Don't Be Plundered

CEFC. JC Hicks. 2008-12-28.

"don't be plundered"

Colossians 2:6-10

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

'plundered' or 'taken captive' - v8
- to be taken away as prisoner

How do we keep from being plundered?
1. Continue as we began
- v6-7
- rooted/built up in jesus, be established in faith, abound in thanksgiving
-- our lives must revolve around jesus like the earth revolves around the sun
-- trust and base ourselves in the faith we've been taught
-- be thankful constantly!
- "walk" how I live
-- often I trust myself for my life thinking that I know better (but ill trust him for what I can't see)
2. Beware of the philosophy of men
- v8
- traditions of men/elementary spirits of the world
-- pagan beliefs/science
--- using man based resources to discover a god based creation
3. Remember who we serve
-v9-10
- jesus is not a wise teacher
-- all the fullness of god dwells in his bodily form
-- and now we've been filled by christ who has all the fullness of god

Don't be plundered doesn't mean watch out that our possessions are stolen
- don't let yourself be plundered or carried off
-- cannot become unsaved
-- satan tries to carry off our peace and assurance in christ

How do I keep from being plundered?
1. Recall what I felt when I came to jesus
2. Find ways to be rooted in jesus
3. Remember who I serve

Hidden Treasure

sermon 2008-11-23
bob sproul. hershey evangelical free.

be careful when interpreting parables
- look for the meaning, but dont make one up
parables - communicates spiritual truth through an earthly story
- not an allegory where everything means something
- must understand the audience
- must hold true to the rest of all Scripture

mt13:44-46

2 meanings:
- we are worth everything to jesus
-- god gave up all in order to bringus to himself
1 ptr 1:18-19
- redeemed by god; bought w a price
why?
- he loves us so much

kingdom of god is worth everything from us
- cannot buy k.o.g.
- enter only through faith
-- gal 2:16
-1 cor 1:18, 23-24
-- perishing only see empty field; redeemed see great treasure beneath surface
- trying to teach us the supreme value of the kingdom
-- not how to get in
-- worth giving up everything
-- must surrender all
-- phlp3:4-9
---everything is crap compared to knowing christ

bonhoeffer
"To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us."

watchman nee
"Presenting myself to God implies a recognition that I am altogether his. This giving of myself is a definite thing, just as definite as (receiving Christ). There must be a day when I pass out of my own hands into his, and from that day forward I belong to him and no longer to myself...If we give ourselves unreservedly to God, many adjustments may have to be made: in family, or business, or relationships, or in the matter of our personal views...His finger will touch, point by point, everything that is not of him, and he will say 'That must go.' Are you willing?...It is always foolish to resist his will, but it is a blessed thing to just hand ourselves over to him and let him have his way with us...My giving of myself to him must be an initial fundamental act. Then, day by day, I must go on giving (myself) to him, not finding fault with his use of me, but accepting with praise even what the flesh finds hard. That way lies true enrichment."

it's a process

Discipleship Process

regional training 2008-11-21

mark6:30-44
- started as an interruption - v34

jesus had 3 components:
- knowledge - v34; knowledge led to compassion
- attitude - compassion lead to action; v34
- skills - jesus had disciples pass out bread; teach skills to leaders

how teach attitude?
- model it
- involve them in service
- put a face on the hurt

ppl are:
- made to love
- be loved

jesus taught the family business to the disciples
- preparing them to take over

- anytime someone gets it or starts getting the right attitude, bring it up

eph 4:11-13
pastor/teacher-->equip-->saints-->ministry-->built up-->unity in faith & mature in knowledge of christ
- everything builds on itself

equip - campaigner mtgs, small groups, weekend trips, leadrship mtgs, mentors
- equipping is measured by ministry fruit not by number of ppl attending
- ask how is the group doing in unity and knowledge?

Faith, Hope, and Luck part 5

Andy Stanley - Faith, Hope, Luck part 5

What does it look like to have incredible faith?

Jesus had a great faith
- didn’t use the faith as leverage to get God to do what he wanted or to make the world work as he wanted
- extraordinarily surrendered to God’s will
-- great faith IS great surrender
-- didn’t use faith for his benefit, but for the Father’s sake

our culture makes us suckers for trying to get things to work better, faster, longer for US
- jesus had extraordinary faith which means extraordinary surrender
- biblical faith is God is who he says he is and that he’ll do everything he promised
-- we can go to him with everything but sometimes he’ll say no
-- faith isn’t getting out of tough times, it’s surrendering to God’s will in the midst of tough times

theme: jesus was not here to do his own will but the will of the father
- the authenticity of faith is not manifested in things going your way, but in surrendering to God’s way

John 5:30
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
- Jesus isn’t here on a happiness quest
- Jesus saying his role is to understand what God wants done and to do that

john 12:49
“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.”
- Jesus speaks God’s ideas, not his own

John 6:38
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”
- came to do what God wants done, to say what God wants said, to bring about God’s will not his own
- why would he do this?
-- because Jesus has faith that the Father is who he says he is and that he’ll do everything he said he would do
-- the logical response to that God is faith, surrender to his will

John 6:39-40
“And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
- God’s will is about other people
- Jesus has no life of his own (no will, thoughts, ideas, etc)
-- this is completely opposite of our thought patterns; how did this survive when it is so diametrically opposed to our thoughts patterns?
-- if we believe any part of what Jesus said or did, we must understand what jesus was here for
--- it was all done out of faith in God and surrender to God

John 14:10
“Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.”
- Jesus is just a vessel for God’s will, work, words

*For the following verses, understand them in the context of what Jesus has just told us*

John 14:12
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”
- as I surrender to the will of the Father, God will do even greater things through me
-- not going to be for my benefit but for the benefit of other people
-- not about getting God to do good stuff for me, but getting on my knees and asking God for what to do next

John 14:13
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
- when jesus talks about doing and receiving, it’s about doing and receiving the will of God
-- not about going my own place
-- I’m a vehicle, not the driver

1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
- we’re to spend our lives figuring out what God wants done in my life
-- once I figure that out, I need to get in line
-- what an honor! For God to use me!
--- God can only use me if I am SURRENDERED!
--- He is god and I am not; faith in that means being surrendered to his will

Why don’t I do that?
- scary
- we would rather ask that God help us, not for us to go
-- makes us out of control

if we live like there is no God, why do we get upset when God doesn’t show up in the area we command him to?
- it’s insulting to the God of the universe; he isn’t an idol or a lucky charm; he doesn’t just do what we say
- then to take him and use just parts of his teaching to fit our own ideas
-- his words speak against our own ideas
- he never came to be just a small part of our lives
- he came to be everything in our lives

the greater my faith and confidence in God, then the greater my surrender
- Jesus had the greatest faith and he was completely surrendered; did nothing of his own will, just what God wanted done/said

brokenness produces surrender
- in our brokenness, we will be glad that God doesn’t fit in our own thoughts or backpack
- surrender is where there is purpose and peacefulness
- anything short of that is an insult
-- why doesn’t God just strike us all down for that? Because he is a God of infinite grace

brokenness and complete surrender means living life as if God is who he says he is
- “thy will be done on earth” (God’s will in my life)

what would it look like to live with faith in God, surrender to God?
- scary, but isn’t it more scary to be doing things on our own

we’re invited into a relationship with our heavenly father!
- that relationship is characterized by trust! And so we can surrender!

How do I start?
- praying for it and then seek it

Faith, Hope, and Luck part 4

Andy Stanley - Faith, Hope, Luck Part 4

At some point in our lives we ask for something from God
- what do you do when there’s no answer or you just hear silence?

