Chalmers Church Edinburgh

What does it mean to imitate Paul? 1. Give up our rights... (v15-18) Why? So that nothing gets in the way of the Gospel (9v12) 2. ...and become a slave to all people... (v19-23) Why? For their salvation! 3. ...doing this like an athlete! (v24-27)

Intro: the most important question in life? The big Q: who gets to live with the LORD? (v1) The big answer... 1. Those walking God's way, with God's truth in their hearts (v2) Q. Is this saying: "be good to earn your place in heaven?" Q. How does this fit with Psalm 14:2-3? A. See Psalm 2:6&12 - seek hope in the King set on God's holy hill 2. And walking God's way involves... - Refusing to get involved in slander (v3) - Honouring those who fear the LORD (v4) - Keeping our word even when it costs us (v4) -

Note: This is part one of two - Paul gives up these rights! (v12, v15) Paul has the right as an apostle and gospel worker to be supported, that he might have a normal life (v1-6) Gospel workers have the right to be adequately paid according to human standards (v7-8a) Gospel workers have the right to be adequately paid according to God's law (v8-14) Implications for... Church elders: Church members: Gospel workers:

1. The Lord sees the dark guest within us all ... (vv.1-3) a. The disease b. The symptoms 2. ... and yet he has a people ... (vv.4-6) 3. ... whom he saves (v.7)

The HOPE: God's promise of God's people in God's place enjoying God's peace (2 Samuel 7 -> Ps 12v5) The HURT: Anguish while waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled (v1-2) So, what are we to do amidst the anguish as we wait? 1. Cry out to God (v1-2) 2. Plead, praying on God's promises (v3-4) 3. Trust God's steadfast love (v5-6)

v1-3 Knowledge must be directed by love, because love is the of all knowledge v4-6 Knowing the one true God through Christ makes us a new people, with a new way of living v7-13 So our lives must be marked by selfless, sacrificial love for others

Introduction: the “sandwich structure” of Psalm 12: v1: Surrounded and struggling [and the plea for salvation] v2-4: The words of the wicked v5: The LORD's response [and the promise of safety] v6-7: The words of the LORD v8: Surrounded and struggling [but things are not the same!] 1. Surrounded and struggling (v1&8) a. The godly “gone”? b. The wicked on every side c. The plea for salvation: will we ask? 2. A war of words (v2-4&6-7) a. The words of the wicked (v2-4) b. The words of the LORD (v6-7) c. The f

1. Marriage is temporary so live it in light of eternity (v25-31) 2. Marriage is complicated so recognise the freedom you have as a single person (v32-35) 3. Both marriage and singleness are good so chose freely (v36-40)

1. Married couples should enjoy sex regularly, each giving to the other v1-6 2. Both marriage and singleness are gifts v7 3. Marriage is the only proper context for sex v8-9 4. Marriage is created to be a life-long covenant and should not be broken v10-16 5. The Lord assigns life circumstances, so live contently in the one you've been given v17-24

Intro: What would be your greatest happy ending? 1. Through the purifying work of his chosen mediator - 40:1-17 “…There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...” - 1 Tim 2:5 2. And the complete obedience of his mediator - 40:18-33 “Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house….” - Heb 3:5-6 3. The glorious God can truly dwell am

Intro: God's great project is to dwell amongst his people… God is building his dwelling place through his people… 1. …As we observe his grace-given pattern of rest (35:1-3) ? God is not harsh like “no-rest” Pharoah ? Our activity doesn't make us holy, God does in Christ “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you…that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.”(31:13 ESV) 2. …As we obey his grace-given command to join in (35:4-19) ? God is not self-serving like “store-citi

Confusion 1: As a Christian, I'm saved by grace so I can do whatever I want with my body Confusion 2: God will ultimately destroy our bodies so we can do whatever we want with them 1. The Father will raise your body (v.14) 2. Your body is united to the Son (vv.15 & 17) 3. Sex is far more powerful than a plate of pasta (vv.16 & 18) 4. The Spirit lives in your body (v.19) 5. The Son has redeemed your body (v.19)

1. Be horrified at the great sin of idolatry that deserves God's burning hot wrath 2. Be grateful at the provision of a mediator that averts God's burning hot wrath

Intro: Knowing who we are matters… but what about WHEN we are? 1. Now is not the time to expect greatness and the royal life! (8) 2. Just look at the fools-for-Christ pattern of the Apostles!! (9-13) 3. So stop living for self-promotion now, and take up cross-shaped priorities like Paul! (14-17)

