Three Characters: Rich Young Ruler Ran to Jesus Respectfully bowed to Jesus Calls Jesus “Good” (Young Man’s Superficial View: Spiritual Things /Jesus / Law) (MULTILINE) Jesus He loved the young man He challenged the rich ruler Reveals an impossible mission (MULTILINE) Peter His confusion His declar …
Taking righteousness seriously means I need to think graciously and truthfully. 1. The question at hand. (MULTILINE) 2. The broader principle. (MULTILINE) 3. The ethical Christian life. (MULTILINE)
Admiring Jesus and following Jesus are not the same things. 1. Confusion (vv. 30- 32) (MULTILINE) 2. To be great is to serve. (vv. 33-37) (MULTILINE) 3. To serve is to take righteousness seriously. (vv. 42-50) (MULTILINE)
If Jesus isn’t God, then the disciples were fools. A voice in a cloud… God’s Son. (MULTILINE) Jesus, just a prophet or more? (MULTILINE)
What I think will save me… may not. “You are the Christ.” (MULTILINE) Upside-down Logic (MULTILINE)
Who or what is your functional savior? 1. A Compassionate God (MULTILINE) 2. A Capable God (MULTILINE) 3. People Who Misunderstand (MULTILINE)
If I’m not careful, I can mistake my purposes for God’s purposes. Actual Pharisees (MULTILINE) Accidental Pharisees (MULTILINE)
Todd and Tamara Rasmuson Genesis 12:2-3; Psalm 57:9; Revelation 7:9 (MULTILINE) Application Question: What might God be stirring in me? What could be my next step in discovering what’s next? (MULTILINE)
Doing and being are not the same thing. 1. Rest – A gift from God. (v. 31) (MULTILINE) 2. Resources – For God’s glory. (vv. 37-38) (MULTILINE) 3. Presence – Resisting a hard heart. (vv. 51-52) (MULTILINE)
We can miss Jesus for a variety of reasons. 1. Doubt in Nazareth (vv. 1-6) (MULTILINE) 2. Faithful in the face of adversity. (vv. 7-13) (MULTILINE) 3. Conflicted motives. (vv. 14-29) (MULTILINE)
Jesus can do what no one else can do. 1. “The other side.” (4:35) (MULTILINE) 2. Jesus Calms a Storm (4:36-41) (MULTILINE) 3. Legion (5:1-20) (MULTILINE) 4. Two more healings. (5:21-43) (MULTILINE)
Faithfulness is not an accidental characteristic. 1. Parables – Stories with intent. (MULTILINE) 2. Faithful people understand the stakes. (MULTILINE) 3. Faithful people persevere. (MULTILINE) 4. Faithful people rejoice. (MULTILINE)
Jesus wants your whole life, not compartments of it. 1. Jesus is God, or he isn’t. (MULTILINE) 2. Jesus is worthy, or he isn’t. (MULTILINE)
A life of worship is a life of obedience. 1. Word pictures of Jesus (MULTILINE) 2. Worship and Obedience (MULTILINE)
Servants regularly offer timely help and timeless truth. 1. Something is distinctively different about Jesus. (MULTILINE) 2. Physical Needs – Timely Help (MULTILINE) 3. Spiritual Needs – Timeless Truth (MULTILINE)
When you follow Jesus, what is important to him becomes important to you. 1. Repent and Believe (v.15) (MULTILINE) 2.The call of discipleship. (vv. 16-20) (MULTILINE) 3. The cost of discipleship. (v. 18, 20) (MULTILINE) 4. The adventure of discipleship. (vv. 21ff) (MULTILINE)
There is no greater news than the good news of Jesus. 1. Mark – Author, Setting, Purpose (MULTILINE) 2. Good News – Jesus the servant Messiah (MULTILINE) 3. Good News – John the Baptist (servant proclaimer) (MULTILINE)
Eternal life is a now-and-then thing, not just a then thing. 1. Indwelt with the Spirit of God (MULTILINE) 2. Indwelling – Corporate Life (MULTILINE) 3. Indwelling – Formation (MULTILINE)
God had graciously long purposed to bring about rescue for humanity. 1. Jesus, a new nature for God? (MULTILINE) 2. Gen. 3:15 – The first promise of redemption. (MULTILINE) 3. Ps. 2:7 – The Son begotten of the Father (MULTILINE) 4. 2 Sam. 7:12-15 – Through the line of David (MULTILINE)
Jesus offers a peace that makes us whole. 1. God is a righteous and sovereign judge. (Isa. 9:7&8) (MULTILINE) 2. Jesus – The Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6) (MULTILINE) 3. Children of Grace (Gal. 4:4-7) (MULTILINE) 4. Seasons are just that, seasons. (MULTILINE)
Faithfulness flows into a regular life of purposeful responsiveness. 1. A faithful remnant. (MULTILINE) 2. Humility – God becoming human. (MULTILINE) 3. Willing Cooperation? (MULTILINE)
God has not hidden himself from us. 1. Who is Jesus? (MULTILINE) 2. Jesus… Before all things. (MULTILINE) 3. Jesus… God with us. (MULTILINE)
God is not indifferent to our suffering. 1. What is Advent? (MULTILINE) 2. Some decisions have long-term negative consequences. (Isa. 7:17) (MULTILINE) 3. God sees your suffering. (Isa. 7:4; Jn. 1:9) (MULTILINE) 4. God cares for you in your suffering. (Isa. 7:10; Jn. 1:4-5,14) (MULTILINE)
