Christ Is King Baptist Church

God doesn't simply have more wisdom than anyone else. Wisdom is simply the word we use for the way God thinks and does things.--His way is woven into creation, so weave it into yourself.--You will either fear God, who brings judgment, or you will fear the judgment God brings.

We have nothing to celebrate on any day if the Son of God was not born as a man, of a virgin, and laid in a manger.--Gen. 3-14-15 -- The Seed of the woman who crushes the serpent- - Mankind chose to reel, and from the beginning God had a plan to destroy the serpent through the woman's seed--Gen. 12-1-3 -- The Seed of Abraham who blesses the world--2 Sam. 7-16 -- The Seed of David who sits on the throne forever--Isaiah 7-13-14 -- The Seed of the virgin who is Immanuel, God with us--Isaiah 9-2-7 -- The given Son who establishes justice and peace- - The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will ensure the fulfillment of this promise--Isaiah 11-1, 6-9 -- The coming promised One is the fruit-bearing branch who will restore creation- - As surely as the ocean is wet, the world will one day know and acknowledge who God is--Isaiah 42-1, 6-7 -- The chosen Servant who brings THE covenant and who makes free--Isaiah 52-13-14- 53-4-6, 11-12 -- The pierced Servant who bears our sin- - He will end the curse because He will pay for it Himself--Micah 5-2 -- The ancient Ruler who came from humble human beginnings--Gal. 4-4-7 -- The Son of God who makes our adoption by God possible--Rev. 19-11-16 -- The word of God who will return with a sword--Rev. 21-9-10- 22-1-5 -- The Lamb of God, who shares His kingdom and His name--The story from Genesis to Revelation is about God redeeming His creation through the sending of His Son to redeem and remake

-Blessed - Happy- has nothing to do with emotional happiness. Blessed refers to your state of being -- you're on the right side because you're on the same side as Jesus.--Wisdom - aligning yourself with God and His reality--See the progression - pursuit in v. 13 - 18- Find - Obtain - Take Hold - Hold Tightly

Idolatry -- the worship of anything other than our Creator -- is humanity's greatest crime.--- The ungodly will do anything to not think about God and righteousness, but they can't get away from it because He has left witness of Himself everywhere.- - Creation itself points to God, His authority, and His nature- - People cannot escape the fact that they have a Creator so they are without excuse-- The ungodly know there is a God, but refuse to honor Him or give Him thanks- - God is Creator God, and we must thank Him for that- - A lack of thankfulness is an expression of idolatry- - We're not happy with our status as image-bearing creatures -- we want more- we covet -Col. 3-5-- - When I am unthankful, I'm saying I'm more important than God-- The four living creatures in Revelation 4, for all their fearsomeness, know better than to look on God -- they're mere creatures- - They give God glory, honor, and THANKS-- The 24 elders cast their crowns before God- - They're acknowledging all authority derives from God, their Creator- - Everything that has life was created by and for God- - The creatures and elders thank God for who He is and their existence-- Thankfulness - worldview and leads to worship- - We've been created by an all-holy Creator who made provision for our salvation and who sustains us- - Thankfulness is wise- idolatry is stupid, useless, and foolish--- What in our life keeps us from being thankful or leads us to doubt God---- Are we thankful He is sovereign, even over the difficult aspects of our life---- Are we thankful that, though we broke the relationship, God sent His Son to make a way to reenter relationship with Him--

All of the tensions in this passage are resolved when we realize who God is.--- Abraham Functions as a Prophet -v. 17-21-- - Why did God reveal His plan to Abraham- - Because he would teach - pass on his loyalty to Yahweh to his children, to reflect God's ways and purposes in the world- - God intends to fulfill His promises to Abraham- His choice of Abraham is why Abraham is loyal- - God's plan- - God's response to the severe sin will be epic and establish a pattern- - No one can question the justice of His judgment-- Abraham the Intercessor -v. 22-33-- - This posture, standing before the LORD, is the prophet's stance- - Abraham's response- approach and petition God- - He knows full well how violently sinful these cities are and the judgment they deserve- - Abraham does not dispute the judgment, but he is concerned for the innocent-righteous who may be there- - He bases his petition on the character of God -- He is a just Judge who will do right- - Abraham is insistent, and God responds positively with grace, not anger- - Abraham continues to petition with humility multiple times -- each time God responds with grace, leaning toward mercy before wrath--We see ere a prophet standing in the gap, based on the character of God - he is exercising a shameless faith, and that does not annoy God--God, in His character, will do what is right and will favor mercy -- while we were still sinners, Christ died for us--When life is full of tension, God is still God