Foundation of our faith is not an exp but Jesus
- we always try to figure out ways to get God on our side and do what we want
- the reason we continue to believe even when things suck is because of the person of Jesus

sometimes God will give us what we hope for, but he always gives us what he’s promised
- what happens when God doesn’t say yes to the things we hoped for

2 corinthians 12:7-8
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.”
- paul was given something that made him unimpressive and hard to be around
-- a physical affliction that ensured he would always be dependent on God
- for this amazing man of faith, there was a time when God was completely silent
- this can be of comfort because there are times when we wonder if God even knows our name
-- it isn’t the absence of God
- Paul had perfect faith if anyone had perfect faith and god still didn’t give him a yes
-- our goodness/faith level doesn’t make god listen or do things for us

2 cor 12:9
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
- CHRIST’S GRACE not our own
- grace is power/ability/energy to endure
- Christ’s grace is sufficient to keep us going
- this same grace is available to us as well!
-- the power that kept paul going is the same power that is available to us
- paul says “how can I walk away? I know Christ is true and my faith is based on him”
-- therefore Paul leaned hard on Christ because there was no other option
- paul finally got to the place that this was what God had chosen for him
-- for god to display his power through his weakness
- for the world to look upon the dreadful state he was in and see that God was using such weakness; it could only be God
- people were saying “are you serious? This is what you’re using to spread Christianity?”
- God’s will is for us to live lives dependant on him
-- that was the purpose of this ailment
-- God filled the gap in Paul’s life with his power, not paul’s

2 Cor 12:10
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
- for Christ’s sake he delights in all of that crap
-- because when he is weak and powerless, he is strong
--- why? Because it is then that he is most dependant
- Paul has recognized that it is far better to be dependant on God than look good to the world
- God wants us to be dependant on him rather than fine in the sight of the world
- MY GREATEST WEAKNESS IS GOD’S GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW HIS POWER ONLY IF I DECIDE TO TRUST HIM
- if I choose to walk away from that, I walk away from his empowering grace that I so desperately need in the midst of something I cannot control or change!
-- I need the grace because I am out of control
- if I run from God I turn to other things that only break and pull me down
- the situation may not change, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t there
-- it may be God’s way of pulling us into dependence on him
-- without this affliction, I wouldn’t see my need for dependence
-- God’s grace is sufficient and available only if I come to him
- must go boldly and every time I go I will find grace and mercy in those moments of weakness even whenever God says no to my hopes
- it takes a lot more faith to endure a no than acquire a yes
-- when God says no, it is not a reflection of my faith
-- when god says no, I have an opportunity to be a reflection of his grace
- this is hard
-- Paul doesn’t want a God that allows his servants to suffer; neither do I

Here’s the kind of God I want: _________________________

- what does this paragraph say? Does it show I want to be God or God to be my butler?
-- is that really a god that I need? One that is a butler to everyone?
- I need a God who is bigger than me; a God who can empathize with me; and God who can pull me from the crap I experience; who can give me the strength to get through the crap I’m in
- that grace is available but I can’t get it till I lean hard on god
-- in that moment, it will be sufficient for you
- I can never make life the way I want it to be; god will never make life the way I want it to be
- what I can get is the grace and mercy to endure the way my life is

Faith, Hope, and Luck part 3

Andy Stanley – Faith, Hope, Luck Part 3

No formula of “good things” ever gets God to bend to our will
- circumstantial faith is merely a way of trying to get control over God
- faith isn’t seeing God in the details, although that happens
-- foundation of faith is a person who lived 2000 years ago
-- faith = God is who he claims to be and that he’ll do everything he promised to do
-- bridge between faith and hope are the promises of God
--- the only things that we can count on god to do is what he promised
--- hope – I really hope this happens
--- faith – God, these are your promises and I’m holding you to those

God has not promised:
- to keep bad things from happening (just look at his disciples—they were beaten, stoned, martyred, stranded on an island, etc) John 16:33 – we will have trouble
- wealth (just look at his disciples—they were all poor)
? – if there’s nothing in it for us, why believe? Because Jesus is raised and this is true
- healing (John 5 – Jesus healed only one of the multitude of sick people)
- to reverse consequences of sin (sometimes he will, but not always. These are things we hope for that sometimes God answers)

- can never get God to do anything just by doing __________

Hebrews 4:14-16
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize (empathize) with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Jesus is able to empathize with our weaknesses because he has experienced those things
-- Jesus spent a night dreading the events of the next day
-- Jesus knows what it’s like to be betrayed
- every time we fail, Jesus has been obedient in those situations so God credits Jesus’ righteousness to us
- because of this, let’s go to God with confidence not formality (enemy of intimacy) out of fear of offending God
-- we can go to God boldly, with extreme emotion, bare, exposed, dependant
--- so that we may receive mercy/grace
- if we come boldly, we’ll receive something from God EVERY TIME

God has promised:
1. mercy: God will take our issue seriously because they are our issues (not necessarily because they are serious)
-He takes it seriously because he loves us, just like a father takes his children’s issues seriously because he loves his kids even if the issues themselves are trivial
-- God knows what we’re struggling!
-- John 11, Jesus weeps outside of Laz’s tomb because he was empathizing with our struggle
--- Jesus isn’t too big or too great to deal with us
2. grace: strength/energy/ability to endure
-- God hasn’t promised us to deliver us from our circumstances
--- he has promised to deliver us through our circumstances
-- every time he will give us the grace to endure whatever we’re struggling through
3. his presence!

- must go boldly to him! Must rely/depend on him even when we can’t see him!

- we want a “can of intervention” from God
-- we want him to do our bidding and our will
-- we want grace and mercy to us and justice to others
- this is the age of grace and mercy to all
- the age of intervention will come
-- it will be the end of the world as we know it
-- there will be a day when we get whatever we want; it will be the end of sin/sorrow/death
-- it will be bigger than our little worries/desires
-- it will also be the end of God’s extension of mercy/grace

- when we see god’s grace, it isn’t because we had great faith but because God is good and gracious
-- our faith is in the person of Christ not our ability to get God to do what we want
-- we can pray for anything we want! And we can go straight to God!
--- lean on God! lose everything that comes between us and God!

Faith, Hope, and Luck part 2

Andy Stanley – Faith, Hope, and Luck Part 2

Pleasures of life erode circumstantial faith because faith is inconvenient

True faith in the person of Christ means that if God never showed up or answered a prayer, that we would still have confidence in God because of Jesus

CHRISTIAN DEFINITION OF FAITH:
- faith isn’t a force or power, it isn’t throwing a lasso around God so that he’ll do what I want, it isn’t a power I tap into, meditate into
- faith is not a formula
- faith isn’t confidence or hope; it isn’t saying “I believe/hope it works out”
- faith is not complicated
- the size doesn’t matter, only the object

Hebrews 11 – faith is the assurance of things hoped for; certain of what we do not see
- faith and hope are different
- call someone and leave a voicemail asking to get lunch w a person (hope)
-- faith is being certain that will happen
-- what will have to happen to make hope into faith
why do I believe God created the world?
-- by faith
-- did I meditate myself into that faith?

