New Song Students OKC

Teaching Text: Matthew 22:34-40 NRSVUE,”34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”Altar - a table for making sacrifices or offerings to God.OUR ALTAR IS A SIGNAL THAT SAYS LORD WE WANT YOU HERE.When we choose to encounter God this is where God’s will begins to come alive in our lives. WHAT DOES GOD WANT FOR YOUR CITY FROM YOU?REVIVAL - an instance of something becoming important again.Partner in ActionBurn for RevivalIT FIRST MUST START WITH YOU AND GOD.1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NRSVUE,”26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to abolish things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 In contrast, God is why you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”We are partners with God in revival.1 Corinthians 13 NRSVUE “If I speak in the tongues of humans and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions and if I hand over my body so that I may boasta] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.””Aim to love EVERY PERSON you encounter to make use of EVERY OPPURTUNITY we have.Matthew 5:43-48 NRSVUE,”43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”“There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.” - A.W.TozerGet broken for your city through reading about Jesus’s way in Gods word.Luke 23:34 NSRVUE,”34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept degrading him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””We must AIM FOR RENEWAL not just for ourselves but for all people by TENDING THE FLAME SPIRIT WITHIN US and BURNING FOR REVIVAL and LIVING LIKE JESUS so that ALL PEOPLE KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD. 2. BURN FOR REVIVALHabakkuk 3:2,”O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.”The ______________ lasted from 1906-1915 and began with a small prayer meeting that erupted into a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, marked by speaking in tongues, healings, and spontaneous worship. It was a powerful demo

ALTARS Wk3Altar of The Church 🪨[Teaching Text]'And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by people, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame .”1 Peter 2:4-6ALTAR OF THE CHURCH'you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5TEAR DOWNBUILD UPTEND “Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord handed them over to Midian for seven years.” Judges 6:1 24. ’Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Now on the same night the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s bull and a second bull seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal which belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it, and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of this stronghold in an orderly way, and take a second bull and offer a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah which you shall cut down.” Then Gideon took ten men from his servants and did as the Lord had spoken to him; and because he was too afraid of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it by night. ‘ Judges 6:24-27OBEDIENCE is ESSENTIAL to growth.ALTAR #1 - PREFERENCESMatthew 24:35 'Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.’ ALTAR #2 - PROGRAMSThey stopped “Keeping the Main thing the Main thing”A cornerstone, in construction, is the main stone used to build a building's FOUNDATION and ALIGNMENT. It was usually the largest and most solid stone in the entire building. JOYFUL REPENTANCE & REMEMBRANCE'Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 'Acts 3:19'Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.'Hebrews 4:16“A lack of repentance is the first sign of a heart growing cold to God” J.C. Ryle.'“Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. 'Deuteronomy 4:9TENDTend - regularly or frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic.The SECRET PLACE is how we TEND to the fires of our hearts. 'The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. 'Leviticus 6:12-13

[teaching text]4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 6:4-910 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent[a] have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. Hebrews 13:10-13HEART, HOME, CHURCH, CITYALTAR OF THE HOMEIt will take the average Christian 64 years to hit 10,000 hours and become an “expert” at following Jesus.Shift 01. Moving from “Following Jesus through the Church” to “Following Jesus through daily habits”Shift 02. Moving from “Following Jesus because it’s a good habit” to “Following Jesus because my life depends on it.”1. “Following Jesus through the Church” to “Following Jesus through daily life”6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 6:6-9Phylactery photos***Mezuzah photo***It's much easier to wear a gold cross on our person than to bear Christ's cross in daily life, and to hang Scripture texts on the walls of our homes than to hide God's Word in our hearts. If we love the Lord and cleave to Him, we will want to know His Word and obey it in every area of our lives.Warren Wiersbe16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:168 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God that we know as He talks to us and guides our lives. He can efficiently talk to us to the extent to which we know the Word. That is the language He uses.Kenneth Wuest2. “Following Jesus because it’s a good habit” to “Following Jesus because my life depends on it.”4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.Deuteronomy 6:4-6 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.Deuteronomy 6:3LONG LIFE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY.13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— 15 for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth.Deuteronomy 6:13-1523 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 6:235 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.John 15:5Tight rope photo***

[teaching text]7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.Psalm 51:7-17On Feb. 8, 2023, what began as a routine Wednesday morning Chapel service with the student body turned into a multiweek Outpouring that some have described as a revival. Led by students, the services attracted college students from hundreds of other colleges and universities, beginning as soon as Wednesday evening. Then, news of the continuous services spread around the world, and attracted people to Wilmore from as far away as Russia and Japan. Media outlets arrived en masse to cover the spiritual awakening among young people. Countless reports of life change, salvation, and re-dedications to Christ were some of the amazing results of the Outpouring events. Asbury staff, faculty, students and volunteers worked tirelessly to welcome the visitors to campus, with orderly lines to get into Hughes extending a half mile long around campus. The events lasted for 16 days, culminating in a service specifically for Gen Z students on Feb. 23, 2023. Yet, the Lord continues to move across the Wilmore community, Kentucky, the United States, and the world.Asbury UniversityGOD COMES WHERE HE’S WANTED7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.Psalm 139:7-1020 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.Revelation 3:20ALTARS OF THE HEART, HOME, CHURCH, AND CITYAltar of The Heart10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right[b] spirit within me.11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.Psalm 51:10-12Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn’t mainly about you and what you should be doing. It’s about God and what he has done. Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.Jesus Storybook Bible16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.Psalm 51:16WORSHIP HAPPENS AT THE ALTAR16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.Psalm 51:7-17GOD WANTS A BROKEN HEARTIf you and I have a broken spirit, all idea of our own importance is gone. What is the use of a broken heart? Why, much the same as the use of a broken pot, or a broken jug, or a broken bottle!Charles SpurgeonThe idea of “nakedness” is far more than mere nudity. It has the sense of being totally open and exposed as a person before God and man. To be naked… and not ashamed means you have no sin, nothing to be rightly ashamed of, and nothing to hide.David GuzikGod cannot transform the person you are pretending to be.Jon TysonYou will never make yourself feel that you are a sinner, because there is a mechanism in you as a result of sin that will always be defending you against every accusation. We are all on very terms with ourselves, and we can always put up a good case for ourselves. Martyn Lloyd-Jones13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 2 Samuel 12:135 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.Ephesians 5:1-2My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledgeHosea 4:66 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 6:6-9POTENTPotent: having great power, influence, or effectSix days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair.John 12:1-3The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.John 12:3HOLY+REFINED+PRECIOUS=POTENT14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?2 Corinthians 2:14-1618 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.Philippians 4:18-20Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.Ephesians 5:1-2Biblical discipleship is potentSurely you know that if a man can’t be cured of churchgoing, the next best thing is to send him all over the neighborhood looking for the church that ‘suites’ him until he becomes a taster or connoisseur of churches.C.S. LewisA church is only as good as its disciples.Jon TysonTherefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.Ephesians 5:1Unfortunately, ‘potent’ is not a good descriptor of the average follower of Jesus today.Over half of adults born after 1980, who grew up in churches, are walking out on their faith, not coming backOf people still attending church, ~90% refuse, or feel unable to talk openly about their identity in Christ~80% of church-attending people lack basic routines in a disciple’s life (prayer, study, community)About a third of church attending folk today are not convinced Christ is the only hope of salvationA majority of pastors, and even more lay believers say they have never been discipledIt typically takes a person 26 year of church attendance before they personally lead someone to Christ.14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God…2 Corinthians 2:14-15So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.Ephesians 3:1018 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[c] shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see her spread out through all time and space and rooted in eternity, terrible as an army with banners. That, I confess, is a spectacle which makes our boldest tempters uneasy. But fortunately it is quite invisible to these humans.C.S. LewisPotent disciplesPETER13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.Acts 4:13COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4:32-34STEPHEN55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”Luke 15:1-10 (ESV)JOANNA GWEN PICUTRES***“I have been in this world for sixty years, and I have never yet been conscious of anything spiritual.”We did not say what we thought, but we thought it was very likely that what he said was perfectly true; and there are a great many more people in the world who might say the same as he did. But that only proved that he was not conscious of anything spiritual; not that others were not conscious of it.Charles SpurgeonJust because someone cannot see God, doesn’t mean He’s not there.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Matthew 5:8 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.Hebrews 11:1The pure in heart are confident in God.Matthew 266 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,[a] 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”Matthew 26:6-13Mary’s name now smells as sweet in all God’s house as ever her ointment did; when Judas’ name rots, and shall do to all posterity [future generations].John TrappThe anointing with oil is a physical picture for a spiritual reality.She probably did not know all that her action meant when she anointed her Lord for his burial. The consequences of the simplest action done for Christ may be much greater than we think.Charles Spurgeon7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.Matthew 26:73And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabasterflask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke theflask and poured it over his head.Mark 14:3Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feetwith her hair. John 12:1PreciousPrecious (yāqār): valuable—brightness, clear, costly, rare, and/or gloriousWhat qualities determine if something is precious (valuable) to humans?UtilityScarcityQualityConditionBrand reputationHistorical significanceCollectable appeal8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” Matthew 26:8-9“Why was this not sold for the poor?”You are a little uncomfortable around “radical” disciples. (Jesus Freaks)You get tired, bored, or don’t really see the point in worship. (Especially long, drawn-out, or extended worship)You are hesitant to wast time, energy, or money on God. (Let’s do the bare minimum for God)Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with tow he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’ 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’ 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’” Isaiah 6:1-7“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” Matthew 5:8PURE (adj.): not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material“But as He who call you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘you shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:15-16“Our lack of purity is an expression of our belief in the nature and person of God. The answer to being pure is not in action alone but in belief that proceeds these actions. It’s not just about not sinning. But for better it is to learn who God really is. To look to Jesus and see him as pure.”- Jackie Hill Perry“1 In the year King Uzziah died, I saw…”“1…I saw the LORD sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.”“2 Above it stood seraphim: each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.”“3 Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory.”“Holiness means ‘separation’ and is translated sanctify or purity”- David Hoching“To say the Lord is holy says something. To say the Lord is holy, holy, says more. To say holy, holy, holy is the LORD is to declare this holiness in the highest possible degree.”- David Guzik“Holy is the way God is. To be holy He does not conform to a standard. He is that standard. He is absolutely holy with an infinite, incomprehensible fullness of purity that is incapable of being other than it is. Because he is holy, his attributes are holy. That is whatever we think of belonging to God must be thought of a holy.”- A. W. Tozer“4 The posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.”“5 So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.’”“After seeing the holy God, Isaiah then saw himself.”- Jackie Hill PerryThe holiness of God magnified the unholiness of himself“We have a ridiculously low view of sin and an equally mediocre grasp of the holiness of God.”- Jackie Hill Perry“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all out righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Isaiah 64:6“6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar? And he touched my mouth with it, and said ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin is purged.’”Holiness mandates purificationagiazo (ah-yea-zo): to make holy; to be set apart for service to God and to abandon practices that displease him“Sanctification is the progressive work of God to make a believer more like Jesus Christ”- Grace Seming“Sanctification is the process of becoming more like Christ in our conduct and in character”- Mike Sulivan“The goal of sanctification is to renew men’s and women’s hearts in God’s image”- John Wesleyhe sets us apart (sanctified) to be set apart (holy)refined as: 1) with impurities or unwanted elements having been removed by processing. 2) developed or improved so as to be precise or subtle“For He (God) is like a refiner’s fire or a launder’s soup. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness.” Malachi 3:2-3“Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord (aka when one repents/looks/beholds), the veil is taken away (salvation)….But we all with unveiled face (saved), beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (God’s image), are being transformed (sanctification/refined) into the same image (God’s) from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:16,18“God made us to image Himself. To exist in the world in such a way that when observed, whoever looked at us could accurately imagine God.”- Jackie Hill Perry“Holiness is the everyday business of the Christian. It evidences itself in the decisions we make and the things we do, hour by hour, day by day.”-