When we worry, we are saying to God, -there are some things I think You can't do.--God is making promises here that can't possibly be fulfilled in any other way than that God shows up.--- The LORD's Visit - Abraham's Invitation -v. 1-5-- - See God's grace throughout this story -- Yahweh visits Abraham in a visible, human form- - Abraham runs to meet them, bows, and speaks with tremendous respect -though he may not yet realize it's Yahweh--- The LORD Stays, Abraham's Hospitality -v. 5-8-- - Abraham hastens to prepare a meal- - He brings them the best he has, serves them himself, and stands by while they eat-- The Tension -v. 9-10-- - I will come back next year, and Sarah will have a son-- Sarah's Doubt - the LORD's Reassurance -v. 11-15-- - Sarah's assessment is based on her physical condition -- it is biologically impossible for her to get pregnant- - Sarah's response -- she laughs - asks a rhetorical question -we're too old--- - Yahweh's response- - What does your age have to do with anything--- - Is anything too difficult -wondrous - miraculous- for the LORD--- - Abraham - Sarah likely only knew Yahweh as Creator and the God who sent the Flood- - Israelites knew plagues, pillars of cloud - fire, the Red Sea parting, and a terrifying display at Mt. Sinai- - Only God can save the apparently unsavable- - God the Son was born of a virgin- - The promises of God will be fulfilled by God and God alone -- He gets all the glory- - God comforts Sarah through rebuking her -- stop doubting--- Acknowledge to God your doubts-- Recognize what God can't do -- lie, break His promises, abandon His people, fail to accomplish His plans

Those who are in covenant with God have their identity changed -- a believer's identity is found in Christ--- God introduces the covenant -v. 1-8-- - The covenant partners -- Yahweh - Abram- - In the space of 24 years, Abram has heard from God only a few times, and only 3 directly about the covenant- - Yahweh appeared visibly to Abram- - -God Almighty- - El Shaddai- - God who is able - sufficient- - First time this name is used- - Abram's response - fell on his face, knowing he doesn't deserve any of this- - More covenant promises- - Abram's name changed to Abraham, to match the covenant promise -- father of multitudes- - These promises are lasting and in perpetuity-- God Gives the Covenant Sign -v. 9-14-- - This covenant creates a covenant community- - Circumcision was not unheard of, but it was unique to do it with infants- - The physical sign doesn't guarantee participation in the covenant- - It was meant as a way to mark people as loyal to Yahweh- - There can be no -lone wolf - lone ranger- Christians -- you must participate in the community- - Our new covenant identity is an outgrowth of the Abrahamic covenant -- we are spiritual descendants of Abraham-- More Covenant Promises -v. 15-21-- - Another renaming- Sarai - Sarah, -princess-- - God specifically says Sarah will give Abraham a son- - Abraham struggles to believe, but God reassures him-- Abraham Obeyed -v. 22-27---The heartbeat of the covenant -- I will be their God - they will be My people -- I give you Myself- -Walk before Me and be blameless -- walk as Christ walked, with wholehearted allegiance-- Yes, we still sin, but it should not be the pattern of our life

- God is faithful even when we are unfaithful or scheming- - Praise God His plan does not depend on my not having sad, sinful moments- - Abram never leads in this story, though he's the one who received God's promises -- Abram FAILED--- God hears and cares for the lowest--- God doesn't do things the way we think He should, and we need to be ok with that and not try to fix it--- God is the first and only One in this story to name Hagar-- - Ishmael - God hears -- this would be a permanent reminder to Hagar that God hear and provided for her--- Hagar is the only one in Scripture to give a name to God- - Lahairoi - God who sees- - Hagar realizes she's seen God and is amazed that He sees her