Who initiated noah and god’s interaction?
-- God
Noah built the ark by faith; confidence in things not seen

Abraham was told by God to leave and go
-- God’s idea but Abraham responded by faith

as a Christian, why do I believe God created the heavens and the earth?
- my idea? No
- Genesis told me
- my belief is an act of faith

the bridge between hope and faith is the promise of God
- the reason I would show up for lunch is because the person called me back and said they would show up (they promised so I can act on it)
- noah built the ark because God made a promise
- Abraham went because God made a promise

FAITH IS CONFIDENCE THAT GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS AND THAT HE’LL DO EVERYTHING HE PROMISED TO DO


Means we can come to god and ask whatever we want
- faith is confidence that God can do that, confidence that God loves me, confidence that God is still good/there/God even if he says no


luke 5
- man with leprosy fell at Jesus feet and begged (means he has something the leper needs)
-- doesn’t know Jesus will heal him but there’s no where else to go
-- doesn’t try to talk Jesus into healing him
- just falls on his face in humility before God; Jesus could walk away and the man’s opinion of his dependence on Jesus wouldn’t change

sometimes God is willing in the moment, maybe in the future, maybe not at all
-- but he is still God and I am not
- I am his beloved child not because he answered my prayer but because he sent his son to be my savior
-- this is proof!
-- JESUS IS STILL MY SAVIOR AND GOD IS STILL GOD
- this is why people can have extraordinary faith in tough times
-- say that God is still who he is
-- grateful that I am on the other side of calvary/saved
--- therefore God has been eternally good to me
--- anything else is just icing on the cake
- God doesn’t do my bidding, he is the creator and sovereign God!
-- but he wants us to address him as Father because I am his child
--- go to him because he is the one that can do something for me
---- not that he will, but he is the only one who can
--- if he is willing, he can and will do it

what has God promised?
-- what has he promised to do?
-- next sermon

Faith, Hope, and Luck part 1

Andy Stanley – Faith, Hope, Luck pt1

Faith/belief implies cause/effect relationships in the world
- I make decisions based on my belief system
- something is propping up my belief system about why I think god does/doesn’t do stuff

to those who lost/abandoned faith:
- when faith is shaken/lost, whatever was propping us up has moved and therefore we came crashing down
2 things erode faith:
- lifestyle decisions
-- being raised that cheating/lying is wrong, but going to work in a place where it is a part of the culture
--- 3 choices: don’t cheat, quit, change beliefs
--- most often beliefs change so we start to think cheating is ok, belief system has changed
- unexplainable circumstances
-- god doesn’t do what we expected him to do
-circumstantial faith: I’m believing or trusting in god based on my ability to find God in those circumstances
-- faith that is crushed by unexplainable circumstances/lifestyle decisions is circumstantial
-- WE ALL HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF THIS IN OUR OWN FAITH!
-- always very fragile because life is not consistent!
--- every time we think we have it figured out, life doesn’t seem to match up
--- fragile bc we suck at interpreting events; always a biased/limited perspective
--- we suck also because our timeframe is too limited and small
--- Joseph: for 15 years, God didn’t do anything for him, but he still had faith
--- if my faith is resting on my ability to hear/understand God, then I have a fragile faith because my faith rests God being visible/evident/a feeling
---- we can misunderstand God (just like we misunderstand another person)

moments can often launch faith, but were never meant to be the object of our faith
-- they can be evidence of God, but never God themselves
-- when those moments become our God, my faith is resting on God being clearly manifested in my life (but he won’t be; see Joseph)

when tough times come, I can either exp pain or pleasure
-- circumstantial faith will not stand up, I’ll choose pleasure over pain
-- means what I believe in wasn’t worth it, means it won’t be here tomorrow, won’t/can’t hold me up

- the foundation of Christianity isn’t an exp, my ability to make the world make sense, an answered prayer
-- foundation is so much different and makes Christianity stand out

Hebrews 4:14 (see below)
- context: written to jewish Christians who had no reason to believe in god; sold everything bc they thought JC was coming back and were now suffering; written to encourage them not to give up their faith based on their circumstances
- this is the foundation of faith
- Jesus is the high priest; priest is a person’s representation before God
-- because of Jesus, we have access to God

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.”
- things are tough/hard/prayers aren’t answered, but don’t lose faith because we have (present tense) a God who came, lived, loved, and died
- therefore our foundation isn’t an event or experience; IT’S A PERSON!
-- we have this person
- this is what makes Christianity unique
-- 2000 years ago something happened
-- we’re not trying to interpret events or circumstances or experience or answer to prayer
-- it’s a fact in history; cannot be changed
-- we believe because of something that happened years ago; not because of circumstances right now
--- it’s not what we see/exp, it’s what God did many years ago

stories of god’s good answer to prayers are nice
- based there’s almost always a small aspect of circumstantial faith because god has made them happy
-- true faith is seen through the storm and through the crap of our lives
--- true faith isn’t based on my exp, but on a person who lived 2000 years ago

God doesn’t ask us to trust him based on our ability to figure him out
-- asks us to trust him with everything because God entered into human history because He loves us
-- doesn’t ask us to trust because he answered prayer but because of the person/life/love of Jesus
-- answered prayer isn’t proof of God’s love; proof of god’s love is Jesus

Hebrews 12:
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

foundation of our faith is not an event in our lifetime or our ability to understand God’s movement in our life
- it is a person, Jesus Christ

Inflow and Outflow

ff 2008-11-19

dead sea
- no outflow
- dead; no life

sea of galilee
- inflow and outflow
- plentyof fish

all outflow? sea will become empty

col 1:3-14

life worthy of the lord?
- bearing fruit (fruit of spirit in us; fruit of others meeting christ)
- growing in knowledge
- being strengthened
- giving thanks

bearing fruit - out
growing in knowledge - inflow

inflow?
worship, reading bible, prayer, fellowship, freshman fellowship, ministry/witnessing

outflow?
ministry, witnessing, prayer, loving others, service, mission trip

what are my inflows/outflows?
am i in balance or out of balance? where?

how has christ met me recently?
goal for rest of semester to make me more in balance?

Grace!

campaigners. 2008-11-12.

2cor 12:9-10
grace - getting what i dont deserve; undeserved favor

god's mercy to me?
- not getting punished for it
god's grace to me?
- life; promises

grace is sufficient
- covers all and gives us life (saving grace on cross)
- enabling grace - still need grace, enables us to live for him
-- when we're weak, his power can be seen
-- when great things are done, it is clearly god

why boast in weakness?
- thats where god shows up
- god's glory can be seen

when i'm weak, i am strong

Campaigners 10/22/08

campaigners. 2008-10-22.

john 11 - lazarus
- jesus raised laz from the dead; how have i seen it?
- raising me from the dead
- but i dont always live like it
-- what grave clothes do i still have on?

rom8:28-39
what pulls me from christ?
- fear of god not being enough
- fear of talking about it
- being busy
- relying fully on christ
- doing something wrong

what does passage say about this?
- not actually seperated
- nothing can pull us from god bc god is for us

v37 more than conquerers

bring bibles/notebooks

Campaigners 10/15/2008

campaigners. 2008-10-15

mk 4:35-41

furious squall
- violent, massive storm

waves are breaking in
- fear, thinking theyre gonna die

mark looks at jesus and disciples exp
- jesus = suffering servnt and disciples suffer along side
-- jesus facing greater and greatr opposition

mk1:25 - peace be still to demon-possessed man
- muzzled demon
-- means something to say same thing to wind
-- everyone and everything coming after them

we're still being attacked today
- guilt, temptation, other people, busyness, insecurities, desires, doubts,

why are we being attacked?
- to pull us from christ, keep us from bearing fruit, to belittle god's grace, pull our gaze from christ, keep us from participating in god's life and glory

jesus completely calm/relaxed, asleep
- not ignorant of storm; in spite of storm
-- still got wet
- why so calm? had faith
-- how do i keep my faith and stay focused?
--- finding quiet, be aware of battle and the attacks, identify the lie, live in the victory that christ has won

