Galatians 5:19-21 NIV

The story of the human race is not just one of universal disappointment but one of inextinguishable hope. (John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted).

Galatians 5:22-23a NIV

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

John 14:12 NIV

Dangers That Inhibit Growth:

• Assume it is impossible
• Spiritual ‘trying’

Life as an Apprentice:

• Presumes transformation is needed
• Jesus believes in us
• Time with Jesus
• Practices to promote growth

John 20:19-23 NIV

Jesus is present

• He speaks peace
• He shows His wounds
• He calls us to His mission
• Empowers us through the Holy Spirit
• Authorizes us to do His work

John 18:36 NIV

Psalm 139:1-6 NIV

Romans 5:8 NIV

Escapes from becoming king

Divine knowledge

Approaches by walking

“It is I"

Greater Realities

        God above all

        Desire for influential relationship

Invited to...

        Surrender

       Give attention

        Transformation

John 20:30-31 NIV

John 6:35 NIV

Philippians 4:19 NIV

John 10:10 NIV

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Psalm 23:1 NIV

Passover Feast was near

Gave thanks and distributed

12 baskets of bread leftover

Greater Realities

         God’s Provision

          God’s abundance

Invited to...

        Open-handed Preparation

        Sustainable life in his presence

John 1:14 NIV

Revealed His Glory

        Glory seeks relationship

        Glory is the hope for renewal

Our involvement

        Jesus was invited

        Courageous obedience

Are we paying attention?

1.) A guiding assumption: God is already up to something good in your life, in your community, and in the world…

A simple definition... Mentoring is a companionship in which two or more persons intentionally come together to pay attention to God’s activity in their lives.

Who noticed you?

2.) We have a tremendous need to be seen and recognized.

Jesus’ relational way with others

3.) Jesus is “a first-class noticer” of others. (Mark 5: 24-34, Luke 19: 1-19; 24:13-35)

Who are you walking with?

4.) There is no shortcut or substitute for life-upon-life when it comes to learning to follow Jesus…

Quote by Keri Wyatt Kent: If we are led by the Spirit, we will increasingly imitate God and become people who are filled with “coming-alongside-ness.” That is, we listen to God and people and then come into their story, get involved with them enough that we can point out where God is in their story and allow them to do that for us as well. When we are full of coming-alongside-ness, we will be willing to walk with people through their pain; we will listen before we try to fix. We will be with people.

How to become a mentor?: amentoringway.org

Psalm 51:10 NIV

1 John 1:9 NIV

An Overview

Why did the flood happen?

• Avalanche of sin

What happened in the flood?

• Removal of protective barrier

What are we to make of this?

• Trust in the Covenant of God
• Consider the trajectory of your life
• Pray with confidence

Romans 4:7 NIV

Genesis 4:4b-7 NIV

Mark 10:43-45 NIV

Grace Outruns the Avalanche of Sin

• Relationship with God
• Adam/Eve hide from God
• Relationship with One Another
• Power replaces servanthood
• Glimpses of Grace
• God covers shame
• God contends for our soul

Invitation to respond

• Come out of hiding (confession)
• Offer hospitality

• Strategy of the enemy
  • Isolation
  • Operate in Disguise
  • Twist God’s Words
  • True Agenda: distrust the goodness of God
• Invitation to Respond
  • Make Community a Habit
  • Make Praise a Habit

Harmony in life hinges on one command…

• Not unfair or unreasonable
• God determines the rules
• Command is for our good
• Reveals human dignity
• Prohibition is not knowledge

The command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would then mean that Adam and Eve were not to aspire to that maturity possessed only by God, whereby they might consider themselves to be independent of him and able enjoy a fulfilled life by taking matters into their own hands and making their own decisions for their future welfare. - Daniel Fuller

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,

My memory, my understanding

And my entire will,

All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace.

That is enough for me.

Amen.

(St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Image-Bearer of the Creator

       Represent the Creator to the world

       Reflect the Creator’s nature

       Relational beings

Suggestions of Response

        Receive the dignity of being an image-bearer

        Marvel at the dignity of others

        Step into community

Creator Creates Creation

        Out of nothing

         By speaking

         In a Divine way

         Creation is good

What are we to do?

         Pay attention to beauty

         Pray expecting God’s ability to create out of nothing

Romans 5:8 NIV

• Love of God … 
  • … sees clearly
  • … intervenes
  • … is complete
  • … honors freedom
  • … becomes alive in us

Galatians 5:22-23a NIV

Psalm 16:11 NIV

Psalm 51:12 NIV

Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

1 Chronicles 16:27 NIV

Psalm 23:4 NIV

Ecclesiastes 7:16 NIV

Zechariah 8:5 NIV

Joy is a pervasive sense of well-being

Joy is connected to the Presence of God

We are to pursue Joy

Don’t take yourself too seriously

Play

Create

A trusting relationship with God

John 8:12 NIV

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 NIV

Way of HOPE

• Wonderful Counselor
• Mighty God
• Everlasting Father
• Prince of Peace

Hebrews 10:23 NIV

Hebrews 10:18-24 NIV

Philippians 1:6 NIV

The Way of Hope

• We are cleansed
• God is faithful
• Hope is contagious

Proverbs 11:25 NIV

Importance of Generosity

     Time

      Abilities

      Resources

Choose gratitude before difficult situations

Philippians 1:3-8 NIV

Philippians 1:12-14 NIV

Philippians 3:13-14, 20-21 NIV

It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful…

• Grateful for people
• Grateful for circumstances
• Captivated by the love of God

Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

Romans 12:10 NIV

Colossians 3:2-4 NIV

Gratitude Blockers

• Envy
• Greed
• Entitlement

"To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.  Every breath we draw is a gift of his love.  Every moment of our existence is a gift of his grace.  Gratitude takes nothing for granted.  It is never unresponsive.  The grateful person knows that God is good not by hearsay, but by personal experience.”  - Thomas Merton

Discipline of Contentment

• Begin with praise
• Be with others
• Live with eternity in mind

Psalm 103:1-22 NIV

• Praise rightly honors God
• Praise holds onto hope
• Praise reminds us of God’s work

Matthew 5:16 NIV

Zechariah 4:6 NIV

Galatians 5:6 NIV

Invitation to…

• A trusting relationship
• Do good works
• Be empowered by the Holy Spirit

How have you loved yourself, others or God that requires you to trust God more?

