Gardendale Nazarene Sermons

Blindness and LightJohn 9:1-41John 9:1-41Characters:JesusMan Born BlindDisciplesJohn 9:4-54 We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”Characters:JesusMan Born BlindDisciplesNeighborsPhariseesBlind Man's ParentsJohn 9:25 He answered, “Whether or not he's a sinner, I don't know. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I can see!”“I am the light of the world.” John 9:5The one in darkness receives the light and begins to see.The Pharisees can physically see, and are blinded by the light.John 9:35-4035 Jesus heard that they had thrown the man out, and when he found him, he asked, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"36 "Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?" he asked.37 Jesus answered, "You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you."38 "I believe, Lord!" he said, and he worshiped him.39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, in order that those who do not see will see and those who do see will become blind."40 Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, "We aren't blind too, are we?"The blind man didn't fear what that light would show– he wanted it.The Pharisees didn't fear blindness– they feared what it might reveal about themselves.The Light of the world has come. Every one of us gets to respond– either we come into the light and finally see... or we turn away and call our darkness light.

Healing FaithJohn 4:46-54 John 4:39-4239 Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of what he said. 42 And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, since we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”John 4:43-4543 After two days he left there for Galilee. 44 (Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) 45 When they entered Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen everything he did in Jerusalem during the festival. For they also had gone to the festival.John 4:46-5446 He went again to Cana of Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum. 47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, since he was about to die.48 Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”49 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my boy dies.”50 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed.51 While he was still going down, his servants met him saying that his boy was alive. 52 He asked them at what time he got better. “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him,” they answered. 53 The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household.54 Now this was also the second sign Jesus performed after he came from Judea to Galilee.John 4:47-4847 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea into Galilee, he went to him and pleaded with him to come down and heal his son, since he was about to die.48 Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”There is a deeper need for healing in this story– the boy's father needs the healing touch of authentic faith.The greatest need in the story is not to be healed. The greatest need is to have saving faith in the Savior of the world who does heal. –Darrell JohnsonJohn 4:49-5049 “Sir,” the official said to him, “come down before my boy dies.”50 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and departed.Jesus' word is enough.What do we learn from this story?We go to Jesus.Ask with boldness.Receive what Jesus has for you.Listen. Trust. Leave it to Him.

The Woman at the WellJohn 4:1-42John 4:1-61 When Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard he was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), 3 he left Judea and went again to Galilee. 4 He had to travel through Samaria; 5 so he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar near the property that Jacob had given his son Joseph. 6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, worn out from his journey, sat down at the well. It was about noon.John 4:7-97 A woman of Samaria came to draw water.“Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 because his disciples had gone into town to buy food.9 “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” she asked him. For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.John 4:10-1410 Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,' you would ask him, and he would give you living water.”11 “Sir,” said the woman, “you don't even have a bucket, and the well is deep. So where do you get this ‘living water'? 12 You aren't greater than our father Jacob, are you? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and livestock.”13 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks from this water will get thirsty again. 14 But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.”What is ‘living water'?Living water is God's life-giving, sustaining Spirit that transforms and nourishes the worshiper eternally.John 4:15-2615 “Sir,” the woman said to him, “give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and come here to draw water.”16 “Go call your husband,” he told her, “and come back here.”17 “I don't have a husband,” she answered.“You have correctly said, ‘I don't have a husband,'” Jesus said. 18 “For you've had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”21 Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”26 Jesus told her, “I, the one speaking to you, am he.”John 3:27-3027 John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of him.' 29 He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”John 4:7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. “Give me a drink,” Jesus said to her, 8 because his disciples had gone into town to buy food.Jesus is on a mission.In this mission, He calls us, His bride, in our brokenness, shame, and hurt.Worship- to pay homage by kissing that hand, to come forward and kissSpirit- we worship in the power of the Spiritspirit- our very breath, the life-giving force in our livesTruth- recognizing who Jesus is, recognizing who we are, responding to these truths in our worship

Born From AboveJohn 3:1-21John 3:1-81 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4 “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?”5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”Begotten Anew(gennāo anōthen)Kingdom of God vs. Flesh (outside of the Kingdom of God)John 3:9-15 9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.10 “Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven —the Son of Man.14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Eternal Life vs. Perishing (condemned)John 3:16-2116 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”Begotten Anew (gennāo anōthen)• Kingdom of God vs. Flesh (outside of the Kingdom of God)• Eternal Life vs. Perishing (condemned)• Light vs. Darkness• Lives by Truth vs. Evil DeedsJohn 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.John 1:33 I didn't know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' John 3:6-76 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.What does it mean to be begotten anew (gennāo anōthen)?• To be begotten of God means believing in the Word (Logos) of God, who is the source of life.• To believe in God's Word is to be in a life-giving relationship with God• To be born anothen (anew) is to enter a relationship that comes only through the work of the Triune God.God is the subjectLove is the verbWe are the direct object

A Temple CleaningJohn 2:13-25John 2:13-2513 The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers' coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!”17 And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.18 So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?”19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.”20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?”21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.23 While he was in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival, many believed in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. 24 Jesus, however, would not entrust himself to them, since he knew them all 25 and because he did not need anyone to testify about man; for he himself knew what was in man.John 2:16-2116 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!”17 And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.18 So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?”19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.”20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?”21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.The ultimate offering is God's action.Jesus is saying, “Can you see what God is giving in and through my death and resurrection?”• God is giving life.• God is restoring relationship.• God is giving the gift of His presence, not in a building but in the sacrifice itself– in Christ!What does it mean to worship a self-giving God?

Thank you for watching our services on YouTube. Please take time to subscribe to get the latest updates. We would love to invite you to join us live on Sundays at 10:30 am (CST) at http://gdalenaz.online.church

Thank you for watching our services on YouTube. Please take time to subscribe to get the latest updates. We would love to invite you to join us live on Sundays at 10:30 am (CST) at http://gdalenaz.online.church.

Seen and TestifiedJohn 1:19-34John 1:19 This was John's testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”What are you testifying to?What are we, the church, testifying to?John 1:20-2820 He didn't deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?”“I am not,” he said.“Are you the Prophet?”“No,” he answered.22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said.”24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren't the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”26 “I baptize with water,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don't know him. 27 He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to untie.” 28 All this happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.John 1:29-3429 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.' 31 I didn't know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. 33 I didn't know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”John 1:32-3332 And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. 33 I didn't know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'John 1:29, 3429 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!34 I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”John 1:33 I didn't know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'John 1:33I didn't know him, but he who sent me to immerse with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who immerses with the Holy Spirit.'To be a disciple is to be a child of God, and children of God are Spirit-immersed participants in Jesus' Spirit-immersed mission.John 20:21-2321 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”To be God's children is to do God's work–to join the family trade because you are sharing in the family life and DNA.