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”Revelation 3:14-22PTH Slide***Laodicea14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.Revelation 3:14-22“You are neither cold nor hot.”Laodicea map*** Aqueduct: a system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures that carries water from a source to a distribution point.Aqueduct picture***Everything that is spiritual has practical implications. Everything that is practical has spiritual implications.In this spiritual sense, lukewarmness is a picture of indifference and compromise. It tries to play the middle, too hot to be cold and too cold to be hot. In trying to be both things, they end up being nothingDavid Guzik A church that is luke-warm towards God is a church that lacks emotional feelings towards Jesus. A church that is Luke-warm towards towards prayer is a church that lacks the need for God’s power. A church that is Luke-warm towards evangelism is a church that lacks a broken heart for the lostA church that is Luke-warm towards theology is a church that lacks the desire to grow in their understanding of God’s Word and is conformable just being padded on the back by scripture.A church that is Luke-warm towards conviction is a church that lacks the boldness to communicate what the Bible teaches for fear of being seen negatively by others.A church that is Luke-warm towards Biblical community is a church that lacks love, transparency, and confession of sin.The lukewarm Christian has enough of Jesus to satisfy a craving for religion, but not enough for eternal life. Deep down, there is no one more miserable than the lukewarm Christian is. They have too much of the world to be happy in Jesus, but too much of Jesus to be happy in the world.David Guzik24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.Matthew 6:24Mammon: treasure, riches; wealth personified (placement of trust)15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.Revelation 3:15-1719 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:19-219 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?10 “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind,[b]to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”Jeremiah 17:9-10“It is not so much the disciple’s wealth that Jesus is concerned with as his loyalty. As Matthew 6:24 will make explicit, materialism is in direct conflict with loyalty to God.”R.T. France18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.Revelation 3:18-19“I counsel you to buy from me gold.”Buy Gold from Me = Place your trust in Me Tithe = TrustTithe: ten percent of our income. We give back to the Lord ten percent of what He’s given us because it all belongs to Him.Everything that is spiritual has

[teaching text] “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’Revelation 3:1-6SARDISThe particular intellectual problem I was wrestling with, for the first time since my conversion as a teenager, was the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures. Seeming contradictions and problems with interpretation defied intellectual solutions, or so I thought. Could the Bible be trusted completely?Billy Graham Photo*During the 1940s Templeton and Graham were Youth for Christ’s dynamic duo. Though Graham routinely induced better results with his altar calls, Templeton was widely considered the more gifted preacher. Handsome, suave, intelligent, and charismatic.Collin HansenBilly Graham and Charles Templeton photo**Billy Graham and Henrietta Mears Photo**Still, many of Graham’s questions remained unanswered. Did Noah actually build an ark to survive a great flood? Could a whale really have swallowed Jonah? Pondering these miracles, Graham roamed into the foothills of the nearby San Bernardino Mountains. With the moon shining, he wandered off the trail, opened his Bible on a tree stump, and took his concerns to God. Inexplicably, the burden lifted."Father, I am going to accept this as thy Word—by faith!” Graham proclaimed. “I'm going to allow faith to go beyond my intellectual questions and doubts, and I will believe this to be your inspired Word.” Tears streaming down his face, Graham returned to Forest Home. Though he didn’t have an explanation for every biblical oddity, for the first time in months he felt powerful intimacy with God and renewed confidence in the Scripture he proclaimed.Collin HansenFarewell To God photo***“And how do you assess this Jesus?” It seemed like the next logical question—but I wasn’t ready for the response it would evoke.Templeton’s body language softened. It was as if he suddenly felt relaxed and comfortable in talking about an old and dear friend. His voice, which at times had displayed such a sharp and insistent edge, now took on a melancholy and reflective tone. His guard seemingly down, he spoke in an unhurried pace, almost nostalgically, carefully choosing his words as he talked about Jesus.“He was,” Templeton began, “the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius. His ethical sense was unique. He was the intrinsically wisest person that I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my readings. His commitment was total and led to his own death, much to the detriment of the world. What could one say about him except that this was a form of greatness?”I was taken aback. “You sound like you really care about him,” I said.“Well, yes, he is the most important thing in my life,” came his reply. “I . . . I . . . I . . . ,” he stuttered, searching for the right word, ‘I know it may sound strange, but I have to say . . . I adore him!”” . . . Everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus. Yes . . . yes. And tough! Just look at Jesus. He castigated people. He was angry. People don’t think of him that way, but they don’t read the Bible. He had a righteous anger. He cared for the oppressed and exploited. There’s no question that he had the highest moral standard, the least duplicity, the greatest compassion, of any human being in history. There have been many other wonderful people, but Jesus is Jesus….’“Uh . . . but . . . no,’ he said slowly, ‘he’s the most . . .” He stopped, then started again. “In my view,” he declared, “he is the most important human being who has ever existed.”That’s when Templeton uttered the words I never expected to hear from him. “And if I may put it this way,” he said as his voice began to crack, ‘I . . . miss . . . him!”With that tears flooded his eyes. He turned his head and looked downward, raising his left hand to shield his face from me. His shoulders bobbed as he wept. . . .Reputation: the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or somethingWe tend to put a lot of weight on other people’s opinions and feelings about us, but our reputation carries no weight in the eyes of Jesus.Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will

[teaching text]12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith[b] even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’Revelation 2:12-17Your Bible is not just the best book there is among all the books out there. The Bible is a different kind of book. It’s of another class. It is similar to other books in that it is bound between two covers and is filled with small black letters compromising words throughout. But the Bible is different from other books in the way rainfall is different from your garden hose—it comes from above and provides a kind of nourishment far beyond what our own resources can provide.Dane C. OrtlundPERGAMUMThis introduction stresses that Jesus is central to the church, and should be recognized as central to the church.David GuzikJesus chose this title from His initial appearance to John to remind the Christians in Smyrna that they served the risen Lord, victorious over death.David GuzikThe person born once dies twice. The person born twice dies once.D.L. Moody12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.Revelation 2:12“The Words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.Hebrews 4:11-13Remember when you preach the Word of God that it is quick and sharp, but it is a two-edged sword. It will cut toward the congregation, but the other side is going to cut toward you. Therefore, don’t preach anything that you are not preaching to yourselfYou see, the Bible does not deal with acts primarily. What the hand does is because of what the heart thought. The heart had the action of the hand in hand before the hand got ahold of it. Therefore the Word of God goes down and deals with the heart.J. Vernon McGeeTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,Romans 7:2213 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.Hebrews 4:13Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!Psalm 139:23-2413 “‘I know where you dwell [Pergamum], where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.Revelation 2:13Pergamum “Where Satan dwells”PERGAMUM PICUTRE*LIBRARY OF CELCUS* ASKLEPIOS STATUE* SYMBOL FOR MODERN MEDICINE*ANTIPAS AND THE BRAZEN BULL*Some believe it is because Pergamos was a center of pagan religion, especially of “Asclepios Soter” or “Asclepios Savior.” Some believe it was because Pergamos had a huge throne-like altar dedicated to the Roman god Zeus. Some believe it was because Pergamos was a center for the ancient Babylonian priesthood, but this is tough to prove conclusively. Others believe it was because Pergamos was the political center of the worship-demanding Roman government.David GuzikThe historical parallel to the church in Pergamum is the period following Constantine's legalization of Christianity in A.D. 313, which lasted for about 300 years. When Christianity became the official religion of the empire, paganism overwhelmed it. It became hard to distinguish true Christians, because people claiming to be Christians were everywhere. Many of them were practicing pagans who indulged in immoral festivals and all kinds of behavior that is inconsistent with the teachings of Christianity. Dr. Constable’s Notes on RevelationSatan couldn’t accomplish much by persecution, because many did hold fast, like Antipas. So Satan tried to accompl