Campaigners Mark 6

mark 6:7-13, 30-32

1. purpose of the group was to go out
- vision bigger than group
- how can little group reach so many ppl?
-- can't must rey on god
-- goal is to become closer to god
--- as we try to get closer to god, we get closer together

2. share exp w each other
why? knowing stories/joys/struggles brings group deeper & closer
- encouraging
- learn from eh other
-- really value others
- helps keep us focused
- shared memories = bond
- uplift each other w prayer through struggles

3. place of rest
- come relax and feel refreshed
- place to feel safe and be vulnerable
how?
- be first to be vulnerable
- whats said in campaigners stays here
- put time into relationship outside campaigners

Campaigners 8/27/2008

what is attractive about christ:
saw the need
saved many people
helped despite not having to
loving
willing to forske rules
told her not to cry

1. death meets life
jesus and ppl (life/excitement) vs funeral (death/sadness)
jesus and us vs our non-christian friends
-everyday is like life and death colliding
-in hs, we need to see the world as amission field

2. jesus sees her need and has compassion
- sees her as she is/knows where she's coming from
- for us, we must have compassion
--see the hurt/need, and realize that w/out christ we're the exact same

3. jesus touched the coffin
- willing to get his hands dirty
- coffin was unclean and he was willing to become unclean in the eyes of others
- for us, we have to be active w our compassion
--get involved in ppl and be willing to hurt as they do
--it will be hard

4. the dead are raised to life
christ had a plan in going here
- had a plan for being w ppl
- for us, god has a plan and he will use us

why wouldnt we share christ?
- awkward
- dont know enough
- fear of reaction
- what others think
- might be wrong
- in a minority
- feel alone
- fear of offending
- takes alot of time
- not good
- not good enough

why should we share christ?
- selfish
- knowing what theyre destined for w/out christ
- god told us to (mt28:18-20 last words so it must be important)
- people are hurting and want others to exp life or have a purpose
- gives us a purpose and eternal purpose
- teaches/grows us
- god's work so my lack of knowledge/ability to speak doesnt matter
- word spreads to others (trickle down effect)

how?
- ask others questions and good questions
- ask about others' lives
- talk about how god has transformed your life
- build a relationship/trust w ppl
- living life/good, clean fun
- serving/putting others first
- listen
- being different
- positive attitude/humor (lose the sarcasm)

What It Means to Be A Disciple

what it means to be a disciple

mt 4:18-22
- who does the calling?
christ invites us
- what are we called to do?
come; follow; be fishers of men;
what does it mean to follow?
- be close, with them, do what they do
what did disciples leave to follow?
- jobs, friends, family, security
why did the follow immediately?
- jesus was a rabbi and to be called by a rabbi is a big deal bc rabbis are the highest in that society

john 1:40-42
- bringing others
john (transfiguration)
- in the high moments
- personal moments
mt26:36-38
- deep, intimate relationship
- with him in the tough moments
mt26:56
- disciples messed up
mt28:16-20
- werent disqualified from his love
- jesus didnt abandon them

what does it look like for me to follow?
what holds me back? what do i have to give up?
benefits?

Grace and Truth

Jn 1:1-14:
What is Grace?
Undeserved, unearned favor
Getting something we don’t deserve and haven’t earned
Goes above and beyond mercy
What is Truth?
Reality, the whole story
Frank – confrontational, offensive

Define and describe. How do they relate to each other?
What would Grace w/out Truth look like?
Ignorant Love
“Cheap” Love
Example
What would Truth w/out Grace look like?
Judgment, Hell

Is it possible to have one without the other?
Why not?
In order to understand Grace, you need to know you don’t deserve it
Why are we so afraid of the Truth?
Let’s take a look at it

Gen 3:
(Gen 2:21, Gen 3:7-13)

V7 – ashamed, humiliated, in hiding
Why did they make themselves fig leaf coverings?
Closest thing at hand
Desperate to cover themselves
What was their motive?
Shame, guilt
What do we use as “fig leaves”?
Avoid the issue with busyness
Avoid the blame/responsibility by making excuses and blaming others
Rationalize by comparing ourselves to others
Look at our good behavior
What would it have looked like for God to give them “ignorant love”?
Love them w/out fixing their problem
Allow them to stay in their fig leaves
w/out getting at the real problem – what was on the inside
Is this real love? Is this love at it’s most potent point?

V21 – What did they already have on?
Fig leaves
Their own clothes
What does God provide?
Not innocence, but clothes
What did God make them do to give them His coverings?
Strip them of their fig leaves
Expose them
Why?
Fig Leaves get in the way
What was His motive?
He wanted to show them Grace
What did this force Adam and Eve to acknowledge?
Their coverings were inadequate
Fig leaves weren’t enough – not for God and not for them!

What thoughts do you think went through their heads as they saw God make their clothes?
Horrified at death – up to this point no one had died
Adam and Eve had sinned they knew they absolutely deserved it (Gen 2:16-17)
God killing innocent animal to provide their coverings

Deep wonder of God’s mercy

Practicals:
So why are we so afraid of Truth?
Do we know by refusing Truth, we refuse Grace

What are ways that we can expose ourselves to the Truth?
Look at your heart – What is your motive?
If you didn’t drink last weekend b/c …. You’re girlfriend told you not to
Matt said it tastes bad
If you’re here b/c … You think it makes you a good person
You want to make us happy
Then it’s ALL “fig leaves”. It’s ALL a front. It’s ALL fake, and it’s ALL inadequate!

Challenge:
If you want Grace, in all its fullness, then you must take with the Truth. Stop robbing yourself of Grace.

Great Commission

ff 2008-11-05

mt28:16-20

v19

why is it so hard for us to share excitement re: christ?
- different
- hard to explain
- personal
- vulnerable

response?
& behold i am with you to the end of the age
- knew we were going to have fears
-- that's christ's answer

whenever in ministry, must remember christ is w us

why called great commission?

Freshman Training 10/15/2008

freshman fellowship. 2008-10-15

length of dotted line line on highway?
- looks like 10ft to me
-- about 12ft; looks shorter bc we're driving so fast

mk 10:17-22

rich man
- rich, young, searching, good guy, ruler, powerful, knows about jesus and that jesus has the answer

what do i know about jesus? and what do i believe?

man left sad...why?
- didnt get answer he wanted, valued what he had, wasnt willing to give up what jesus wanted him to

jesus asks us to sell things away/to give up ownership/claim to it
- what is god asking me to give up?
-- how will i leave my encounter with him?

two groups:
1. given life to christ
2. not made that commitment
- question applies to both

when we hold out all we have, then christ can truly bless our lives

Freshman Fellowship 9/21/08

Freshman Fellowship 9/21/08

Knowing Who We Are
- John 1:6-8, 19-28

3 points:
- life is ministry
- our life based of who Christ is
- most important thing is to take care of our relationship with Christ

Opening:
Small Groups
- What is one thing you read in the bible and what did you learn?