- Rest, for the Christian, is something other than a change in our earthly circumstances. We must find our rest in God.-- There's No Fear of the Raging World -v. 1-3-- - Because of who God is, there's no reason to fear -v. 1-2-- - Refuge, strength, present help -- this Psalm gives a wider perspective on present troubles- - We may grieve, but we need not fear because of who God is, no matter the circumstances- - If everything else changes, God DOES NOT- - God is who He is and will hold His own until the end-- Gladness in the City of God -v. 4-7-- - Rev. 22-1-5 -- God provides the river of life- - This city is holy because it's where God dwells- - God's presence brings unearthly stability- - Every morning is one of fresh mercies and grace, more than enough for the day ahead- - Nations rage and totter, but God gets the last word- - The Yahweh of heavenly armies is with us- - The God of ancient covenants holds us-- Confidence in the Reality of God -v. 8-11-- - Pay attention to what God does- - God will end the war by utterly crushing the rebels -Zech. 14-12-13-- - Be still, and know I am God- - Be still - rest, calm down- - Our rest comes from knowing who God is and what He has done- - God doesn't need me, but He offers Himself to me because I need Him- - Our lives would change if, in the midst of the problem, we would STOP and mediate on who God is-- Allow this Psalm to take your blinded perspective and be in awe of your God- - Jesus will return in glory and be acknowledged by ALL as LORD-- This hope we have in Christ is what people need to hear

On one hand, this passage should move us to righteous, holy fear, but it should also move us to great JOY---- Two promises- - I am your shield- God stands between His people and anything that would destroy them or their faith- - Your reward shall be very great- God's promises to us through Christ are more amazing than His promises to Abram- - Sometimes promises are fearful things--- Lord- Adonai -authority, sovereign- - GOD- Yahweh - Yahweh in Charge-- I have no child- what's the point of reward if there's no one to inherit it --- Will Abram have to concoct an ad hoc solution because of a Divine oversight----- The child of God must never take God for granted-- Even when receiving the promises of God, one is not on the same footing as God--- The heartbeat of this unconditional covenant - - Only God goes through the pieces -- the fulfillment of the covenant rests solely on God- - My salvation does not depend on my performance - - We can take great JOY in this- - My eternal security rests in the God who cannot lie- - God takes the cost of the promise on Himself --- This should produce a fearless faith, peace, and joy--- Our Response- - A fearless faith and faithful fear- - -Be still, and know that I am God- -- stop talking- - Don't fear the world- - God is big enough to handle the questions of faith seeking understanding- - Choose JOY, despite the circumstances, because God is faithful to keep His promises

-Cast your sin in the light of the cross and it won't be so attractive--- Three If's- Two Lies, One Truth -1-8-10-- - Lie- denying the sinfulness of sin -v. 8, 10-- - There is no truth in us, and we are calling God a liar- - Truth- acknowledge the sin in our lives -v. 9-- - Confess- agree with God about the sinfulness of our sin, recognizing it offends God- - Take time to be specific and serious with God regarding your sin- - Sin offends, renders one unfit, and points to a history - past- - God is faithful and just to forgive because of Christ's work on the cross- - God would be unjust - wrong to not forgive us when we genuinely confess- - God fully cleanses the taint-stain-offense of sin, rendering us useful again- - This should make us WANT to confess sin-- Purpose- so that you may not sin -2-1-2-- - STOP sinning- - Sin is not allowed in God's family, so we MUST take it seriously- - The grace of the gospel is only grace because of the bad news of sin -- God hates it- - BUT we still sin- - We have an Advocate with the Father- - Jesus will never abandon us- - Jesus understands the power of sin's temptation better than we do, because He never gave in- - He is the Propitiation for our sin- - I John 4-10 is the only other place -propitiation- is used in this epistle- - Jesus satisfied the righteous wrath of an offended, all-holy God- - Only God the Son could bear the wrath of God the Father an exhaust it- - Jesus Christ and His work on the cross is ALWAYS ENOUGH for those who will confess their sin and place their faith in Him

- God takes our rebellious world's plans and expectations and turns them on their head, because He WINS--- Trust God, no matter what life looks like, because He WINS--- Lot was a believer, and he made a natural choice. But that choice took him away from blessed Abram, out of Canaan, and put him in the world, where he is subject to the avarice of the world.--- Faith in the God who Wins turns otherwise cowardly people into bold lions--- Abram continues the pursuit and drives them as far from the promised land as he can -- this is a response of FAITH--- Melchizedek blesses Abram, but even the blessing itself is about God Most High --- This story is about the God Who Wins, giving victory to someone -Abram- who shouldn't have won- - Abram is a sanctified weapon, the instrument of God's will -Rom. 6-12-13- 16-20- Ps. 60-11-12-- - Because of Jesus our Messiah, those who place their faith in Christ are given the role of -serpent crusher--- By giving a tithe to Melchizedek, Abram is recognizing his position and the truth of what he said