Haggai 1:13 NIV

John 20:21 NIV

Matthew 10:16 NIV
 

Why: To restore and reconcile a broken and lost creation to the creator

How: Wise and Innocent

What: Depends on your context

John 15:16 NIV

Romans 8:38-39 NIV

Haggai 2:9 NIV

Chosen

Beloved

To live from not for

Haggai 1: 2-7 NIV

Matthew 6:31-33 NIV

4 Main Motivators

      Fame

      Wealth

      Pleasure

      Control

3 Intentional Reminders

     Identity

     Mission

     Calling

Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

Matthew 7:0-11 NIV

Matthew 21:22 NIV

James 5:15 NIV

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Philippians 4:6 NIV
 

Quotes:

Petitionary prayer should always remain the primary mode of prayer because we never can outgrow our dependence on God. Just as we long for our own children to share with us the petty details of their day at school, so God longs to hear from us the smallest matters of our lives. It delights him when we share. - Richard Foster, Prayer

Love loves to be told what it knows already. It wants to be asked what it longs to give. - PT Forsyth, Soul of Prayer

Then there are times when our prayers are simply self-contradictory, a “grant me patience” quickly kind of prayer. And finally sometimes our prayers if answered would do us in. We simply are not yet prepared for what we have asked. It is God’s grace that prevent our prayers from being answered. God withholds his gifts from us for our good. Studies have found that the act of forgiveness can reap huge rewards for your health, lowering the risk of heart attack, improving cholesterol levels and sleep, and reducing pain, blood pressure, and levels of anxiety, depression and stress, and research points to an increase in the forgiveness-health connection as you age. “There is an enormous physical burden to being hurt and disappointed,” Chronic anger puts you into a fight-or-flight mode, which results in numerous changes in heart rate, blood pressure and immune response. Those changes, then, increase the risk of depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions. Forgiveness, however, calms stress levels, leading to improved health. - HopkinsMedicine.org

Points:

Give us what we need today

Forgive us our sins as we forgive others

Deliver us

John 10:27-28 NIV

Psalm 1:1-2 NIV

• Silence
• Tone of Jesus’ words
• Familiarity with Scripture
• Listen in context of community

Psalm 139:14 NIV

Quote by Nathan Foster: “Distraction is the curse of our age."

Quote by Richard Foster, Prayer: We need a deeper musing upon our knack for disobedience and God’s unbounded habit of forgiving.  We all need a richer contemplation upon that life, which shows us the way so we may follow ‘in His steps’.  We all need a fuller meditation upon that death, which sets us free.  We all need a more profound experience of that resurrection, which empowers us to obey Christ in all things.

 Need for time

Need for space

Focused attention

           Recognize the love of God

           Sober look at sin

           Request resurrection

[We] lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us… CS Lewis

Romans 7:15 NIV

 Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

• Prayer is for everyone
• Do not be discouraged
• Let go of trying too hard
• Pray while struggling
• Prayer is often uneventful

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Exodus 34:6-7a NIV

• God is patient
• God is one who weeps
• God is generous

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Romans 1:21, 24a, 25 NIV

Call to ‘go’ and bring good news

• Prevalence of God’s movement
• Performance aspect of Word of God
• Sharing is an act of mercy
• What is the warning?

What is the message for our city?

Romans 5:8 NIV

1John 3:18 NIV

When [the world] sees us sacrificially serving the needs of our neighbors whether they believe as we do or not, then it may begin to see that believers are motivated more by love than by the desire to accrue power. – Tim Keller

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Becoming Compassionate People

• Resist pigeonholing
• God’s mercy is not restricted
• Work for the good in the community
• Call to ‘go’ is for all of us

1 Peter 5:8-9a NIV

Sin is of a stupefying nature. It is the policy of Satan to rock people asleep in carnal security that they may not be sensible of their misery or danger. (Matthew Henry Commentary)

God’s call confronts our way

Public ramifications of sin

Relentless pursuit of God

Necessity of other believers

Philippians 2:12-13 NIV

Grand Affirmation: the Lord is near

• Live in harmony (4:2)
• Know real joy (4:4)
• Respond with gentleness (4:5)
• Know real peace (4:6)
• Paul’s How To: Purity of Thought (4:8)

Philippians 3:13 NIV

He will never glory in any of his achievements or use them as an excuse for relaxation … in the Christian life there is no room for those who want to rest on past accomplishments - William Barclay
 

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 NIV

• Requires forgetting
• Understands the ‘race’
• Keep the prize in mind

Philippians 3:1-11 NIV

Philippians 3:8-9 NIV

• Wired for Joy
• Be aware of joy-robbers
• Human resources cannot produce joy
• Surpassing knowledge of Christ

Philippians 2:15-16a
 

Our Role (work out...)

God’s Role (works in you…)

Importance of details

Kingdom impact of Transformed People

Patience of a Mentor

Quote by CS Lewis, Mere Christianity, Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

Quote by Dallas Willard, Spirit of the Disciplines, Secrecy rightly practiced enables us to place our public relations department entirely in the hands of God…We allow him to decide when our deeds will be known and when our light will be noticed.