Great Commission living is motivated by Great Commandment love. 1. Pray (MULTILINE) 2. Send (MULTILINE) 3. Welcome (MULTILINE) 4. Go (MULTILINE)
Response and Eternal Destiny 1. True Freedom (MULTILINE) 2. Abundant Life (MULTILINE)
The Return of Christ 1. A matter of time – Past, Present, Future (MULTILINE) 2. Living in constant expectancy. (MULTILINE) 3. Motivation for Godly Living & Energetic Mission (MULTILINE)
Christian living is a process of growing into and pursuing God’s heart and God’s plans. 1. A Beautiful Convergence of grace and growth (MULTILINE) 2. Comprehensive – Life with and for God | Life with and for others (MULTILINE) 3. Compelling – We are freed. We are alive. We are adopted. (MULTILINE) 4 …
The Church 1. An institution of grace. (MULTILINE) 2. Local and Global (MULTILINE) 3. Historic and Present (MULTILINE)
The Holy Spirit 1. A word on unity. (MULTILINE) 2. Holy Spirit Dependence (MULTILINE) 3. Holy Spirit Indwelling (MULTILINE)
The Work of Christ 1. Resurrection… Really? 2. Resurrection… Validity? 3. Resurrection… Reconciliation.
Jesus is the only hope for the hopeless. 1. Human Dignity: Hope Is Born 2. Human Depravity: Hope Is Lost 3. Human Hope: Hope Resurrected
Is the Word of God good? 1. It is good because it is from God. (v.16a) 2. It is good because reveals Jesus. (v. 15) 3. It is good because it is ethical. (V. 16c) 4. It is good because it leads to human flourishing. (v. 17)
True Purpose – Ezra 3:8-13 1. Identity informs purpose. 2. Purpose is a unifier.
Who is God? 1. What is an essential? 2. Who is God? – What we believe. 3. How does this impact my identity? 4. How does this impact my life?
Anticipation increases hope… Hope fosters faithfulness. 1. Hope – “The Lord will be their light.” 2. Remembering – “Trustworthy and True” 3. Anticipation – “I am coming soon.”
Don’t exchange what is best for what is immediate. 1. A glorious future. 2. Tastes of the future now.
Healthy certainty fosters peace. 1. The Deceiver 2. The Saints
Hope cannot be hindered with God. 1. Authority 2. Life 3. Hope
Jesus is in the business of changing lives. 1. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords 2. Victory is a present and future reality.
Faithful people worship God with their lives. 1. What is worship? 2. How does worship go wrong? 3. The God who deserves worship. 4. Living a life of faithful worship.
We are united with all Christians around the world. 1. A global faith. 2. Tom’s Story 3. Next Steps Every International Course: https://everyinternational.com/courses/christ-community/
What I think will satisfy rarely does. 1. What is sin? 2. Disordered Desires 3. True Satisfaction
Victory is both now (in part) and then (in full). 1. Victory now … in part. 2. Victory then … in full.
God’s final victory prompts my endurance. 1. Truth #1 – The character of God 2. Truth #2 – The gospel of grace. 3. Truth #3 – Victory over the powers of this age. 4. Truth #4 – Judgment means evil won’t persist.
Faithful people resist deception through wisdom and discernment. 1. Deception – The oldest game. 2. Discernment – Sorting Godly from ungodly. 3. Wisdom – The right application of knowledge.
Two signs in heaven (vv. 1-6) The first sign – The woman The second sign – The Dragon The war in heaven. (vv. 7-17) Forces of good and evil Dragon is thrown down 1. “Thrown Down” – A reminder of triumph. Jesus is the Victor A posture of patience & steadfastness 2. Victory – Now in part… then …
Watchfulness + Faithfulness = an awake and active follower of Jesus 1. God’s final chapter of history cannot be stopped by anything or anyone. That truth compels us to obedient life in glorious expectancy. 2. Worship is and will be the ultimate response, via open-hearted full-life adoration, or sorr …
The promise of salvation only matters if God can deliver on it. 1. The authority of the God who hears 2. The hope of judgement and mercy 3. The call to respond: Pride or humility
An abundant life has Christ at the center. 1. Make sure to keep the context from Chapter 6 2. God protects His people – Divine Mercy 3. God provides for His people – Divine Provision
Courageous faith is rooted in the Lamb. 1. Don’t forget the original audience. 2. Worthiness – Divine Ability 3. Authority – Divine Provision
We have hope because the Lamb has victory. 1. A cosmic problem. (vv. 1-5) 2. The Lamb is worthy. (vv. 5b-9a, 11-14) 3. Cosmic hope. (vv. 9b-10)
There is only one who is worthy of my worship. 1. A vision of the throne. 2. The one who is thrice Holy. 3. The one who is worthy. 4. The one who created all things.