[teaching text] 8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander[a] of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’Revelation 2:7-11“The churches of the land are sprinkled all over with bald-headed old sinners whose hair has been worn off by the constant friction of countless sermons that have been aimed at them and glanced off and hit the man in the pew behind.”H.W. BeecherSMYRNAWhereas the Ephesian church needed to return to past conditions, the church in Smyrna needed to persevere in what was characteristic of it in the present.Dr. Constable’s notes on RevelationThey were the churches that heard no word of condemnation from Him, and it is interesting that these two cities, Smyrna and Philadelphia, are the only two which have had a continuous existence [to this day].J. Vernon McGeeCONTEXT OF SMYRNA8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander[a] of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’Revelation 2:7-11Hellenization: the process by which non-Greeks adopt Greek culture, language, religion, and identity.What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.John WesleyThe Roman Emperor Domitian (A.D. 81-96) was the first to demand worship under the title “Lord” from the people of the Roman Empire as a test of political loyalty.David GuzikMartyr: a person who is killed or suffers because of their religious beliefs.Emperor worship had begun as spontaneous demonstration of gratitude to Rome; but toward the end of the first century, in the days of Domitian, the final step was taken and Caesar worship became compulsory. Once a year the Roman citizen must burn a pinch of incense on the altar to the godhead of Caesar; and having done so, he was given a certificate to guarantee that he had performed his religious duty. All that the Christians had to do was to burn that pinch of incense, say, ‘Caesar is Lord,’ receive their certificate, and go away and worship as they pleased. But that is precisely what the Christians would not do. They would give no man the name of Lord; that name they would keep for Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. They would not even formally conform.BarclayIS PRIVATE DEVOTION TO JESUS REAL DEVOTION TO JESUS?Christians were martyred because they would not bow the knee to Rome, sacrifice to the emperor as a god and treat the empire as if it had ultimate authority. Christian belief had public consequences.Gerald SittserPOLYCARP OF SMRYNAIronically, this persecution achieved the opposite result for which is was intended. Rather than snuff out the Christian movement, persecution fanned it.Gerald SittserSmyrna: bitter; or suffering (mor=myrrh: Hebrew translation of smyrna)Myrrh was used to embalm the dead.38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[e] by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[f] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:38-40Myrrh becomes very fragrant when it is crushed.14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.2 Corinthians 2:14-17Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces

[teaching text] “ 1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants-things which much shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,2 who bore witness to the word of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:1-3. Revelation: disclosure of that which was previously hidden or unknown “The book is the record of what the Apostle John saw and head with the purpose to provide the setting for the revelation of Jesus Christ.”- Study Bible “9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, to Laodicea.’12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 his feet were like fine brass, as if refined in the furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.’” “This book is the revelation OF, CONCERNING, and FROM Jesus Christ”- Susan C. Howell “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 “Early Christians gathered in small private homes, known as house churches, but a city’s whole Christian community would also be called a church.”- Susan C. Howell “John’s life work was to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and salvation through him...he was told to stop teaching about Jesus. He did not. His punishment was to be shipped to Patmos.”- Susan C. Howell #1. “Things which have been seen” (Rev 1:1-20) • ThisisthePatmosvision #2. “Things which are” (Rev 2:1-3:22) • The7churches #3. “Things which must take place after this” (Rev 4:1-22:5) • Thepartthatconfuses,fascinates,worriesmost “seven golden lampstands” and in the midst of these he sees “one like the Son of Man” 1) His head and hair were white as wool, white as snow o “Represent his purity and eternity”- G. Cambell Morgan. 2) His eyes were as a flame of fire o “The suggestion is that of infinite and infallible knowledge, eyes that pierce and penetrate, from which no secret thing can possibly be hidden.”- G. Cambell Morgan. 3) His feet like burnished brad, as if refined in a furnaceo “The feet are the symbols of procedure and indicate the continued activity of Christ.”- G. Cambell Morgan. 4) His voice is the voice of many waters o “There is no subject upon which He has not something to say. Many waters, many messengers, many messages, yet one voice, one word, one revelation.”- G. Cambell Morgan. 5) In His right hand seven starso “The right hand is mark of authoritative administration.”- G. Cambell Morgan. 6) Out of His mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword o “Here is symbolized another aspect of His speech to men, that namely of His pronouncement on things of men...It’s double action condemns the fault and approves the excellence.”- G. Cambell Morgan. 7) His countenance has as the sun shineth in his strength o “The countenance is the sum total of all the features of his face.”- G. Cambell Morgan. John is writing to churches that have been in existence for some time now, have heard the good news and been moved by this love of God like John, have face continued persecution, and now are receiving a message from an awesome glorified Jesus who stands in the midst of them CHURCH OF EPHESUS-the loveless church “1To the angel of the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who w

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:1-3, 6The only way to grow in prayer is through prayer.“No other god can save. No other God can heal. No other God’s alive and active here today.”Met By LovePRAYING IN FAITHD.L. MOODY PICUTRE***6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6The great gulf fixed today is between the evangelical rationalist and the evangelical mystic. The evangelical rationalists insist upon trying to reduce everything down to where it can be explained and proved and thus have rationalized faith and have pulled the Almighty God down to the low level of human reason. On the other hand, the evangelical mystic believes God and disbelieves human reason since there are some things human reason cannot doA.W. TozerOne famous Jewish prayer began like this: “Blessed, praised, and glorified, exalted, and honored, magnified and lauded be the name of the Holy One.”5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.Matthew 6:5-8PRAYING IN FAITH DOESN’T REQUIRE A LOT OF…WORDS7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.Matthew 6:7-8Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong.Charles SpurgeonNow Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.[a] 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Acts 3:1-72. VOLUME/ATTENTION20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of

[teaching text]26 When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented over her husband. 27 And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord…And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. 2 Samuel 11:26-27, 12:15-20It requires faith and patienceIt can be boring and awkward40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on.Matthew 26:40-459 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.Acts 20:9It is easily misunderstoodSome prayers are like a fire escape, used only in times of critical emergency—never very enjoyable, but used as a way of terrified escape from danger. They do not represent the regular life of the one who offers them; rather they are the unusual and uncommon acts of the spiritual amateur.A.W. Tozer16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18Now Jesus[a] was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to prayLuke 11:1"Prayer at its best is the expression of the total life."A.W. TozerPRAYING IN OBEDIENCEWhat is prayer?11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”Luke 17:11-19Remember that only one Samaritan wanted more than cleansing from leprosy. He wanted to know the Savior. He came back glorifying God, worshipping Him, and giving thanks. The other nine lepers just had the thing they wanted but the one leper got much more; the Savior and increased faith.W.L. SeaverThere was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God’s work within the man’s heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.David GuzikPrayer among evangelical Christians is always in danger of degenerating into a glorified gold rush. Almost every book on prayer deals with the “get” element mainly.A.W. TozerPRAYER IS COMMUNIONCommunion: the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.Prayer is a shared life with GodBut he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.1 Corinthians 6:17I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20IN PRAYER, GOD DESIRES TO REVEAL HIMSELF, HIS POWER, AND HIS KINGDOM TO US.WHAT CAN HINDER GOD’S ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER?DISOBEDIENCE13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lor

[teaching text]What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.Romans 6:1-11We must come to realize that following Jesus is the main point of life.John Mark ComerBECOME LIKE HIMPICTURE*VIDEO***23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.Matthew 4:23-2423 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. Matthew 8:23-248 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.Matthew 4:8-1119 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.Matthew 14:19-2112 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.John 14:12Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Matthew 26:41Humans are capable of achieving amazing things, like the very things we see Him doing, and humans are capable of achieving terrible things, like the very sins we see Him warning against.So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.Genesis 1:277 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.Colossians 3:10The true nature of man in the image of God was also seen in the earthly life of Christ.Wayne GrudemThe Sermon on the Mount is not a set of principles to be obeyed apart from identification with Jesus Christ. The Sermon on the Mount is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting his way with us.Oswald ChambersAs the saying goes, “A black belt is just a white belt who never quit.” A saint is just an ordinary apprentice who stayed at it with Jesus.John Mark Comer7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.1 Timothy 4:7-8gymnasia—training: the exercise of the body in a palaestra or school of athleticsThe aim and substance of spiritual life is not fasting, prayer, hymn singing, frugal living, and so forth. Rather, it is the effective and full enjoyment of active love of God and humankind in all the daily rounds of normal existence where we are placed. The spiritually advanced person is not the one who engages in lots and lots of disciplines, any more than the good child is the one who receives lots and lots of instruction or punishment. People who think they are spiritually superior because they make a practice of a discipline such as fasting or silence or frugality are entirel

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”Matthew 22:34-40I have listened to at least three thousand sermons in my life thus far, with many more to come, I am sure. I remember only a few of them, usually the atrocious ones or the brilliant ones. I have forgotten the vast majority. Not that they were entirely forgettable. The brain can only store so much information, and my brain has decided not to store that many sermons. I do believer however, that they have left an impression on me, doing their quiet work in the soul, just as the many words of instruction and advice I have received over the years from my parents, teachers and friends have influenced me, though I do not remember many of those words either.Gerald Sittser68% of the American population identifies as Christian.A disciple during the time of Jesus was a Jewish person who had been invited by a rabbi [teacher] to come and follow him for a long period of time.“Disciple” had less to do with what you did or could do, and more to do with who you were actively following.BEING WITH HIM35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”Matthew 9:35-36This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.Joshua 1:86 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.John 14:6Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.James 1:27But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.1 John 3:17-183 Mary therefore took a pound[a] of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?”John 12:3-527 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.Matthew 23:27-2834 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”Matthew 22:34-4037 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”Matthew 22:34-40THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF A DISCIPLE IS TO LOVE GOD.19 We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19WE LEARN TO LOVE GOD AS WE ARE LOVED BY GODThe most important thing that happens between God and the human soul is to love and be loved.Kallistos KatfygiotisAs a general rule, we become more loving by experiencing love, not by hearing about it in a lecture or reading about it in a book. Psycologists’ basic rule of thumb is that we are loving to the degree that we have been loved. This is why it’s so much easier for those who were loved by their parents or caregivers in their early years to give and receive love

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”Luke 9:57-62COUNTING THE COSTTHE WAY OF JESUS18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[b] 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.Matthew 4:18-1935 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).John 1:35-4238 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.Luke 4:38-39On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. Luke 5:1-3When the disciples said “yes” to following Jesus, they were choosing to follow Him from now on as their rabbi.“Contrary to what many assume, Jesus did not invite people to convert to Christianity. He didn’t even call people to become Christians; he invited people to apprentice under him into a whole new way of living. To be transformed.”John Mark ComerBet-sefer “House of Book”Bet-midrash “House of Learning”Talmid“Apprenticeship”Simon and Andrew were fisherman. Think about that for a second: This means they didn’t make it into an apprenticeship program. They weren’t the best of the best; they were the ones who got sent home to “make babies and pray they become rabbis.” But Jesus invited them to be His apprentices. Before they believed in Jesus, He believed in them.John Mark Comer20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.Revelation 3:2024 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24Apprentices had three main objectives:Be with their rabbiBecome like their rabbiDo what their rabbi did As of 2023, 68% of Americans identify as Christian.GallupIf disciple is something that is done to you (a verb), then that puts the onus of responsibility for your spiritual formation on someone else, like your pastor, church, or mentor. But if disciple is a noun—if it’s someone you are or are not—then no one can “disciple” you but Rabbi Jesus Himself.John Mark ComerWE NEED AN OLD VISION OF DISCIPLESHIPApprentices to Jesus is about:Being with JesusBecome like JesusDoing what Jesus didThere is no problem in human life that apprenticeship to Jesus cannot solve.Dallas WillardTHERE IS A COST TO FOLLOW JESUSTHE WAY OF JESUS IS CONFLICTING59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”Luke 9:57-62THE WAY OF JESUS IS ALL-CONSUMING24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24THERE IS A COST TO NOT FOLLOW JESUS“

