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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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