Humility and Other-Centeredness

            Surrendered to the agenda of God

            Faithful in the small things

            See the dignity of others

            Receive the goodness of God

Practice of Secrecy

Living as Citizens of Heaven

            Stand firm in the Spirit

            Strive together

            Life of confidence, not fear        

Philippians 1:5-6 NIV

Christian Community Matters

• Paul remembers
• He remembers with joy
• Desire for other’s growth
• Cultivates gratitude
• Centered on Jesus

John 14:16-17 ESV

Galatians 5:22-23, 25 ESV

Presence of God for the Purposes of God

            Guides us into truth

            Intercedes/helps us

            Brings out the best in us

            Power to be witnesses of Jesus

Acts 1:8 NIV

Cooperating with the Holy Spirit

            Gathering with God’s people

            Listen for the movement

            Willingness to obey

Revelation 5 NIV

Our Actions

               A Humble Life

               A Generous Life

               A Compassionate Life

Our Verbal Witness

               Songs of Adoration

               Words of Encouragement

               Point others to Jesus

“God’s plan for heaven is a resurrected life in a resurrected body, with the resurrected Christ on a resurrected earth.” – Randy Alcorn, Heaven

“As He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” – CS Lewis, The Last Battle

Revelation 21:1-6 NIV

What is missing?

               No more sea

               No more decay

               No more temple

Romans 6:5 NIV 

What is there?

               Intimate presence of God

               Us, in resurrected bodies

               New city

               Purpose in the present

Inroads to the community

A place to experience belonging

Invitation to be involved…

               Attendance

               Invitation

               Giving

Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

Matthew 5:19a NIV

Matthew 4:4 NIV

Scripture is Reliable

What Jesus said about Scripture:

               Primacy of loving God

               Scripture is authoritative

               Scripture guides us to life

               Scripture points to Jesus

John 5:39-40 NIV

The best way to hear God speak is to spend regular time reading, studying and meditating on His Word.  God speaks through the Bible in clear, understandable language.  The first step in knowing God's will for your life is to carefully obey every revelation of His that you find in the Bible. – Henry Blackaby

What Jesus believed about Scripture:

               God’s speech to us

               It is alive and active

               Scripture is transformative

Things to take with us:

               Pray the Psalms (see journal)

               Dwell App

               Approach Scripture with humility

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

Jesus’ Words Are Trustworthy

If the resurrection is real...

We can trust what Jesus claimed about himself.

We can also trust what Jesus taught about abundant life.

We can not only trust what Jesus claimed about himself.

We can not only trust what Jesus taught about abundant life.

We can act on what Jesus taught.

If the resurrection is real (and it is)

THEN

We can not only trust what Jesus claimed about himself.

We can not only trust what Jesus taught about abundant life.

We CAN put his teaching into practice

"Until our thoughts of God have found every visible thing and event glorious with his presence, the word of Jesus has not yet fully seized us.” - Dallas Willard

Hope For Newness

Goodness of God’s presence

Foundation of hope

Life of joy

Romans 8:11 NIV

Practices to live as resurrection people

            Count your blessings

            Pray the Psalms

            Practice rejoicing

The resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing - Frederick Buechner

John 20:24-29 NIV

Easter: He is Risen

Jesus meets disciples in their fear

            Establishes peace

             Gives power

            Life of purpose

Old patterns remain

God is patient with our doubts

John 12:12-18 NIV

James 1:20 ESV

Palm Sunday

Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem

Contrasting Kings

Who was in the crowd?

            Joyful

            Curious

            Angry

            Fearful

1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

1 John 5:11-13

Psalm 19:7-9 NIV

God’s “Bottom Line” (1 John 5)

• Testimony about Jesus
• Test/Verdict
• Takeaways
  • Guard your life with Jesus
  • Practice believing God’s promises
  • Prepare today for eternity

1 John 4:9-10 NIV

1 John 4:11-12 NIV

God is the source of love

Love is revealed in Christ

Love of God takes initiative

Love of God is transformative

We reflect God’s love

1 John 3:1-3 NIV

 Romans 8:38-39 NIV

 1 John 3:1

1 John 3:2b NIV

How Great the Father’s Love (1 John 3:1-3)

               Love of God is Incredible (3:1a)

               Love of God is Consequential (3:1b)

               Love of God is Eternal (3:2)

               Love of God is Practical (3:3)

1 John 2:9-11a NIV

1 John 2:15-17 NIV

1 John 2:28 NRSV

Freedom through Obedience (1 John 2)

Obedience is an issue of trust

               love one another

               live for God’s glory --- not yours

               persevere in faith

Trustworthiness of God

Keep Christ before us always

1 John 1:1-10

 1 John 1:1-4 NIV

 1 John 1:5 NIV

1 John 1:7 NIV

1 John 1:8-10 NIV

Life with God: a dynamic relationship with the Trinity made apparent in our everyday living

        Way of the Cross

        God is Light

         Walk in the Light

         Honest Vulnerability

Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

Luke 7:36-48 NIV

Forgive One Another

Gaze at the beauty of Jesus

See the humanity not just sin

Begin small

Matthew 5:46 NIV

2 Corinthians 7:5-6 NIV

Colossians 2:1-2 NIV

Encourage One Another

            Truths of the Kingdom of God

             Hands and feet and presence of Jesus

              By urging to remain true to the Gospel

 John 4:4-10 NIV

Offer Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9, John 4)

Notice

Proximity

Real

Invite

Romans 12:10 NIV

Philippians 2:1-8 NIV

“Not all of us can do great things, but we can all to small things with great love.” - Mother Theresa of Calcutta

HONOR/SERVE ONE ANOTHER

Christ first honored us

Way we follow Jesus

Take role of a servant

               Pray a blessing

               Listen with curiosity

               Serve in the mundane

John 13:34-35 NIV

Agape love is God’s characteristic

1 John 4:7-8 NIV…

Agape love is God’s characteristic

Agape love is unconditional

John 3:16 NIV

Agape love is God’s characteristic

Agape love is unconditional

Agape love is other-centered

Acts 2:42-47 NIV

Practices to engage…

               Regular attendance

               Prayer lines

               Practice of First Thoughts

               Daily recall the love of God over you

Galatians 6:1-2 NLT

Walk in community

Brokenness grows in hiding

Everyone needs counseling

          Peer – Pastoral – Professional

Healing comes from Jesus

James 5:13-16 NIV

Psalm 145:4 NIV

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.  Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

2 Timothy 2:1-7

Mentoring Others

• Relationally connected to one another (v.1)
• Strong in grace (v.1)
• Giving space for others to lead (v.2)
• Intentionality and effort (v.6)