John 11:17-38WELCOMECAMP! RECAP SERIESBROKENWHAT BREAKS THE HEART OF JESUS?SORROW (John 11)He was weeping with those who weep. He wasn’t weeping because of the end of Lazarus, because the end of Lazarus was going to be resurrection. He was weeping because of the sorrow of Mary and Martha. This is the empathy, the sympathy, the tenderness, the kindness of Christ manifesting itself in that setting.John MacArthurIDOLS (Matthew 20, and Acts 17)41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”Luke 19:41-4416 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols.Acts 17:16As Paul sailed to Athens from the sea near Berea, he came to a city he had probably never been to before, and like any tourist, he was ready to be impressed by this famous and historic city – which, hundreds of years before, was one of the most glorious and important cities in the world. But when Paul toured Athens, he was only depressed by the magnitude of the idolatry he saw all around.David GuzikJesus here showed the heart of God, how even when judgment must be pronounced, it is never done with joy. Even when God’s judgment is perfectly just and righteous, His heart weeps at the bringing of the judgment.David GuzikSIN (Matthew 26)DOES MY HEART BREAK FOR THE THINGS THAT BREAK THE HEART OF CHRIST?I asked the Lord to give me love - His love for souls in sin;Instead He gave me weeping eyes,A broken heart within. I asked Him why He gave me tears,He took me back in timeTo when my Savior lived on earth,When He was in His prime. I saw Him go to where His friendWas lying in a grave;The sisters and their friends were grieved -What love to them He gave. You see my Savior standing thereWas also grieved that day,He wept great heaving tears with sobsTill those who saw could say: "Behold we see now how He loved."His tears revealed His heartHis love was evident through tears -I saw God's point in part. And then He took me to the day The people hailed their KingWhile Jesus enters to their cheersThe children run and sing. But when He saw JerusalemStretched out before His eye,His soul was moved with grief for them;It moved His heart to cry. Oh, as I read those solemn wordsI feel that they are sweetFor in them I behold His loveSo perfect and complete. To one more place He took me now,At midnight I beheldThe Son of God bowed down with griefIn deepest sorrow held. I heard His weeping, strong and deep,But through it I discernedHe prayed for me - it melted me,His love for me I learned. With tearful joy I thanked the LordFor answering my prayer,For giving me His love for souls -His tears, His heart, His care.Christina Joy Hommes Christina Joy Hommes14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 4:14-16THE TEARS OF JESUS OF JESUS REVEAL HIS DEEP LOVE FOR USIn our pain, Jesus is pained; in our suffering, he feels the suffering as his own even though it isn’t — not that his invincible divinity is threatened, but in the sense that his heart is feeling drawn into our distress. His human nature engages our troubles comprehensively. His is a love that cannot be had back when he sees his people in pain.Dane C. OrtlundTHE TEARS OF JESUS LEAD HIM TO PRAY FOR USIt is not only that Jesus can relieve us from our troubles, like a doctor prescribing medicine; it is also that, before any relief comes, he is with us in our troubles, like a doctor who has endured the same disease.Dane C. Ortlund31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.Romans 8:31-34THE TEARS OF JESUS INVITE US TO BE NEAR TO HIM16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,Hebrews 4:16aTHE TEARS OF JESUS MOVE HIM TO DO SOMETHING WE DON’T HAVE THE POWER TO DO16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace

“5Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.6And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”-Exodus 34:5-7 “We have a domesticated view that, for all its doctrinal precision, has downsized the glory of Christ in our hearts.”- Dane C. Ortlund. “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father and no one knows the Son except the Father nor does anyone know the Father except the Son...” Matthew 11:27 “...no one knows except the Father and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal him.” Matthew 11:27 “5Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.6And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:5-7 mercy is God not giving me what I deserve (i.e. punishment) and grace is God giving me what I do not deserve (i.e. blessings) “Who He is, is not the same as what He does. Often, when we seek to define or relate to Jesus, we think of what He has done for us. This, however, is only a partial glimpse of Him. What he does comes from who He is.”- Dane C. Ortlund “It will be seen that mercy in God is not merely His pardon of offenders, but His attitude to man and to the world genuinely, from which His pardoning mercy proceeds.”-Bible Hub App “The LORD, the LORD God...”Exodus 34:6. “This name- Yahweh (the LORD) - was the same name for God that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew; this was no new revelation of God. God presented Himself as the eternal, immutable God.”-Enduring Word App Mt Moriah: Abraham and Isaac (Gen 22) “Take now your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love...and offer him there as a burnt offering.” Genesis 22:2. “And Abraham said, ‘My son God will provide for Himself the lamb. So, the two of them went together.” Genesis 22:8 God provided the sacrifice for Abraham Forgiveness is on display “Take now your son, your only son Isaac...” Genesis 22:2 God provided His own sacrifice “you shall not give any of your children to offer them [by fire sacrifice] to Molech [the god of the Ammonites].”-Leviticus 18:21 “[I] will provide for [myself] the lamb for the offering.” Genesis 22:8 It is a foreshadow of the mountain where God the Father would offer his only Son and this time, the Son would die the Lambs death Golgotha: Jesus (Mark 15) “Golgotha and the ancient site of mount Moriah may be the same area. In other words, Jesus may have been crucified near Moriah or at its summit.”-Jon Coursin “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”- John 3:16-17 The fact the He gave, is grace. That we do not perish, is mercy “It embraces a profound sacrificial love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance.”- Wikipedia “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). And raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”- Ephesians 2:4-10 The heart of God the Father and God the Son is a heart of mercy and grace

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”Matthew 11:25-30 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.2 Peter 3:18You can “know” honey in two distinct ways: you can know the exact chemical makeup of honey; or you can taste it. Both are ways we can “know” honey. But only the latter is the knowledge by which honey is experienced.Jonathan EdwardsHe [Jesus] is a person. Not just a historical figure, but an actual person, alive and well today. He is to be related to. Trusted, spoken to, listened to. Jesus is not a concept. Not an ideal. Not a force. Growing in Christ is relational, not a formulaic, experience. Dane OrtlundGENTLE AND LOWLYWHAT IS AT THE CORE OF THE HEART OF JESUS?Many know Jesus through the things he did, said or simply that He once lived on this earth, but few know the HEART of Jesus; Jesus at the core.What Do Americans Believe About Jesus? (Barna Research)The vast majority of Americans believe Jesus was a real person. (92%)Younger generations are increasingly less likely to believe Jesus is God. (44%)Americans are divided on whether Jesus was sinless (52%)Most Americans say they have made a commitment to Jesus Christ (55-70%)People are conflicted between “Jesus” and “Good deeds” as The Way to heaven (60%)A wife may tell you much about her husband — his height, his eye color, his eating habits, his education, his job, his handiness around the house, his best friend, his hobbies, his Myers-Brggs personality profile, his favorite sports team. But what can she say to communicate his knowing gaze across the table over a dinner at their favorite restaurant? That look that reflects years of ever deepening friendship, thousands of conversations and arguments through which they have safely come, a time-ripened settling into the assurance of embrace, come what may? THAT GLANCE speaks in a moment his loving protection more clearly than a thousand words? In short, what can she say to communicate to another her husbands heart for her? It is one thing to describe what your husband says and does and looks like. It is something else, something deeper and more real, to describe his heart for you. So with Christ. It is one thing to know the doctrines of the incarnation and the atonement and a hundred other vital doctrines (beliefs). It is another, more searching matter to know his heart for you. Dane OrtlundJESUS AS RULING KING?King Jesus pictureThen Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”John 18:37Human nature dictates that the wealthier a person, the more they tend to look down on the poor. The more beautiful a person, the more they are put off by the ugly. And without realizing what we are doing, we quietly assume that one so high and exalted has correspondingly difficulty drawing near to the despicable and unclean.Dane OrtlundJESUS AS SPOTLESS AND HOLY?Spotless lamb picture39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”Luke 7:39JESUS AS TEACHER?Teacher-Jesus pictureSeeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them,Matthew 5:1JESUS AS A COSMIC FORCE?Cosmic-Jesus picture16 For by[f] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17JESUS AS SAVIOR?13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:13-17Christ = Christos: “anointed”; the messiah, son of GodWHO DOES JESUS SAY HE IS?2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-318 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him

Psalm 119:65-72“Why do we suffer in this world if God loves us so much?”THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING AND EVILQUESTIONS LEAD US TO JESUS.QUESTIONS ARE NOT NEW9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.Ecclesiastes 1:98 God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job?There’s no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil.”9-10 Satan retorted, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can’t lose!Job 1:8-912 God replied, “We’ll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don’t hurt him.” Then Satan left the presence of God.Job 1:1211-13 Three of Job’s friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country—Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, Zophar from Naamath—and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn’t believe what they saw—they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering.Job 2:11-13 Three things we CAN do when others are suffering:Step into their sufferingEmpathize with their sufferingDon’t try to fix their sufferingAnyone who has spent time with a suffering friend knows how hard it is to remain present without trying to give answers. It is excruciating to suffer silently with a friend who must rebuild life piece by piece, without any certainty about the outcome. Our instinct is to investigate what went wrong and identify a solution. Then we imagine we can help our friend eliminate the cause and get back to normal as soon as possible. Knowing the cause, we will at least know how to avoid the same fate ourselves. We would rather give a reason for the suffering — be it right, be it wrong — than to accept the mystery at the heart of suffering.Theology of Work, Commentary13-20 “Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him,If you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home,You’ll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless.You’ll forget your troubles; they’ll be like old, faded photographs.Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dawn.Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again; you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy.Expansive, without a care in the world, you’ll be hunted out by many for your blessing.But the wicked will see none of this. They’re headed down a dead-end road with nothing to look forward to—nothing.”Job 11:13-20As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”The disciples regarded this man as an unsolved riddle. They showed no interest in helping the man, but in discussing the cause for his condition. Jesus will soon show a different way. He won’t dwell on the theological puzzle, but on actually helping the man.David Guzik3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 9:1-3Jesus shifted the question from, “Why is this man suffering?,” to, “What can God do in spite of this suffering?”WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIND TRUTH IN SUFFERING IF WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE TRUTH IS.“THIS ISN’T HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE.”We were made for God11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.John 9:1-3You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they can find peace in you.Augustine of HippoWe chose to separate from GodA THEOLOGY OF SIN (We need to understand the magnitude of sin)10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”Romans 3:10-12The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.Augustine of HippoWhen a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him. When a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less.C.S. LewisA THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING (We need to understand the purpose of suffering)7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal s

