Advent Pt. 5: The Advent Of Shalom

The Peace Only Christ Can Give

The Lack of Peace / The Advent of Peace / The Victory of Peace / The Stewardship of Peace / The Practice of Peace

THE LACK OF PEACE

The ever present reality of restlessness

Restlessness = Things are not as they are supposed to be…

Because each of us begins this life with things not right between us and our creator

We are: Alienated…Separated…Estranged from God because of Sin

What do I mean by SIN? Sin is our proud self-centered rebellion against God’s ways

Our condition of un-resolved, un-forgiven, un-redeemed sin… lacks Peace

Tension & Stress result from the lack of peace [moments of fleeting peace]

Our enemy is trying to make everyone believe that peace does not exist

He wants you to chase ‘Stuff’: New job, new car, new phone, new house, vacations…

And while you chase what the world values, you will find NO Peace!

The Apostle Paul summed up the condition of mankind quoting O.T texts…

“There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10b-18

But we can have peace, God given peace

THE ADVENT OF PEACE

The Declaration of God’s Messengers: Luke 2 11-14 NASB

…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

The coming of the Christ Child was the arrival in our world of the source of Peace!

God was going to give those who He bestows His grace upon…Peace!

Peace, Jesus, arrived and then 33 years later He laid down His life for His Church

THE VICTORY OF PEACE

The Essentials of Christ’s Victory of Peace:

  • Prophetic, Miraculous and humble birth
  • Perfect, sinless life: the demonstration of how everything is supposed to be
  • Sacrificial death to pay for all of our rebellion and willful separation
  • His resurrection is the victory over sin, unrest & stress: The Victory of Peace

For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. ~ Colossians 1:19-20 NLT

  • He did it as one of us
  • The resurrection of Christ, the won the battle over sin & death
  • He made things as they are supposed to be, between us and God

THE STEWARDSHIP OF PEACE

Temples of the Holy Spirit = Place of Peace

The peace Christ gives to His ‘Blood Bought’ Church is a gift that requires proper use

That peace comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit Who comes to live in all who surrender their lives to Jesus the Christ

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” ~ Jesus Christ @ John 14:25-27 NASB 1995

The ways of The Spirit are not the ways of this world

You cannot experience the Peace of Christ while living by the rules of this world

You cannot experience the Peace of Christ focused on yourself and your stuff

STEWARDSHIP = Great care & proper use of

Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:16-19a NASB 1995

Grace & Peace are a package deal…a bundle!

17 of the 27 New Testament books proclaim this truth to Body of Christ

If you have been given God’s Grace of Eternal life, you also have been given PEACE

The question is: What are you going to do with God’s peace?

You can Squander it OR You can Steward it

God gives us this opportunity for Peace, but we have to intentionally live for it

The author & perfecter of Shalom CHRIST!

Treat it with respect and value it…fully embrace it and maximize it… it takes practice

THE PRACTICE OF PEACE

Application portion of this message:

Wisdom is the path to peace…Humility is the path to wisdom

Peace begins in humility, just like to baby Jesus in that cave He was born it

In that ‘Spirit Given’ humility we turn over control of our day to day to The Holy Spirit

You cannot chase the things of this world and experience True Peace [Shalom]

There is no middle ground!

For those who live according to the flesh have set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh leads to death, but to set the mind on the Spirit brings life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to the law of God; in fact, it is not even able to do so. ~ Romans 8:5-7 MOUNCE

How do you do it? YOU HAVE TO CHANGE!! [Discipleship]

Our natural state is not peace,

Intentional, willful choices based on your conviction of what God would have YOU!

He does not want HIS children to live a life unrest, striving, discontent, dissatisfaction, and chasing things… but He will allow you to live in that place

If you always need something new and Different and Better and Extra ZERO PEACE

Change Your definition of success.

  • Christian success is all about relationships, with God and others

Change Your definition of growth

  • Not the growth of your career or bank account or Accolades: Spiritual Growth

Change how You use time

  • Is it Your time or God’s Time?
  • Is time to be used learning God’s ways and helping others?

