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During Advent, we remember that when Jesus first came into the world some were ready, but most were not.Who has believed what he has heard from us?[a] And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.He was despised and rejected[b] by men, a man of sorrows[c] and acquainted with[d] grief;[e] and as one from whom men hide their faces[f] he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:1-6FINDING JESUS.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.Romans 1:18-20WE ARE ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO A CALLUSED HEART.The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?Jeremiah 17:9A HARD HEART IS A BLIND HEART.A hard heart is a heart that sees things as they are, not for what they truly are. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.Jeremiah 5:21Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”Matthew 13:1453 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.Matthew 13:53-58Who has believed what he has heard from us?[a] And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.Isaiah 53:1-2This shows that men value physical beauty and charisma far more than God does, and when we don’t see it, we can reject the ones God accepts.David GuzikThis means that when we try to attract people to Jesus through form or comeliness, or beauty, we are using methods that run counter to the nature of Jesus. “These days it appears that we must dress up the gospel to make it attractive. We have to use the methods of technique which must be smart, well-presented, streamlined. There must be something about the presentation of the gospel that will appeal to people…to what is called ‘the modern mind.’ I wonder if we stop to think that in our efforts to make the gospel message ‘attractive’ we are drawing a curtain across the face of Jesus in His humiliation? The only one who can make Him attractive is the Holy Spirit.”Alan RedpathJESUS IS THE DEEPER TRUTH HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT.15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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 1:15-17 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.Romans 1:22-23And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,Ezekiel 11:19WHEN MY HEART IS SOFTENEDWONDER IS RESTOREDWonder: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it

Advent is about taking the time to remember that we are all in waiting. 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,[b] but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.Matthew 24:36-44Prepared In The WaitingAdvent is cheerful waiting, hopeful preparing, and wondrous watching for Jesus to break into our lives in all moments.“In a religious milieu that has fixated itself on using Jesus to provide seekers with their most convenient lives here and now, Advent is a particularly awkward intrusion. Advent links our hearts with those of ancient prophets who pined for a long-promised Messiah but passed long before his arrival.In the process, Advent reminds us that we, too, are waiting.”Timothy Paul Jones38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.Matthew 24:38-39When Jesus entered into the world some were ready, most were not.“For believers no less than nonbelievers, our calendars are dominated not by the venerable [respectful] rhythms of redemption but by the swifter currents of consumerism and efficiency. The microwave saves us from waiting for soup to simmer on the stove, credit cards redeem us from waiting on a paycheck to make purchases, and this backward extension of the Christmas season liberates us from having to deal with the awkward lull of Advent. And so, before the last unpurchased Halloween costume has made it back to the warehouse, halls and malls are decked with plastic holly and crimson ribbon. Thanksgiving provides a pre-Christmas test run on basting turkeys and tolerating relatives—but the primary function of Thanksgiving increasingly seems to be to supply a convenient time to gather for that spectacle of consumption and consumer debt known as Black Friday.”Timothy Paul JonesWhy is waiting important?In God’s world, we waitWe don’t live in our world, we live in God’s world.When we choose to not wait, we choose to be asleep40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:40-42“Advent is a proclamation of the sufficiency of Christ through the discipline of waiting…” 3. When we choose to wait, we are prepared to receive25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, Luke 2:2525 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed GodLuke 2:25-28It was not rumors, but the Spirit who led him into the temple on that day. Simeon was a man who knew how to be led by the Holy Spirit, both in hearing God’s promise to him and being prompted to go to the temple at the right time.David GuzikTherefore it says,“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:14-18Paul contrasts the effect of the Holy Spirit with the state of drunkenness. Alcohol is a depressant; it “loosens” people because it depresses their self-control, their wisdom, their balance and judgment. The Holy Spirit has an exactly opposite effect. He is a stimulant; He moves every aspect of our being to better and more perfect performance.David Guzik

Theology is meant to be lived out; not just learned.DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you…6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-8 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.Hebrews 10:24-25WHEN YOU BECAME A CHRISTIAN, YOU SIGNED UP TO BE A DIE-HARD FAN OF THE CHURCHWhether we like it or not, the moment we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that is, from the time we become a Christian, we are at the same time a member of the Christian church - even if we do not permit our name to be placed on a church roll, even if we refuse to identify ourselves with a particular congregation and share responsibilities with them, even if we absent ourselves from the worship of a congregation. Our membership in the church is a corollary of [connected to] our faith in Christ. We can no more be a Christian and have nothing to do with the church than we can be a person and not be in a family. Membership in the church is a basic spiritual fact for those who confess Christ as Lord. It is not an option for those Christians who happen by nature to be more gregarious than others. It is part of the fabric of redemption.There are Christians, of course, who never put their names down on a membership list; there are Christians who refuse to respond to the call to worship each Sunday; there are Christians who say, “I love God but I hate the church.” But they are members all the same, whether they like it or not, whether they acknowledge it or not. For God never makes private, secret salvation deals with people. His relationships with us are personal, true; intimate, yes; but private, no. We are a family in Christ. When we become Christians, we are among brothers and sisters in faith. No Christian is an only child.Eugene PetersonWHAT IS THE CHURCH?GOD’S FAMILYTherefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,Hebrews 10:9Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.Acts 20:2821 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’Matthew 7:21-235 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c]Matthew 7:21-2348 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”Matthew 12:48-50But understanding that the Church is the FAMILY OF GOD who shares in the same BLOOD should changes the way we walk through the imperfections of our family.Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.2 Corinthians 13:11“Ideals are often so unrealistic and unattainable, that if you demand them, you’ll bounce from one group to the next to the next, one church to the next to the next, one relationship to the next to the next.”John Mark Comer13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.Psalm 92:13-15“By making a vow of stability the monk renounces the vain hope of wandering of to find a ‘perfect monastery [church]’ implies a deep act of faith: the recognition that it does not much matter where we are or whom we live with… All monasteries [churches] are more or less ordinary… its ordinariness is one of its great blessings.”Thomas MertonWHAT MAKES A “GOOD