The Mission of God (mission Dei):1. God, who is love, is missional and has a mission.2. Scripture bears witness to God's mission.3. The church is called and sent to participate in this mission (in God-shaped ways).Transformation is participation in the ongoing divine activity of salvation.“By grace we become children of God and thus participate in the communion and activity that the Son, by nature, shares with the Father.”–Michael GormanJohn 1:1-181 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.'”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father's side—he has revealed him.LifeLightGrace ζοή- zoē, life1. Physical Dimension2. Relational Dimension3. Future DimensionTransformation is participation in the ongoing divine activity of salvation.John 1:4  In him was life, and that life was the light of men.John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Table is SetIsaiah 55:1-13Angel: A man down on earth needs our help.Clarence: Splendid, is he sick?Angel: No, worse, he's discouraged.Isaiah 40:6-86 A voice was saying, "Cry out!"Another said, "What should I cry out?" "All humanity is grass,and all its goodness is like the flower of the field.7 The grass withers, the flowers fade when the breath of the Lord blows on them;indeed, the people are grass.8 The grass withers, the flowers fade,but the word of our God remains forever."Isaiah 55:1-111 "Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the water; and you without silver,come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without silver and without cost!2 Why do you spend silver on what is not food, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.3 Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live.I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.4 Since I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples,5 so you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel, has glorified you."6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;call to him while he is near.7 Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts;let him return to the Lord,so he may have compassion on him,and to our God, for he will freely forgive.8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,and your ways are not my ways."This is the Lord's declaration.9 "For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat,11 so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do."Isaiah 55:6-76 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call to him while he is near.7 Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will freely forgive. Isaiah 55:8-98 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways."This is the Lord's declaration.9 "For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:3 Pay attention and come to me; listen, so that you will live.I will make a permanent covenant with you on the basis of the faithful kindnesses of David.How do we seek the Lord?• Open your hands to God's way.Where do I need to surrender my way?• Intentionally seek God's thoughts.Find centering ScriptureFast from something that distracts you from God's voice.Add one act of kindness to your week.• Choose one place where you will look for joy.Isaiah 55:12-1312 You will indeed go out with joy and be peacefully guided;the mountains and the hills will break into singing before you,and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up,and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up;this will stand as a monument for the Lord,an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.

Opening GravesEzekiel 37:1-14Ezekiel 37:11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.'Psalms 6:1-31 Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; do not discipline me in your wrath.2 Be gracious to me, Lord, for I am weak; heal me, Lord, for my bones are shaking; 3 my whole being is shaken with terror.And you, Lord—how long?Psalms 22:11-1511 Don't be far from me, because distress is nearand there's no one to help.12 Many bulls surround me; strong ones of Bashan encircle me.13 They open their mouths against me—lions, mauling and roaring.14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax, melting within me.15 My strength is dried up like baked clay; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.You put me into the dust of death.Psalms 31: 9-109 Be gracious to me, Lord, because I am in distress; my eyes are worn out from frustration—my whole being as well.10 Indeed, my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my strength has failed because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.Psalms 102:1-51 Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you.2 Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble.Listen closely to me; answer me quickly when I call. 3 For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. 4 My heart is suffering, withered like grass;I even forget to eat my food. 5 Because of the sound of my groaning, my flesh sticks to my bones."Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off."• my bones are shaking• my bones are disjointed• my bones waste away• my bones burnEzekiel 37:1-141 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. 3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”I replied, “Lord God, only you know.”4 He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. 6 I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me; the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. 13 You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the Lord.'”

The Unexpected Delivery Daniel 3:1-30O come, O come, Emmanuel,and ransom captive Israelthat mourns in lonely exile hereuntil the Son of God appear.Exodus 20:1-61 Then God spoke all these words:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.3 Do not have other gods besides me.4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers' iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.Traditional Jewish 10 Commandments:1- I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.2- Do not have other gods besides me.3- Do not make an idol for yourselfTraditional Christian 10 Commandments:1- Do not have other gods besides me.2- Do not make an idol for yourself3- Do not misuse the name of the Lord your GodDaniel 3:1-30

Future and a HopeJeremiah 29:1, 4-14Jeremiah 29:1-41 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining exiled elders, the priests, the prophets, and all the people Nebuchadnezzar had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had left Jerusalem. 3 He sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The letter stated:4 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: Genesis 17:6-86 I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. 7 I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you. 8 And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as a permanent possession, and I will be their God.”“Jeremiah was to experience what the men and women of his audience were soon to experience; this would be the grief of loss and lamentation for the deaths of mothers, husbands, fathers, and children.” –RE ClementsJeremiah 16:1-41 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Do not marry or have sons or daughters in this place. 3 For this is what the Lord says concerning sons and daughters born in this place as well as concerning the mothers who bear them and the fathers who father them in this land: 4 They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried but will be like manure on the soil's surface. They will be finished off by sword and famine. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land.Where are you living in the present?What part of your life feels the most like exile?Jeremiah 29:5-145 "Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. 7 Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive."8 For this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: "Don't let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don't listen to the dreams you elicit from them, 9 for they are prophesying falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them." This is the Lord's declaration.10 For this is what the Lord says: "When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you"—this is the Lord's declaration—"plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you"—this is the Lord's declaration—"and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you"—this is the Lord's declaration. "I will restore you to the place from which I deported you."Build houses and live in them.Plant gardens and eat their produceMarry and have children.Have your children marry and have grandchildren.Pursue the well-being of the city.Pray for the peace (shalom) of the city- when it thrives, you thrive.I have plans for you- for your well-being (shalom).You have a future and a hope.Call, pray, seek, and search Me.You will find God in the midst of exile.