Lesson:
Read John 1:6-8
Read John 1:19-28
Recap

Brett Favre/Aaron Rodgers
- advice to Rodgers is to play his game, don’t be Favre
Who was John the Baptist?
Who was he not?
- clearly understood this
1. Our life must be based on who Christ is

What was his purpose?
- whole life based around this fact
What was his ministry?
- same thing; his life was his ministry
2. Life is ministry
Where did his mission come from?
- his identity
-- talk about calling; but it’s much more who we’re called to be rather than what job

3. Most important thing is to take care of our relationship with Christ
how do we cultivate our identity in Christ?
- fellowship, study, church, prayer, etc
-- all take time
what else requires our time?
- make the decision; it’s about where my heart is

Questions:
What’s your purpose? Why get up in the morning?
Is that based off Christ? (where is my heart?)

Challenge:
Spend time in the Word. Schedule it in to your lives and make it an immovable task. Ask yourselves these questions during that time and let Scripture answer it for you.
- part of making your identity rooted in Christ

Freshman Training #1

freshman fellowship -

94% of americans believe in god
74% of americans claim to have relationship w christ
- we've got a problem
- greatest argument for christ is christians; we're aso the worst

mk 8:27-30
- who do ppl say that i am?

- jesus teaching disciples what it looks like to be his disciples
- gal 2:20
-- giving up our own lives/dreams/wants
--- ministry forces us into a choice: do i crucify what i want or do i follow my own path?

how do i respond to christ asking me "who do you say that i am"?
- my response means something
-- what would christ teach me based on my response?

What's Hard?

leadership 2008-11-02

whats hard?
- having to make new relationships
- no results
- time
- inconsistency w kids
- personal life
- size of school
- few opportunities to meet kids
- campaigners who dont get it
- unfufilled plans
- rejection
- taking care of self
- competing w kids schedules
- not to blame them
- personal pride hurt in failure
- kids walls/finding an in
- cultural context
- tiring
- kids expecting to be entertained
- tough kids/situations

hebrews 12:1-3
- (heb 11 = faith hall of fame)
- therefore... = with their example and what we know...
- throw off everything that entangles
-- what entangles me? what do i have to do to throw that off?
- run race w perseverance
-- we will get tired and it will be hard
- v2 how do i fix my eyes on christ? key to ministry/yl
- hard things are real; so is christ
- we're facing opposition from satan and sinful men/women
-- jesus dealt w this; we will too
--- jesus died without campaigners understanding it
--- god's work and not ours

Testimonies

leadership. 2008-10-19

testimonies
before
- thoughts on god?
- no parent/church hate
how met christ?
- yl had significant impact?
- first club? camp? how got involved?
after
- effect of christ in life

Leadership 09/28/2008

leadership 2008-09-28

mk 4:26-34

traits of the kingdom of god:
- not grown by man's work; we gather and god grows
- god's kingdom
- abundant
- starts small but grow large

kingdom - realm thats uniquely the kings
- the range of our effective will

- have i surrenderred all my kingdom to christ?
-- all of my range?

mark 1:15
- kingdom of god is at hand
--electricty is at hand
--- changes my life when i rely on it
--- do i rely on the kingdom of god?

campaigners - 4 key elements
- lesson/teaching
- vision
- worship
- fellowship/sharing

vision:
- announcements
- challenge at the end of every lesson
-- check in about it
-- what's expected/inspected is what's done

- campaigners is for the fastest/smartest kid
- expect them to take notes

lesson:
- attn getter/story/questions
- use the bible
- ask questions more and help them discover it
- lesson should connect to vision
- mix it up!!

Young Life's Uniqueness

leadership 2008 september 14

what makes yl unique?
- outreach
- not affiliated w a certain church
- relationship based!
--being at school is most important thing
-- about reaching the kids who wouldnt even think about church

1. go to them
john 1:14
the incarnation
- god in a bod, god coming to us
- god's contact work

john 10:10
in christ, we bring life to the full to youth
- lasts forever; nothing compares

mark 2:17
key to contact work: reaching the kids who are sick
- without going to them, we're missing the boat

mt 28:19-20
GO!
- very few ppl go; thats what we do

1cor2:2
- when we go, know nothing but christ and him crucified
-- anything else is death

how do we go?
- ftbl games, after school hang outs, school, mall, community events, any games, their job,
- know where kids are and show up

2. earn the right to be heard
- consistency, be intentional, listen, respect them, lose the cell phone, remember their names, be there for them not for young life

3. share our lives w them
1thess2:8
- be delighted to be w them
- make memories
- know administration

2 most important things:
1. love god (spend time growing our relationship w christ)
2. love your neighbor (love/know/go to kids)

regional training. 2008-10-31.

what kills our vision?
- spending too much time w program
- misplaced allegiance/glory; believing own press clippings
- dont plan for when club/area grows

gen 2:15-17
- man's job to rule/create/discover

gen 3:1-11

where do i not trust god? (iceberg above water)
- longings, provision, calling, agendas, ministry
beneath the surface? (just beneath surface)
- control issues
sin beneath that?
- wanting to be god, my heart
-- do i really believe god is good, trustworthy, and reliable?

the 'don'ts' of scripture are always for provision/protection

why did god tell adam/eve not to eat of tree?
- trying to develop trust that god knows best
- god never wanted us to know evil
- requiring us to trust/at the very foundation of the relationship

unbelief - making us bigger than we are/god smaller than he is

serpent distorts/creates room for doubt
- lie is a distortion of god's truth
-- lie - god's way/life isnt as good as my way/life

do i trust in god? what lie do i believe that causes me not to believe?

Discipleship

regional training. 2008-10-17.

Discipleship - Trent Gladstone

brainstorm discipleship principles
- high standards not high expectations (lk14:25-27), invite them into intimate moments (transfiguration mk9:1-13), press them (feeding 5k - mk6:37) and give them leadership (sending disciples out - mk6:7-13), hold to the truth (lk9:23-27)
- choose the people god has chosen, set the standard, discipleship happens mostly through real life/informal moments, gal 5:1 - set free!

luke 9!

- write down life goals
- 1, 5, 10, 50, 500 year goals
-- what goes on after me?
-- i am a result of paul's legacy
- discipleship transcends giftedness

1jn2:1 - life must reflect christs; he built into others so we should do the same
- modelled life - called disciples to be w him
- mentorred them

1. i'm a disciple first
- be 10 steps ahead of where we want others to be
2. be w them as much as possible
3. god is gonna change them
- pray for them
4. get them in front of scriptures constantly
- god is lord of all parts of life
- teach them to love god/the word
-- final authority = god/bible
-- help them draw applications
- teach them to love ppl
-- give them examples
-- help them w ways to be friendly
5. treat and see them as life-long friends
- treat them as insiders, special
-- dont divulge everything to everyone
-- share victories/struggles

practicals
1. pray for god to raise up people for us to be with
2. look for a f.a.t. kid
3. meet w them
- have a curriculum
- regularly/consistently
- meet in morning
4. build virtues into group
- dont cancel mtg
- consistency, start on time, no cut-downs, confidentiality, verse memory, make it part of the expectation
- may take time to grow
5. every mtg has fellowship, doctrine, vision/application
6. model the wheel at every mtg
7. guys reach younger guys, not just peers
- each guy brings younger guy

Regional Intern Training 10/03/2008

regional training 2008-10-03

psalm 119:11 - how do we stay pure? store up god's word in our hearts
- changes our heart which alters our actions
- doesnt tell us to do something without giving us the ability to do it
-- ability starts small but grows through practice

- i'm following christ; how much of his words do i really know?
-- how do i live by truth if i dont know it in my heart?

hwlw - his word, last word

lectio divina - " sacred writings"
- cant miss christ in the text
- read several times, quiet, meditate/chew on word that sticks out

Regional Intern Training 9/26/2008

regional training 2008-09-26

a king rules, reigns, shapes his kingdom
- christ came to die on cross but that was the means of releasing us from captivity to sin into a kingdom of shalom (flourishing, renewal, full life, wholeness)

luke 4:17-19
- christ announcing his rule, bringing shalom

--------------------

gal 4:19 - morphe (giving birth, forming)
2 cor 3:18 - metamorphis (changing)
- catepillar to butterfly

the heart - ceo of my life, core, center, where will/thoughts/emotions converge

playdoh is shaped by whatever exerts forces on it - aka pressure/freeze points
- culture
- experiences
- wounds
- self-will
- jesus

***thursday - where's the heart?
- mark 7:1-23***

--------------------

pathway of transformation
- not if but what
- voices talking to us all along the way
--what we listen to determines who we become

john 4:
observations of woman
- unsure/confused
- humbled, worn down, dragging
- wanting to leave, searching for hope but doesnt know where to go
- stuck

observations of jesus' interaction with her
- confident
- assured
- draws her out
- affirms her in recognition of sin
- patient w process

jer2:11-13
living water = moving water
- dead water = water sitting in a cistern for too long

what am i thirsting for?
- how do i satisfy that thirst?