DOCTRINE OF CHRIST15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 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. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.Colossians 1:15-20Remember, theology is PRACTICAL. “A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. He is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have.” D.L. Moody“The dearest friend on earth is a mere shadow compared to Jesus Christ.”Oswald ChambersTHE PERSON OF CHRISTTHE WORK OF CHRIST THE RESURRECTION OF CHRISTTHE PERSON OF CHRIST. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man in one person, and will be so forever. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him….19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell…Colossians 1:15-16, 19It is by far the most amazing miracle of the entire Bible - far more amazing than the resurrection and more amazing even than the creation of the universe. The fact that the infinite, omnipotent, eternal son of God could become a man and join himself to a human nature forever, so that infinite God became one person with finite man, will remain for eternity the most profound miracle and the most profound mystery in all the universe.Wayne Grudem16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:16-17 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Hebrews 13:8 For in him [Jesus] the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,Colossians 2:9Jesus did not (and could not) become “less God” in the incarnation. No deity was subtracted (though Jesus did renounce some of the privileges of deity); rather humanity was added to His nature.David GuzikNeither the Deity nor the Humanity of Jesus is negotiable. If we diminish either then He is unable to save us.David Guzik15 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.Hebrews 4:15Since Jesus was FULLY HUMAN, Jesus understands what its like to deal with…SufferingEmotionsTemptation15 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.Hebrews 4:155 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.2 Corinthians 10:5-616 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 4:16Since Jesus was FULLY GOD, Jesus has the power to help us in our…SufferingEmotionsTemptationTHE WORK OF CHRIST“Jesus became the object of the intense hatred of sin and vengeance against sin that God had patiently stored up since the beginning of the world.” Wayne GrudemJesus died for our sin, and lived for our righteousness. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRISTAnd if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20

1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”THE DOCTRINE OF MAN“the doctrine of humanity (man) sees the human person as made in God’s image, either man or woman by God’s making, fallen through Adam’s historical sin, formed for vocation (work) unto God, and redeemable in and through the God-man, Jesus Christ.“- Owen Strachan“Humanity is the race made for God; humanity is the race fallen from God; humanity is the race made whole by God in Christ. In God’s plan, everything bends towards Christ.“-Wayne Grudem“the only way we can ever really find out who we are is from God. The best place to find out begins in Genesis.“-David Guzik“Then God said, ’Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.26 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.27” Genesis 1:26-27“…In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.1 He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created.2" Genesis 5:1-2“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.7” Genesis 2:7“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.21 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.22" Genesis 2:21-22#1 Who are we? We are image bearers“Hitherto God has been introduced simply as commanding (“let there be light, and there was light” Genesis 1:3). Now, when he approaches the most excellent of all his works, he enters into consultation… for the purpose of commending to our attention the dignity of our nature. He, in taking counsel concerning creation of man, testifies that he is about to undertake something great and wonderful.“-John CalvinThe Hebrew word for image is Tselem (t-sell-em) and is derived from the words “to carve” or “to cut”.The Hebrew word for likeness is demuth (d-ma-th)“When scripture reports that God said ‘Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness’ it simply would have meant to the original Hebrew readers, ‘let Us make man to be like Us and to represent Us’“-Wayne Grudem“….Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth6- Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.7” Isaiah 43:6-7We bear God’s image in “tri-unity”2. We represent God’s likeness in our authority/dominion“Then God said, ’Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.26. Genesis 1:26“that man was made last of all the creatures, that it might not be suspected that he had been, anyway a helper to God in the creation of the world: that question must be forever humbling and mortifying to him, ‘where wast thou, or any of thy kind, when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ Job 38:4”-Matthew Henry“Man created in God’s image was placed in sovereignty over the earth, crowned with glory and honor, yet subject to God his creator.“- Scofield study Bible3. We bear God’s image in morality“you shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Leviticus 19:2So, who are we? First, we are image bearers because we are triune beings with dominion and a moral character#2 Who are we? We are fallen“1Now 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 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 coverings. 8 And they 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 God among the trees of the garden. 9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.1 PETER 3:14-16The question is not whether or not you’re going to be a theologian, but what kind of theologian you’re going to be.”Michael LawrenceTHE DOCTRINE OF GODWHAT IS THE GOD OF THE BIBLE LIKE?19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things…28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.Romans 1:19-23,28I 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 138:2HOW DO WE KNOW GOD EXISTS?Inner Knowing (inward evidence)21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.Romans 1:21For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8:10"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"Hebrews 10:1614 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them Romans 2:14-15 Moral Argument: argues that there are objectively valid moral values, and therefore, there must be an absolute from which they are derived.If everything wasn’t created ON PURPOSE, then nothing that is created HAS PURPOSE. Ontological Argument: argues that the very concept of God demands that there is an actual existent God.Presuppositional Argument: argues that the basic beliefs of theists and non-theists require God as a necessary pre-condition.HUMANS WERE MADE FOR WORSHIPTo worship is to live for something.“The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.”John Calvin22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things…28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.Romans 1:22-23,28Nature and Scripture (outward evidence)19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made.Romans 1:19-20“We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God… Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, ‘What comes to mind when you think about God?’ Weight predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.”A.W. TozerInstead of glorifying God we transformed our idea of Him into forms and images more comfortable to our corrupt and darkened hearts.David Guzik“Here’s how you know you’ve created God in your own image: he agrees with you on everything…”John Mark Cromer16 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 17:16-21 As 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 Guzik22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I foun