The Future Right NowIsaiah 9:1-7Judges 6:1The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord handed them over to Midian seven years, Judges 10:6 Then the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines. They abandoned the Lord and did not worship him.Judges 6:13-16The story of Gideon is not about Gideon's strength, but God's presence (”But I will be with you”).Judges 7:7 The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the three hundred men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.”Judges 7:9 That night the Lord said to him, “Get up and attack the camp, for I have handed it over to you.Judges 7:14 His friend answered, “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has handed the entire Midianite camp over to him.”Judges 7:15 When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to Israel's camp and said, “Get up, for the Lord has handed the Midianite camp over to you.”...I will deliver you....for I have handed it over to you.God has handed...Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the people of the east had settled down in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. Judges 7:19-22Through the weakest family and the smallest army, God pre-declared a victory– showing us a pattern of His work: God's strength through our weakness.Isaiah 8:21-2221 They will wander through the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged, and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 They will look toward the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of affliction, and they will be driven into thick darkness.Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.DistressDarknessThe gloom of afflictionIsaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.Isaiah 9:3-43 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor ,just as you did on the day of Midian.Isaiah 9:5-75 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.6 For a child will be born for us,a son will be given to us,and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.7 The dominion will be vast,and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom,to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Justice Rolls DownAmos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24Amos 1:1-21 The words of Amos, who was one of the sheep breeders from Tekoa—what he saw regarding Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. 2 He said: The Lord roars from Zion and makes his voice heard from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the summit of Carmel withers.“I will not relent from punishing _______________, for three crimes, even four.”Amos 2:4-84 The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Judah for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the instruction of the Lord and have not kept his statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray.5 Therefore, I will send fire against Judah, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem. 6 The Lord says: I will not relent from punishing Israel for three crimes, even four, because they sell a righteous person for silver and a needy person for a pair of sandals.7 They trample the heads of the poor on the dust of the ground and obstruct the path of the needy. A man and his father have sexual relations with the same girl, profaning my holy name.8 They stretch out beside every altar on garments taken as collateral, and in the house of their God they drink wine obtained through fines.Economic ExploitationAbuse of the PoorSexual ExploitationReligious AbuseAmos 5:4 For the Lord says to the house of Israel: Seek me and live!Amos 5:6 Seek the Lord and live, or he will spread like fire throughout the house of Joseph; it will consume everything with no one at Bethel to extinguish it.Amos 5:14-1514 Pursue good and not evilso that you may live,and the Lord, the God of Armies,will be with youas you have claimed.15 Hate evil and love good;establish justice at the city gate.Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be graciousto the remnant of Joseph.Pursue (seek) good and not evil.Hate evil and love good.Establish justice at the city gate.Isaiah 1:13-1713 Stop bringing useless offerings.Your incense is detestable to me.New Moons and Sabbaths,and the calling of solemn assemblies—I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.14 I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals.They have become a burden to me;I am tired of putting up with them.15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,I will refuse to look at you;even if you offer countless prayers,I will not listen.Your hands are covered with blood.16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves.Remove your evil deeds from my sight.Stop doing evil.17 Learn to do what is good.Pursue justice.Correct the oppressor.Defend the rights of the fatherless.Plead the widow's cause.Amos 5:21-2421 I hate, I despise, your feasts!I can't stand the stenchof your solemn assemblies.22 Even if you offer meyour burnt offerings and grain offerings,I will not accept them;I will have no regardfor your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.23 Take away from me the noise of your songs!I will not listen to the music of your harps.24 But let justice flow like water,and righteousness, like an unfailing stream.Pursue (seek) good and not evil.Hate evil and love good.Establish justice at the city gate.Let justice flow like water.Justice is living in such a way that those around you can live.Righteousness like an unfailing stream.We are to be people who seek God.What God desires is not a moment of goodness but a movement– a flow. Justice and righteousness aren't events we attend; they're rivers we join. Is your life adding to that flow or blocking it?

The Power of the Quiet1 Kings 19:1-181 Kings 18:20-21How long will you waver between two opinions?If the Lord is God, follow Him.But if ___________, follow him.But the people didn't answer him a word.1 Kings 18:27-29 1 Kings 19:1-181 Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don't make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day's journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I'm no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 He entered a cave there and spent the night.Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”11 Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord's presence.”At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”14 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they're looking for me to take my life.”15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you arrive, you are to anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17 Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu. 18 But I will leave seven thousand in Israel—every knee that has not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”1 Kings 19:12 CSB After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. 1 Kings 19:12 NRSV and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. What does it mean for God to be in the silence?• What needs to quiet down in your life so you can recognize God again?• Can you trust that God is at work even when He feels silent?• Can you slow down long enough to notice the God who speaks in silence?The world will keep shouting for our attention — but the living God waits for us in the sheer silence. Will we have the courage to stop, listen, and find Him there?

Center and Presence1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-131 Samuel 16:7 1 Kings 2:1-41 Kings 5:1-51 King Hiram of Tyre sent his emissaries to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father's place, for Hiram had always been friends with David.2 Solomon sent this message to Hiram: 3 “You know my father David was not able to build a temple for the name of the Lord his God. This was because of the warfare all around him until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 The Lord my God has now given me rest on every side; there is no enemy or misfortune. 5 So I plan to build a temple for the name of the Lord my God, according to what the Lord promised my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the temple for my name.'1 Kings 8:1-131 At that time Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the tribal heads and the ancestral leaders of the Israelites before him at Jerusalem in order to bring the ark of the Lord's covenant from the city of David, that is Zion. 2 So all the men of Israel were assembled in the presence of King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month,[a] at the festival.3 All the elders of Israel came, and the priests picked up the ark. 4 The priests and the Levites brought the ark of the Lord, the tent of meeting, and the holy utensils that were in the tent. 5 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel, who had gathered around him and were with him in front of the ark, were sacrificing sheep, goats, and cattle that could not be counted or numbered, because there were so many. 6 The priests brought the ark of the Lord's covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place beneath the wings of the cherubim. 7 For the cherubim were spreading their wings over[b] the place of the ark, so that the cherubim covered the ark and its poles from above. 8 The poles were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen from outside the sanctuary; they are still there today. 9 Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.10 When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord's temple, 11 and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple.12 Then Solomon said:The Lord said that he would dwell in total darkness.13 I have indeed built an exalted temple for you,a place for your dwelling forever.1 Kings 8:9 Nothing was in the ark except the two stone tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt.Exodus 19:1-7If the Ark is in the central place of honor in the Temple...If the Arik is the physical representation of the presence of God...In the center (the heart) of the Ark is the physical representation of covenant- the two tablets.Genesis 17:7 Exodus 6:7 Ezekiel 34:24 Ezekiel 36:28 You will live in the land that I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.Jeremiah 7:23 However, I did give them this command: ‘Obey me, and then I will be your God, and you will be my people. Follow every way I command you so that it may go well with you.'Jeremiah 31:33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord's declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.Jeremiah 30:22 You will be my people, and I will be your God.1 Kings 8:9 You will be my people, and I will be your God.What would be different in your life if the central place was, “You will be my people and I will be your God”?if covenant was centralif relationship was centralif the holy place was a relationship with the God of Life

Isn't There One More?1 Samuel 16:1-131 Samuel 3:19-20 19 Samuel grew. The Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied. 20 All Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a confirmed prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there he revealed himself to Samuel by his word.1 Samuel 8:19-2219 The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. 20 Then we'll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”21 Samuel listened to all the people's words and then repeated them to the Lord. 22 “Listen to them,” the Lord told Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.”Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Each of you, go back to your city.”1 Samuel 9:1-21 There was a prominent man of Benjamin named Kish son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite. 2 He had a son named Saul, an impressive young man. There was no one more impressive among the Israelites than he. He stood a head taller than anyone else.1 Samuel 13:13-1413 Samuel said to Saul, “You have been foolish. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel, 14 but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man after his own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over his people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.”1 Samuel 16:1-51 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected for myself a king from his sons.”2 Samuel asked, “How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!”The Lord answered, “Take a young cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate to you.”4 Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?”5 “In peace,” he replied. “I've come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. Male– yesGood Family– Matthew 1:5-6Prominent Family1 Samuel 16:6-7 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Certainly the Lord's anointed one is here before him.”7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”ImpressiveStature– beautiful eyes and handsomeThen the Lord said, “Anoint him, for he is the one.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully on David from that day forward.1 Samuel 16:12b-13aGod still moves through ordinary people, often unnoticed by the world, but seen by Him.Let God define your worth.Be faithful where you are.Trust that God knows what He's doing.God is still anointing Davids — people the world passes by, people whose names aren't in the headlines but whose hearts are after His. Don't despise the place you're in. That may be the very place where God is preparing you for His greatest work.

