How is your view of God's action not allowing Him to work in your life?

Is your world large enough to encompass what God wants to do?

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sermon from 02-20-2022

Sermon Notes and Scripture References:

John 1:14- The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Exodus 34:22 “Observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Festival of Ingathering at the turn of the agricultural year.

Leviticus 23:42-43 42 You are to live in shelters for seven days. All the native-born of Israel must live in shelters, 43 so that your generations may know that I made the Israelites live in shelters when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.”

Psalm 118:25-29

25 Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success!

26 He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God and has given us light. Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks. You are my God; I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.

John 7:37-52

Symbolism in John

Primary Level- a statement about Jesus (Christology)

Secondary Level- a statement about discipleship

Christology- “I am the bread of life,”

Discipleship- “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.

John 8:12

12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Christology- “I am the light of the world."

Discipleship- "Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

John 7:37-38

37 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

John 7:37a-38 KJV

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, "Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

John 8:39

39 He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Faith/Belief is to trust in a promise that you hope is true. The promise of faith is life.

John 7:40-41

40 When some from the crowd heard these words, they said, “This truly is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some said, “Surely the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee, does he?

These verses give us a glimpse of the different levels of belief during the Festival of Booths:

• This is the Prophet.

• This is the Messiah.

• Chief Priests & Pharisees- "Are you fooled?"

• Nicodemus

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sermon from 02-13-2022

http://bible.com/events/48843003

YHWH- εγώ είμι

I am, I am who I am

"I am" Statements in John

I am the Bread of Life
I am the Light of the World
I am the Door of the Sheep
I am the Good Shepherd
I am the Resurrection and the Life
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
I am the True Vine

Teaching in the Synagogue

The text for the day
The preacher's rephrasing of the text
A word-for-word study of the text
The preacher's rephrasing of the earlier rephrasing

The Text for the Day:

Bread (vss. 35-40)
From heaven (vss. 41-51)
To eat (vss. 52-57)

"No one who keeps on coming to me will ever be hungry, and no one who keeps on believing in me will ever be thirsty again."

Where do you find a living relationship?

Are you going to the Bread of Life day after day for your sustenance?

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Sermon from 08-01-2021. Sermon notes and announcements can be found at https://events.bible.com/en/event/edit/48739743.

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Sermon from June 13, 2021. In John 3:3, we usually translate ano-then as 'born again.' This word, though, can also be translated as 'born from above.' What does it mean if we translate ano-then as 'born from above?'

Gardendale Nazarene Sermons: Recent Episodes

John Parrish