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.1 PETER 3:14-1716 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 THE FUNDAMENTALS / DOCTRINE OF THE WORDThere’s power in the fundamentals.“I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth - the whole church does as well. One day by God’s grace we may have churches full of Christians who can discuss, apply, and live the doctrinal teaching of the Bible as readily as they can discuss the details of their own jobs or hobbies - or the fortunes of their favorite sports team or television program.Wayne Grudem14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…1 PETER 3:14-1515 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…1 PETER 3:14-15“Relationship with God, as with any person, soon requires a contribution from us, which will largely consist of study.”Dallas Willard“[Christian] Mystics without study are only spiritual romantics who want relationship without effort.”Calvin Miller“If you do not listen [study] theology, that will not mean you have no ideas about God, rather it will mean you have a lot of wrong ones.” C.S. LewisWHAT, WHO, WHY, AND HOW OF THEOLOGYTHEO = god or deityOLOGY = a subject of studyTheology: the study of the nature of GodSystematic [biblical] Theology: any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic.Doctrine: what the whole Bible teaches us today about some particular topic.“Practical problems have theological answers. So the question is not whether or not you’re going to be a theologian, but what kind of theologian you’re going to be.”Michael LawrenceUnderstanding theology is apart of the Great CommissionJesus said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”MATTHEW 28:18-20Understanding theology helps us overcome wrong ideas11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[c] and teachers,[d] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.EPHESIANS 4:13“The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still.”A.W. TozerUnderstanding strengthens our relationship with God“I do not believe that God intended the study of theology to be dry and boring. Theology is the study of God and all His works! Theology is meant to be lived, and prayed, and sung! All of the great doctrinal writings of the Bible (such as Paul’s epistle to the Romans) are full of praise to God and personal application to life… theology when studied rightly will lead to growth in our Christian lives, and to worship.” Wayne GrudemPrayerfullyHumbly“Those who study systematic theology will learn many things about the teachings of Scripture that are perhaps not known or not know well by other Christians in their churches or by relatives who are older in the Lord than they are. They may also find that they understand things about Scripture that some of their church officers do not understand, and that even their pastor has perhaps forgotten or never learned well. In all of these situations, it would be very easy to adopt an attitude of pride or superiority toward others who have not made such a study. But how ugly it would be if anyone were to use this knowledge of God’s Word simply to win arguments or to put down a fellow C

9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[b] but on God, who has mercy.ROMANS 9:9-16 UNFAIR?“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree.“For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.ISAIAH 55:8-9 (MSG)MACRO-THEMES IN ROMANS 9-11ISRAEL WHO IS SAVED? (God’s choice, my choice, both, neither?)FAITHISRAELGod chose to bless the whole world through a Jewish family; not a gentile family. Three Kinds of Offspring:Physical (biological) descendants: the JewsPhysical and spiritual descendants: Jews who share a mutual faith in the God of Abraham, Jesus ChristSpiritual descendants: Gentiles (non-Jews) who share a mutual faith in the God of Abraham, Jesus Christ10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”ROMANS 9:10-13“The word ‘hate’ does not bear the same weight as our English translation. Words, like colors, have hues and ranges. Hate may be interchangeable with rejected, did not accept, did not choose, did not prefer, or passed over. God chooses one brother to bring Jesus into the world, but He does not despise the other brother.”Mark Driscoll 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.LUKE 14:26God is chooses certain people for certain outcomes, for certain reasons that we may never know, and that’s okay.“A woman once said to Mr. Spurgeon, ‘I cannot understand why God should say that He hated Esau.’ ‘That,’ Spurgeon replied, ‘is not my difficulty, madam. My trouble is to understand how God could love Jacob.’”NewellIsrael = “God Prevails”9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.John 1:9-13Paul deals with the problem associated with the condition of Israel. What does it mean that Israel has missed its Messiah? What does this say about God? What does it say about Israel? What does it say about our present position in God?The question goes something like this: How can I be secure in God’s love and salvation to me when it seems that Israel was once loved and saved, but now seems to be rejected and cursed? Will God also reject and curse me one day?David GuzikWHO IS SAVED?33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!ROMANS 11:33DO WE CHOOSE GOD, OR DOES GOD CHOOSE US?Universal Damnation: no one chooses God, and God chooses no one. No one is saved, and everyone is damned, like the demons. There is no mercy and non grace - only justice. Universalism: everyone goes to heaven. No one goes to hell, though you might go to purgatory to suffer for a short time. Pelagianism: We are not sinners by nature. We have a free will, and we are good people who can freely choose God. Arminianism: We are sinners by nature and by choice. At some point, God gives everyone a free will opportunity (a moment to choose) that allows them to make a decision toward God. He does this by His prevenient grace.Double Predestination: before time, God decided to damn most and save come. “These people are going to heaven, and those people are going to hell, and there’s nothing any of them can say or do about it.”Single Predestination: Everyone chose hell, and God singularly predestined some of us by overriding our decision with His decision. God doesn’t make anyone go to hell - we make ourselves go to hell. He chooses to save some, though not all. When Charles Spurgeon was once asked if he could reconcile free

In rabbinic tradition, every word of Scripture is considered to have seventy faces and 600,000 meanings! PETE GREIG“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.”13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.”“The venom of asps is under their lips.”14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;16 in their paths are ruin and misery,17 and the way of peace they have not known.”18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”…… For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. ROMANS 3:10-18, 23-25UNLIKELY CONVERT.“It is the chief part of the New Testament and the perfect gospel… the absolute epitome of the gospel.”Martin Luther“The [book of Romans] compendium of Christian doctrine.”Philip Melanchthon“When anyone understands this Epistle, he has a passage opened to him to the understanding of the whole Scripture.”John Calvin“The cathedral of the Christian faith.”Frederick Godet“Romans is beyond question the most dynamic of all New Testament letters even as it was written at the climax of Paul’s apostolic career.” Richard Lenski“The most profound work in existence.”Samuel ColeridgeBecause of all this, Romans is different than many of the other letters Paul wrote churches. Other New Testament letters focus more on the church and its challenges and problems. The Letter to the Romans focuses more on God and His great plan of redemption.David Guzik“God is the most important word in this epistle. Romans is a book about God. No topic is treated with anything like the frequency of God. Everything Paul touches in this letter he relates to God. In our concern to understand what the apostle is saying about righteousness, justification, and the like we ought not to overlook his tremendous concentration on God.”MorrisThe word “God” occurs 153 times in Romans; an average of once every 46 words – this is more frequently than any other New Testament book. In comparison, note the frequency of other words used in Romans: law (72), Christ (65), sin (48), Lord (43), and faith (40). Romans deals with many different themes but as much as a book can be, it is a book about God.The people of Rome were tolerant of most religious expressions. However, that tolerance was largely limited to religions that were polytheistic -- meaning, the Roman authorities didn't care who you worshiped as long as you included the emperor and didn't create problems with other religious systems.Sam O’Neal“It’s easy to hide a good thing when the world violently says that good thing is a bad thing.” 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,[e] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”[f]ROMANS 1:16-17This is why Paul is not ashamed of a gospel centered on a crucified Savior. He knows that the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ – has inherent power. We do not give it power…David Guzik“The gospel is not advice to people, suggesting that they lift themselves. It is power. It lifts them up. Paul does not say that the gospel brings power, but that it is power, and God’s power at that.”MorrisIt’s only hard to walk with boldness when you think that you’re the one that gives the gospels its power.9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him