This morning, we hear from Pastor James

Exodus 4-15Moses returns to Egypt. Moses confronts Pharaoh Ten PlaguesThe People are ReleasedThe Crossing of the Red SeaBitter Water Made SweetExodus 16:1-181 The entire Israelite community departed from Elim and came to the Wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had left the land of Egypt. 2 The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord's hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. This way I will test them to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.”6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the Lord's glory because he has heard your complaints about him. For who are we that you complain about us?” 8 Moses continued, “The Lord will give you meat to eat this evening and all the bread you want in the morning, for he has heard the complaints that you are raising against him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord.”9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your complaints.'” 10 As Aaron was speaking to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there in a cloud the Lord's glory appeared.11 The Lord spoke to Moses, 12 “I have heard the complaints of the Israelites. Tell them: At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”13 So at evening quail came and covered the camp. In the morning there was a layer of dew all around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, there were fine flakes on the desert surface, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” because they didn't know what it was.Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each person needs to eat. You may take two quarts per individual, according to the number of people each of you has in his tent.'”17 So the Israelites did this. Some gathered a lot, some a little. 18 When they measured it by quarts, the person who gathered a lot had no surplus, and the person who gathered a little had no shortage. Each gathered as much as he needed to eat.Exodus 16:2-32 The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord's hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”The people were relying on Moses and Aaron.  The error at this point in the story was not relying on YHWH.Exodus 16:4-5 Will you trust God when you don't know the ‘why'?Exodus 16:8How often do we lose sight of who we are in the light of our complaints?Exodus 16:15Manna is a gift.  God is the gift-giver.At the heart of scarcity or the fear of scarcity lies a fundamental truth: if God doesn't give it, then ultimately we don't have it.We are a people who need to be reminded of God's miracles in the past.The gift of ongoing provision helps us remember a God who provides.

The Fight of His LifeGenesis 27:1-4, 15-23; 28:10-17Genesis 25:24-26Genesis 25:27-34Genesis 27:14-2414 So he went and got the goats and brought them to his mother, and his mother made the delicious food his father loved. 15 Then Rebekah took the best clothes of her older son Esau, which were in the house, and had her younger son Jacob wear them. 16 She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. 17 Then she handed the delicious food and the bread she had made to her son Jacob. 18 When he came to his father, he said, "My father."And he answered, "Here I am. Who are you, my son?"19 Jacob replied to his father, "I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me."20 But Isaac said to his son, "How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?"He replied, "Because the Lord your God made it happen for me."21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come closer so I can touch you, my son. Are you really my son Esau or not?" 22 So Jacob came closer to his father Isaac. When he touched him, he said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." 23 He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like those of his brother Esau; so he blessed him. 24 Again he asked, "Are you really my son Esau?"And he replied, "I am."Genesis 27:36 So he said, “Isn't he rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven't you saved a blessing for me?”Genesis 28:10-1510 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God's angels were going up and down on it. 13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land…I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.The Plot:The promise of many descendants, the creation of a peopleChallenge #1: No DescendentsChallenge #2: Two sons who are fighting for the blessingChallenge #3: A story of stealing and manipulationGenesis 28:13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying.Genesis 28:16-17 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”  He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”

The Lord Will ProvideGenesis 21:1-3; 22:1-14Genesis 12:1-31 The Lord said to Abram:Go from your land,your relatives,and your father's house to the land that I will show you.2 I will make you into a great nation,I will bless you,I will make your name great,and you will be a blessing.3 I will bless those who bless you,I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt,and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.Genesis 21:1-61 The Lord came to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. 3 Abraham named his son who was born to him—the one Sarah bore to him—Isaac. 4 When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.”Genesis 22:1-81 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!”“Here I am,” he answered.2 “Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we'll come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac. In his hand he took the fire and the knife, and the two of them walked on together.7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.”And he replied, “Here I am, my son.”Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.Ultimately, Abraham is going to trust the God he knows as life-giver.Genesis 22:9-189 When they arrived at the place that God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood. He bound his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”He replied, “Here I am.”12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” 13 Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said, “It will be provided on the Lord's mountain.”15 Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn,” this is the Lord's declaration: “Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the city gates of their enemies. 18 And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed my command.”Ultimately, Abraham is going to trust the God he knows as life-giver.• “God Himself will provide...”• There is a way forward.• Continue to trust in the God who gives life even when nothing around you seems to bear that out.• This is where faith is found.• God is not through with His promises.

Creation by the WordGenesis 1:1—2:4aGenesis 1:1-2:3Creator creates creation.Genesis 1:1-21 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.tohu- formless, without structure, chaoticbohu- void, emptyThe song of creation sings of how the Creator brings form out of formlessness and fullness out of emptiness. The Creator creates good. Our Creator desires to move all of His creation from formlessness to fullness and from emptiness to fullness.  The God who creates is bringing order out of the mess and fullness out of the emptiness.

One Hope2 Corinthians 5:1-102 Corinthians 5:1-10We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come.We look…This is a statement about posture.Romans 8:18-1918 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God's sons to be revealed."On one level the lesson nature teaches is fairly simple: what looks like death is merely preparation for the regeneration of livings things…What the naturalist sees in nature as proof of its regenerative strength, the Christian embraces as revelation of the power of God to raise us all to life everlasting." Vigen GuroianWe look to the day that the curse of sin is broken and the redemption of humanity is complete.…for the resurrection of the dead…Resurrection is the defeat of death.Resurrection is not the reversal of death, that is called resurrection.Resurrection is "God's 'yes' to life and creation." –Karl Barth1 Corinthians 15:20-2720 But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be abolished is death. 27 For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception.…the life of the world to come."World" could be better translated as "age" (aión)The world is not going to be restored; it will be completed and perfected.Revelation 21:1-71 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God's dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give to the thirsty from the spring of the water of life. 7 The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son.We are to be people who live "at home with the Lord."Amen.This is true.To confess the Creed is to place our whole lives—past, present, and eternal future—into the hands of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is not just a personal statement of faith; it is a public act of surrender.

One BaptismColossians 2:8-15We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.Ephesians 4:1-61 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.One baptismFor the forgiveness of sinsOne ChurchOne baptismfor the forgivness of sinsColossians 2:8-158 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elements of the world, rather than Christ. 9 For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ, 10 and you have been filled by him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ, 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.Galatians 3:27-2927 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to the promise.What is required for baptism?FaithIn baptism, the church is making a confession:This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.One Baptism• We are baptized, not simply in church, but into the church.• There is one baptism because there is one Lord and one salvation event–Christ's death and resurrection.• Baptism, like communion, is not ‘owned' by a denomination.  It is the action of the Triune God.• Unity is not achieved by a church; it is a gift to be received.For the Forgiveness of Sins• Repentance and conversion are lifelong, for although one enters the Christian life at baptism, in another sense, one becomes a Christian over a lifetime.• Baptism signifies that a person is committed to a life of repentance and growth. • Baptism is a reminder to the church–we are a community of salvation.A Community of Salvation:The church is also a community of those whom Jesus Christ died, whose sins are forgiven.To be identified as a community of salvation also expresses the demands of Christian living.By taking the name Christian in baptism and being incorporated into Christ's body, the baptized assume the responsibility to offer forgiveness to one another in imitation of the one into whom they are baptized.The confession of one baptism is also essentially the confession of one Lord, one faith, and one church.  There is only one baptism because there is only one Christ, dead and risen, into whom we are baptized.  Baptism proclaims the Christian interpretation of Jesus' death, that it was ‘for us and for our salvation.' Baptism affects something, namely, life in Christ and life in a community of salvation, the church.