Healthy discipline is a marker of love. 1. Laodicea – Don’t be lukewarm. (vv. 15-18) 2.Godly Discipline (vv. 18-20)
Eternally changed people, look for the eternal perspective. 1. Philadelphia – A city at the crossroads. 2. Enduring Patiently 3. Look for the eternal perspective.
If Jesus has risen, hope is a valid reality. 1. Resurrection – Really? 2. Resurrection – Validity? 3. Resurrection – Nothing has to be the same.
We all need a savior. 1. The Triumphal Entry 2. “Who do you say that I am?” 3. The need for a savior.
Playing pretend is not an effective spiritual discipline. 1. Sardis – A naturally safe place. 2. Holy Discomfort 3. Holy Ambition
The quality of my outer life begins with the quality of my inner life. 1. Thyatira – The creep of compromise 2. Spiritual growth is a process 3. Take every thought captive
We have a responsibility to love in word and deed. 1. Decades of partnership in Congo. 2. Stories from the field. 3.The centrality of God’s Word.
Sin never delivers on what it promises. 1. Pergamum – A religious center. 2. The lure of sin. 3.The reality of Jesus.
When I aim at nothing, I’ll hit it every time. 1. Smyrna – A Roman Stronghold 2. The One who cannot die. 3. Do not fear. 4. Press On… Stay Focused
I can know someone and not be known. 1. Seven Letters – Seven Churches 2. Right Doctrine Matters 3. Intimacy is not an either-or.
If God is God, I don’t need to be. 1. Grace 2. God 3. Glory
Anticipation increases hope… hope fosters faithfulness. 1. Let’s set the stage. 2. Why Revelation? 3. Anticipation, Hope, and Faithfulness
Don’t let your sufferings distract you from God’s plans. 1. Pride quickly makes our problems worse. (vv.6-7) 2. Stay focused and steady. (vv.8-9) 3. Look at the long-game. (vv.10-11) 4. You have others in your corner. (vv.12-14)
Leadership matters, and my response to leadership matters. 1. Leaders are needed. 2. Leaders are to serve willingly. 3. We need to be open to being led. 4. My life is a witness.
When I honor others, I honor Jesus. 1. Don’t be surprised when life gets hard. 2. Don’t make life harder than it needs to be. 3. Don’t miss the forest for the trees. 4. Don’t regard suffering as something to be avoided at all costs.
The way I live matters now and for eternity. 1. Sojourners – A new identity while living in the old digs. (vv. 11-12) 2. Honor un-honorable people. (vv. 13-17) 3. Jesus is our example. (vv. 21-25) 4. Live with the goal to honor Jesus in all things. (vv. 18-20)
If we have a living hope, we should live like it. 1. When faithfulness isn’t easy. (1:1-2) 2. The nature of salvation. (1:3-12) 3. Our resulting identity. (1:13-25) 4. Identity in action. (2:1-10)
Questions to consider: 1. What aspect of the Christmas story is most important or most amazing to you? And why? 2. Joseph was in between a rock and a hard place, yet he trusted God; how do you think you would have responded if you were in his situation? 3. If today isn’t just about presents, it is a …
More sin is never the solution to our pain. 1. Not how you want to be remembered. 2. When we linger a little too long. 3. More bad decisions don’t lead to good decisions. 4. God offers us lasting peace.
God is present in our everyday lives, even when we don’t feel like it. 1. God is present with us, even when best-laid plans go to waste. (Chap. 1) 2. Regular obedience is God’s love language. (Chap. 2) 3. Regular obedience makes more than a small difference. (Chap. 3&4) 4. God’s presence is more …
God’s redemption is limitless. 1. Grace – The best gift of Christmas 2. Redemption – The melodic line of Advent 3. Joy – The blessing of faithfulness
God can redeem every part of my story. 1. Advent – Jesus is on the way. 2. This should never have happened. 3. Sin is never a good solution. 4. Hope doesn’t hinge on me.