Psalm 22:1-5This psalm begins abruptly, with a disturbing scene: someone who knows and trusts God is forsaken, and cries out to God in agony.David Guzik“How do you continue to walk with God when you don’t feel His presence and it feels like He isn’t with you?”THE WALL.What is The Wall?What is important here is to note that the trials we encounter each day are not the Wall or “dark night of the soul.” Trials are traffic jams, annoying bosses, delayed airplay departures, car breakdowns, fevers, and barking dogs in the middle of the night.Peter ScazzeroJOHN OF THE CROSS PHOTO*continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.Philippians 2:12b-13Wilderness seasons don’t purify us from sin, Jesus already did that. It’s done. It is finished.“DARK”How do we know we are in “the dark night”? Our good feelings of God’s presence evaporate. We feel the door of heaven has been shut as we pray. Darkness, helplessness, weariness, a sense of failure or defeat, barrenness, emptiness, dryness descends upon us. The Christian disciplines that have served us up to this time “no longer work.” We can’t see what God is doing and we see little visible fruit in our lives.Peter Scazzero“NIGHT”weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.Psalm 30:5“SOUL"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.Psalm 22:1-2We're going on a bear huntWe're going on a bear huntI've got my binocularsI've got my binocularsI'm not scaredI'm not scaredOoh, look at that tall, wavy grassIt's so tallWe can't go over itWe can't go under itWe're just gonna have to go through itSwish, swish, swish, swishThe Kiboomers“DO I TRUST GOD?”10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.Philippians 4:10-14When we make it through the wall, we no longer have a need to be well known or successful, but to do God’s will. We have now tasted what it means to live in union with the love of God through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Peter ScazzeroFor the Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing.Deuteronomy 2:7When you accept the fact that sometimes seasons are dry and times are hard and that God is in control of both, you will discover a sense of divine refuge, because the hope then is in God and not in yourself.Charles SwindollGoing through “The Wall” helps us un-learn:Pride: They have a tendency to condemn others and become impatient with their faults. They are selective in who can teach them.Avarice: They are discontent with the Spirituality God gives them. They never have enough learning, are always reading many books rather than growing in poverty of spirit and their interior life.Luxury: They take more pleasure in the spiritual blessings of God rather than God Himself.Wrath: They are easily irritated, lacking sweetness, and have little patience to wait on God.Spiritual Gluttony: They resist the way of the cross and choose pleasures like children do.Spiritual Envy: They feel unhappy when others do well spiritually. They are always comparing.Sloth: They run from that which is hard. Their aim is spiritual sweetness and good feelings.Going through “The Wall” helps us learn:How to be needy.“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:318 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:18-21How to be okay with mystery.“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.Isaiah 55:8-9 If you understand, it is not God you understand.Augustine of Hippo The way of Jesus cannot be imposed or mapped — it requires an active participation in following Jesus as he leads us through sometimes strange and unfamili

Matthew 26:36-44 “36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘sit here, while I go over there and pray.’ 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 then he said to them, ‘ My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.’ 40 And he came to his disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, ‘So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak,’42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”WHY DO WE HAVE UNANSWERED PRAYERS?[a pic i need to still send][side by side pic.see attachment]The Greek word for agony used here means “to be engaged in combat.”If what is possible? If salvation for man is possible by anything other than the cross, let this cup pass.”-Chuck SmithThe cross declares that there is only one way by which man can have forgiveness of sins and approach God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ.”- Chuck SmithSome prayers would never be offered if people would only think. A little reflection would show us that some things that we desire were better left alone. We may moreover, have a motive at the bottom of our desires that is not Christ like; a selfish nature that forgets God’s glory and caters to our own ease and comfort…there must be mingled with acceptable prayer, the holy salt of submission to the divine will.”-Charles Spurgeon.“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” James 4:3.Prayer is not really intended to get my will done on earth. Prayer is intended to get God’s will done on earth.”- Chuck Smith.And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.”"Christ was not delivered from his sufferings, yet he was strengthened and supported under them. And that was equivalent”-Matthew Henry."trading of the heart with God”-Charles Spurgeon#1 prayed persistently.#2 prayed submittedly.“Do you not know friends, that we often impute to the Lord conduct we would be ashamed of in ourselves. When God tells you to call upon Him, He does not mock you. He means that He will deal kindly with you”-Charles Spurgeon.1. We will assume the role of prayer answerer.2. We will believe God to be different than he is.3. We will see prayer as self-servingWhen the question of unanswered prayer comes up we should do what Jesus did:#1 Persist “He went away and prayed for the third time saying the same words again” Matthew 26:44“Guard against persistence of unbelief-repeating prayer with attitude that God never heard us the first time”-David Guzik “The delays of prayer are not needed to change God, but to change us.”- David Guzik#2 Submit “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” Matthew 26:39 “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross” Philippians 2:8.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.1 John 2:15-17Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was [a]pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves [b]coverings.8 And they heard the [c]sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the [d]cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”Genesis 3:1-10Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’and,‘In their hands they shall bear you up,Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”Matthew 4:1-613 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.Romans 7:13-21 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.James 1:14

Philippians 2:3-16“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”Vision - Help People Know GodMission - Practicing The Way of JesusPursuing the PresenceTransformational DiscipleshipKingdom CommunitySacrificial MissionKingdom Community doesn’t stand alone, and the house doesn’t stand without it!“Between the death of Christ and the Last Day, it is only by a gracious anticipation of the last things that Christians are privileged to live in visible fellowship with other Christians. It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in this world to share God’s Word and sacrament. Not all Christians receive this blessing. The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the Gospel in heathen lands stand alone. They know that visible fellowship is a blessing. They remember, as the Psalmist did, how they “walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” (Ps. 42:4). - BonhoefferIt is how we startedOur triune God created all life to exist in communal order to work toward Kingdom Community.2. It is how we are testedWithout community, we are incapable of Practicing the Way of Jesus.We were created for the life of Jesus to live inside of us.3. It is how we are to be foundCommunity is found where Faith is found, and Faith is found where Community is found.“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25 Faith plus community created endurance.“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:204. It is how we are sustained “The light of the early church illuminated the path of humankind in one short flash. Yet its spirit and witness stayed alive even after its members had been scattered and many of them were murdered. Again and again, through history, similar forms arose as gifts of God, expressions of the same living Spirit. Witnesses were killed, and fathers died, but new children were and are born into the Spirit again and again.” - Eberhard ArnoldThrough the kind of community that Jesus prescribes to us, no external force can extinguish the flame of the Gospel.When we were called into God’s family, we were also called to belong to Him in eternity with one another.“He is our peace.” Eph 2:14 Christ was sent to be the mediator.“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so t

Acts 1:3-8SACRIFICIAL MISSION 52% of Christians who attend church monthly and say their faith is important and agree they have a responsibility to share their beliefs.Barna Group73% of Christians belief it was their responsibility to share their faith, but only 52% have actually shared their faith at least once with someone in the last year.Telling the Gospel31% of Christians believe they are not called to share their beliefs.Lifeway Research18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:18-19 The degree of sacrifice as well as the kind of sacrifice will vary, depending on context and calling. Some will work in the slums of Africa, others will raise a large family; some will take on a job that pays a low salary, others will make lots of money and give most of it away. There is no absolute rule to follow here, no perfect standard against which to measure both quality and quantity of sacrifice. Comparisons are simply out of the question. Only one truth applies to all: the ultimate sacrifice we make should be the whole of ourselves to God. And then we should simply let life take its course.Gerald SittserIf we take the Christian faith seriously, we will probably end up traveling somewhere or loving someone or trying something we would never have imagined at an earlier stage in our lives. It is simply what a life of disciples requires.Gerald SittserSacrificial Mission: We pursue sacrificial missions by giving, serving, and loving sacrificially in our homes, our Church, our community, and the world.Serving-focused Missions: overemphasizes meeting the physical needs of others and downplays the power of the Gospel. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[b] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it[c] for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”John 12:4-8Conversion-focused Missions: overemphasizes the moment of salvation rather than inviting people into a life-long devotion to Jesus. This downplays the really physical needs people face and also downplays the importance of discipleship.15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[b] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.James 2:15-16Jesus-focused Missions: sees people created in the image of God and is moved with compassion for the WHOLE person; spirit, soul, body, relationships, world, etc.After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”John 6:1-5Jesus-focused ministry is moved with compassion based off of the need we see, not what is convenient for us.Luke mentioned that on this occasion Jesus went out to a deserted place to be alone (Luke 9:10), yet the crowds followed Him there. In spite of this imposition, Jesus still served the multitude with great compassion.David GuzikGod chose to risk everything in the incarnation; such a risk was costly beyond measure. But the incarnation also reminds us that the risk is worth taking. Our salvation is proof of that. God calls us to take risks too, following, however inadequately, the example that Jesus set. Gerald SittserThe God who loves to have an outgoing Image of his Son loves to have many images of his love (who are themselves outgoing).Michael Reeves15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15Myth: People could use Jesus, but they don’t NEED Him.Reality: People are separated from God, and have the ability to be eternally separated from Him.For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:“None is righteous, no, not one;11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”Romans 3:9-1213 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] An