One Body1 Corinthians 12:12-261 Corinthians 1:10-131 Corinthians 3:1-31 Corinthians 12:11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.He has spoken through the prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.• One• Holy• Catholic• Apostolic1 Corinthians 12:12-1612 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body.1 Corinthians 12:26-2726 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.1 Corinthians 12:31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.What does it mean to be "One?"There is one core, central confession of faith.Matthew 16:13-1813 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.The Creed is an instrument of unity.Die for, Defend, DiscussWhat does it mean to be "Holy?"1 Corinthians 1:1-21 Paul, called as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will, and Sosthenes our brother:2 To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.Holy is who we are in Christ.We did not earn it. We don't deserve it.But it is who we are.Christian discipleship is about becoming who we already are.What does it mean to be "Catholic?"Universal, worldwideIf this confession of faith and trust in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is proclaimed, then that church, the community of the redeemed, is a part of the worldwide church.What does it mean to be "Apostolic?"We are connected to the apostles' teaching through their writing.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.Ephesians 4:2-32 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.Ephesians 4:31-3231 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.Embrace humility.Manage reactivity.Cultivate curiosity.Engage with empathy.Seek and give forgiveness.Recognize we are called to live out something that is not of this world, but the age to come." a colony of heaven in the country of death, a strategy of the Holy Spirit for giving witness to the already-inaugurated kingdom of God.”–Eugene Peterson, The Pastor

One SpiritJohn 6:60-69Andrew Root story from Faith Formation in a Secular Age:"We talked about faith absent any language of transcendence or divine action. Here we were talking about “faith,” and yet we had made no assertions about faith having anything to do with a realm beyond us, with a God who comes to us in death and resurrection, Spirit and transformation."“Good, because the church has no future without youth. I really believe if anyone is going to save us, it will be the young. But first, we've got to keep them.”“Since the days of the youth movement, church youth work has often lacked that element of Christian sobriety that alone might enable it to recognize that the spirit of youth is not the Holy Spirit and that the future of the church is not youth itself but rather the Lord Jesus Christ.”–Dietrich BonhoefferWhere one acts, all act.Where one is present, all are present.The Father is Creator.The Son is Redeemer.The Spirit is Renewer.Yet, these distinctions must not turn to divisions in our concept of God.  The Trinity cannot be divided.John 6:60-6960 Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”61 Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don't believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who did not believe and the one who would betray him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father.”66 From that moment many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don't want to go away too, do you?”68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”The Action of the Holy Spirit:The Spirit convicts the world of sin (John 16:8–11). The Spirit reveals and glorifies Jesus (John 16:12–15). The Spirit empowers our confession of Jesus as Lord (1 Cor. 12:3). The Spirit gives us new birth (John 3:5–6). The Spirit gives us new life and a new status as children of God (Rom. 8:10–11, 14–17).CSB Ephesians 3:14-1914 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, 19 and to know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.The Holy Spirit is not an accessory to your life; He is your life. But you will either live today by what you can see, or by the unseen presence of the Giver of life.• Ask daily to be filled — Begin each day this week with Paul's prayer from Ephesians 3:14–19. Pray it for yourself, slowly, asking God to do it in you.• Name your ‘visible' crutches — Identify one area where you've been relying on what you can control, measure, or predict rather than on the Spirit.• Practice Spirit-listening — Set aside a few minutes in your day (morning, lunch break, evening) simply to be quiet before God, asking the Spirit to speak or nudge you. Journaling can be helpful.• Act in faith — When you sense the Spirit prompting you to do something this week—encourage someone, confess sin, serve, step into a risk—obey quickly, even if you can't see the outcome.

One Eternal Kingdom2 Peter 1:3-111 Thessalonians 1:9-109 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.For us men and for our salvation,he came down from heaven;by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;He ascended into Heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end."Three is a magic numberYes it is, it's a magic numberSomewhere in that ancient mystic TrinityYou get three as a magic numberThe past and the present and the futureFaith and hope and charityThe heart and the brain and the bodyGive you three as a magic number"Threes in the Christian Life:Father, Son, Holy SpiritFaith, Hope, Charity (love, agape)Triduum: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, ResurrectionOn the third day...Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;He ascended into Heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.Resurrection, bodily ascension, heavenly sessionWhy THIS resurrection? "The resurrection is a means by which God reveals another dimension of existence at work in our midst. The Lord's victory over sin and death is a demonstration of the divine presence in a world we have viewed from too limited a perspective. It is God's word to us that there is more to reality than we can see through a telescope or under a microscope. Ever after the discovery of that empty tomb in Jerusalem, we are to look at reality through an entirely different kind of lens: the lens of God's extraordinarily powerful presence in the midst of sin and death."–Laurence Hull StookeyThe Confession of the Christian:Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.The Confession of God's People Being Formed:Christ has died, and I with Him (Gal. 2:20)Christ is risen, and I with Him (Rom. 6:5)Christ will come again, and I, whether dead or alive, will live together with Him (1 Thess. 5:10)2 Peter 1:3-113 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection (philadelphia), and brotherly affection with love (agape). 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.GoodnessKnowledgeSelf-ControlEnduranceGodlinessBrotherly Affection (philadelphia)Love (agape)Turning, Serving, Waiting

The One SeatedEphesians 4:7-10For us men and for our salvation,he came down from heaven;by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;he ascended into Heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.Acts 17:16-2316 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed when he saw that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with those who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this ignorant show-off trying to say?”Others replied, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities”—because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.19 They took him and brought him to the Areopagus, and said, “May we learn about this new teaching you are presenting? 20 Because what you say sounds strange to us, and we want to know what these things mean.” 21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners residing there spent their time on nothing else but telling or hearing something new.22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.' Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. These idols are not new.These idols call us to worship something outside our purpose (telos).Death follows idolatry.Acts 17:24-3424 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.' 29 Since, then, we are God's offspring, we shouldn't think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination.30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day when he is going to judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some began to ridicule him, but others said, “We'd like to hear from you again about this.” 33 So Paul left their presence. 34 However, some people joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.For us men and for our salvation,he came down from heaven;by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;he ascended into Heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.