- The Hebrew word -hesed- behind -steadfast love- is the OT word most closely related to the NT word -agape- for self-sacrificial love-- Wisdom that is not loyal and trustworthy is not of God-- v. 3 -- Weave God's character into your life-- This kind of gentle, godly wisdom will have a positive impact on all of your relationships -Lk. 2-52-

- God uses hard things and strife to get His chosen where He wants them-- God is not God in spite of trials, but through them--- Set-up -v. 1-4-- - Leaving Egypt, coming back to Canaan with his wife, his stuff, and Lot- - He comes back to his altar at Bethel and begins to worship God again-- Togetherness Is a Problem -v. 5-7-- - Lot's presence with Abram is reiterated because he's important to the story- - Both men are so wealthy the land can't support them together, leading to arguments between their servants-- A Proposal for Peace -v. 8-13-- - Separation proposed -- let's agree to separate amicably- - Separation effected- - Lot's motivation- - Lush and well-watered in the Jordan Plain- - While Lot's choice isn't sinful, his motivation is strictly physical, and he leaves Canaan to do it- - Abram stayed in Canaan because God told him to be there-- The Real Story Being Told -v. 14-18-- - God appeared to Abram AFTER he and Lot SEPARATED- - Lot is not a part of God's promises to Abram- he will not be Abram's heir- - Abram struggled to believe God's promises of possessing the land and descendants- - Abram obeys God by surveying the land, then builds an altar to worship the One true God--- God's promises prompt faith, and that faith leads to obedience and worship-- Being separated to God necessitates separation from that which is contrary-opposed to God's purposes- - Is there something you need to separate out of your life because it hinders your walk with God--- - Trust God when difficult, painful separations happen

- No one can stand against the God who is for us -- not even US-- The point is not to study the life of Abraham, but to point to God and to Christ Who ran the race perfectly-- Abram's Flight -v. 10--- Abram's Fear - Folly -v. 11-13-- - Fear -v. 11-12- - Abram says nothing about God. He is focused on his fear that Egyptians will kill him to get Sarai, his stunningly beautiful wife- - Folly -v. 13-- - His plan- lie - say you're my sister -- Sarai has no standing-right to disagree- - Abram's fear may not be unfounded, but his plan shows no faith -trust- in God-- Abram's Fiasco -v. 14-15-- - The final time Abram speaks in this story is when he tells Sarai to lie- - In Ancient Near East culture, wealth is measured by the size of your flocks - number of servants- - Sarai is property to be bought - sold- the lusting king gets the girl- the cowardly husband gets rich because of her- - However foolish we may be, God is not thwarted-- BUT GOD -v. 17-- - Sarai is called by name only twice in this passage- - God is the only One Who protects Sarai- - God is affirming His promises to Abram, despite Abram's folly- - Nothing will stand in the way of God's promises -- God is the Hero-- Abram's Felony -v. 18-20-- - See God's GRACE -- He protects Abram - Sarai, enriching Abram through Pharaoh, though Abram deserved none of it- - God is on display, stepping in exactly where, when, and how needed to further His plan

- Everyone in the story of the human race so far has failed-- Humanity is constantly trying to access the Divine on their own terms-- The genealogy of the blessed line of Shem ends with a family without much going for it- - Terah's family names are tied to moon worship- - From a human perspective, if God is going to do something He's chosen the wrong guy-- The LORD- Covenant - Blessing -v. 1-3-- - The LORD's Command -v. 1-- Leave everything - everyone you know to ARRIVE where God wants Abram to land- - God will take responsibility for getting us where we need to go- - The LORD's Promises -v. 2-3-- - I will make you a great nation -though Sarai is barren-- - I will bless you -- a promise of God's favor- - I will make your name great -- Abram will be a source of blessing to others- - The promise of Divine backing- - I will bless those who bless you- - I will harm those who harm you---God is saying to a fallen man- -I will do what's necessary to bring you where I want you to be---- Abram's Response- Obedience - Worship -v. 4-9-- - He takes everything with him, leaving no reason to return- - The oak of Moreh was likely a place of Canaanite worship- - Canaan was a cursed line- - The LORD appeared to Abram here- - Abram built an altar to Yahweh here- - Abram's worship of Yahweh here replaces what had originally been done here- - Where God's people go, false worship is replaced with true worship- - Abram's travels take him through the entire land of what would become Israel-- This passage is about God keeping His promises, not choosing a ready-made hero-- Our God is faithful, and He will keep His promises. It doesn't depend on us