HOT TAKES: DOUBT AND FAITH DON’T MIX24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”27 Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”JOHN 20:24-27 (MSG)YOU WILL ENCOUNTER DOUBTS.Adam and Eve doubted God’s wisdom and intentions in the garden Moses doubted his calling to lead the Israelites out of slaveryGideon doubted his title by God as a “mighty man of valor”Elijah, AFTER seeing fire fall from heaven, doubted God’s protectionJeremiah doubted that God could use him because of his young ageAbraham and Sarah doubted God could give them a child because of their old age“There is no road to spiritual maturity that does not walk straight through doubt.”JON TYSON“We experience a dryness or loss of joy in our relationship with God. We question ourselves, God, the church. We discover for the first time that our faith does not appear to ‘work.’ We have more questions than answers as the very foundation of our faith feels like it is on the line. We don’t know where God is, what He is doing, where He is going, how He is getting us there, or when this will be over.” PETE SCAZZERO “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It [pain] is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. LEWIS “The reason many of us do not ardently [strongly] believe in the gospel is that we have never given it a rigorous testing, thrown our hard questions at it, faced it with our most prickly doubts.”EUGENE PETERSON 13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. LUKE 23:13-21Doubt: a feeling of uncertainty or lack of convictionDiakrino (doubt): to withdraw from; or (reflexively) hesitant“Doubt isn’t the absence of faith, it’s just misplaced faith.” J.A. WilsonYes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.LUKE 23:21-35“In fewer than twenty verses, the Lord communicates in at least five different ways: conversationally “as they talked and discussed these things with each other”; exegetically when he explained “all the Scriptures concerning himself”

Hot-take: a statement that's provocative enough that people can't help but weigh in with their thoughts.2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. 3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him… 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.ROMANS 14:1-3HOT TAKE: TITHING. DO I HAVE TO GIVE IT?30 “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. 32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord. 33 One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”LEVITICUS 27:30-3342 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.ACTS 2:42-4717 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.MARK 10:17 -22JESUS REVEALS “BARE-MINIMUM” DISCIPLESHIPJesus was filled with loving compassion for this man because his life was so empty. He had climbed to the top of the ladder of success, only to find his ladder leaned against the wrong building.David GuzikJESUS REVEALS THE TENSION OF MONEY23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” MARK 10:24We often excuse ourselves from what Jesus said here because we don’t consider ourselves rich. Yet compared to this rich young ruler, each one of us enjoys more luxuries and comforts than he did. Riches present a difficulty because they tend to make us satisfied with this life instead of longing for the age to come. It is also true that riches must often be acquired at the expense of acquiring God.David GuzikFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.MATTHEW 6:21WHAT IS THE TITHE?IT’S 10%IT’S FIRST-FRUITSNow Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And [c]in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. GENESIS 4:2-54 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.HEBREWS 11:4WHAT WAS THE TITHE FOR?SUPPORTING LEVITICAL PRIESTS (O.T.), SUPPORTING THE LOCAL CHURCH. (N.T.)PHYSICAL SACRIFICE FOR A SPIRITUAL REALITYFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.MATTHEW 6:21“The discipline of sacrifice is one in which we forsake the security of meeting our needs with what is in our hands. It is total abandonment to God, a stepping into the darkened abyss in the faith and hope that God will bear us up. Dallas WillardMYTH.01: TITHING WILL MAKE YOU RICHHonor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.PROVERBS 3:9-10MYTH.02: TITHING IS FROM THE LAW, WE DON’T LIVE UNDER THE LAW ANYMORETITHING IS NOT A COMMAND, BUT IT SHOULD BE A NATURAL RESPONSE.8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amou

JESUS’ ARRIVAL IS THE REDEMPTIVE TURNING POINT IN ALL OF HISTORY.Among those who seem to know nothing of the Bible, this is the verse that seems to be most popular. Yet most the people who quote this verse don’t understand what Jesus said. They seem to think (or hope) that Jesus commanded a universal acceptance of any lifestyle or teaching. Just a little later in this same sermon (Matthew 7:15-16), Jesus commanded us to know ourselves and others by the fruit of their life, and some sort of assessment is necessary for that. The Christian is called to show unconditional love, but the Christian is not called to unconditional approval. We really can love people who do things that should not be approved of.DAVID GUZIKChristianity has been the driving force behind some of the major events of world history including the Christianization of Western and Central Europe and Latin America, the spreading of literacy and the foundation of the universities, hospitals, the development of art and music, literature, architecture, contributions to the scientific method, just war theory and trial by jury.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"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"JOHN 14:6Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.JOHN 6:35For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”JOHN 6:40If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said; if He didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what He said?TIM KELLER3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[b] of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.GALATIANS 4:3-6Pleroma: that which has been filled; a ship inasmuch as it is filled (i.e. manned) with sailors, rowers, and soldiersTHE FINE TUNE ARGUMENTWHAT MAKES JESUS’ ARRIVAL THE FULLNESS OF TIME?FAILURE OF LEADERS, KINGS, AND FALSE IDOLS (rock-bottom)Israel could not produce its own Savior. Instead, Jesus is born of Mary as the result of God’s gracious intervention into Israel’s history through the creative action of the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time God provided what human history by itself could not.DAVID HOLWERDAI can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.PSALM 139HUNGER AND ANTICIPATION (truth-seeking)PROPHECY (God’s word doesn’t return void)24 “Seventy weeks[c] are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.[d] 25 Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again[e] with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.DANIEL 9:24-26A century ago in his book The Coming Prince, Sir Robert Anderson gave detailed calculations of the sixty-nine weeks, using ‘prophetic years,’ allowing for leap years, errors in the calendar, the change from B.C. to A.D., etc., and figured that the sixty-nine weeks ended on the very day of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, five days before His death. Whether one uses this timetable or not, the point is that the timing of Christ’s incarnation ties in with this detailed prophecy recorded by Daniel over five hundred years beforehand.GOT QUESTIONSROMAN RULE (coincidence or fine-tuning?)Hellenization: “greekifying” of the whole world“It was a time when the pax Romana extended over most of the civilized earth and when travel and commerce were therefore possible in a way that had formerly been impossible. Great roads linked the empire of the Caesars, and its diverse regions were linked far more significantly by the all-pervasive language of the Greeks. Add the fact that the world was sunk in a moral abyss so low that even the pagan cried out against it and that spiritual hunger was everywhere evident, and one has a perfect time for the coming of Christ and for the early expansion of the Christian gospel.”BOICE28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[h] for those who are called according to his purpose. ROMANS 8:28JESUS’ ARRIVAL BE