What is the tabernacle like and what is it for? Beautiful, Holy, Separated - so that God can dwell in the midst of a sinful people What are the priests like and what are they for? Beautiful, Set-Apart, Consecrated - to represent the people to God and make sacrifice for them Why don't we need a tabernacle and priests to meet with God today? Because of Jesus - who fulfils the tabernacle and is the perfect and permanent priest

Intro: “Let no-one deceive himself…” 1. Don't think too highly of yourselves! (3:18-20) Because God outwits this world's “wisdom” 2. Don't think too highly of human leaders! (3:21-23) Because in Christ every pastor & everything belongs to you all Because in Christ you all belong to God 3. Instead, view human leaders as servants of Christ (4:1-5) o Gospel-stewards who must be faithful o In Christ's judgement alone o Which happens when Christ returns o To reveal the real motives in hearts o And provide grac

1. Paul exposes a wrong view of Christian maturity (v.1-4) 2. Paul exposes a wrong view of Christian leadership (v.5-9) 3. Paul exposes a wrong view of Christian ministry (v.10-17)

23v20-30 God will get his people to the promised land and bless them there… but they must not make a covenant relationship with the nations or their gods 24v1-18 God's people are to be in an exclusive covenant relationship with the LORD, which is… … based on God's word (v3-4) … entered by sacrifice and sprinkled blood (v4-8) … experienced with a meal in God's presence (9-11) … bathed in glory (v12-18) Yet we have something even better… 2 Corinthians 3, Hebrews 9

Intro: Why do we need to know how to handle an “ox goring” today?!? Is God pro-slavery and even beating slaves to death?!?! NB. 1. Don't misunderstand these “case law” rules in Israel's covenant… a)…they are not the LORD's “ideal” society, but regulating sin justly b)…they do not automatically map directly to Scotland today c)…they are not exhaustive, but examples: key principles of justice NB. 2. Don't minimize how helpful these rules are to reflect upon still… a)…they help us see God's just nature and c

1. Paul's gospel is divinely wise (vv.6-9) 2. Paul's gospel is divinely revealed (vv.10-13) 3. Paul's gospel is divinely received (vv.14-16)

Intro: "Phew, we got the really serious ones out the way last week…” Love God, by loving others… 1. With our hands: not taking what belongs to someone else v15 2. With our mouths: not telling lies v16 3. With our hearts: not desiring what God gave to someone else v17 Conclusion: As we reflect and respond, three pitfalls to avoid: 1. I'm defensive 2. I'm despairing 3. I'm delivered already

1v18-25 God's weak and foolish wisdom - the Cross 1v26-31 God's weak and foolish choice - the Corinthians and us 2v1-5 God's weak and foolish leaders - proclaiming Christ and him crucified

1. The danger: Confidence in the flesh (vv.2-3) 2. Paul's story: Confidence in an impeccable ethnic and religious CV (vv.4-6) 3. The Christian: Confidence in the surpassing worth of Christ (vv.7-11)

1. Elijah ascends and Elisha inherits 2. The LORD's covenant continues

1. Don't try to bypass the Lord's Word like Ahaziah 2. Don't try to silence the Lord's Word like Ahaziah

Intro: What are our lives for? Instructions for those who have been rescued…. (20:2) 1. “Holy” – Be distinctive in stopping work for one day each week (20:8-10) 2. “To the Lord” – Be distinctive in focusing on the Lord together (20:10-11)

Have confidence that Christ rose because… 1. The Scriptures Predicted It (v13-27, 44-46) - Isaiah 53:10 the suffering servant crushed - Psalm 22:7-8 mocked by onlookers - Exodus 12: 5-6 the innocent sacrificed 2. The Disciples Saw Him (v28-43) 3. The Witnesses Proclaimed Him With Joy (v47-53) …and now it's your turn

1. Did Jesus really die, be buried and rise again? 2. Why did Jesus die, be buried and rise again? 3. What difference does Jesus' death, burial and resurrection make? 4. So where does that leave you and I?

The people - watching The rulers - scoffing The soldiers - mocking The first criminal – raging The second criminal - confessing and asking Jesus - forgiving, comforting and dying - for him, for me and for you

Intro: Doesn't God's grace mean you can get away with anything? Recap (2:11-14): God's gospel of grace both saves AND transforms “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that … a wretch like me” 1. As citizens/workers/neighbours in society, Christians should be: (3:1-2) - Submissive to authorities - Eager to do good - Gracious in speech - Considerate to everyone How? 2. By remembering the gospel of God's undeserved grace in Jesus (3:3-7) - Because we ourselves were… - But God's saving grace appeared… - Not by o

v1-2 Intro: A parable is a story, but the people are real. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” v11-16 The rebellious son who rejects the father and walks far away v17-24 The loving father who runs towards his returning son v25-32 The self-righteous son who rejects the father and remains just outside