In Everything, Gratitude

sermon. dave martin. 2008-10-12.

in everything, gratitude
romans 11:33-36

3 things i need to know:
1. god cant love you more than he loves me now
- loves me perfectly, never ending
-- why? he made me and in his image even
2. god cant learn anything
- god is omniscient
-- v34-35
- purpose of prayer is not to inform god and pull him into my life
-- purpose is to seek god and be included in his flow
3. god has more to give than we've already received
- no end to god's blessings and resources
-- wants to give and will give and is giving

therefore,
1. receive what god has to give
2. trust that he will give what we need
3. dont make things harder than they need o be
- our disobedience/fear/distrust make things more difficult
- dont spin, just trust
- he knows what i need and he will provide

sermon 2008-10-05 shad baker

2 tim 3:16-17 & 2peter 1:19-21

1. what is the bible?
2 tim3:16-17
breath of god
- divine origin
-- can have confidence and truth in its authenticity

but bible was written down by man?
2peter 1:19-21
- men spoke and wrote as they were directed by god

how did god do this?
- dont know forsure but we do know the source is god and god is infallible
-- therefore it all belongs to god and we must accept it as authoritative

2. what does it do?
one thing: reveals christ
- word all is continually repeated bc it is all about jesus

why is this important to know?
- reveals jeus and he is life
-- scripture doesnt bring life but revels where life is found

3. what do we do?
a. read it
- a letter written to us by god!
-- why would we not read it?
-- tells us about jesus/life/our only hope
b. remember it
- read some, remember much
- pray and think about it
-- chew on it
c. respect it
- careful to obey it
- not worship but proper respect as it comes from god

In Christ, With the Spirit

sermon. dave martin. 2008-09-28

in christ, with the spirit

the gospel:
1. salvatation is gods doing
2. god saves bc god loves
3. jesus' sacrifice was sufficient for the whole world
4. now we must participate by faith in the victory that is already won (not automatic)
5. to participate means to begin to live by (does) the truth

ephesians 1:11-14
"in him" - guaranteed, cant be taken away bc it is in christ, vic.ory in past (cant be changed)

must become something diff in order to be what christ has for me
- how? holy spirit

seal
- mark of where it came from and to whom it belongs
-- we are sealed by the hs
-- we belong to god, come from god!
- known by love of christ (dont have to be perfect to love)
-- love comes through hs
-- will be noticed (different passions, desires, values, motivations)
-- outward actions mean nothing without the promised gift of the father through faith in christ (holy spirit)
--- without love our actions mean nothing bc they have no eternal value
-- cant buy the hs; it is a gift from god and only he chooses who recieves it

not only what god did (important bc it opens he door) but also what god is doing today/now/in my life
- jesus didnt die to be a historical fact but an eternally present reality

The Good and the Bad

sermon. hershey e free. 2000-11-02. kirk belmont.

the good and the bad.

matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
- life is not the way it is supposed to be
- sowed good seeds in his field
- enemy sowed weeds
- dont pull up weeds lest wheat be pulled up too

farmer = god
field = the world
good seeds = sons of the kingdom
weeds =sons of the evil one
enemy = satan
harvest = end of the age

1. everything is not as it should be
god goes to sleep?
- farmer's intentions are always good
-- only sowed good seed
-- satan planted bad; frustration/anger should be directed at satan
- bc satan s evil doesnt mean god isnt good and not still working

2. a day is coming when it will be restored
- promised by god
- doen't change now but we can rest/be encouraged now

3. until then, good/evil exist together
- both good and evil grow
- am i growing? can only be overcome if i stop growing

4. not our job to judge
- wheat's job isnt to condemn the weeds but just to grow and produce good fruit

Live In The Truth

sermon. dave martin. hershey evangelical free church.

live in the truth

john 3:16-21
jesus is speaking truh to nicodemus, premier teacher in israel
- must be born again
-- born of spirit, not flesh
-- this is THE truth

culture disputes truth
- says there is no universal truth that applies to everyone
- christ counters this; stands in opposition to the lies of the world
- difference between no truth and not wanting there to be truth
-- there is a truth that exists all cultures and society
--- jn 3:16-21

1. for god so loved...for god did not send (god's work/doing/plan/idea)
- gospel is god's story of how he saved us
- not how does god fit in my story but how do i fit into god's story
2. god saves bc god loves
- jn 3:16
- true measure of god's love is seen in the incarnation
3. salvation is sufficient and complete
- for god so loved
-- eras tense - complted/finished/in the past
- gospel - jesus has come, lived, and died; conquered forces of evil and christ is lord!
4. my role? believe and participate in the victory
- my response is crucial
- judgment and verdict has already come
-- if we reject him, we are self condemned
--- he came to save us so we condemn ourselves if we reject him
5. begin to live in truth
- v21
- communion is recognition that he is lord, he has won our salvation, and we are dependent on him

Law and Grace

Sermon. Steve Brown

john 8

- god's law has not been set aside

- not under law but grace (rom 6:1-17)

cant equate knowing about grace to living in grace

- doctrines/propositions are not life

we dont understand law/grace bc we havent seen it personified

- using propositions lead us to a legalistic understanding

-- "how far can i go till i go too far?" "but i cant do anything to make god not love me?"

rom 7

- not a past testimony; paul expressing present reality

- paul articulating the cry of his soul

gotta start at v1

"therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in christ jesus"

- no other place to start

- law/grace is not what i do but who i am

-- a son grows to be like his father bc he is his son, not bc he acts like it

-- i am a son of god not bc i act like it but bc i belong

law/grace is not what i do but who i love

-jesus isnt someone you follow but someone you love

-- that love from our heart will guide our actions

law/grace is not what i do but it's who does it

- have i saved my self? who paid for my sin?

law/grace is not what i do but the freedom w which i do it

- what would i do if i won the lottery?

-- what would i do if i was the son of the god who owned the world?

-------------------------

what is effective about his communication?

- real

- breaks down the complicated to the simple

- passionate

building blocks to discipleship

- who you are not what you do

- spirit convicts and changes ppl; i must rust this

- loving christ

-- be vulnerable

-- live in grace amidst my sin

-- recognize his great love

- heart vs behavior

-- we do what we love

-- the only thing that changes a love of sin is a greater love!

-- trapped by grace

- importance of brokenness

-- cant make kids broken; thats the holy spirit

-- brokenness/asking for forgiveness is the bridge between grace and sin

-- pointing them to the christ and the cross

how?