31-32 “That’s right. The time is coming when I will make a brand-new covenant with Israel and Judah. It won’t be a repeat of the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant even though I did my part as their Master.” God’s Decree.33-34 “This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They’ll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I’ll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I’ll forget they ever sinned!” God’s Decree.JEREMIAH 31:31-34I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring[e] and her offspring;he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”GENESIS 3:15Proto-evangelium: first gospel; pre-gospel“The heel is the part within the serpent’s reach. Jesus, in taking on humanity, brought Himself near to Satan’s domain so Satan could strike Him. That bruised heel is painful enough. Behold our Lord in his human nature sore bruised: he was betrayed, bound, accused, buffeted, scourged, spit upon. He was nailed to the cross; he hung there in thirst and fever, and darkness and desertion. This is the first gospel sermon that was ever delivered upon the surface of this earth. It was a memorable discourse indeed, with Jehovah himself for the preacher, and the whole human race and the prince of darkness for the audience.”CHARLES SPURGEONMAJOR PROPHETS: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. MINOR PROPHETS: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. (The Twelve)THEMES OF PROPHETIC LITERATUREProphetsProphet: a spokesperson on God’s behalf“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.”AMOS 3:7But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;1 CORINTHIANS 1:27God uses the minority to help steer the majority.Although Israel had many kings, they were not the ultimate authority in Israel. Rather, God’s covenant word was the real authority. This is why God raised up the prophetic office to counterbalance the office of kingship. For every king, there was an opposing prophet or group of prophets ready to stick the covenant back in the king’s face and call him to accountability to God’s word.THE BIBLE PROJECTPast, Present, and FutureThey are prophets who speak what the people want to hear so that they can make a handsome living, not true prophets who suffer for speaking the truth (Jer. 32:1–5). Ezekiel 13:8–16 probably has in view the lying prophets who gave false comfort to King Zedekiah just prior to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC (Jer. 28). He compares them to those who whitewash a wall to mask its flaws. The people were supposed to build a sound house of truth and love for the Lord, but their sin was actually building a weak and compromised nation. Instead of alerting the people to this, the prophets preferred to ignore the people's sin, telling them everything was just fine and papering over the unsound structure that the nation had built.LIGONIER“Will I be a person who only receives the word from God that I WANT, or will I be a person who receives whatever God says; even the things I don’t want to hear?”3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’JEREMIAH 7:3-4We today don’t say, “The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD” as they did in Jeremiah’s day. Today some say, “I go to church, I go to church, I go to church”; or “I’m a conservative, I’m a conservative, I’m a conservative”; or “I’m Calvary Chapel, I’m Calvary Chapel, I’m Calvary Chapel.” None of these things make one right with God apart from true faith and true repentance.DAVID GUZIK 3 “For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. 4 You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, 8 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, 9 behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. 10 Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bri

This week, Annie Stuemky closes out our series, "Not My Own" with a message on time being out of our control and the power of waiting on the Lord!

GLORY: Not My Own3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.PHILIPPIANS 2:3-1122 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.JOHN 17:22-23 Khabod: weightiness and worth“All glory comes from God because God is the most meaning, weighty, important, majestic, and valuable person in the universe. God is glorious!”GOD’S GLORYWho is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?EXODUS 15:11Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.1 CHRONICLES 29:11The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.PSALM 19:1The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.PSALM 97:1-6Glory doesn’t require recognition. God is glorified whether you honor him or not.JON TYSONGLORY DOESN’T REQUIRE PROOF“Our culture encourages and rewards ambition without qualification. We are surrounded by a way of life in which betterment is understood as expansion, as acquisition, as fame. Everyone wants to get more. To be on top, no matter what it is the top of, is admired. There is nothing recent about this temptation. It is the oldest sin in the book, the one that got Adam thrown out of the garden and Lucifer tossed out of heaven.”EUGUENE PETERSONTHREE GLORY TESTS (temptations)GLORY COMES FROM WHAT I DO (performance)3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”MATTHEW 4:32. GLORY COMES FROM WHAT I HAVE (possessions)8 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.” MATTHEW 4:8-93. GLORY COMES FROM WHAT OTHERS THINK (popularity) 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and 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 will command his angels concerning you,’and“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”MATTHEW 4:5-6“I suddenly realized that for the entire ten-minute period from when I had first seen my acquaintance until that very moment, I had been totally self-preoccupied. For the first two minutes before we met all I was thinking about was the clever things I might say that would impress him. During our five minutes together I was listening to what he had to say only so that I might turn it into a clever rejoinder. I watch him only so that I might see what effect my remarks were having upon him. And for the two or three minutes after we separated my sole thought content was those things I could have said that might have impressed him even more. I had not cared a whit for my classmate…”M. SCOTT PECK“Almost all problems in the spiritual life stem from a lack of self-knowledge.” ST. TERESA OF AVILA“True freedom comes when we no longer need to be somebody special in other people’s eyes because we know we are lovable and good enough.” PETER SCAZERRO22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.JOHN 17:22-23GLORY LOOKS LIKE CONFIDENT HUMILITY“Having realized the dangers of pride, the sin of thinking too much of ourselves, we are suddenly in danger of ano