One for Our Sins1 Corinthians 15:3-4For us men and for our salvation,he came down from heaven;by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.Why? Why did Christ come? What was the goal of the incarnation? telos (τέλος)- usually translated as goal/end, whole, perfecttelos (τέλος)- a final purpose, God's intended design, the fulfillment of divine purposeMatthew 5:48"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.""Be the fulfillment of God's purpose, therefore, as your heavenly Father is fulfilling THE divine purpose."Why? Why did Christ come? What was the telos of the incarnation? 1 Corinthians 15:3-43 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,Humanity is the telos of the incarnation.God's divine purpose in the incarnation is humanity.For us men and for our salvation,he came down from heaven;by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.The incarnation has a saving purpose: our rescue from sin.What do we mean by 'sin'?What do we learn about the nature of God?What do we mean by 'sin'?• In the Bible, sin is both a failure and a power.• God created us with a calling—to reflect His image in the world. We were made to live as His representatives, like priests who bring His presence into everyday life, and like trusted rulers who care for His creation on His behalf.What do we mean by 'sin'?1. Sin is a failure of vocation (humanity's telos).2. Sin, as the Bible describes it, is also a power we are under.To sum it all up: The death of Jesus on the cross achieved our salvation by dealing with sin (our failure) and Sin (the power we were under). That is not a temporary deliverance or a fictional salvation. It is a total and full healing of the fractures and the breaks in our lives and in our world caused by sin/Sin. If sin is the breaking apart of God's good world, then salvation is God putting it all back together again—beginning with us.Packiam, Glenn. What's a Christian, Anyway?: Finding Our Way in an Age of Confusion and Corruption (pp. 92-93). (Function). Kindle Edition. What do we learn about the nature of God?1. The Son of God, True God from True God, became incarnate for us.2. God is not distant or indifferent.3. God is profoundly invested in humanity, stepping directly into our story for our salvation.

One Being with the FatherJohn 14:6-11, 15-21We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Lighttrue God from true God,begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father,through him all things were made.1 Samuel 9:15-171 Samuel 9:16 “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel. He will save them from the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of my people, for their cry has come to me.”We believe in one Lord, JesusChrist,the only Son of God,There's only one true King– one who stands in our place, facing our enemies for us, and who shows us what God is really like. He's the one who wins the ultimate victory and brings God's reign into our world.Mark 8:34b-37Mark 9:35b- “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.”Mark 10:43-45of one Being with the Fatherhomoousion to Patrihomoousion- of one substanceWithout homoousion: Christian theology is void of any powerThere are no grounds for Christian salvationThere is no purpose to the church outside of a social clubof one Being with the Father (homoousion):The being of God is present with the Son in the incarnationThe being of God is recognized in the Son in the incarnationLuke 2:10-14, 18-2010 But the angel said to them, “Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:14 Glory to God in the highest heaven,and peace on earth to people he favors!18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.Matthew 27:54John 14:6-116 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that's enough for us.”9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.How do you know that Jesus is of one Being with the Father?John 14:15-2115 “If you love me, you will keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn't see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”The New Testament doesn't just bear witness to God's identification with us in Jesus– it also declares that God is still present with us through the Holy Spirit, who opens our eyes to see Jesus for who He truly is.

One Saving KingColossians 1:15-17The Next Three Stanzas of the Nicene Creed:• Divinity of Christ• Humanity of Christ: Incarnation• Humanity of Christ: Passion & ReturnMatthew 1:1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:γένεσις- genesis- the beginning, genealogyWhere did Jesus come from?John 1:1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.John 1:14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.μονογενής- monogenēs, only-begotten, only-born, uniqueJohn 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father's side—he has revealed him.John 3:16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.John 3:18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.1 John 4:9 God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.Jesus is eternally begotten (monogenēs) of the Father.Jesus is true God of true God, begotten not made.Jesus is true God because He is not made and He stands outside of time–He was present at creation (John 1).Colossians 1:13-2013 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn over all creation.16 For everything was created by him,in heaven and on earth,the visible and the invisible,whether thrones or dominionsor rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.17 He is before all things,and by him all things hold together.18 He is also the head of the body, the church;he is the beginning,the firstborn from the dead,so that he might come to havefirst place in everything.19 For God was pleased to haveall his fullness dwell in him,20 and through him to reconcileeverything to himself,whether things on earth or things in heaven,by making peacethrough his blood, shed on the cross.Revelation 1:12-1812 Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. 14 The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. 16 He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength.17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don't be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.If we confess Jesus as King, what claim does that make on our lives?

This morning we are joined by our dear friend, Rev. Randy Jasper.

One LordExodus 20:2-5Definitions: Orthodox- right belief Catholic- fully encompassing “To believe the creed is not merely to assent to its truthfulness, but to enter it, even, in a sense, to become it. Creeds have consequences. Christ's story becomes our story, and our story is folded into his.” –Michael J. GormanWe believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.There is only one God.God is the Father.God is the Almighty.God is the Creator.Deuteronomy 6:1-91 “This is the command—the statutes and ordinances—the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. 2 Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. 3 Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.A flourishing life is the product of knowing and acknowledging the source of life (the Almighty, the Creator).Exodus 20:1-71 Then God spoke all these words:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.3 Do not have other gods besides me.4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers' iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, 6 but showing faithful love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commands.7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.The singularity of God points to the sufficiency of God.If we truly believe that God is enough, why do we keep bowing to idols and striving for worldly power?Our lives have become idol factories.Two Types of Idolatry:1. Treating God like something that is not God.G.K. Chesterton- “When we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.”2. Treating something that is not God as if it is God.Idols will inevitably involve self-centeredness, self-inflation, and self-deception.Isaiah 42:5-9Meaning/purpose is received, not made.You are not the Creator.You were made on purpose for a purpose:to confess faith in a Maker,to surrender your story,and to receive your vocation, identity, and life from the Creator himself.What does it mean to believe these words?1.It means we believe God is the one true source of everything–singular, sufficient, sovereign, and supreme. • He is the only one. He is enough. He reigns over all. He is above all. He is the beginning of all.2.It means God alone is God. • Not me. Not you. Not them. Not it. Only Him.What does it mean to live by these words?1.It means we refuse to treat anything that is not God as if it were. • No substitute can save. No idol can satisfy.2.It means we resist the urge to reshape God in our image. • Instead, we live knowing He is enough. We turn to Him as our source. We receive His words of blessing and love. We walk in His purpose for our lives.

We Believe in1 Corinthians 15:3-4Galatians 1:6-96 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!1 Corinthians 15:3-43 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,325- Council of Nicaea381- Council of Constantinople451- Council of ChalcedonWhy is the Nicene Creed important for believers 1700 years after the Council of Nicaea?FragilizationSecular- to make something free from the religiousSecular 0Secular 1Secular 2Secular 3Living in Secular 3, there will be times when your faith is fragile. Doubt is present and belief must be consciously chosen.We believe in...We- roots us in communityI- tells us that the individual is the primaryBelieve- we are encountering a God who is still a mystery, we don't know everythingKnow- this is 'my truth', there's an air of certaintyIn- God is not to be known as an object, but is known personallyThat- I don't need to know something personally, better knowing is found at a distanceWhat does it mean to believe these words?It means we are a community. It means we are invited to a great mystery. To confess the faith is to make what we believe into something shared, public, and recognizable, not just a fleeting thought from the heart.What does it mean to live by these words?Following Jesus means staying in the boat—even when faith feels fragile. Struggles will come, and there may be moments we let go of the oar, but what matters is that we don't jump ship.The Creed is not cold doctrine, but a vibrant call to worship.We know that at the center of the universe is a Relationship. 