[The church] is not meant to call men [and women] out of the world and into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God’s kingship.  - Leslie Newbigin

 “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” -  John 20:21 NIV

• We are a sent people
• Sent in service of God and others
• For the glory of God
• Cultivates Christlikeness

 “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:42-45 NIV

Mark 1:15 NIV

• Availability of life with God

Mark 10:17-22 NIV

• Availability of life with God
• Apprenticeship to Jesus
• Surrender to Jesus

The aim isn't to get what [we] need from God but to become something for God.  … You weren't meant to stay the person you are right now; you were meant for something more. … It's worth being, and becoming, that person. (Mindy Caliguire, Discovering Soul Care)

• Availability of life with God
• Apprenticeship to Jesus
• Surrender to Jesus
• All this is grace

Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV

Music Video: https://youtu.be/s8jObvpFbPM?si=cEyj6BuYr9ryLrLF

Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Luke 2:25-32 NIV

Galatians 4:4-5 NIV

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

• Waiting with active confidence in God
  • Wait by faith
  • Wait by the Spirit
  • Wait for Christ
• In Christ the promises of God are fulfilled
  • Living in our place
  • Dying in our place

Luke 1:39-45 NIV

Joyful Friendship

• Celebration

Luke 1:42

• Acceptance

Luke 1:43

• Encouragement

Luke 1:45

Zephaniah 3:16-17 NIV

• Palms Up/Palms Down

• Magnifies the Lord
• Resizes herself

Luke 1:47-49 NRSV

• Recognizes God’s mercy

Luke 1:49-50 NRSV

• Reorients her vision

Luke 1:68-79

Proverbs 3:5-6 NRSV

Expectation vs. Expectancy

Luke 1:5-7 NIV 

Luke 1:18 NIV

Expectancy

• Listen/Look for God

Luke 1:68-79 NIV

Expectancy

• Listen/Look for God
• Prioritize the Praise of God
• Centered on the Promise of God

Advent Prayer for the week:

God, give us eyes to see what you might do…

Give us ears to hear what you promise…

Give us an imagination to watch you at work and deepen our confidence to walk in service to you…

SUPREMACY OF CHRIST

FREEDOM IN OUR UNION WITH CHRIST

AVOID LEGALISM and arrogance

LIVE HOLY AND RIGHTEOUSLY

IMPORTANCE OF RENEWING OUR MIND

life patterned after Jesus = eternally good TRANSFORMATION REQUIRES INTENTIONALITY
 

Notes:

Diligent in prayer

Colossians 4:2-4 NIV

Engagement with culture

Colossians 4:5-6 NIV

Comfort one another

Colossians 4:10-12 NIV

Fueled by the grace of God

Colossians 4:18 NIV

Colossians 3:17 NIV

Colossians 3:18-4:1 NIV

A new vision of power: not so with you...

To the vulnerable: restored dignity

“Paul made decision makers of people who were forbidden to make decisions.” - Quote by Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

To those in power: honor and love

Do not be harsh

Do not embitter/discourage

Choose to love/serve

Do what is right/fair

Colossians 3:1-17 NIV

Cooperative Work

       Human side of Holiness

               Stop believing wrong things

                Myth of willpower

                Myth of impossibility

                Myth of immediacy

        Human side of Holiness (continued)

                 Old patterns destroy us

                 Importance of replacement

Colossians 3:1-2 NIV

                 Disciple our minds

                 Memorization

Colossians 3:16 NIV

                 Gathering

Colossians 2:8-23 NIV

     A Simple Faith

           Danger of Elitism (v. 16-19)

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV

                 People of Welcome

           Danger of Legalism (v. 20-23)

                 People of Humility

     We advocate for each other

     We encourage each other

Colossians 2:2 NLT

Colossians 4:7-8 NLT

      We are knit together in love

Colossians 2:2-3 NLT

      We have confidence in Christ

Colossians 1:26-27 NLT

     Christ is among us

Colossians 2:4 NLT

Colossians 2:5-6 NLT

Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

          Sufficient in all things

Colossians 1:15-20 NIV

           Supreme over all things

            Sustaining all things

Colossians 1:17

            Savior of all who turn to Him

Colossians 1:21-23 NIV

Colossians 1:3-6 NIV

A vibrant faith in Christ

Life modeled after Love

Colossians 1:4 NIV

Hope for a transformed world

Posture of prayer

Colossians 1:9 NIV

If what we have we receive as a gift, and if what we have is to be cared for by God, and if what we have is available to others, then we will possess freedom from anxiety. This is the inward reality of simplicity. However, if what we have we believe we have got, and if what we have we believe we must hold on to, and if what we have is not available to others, then we will live in anxiety. Such persons will never know simplicity regardless of the contortions they may put themselves through in order to live ‘the simple life.’

                                             - Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline
 

Simplicity of Speech

   Not having the last word

   Disciplined Listening

Simplicity of Consumption

   Avoid impulse purchases

   Consider sharing

 

Simplicity of Schedule

   Pray about obligations

   Have an ‘off-season’

Simplicity leads to generosity.

Generosity leads to abundance.

God has made us for himself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. - Saint Augustine, Confessions

Genesis 2:2-3 ESV

Experiencing Sabbath

 -As Rest

-As Resistance

 -As Worship

In sabbath we are commanded to stop in order to worship and enjoy God in an undistracted way. - Eugene Peterson

 -As Enjoyment

 -As a Community

Our primary task in solitude is to keep the eyes of our mind and heart on Him who is our Divine Savior. - Henri Nouwen, Way of the Heart

Affirms our belovedness

• Deepens life with God

• Prepares us for trials

Acts 17:28

• Makes compassion possible

Solitude leads to the awareness of the dead person in our own house and keeps us from making judgments about other people's sins.  In this way real forgiveness becomes possible. - Henri Nouwen, Way of the Heart

• Start small

• Quiet Yourself

• Read Scripture

• Ask Questions

• Breath Prayer

My life in Your Hands

Until our thoughts of God have found every visible thing and event glorious with his presence, the word of Jesus has not yet fully seized us. - Dallas Willard, Divine Conspiracy