- can't force it

- remember im paralyzed

- start w leaders

Led By The Spirit

Sermon. Tim Keller.

gal 5:16-25

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

beliefs dont automatically affect our lives

- must be turned inward through christian practices

- must examine ourselves for the fruit of the spirit

-- all true christians produce fruit

-- it may not be big, but it should be growing

what are fruit?

love - caring about others for their sake, not what i get

joy - love of god, not his gifts

peace - trust in god

patience - ability to suffer/be wronged without becoming bitter

faithfulness

kindness

goodness

humility

self-control

gentleness

fruit = singular

- fruit of spirit = supernaturally produced character

-- many facets of same holy spirit but not seprate

our character is revealed by our actions

- if we're not growing in one, then we're not growing at all

- "temperamentally" patient is really just self-centered/sinful patence

- being led by spirit means growing in fruit

how do i cultivate this?

1. crucify sinful nature

- 'sinful nature' - acts of the flesh; system of self-salvation

--not talking about physical body

- if we're led/live by spirit, then we dont satisfy sinful nature and not under the law

--under the law = system of self-salvation

-- do i obey the law out of thankfulness or as an attempt to earn it

--- f.o.s. = flesh operating system

---- creates over desire

---- sucks good into center/heart and makes it an idol, displacing god

---- human approval is good but under the f.o.s., when ppl disapprove, we're devastated not just upset

i am therefore i do or i do therefore i am

2. belong to christ

- f.o.s. even says that i have to crucify the sinful nature to belong to christ

-- says i must obey to be loved/blessed

- gospel says belong and then the flesh will be crucified

-- gospel says ive been saved and loved so i can love others, knowing theyre what i am without christ (not based on what ive done)

how do i know i belong?

- because the price has already paid the price by christ

- gall = bitter fruit

-- christ recieved gall/thorns so i can have sweetness/fruit

-- fruit of hs is foretaste of coming age

-- obeying out of thankfulness because it has already been earned and freely given

-------------------------

building blocks to discipleship

1. exp the word

2. flesh vs spirit (what's at the center?)

- help them identify it and move themselves back on focusing on christ

3. singular fruit - are you growing?

- ask about and pt out fruit of spirit

4. identify root causes for behavior

-- ask why they do certain behaviors and examine motives

5. freedom in christ - gal 5:1

- what does it mean to be free?

6. christ crucified and changed lives

- im evil but hestill loves me, now he hs is he power of change

how?

- preach the cross

- be vulnerable in 1 on 1

- lead by living it out

- help them understand the interconnectedness and the importance of christ

- ask the right questions

- never let a mtg end without telling ppl how much god loves them

How to Change

Tim Keller - How to Change

Galatians 5:16-18, 22-25

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Christian Change; must understand: Nature, Pattern, Process

Nature:

- the phrase “fruit of the spirit” implies 4 things

1. gradual

why does paul use fruit?

- Christian change is as gradual as botanical growth

- growth is hard to detect; can’t see it; mysterious

-- but can only be measured

must be patient; won’t see dramatic change overnight

- some have seasons that grow quickly, but have seasons (like winter) where they grow but it isn’t seen

so gradual that we can never feel it

- it may be tested/measured but not seen

- like a 16 year old boy who is faster than when he was 15

-- doesn’t feel faster, but he is

- growth is evident when faced with struggle

what is the seed that produces fruit?

- holy spirit

2. inevitable

- If I have the spirit of god, I will grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

acorn falls into crack on marble slab, eventually grows into tree and splits the marble slab

- at first acorn seemed to be no match, until it grew

-- if botanical growth has that power, what kind of power will spiritual growth have?

Saved by faith, not fruit; never saved by fruitless faith

- real faith will inevitably produce fruit

we all have quirks/issues

- many show our lack of fruit

-- unless we’re changing, we’re not saved (but it may be really slow)

-- mustn’t give up on change/growth/faith

3. internal

what is fruit of spirit?

- not counseling, editing, leading, intelligence, charisma

- diff between external/mechanical and internal/organic growth

-- throwing bricks on a pile isn’t growth; pile is bigger but just in quantity and not quality/complexity

- diff between religiosity and faith

-- growing in faith or resume?

--- It’s not about doing great things

--- possible to do good works but miss growing in faith

--- good works mean nothing without growing in fruit of spirit

I may be changing lives but is my life changed?

- fruit of spirit means my life is being changed!

- can’t judge my growth based how many other lives are changed or how the HS is using my efforts

4. symmetrical

fruit = singular

- did it on purpose

- showing us that real Christian change has us growing in all collectively, not individually

if you want to know it’s real, permanent, spiritual:

- fruit of holy spirit is concatenated

1. all the fruit go together

ex: pride and peace don’t go together; it’s counterfeit peace

- worry = arrogance; refusal to assume a humble position before God and trust God is in control

- worry = arrogance = pride

-- anyone who worries thinks they know how things have to be; not trusting in God

-- Pride and peace occurs only when things are going well (“I chose well”)

- will not last

- if I don’t have one of the fruits, I don’t have any

2. all fruit is interdependent

ex: self control and joy

- what creates real self control is joy

- addiction comes because of lack of joy; seeking joy in other places

- guys don’t cry as much of girls

-- when guys cry, they’re told to stop being a girl

--- told to be “superior” to girls

--- false self control because we need to cry, but that isn’t self control but restriction

ex: patience and faithfulness
- tolerance of others; accepting of others failures and short-comings
-- if I have patience but not faithfulness/integrity, then my patience is just a way to assuage my guilt over my shortcomings


How do I develop these things?
2 things for how to grow in grace:
1. crucify sinful nature with over-desires
- find things that are too important and remove it from the center
-- place those things back in their proper order
2. keep in step with spirit
- spirit yearns for Christ
-- points us to Christ; tells us to see Christ's
-- need to see Christ as so real that he becomes more desirable than anything else

Paul comparing fruit and works! (not weeds)
- works of flesh are things i do
- fruit is something that grows from a seed (holy spirit)
-- can only open myself to them
-- gardener creates conditions but does not grow the plants himself
-- cannot make myself more peaceful, patient, good, loving, etc

Religion and the Gospel

The basis for this post comes out of Tim Keller's book, The Reason for God. If you haven't read it, you need to. The first half of his book talks about people's issues and problems with faith and Christianity. The second half, where this chapter resides, speaks to the reasons and ways we can see God.

There are two types of sin for this argument, religion and irreligion. Irreligion is easy to see. It's the world as it is outwardly broken: wars, violence, theft, etc. Religion is the "nice" world. It's the world of the nice and virtuous people. It's where people try to earn their salvation.

Keller uses the example of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Jekyll tried to seperate his evil and good self by means of a potion, hoping to supress his evil side. Eventually, the evil become more dispicable than he could ever imagine. Mr Hyde was a self-seeking, destructive beast that didn't care who he hurt as long as his desires are satisfied. Eventually, Dr. Jekyll decided to make up for the evil of Mr. Hyde by doing remarkable amounts of good works. He became prideful of this and eventually turned into Mr. Hyde without the potion.

The name Mr. Hyde is symbollic because, while Dr. Jekyll is a nice guy, Mr. Hyde is the evil within him, within all of us. Even the most respectable Dr. Jekyll has a hideous Mr. Hyde beneath the surface. Egotism, self-absorption, self-love, greed, pride. We all have it. And religion is when the nice people try to cover it up and make up for it. Their...my...salvation is based on how good I am on the outside, embarrassed by what's on the inside. What's worse, all my good works do not make up or shrink the evil inside me. All they do is grow my pride and ego, making the sitution worse. It's like trying to put out a fire by smothering it with gasoline. May look like water, but it's only making it worse.