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.ROMANS 12:1-215 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.HEBREWS 13:15-16 BODIES: Not My OwnLove starts when we stop trying to fit people into OUR preferences…WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM US? Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.ROMANS 12:1-2“THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF GOD’S MERCY…” “Whereas the heathen are prone to sacrifice in order to obtain mercy, biblical faith teaches that the divine mercy provides the basis of sacrifice as the fitting response.” HARRISONGOD WANTS EVERYTHING.It is best to see the body here as a reference to our entire being. Whatever we say about our spirit, soul, flesh, and mind, we know that they each live in our bodies. When we give the body to God, the soul and spirit go with it. Present your bodies means that God wants you, not just your work. You may do all kinds of work for God, but never give Him your self.David GuzikGOD WANTS YOU. EVERY SINGLE PART OF YOU.SPIRITUAL VS. NATURAL“It is so easy to compartmentalize God, regulating him to “Christian activities” around church and our spiritual disciplines without thinking of Him in the way we navigate our marriages, discipline our children, spend our money, enjoy our recreation, or even study for exams.”Peter Scazzero And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction[a] all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”1 Samuel 15:1-37 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves[b] and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.1 Samuel 15:7-819 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”1 Samuel 15:7-8WORSHIP GOD IN EVERYTHING19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 PETER 2:521 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!PSALM 141:1-2EVERY HEART, A CHURCH. EVERY PERSON, A PRIEST. EVERY PLACE, AN ENCOUNTER.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.JAMES 1:17 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-2014 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of HIS glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through HIS Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.EPHESIANS 3:14-19Individualistic: favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.Entitled: believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.Fundamentally, individualism is a belief that the individual is an end in themself. Consequently, individuals are obligated to realize and find the self and cultivate their own judgment, regardless of social pressure encouraging conformity.Simply PsychologyTHE EFFECTS OF A “ME” MENTALITYSelf-Concept 2. Relationships 3. Conformity 4. Mental HealthyThose from individualistic cultures have smaller and less satisfying support networks, less skill in managing both self and others’ emotions, lower intentions to seek help from family and friends for personal and suicidal problems, and higher levels of hopelessness and suicide ideation than those from collectivist cultures (Scott 2004). For both societies and individuals, individualistic cultures and cultures that are becoming more individualistic have seen rates of mental illness and suicide climb (Eskin et. al. 2020).Simply PsychologyWE SEE GOD AS SMALLER THAN HE REALLY IS AND WE SEE OURSELVES AS BIGGER THAN WE ACTUALLY ARE. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.MATTHEW 10:39For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.MATTHEW 16:25For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?MATTHEW 16:26 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19b-20aRIGHTEOUSNESS“Spiritual disciples are not about doing the right things in order to gain approval from God. They are about order our life in a way that reflects already being approved by God.”and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”MATTHEW 3:1723 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.[g] 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[h] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant[i] fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii,[j] and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[k] until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”MATTHEW 18:23-35 THERE’S AN UN-PAYABLE DEBTTOTAL DEPRAVITY. In short, the reality of total depravity leaves no possibility of salvation by our own efforts. It points to our dire condition from the fall and the sovereign work of God in rescuing us. Only the Holy Spirit can change us and transform us into the image of Christ, w

This week, Maddy Brown closes out our 2023 vision series with an amazing message about living a life of sacrificial mission with boldness.

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”Boldness is given to those resisting the status quo.Get Desperate (*title of message)Holy desperation is extraordinary behavior (boldness) prompted from extraordinary needMark 5:25-34 NKJV (I’m gonna read it all..so if you wanna type it up so they can follow along…)“According to the Jewish ideas of the time, if this woman touched anyone, she made him or her ceremonially unclean. This uncleanness did not allow them to take part in any aspect of Israel’s worship.“- David Guzik“By the very law of her people, she was divorced from her husband, and could not live in her home; she was ostracized from all society, and must not come into contact with her old friends; she was excommunicated from the service of the synagogue, and thus shut out from the women’s courts in the temple.“-Morgan“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”1) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDNESS BECAUSE OF CONVINCED FAITH2) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDNESS THROUGH DELIBERATE DECISIONS“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”“And Jesus immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, ’Who touched My clothes?’”3) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO A BOLDNESS THAT GETS THE ATTENTION OF GOD“Augustine long ago said of this story, ’Flesh presses, Faith touches. ’He can always distinguish between the jostle of the curious mob and the organized touch of a needy soul.“-Morgan“But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.”4) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDLY CLAIMING WHAT’S YOURS IN CHIRSTIsaiah 6:1 “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.”“Every devout Jew wore an outer robe…to signify to others, and to remind themselves that the wearer was a member of the chosen people of God.“-Barclay“And He said to her, ’Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”5) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO BOLDLY BEING IDENTIFIED AS CHILDREN OF GOD6) HOLY DESPERATION LEADS TO A BOLDNESS PLATFORMLuke 8:47 it says “now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she touched Him and how she was healed immediately.”Mark 6:56 “Wherever He (Jesus) entered into the villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the market places, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.Acts 4:29-3131 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 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.Acts 4:31-33HONORING OTHERS WITH BOLDNESS.32 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.Acts 4:31-32 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.Acts 1:1444 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Acts 2:44-47UNITY IS GOD’S WILL35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”John 13:35The church is not a religious community of worshippers of Christ but is Christ himself who has taken form among people.Dietrich BonhoefferIf the church is the body (of Christ) we dare not cannibalize ourselves. When we devour each other (through gossip, slander, condemnation, etc) we sink our sharp teeth into the flesh of Christ—not in Eucharistic (communion) worship, but in fleshly fallenness.Rich Villodas“My prayer is not for them (the disciples) alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”John 17:20-23We pray, “Oh God, send thy Holy Spirit upon us so we’ll be united.” We might just as well repeat “Three Blind Mice.” God does not hear that kind of prayer because it has no sense in it. The Holy Ghost did not come upon the disciples to unite them. The Holy Spirit came upon the disciples because they were already united, “being of one accord and in one place.” Scholars tell us that “being of one accord” is a musical term, meaning harmony. The early Christians already were one. They were in harmony with each other when they were together in one place.A.W. Tozer21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[e] of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.Matthew 5:21-24 UNITY IS BORN FROM HONOR10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.Romans 6:1-6What is honor? Honor: the recognition of the value, contribution, and importance of others.“No Christian should approach another Christian directly; they should be mediated by Christ.”Dietrich BonhoefferAvoid GossipSee Jesus in Others Speak directly to each other “Don’t tell me unless you plan on telling them.”Assume the Best Remember Who’s Team We’re On Don’t Try To Be Right, Try To UnderstandUNITY IS NOT ALL OF US BEING THE SAME17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many p