Genesis 28:10-17 NIV

S - L - O - W

Psalm 46:10 NIV

S - Stop and sit

L - Limit technology

Psalm 16: 8 ESV

Observe closely

Painting of Jacob’s Ladder by Ioannis Katsaras Bequest (18th Century)

W - Walk with Jesus

John 10:10 NIV

False Narratives

  I am what I do

  I have to do it all

Secret of the Easy Yoke

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Set as a priority

  Seek to be interruptible

  Prayer of surrender

May the Lord grant me the gift of his Spirit that I may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places give thanks to the Lord and glorify his name. - Amen

Exodus 20:17 NIV

• End where they began
• Coveting is idolatry

Colossians 3:5 ESV

Mark 10:18-22 ESV

• Antidote for covetousness: filled by God

Ephesians 3:16-19 ESV

• Seek first the Kingdom of God
• In Community
• Feast on the goodness of God
• Practice of generosity

Exodus 20:16 NRSV

• Untruth destroys community

Ephesians 4:29 NIV

• Established from the character of God
• God is thoroughly truthful in all things
• HOW?
• Discipline of silence
• Discipline of ‘plugging your ears’
• Discipline of grace

Mark 11:15-17

• Klepto: secretive or subtle

“Think with me for a moment about some of the crafty acts that we tolerate in our day. What does Jesus call such acts? What about using phones and social media excessively during work time? Is that not stealing? What about employees, who have contracted to do so many hours of work for so much pay, that are leaving early, extending breaks, or allowing personal tasks to invade times that they work from home?”

“Is that not stealing? What about illegal streaming, downloading, and all the other opportunities the internet has appointed us? Are those not robbing the creators of their fair pay? Such crafty ways to get something for nothing! What about plagiarism, using another persons work without acknowledging it?”

“That You May Live” Pg. 163

• Human Condition
• Entitlement
• Greed

Matthew 6:21

• Control
• Human Condition > Jesus’ Invitation
• Entitlement > Generosity

Proverbs 11:24-25

• Greed > Contentment

Philippians 4:12-13

• Control > Trust

Proverbs 3:5-6

Matthew 5:27-28 NIV

• Vertical Relationship
• Against the character of God

James 4:4 NIV

• Symptom of a greater desire

Psalm 42:1-2 NIV

• Horizontal Relationships
• Freedom
• Flourishing

John 8:1-11 NIV

• Confession

• Love is the fulfillment of the Law

Exodus 20:13 ESV

• Life is sacred

John 10:10 NIV

There are no ordinary people. You Have near talked with a mere mortal… Next to the blessed sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holist object presented to your senses. - CS Lewis, Weight of Glory

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV

• Unresolved anger is poisonous

Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV

• Practice of ‘first thoughts’

• Honor your father and mother
• Respect
• Obedience

Luke 2:51 NRSV

• Care
  • Protecting their reputation
  • Provide for them

John 19:26-28 NRSV
Ephesians 6:1-2 NRSV

• Honor your children
• Respect
• Seek God's will
• Prioritize your life with God

• Wired for rhythm
• Reminder of worth/value
• Meant for God

The Sabbath is not just a ‘day off’. We can take a day off and not experience the Sabbath. We are commanded to stop in order to intentionally worship and enjoy God in an undistracted way.  - Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles

• Keeping the commandment…

Mark 2:27-28 NIV

• Desire
• Decide
• Change

I must restructure my activities so that I can set aside the day with the great Lover of my soul. If I have so many commitments that I cannot change the routine, I can be sure that at least one of them is not the will of God for my life. For God will not lead us into so many commitments that we can no longer enter into the Holy day. - Marva Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly

• Seek
• Celebrate
   

Exodus 3:7 (KJBV)

1. God Almighty – Genesis 17:1
2. El-Shaddai
3. “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Issac and the God of Jacob.” – Exodus 3:5-6
4. “God of my master Abraham” – Genesis 24:12
5. “The God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac” – Genesis 28:13

“Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’Then what shall I tell them?”God said to Moses, “I am who I am.This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I amhas sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘TheLord,the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my nameforever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”

                                                                                                                            Exodus 3:13-15

1. “I AM” / Yahweh – Exodus 3:13-15
2. Immanuel – Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23
3. “I Am” – John 8:58

Question: How do we misuse and empty God’s name, making it of no value?

Answer #1: When we treat God’s name like a magical formula. (Matthew 5:33-37)

Instead Do This: Pronounce His name with care and wisdom. (Colossians 3:17)

Answer #2: When we don’t live in a way that shows we belong to Him.

Instead Do This: Live a life consistent with who God is. (John 14:21a / John 15:8 / Matthew 25:35-36)

Answer #3: When we throw God’s name around “carelessly, thoughtlessly or flippantly.”

“No using the name ofGod, your God, in curses or silly banter;Godwon’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.” (The Message)

Instead Do This: Treat God’s name with honor and reverence.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Luke 6:45 NIV

• Idol worship obstructs our relationship
• God is Holy
• God is personal

Quote by JI Packer: “[T]he heart of the objection to images is that they inevitably conceal most, if not all, of the truth about the personal nature and character of the diving Being whom they represent.”

• God is present

John 4:21-24 NIV

• Role of the arts/creation
• Keeping the commandment…
• Embrace mystery
• Center on Jesus

Colossians 1:15 NIV

Hebrews 1:3 NIV

Quote by Brian Zahnd: “God is like Jesus. 

God has always been like Jesus. There has never been a time when God was not like Jesus. We have not always known what God is like; but now we do.”