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:9-17 ANNOUNCE GUYS/GIRLS NIGHTPACK THE HOUSE / HELP!We pursue the presence of God, who is a person, and we pursue Him first; above every other action.TRANSFORMATIONAL DISCIPLESHIPWe pursue transformational discipleship by focusing on spiritual formation and every Christian’s destiny to progressively grow in Christ-likeness.New Song ChurchNaaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go, then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.”He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his skin disease.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his skin disease? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”2 Kings 5:1-7Transformational discipleship gets complicated when:We idolize leaders3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease.” 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[a] by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?1 Corinthians 1:10-13We are all hypocrites in transition. I am not who I want to be, but I am on the journey there, and thankfully I am not whom I used to be.Erwin McManus9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 2 Kings 5:9-12We idolize a processIn prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.John BunyanWe take what we think are the tools of spiritual transformation into our own hands and try to sculpt ourselves into robust Christlike specimens. But spiritual transformation is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. He is the Master Sculptor.Jerry BridgesWe idolize ourselvesBody Dysmorphia: persistent, intense focus, shame and anxiety over perceived body defectsDiscipleship Dysmorphia: persistent, intense focus, shame and anxiety over perceived discipleship defects“I just feel like I should be doing more.” The moment we begin to feel satisfied that we are making some progress along the road of sanctification, it is all the more necessary to repent and confess that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.Dietrich BonhoefferTransformational discipleship is done from a place of victory, not from a place of t

“One thing, I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4Pillars of the ChurchThe pillars of our church are PURSUING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, TRANSFORMATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP, KINGDOM COMMUNITY, AND SACRIFICIAL MISSION“At New Song Church, we pursue the presence of God by seeking him first and above all else.”-NSC websiteWe are to pursue.What we are to pursue is the presence.The what is actually a who, because it is the presence of God. 4. We are to do this first, above every other action/option.“The reason the church is in crisis today is because we have settled for the omnipresence rather than for the manifest presence of God.”- Frank Hartlythere is an aspect of God where he is OMNIPRESENT meaning he is everywhere all at once at all timesthere is a MANIFEST aspect of God’s presence. Manifest means to display or show by one’s acts or appearance; demonstrate.“The presence and the manifestation of the presence are not the same. There can be one without the other. God is here when we are wholly unaware of it. He is manifesting when and as we are aware of his presence.”- A.W. TozerPursue means to chase something, run after, seek to attain.“The church has developed a mentality that wants to do nothing, but yet receive everything. We don’t want to make any effort on our part anymore, we just want to sit by and wait for God to hand it to us, drop it into our laps, so to speak.”- Pastor Curt (article on pursing God)“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek his face forevermore.” Psalm 105:4“The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.” Psalm 14:2“3He (Zacchaeus) sought to see who Jesus was but could not because of the crowd…4 so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him…5 And when Jesus…saw him he said ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’” Luke 19:3-5“27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind him in the crowd and touched His garment…32 and He looked around to see her who had done this thing.” Mark 5:27,32“37 When she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisees house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at his feet behind Him weeping and she began to wash His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with fragrant oil…” Luke 7:37The Hebrew word for presence is parim=face.This implies a close and personal encounter with the Lord as the face reveals the unique identity of a person.“15 If your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16For how then will it be known that your people have found grace in your sight, except you go, with us?” Exodus 33:15,16“One thing, I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4“In America, there is a generation that is experiencing more options than any generation in all of history.”-Jesus Culture“And they (Adam and Eve) heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord…” Gen 3:8“Cain went out from the presence of the Lord.” Gen 4:16But what defines a true church is to run after (pursue) the presence (manifest/personal encounter) of God as our only hope (first/above all else).“One thing, I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4desire, decide, doWhen we desire to pursue the presence of God we will decide what we are willing to no longer settle for and we will do what others may not, because His presence is above all other things!

STAND IN AWEPsalm 33:6-9 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made and all their host by the breath of his mouth. He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him, for he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.I often feel left out or lonelyI can't do anything right My life is not useful I do not enjoy my life What young people need today is not to stand in awe of something but to stand in awe of SOMEONE. AWE: a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him”Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.Bonfire PicBeing afraid of God and fearing God are two different things.When I genuinely fear the Lord I fear hurting him. I don’t fear him hurting me.I have respect and reverence for God, but I am also drawn to his warmth and beauty.1 We promote awe of God by seeing Him in CREATION Romans 1:20 Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made…I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting system through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only tune in. - George Washington CarverEarth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries. - Elizabeth Barrett BrowningSunset picThis is my Father's world:O let me ne'er forgetThat though the wrong seems oft so strong,God is the Ruler yet.This is my Father's world:Why should my heart be sad?The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!God reigns; let earth be glad! 2 We promote awe of God by Seeing Him in ARTExodus 31:1-11 The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab…. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”Art gives us glimpses of the renewed world, It helps us to taste and see that the Lord is good.3 We promote awe of God by seeing him in JESUS2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.He must increase, but I must decrease. Awe Challenge: _Turn off notifications on your phone._Create a plan for your screen time._Go on awe walks. _Read a Psalm. Write a Psalm. _Enjoy art. _Gospel Meditation.

Psalm 55:1-84 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.Romans 6:4FEARTHE ANATOMY OF FEARFear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.ALEX HONNOLD PHOTO**EL CAPITAN PHOTO**FREE SOLO PHOTO***THE ANATOMY OF FEAR GRAPH***The church, in general, has done a horrible job with mental illness. We have ignored it, pretended it doesn’t exist, or worse, acted as though all mental illness was a result of sin. Our obsession with outward perfection has led us down a dark, dangerous path of contempt toward anything that doesn’t measure up to our false definition of what a “good Christian” should look like.Jessica ThompsonIt is of no use to say to men, “Let not your heart be troubled,” unless you finish the verse and say, “Believe in God, believe also in Christ.Alexander MacLaren6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control [sound-mind].2 Timothy 1:6-7The first step in dealing with such fears is to understand that they are not from God. It is a significant step to say, “This isn’t God making me feel like this; God hasn’t given me this.” Perhaps it is from personality, perhaps a weakness of the flesh, perhaps a demonic attack – but it isn’t from God.David GuzikFEAR IS NOT A LACK OF FAITH, IT IS FAITH IN REVERSEFear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the BELIEF that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.I saw a study that said speaking in front of a crowd is considered the number one fear of the average person. Number two was death. This means to the average person, if you have to be at a funeral, you would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.Jerry SeinfeldMost of the time for us, the feeling of fear is REAL but the threat we face is NOT REAL.The worst evils of life are those which do not exist except in our imagination. If we had no troubles but real troubles, we should not have a tenth part of our present sorrows. We feel a thousand deaths in fearing one…Charles SpurgeonAnxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.Corrie Ten BoomFEAR WILL SPIRITUALLY PARALYZE US AND ROB US FROM OUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSES (Worst-case scenario)10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”Exodus 3:10-1113 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” Exodus 3:13Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’”Exodus 4:110 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”Exodus 4:10OUR VISION OF PEACE AND SAFETY IS DIFFERENT THAN GOD’S VISION OF PEACE AND SAFETY15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”Exodus 33:15-16“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble…”Psalm 9“God is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help in trouble…”Psalm 46“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty…”Psalm 91FEAR WILL ROB US FROM THE MENTAL PEACE AND SPIRITUAL REST HE PURCHASED FOR US TO LIVE IN. (Best-case scenario)THE WAY TO BEAT FEAR IS TO FEAR (FEAR OF THE LORD)The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.Proverbs 19:23Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!Psalms 34:9THE WAY TO BEAT FEAR IS TO LOOSE YOUR CONFIDENCE (IN WORLDY METHODS)10 But Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” Exodus 4:10-12THE WAY TO BEAT FEAR IS TO QUESTION EVERYTHING (THAT ELEVATES ITSELF ABOVE GOD)4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take eve

19 O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—20 those who speak of you maliciously and lift themselves up against you for evil![d]21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.24 See if there is any wicked[e] way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.Psalm 139:19-242 He [God] makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, 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;Psalm 23:2-5ANGERThere is no such thing as an angry person; there are only humans. Some just have a better grip on their anger than others.1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me.2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely.5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.Psalm 139:1-617 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!18 I try to count them—they are more than the sand; I come to the end[c]—I am still with you.19 O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—20 those who speak of you maliciously and lift themselves up against you for evil![d]21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?22 I hate them with perfect hatred;Psalm 139:17-22But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.Psalm 73:2-3O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs.5 They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees.[b]6 And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.7 They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment[c] and destroy them!Psalm 74:1-11 “This is not the song of an atheist, but the wail of a believer.”G. Campbell Morgan26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.Ephesians 4:26-27The absence of anger . . . can, in my opinion, be a most alarming symptom . . . If the Jews cursed more bitterly than the Pagans this was, I think, at least in part because they took right and wrong more seriously.C.S. Lewis37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”John 18:37-38A man that does not know how to be angry does not know how to be good. Henry Ward BeecherThe Bible doesn’t counsel AGAINST your anger, but anticipates your anger and shows us how to GROW in it.Mike WingerThe spectrum of angerThe root of angerThe filter of angerTHE SPECTRUM OF ANGER7 These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Colossians 3:7-8Anger: “anGRRRR”Wrath: anger displayed outwardly; onto someone or somethingMalice: “congealed anger; anger that has been nursed along” (J. Vernon McGee)And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”Genesis 4:4-7Slander (blaspheme): to talk about another in a way t

LOVE IN PSALMSWe are created in the image of a God that feels emotionsPSALMS 6:4 — Return, O Lord, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love.PSALMS 26:3 — For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.PSALMS 33:22 — Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone. PSALMS 136:1 — Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His steadfast love endures forever.Unfailing love = “hesed” = love, generosity, faithfulness, goodness, enduring commitment Love = the genuine inner readiness and longing to secure the good of others1 JOHN 4:19 — We love because he first loved us.ACTS 13:22 — But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart.’Love for Christ is of 1st importance, 2nd importance, and 3rd importanceCharles Spurgeon — “It shows what weight our Saviour attached to the matter of his (Peter’s) love, that he asked him about that, about that only, and about that three times over.”MATTHEW 7:21-23 — “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgement day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and case out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me,’”PSALMS 63:1-8 — O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.(MATT PIC) ??When you realize the greatness of God’s love for you, then your relationship with Him becomes a consuming addiction, not a convenient additionSome addictions will kill you; but the presence of God is the addiction that’s going to heal you and fulfill youCharles Spurgeon — “He who truly longs for God longs for him now.”PSALMS 27:4 — The one thing I ask of the Lord - the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.LUKE 14:26 — “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else - your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sister - yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.MATTHEW 10:37 — “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.When you realize the greatness of God’s love for you, then your worship is not just obligation, it is immeasurable delight(SIGN PIC)PSALMS 16:11 — In his presence is the fullness of joyWhen you realize the greatness of God’s love for you, you want God more thank you want even His greatest giftsA.J. Stuemky — “The process of prayer will change you in ways that an answered prayer never will.”God gives us gifts and satisfaction; but our satisfaction is ultimately not found in the gifts, but in the GiverWhen you realize the greatness of God’s love your, your experience in the wilderness become experiences in worshipPSALMS 88 — ”O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left. They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave. I am forgotten, cut off from your care. You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths. Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me. Interlude You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape. My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord; I lift my hands to you for mercy. Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? O Lord, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. O Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl ar