Clothed With Christ Galatians 3:1-94 Groups in Early Church Communities:• Jewish Christ-followers observing the Torah• Jewish Christ-followers not observing the Torah• Gentile Christ-followers not observing the Torah• Gentile Christ-followers who might observe the TorahGalatians 1:1-4 CSBGalatians 1:4-5 The MessageWe know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!Galatians 1:6-10Paul understands how deeply tempting it can be to turn back to a more familiar, comfortable version of faith—one that demands less but feels safer.Galatians 2:19-3:6Galatians 3:1-6 The Message3 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a spell on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.2-4 Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!5-6 Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, workingthings in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God.Paul's Questions in Galatians 3• Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? • Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? • Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? • Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact, it was for nothing?• ...does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law?Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? • This is a question of proportion.• The cross of Christ is the central event to which all other events are subordinate.Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard?  • This question puts us in touch with our own experience.• The primary experience is faith, the basic trust that God is for us and shares his life with us.  Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? • This question puts in touch with common sense.  • Only as we remain rooted in the gospel can we apply the great truths of love and forgiveness and grace to everyday affairs.Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact, it was for nothing?• This is a question of values.• If we lose touch with our values, we are at the mercy of every seduction, every inducement, every claim on our money, our energy, our time. ...does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law?This question puts in touch with God.God is an overflowing source of blessing—He supplies us abundantly in every way.When we lose touch with God's abundance, we lose our way.Apart from the reality of God's grace, we live clumsily—grasping, fearing, faltering. But Paul urges us to stay rooted in the truth of the gospel so that we live with holy abandon: freely trusting, freely hoping, and freely loving.

This morning, we are joined by our youth pastor, James Dolinger.

Hearts Cleansed by FaithActs 15:1-84 Groups in Early Church Communities:• Jewish Christ-followers observing the Torah• Jewish Christ-followers not observing the Torah• Gentile Christ-followers not observing the Torah• Gentile Christ-followers who might observe the TorahGalatians 2:1-51 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 I went up according to a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those recognized as leaders. I wanted to be sure I was not running, and had not been running, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not give up and submit to these people for even a moment, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.Some in the early church believed Gentiles needed to convert to Judaism (including circumcision) before becoming Christians. Paul's position is summarized in Galatians 5:6– For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.Acts 15:1-21Theologytheos- Godlego- to speaklogos- the wordtheology- to speak about Godtheology- words about GodScriptureLet me share two important truths about how we read Scripture—truths drawn from the biblical story itself and beautifully emphasized by theologian Joel Green.First, we must read Scripture together.The Bible was never meant to be a private book for private religion. It was given to form a people—a community shaped by the Word of God. That means we don't just read the Bible individually; we read it communally. We need the Church. We need each other. We need to wrestle with the text together, pray through it together, and be shaped by it together. When we read in community—with the saints who've gone before us, with our brothers and sisters today, across generations and backgrounds—God uses that shared reading to guard us from error and deepen our understanding.Second, we must read Scripture globally.Every one of us brings our own lens—our culture, our assumptions, our blind spots. That's true of churches, too. We all see in part. And that's why we need the voices of Christians around the world—believers who don't look like us, vote like us, or live where we live. They help us see what we might otherwise miss. The global Church is a gift, and when we listen to it, we hear a fuller, richer harmony of God's truth.So, Church, let's be the kind of people who don't read the Bible in isolation or in an echo chamber. Let's be a peopleshaped by the Word—together, and in the company of the global Body of Christ.Experience"... and they reported all that God had done with them."TraditionTradition serves as a helpful framework in our talk about God and our interpretation of Scripture.Reason"Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God..."

Guiding in the TruthActs 8:26-39Acts 8:1-31 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. 3 Saul, however, was ravaging the church. He would enter house after house, drag off men and women, and put them in prison.Acts 8:4-84 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. 6 The crowds were all paying attention to what Philip said, as they listened and saw the signs he was performing. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.Scattered Christians transform their flight into a missionary tour.Acts 8:26-4026 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you're reading?”31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb is silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will describe his generation? For his life is taken from the earth.34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there's water. What would keep me from being baptized?” 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip appeared in Azotus, and he was traveling and preaching the gospel in all the towns until he came to Caesarea.Running Well1. Running well is found in two keywords- guidance and obedience.2. The Holy Spirit leads us by helping us listen, understand others' needs, and respond at the right time.3. When we follow the Holy Spirit, it changes us and makes a difference in other people's lives too.Who are we sending off to read their Bibles alone on a deserted road? Or, are we the ones to track them down, join them in their chariot, and talk about how Scripture finds itsmeaning in the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The Temple and PresenceActs 6:1-7:2a, 44-60"You were running well. What happened?"Galatians 5:7What prevents you from running well?Galatians 5:13-14Acts 6:1-7Acts 6:8-15Acts 7:44-60Acts 6:5, 8, 10"...Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit...""...Stephen, full of grace and power...""...they were unable to stand up against his wisdom and the Spirit..."Stephen had faith in Jesus as His Savior.Through that faith, he was given the gift of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.Grace is being healed by Christ's unlimited, unmerited, unearnable love.What Christ had done in him, didn't end with Stephen, but grew into grace in his life.Faith got him started.Grace kept him growing.Power was the result.

Lost HopeLuke 24:13-35Luke 24:13-3513 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they were prevented from recognizing him. 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you're having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that happened there in these days?”19 “What things?” he asked them.So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it's the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn't find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn't see him.”25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn't it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.28 They came near the village where they were going, and he gave the impression that he was going farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, because it's almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Weren't our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, 34 who said, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.Luke 24: 30 It was as he reclined at the table with them that he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight.stuck"I had hoped that...""stop walking and look discouraged...""...are prevented from recognizing him.""we were hoping..."It is at the table, we are reminded the very HOPE of the world is in our midst.

The Resurrection of our Lord!Luke 24:1-12“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”How often, in the struggles of our lives, do we find ourselves 'seeking the dead'–looking for hope, peace, or purpose in things that cannot give life?Galatians 2:20 In Christian life, one should always seek the living God.

"I want to see..." Luke 18:31-19:10Luke 18:9-14Luke 18:18-23Luke 18:24-2724 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”26 Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”27 He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”What is the fundamental orientation of your soul? Luke 18:35-19:1-1035 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Hearing a crowd passing by, he inquired what was happening. 37 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.38 So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”40 Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to him. When he came closer, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”“Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”42 “Receive your sight,” Jesus told him. “Your faith has saved you.” 43 Instantly he could see, and he began to follow him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He's gone to stay with a sinful man.”8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much.”9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”Zacchaeus & the Blind Man• Zacchaeus was 'small in stature.'• "Salvation (soteria) has come to this house..."Acts 28:28 Therefore, let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”• What does the word 'salvation' mean in Luke's writing?“Today salvation (soteria) has come to this house,...because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”“Your faith has saved (sozein) you.”Acts 4:9-129 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus isthe stone rejected by you builders,which has become the cornerstone.12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”"There is salvation (soteria) in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved (sozein).”"There is healing (soteria) in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be healed (sozein).”