• No other ‘gods’ before Me
• We were made for God

Exodus 20:5 NIV

• How can we live for God alone?
  • Admit and own
  • Ask soul-searching question
  • Deal with it aggressively
    • Practice of abstaining/fasting

1 Peter 2:11 NIV

Matthew 6:33 NIV

• Context of Grace

Exodus 20:2 NIV

  • Law comes after grace

• Commandments ‘fit’ us

  • Demonstrate our essential nature

The Law is not an imposition on the human species; it is an exposition of how the human species was created to live.  by E. Stanley Jones

  • Emerge from character of God

• Dealing with our inability to live…

  • God forgives

Colossians 2:13-14 NIV

  • God empowers

Jeremiah 31:33 NIV

  • Prayer Walk

• God’s Design for Humanity

Hebrews 2:6-7 NIV

• Shared Experience of Suffering

Hebrews 2:17-18 NIV

Hebrews 2:14-15 NIV

• Renders Fear of Death Powerless

Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV

• Reminders of a life of faith…

  • Freely Confess

  • Persevere in Faith

  • Necessity of Community

Hebrews 1:1-14 NRSV

• Only begotten One

Hebrews 1:5 NRSV

• Jesus gets the Glory

Hebrews 1:6-8 NRSV

• Sure Victory of Jesus

Hebrews 1:13 NRSV

• Implications…

  • Passionate Worship

  • Live in Service to God and others

• Multi-dimensional world…
• Enemy-occupied house
• Jesus liberates hostages
• Jesus blinds the ‘strong man’
• We do not live in fear

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Matthew 16:18b NIV

• Prayerful action

• Festival of Tabernacles
• Illumination of the temple
• Gracious Guidance

Psalm 27:1 NIV

Psalm 43:3 NIV

Isaiah 2:5 NIV

Isaiah 60:19 NIV

• Jesus: I am the Light of the World
• Jesus reveals…
• who God is
• what it means to be human
• the truth of the human condition
• God’s purposes

Matthew 11:29 NIV

John 17:3 NIV

Romans 8:28-29 NIV

• our heart for healing/change
• Prayer of Relinquishment…
• Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:28-29 NIV

John 6:50-51 NIV

• Bread (Jesus) is a necessity

Not an add-on

• Our capacity for heavenly life

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us… like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.
 

We are far too easily pleased.”

                                                                    - CS Lewis, Weight of Glory

We are too easily pleased

• Miracle

  • Ability to provide

• Passover

  • Power of God

Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV

John 6:14 NIV

• Challenge

John 6:30-31 NIV

John 6:32-33 NIV

• Perpetual giving

John 6:29 NIV

• Believe in the One

  • First attention

  • Simple Prayer

Mark 14:61b-64 NIV

• Son of Man

  • Human Being

Psalm 8:4 NIV

  • Divine Ruler/Judge

Daniel 7:13-14 NIV

• Implications

  • Jesus has authority

Our commitment to Jesus can stand on no other foundation than a recognition that he is the one who knows the truth about our lives and our universe. It is not possible to trust Jesus in matters where we do not believe him to be competent… Can we seriously imagine that Jesus could be Lord if he were not smart?  If he were divine, would he be dumb? Or uninformed? Once you stop to think about it, how could he be what we take him to be in all other respects and not be the best informed and most intelligent person of all, the smartest person who ever lived?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           - Dallas Willard

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NIV

  • Jesus gives perspective

Romans 8:18 NIV

  • Way of grace is through surrender

• Practices of Surrender

  • Meditate on Colossians 1:15-20

  • Silent release

Baptize

   •  Bapto vs Baptizo

   • Dark to Light

John 1:4-5 NIV

  • Born Again

John 3:5-6 NIV

  • Vine and Branches

John 15:4 NIV

Holy Spirit

  • Convicts us

John 16:8 NIV

  • Points us to Jesus

John 14:26 NIV

  • Empowers the believer for Kingdom life

Acts 1:8 NIV

Transformation is worked out in our everyday life

Romans 12:1-2 MSG

  • Our decisions matter

  • Our character matters

Fixing our attention

  • Breath Prayer

Inhale: I won't lose heart

Exhale: You are renewing me

  • Prayer of Examen

Become aware of God’s presence

Give thanks

Review your day

Face your shortcomings/celebrate your fruit

Look forward to tomorrow

John 1:29-30 NIV

• World
• Sin
• Takes Away
• Lamb of God
• Implications for our life
• Faith in Jesus produces hope
• Invites humble authenticity

Romans 8:1 NIV

• Possibility of change

O Lamb of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

O Lamb of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

O Lamb of God, grant me Your peace.

• Scripture Mediation

Implications if Christ is NOT raised

• Faith has no power

• You are still in your sins

• The dead in Christ are lost

• Christian life is pitiful and purposeless

"I didn't become a Christian because God promised I would have an even happier life than I had as an atheist.  He never promised any such thing. Indeed, following him would inevitably bring divine demotions in the eyes of the world. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could possibly take.”    - Lee Strobel, Case for Christ
 

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 NIV

Implications because Christ IS raised

• Faith has power for today

• Forgiveness is guaranteed

• Dead in Christ are more alive

The resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing!    - Frederick Buechner

• Christian life is full of purpose

Isaiah 55:8 NIV

Incompatible?

• Un-spectacular
• Seen as a curse
• Emphasizes the suffering of Christ

Hebrews 4:15 NRSV

Implications

• Boast in our weaknesses

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

• Changes our prayer
• Kingdom priority living

"What if our real identity is unceasing spiritual beings and our true home is the kingdom of heaven?  What if our main reason for being here is to experience life as a transforming friendship with God, daily learning how to reign and rule with God forever?Jesus’ central message did seem to be that our true culture is the kingdom and it’s time to come back home, right here and now.  He’s looking for people willing to resist earthly rhythms… That is what Christianity is all about."