Change what You value

  • The value you place on people must grow
  • The value you place on things must decrease

Change how You think

  • You need a new source of truth not of this world: SCRIPTURE
  • You must take the principals of God’s Word and apply them to real situations

Change Your definition of how it should be [Contentment]

  • Paul nailed it: ‘I have contentment no matter the current circumstances’
  • Discontent will lead you away from Peace
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Advent Pt. 4: Steadfast Love

Deuteronomy 7:6-9
1 John 4:8-11
12/15/24

What did the birth of Christ have to do with love?

Two thousand years ago, something was on its way that would personify love in a way no one had never seen. God is the same as he’s always been and is unchanging; this isn’t a new kind of love. But on that first Christmas it was expressed in a way never seen in the course of human history.

Deut 7

6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 
•       The Israelites were God’s chosen people. 
•       Parental love makes you feel special, treasured

7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 
God’s love rescues and redeems.
God’s love is not because of anything you’ve ever done. We did nothing to earn it or to keep it. In fact, it is in the face of our own opposition and hatred.

9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
•       What is being declared about God is central to who He is. First and foremost, YHWH is God. In the same sentence He is defined by how he keeps his promises and extends to us his steadfast love.
•       The Hebrew word there is a very common one in the Old Testament. HESED. It is very often translated ‘steadfast love’ or ‘lovingkindness’. 
•       It is used all over the place, hundreds of times through scripture.
o       Isaiah 54:10 “For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
o       In Ruth 3 Boaz describes Ruth’s dedication to her mother-in-law as ‘hesed’.
o       1 Sam 20:14, David asks Jonathan to show him the ‘hesed’ of the LORD.
•       It describes the Godly ability to show love and mercy over and over and over again, even in the face of complete opposition and resistance and ignorance. God’s love is a never giving up, always chasing you down type of love.
•       That’s where this passage leaves us today, with the truth that God’s love was always going to chase us down. We could not follow the law; we could not love him first. And so that love, the hesed of the LORD YHWH did something no one had ever seen in the course of human history. Because of the great love that he had for us…

Ultimately the hesed of the LORD culminates in the revelation of the gospel.

1 John 4

8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 
•       The central characteristic of God: his mercy, his devotion and his great love is what incarnated Jesus Christ into the world. It was the hesed of YHWH that brought Jesus to take on human flesh and live as a man.
•       God had made a promise to redeem his people, and this never-stopping, always chasing after you love is what sent Jesus in to the world; so that we might live.
•       “Born that man no more may die”
•       He had been promising salvation since the introduction of sin in to our world. 

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 
•       The hesed of the LORD God is uninitiated. We did not love him, and yet he still sent his son to die and take the punishment of our sins. He came to be the last sacrifice we would ever need for our sins.
•       Love came to take the punishment of our sins

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
•       The closest I’m going to get to application is this verse right here. What does this mean for us? To love one another because God loved us. Yeesh! We have an example of what love looks like and scripture tells us we are to be full of it! Overflowing with that love!

Takeaways
Model love after the steadfast love of God.
•       This is hard. I encourage you to take every opportunity you can to learn more about the love God has for you, celebrate it this Christmas wherever you might be. 

Philippians 2

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Advent Pt. 3: The Gift of Faith In Christ

Faith is a complex subject… The Scripture defines it this way:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. ~ Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith in the context of Advent is very specific…It is not faith in humanity, or science, or politics or even a general idea of a god…For the church Jesus authored, Christmas / Advent is defined by who HE IS!

So faith in regard to Christmas and what we celebrate durning Advent is:

FAITH IN WHO JESUS OF NAZARETH!

FAITH IN THE CHRIST!

FAITH IN THE BIBLICAL MESSIAH!

FAITH IN GOD INCARNATE!

So let’s be clear about what I am talking about…

Believing wholeheartedly that the Biblical person, Jesus of Nazareth, was in fact: The God of the Hebrew Scriptures, personally fulfilling HIS promise of Messiah. He was born in the most unique and fantastic way. He was entirely human physically… YET He was GOD @ the same time. Can you believe that? But wait there is more…HE lived about of 33 years with people and problems and HE NEVER SINNED!!THEN after explaining the deal of salvation though HIM…He is captured, killed, He came back from the dead and lives forever For YOU!