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.ACTS 4:5-31 DO IT SCARED.Boldness (parresia): freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech. Free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, assuranceBOLDNESS IS INHERITED, NOT INHERENT13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.ACTS 4:13By all outward measures, Christianity – the movement of the followers of Jesus – was very weak at this early point.They were few in number.They were inexperienced in leadership.They were commanded to not fight back; they were not militant.They were opposed by institutions that had existed for hundreds of years.DAVID GUZIK13 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 4:13“Unlearned and ignorant” - that is, these men hadn’t been to a theological seminary. But the Sanhedrin noted that they had been with Jesus. How wonderful to have a life that somehow or other calls attention to Jesus.J. Vernon McGee“Let me ask you, how many atheists are now in this house? Perhaps not a single one of you would accept the title, and yet, if you live from Monday morning to Saturday night in the same way as you would live if there were no God, you are a practical atheist.”Charles Spurgeon“The chief duty of the Christian is to make their hearts glad in the Lord.”George MullerI have seen YouI've beheld Your gloryAnd I am ruinedFor there is none to compareJeremy Riddle (Psalm 63)BOLDNESS IS GIVEN TO THOSE RESISTING THE STATUS QUO, NOT TO THOSE IN ITStatus Quo: the existing state of affairs8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel, and the children of Israel went out with boldness. Exodus 14:8The idea behind the Hebrew words with boldness (ruwn yad) includes the idea of rebellion against authority. The rebellious nature of Israel was good when it was against Pharaoh and all it stood for; it was bad when it was against the LORD, Moses, and all they stood for. The trouble with most rebels is that they rebel against the wrong things.David Guzik“It made me a little envious at that moment. And since then, that I didn’t have that foundation as an atheist, or some sort of higher purpose or something. Cause in the face of that inexplicable tragedy I’m kind of flailing.” Nick WrightBOLDNESS CHANGES THE WORLD“Make ten men feel like a hundred.”Cassian Andor

LUKE 15:11-32THE GIFT OF ROCK BOTTOM21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator,ROMANS 1:21,24-25Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.JAMES 1:15THE GIFT OF UNEARNED GRACE31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. LUKE 15:31THE GIFT OF A FATHER63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes.90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes. 71% of high school dropouts come from fatherless homes85% of all youths in prison come from fatherless homesIf a child is the first person in the family to accept Christ and join the church, the rest of the family will do the same only 3.5% of the time. If the mother is the first, that percentage goes to 17%. But if the father is the first to accept Christ and join the church, the rest of his family will follow 93% of the time.For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.JOHN 3:16-17HE LOVES 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.EPHESIANS 3:18-19For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,HE GIVESFor God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.JOHN 3:16-17HE RESTORES 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.JOHN 1:9-13

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[c] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[d] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-18Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our[a] hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-318 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.2 CORINTHIANS 3:181. YEAR OF THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE2. YEAR OF FIRSTS3. YEAR OF FILLING UP4. YEAR OF POURING OUT18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[e] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[f] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.2 CORINTHIANS 3:18

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.GALATIANS 5:113 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” GALATIANS 5:13-1424 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.GALATIANS 5:24-26 Egkrateia was widely praised by the Greeks long before the time of Paul. In fact, Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates considered it[self-control] to be the foundational human virtue. Xenophon, a follower of Socrates, summarized well his teachers’ views on the subject: Shall not every man hold self-control [egkrateia] to be the foundation of all virtue, and first lay this foundation firmly in his soul? For who without this can learn any good or practice it worthily?Philip KennesonBad news: self-control is hard.Good news: the opposite of self-control is not an out-of-control person, it’s out-of-control appetites. Appetites: a natural desire to satisfy a bodily need; a strong desire or liking for something“PEOPLE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THEIR APPETITES” - The WorldTHE WORLD’S VIEW OF APPETITEYOU ARE WHAT YOU DESIRE (IDENTITY)2. YOU WILL NEVER BE TRULY HAPPY UNTIL YOU SATISFY THAT DESIRE But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.2 Timothy 3:1-3Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.1 John 2:15-17 11 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.Ecclesiastes 3:11"The human heart has an eternal desire that will NEVER be met and satisfied with temporal things; it can only be met by a relationship with an eternal God.”“SEEKING TO FULFILL OUR OWN DESIRES OFTEN LEADS TO SLAVERY TO THEM.”Jon TysonOur physical, emotional, and spiritual appetites that we ALL HAVE will never be fully satisfied until we jump head-first into a relationship with God.Self-Control: sacrificial stewardship of yourself for the sake of othersThen Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and 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 will command his angels concerning you,’and“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 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 4:1-11WHAT KIND OF PERSON NEEDS SELF-CONTROL?EVERY KIND OF PERSON.We should consider the circumstances that preceded the temptation of Jesus: He was in an especially devout frame of mind before His temptation.1. He was engaged in an act of public obedience to His Father’s will before His temptation.2. He was in an exceedingly humble frame of mind before His temptation.3. He was blessed by a heavenly assurance of His Sonship before His temptation.4. He was filled with the Holy Spirit before His temptation.5. He was completely separated from the world before His temptation.Self-control is not something we grow out of; it’s something we grow into.B: BOREDH: HUNGRY A: ANGRY L: LONELYT: TIRED2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the t