- Gary Moon, Apprenticeship with Jesus, p.52

FOUR KEY TERMS:

• Lifted up

John 3:14-15 ESV

• Glorify

• Hour

• Grain of wheat

• Made alive in Christ

Revelation 5:9, 12 NIV

• Death of Jesus is the victory
• Battle is against the evil one

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

• Implications of the victory
• Live free from shame
• Eliminates fear

John 16:33 NIV

Matthew 27:45-54 NIV

Jesus Experience Forsakenness

Isaiah 6:5 ESV

Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV

Amos 8:9-10 NIV

Eliminates our Separation

Romans 8:1 NIV

Mark 10:45 NIV

1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV

• Release

• Exchange

 • Voluntary
 

John 10:11, 18 NIV
 

• Costly

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV

• Worth

• Ownership

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

- NT Wright, The Day the Revolution Began

Romans 3:21-26 NIV

Romans 3:25 NIV

• Life well-lived is on mission

Acts 10:1-8 NIV

• God is already moving

Acts 10:9-23 NIV

• Need for prayerful discernment
• God calls us out of comfort zone

Acts 10:34-35,42-43 NIV

• Share what you know
• Trust the Holy Spirit

Acts 10:43-48 NIV

1 Samuel 1:1-18 NIV  

• Prayer is the key to the heart of God

  • Persistence in prayer

  • Prioritize the glory of God

  • Provides strength to live by faith

Acts 18:1-4, 18-28 NIV

Mutual Partnership

Romans 16:3-4 NIV

Original intent: gifted for purpose

Romans 12:6-8 NIV

Gospel brings hope and healing

Galatians 3:26-28 NIV

Use your gifts!

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV

“Mostly, I wish I did not have to think about money at all. But I must somehow come to terms with the Bible's very strong statements about money.” - Philip Yancey,  Money: Confronting the Power of a Modern Idol

• Living with open hands
• Giving is the character of God
• Guards against love of money

1 Timothy 6:10 NIV

• Giving is a matter of the heart

2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV

• Proximity

   • Physical

   • Conversational

• Vulnerability

• Worship

Stories of Faith: Barnabas

Hebrews 12:1-2a

Acts 4:36-37

• Small things add up
• Life of encouragement
  • Generosity

Acts 9:26-28

• Welcome
• Second Chances

Acts 15:36-40

• Small things add up
• Life of encouragement
  • Generosity
  • Welcome
  • Second Chances

Philippians 3:1-11

• What are we here for?
• To know Jesus

Philippians 3:12-16

• What are we supposed to do?
• Pursue union with Jesus

Galations 2:20

Philippians 3:17-4:1

• To What End?
• Until our world looks like heaven.

Luke 2:14 NIV

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV

• Jesus carries the weight
• Jesus' rule does not end
• Jesus is for us
• Peace comes through obedience
• Peace comes through learned trust

Luke 2:8-20 NIV

• Peace overshadows chaos

Matthew 6:25-26, 33 NIV

• Peace of God is surprising

• Peace must be received

  • Create margin

  • Agent of peace in world

James 5:13-20 NIV

• Ongoing Communication with God

  • Affirms the goodness of God’s purpose

  • Communal dimension

  • Responsibility of all

  • Submission to will of God

  • Prophetic engagement

James 3:13-4:10 NIV

• Heavenly Wisdom

  • Good deeds done in humility

• Earthly Wisdom

  • Primarily concerned with ‘me’

• God gives more grace

  • Submit to God

  • Draw near to God

  • Purify your heart

James 3:1-12

James 2: 18,26 NIV

• Warning about teaching

James 3:1-2 NIV

Philippians 4:8 NIV

• Words are powerful

  • Meant to bring good

James 3:3-5a NIV

James 3:9-10 NIV

  • Can be destructive

James 3:5b-6 NIV

• Words as a means of Spiritual growth

  • Major on grace

  • Dwell on the words of Christ

Colossians 3:16 NRSV

  • Discipline of silence

Galatians 3:26-29 NIV

• Favoritism is not compatible with Gospel

James 2:1-4 NIV

• Character of God

Matthew 22:16 NIV

• Exposes our desire for glory
• Guarding against favoritism

James 2:8-13 NIV

• Royal law
• Recall God’s mercy
• Steps towards Kingdom unity
• Awareness
• Proximity and conversation
• Proximity breeds empathy; distance breeds suspicion

Reasons to prioritize obedience to God

• Shows our love for God

John 14:21

• Partners us with God

Matthew 5:16

• Aligns us with God

Joshua 5:13-14

Byproduct of a commitment to obedience

• Life of freedom

John 8:31

• Life of joy

Hebrews 12:2

• Life of blessing

Where Are We Going?

Galatians 2:20 NIV

Genesis 1:28 NIV

Wise stewardship of life…

  • Living in union with God

  • Living to give God glory

Psalm 113 NIV

  • Living to bring goodness to others

Genesis 22:17-18 NIV

 Practical outworking

  • Live with open hands

  • Training to be sent

KNOWN BY LOVE: Recognizing the dignity in each person and working for the best in one another.

• Love is a choice to will the best

• Soul-shaping practices

      • Groups

Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

     • Inter-generational relationships

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV)

     • Reconciliation/Conflict resolution

Ephesians 4:25-27 (NIV)

Romans 12:18 (NIV)

Practice of Worship

  • Retell the story of God

  • Principle of first attention

John 5:19 NIV

Spiritual Disciplines

  • God’s presence recalibrates us

  • Foster relationship with God

Acts 20:35 NIV

Generosity and Giving

  • Expression of worship

  • Experience the miracles of God

Learning to live our life the way Jesus would live our life if He were us.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

• Availability of the Kingdom of God

Mark 1:15 NIV

  • Life of friendship with the Trinity

Mark 1:11 NIV

  • Gradual inner transformation

  • From Duplicity to Genuineness

  • Radical other-centeredness

  • Unshakable life

Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV

  • Learned life

Healing at the pool of Bethesda.  John 5:1-15

• Jesus’ vision vs. religious leaders

     • Jesus loves broken people 

     • Jesus desires to bring healing

     • Jesus honors our will

• Responses to the invitation

    • Resignation 

    • Trust our own abilities

    • Acknowledge and yield to Jesus

Elijah hiding in a cave.  1 Kings 19:8-18

• Impact of exhaustion/burn out

  • Forget God’s goodness

  • Blinded to God’s movement

1 Kings 18:3b-4 NIV

Philippians 1:6 NIV

• God’s response to exhaustion

  • Grace to meet you where you are

  • Uses others to encourage

• Persevere in the face of exhaustion

  • Courageous community 

  • List of blessings

  • Make praise a habit

Genesis 3:1-10

What we learn about God...