Psalm 27:1-6Apprentice: someone who has decided to follow another person to become capable of doing what that person does, or become who that person is. “We are learning from Jesus to live our lives as He would live our life if He were us. I am not necessarily learning to do everything He did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that He did all He did.” Dallas WillardIt means that instead of working on the text, we let the text work on us. It means reading formational rather than informationally, which is the habit we bring to reports, newspapers, textbooks, and most of the reading we do. It means embracing the text rather than holding it at arm’s length. It means being vulnerable to hear how God might address us through the text rather than managing the text to serve our curiosity and need to control. Howard R. MacyA great part of the disaster of contemporary life lies in the fact that it is organized around feelings. People nearly always act on their feelings, and think it only right. The will is then left at the mercy of circumstances that evoke feelings. Christian spiritual formation today must squarely confront this fact and overcome it.Dallas Willard“Psalms teaches us that life with God is not about running from our emotions, and its not about being run by our emotions, but its somewhere in the middle. That perfect balance can only be found in God and with God.”J.A. WilsonIn a world marred by sin, it is important and appropriate to express a range of feelings when we pray. The Psalms are filled with expressions of human emotion, and they teach us how to express our emotion in godly ways.He Reads Truth Study BibleJOY21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money[b] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.Matthew 19:21-22Teleios: brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.Matthew 19:22What were these [riches] in comparison of peace of conscience, and mental rest? Besides, he had unequivocal proof that these contributed nothing to his comfort, for he is now miserable even while he possesses them! And so will every soul be, who puts worldly goods in the place of the supreme God.Adam ClarkeJoy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.G.K. ChestertonJoy is the serious business of Heaven.C.S. LewisYou have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.Psalm 4:7Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.Psalm 35:98I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.9Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.10For you do not give me up to Sheol or let your faithful one see the Pit.11You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.Psalm 16:8-11For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning…You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.Psalm 30:5, 11-12Joy is a feeling in the soul produced by the Holy Spirit as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in His word and in His work.John PiperJoy of the Lord is a feeling of happiness that we can experience.If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire: if you want to be wet you must get into the water. If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them. They are not a sort of prize which God could, if He chose, just hand out to anyone.C.S. LewisIf we see the root of love as being a feeling, then we will stop loving when we don’t feel it anymore; in the same way, if we don’t see joy as a feeling that is rooted in the person of God, then we won’t choose to be with Him.4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.Psalm 27:48 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.Philippians 3:8The notion that religion is dull, stupid and sleepy is abhorrent to God, for He has created infinite variety and He loves to surprise us. If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are. Shake out of it, and approach Him in one of the countless fresh directions. Every tree, every cloud, every bird, every orchestra, every child, every city, every soap bubble is alive with God to those who know his language.Frank LaubachJOY IS

Psalm 88:1-8 Transition in church should not be common, but it is inevitable. And when transition does happen, we should be sad AND extremely hopeful. SADNESS, JOY, LOVE, ANGER, FEAR, SURPRISEIntroduction to the Psalms and Sadness16 All scripture is inspired by God…2 Timothy 3:16aChristian writers throughout history have insisted that the only way we can come to understand the Psalms is by praying them and by using them in ways that allow them to shape us. This involves a conscious choice that contradicts common habits. It means that instead of working on the text, we let the text work on us. It means reading formationally rather than informationally, which is the habit we bring to reports, newspapers, textbooks, and most of the reading we do. It means embracing the text rather than holding it at arm’s length. It means being vulnerable to hear how God might address us through the text rather than managing the text to serve our curiosity and need to control. Howard R. MacyZamar [psalm]: to make music, to touch strings or parts of a musical instrument; to hum or murmur.Undoubtedly they [the psalms] were simple read or chanted without any accompaniment, but indications are that their performance was at times replete with musical instruments, choir, and dance.Life With God Study Bible“The Bible in miniature.”Martin LutherEven my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.Psalm 41:98 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both humans and animals;9 he sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.Psalm 135:8-91 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night but find no rest.Psalm 22:1-2The Book of Psalms is fuel for Praise and PrayerPraise and prayer - these two spiritual practices articulate our most fundamental relationship to God. The Psalter expresses, with more immediacy and completeness than any other part of the Bible, how the people of God are formed spiritually.Richard J. Foster The Psalms are not meant to make us smart, they’re meant to help us feel.13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.[f] 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.16 But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”21 David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. 22 Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! 2 Samuel 6:13-22Frankly, there is no such thing as purely inward religion. That would defy the reality of our embodied selves and the significance of the body and behavior in our godly formRichard J. FosterThe Book of Psalms is fuel for Praise and Prayer & The Psalms are not meant to make us smart, they’re meant to help us feel.YOU CAN BE SAD AND STILL TRUST IN GOD.Sadness, depression, disappointment, dismay, hurt, grief, guilt, loneliness, neglect, regret, remorse, shame, sorrow, and sympathy.He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Isaiah 53:3The Psalms are not a license to be sad all of the time, they are an encouragement to deal with our sadnessAllow the spirit to grow us in how we experience sadness11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 1 Corinthians 13:11 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,Ephesians 2:14-15

Luke 6:12-16Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity![a]2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.Psalm 133COVENANT FRIENDSHIPERNEST SHACKLETON PHOTO*With his ship helplessly frozen in place, what did Shackleton do?He formed his men into teams, took them out onto the ice, and they played soccer. In fact, they did it a lot. But in his book South: The Endurance Expedition that details the trials of his crew, he only mentions it once. “Hockey and soccer on the floe were our chief recreations, and all hands joined in many a strenuous game.” He set a strict daily eating schedule of breakfast, lunch, tea, and dinner. During the evening hours, they took turns staging concerts and plays below decks to break up the monotony of the long dark winter nights.Ken DownerPHOTOS*They [Shackleton and crew] were isolated from the outside world, but they were surrounded by deep friendship and community. Many of us today find ourselves surrounded by the outside world, but isolated from deep friendship and community.BOOK REC.WE WERE MADE FOR FRIENDSHIP BECAUSE WE WERE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF FRIENDSHIP.24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.John 17:2415 No longer do I call you servants,[a] for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you…John 15:15-16A friend is someone who KNOWNS you and loves you ANYWAY.Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Some Christians try to go to heaven alone, in solitude. But believers are not compared to bears or lions or other animals that wander alone. Those who belong to Christ are sheep in this respect, that they love to get together. Sheep go in flocks, and so do God’s people.Charles SpurgeonThen the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”Genesis 2:18Isolation is just as dangerous to the soul as sickness is to the body.Justin Whitmel EarlyWe are the most physically connected and yet spiritually isolated people who have ever walked the planet. Our default perspective should now be to assume that if you’re a modern American, you are lonely.Justin Whitmel EarlyCharacteristics of Modern friendshipDigitally known, emotionally unknownTechnology can give us the sensation of being known when, actually, we are completely isolated. When we spend our relational time snacking on technology, we will die from the preventable disease of loneliness. The internet and smartphones are fantastic for connections, communication, and knowledge. But connections are not friends, communication is not intimacy, and knowledge is not wisdom. Use a social network for intimacy and you will invite great harm. Use a chatroom for wisdom and you are guaranteed foolishness. Use connections for friendship and you are destined for loneliness. Justin Whitmel EarlyConnected by similar interests, not by similar visionNo matter how much time you spend with someone, or how many common activities you share, if vulnerability and honesty are not practiced regularly such that you turn from loving your shared hobbies to loving each other, then you are not in a friendship but a companionship.Justin Whitmel EarlyBuilt on comfort together, not built on adversityWounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.Proverbs 27:6 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.Proverbs 27:17Jesus modeled COVENANT FRIENDSHIPCovenant friendships are decided by the Father12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. Luke 6:12These were the men who would carry on what He had done, and without them the work of Jesus would never extend to the whole world. No wonder Jesus gave this critical choice an entire night of prayer.David GuzikThe righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.Proverbs 12:2633 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”1 Corinthians 15:33Covenant friendships are built on similar vision, NOT similar interestsThere are many interesting connections with this group. There are brothers (James and John, Peter and Andrew); business associates (Peter, James, and John were

“27 “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; 28 bless those who curse you; pray for those who abuse you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you do good to those from whom you hope to receive, what credits is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great and you will be children of the most high for He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your father is merciful.”GET LOW (Loving those who you don’t relate to)John 4:3-27 3 he left Judea and started back to Galilee. 4 But he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)[a] 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir,[b] you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir,[c] give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir,[d] I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you[e] say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you[f] will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You[g] worship what you[h] do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he,[i] the one who is speaking to you.”27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman…“The strict Rabbis forbade a Rabbi to greet a woman in public. A Rabbi might not even speak to his own wife or daughter or sister in public. There were even Pharisees who were called ‘the bruised and bleeding Pharisees’ because they shut their eyes when they saw a woman on the street and so walked into walls and houses!” (Barclay) John 5:19 Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father[a] does, the Son does likewise. 20 The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.John 4:39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”In this scenario Jesus is calling us outside of comfort and convince and asking us to put a priority on eternal desires > momentary desires. On God’s will > Our own.2. GET LOWER (Loving Your Enemies) John 6:1-6, 10-14 6 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.[a] 2 A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 Jesus went up the mountain and sat down the