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!

Truth is, none of us, on our own, possess the faith required to believe all of this enough for it to change the course of your life…

Thank God for the gift of saving faith, ie: Faith In Christ as God, Savior & Lord!

Our text today shows us some of the first people to received that gift of faith in Christ: 3 Women: Elizabeth, Mary and Anna.

May God’s Word inspire us with how He first gave the gift of faith in Christ…

If you believe Jesus of Nazareth is God, Savior & Lord I encourage you to celebrate that Gift today as you hear God’s Word. UNDESERVED…HUMBLING

If you believe Jesus is anything less than God, Savior & Lord, I encourage you to ask God to give you a full blown faith in Christ Jesus TODAY!

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias…and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years…9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense…11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before HIM [Christ] in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord [Christ].”

18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 25 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.” 38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

39 Mary got up and hurried to a city in the Judean highlands [Ein Karem]. 40 She entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 With a loud voice she blurted out, “God has blessed you above all women, and he has blessed the child you carry. 43 Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. 45 Happy is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill the promises he made to her.”

Luke 2:22-38 NASB 1995

22 And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel [Messiah]; 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 carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:

29 “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 A Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” 33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

FAITH IN CHRIST

Elizabeth: The Gift of Faith In Christ is the work of The Holy Spirit

Mary: The Gift of Faith In Christ is received by Your obedience

Anna: The Gift of Faith in Christ results in You sharing that Gift

Romans 5:1-2 NLT

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
Philippians 3:9b NLT

I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 NASB 1995

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The Gift of Faith In Christ Jesus:

Open Yourself to God’s Grace

  • Repentance / Turn away from You, Turn to God
  • Recognition that Jesus is God dying to save you

Do What Jesus The Christ Says

  • As His You lay down your life
  • Whatever He says goes: ‘Lordship Salvation’

Give Away What You Have Been Given

Sharing Christ results from faith in Christ

Your belief drives attitudes and actions

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Advent Pt 2: Joy to the World

Luke 2:8-18 (ESV)

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

Joyful Meditations:

– What is joy? Joy is settled satisfaction and contentment with who the Lord is and what He is doing. It produces a multitude of experiences, emotions, and passions. It is distinct from happiness, which is entirely circumstantial and primarily emotional.

– No one can deprive you of joy, nor take it from you. Remember David? Because of his own sin, he lost the joy of the Lord, and he prayed the Lord would restore it to him. (Psalm 51:12)

– Joy is a gift from God and a fruit of His Spirit, but do not take it for granted.Through His joy, you will finish life on earth well and be carried to victory even when you fail or significant losses come your way.

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Advent Pt 1: Hope

HOPE IN CHRIST!

The Light of Hope

ADVENT: It’s all about getting ready for; then celebrating the birth of Christ [Jesus of nazareth] Advent = Arrival. The Messiah, Jesus Christ has made one arrival…He will make another. The traditional celebration of Advent focuses on the first & second coming of Christ! Advent started in the late 5th century as a series of fasts to prepare for Christmas. Advent liturgy is found in the late 6th century Homilies of Pope Gregory The Great. By the late 8th century the term ‘Advent’ we used and celebrated around Europe. In the 14th century it becomes the custom to celebrate Advent the five weeks before Christmas [not tied to dates] The five weeks correspond to five themes: HOPE / JOY / FAITH / LOVE / PEACE

TODAY WE BEGIN WITH HOPE! Multiple dimensions of Hope! Hope prior to the Advent of the Messiah: The Jews placed their hope in Messiah. Hope Now for a life transformed by Messiah: Christ followers have Hope in HIM! Hope for the return of Messiah and eternity with Him: Our Hope: Eternity With Christ!

We need hope…real hope, not the false hope found in this world [money, politics, career]. Real hope is found in the truth about and a relationship with OUR CREATOR. Part of discovering real hope [JESUS CHRIST] recognizing this world is hopeless, apart from God and the Messiah Jesus Christ! OUR HOPE IS IN A PERSON!