1. Desire to be with us
2. Response to sin
3. Pursuit of humanity

What we learn about ourselves...

1. Prone to shame and guilt
2. Good at hiding

Invitation to look at God...

1. Grace
2. Purpose

 • Devoted to God (work and heart)

 • Under the guidance of God

  • God’s guidance is gracious

  • Guides through His presence

  • Protected by the power of God

• God is the Deliverer

• We are…

  • Saved by the blood

  • Bound in a communal faith

• Called to…

  • Tell others of availability of life

  • Champion cause of powerless

Exodus 7:22 - 23 NIV

Exodus 8:15, 22 - 23 NIV

Exodus 9:13b - 18, 27 - 28 NIV

Quotes from Good and Beautiful God, pages 121 & 125

GRACE BEFORE JUDGMENT

Exodus 7:1-10:29 --- God’s love is inextricably connected to His holiness.

• Lessons from the plagues… 

          • There is only one God

          • God’s judgment is evidence of His love

          • Pattern of grace before judgment

          • Kindness leads to repentance

• Living out a life of faith…

  • Long obedience in the same direction

  • Return to God in prayer

  • Remember God’s promises

  • Choose to trust

  • Faith developed in community

• God is …

  • Holy

  • Personal

• God’s call to Moses

  • Moses questions his worthiness

  • Means of maturity

• Moses the leader 

                   • A heart for justice 

                   • Identification with the hurting 

                   • Disillusioned/Retreats 

                    • Turn from self-sufficiency 

• Where are we self-reliant? 

                 • Our life with God 

                 • Brokenness around us

• Importance of oral tradition

• No situation is beyond God’s goodness

• God uses unlikely people

• God’s ways bring hope/life

An Introduction to the story of Exodus.

• Our story is not ours alone (Ex 1:1-7)

• Danger of jealousy and power (Ex 1:8-14)

• Obedience takes courage (Ex 1:15-19)

• Obedience is rewarded (Ex 1:20-22)

• ACTS 16:25-34

      • Centrality of a life of prayer

      • Trust in the providence of God

      • Proximity to the hurting

      • Point others to surrender to Jesus

  • Rest in relationship with Jesus

  • Reflect the compassion of Jesus

  • Be faithful with what you do have

  • Experience your own blessing

• MARK 4:35-41

  • What did Jesus know?

  • Perfectly safe in the Father’s care

  • Jesus’ understanding of the world

  • The goodness of God

  • The power of God

  • The presence of God

• Sleep
• Vacation
• Days Off

A call to remember...

• Who God is
• Who we are
• What we are called into

How to remember…

• Breath prayer
• Blessing
• Prayer of examen

  • Both attracts and disturbs

• FORGIVING LOVE OF CHRIST

  • Leads to a life of joyful repentance

• FORGIVENESS FLOWS THROUGH US

  • Let go of right to seek revenge

•Learning

•Living by faith

•Transmitting hope

•Being known by love

• DEFINE DISCIPLESHIP

  • Learning how to live

• NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE

  • A doorway

  • A pathway

  • An experience of joy

The most important day in human history.

• FAITH IS ABOUT LIFE

  • Bios (physical)  Zoe (spiritual)

• IMPORTANCE OF RESURRECTION

  • Validates the person of Jesus

  • Validates the authority of Scripture

  • Validates Jesus’ power over death

  • Grand invitation to life

• CELEBRATION OF FAITH

  • Disciples

  • Spectators

  • Fearful

• JESUS IS ORCHESTRATING

• Hospitable

• Particularizing

• Patient

PRACTICES THAT SHAPE US

• Listening

• Asking good questions

• Prayerfulness

Life with God is personal … not private!

  • Take time to grieve

  • Know God cares

  • Tell God how you feel

RECEIVE GOD’S COMFORT

  • Through His presence

  • Through His Word

  • Through other believers

  • Reveals God’s thoughts

  • Leads to a correct path

  • Corrects and prunes our character

  • Activates faith

Study for transformation

  • Accept as final authority

  • Meditate on the Word

  • Sit under in community

• Be Strong in the Lord

• Put on the Full Armor of God

• Stand Firm

• Pray on all occasions

• A Worshipping People

• A Grateful People

• A Submitting People

∙ Danger of callouses

∙ Conformed to Christlikeness

∙ Habits of a growing life

      ∙ Practice Kindness 

     ∙ Jesus desires it

     ∙ Unity displays God’s glory

     ∙ Means of transformation

∙ Unhindered fellowship with God

∙ Created for ministry

     ◦ Faith that produces love (v.15)

     ◦ Faith is personal but NOT private

∙ Prayer for the Church

     ◦ To know Christ better (v.17)

     ◦ To know the hope of Christ (v.18)

     ◦ To know the power of Christ (v.19)

    ◦ Blessed (v.3)   ◦ Chosen (v.4, 11)

    ◦ Predestined (v.5, 11)  ◦ Redeemed (v.7)

    ◦ Forgiven (v.7)    ◦ Adopted (v.5)

Bring unity to all things

    ◦ Love (John 13:34-35)

    ◦ Serve (Matthew 25:31-46)

• Fear
• Abilities

King Saul

• Control
• Image

Goliath

• Arrogance
• Rebellion

∙ God is the source of fulfillment

∙ God’s grace come to messy situations

      ∙ Need for acknowledgement

∙ Grace establishes a restorative Kingdom

      ∙ Law of Love

    ∙ to joy

    ∙ to fellowship

    ∙ to worship

∙ God’s grace to fulfill His favor

∙ Total submission/trust in God’s will

∙ Humbly rejoice

∙  Do not be afraid

∙  Your prayers have been heard

∙  Grace stirs up hope

• Joy begins with purity
• Purity leads to joy-filled worship
• Joy-filled worship leads to generosity
• Generosity leads to joy-filled blessing

∙  A desire for God’s Word

∙  A reverence for God’s Word

∙  Joy in applying God’s Word