For so long, I struggled with this, and still do. I see how a Christian is supposed to be and I try to act like that. "That, ironically, is a rejection of the gospel of Jesus" because I am basing my salvation and identity of my works instead of the grace of Christ. I'm trying to cover my evil deeds up but all it does it make my situation worse. "[I] cannot...deal with [my] hideousness and self-absorption...by trying to be a good person through an act of the will. [I] need a complete transformation of the very motives of [my] heart."

My religion tells me I need obey so I'll be accepted by God. However, Christ says I am already accepted. Therefore, I obey. My motivation, when understanding the grace offered through Christ, is that of gratitude, not fear. "The Christian gospel is tha tI am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yest I am so loved and valued and that Jesus was glad to die for me...A Christian's worth and value are not created by excluding anyone, but through the Lord who was excluded for me. His grace both humbles me more deeply than religion can (since I am too flawed to ever save myself through my own effort), yet it also affirms me more powerfully than religion can (since I can be absolutely certain of God's unconditional acceptance." I no longer have to be unsure of my salvation or work as if I have to earn it. I am a complete sinner but saved by complete grace so I operate out of gratitude of what I've been freely given, not out of fear of what I may get in the end.

This grace is incredibly troubling though. If I earned my salvation, I would have certian rights or there would be a limit to what Christ could ask of me. "But if I am a sinner saved by sheer grace--then there's nothing he cannot ask of me....From the outside that might sound coercive...[but] from the inside the motivation is joy." When you love someone, you do things for them that you know they will enjoy. There is no forced hands or guns to your head, you do it becuase you love them.

So Christ gives us freedom and in return we must give up our lives. "The most liberating act of free, unconditional grace demands that the recipient give up control of his or her life." Seems like a contradiction, but we are never really in control ourselves. We're always serving something. "It is only grace that frees us from the slavery of self that lurks even in the middle of morality and religion. Grace is only a threat to the illusion that we are free, autonomous selves, living life as we choose."

Boom.

Good book.

Do You Love Me?

John 21:15-19

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

This passage has had a fairly profound effect on me during the past week or so. Three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. Each time Peter responded with a yes. Each time, Jesus told Peter to tend to his sheep. Christ never asked if Peter loved the people around him. He never asked if Peter felt qualified in order to lead people. All he asked was if Peter loved him.

He did this because it is not our love for others or our inward qualifications that will sustain us and keep us striving when life gets tough and people are impossible to love. Instead, it is our love for Christ that will sustain us.

The other part that strikes me is simply the fact that when Christ asks Peter if he loves him and Peter affirms this, Christ doesn't say kneel before me. Christ tells him to care for those around him, Christ's flock. Our love for Christ is not something that stays just between Christ and me. Instead, it is something that goes beyond us and affects others. Our relationship with Christ, based in his grace and mercy and our love and gratitude, overflows so that others can experience, even if just in a small way, what we know with Christ.

So when I am tired, frustrated, and feel I cannot give anymore. I am right; but at the same time wrong. It is not my independence or strong will that will see me through to the end. It is Christ. So when I am weak, I must turn to Christ because he is the Savior of the world, not me.

The Surpassing Greatness of Knowing Christ

Sermon. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. Shad Baker.

Philippians 3:7-11

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

1. From Profit to Loss
- Paul's resume (v4-6)
-- reason to be proud according to human standards
- v7
-- actually held him back; tried achieving salvation by his own means
-- where's my identity and is it valuable? or is it an anchor that keeps me from pursuing Christ?
---anchors are anything that I hope in besides Christ

2. Comparison - v8
- scale: knowing Christ vs everything else
- knowing Christ surpasses the worth of all else
- look at myself and what I hope in with the proper perspective
-- does it last? is it perfect, grace-filled, loving?
- "knowing" = relational term

3. Garbage to Gold - v8
- "rubbish" = vulgar word, not used anywhere else in Bible
-- dung, sewage, shit (his religious identity, money, friends, etc)
-- throws it all out in order to know Christ
-- knowing Christ is so significant and life changing that it isn't truly a sacrifice
--- sacrifice is giving up something valuable but when set next to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ, it doesn't seem so valuable
-- means Christ isn't simply an accessory to our life, he is life
--- can't follow Christ and money/pleasure/etc at the same time
---all of life for Christ and we worship that because nothing else is worthy

4. How do I know I am living all of life for Christ?
- worship
-- basing the whole of my life on him
- willing to give up everything in order to keep Christ
-- we might be sad to lose it but not devastated

Into the Hands of God

Sermon. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. JC Hicks.

1 Chronicles 21:9-17

9 And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: 12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

David is a man after God's own heart
- hard to see from some stories (murder, stealing, coveting, pride, etc)
- David counted troops to show how great he had become
--difficult to release control

Sin is like a fire out of control
- starts small and we think we can control it but grows till it is too big for any human control
- David is looking to number army to show his control

How do I turn from sin?
- acknowledge sin (v8)
- but not enough to just acknowledge it because the fire is still raging
--must deal with consequences and rectify situation that is still going on

What are the consequences?
- pick your switch (v11)
-- don't have complete free choice (just the illusion of it)

What if sentence seems harsh?
- fall before God (v16)
- already praying to God but fell before God even amidst the consequences

Who did it?
- own your own sin (v17)
- God is ready to show mercy, we must beseech him
- after we stumble, we run from God out of fear of taking responsibility and the penalty
--but can we out run God?
--God is ready to show mercy but we must turn to him and stop running
-- give him control and place our lives into the hands of God (v13)
---cling and stop wrestling
---he is in control at all times but how it is revealed depends on if we're running or trusting

Practical ways to put life into hnds of God
- acknowledge truth of Christ and where I have fallen short
- be apart of fellowship/discipleship that promotes accountability and deepness w Christ
- Show mercy to others

Double Confidence

Sermon. Pastor Shad Baker. Carlisle Evangelical Free Church.

1 John 5:13-21

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God [1] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

v13 So we know we have eternal life
- if we believe, then we have eternal life
-- not arrogant
-- God wrote/inspired this book
--- to not have confidence is to not trust God's word and to doubt God
- we know we have eternal life because we trust in God's judgment as he has told us

have eternal life now
- in the present!
- can be confident that I have eternal life IF I believe in Christ
-- confident is not frantic, worried, anxious
-- Holy Spirit and loving actions are proof I currently have eternal life

v14 confidence in prayer
- approaching the LORD in confidence
-- not arrogance or flippancy
- whatever we ask in his will will be done
- we're not randomly firing off prayers to whoever wants to listen but direction our prayers to God because we have confidence that he will hear and respond
- when we see someone sin, how do I respond?
-- pray in confidence for that person that God will give them life

Why doesn't some sin lead to death?
- because that person has eternal life
-- sin still affects that person's relationship with other and God
-- but it doesn't lead to death because they already have life
--- can't out sin God's grace
- sin that leads to death is sin by those who don't believe
-- can't pray in confidence that God will show them truth because we don't know that God will give them life

How do I have confidence in this life?
- God is holding us and keeping us from death
- Deuteronomy 33:27 "The eternal God is your dwelling place, / and underneath are the everlasting arms."
-- if we know that God was holding us and believe that God has overcome the world, then we can be confident because we know how the "ride" will end
-- we pray in his will (not ours) so that he hears and answers