For us it begins with THE PROMISE OF HOPE! That the people of God had through His prophets. God had promised them A Messiah, A Deliverer, A Savior. Our 1st Scripture today is a passage about this future hope. For them and US.

Understanding Biblical Prophecy is challenging; Some parts are for the people then, some are for future readers, some are for both…

Isaiah 9:2-7 NLT

2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

  • The people who walk in darkness & live in a land of deep dark [can’t avoid it]
  • The light is sent for those who inhabit a world where darkness rules [You & me]
  • God planned [from the beginning] to shine the light…to oppose the darkness

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. ~ John 1:1-5 [CSB]

THE HOPE OF LIGHT OVERCOMING DARKNESS

Why was Christmas fixed by the church on December 25th? Around but not on the darkest day of the year…replacing Roman festivities?.. That date was tied to the idea of LIGHT breaking through darkness: it’s a big deal!!! Let’s make the most of these 5 weeks [ADVENT] to prepare our hearts to celebrate!

3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before You as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.

  • The Nation of Israel = God’s People
  • The Nation of Israel received from God security, purpose, justice, mercy, love
  • Somewhat match the themes of advent: Hope, Joy, Faith, Love & Peace
  • God is going to include everyone else in the blessing of being HIS
  • It is going to be ‘As Good as it Gets’…[Life & Death] Winning @ Harvest & War

4 For You will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when You destroyed the army of Midian.

  • Why is everyone going to celebrate full out?
  • The destruction of the army of Midian was carried out by Gideon & 300 men
  • Gideon, the ultimate underdog
  • God delivered all of His People [at the time] with that victory
  • There was no way that 300 men could do what happened, ONLY GOD could
  • God’s people have hope in the God of Gideon to do what only HE can do

5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.

  • The things of war will no longer have use [future / 2nd coming]
  • The fire is God creating a new heaven and a new earth when christ returns

Things present & future we can place our HOPE in…but who can make this happen?

6 For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

  • A child…who’s child? A Son…who’s son?
  • He will be in total control…because He is God
  • The Man of God known as Isaiah tells us about Him, His Place & Name
  • Wonderful Counselor: The bringer of all wisdom [Holy Spirit]
  • Mighty God: Creator / Ruler of The Universe
  • Everlasting Father: Eternal Love, the unconditional love of a parent. [Father]
  • Prince of Peace: The bringer of true peace [right relationship with God] [Son]

7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

  • The never ending part begins with the SECOND ADVENT OF CHRIST
  • Christ is full of Grace & Truth = Fairness & Justice
  • The continuing of what God showed shadows of thru David [human element]
  • This last line is amazing! That is a ‘Power Title’ /
  • He can make it happen…He is absolutely committed to making it happen

God made it happen…He sent His only Son [Christ Jesus] Because He has come we have HOPE FOR TODAY! Jesus proclaimed it Himself!

Isiah 61:1 [CJB]

The Spirit of The Lord God is upon me, because The Lord has anointed Me

to announce good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim freedom to the captives, to let out into light those bound in the dark.

  • Christ is both the announcer and enactor of ‘THE GOOD NEWS’ [Messiah]
  • HIS Mission: Freedom, Healing & Release from the power of SIN aka Darkness
  • Christ came to offers this to YOU… NOW! TODAY!
  • He came to release YOU from a dungeon of sin & shame
  • He came to heal your broken heart and bring you the good news about eternity

We have Hope for Today… We also have HOPE FOR ETERNITY!

“However, those the Father has given Me will come to Me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent Me, not to do My own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.” ~ Jesus The Christ @ John 6:37-38 [NLT]

“He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” ~ Jesus The Christ @ John 12:45-47 [NASB]

Jesus Christ wants to give you hope! Hope for this life and eternity!

Make The Most of the Gift of Hope

Hope is a person [Jesus]! Is He fully born in YOU?

Hope is available today! Will YOU let God’s light free & heal YOU?

Hope for eternity is in Christ! Will YOU trust Him for all things?