1 Peter 2:1-7 (NKJV)LIVING UNDER AUTHORITYBehold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.Psalm 133:1-3It is a wonder seldom seen, therefore behold it! It may be seen, for it is the characteristic of real saints – therefore fail not to inspect it! It is well worthy of admiration; pause and gaze upon it! It will charm you into imitation, therefore note it well!Charles SpurgeonUnity is good AND pleasing.Unity is what God pours His Spirit onto.God doesn’t just give a blessing for those in unity, He COMMANDS a blessing for those in unity.WRESTLING PHOTO***We can’t let the poor examples of some leaders to determine our need for A LEADER.2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.Ezekiel 34:1-5In both the civil and spiritual realms, when sheep have unfaithful shepherds sometimes they think the answer is no shepherds. They think that almost any kind of leadership among God’s people is unnecessary and that the flock can lead itself. Ezekiel specifically spoke against this kind of thinking. When there was no shepherd, it was no better for the sheep.David GuzikWHAT IS SUBMISSION?Sub-mission: to come under the mission of another6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.1 Peter 5:6For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.1 Peter 2:25WHO DO WE SUBMIT TO?5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”1 Peter 5:5The word “elder” simply speaks of the maturity and wisdom that an older person should have, making them qualified for leadership. In its application, it is more about wisdom and maturity than a specific age.David GuzikStrive all to serve each other; let the pastors strive to serve the people, and the people the pastors; and let there be no contention, but who shall do most to oblige and profit all the rest.ClarkWHY DO WE SUBMIT? 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6 Though he was God,[a] he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges[b]; he took the humble position of a slave[c] and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,[d]8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.Philippians 2:5-1149 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”[h] 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[i] and in favor with God and man.Luke 2:49-52I will worship toward Your holy temple,And praise Your nameFor Your lovingkindness and Your truth;For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.Psalm 138:2

Micah 6:6-8Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.Hebrews 12:1-237 While Jesus[e] was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. 38 The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.Luke 11:37-38A really strict Jew would do this not only before the meal, but also between each course through the meal. The rabbis were deadly serious about this, saying that bread eaten with unwashed hands was no better than excrement. A rabbi who once failed to do this was considered excommunicated.David Guzik39 And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Luke 11:37-4242 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Luke 11:37-42Legalism of this sort assumes that people will only know we follow God if we do all these things associated with rules and regulations. Instead, Jesus said that the real mark of a believer is the love they have for others in God’s family. It was as if a solider did great in marching drills and put all their emphasis there, but wasn’t any good in battle. This would not be a good soldier. Being good at all the outward things of Christianity doesn’t mean you are necessarily a good Christian.David Guzik6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?7 Will the Lord be pleased with[a] thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil?Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of youbut to do justice, and to love kindness,[b] and to walk humbly with your God?Micah 6:6-836 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”Matthew 22:36-4034 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:34-35DISCIPLESHIP IS MEASURED BY HOW I LOVE MY NEIGHBOR.The relational posture of a Christian is anchored in our union with Christ. God dwells in us, by the Spirit, nearer to us than our very breath-Anyone who lives from this depth of intimate relationship will long to be like-minded, unified, unselfish, humble, deferential, and self-sacrificial—anything but narcissistic.Chuck DeGroat35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:35The early church was strikingly different from the culture around it in this way – the pagan society was stingy with its money and promiscuous with its body. A pagan gave nobody their money and practically gave everybody their body. And the Christians came along and gave practically nobody their body and they gave practically everybody their money.Timothy Keller19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.1 John 4:19-21If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.1 Corinthians 13:1-3Nothing so clearly discovers a spiritual man as his treatment of an erring brother.Augustine of Hippo27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your m

3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” ….17 “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”Daniel 9:3-5, 17-19 (ESV)2 “When you pray, say:’Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come,Your will be done,On earth as it is in heaven.’”Luke 11:2 (NKJV)“What needs to shift?”We have a role to play in living in God’s kingdom, doing God’s will, and making earth as it is in heaven…and that happens “when we pray” (Luke 11:2)“There are many other things Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that would be written.”John 21:25 (NCV)Jesus begins his instructions on prayer by issuing an expectation for us to pray“He (Jesus) said, ‘When you pray,’ which means you learn how to pray by praying…prayer is on the job training, and you grow by doing it…When it comes to prayer, I always tell people to start, and the Holy Spirit will begin to teach them as they pray.“Corey Russell“Have felt led to pray for others this winter like never before. I never before knew what it was to work all day and then pray all night before God for another. In college, or at parties at home, I used to keep such hours for myself, or pleasures, and can I not do as much for God and for souls?“John Hyde“the effect was felt throughout all India, and the breath of Heaven sweeping over the land could be traced to the kneeling figure of ’Praying Hyde”“Give me souls, or I die.“John “Praying” Hyde“True prayer is the trading of the heart with God.“Charles Spurgeon“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”Ezekiel 36:26-27 (KJV)1)Prayer shifts our source.“I believe in the truthfulness of this instinct (when man calls out to God in moments of distress), and I believe that man prays because there is something in prayer. When the creator gives His creature the power of thirst, it is because water exists to meet that thirst. When He creates hunger, there is food to correspond to appetite. Even so, when He inclines man to pray, it is because prayer has a corresponding blessing connected with it.“Charles Spurgeon2) Prayer shifts our perspective.“Jesus allowed His disciples to watch him pray because He wanted them to watch Him engage with the Father in Heaven.”Corey Russell“When you think prayer, you think list, but I (Jesus) think person. I want to introduce you to a person, a place, and the person’s name. It’s our Father in heaven, by the way…”Corey Russell3) Prayer shifts our will.Intercession is the action of intervening (through prayer) on behalf of another“19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”Daniel 9:19 (ESV)“2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”Daniel 10:2-3 (ESV)4)Prayer shifts what we occupy (position of persistence)James 5:16-17 (NKJV) says “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”“4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightening, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 12 Then he said to me, ’Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the king of Persia, and 14 came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in th

1 Peter 2:4-10 9 Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread,and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Matthew 6:9-1320 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.1 Corinthians 4:20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20 We will never see what God wants until we die to what we want.What Needs To Change?What Is God’s Kingdom?How does God expand His Kingdom?How do We expand His Kingdom? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Matthew 6:33Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”John 18:36For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.Romans 14:17But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.Matthew 12:28Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’Luke 10:9“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”Matthew 3:2“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:10The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.Psalm 103:19Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”[h]Luke 17:20-21 This was not a mystical revelation by Jesus that in some seed form, the Kingdom of God is within everyone in a New Age sense. After all, Jesus would not have told Pharisees that the kingdom of God was within them. The statement of Jesus called attention to Himself, not to man. Like many today, the Pharisees said they wanted the Kingdom of God to come; but you can’t want the Kingdom and reject the King.David GuzikPeople often wonder, “What is the Kingdom of God?” Some have devoted their entire lives to the topic. Theirwork has been informative and helpful, but to make this really simple—the Kingdom of God is Jesus Christ.Michael KoulianosThe Kingdom of God is Jesus and wherever his rule and reign is, there is the Kingdom.In Christ, there is a true priesthood of all believers. All of us who trust in Jesus alone for salvation have free access into His presence, and all of our lawful vocations are set apart for true God-honoring service. The janitor who does his work to the Lord is in no worse position spiritually than the most gifted preacher on the planet, for all Christians have been declared righteous servants of the creator God.Ligonier MinistriesChurches are not the kingdom of God, but are primary and inevitable expressions, outposts, and instruments of the presence of the kingdom among us.Dallas WillardHOW DOES GOD EXPAND HIS KINGDOM?For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.Romans 14:179 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.1 Peter 2:9Prophets, Priests, KingsProphets: people who shared God’s knowledge; spoke for HimGod used prophets to fix a knowledge problem.Priests: people who stewarded God’s presence; ministered to Him.God used priests to fix a sin problem.Kings: people who stewarded God’s people/nation; led like HimIn the Garden of Eden, Adam was a “prophet” in that he had true knowledge of God and always spoke truthfully about God and about His creation. He was a “priest” in that he was able freely and openly to offer prayer and praise to God. Adam and Eve were also “Kings” in the sense of having been given dominion and rule over the creation.Wayne Grudem JESUS FIXES OUR KNOWLEDGE PROBLEM (Prophet)15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:158 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:8-9JESUS FIXES OUR NEARNESS PROBLEM (Priest)11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made

21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”Matthew 16:21-28 WHAT NEEDS TO DIE? 9 Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread,12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Matthew 6:9-10A day without prayer is a boast against God.Owen CarrThe Lord’s prayer starts with communion (relationship), leads to wonder, pushes us to fill the earth with God’s best, and ends with our needs being met.For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Matthew 6:32-33What halts resurrection power? An Unaware HeartAn Unwilling HeartAN UNAWARE HEART 21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord![e] This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[f] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”Matthew 16:21-23Jesus exposed how Peter came into this satanic way of thinking. He didn’t make a deliberate choice to reject God and embrace Satan; he simply let his mind settle on the things of men instead of the things of God, and Satan took advantage of it.David GuzikIt’s impossible to see life on earth as it is in heaven when we believe that sin isn’t that bad, and that God’s kingdom isn’t that good.AN UNWILLING HEART24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26 Any part of our life that we are unwilling to die to is a part of our life that we halt God’s resurrection life. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time — death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.Dietrich BonhoefferThe entrance fee into the kingdom of heaven is nothing: the annual subscription is everything.Henry DrummondFew souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.IgnatiusDEATH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF LOVEIt is not by telling people about ourselves that we demonstrate our Christianity. Words are cheap. It is by costly, self-denying Christian practice that we show the reality of our faith. Jonathan EdwardsDEATH IS THE DOOR TO LIFE

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered stupid—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.22-25 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so cheap, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can’t begin to compete with God’s “weakness.”…You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s sheer genius, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.3-5 I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God’s Spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.1 Corinthians 1:20-25, 2:1-5 (MSG)IS JESUS ENOUGH?Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance, the only thing it cannot be is moderately important.C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men…And I, when I came to you, brothers,[a] did not come proclaiming to you the testimony[b] of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.1 Corinthians 1:22-25, 2:1-2If someone can be persuaded into the kingdom by human wisdom, they can also be persuaded out of the kingdom by human wisdom.David GuzikIF JESUS IS ENOUGH, THEN I HAVE TO LAY DOWN MY NEED FOR A SIGN (encounter, feeling, assurance)22 For Jews demand signs…1 Corinthians 1:22 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,[a] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.Matthew 17:5-8IF JEUSUS IS ENOUGH, THEN I HAVE TO LAY DOWN MY NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 1 Corinthians 1:22The poet only asks to get his head into the heavens. It is the logician who seeks to get the heavens into his head. And it is his head that splits.G.K. ChestertonIF JESUS IS ENOUGH, THEN I HAVE TO LAY DOWN MY NEED FOR WORKS27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”John 6:27-29