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.GALATIANS 6:1It is fitting that love be the first mentioned because it [love] encompasses all of the following. It may even be said that the following eight terms are just describing what love in action looks like. DAVID GUZIKBrothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him…GALATIANS 6:1Our mission is to RESTORE.Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.GALATIANS 6:1Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.LUKE 9:1-251 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up[j]?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.LUKE 9:1-2Their offense – even on behalf of Jesus – was not appreciated.DAVID GUZIKRoughness: power that is out of control; caused by the inability to see something/someone as valuable or fragile.REASONS FOR ROUGHNESS1.) MISUNDERSTANDING JESUS51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.LUKE 9:51For the Lord GOD will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. ISAIAH 50:7Jesus hardened His face; not in the sense of becoming a hard or angry man, but in the sense of having focus, and having focus through a difficult time. They saw the flint-face of Jesus and thought it meant mean or tough. They didn’t understand that it meant focus and being more focused on love than ever before. That flint-like face will end up on the cross in the ultimate demonstration of love, not the ultimate demonstration of anger.DAVID GUZIKGod's seriousness against sin is not from a place of ROUGHNESS or anger; it's from a place of DEEP LOVE for the sinner to be made RIGHT.2.) MISUNDERSTANDING WORTHAre not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.MATTHEW 10:39-31For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.PSALM 139:13-16 Gentleness: power under controlGENTLENESS SOFTENS MY WORDSEvil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly.PROVERBS 11:9“Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”PROVERBS 11:9“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”PROVERBS 18:21“A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”PROVERBS 18:4GENTLENESS ISN’T SURPRISED WHEN PEOPLE MISS THE MARK AND HELPS THEM GET BACK UP

11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. 12 Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten [e]minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us.’15 “And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’20 “Then another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. 21 For I feared you, because you are [f]an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 And he said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’24 “And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to him who has ten minas.’ 25 (But they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas.’) 26 ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.LUKE 19:11-26vs11 "because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately "vs12 "a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return"vs13 " so he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them 'do business till I come.' "vs14 "but his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him saying: ' we will not have this man reign over us'"en ho: "in which"; to do something in which it is consistent with it; becausevs15 "and so it was when he returned having received the kingdom...he called the servants to him..."16 Then came the first, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ Faithfulness: steadfast in affection or allegiance. Firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.Steadfast: firmly fixed. Not subject to change. To be firm in belief and determinationCompromise: accept standards that are lower than desirable. A concession1. Compromise happens when you have a distorted view2. Compromise occurs when promise is questioned3. Compromise occurs through redefining4. Compromise occurs through impatience5. Compromise costs. Faithfulness fulfillsLamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."Hebrews 10:36 "for you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. For yet in a little while, he who is coming will come and not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith, but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition(sin) but of those who believe to the saving of the soul."

He [Jesus] wants fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. In His parable of the sower, He spoke of seed bringing forth thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. He wants us to bear much fruit. Now the fruit is produced by the Lord Jesus using the Spirit of God in our lives. He wants to live His life through us. That is the reason I keep saying that you are never asked to live The Christian life. You are asked to LET HIM live through you. No believer can live the Christian life himself. The old nature cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit.J. VERNON McGEETHE WAY OF GOODNESS VS. THE WAY OF BROKENNESSAnd you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.EPHESIANS 2:2-10Goodness (agathōsynē): uprightness of heart and life; morally honorable, and pleasing to God; beneficial to other people10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.EPHESIANS 2:1038God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.ACTS 10:38The Lord is good,a refuge in times of trouble.He cares for those who trust in him.NAHUM 1:7 Trust in the Lord and do good;dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.PSALM 37:3Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.ROMANS 12:21“We are told to prove the goodness of God, cleave to it, do it, work it, follow after it, be zealous about it, imitate it, and overcome evil with it.”“It is quite striking that virtually all of the basic words describing salvation in the Bible imply a return to an originally good state or situation.”AL WOLTERS“The notion of good cannot be separated from the idea of the object’s purpose.” 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.GENESIS 1:31THE OPPOSITE OF GOOD IS NOT BAD. THE OPPOSITE OF GOOD IS BROKEN.The Fall broke every single part of our humanity; SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY.Brokenness: having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or working order.WHAT DOES BROKENNESS LOOK LIKE?1. A BROKEN SPIRIT4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace, you have been savedEPHESIANS 2:4-52. A BROKEN SOUL10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.EPHESIANS 2:10A BROKEN SOUL TRIES TO BE IN CONTROL4-5 The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.GENESIS 3:4-6A BROKEN SOUL TRIES TO HIDEA BROKEN SOUL TRIES TO DEFLECT“God cannot change who you are pretending to be.” - Jon TysonWHAT DOES GOODNESS LOOK LIKE?Goodness is restoring broken things back to God’s good design.GOODNESS LOOKS LIKE HELPING PEOPLE KNOW GOD.“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”EDMUND BURKEGOODNESS LOOKS LIKE PRACTICING THE WAY OF JESUS.GOODNESS LOOKS LIKE SERVING, GIVING, AND PRAYING FOR HEALING OVER PEOPLE.

19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.JAMES 1:19-21 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.LUKE 6:32-36“A new study finds nearly one in two people believe they’re the best person they know.”COMPARED TO WHAT?32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. LUKE 6:32-34NATURAL KINDNESS IS EARNED NICENESS32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.LUKE 6:32-33Harshness: the quality of being unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses; the quality of being cruel or severe.IF WE SEE KINDNESS AS SOMETHING TO BE EARNED, THEN WE WILL VIEW HARSHNESS AS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DESERVEDNow the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil[a] has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.JONAH 1:1-3A pyramid of heads I reared in front of his city. Their youths and maidens I burnt up in flames. KING SHALMANESER II I pierced his chin with my keen hand dagger. Through his jaw I passed a rope, put a dog chain upon him and made him occupy a kennel. KING ASHURBANIPALHe [Jonah] goes around the city preaching a one-sentence message: “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” That’s it. No three-point sermon. No cute story about his kids. No altar call. One sentence: Yahweh is going to kill all of you.JOHN MARK COMER1. HARSHNESS CAN BE JUSTIFIED10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.JONAH 3:10But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,[a] and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city.JONAH 4:1-52. HARSHNESS ISOLATES US3. HARSHNESS IS FORGETFUL10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”JONAH 4:10-11Most of us want mercy for ourselves - and justice for everybody else. But it doesn’t work like that. God shows mercy to all.JOHN MARK COMERGOD’S STANDARD OF KINDNESS IS DIFFERENTKindness: compassionate, others-centered generosity. The writers of scripture defined kindness as the virtue of the person whose neighbor’s good is as dear as his own.MAXIE DUNNAM34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.LUKE 6:32-361. KINDNESS STARTS WITH GOD AND LOOKS LIKE GOD.2. KINDNESS RECOGNIZES THE REAL ENEMY 12 For we do not