Doing Advent Right

Put all of your HOPE in Christ

Let the JOY of The Lord flow

Take some real steps of FAITH

Make room in your life for LOVE

Bask in a place of PEACE with God

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1st Timothy Pt. 11: Guard the Deposit

1 Timothy 6:11-21 (ESV)

The text this morning is meant to pump us up. It is the end of Paul’s letter, and he wants to leave Timothy with a sense of encouragement and purpose. 

The series title has been “cultural foundations of Christ’s church”. So hopefully you could answer the question, what is church culture founded on?

Paul tells us the purpose of his letter in chapter 3, which is “so you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God.” How should the church operate?

Our text today, Paul comes back around to the same themes he started it with. In chapter 1, the takeaways were (3): everything comes from God, the church should watch out for destructive teaching, and Christians should be prepared to endure for the faith, to run a hard race.

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 

•       The context of this verse is directly following the love of money, that is what Paul is commanding Timothy flee from.
•       True ministry, not false teaching, will NOT be centered around riches and greed. He says as much by calling Timothy a “man of God”.

13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

•       We get a nice big beautiful run on sentence. I didn’t want to break it up, but let’s pull out some of the key points. Paul commands Timothy to keep his word, to keep the commandment until Jesus returns. 
•       vs 13 Paul calls out Jesus’ confession as an example for us. Look at John 18:37
o       37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 
•       The confession of Jesus is that his life’s purpose is to bear witness to the truth. That should be our similar confession!
•       Ultimately, I think this passage is best seen in the context of what motivates a Christian leader. It is not the riches and material gain that false teachers seek. It is the reality of eternity.

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

•       Do not “set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches”. This point is central. The pitfall of riches is that they delude us into trusting that we are in control. The desire of riches is to think that we’ll have more control over our lives if we could just have more money.
•       To stand with confidence on the things in the life is a fool’s errand. It can all disappear very quickly. Look at the number of celebrities who have had their lives ruined, sometimes rightfully so, because of horrific things they’ve done. Or someone like Muhammed Ali, one of the greatest boxers of all time but 3 years after he retired was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The riches of the world are uncertain.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you. 

•       The Lord has entrusted a great treasure in us, and we are to watch out over it. That treasure is the gospel. We have been given new life and the church is built of people who use it!
•       Do you know someone who has gone astray? It seldom starts where it ends. It ends with rejection of the true gospel. But it may start with only a small disagreement over doctrine, or a rejection of a certain part of scripture. Eventually that can and does grow until a shipwreck has been made of your faith. 

Before we finish this series let’s revisit some of the main takeaways. What does this church need to know?

Takeaways
There are serious standards for leaders.
–       We read in chapter 3 the qualifications for deacons and elders

Everyone has a role to play
–       Chapters 3 and 5 talk about the roles of church members and leaders. 

The church is entrusted with the gospel. 
–       Chapters 1, 4 and 6 all mention the hope that we uniquely have in Jesus.

The church prays for her leaders.
–       We saw in chapter 2 that the church needs be praying for our leaders. 

The church should be known for riches of good works, not material riches.
–       We saw this in chapter 2 and throughout chapter 6.
–       Do not adorn yourself with wealth but with good works. 

Thankfully this is not a moving target. Our culture is built on scripture, not the prevailing sentiments of the day.

Application

Everything comes from the Lord. How can we be reminded of God’s providence? 
–       What are things you take for granted? 
–       What things do you think you can do on your own? That you’re in charge of?
–       What ways can we demonstrate our dependance on God?

How are you engaging in spiritual training?
–       Do you spend time preparing for the hard spiritual work ahead? 
–       Am I spending time and energy to get ready to fight the good fight?

How am I growing? 
–       Are you in a different place spiritually than you were 6 months ago? 
–       it would be weird to see a Christian sitting in the same pew, not developing.

How do my desires for how church is to run align with the bible?
–       Are your desires based on personal preference? Something you think should be allowed? Or based on what the Bible says.

Sneak preview ahead in to 2 Timothy 2:2 “entrust [what you have heard from me] to faithful men who will be able to teach others also”.