- The Gospel creates a new kind of person doing a new kind of good deeds-- The Pattern of Gospel Partnership -v. 12-13-- - Expected ministry flexibility - a willingness to help when and how needed -v. 12-- - Expected ministry help - a willingness to help when and how needed -v. 13-- - Help eagerly and diligently without questioning it- - Help gospel servants sufficiently-- The Expectation of Gospel Partnership -v. 14-- - -Also- - all the people, not just leaders, MUST LEARN to partner with gospel ministry- - -LEARN- - related to the word we get -disciple- from - learn by doing and practicing- - Don't just sit and take in instruction, go out and act on it- - The church can't do what it needs to do if God's people don't give monetarily- - The purpose is for believers to experience the blessing and reward of fruitfulness -Phil. 4-17-- - If there is no lasting fruit, there is no true root- - James 2-14-26- - Salvation is by faith alone- - You can see faith is genuine by the works - fruit-- The Community of Gospel Partnership -v. 15-- - Joyful, loving cooperation, no competition- - The church should be the most affirming place on the planet-- The Grace for Gospel Partnership -v. 15-- - We need God's grace to be this kind of church- - God delights to provide the grace that is needed

- God intends for the church to show Him off to the world-- How to make the church good for the world -v. 8-- - What are we supposed to do - believe it- - -A trustworthy statement-- - All five occurrences are in pastoral epistles -- 1 Tim. 1-15- 3-1- 4-9- 2 Tim. 2-11- - Gospel, church order, priorities, - faithfulness- - Keep hold of the basics - foundational truths- - Faithful church leaders must be insistent - repetitive with these foundational truths- - The result is believers engages in - zealous for good deeds- - The Gospel radically changes people- - We become His servants, doing His work for His glory- - Why we do it- - It makes the church helpful - useful to those outside- - Our attractiveness is to look like Christ with genuine love - faith-- How to make the church bad for the world -v. 9-- - Strife that divides the church- - Churches need to guard against developing sectarian thinking- - Don't get hung up on things that don't actually affect someone's eternal destiny- - Why would people choose to be divisive- - Desire for wealth or prominence- - They want a hearing - the affirmation that comes with it- - Don't listen to divisive strife - stand firm - defend the truth-- How to protect the church's usefulness - testimony -v. 10-11-- - For the one causing strife- warn twice, then make them leave- - An inability to receive rebuke - repent reveals a bent or perverted character-- God takes the integrity of His word - His church very seriously- - It's not enough to just not have fights -- intentionally do good - serve others to show off the gospel- - Don't affirm their sin- show off the love of Christ

- We are created in the image of God, yet in our sin we are nothing like Him and will be eternally separated from Him in death - Titus 3-4-7 is the BUT GOD answer to that tension--- The Appearance of Salvation -v. 4-- - The appearing of hope, saving grace, and Christ's return is a theme in Titus- - God's gracious self-revelation is a theme of the faithful Christian life- - When we struggle to live faithfully, we're failing to fully grasp the significance of God's gracious self-revelation through Christ- - GOODNESS- affectionate concern for humanity- - In spite of our sin and rebellion, God presses His KINDNESS upon us so that we cannot escape it-- The How of Salvation -v. 5-6-- - In the Greek, v. 5 begins with -NOT because of works . . . -- - Salvation is NOT performance based- no type or number of good deeds can save us- - God is in His nature merciful - - He never begrudges showing mercy - - That we believe at all is God's work in us- - A creating God always creates new things- - REGENERATION - new birth - there is a spiritual washing of a dead heart by the Holy Spirit- - God is NEVER stingy with His promises and fulfilments, giving us the richest thing He has to offer -- Himself-- The Why of Salvation -v. 7-- - JUSTIFIED- declared not guilty because of Christ's work on the cross- - Anything other than hell is more grace than we deserve, yet we are made heirs of eternal life in the household of God-- The So What of Salvation- - Don't do the old sinful things -- repent and replace them with new, good things, bringing glory to God

We must get away from the idea that wisdom is about making good decisions. Wisdom is to pursue knowing God. When we do that, He will fill in the rest of the blanks.