During Your LifeLuke 16:19-31What is the fundamental orientation of your soul? Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”Luke 16:14-1514 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. 15 And he told them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight.What is the fundamental orientation of your soul? Luke 16:19-3119 “There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!' he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!'25 “‘Son,' Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.'27 “‘Father,' he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father's house— 28 because I have five brothers—to warn them,so that they won't also come to this place of torment.'29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'30 “‘No, father Abraham,' he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'31 “But he told him, ‘If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'”Luke 16:29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'What is the fundamental orientation of your soul? If you don't have something to point you to the truth, you will inevitably be lost. Our wealth can blind us.What unblinds us? • We are to keep listening to the voice of God in Scripture.• We are to keep seeking. Seeking leads to seeing.  2 Corinthians 5:14-1914 For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion, that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.16 From now on, then, we do not know anyone from a worldly perspective. Even if we have known Christ from a worldly perspective, yet now we no longer know him in this way. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

The Value of Being FoundLuke 15:1-32Luke 15:1-21 All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”Tax CollectorsSinnersPhariseesScribes Jesus(we can assume the disciples)Holiness is found when you are in relationship with the Holy.John 14:6-7Luke 15:3-10Rejoice with meJoy in heavenOver one sinner who repentsRejoice with meJoy in the presence of God's angelsOver one sinner who repentsLuke 15:11-3211 He also said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.' So he distributed the assets to them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. 14 After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. 15 Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. 17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I'll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”' 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I'm no longer worthy to be called your son.'22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let's celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.25 “Now his older son was in the field; as he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he summoned one of the servants, questioning what these things meant. 27 ‘Your brother is here,' he told him, ‘and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'28 “Then he became angry and didn't want to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 But he replied to his father, ‘Look, I have been slaving many years for you, and I have never disobeyed your orders, yet you never gave me a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.'31 “‘Son,' he said to him, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'”Luke 15:17-19"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you." (This was his confession of sin.)"I am no longer worthy to be called your son." (This affirmed the consequences of his sin.)"Make me as one of your hired men." (This was his offer to make pay back/make amends.)Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him."Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you." "I am no longer worthy to be called your son." Luke 15:22-24

One Year Left(Luke 13:1-9, 31-35)Luke 13:1-51 At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And he responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. 4 Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”Luke 13:6-96 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?'8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.'”Luke 3:7-97 He then said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don't start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”"...produce fruit consistent with repentance." (3:8a)"Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down." (13:9)Luke 13:31-3531 At that time some Pharisees came and told him, “Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you.”32 He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I'm driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.' 33 Yet it is necessary that I travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See, your house is abandoned to you. I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'!”Genesis 2:1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed.Jesus' ministry remains unaffected by outside forces.Jesus' statements in Luke 4 are not dependent on the kingdoms of this world."...produce fruit consistent with repentance." (3:8a)"Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down." (13:9)Luke 13:8-9“But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.'”

Who is my Neighbor?Luke 10:25-42Luke 9:51 When the days were coming to a close for him to be taken up, he determined to journey to Jerusalem.Luke 9:51 ESV When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.Luke 10:25-4225 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”28 “You've answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”30 Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I'll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.'36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said.Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”"And who is my neighbor?""Who am I to love?"What does it mean to pull these two stories together?Luke 10:25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”Ephesians 5:18 And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:Luke 10:25-2825 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?”27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”28 “You've answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.”Luke 10:37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said.Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.”What does it mean to pull these two stories together?Here is the great central truth in life:You are loved by God now and forever.

This morning, we are joined by our District Superintendent, Rev. Arnie Wilson.

Being at the Feet of JesusLuke 7:36-50Similar Stories:Matthew 26:6-13Mark 14:3-9John 12:1-8Luke 7:36-43As different as the two debtors were, they had one thing in common–both needed forgiveness.Accompany Them with Singing–The Christian Funeralby Thomas G. Long"A good funeral makes it clear that the deceased is a saint, one created in God's own image, a prism through whom we have seen refracted the grace of God.When Christians look at other people and “see for real,” they do more than look for the lovable qualities that can be found…in most people. They look at them, and at themselves, in the light of Jesus Christ. All of us in the faith, fragmented as we are, nevertheless belong to Jesus Christ. Seeing each other as saints is not finally about our virtues, but his. This is what Paul was talking about when he said that we no longer even look at people “from a human point of view.” The reason? We look at people not only as they are to the naked eye, but as they are when illuminated by the love of Christ, “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17).At a funeral, everything is aimed at this kind of “seeing for real,” at recovering and celebrating the true identity in Christ of the brother or sister who has died. We have already done this at baptism. There we insisted that despite all of the ways that the world may seek to distort this person's true identity, indeed despite all of the ways this person herself or himself may forget and waste this identity, nonetheless this is and will remain a child of heaven, a daughter or son of God. We do the same at a funeral. Those who have died are not essentially “divorced people,” “alcoholics,” “rich,” “poor,” “bank presidents,” “AIDS victims,” “golfers,” “veterans,” “secretaries,” “children with Down syndrome,” “people with Alzheimer's,” or any of the other labels they may have borne; these people are first and foremost saints of the living God, made holy by Jesus Christ.And so there we are, and there they are—the single mom, the auto mechanic, the man who cannot put things back together with his children—broken human beings and new creations, flawed people and fellow saints all, traveling companions on the way of Christ."Luke 7:44-5044 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she, with her tears, has washed my feet and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but she hasn't stopped kissing my feet since I came in. 46 You didn't anoint my head with olive oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume. 47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 Those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”What if we see forgiveness in the biblical sense of release?Jesus detaches the woman from her past, freeing her from what held her captive so she can step into a life-giving future.Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

It's HappeningLuke 7:18-35Luke 7:18-1918 Then John's disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”Matthew 11:2-32 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”Luke 7:20-2320 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?'”21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 23 and blessed is the one who isn't offended by me.”Luke 4: to preach good news to the poorto proclaim release to the captivesrecovery of sight to the blindto set free the oppressedto proclaim the year of the Lord's favorLuke 7:The blind receive their sightthe lame walkthose with leprosy are cleansedthe deaf hearthe dead are raisedthe poor are told the good newsLuke 7:24-3524 After John's messengers left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who are splendidly dressed and live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.28 I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”29 (And when all the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they acknowledged God's way of righteousness, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. 30 But since the Pharisees and experts in the law had not been baptized by him, they rejected the plan of God for themselves.)31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other:We played the flute for you,but you didn't dance; we sang a lament, but you didn't weep!33 For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!' 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35 Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”Stages of Growth:Self-Focused- You are driven by the pursuit of rewards and the avoidance of punishment.Motivation=Personal GainGroup-Focused- You begin to see yourself as a part of a group. Groups have rules and expectations.Motivation=Being a 'good member'Others-Focused- You have a desire for the well-being of others outside of your own well-being.Motivation=love and the well-being of othersPhilippians 2:3-43 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

Heartbreak, Faith, HealingLuke 7:1-17Luke 7:1-171 When he had concluded saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion's servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant. 4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”6 Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don't trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,' and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,' and he does it.”9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.11 Afterward he was on his way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with him. 12 Just as he neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said, “Don't weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And he said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!”15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.” 17 This report about him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.DeathFaithCompassionLoveSurvivalSecurityBelongingStatusWhen we are faced with death/survival, may we hear,  “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live." John 11:25When we are faced with a lack of faith/security, may we hear, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you." Matthew 6:33When we are faced with the need for compassion/belonging, may we hear, "I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father." John 15:15bWhen we are faced with a longing for status/love, may we hear, "As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love." John 15:9