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1st Timothy Pt. 10: Leadership Standards

1st Timothy 6:2b-10 [ESV]

The making of a Biblical Church leader takes time…and focus… and humility and trust in God’s Word and in God’s people…God has given those who He calls to lead HIS people clear standards, in both the Old Testament and in the writing of the New Testament, by which to live and to govern the church. Thank God for standards!

A part of any people’s culture are the standards to which their leaders are held accountable to. Integrity. Character. Contentment. New Testament Church leaders are called to a high standard!

2b. Teach and urge these things.

  • This is regarding what he has written so far…
  • It is also about what he is going to close up this letter with [Character]

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.

  • A different doctrine = A different Gospel
  • Sound doctrine = the VERIFIED words of our Lord
  • Teaching that accords with godliness = Old Testament Scriptures

He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

  • This paragraph is about those who disagree with the teachings of Christ
  • This is describing such people who claim special knowledge, or the secret…
  • They pray on lost people by fostering emotional upheaval: ‘stirring the pot’
  • This is the ‘Religious Scam Artist’…One Big Confidence Con [The Sting]

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

  • There is a way for religion to be of great gain: Faith that produces contentment!
  • “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” ~ Job @ Job 1:21 [ESV]
  • When your hope is set on the next world. you don’t need stuff in this world
  • Righteousness that is fully experienced makes for material contentment
  • GOSPEL OPERTUNITY!!!

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

  • In contrast: those who desire wealth over all else, set their hope on…what?
  • God’s Word says if you desire to be rich you will be tempted by STUFF…
  • God’s Word says if you long for material things you will get caught in a trap!
  • God’s Word says if you are captivated by money…it will lead to destruction!

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

  • Not Money itself… it is the LOVE of money that is a gateway to evil, why?
  • Money is an idol / Money makes us self-reliant / Money makes us Proud
  • This ‘Craving’… what one is devoted to / an indulgence / an uncontrollable urge
  • Love of Money = Covetousness [Wanting what is not yours] 10th commandment
  • The pursuit of money distracts you from ‘The Faith’ [Salvation OR Discipleship]
  • If you are interested in ‘Godliness’, the love of money will hinder your walk

3 BIBLICAL STANDARDS 4 CHRISTIAN LEADERS

1. Adhere to Doctrinal Orthodoxy: Humbly trust in what has been passed down

2. Unite The Body: Focus on the application of what Scripture has always taught

3. Be Content with Modest Lifestyle: Avoiding occupation with money & other evils

3 Responses of Midtown Covenant Members to this passage

DO NOT Tolerate un-Biblical doctrine or teaching [Beware the ‘NEW’]

DO NOT Tolerate the dividing of the Body with controversy and drama

DO NOT Tolerate leaders who are more occupied with money than the Body

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1 Timothy Pt. 9: Honor To Whom Honor Is Due

I Timothy 5:17-6:2b (ESV)

Having previously written the qualifications for elders (chapter 3), Paul wrote about the relationship and responsibilities between elders and the flock, with the focus on how the members treat their pastors. Timothy was charged with restoring something that was broken, in 5 key areas: honor, care/provision, protection, public rebuke (when necessary), and careful selection.

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

If you are a Christian, then you too are under the yoke of Christ, a bondservant of the Lord. Our testimony is more important that any personal liberty. As Gal 3:28 reminds us there is no “bond or free….for we are all one in Christ.” We still live in a world of owners and employees, supervisors and workers. Why live in the manner Paul describes? So that God and His Word will not be slandered. Eternity matters in the work place. Do your work unto the Lord. The truth of the gospel rests on you as you work.

Summary Points:

-Healthy relationships between pastors and members is essential to being a healthy flock. We are in this kingdom work together. Otherwise, we devolve into an “us” v. “them” divide, with the clergy distinct and separate from parishioners.

-Honor (provide/care) your pastors, especially those who labor in the Word. Whether here or if the Lord plants you elsewhere, you will be apart of a healthy gospel ministry, if you do this. Hebrews 13:17 indicates this is important and in the members’ best interests. Disregarding or dishonoring pastors inflicts significant injuries throughout the flock.

-Wherever the Lord plants you, wherever you live, learn, work, or play, the gospel rests on you and me. It is not for others to live and to declare. It is for you and me.