- This is to be a constant, regular reminder. Some things are so important the Holy Spirit inspired that the instruction should be repeated.-- Be so focused on the return of Christ that it changes your outlook and perspective on life.-- We have a responsibility to live the gospel in a certain way, even in the context of a corrupt society.-- Show off the gospel as you relate to government- - Rulers and authorities- using both terms makes this all-inclusive, every level of government authority- - Show deference because God placed them in that position- - Subject- a posture or attitude of being arranged under their authority- - There is an escalation- SUBJECT to the authority - OBEY the laws - actively Look for ways to benefit the community with GOOD DEEDS-- Show off the gospel as you relate to other people, even enemies- - Don't attack the person or speak disrespectfully of them, even when you disagree with their position on something- - We can't claim to love God while we throw darts at His image- - Be gentle- not insisting on your rights- - Our Savior never insisted on His rights as He went to the cross- - Show courtesy to everyone else, even when you disagree- - Treat others as more important than yourself-- Because you don't want to know us without Jesus- - Not a single one of us earns anything with God by our own merit- - Remember what you once were and would still be without the saving grace of Christ- - The gospel offers genuine freedom and rest-- Can people see a contrast in how you respond to people and those in authority- - More than just not treating others badly, be proactive in finding ways to do them good

If you lack zeal for God, you are lacking wisdom.

- THE HERO of all heroes was broken for us so that our brokenness for us so that our brokenness can be mended.-- How do we live godly lives in this broken world-- Look to our Savior, who ran the race ahead of us and forged the path.-- Why did Jesus give Himself for us- - To redeem and rescue us from slavery, restoring us to a position we'd lost because of sin- - Those who've placed their faith in Christ are citizens of a new Kingdom- - Each of us is born in sin and like living that way. Only God can open our eyes to our need for a Savior.- - To purify us from the sin that separates us from God- - He died and rose again to purchase for Himself a people He values- - Zealous- loyal allegiance to Christ- earnestly devoted to His cause- - We must be zealous for God-honoring good deeds- - Jesus redeems us from being un-useful to a new, useful creation able to bring Him glory-- We are called to look beyond the troubles and distractions of this life and toward the return of our Hero King

- This passage is the heartbeat of our new life in Christ.-- -For the grace of God has appeared- -- THE moment the story of all stories has been waiting for.-- God's grace is the WHY - HOW for all the instruction in the previous verses.-- Jesus Christ IS the appearance of God's grace -- He came and dwelt among us.-- God's grace rewrites human character and destiny.-- The gospel reorients a fallen creation to its Creator.-- This is a SAVING grace and a WISE-MAKING grace.-- DENY living your life without reverence or respect for your Creator.-- WORLDLY PASSIONS -- strong, controlling, or distracting desires-- SENSIBLE -- think clearly and see through the world's lies-- UPRIGHT -- do the right thing in everything all the time-- GODLY -- ongoing awareness of and reverence for God-- Our hope is in Christ's return, and when He does we will know ourselves to be specifically, eternally, and magnificently blessed.-- This future focus drives a present, lively godliness.-- Let this vision of Christ, being with Him and like Him, distract you from the distractions of this world.

- The fear of the LORD is the right response to who God is in the context of who we are and what we are facing.--- Wisdom - Aligning oneself with God and His reality.--- Job 28-28 - And he said to man, -Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.----- Fear of the LORD - Wisdom

- To LIMIT the application of this passage to employers and employees is to DILUTE the power of the gospel in the lives of those in the darkest, worst, most uncertain circumstances.-- Jesus redeemed the slave's status by taking upon Himself the form of a slave -Phil. 2-6-8- and dying a slave's death.-- Paul instructs slaves to voluntarily submit to their master, not be forced into it.-- Because of the gospel, our status here on earth doesn't matter. Rather, use your position to bring glory to God.-- Not pilfering- don't take or hold back what isn't yours-- Showing all good faith- be trustworthy and reliable-- BUT- a very strong contrast in the Greek-- Adorn- show off, cast in a good light-- Even slavery could be a platform to showcase the life-changing power and hope of the gospel.-- What earthly situation -positive or negative- are you in that keeps you from glorifying God and glorying in Christ your Savior, being satisfied in Him alone.