Faithfulness doesn’t happen by accident. 1. Good Starts 2. Mixed Motives 3. Patterns of Rebellion & Praise
Faithfulness isn’t a part-time job. 1. Faithful with what? 2. Our Time 3. Our Talents 4. Our Treasure
God’s love leads us to a better future through repentance. 1. What is repentance? 2. Who they were. 3. Who they are. 4. Who they are becoming.
Confession restores and builds trust. 1. Sin – What is it? 2. Confession – What is our motivation? 3. Repentance – How does it change things?
Future faithfulness starts in the present. 1. Obedience is God’s love language. 2. Faithfulness is not passive. (vv. 3, 8, 11) 3. Faithfulness is a process. (v.18)
Our best future will always be centered around God. 1. Order is important. (v.1, 7ff) 2. God’s standards should always be our standards. (vv. 2, 61-65) 3. Wisdom is a mark of faithfulness. (v. 3)
How we handle things is just as important as the convictions we hold. 1. Right Theology 2. Right Methodology
Exiles look forward to something better. 1. Conflict – Internal and External 2. Life as an exile… when home isn’t home. 3. Tension of exile… now and not yet.
Nothing worthwhile happens alone. 1. A bite too big to chew alone. 2. Many skills are needed. 3. Individual work… not individual visions. 4. Generosity not Sass.
We need to understand where we are before we can move forward. 1. Assessment: Purposes of the past. (vv. 9-16) 2. Plans: A vision for the future. (v. 17) 3. Commitment: Resolve to be about the mission ahead. (v. 18)
The steady love of God allows us to reckon with the past, repent in the present, and move forward in faith. 1. Who is Nehemiah? 2. We face the past supported by God’s loyal love. (v.5) 3. When we face the past, we must do it honestly. (vv. 6-7)
Don’t underestimate what God can do. 1. Who is God? 2. The problem of faith – Life in a broken world. 3. The promise of faith – Life in the Kingdom of God
Changed people live changed lives. 1. Sheep and Goats… What’s the difference? 2. Jesus, why are you so uptight? 3. Changed lives begin with a changed perspective. 4. Changed perspectives lead to changed behavior.
Loving God in a life-defining way looks like constant, joyful attention to his presence and work in my life, especially as I long for the day of His glorious return. 1. “At that time…” – 2. Ten Maidens – 3. Five are called foolish. Five labeled wise – 4. The door is shut and the banquet begins – 5. …
A God Honoring Life Embraces Repentance – Mt. 21:28-32 What is repentance? Repentance realigns our lives and hearts Repentance resets our identity Repentance models that there is a better way
Grace changes hearts. 1. What is grace? Getting something you don’t deserve. 2. Grace makes truth digestible. Grace and truth go together. 3. Grace is an action of generosity. Because grace is unmerited, it flows from generosity.
The Debtor (Matthew 18:23-27) We detect two sins here, pride and lack of sincere repentance. The King assumed the loss and forgave the servant /official. The Creditor (Matthew 18:28-30) Legal Right VS Moral Right. Forgiveness not shown is forgiveness not known. The Prisoner (Matthew 18:31-35) King …
Substantial joy is a treasure. The value of joy. 2. Joy of an identity found in the kingdom.
Death is not the worst thing we could experience. 1. The reality of eternity. Jesus believes that eternity is very real. 2. The reality of your eternity. Jesus believes that your eternity is very real.
Complacency is a thief. 1. Mission cannot be passive. 2. What are we called to be faithful with? 3. Faithfulness Reflects Priorities 4. Faithfulness Centers Jesus
1. Not All Who Wander Are Lost (Matthew 18:12-14) 2. Lost vs. Lost (Luke 15:1-7) 3. He Seeks and Saves the Lost (Matthew 18:11; Luke 19:10)
Radical servanthood is a marker of the humble. 1. The way of the world. (Luke 17:7-10) 2. The way of the Father. (Matt. 7:9-11) 3. The way of the Kingdom.
It is possible to endure in faith. 1. What is a parable? Parables function as a lens that allows us to see the truth and correct distorted vision. 2. Hearing and Doing – The substance of obedience. 3. The blessing of obedience..
Jesus is the hope of the world. 1. A promise fulfilled. (vv.11-16) – Obedience is God’s love language. – Trust is an act of obedience. 2. Hope that was long promised. (vv. 17-27) – Obedience to the Word of God. 3. Hope that is for all people. (vv. 28-31) – Obedience in generosity. 4. Hope that de …
1. Strengthening the Church (vv. 18:18-23) 2. Training Disciples (vv. 18:24-28) 3. Correcting Doctrine (vv. 19:1-7) 4. Teaching The Word (vv. 19:8-10) 5. Rebuking Evil (vv. 19:11-20)
Christians are called to be faithful. 1. The story is reliable. 2. Called to be faithful, not perfect. (vv.1-11) Faithfulness is taking the next right step of obedience. 3. Faithfulness builds trust. (vv. 12-18)