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1st Timothy Pt. 8: The Family of God

A Culture of Family Care

As Jesus Christ’s followers formed into communities they created culture, traditions, social norms and ways of life. They had the teaching of Jesus, O.T. Scriptures and some letters written by Apostles that were copied & circulated. In these letters, early communities of believers were given guidance by Apostles.

Theology: Revealed truth about God, His purpose, nature and how we relate to Him

Doxology: How WE respond to the revealed truth about God

Beliefs that lead to actions…which create and sustain culture. In Scripture you find belief statements with corresponding actions: Guidelines for the early church. Letters such as 1st Timothy are full of guidelines for them and for US!

Today we have: Guidelines for:

  • How leaders in Christ’s church are to correct people
  • How the Body of Christ will care for Widows

‘The List’ Acts Ch 2. Back then, The Church was the ONLY social safety net for their members. The ‘Widows’ list was the way members of Christ’s body who were without support, were taken care of.

1 Timothy 5:1-16 NASB 1995

1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

  • This is guidance to Timothy and all who lead in Christ’s Body
  • This sentence, 2 verses, serves as a guide to ‘Christ-Like Correction’
  • When you have something hard to communicate, do it with respect
  • The idea is to treat people like they are family: be honest, yet kind
  • The end: ‘in all purity’… this is our motivation while correcting others

3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

  • Criteria for the ‘Widow’ designation as it pertained to the N.T. Church
  • There must have been women getting help by faking widowhood…
  • This Scripture puts the responsibility on the family FIRST…then church
  • In Christ’s Body, the cultural is that widows are cared for, one way or another

5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.

  • Widows without family live in a state of dependence on God
  • They do not take it for granted that God is their only hope and source of life
  • In contrast, a focus on self-pleasure is a sign of spiritual deadness

7 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

  • Prescribe is to ‘command’, or to ‘insist on’….why?
  • These rules protect individuals reputations AND Christ’s reputation
  • Biblical Christians live out their faith in Christ by caring for the ‘least of these’

9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

  • Old age is a requirement
  • One marriage is a requirement
  • A reputation in the community of Christ followers for being ‘others-focused’
  • It was an expectation for women who lived godly lives to be care for

11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

  • If they are young they are still going to want male companionship
  • It’s bad if they pledge to be dependent then change their mind…
  • The reason old was a requirement… they didn’t want to remove them
  • If on the list too young: they learn to be unproductive, & unhealthy relationally

14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.

  • If you husband dies, keep keeping on…to avoid falling into sin [it happens]
  • The burden for family falls on men & women alike
  • The principal is to share the burden between families and the church
  • If families do their part, the church will have resources to care for the needy

Biblical Principals:

In the Body of Christ, correction of others is to be done respectfully, appealing to them as if they were family.

Christian communities have always placed a high value on honoring and financially supporting widows; first at the family level, then as a church body.

Widowhood is a place to live in dependence on God and His people, not the pursuit of whatever makes you happy.

It is unacceptable for Biblical Christians not to care for widows.

The Body of Christ has criteria for who is to be supported as a Widow. These rules are there so that all parties may honor God.

Application Questions:

Do you view other members of the Body as family and treat them as such?

Do you support widows within your family? How?

How should we support widows as a church?

Why are the correction others and the treatment of widows important to Christ’s Body?

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1 Timothy Pt. 7: Lifestyles of the Christian Leader

1 Timothy 4:6-16 (ESV)

20 October 2024

What is in our text this morning? Paul hits on several topics, some key themes describing how God’s leaders should act, how they should conduct themselves.
–       Instructions for godly living. He tells us what we should be doing in order to honor God with our lives.
–       He connects that to an encouragement to Timothy to be an example for others to follow.
–       Paul clarifies the mindset of a believer. He’s going to tell us why we do all this, to build a strong spiritual investment with each day, and the hope that we have in Christ.

[4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.] 6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 

•       Paul is asking Timothy to be obedient and to share “these things” with the rest of the church. I believe Paul is referencing the last bit of what Todd preached last week. 