What is the fear of the LORD---- Prov. 1-29, 8-13 --- Hate Evil, Love Instruction-- Job 28-28 --- Turn away from Evil-- Psalm 33-8 --- Awe-- Psalm 33-18-19 --- Faith-- Deut. 5-22-29 --- Obedience - Terror-- Matt. 10-26-31 --- Terror- No Terror, but Trust

- LORD - I AM - covenant making, covenant keeping, Savior, Creator God-- The role of -shepherd- is a kingly one.-- Our Good Shepherd knows our deepest, truest needs, and provides for them.-- When we have no life in ourselves, He -restores my soul- - providing us with His life.-- Our Shepherd leads us along paths consistent with His covenant, allowing us to experience His grace.-- Sometimes life is awful - we're in -the valley of the darkest dark- - but there is never any reason for the Christian to fear, because our Shepherd is always with us and will always come after us when we stray.-- Jesus, our Good Shepherd, went into the dark valley ahead of us, going to the cross so we wouldn't have to.-- He has the tools necessary to deal with the enemy in time. The enemy will one day realize just how wrong they were.-- God's goodness and faithful mercy is always abundant, always enough, and always available.

- The glory of young men is their strength. It is the responsibility of older, wise, more experienced men to steer and guide that strength towards usefulness and productivity.-- Young men must be taught to think clearly about their responsibilities -- to protect, to serve, and to provide -- and not think too highly about themselves.-- No one pursues God, seeks His glory, or strives to be more like Christ out of their own desire. The Gospel creates that desire.-- This grace-driven new character affects and applies to all areas of life and character.-- We are not saved by good works but for good works. The watching world should have no evil to legitimately accuse us of.-- Sensible- think clearly and control your actions.-- Young men are to be dignified, having a gravity, seriousness, sobriety, and respectability about them.-- Train them to live in a way that reminds people about Jesus.

- The Gospel creates the situation where believers can joyfully fulfill their roles.-- The older women are responsible to model and teach -disciple- younger women how to fulfill their role.-- This is what wise, Christ-like married life looks like for a wife.-- Where a husband is told to LOVE his wife, this is the self-sacrificing love. Here, the young women told to LOVE their husbands refers to -affection- or -like.--- There is something uniquely powerful about a mother who loves and prays for her children even when they are difficult, disobedient, and unlikeable.-- Women are responsible to be modest and chaste in their presentation of themselves - both physical dress and interaction with others -not a flirt-.-- Before God, a woman's primary responsibility is within and for the benefit of her home and family.-- Her kindness - goodness expresses itself in the work of her hands for other people.-- A Christ-like wife is submitted to the hierarchy GOD commanded for a marriage, not contingent on the character - quality of her husband.-- We need to show the beauty of what the Gospel does in a home.

- God's grace is ALWAYS more than enough to deal with our sin--- There is no room under grace for sin because we are dead to sin.-- All who are identified with Christ by faith are identified with His death -- we have a new life-nature in Christ to live free from sin NOW.-- Those who have died with Christ no longer have the excuse of the flesh.-- The cross of Christ doesn't just change our FUTURE destiny but also our CURRENT trajectory.-- EVERY human being is either dead IN sin or dead TO sin.-- Jesus can NEVER die again--- The life of every born again believer is now defined by the LIFE of God the Son--- No matter the temptations you face, every true believer is DEAD to sin and ALIVE to God -- respond to life based on that truth.

The Galatians were making God's grace meaningless by making faith secondary to works.--The Law cannot undo or contribute to God's promise of salvation- it was a protective guardian until Christ's atoning work on the cross.--God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, has adopted us into His family, giving us His Holy Spirit as a promise of our future inheritance.

It is not enough to simply teach good theology. We must teach what fits with good theology -- a Christlike life.--You can know all there is to know about Christianity and even be committed to the Bible, but if the actions of your life don't back that up, your belief must be questioned.--The grace of God takes people living only for themselves and their appetites and turns them into wise teachers.

False teaching under the guise of loyalty to Jesus is rampant. We must tell the truth because people's souls are at stake.