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 

•       These are instructions on how Timothy can focus his ministry and teaching. Not on silly things that are irreverent, disrespecting to God. Focus instead on Godliness.  
•       Paul uses the word “train”. he’s saying you have difficult work to do, and you need to prepare to do it. 
•       Paul’s point is that those preparations and the value of physically training ourselves pale in comparison to building up the character of godliness. 
•       It is important because of its lasting value. Important now and later. It is NOT just important today. 
•       This is another trustworthy saying, that Godliness will hold its value both in this life and the one to come. It is a good investment

10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 

•       He finishes the thought on Godliness by describing it as our end goal. It is “to this end” that we work hard, toil, sweat. Make your life about THIS. 
•       Paul tells us the motivation for why believers can do it. Simply, we have hope in the true and living God
•       This radically transforms our priorities and motivations. It allows us to pursue godliness
•       1 John 4:19
o       19 We love because he first loved us.
•       (vs 11) Timothy is instructed to teach the church this essential fact, that we have our hope set in Jesus, and that becoming more like him is THE goal

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

•       Not to be looked down upon. Also, can read this as a rebuttal to giving ourselves excuses. I’m young, my age precludes me from doing something. Paul was telling Timothy at least that was not a legitimate reason to ignore the call.
•       Paul tells him instead to be a well-rounded example, both through words and the way he acts. Three specific ways: love, faith, purity.
John 13:35
o       35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
•       His faith is to be an example, a Godly leader shows how we trust and depend on God with our lives.
•       In purity, we set ourselves apart. As Christians we are not full of the things of this world. We live distinctly different.

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 

•       Instructions for how Timothy is to lead the church. He is to read scripture publicly. It was meant for all to hear.
•       These are standards for the church. The leaders should do these things. Members should demand them. We should be a church that publicly reads the scripture.
•       Paul assigns Timothy to “exhortation”. This is encouragement, urging on the body. Christian leaders are to provide encouragement and direction
•       vs14 Paul tells Timothy not to neglect his gift. the instructions here are for him to use what he’s got. 
•       God’s leaders use the gifts, skills, situations and relational capital that God has given them.

15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

•       Timothy is told to immerse himself in these things. Make it his lifestyle. It is not something he does on the side, or in his spare time. But he is to be immersed.
•       It is central and the thing that everything else orbits around
•       He’s telling us that Godly leaders should live this way outwardly, all the time, so that they are accountable to the church. 
•       Matthew 5:16
o       let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
•       It’s going to require diligence. A leader diligently watches his or her own lifestyle and what they are teaching.
•       Persist we save others. Reading scripture in context we know that we don’t save people, and that’s not what Paul is saying here.
•       Paul is saying that a Christian leader has a more credible witness when he practices what he preaches. That is a heavily worn expression, but this scripture is where it comes from. 

Paul is telling Timothy that Christians are to focus on godliness. That aim will be hard, but because of the hope we have in Jesus, it is possible. Practically, when we focus on godliness our lives will look a certain way, and we will have a strong witness because of it.

Takeaway Points

Expectations for Christian leaders.
The church should be led specifically through:
–       Publicly reading scripture
–       Leaders that practice what they preach

Age is a number, not an excuse.
–       Timothy was not to and likewise we should not make an excuse out of our age. 
–       As a young person you can say I’ll get to it. As an older person you can say, I’ve done my time. age isn’t an excuse, aim higher.

A Christian leader uses the gifts he or she has got. 
–       We need to answer our calling. We don’t hide them or play our gifts down

We are to surround ourselves with Godly influences, with the things of God. 
–       Being a Christian should not be cultural. But it should absolutely be our culture. 
–       It should influence what we watch and read, the things we spend our time on, the company we keep. 
–       Is Jesus your identity?

Application Questions

Who keeps me accountable? Am I keeping my leaders accountable?
–       Am I growing, and can people tell?
Are my leaders devoted to the things of God? Public reading, exhorting others?
–       In case you think this question isn’t about you, remember that our leaders are to be good examples of this.
–       so are YOU devoted to this too?
What about my calling am I afraid of?
–       We are all called to something. Do not neglect it. Is it laziness? Fear of getting it wrong?

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