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42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Acts 2:42-47For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.Romans 12:4-5The Healthy BodyGlobal Wellness Economy: $6.3 trillion (2023), projected to $9 trillion by 2028.Pharmaceutical Industry: About $1.6 trillion (2023).Travel & Tourism: Around $5.8 trillion (2023).Technology Industry (global IT): Roughly $5.3 trillion (2023).Global Food & Beverage Industry: Estimated at $9.4 trillion (2023).The wellness economy is larger than pharmaceuticals, IT, and travel, and nearly rivals food and beverage (one of the most essential global markets).“The paradox is that a movement designed to make people healthier sometimes makes them more anxious, isolated, or perfectionistic.”Body Dysmorphia: a mental condition characterized by extreme preoccupation with self-perceived defects in the appearance of the body.Church Dysmorphia: a mental condition characterized by extreme preoccupation with self-perceived defects in the appearance of the Church.Church Dysmorphia leads us to think that:THE CHURCH IS TOO FAR GONE14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”1 Kings 19:14THE CHURCH SHOULD BE FULL OF PERFECT FOLLOWERS27 And the servants[d] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”Matthew 13:27-30This parable teaches us that the good and evil will always be found together in the professing church, until the end of the world.J.C. RyleThose who are tares today, may be wheat tomorrow.AugustineTHE CHURCH MUST BE IMPRESSIVE38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[d] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”Luke 10:38-42CHINESE UNDERGROUND CHURCH PICTURE*42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe[d] came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.Acts 2:42-47God’s Word FellowshipLord’s SupperPrayerAs our body is enlivened by the soul, so the Church receives its life from Christ. Hence the Church is called the body of Christ, because it receives life from him, and in turn communicates that life to its members.John CalvinA HEALTHY CHURCH IS CHURCH SOURCED BY THE WORDS OF JESUSA HEALTHY CHURCH SHARES THE LOVE OF JESUS WITH EACH OTHERA HEALTHY CHURCH IS SUSTAINED BY THE CROSS OF JESUSA HEALTHY CHURCH COMMUNICATES WITH JESUS

“4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11#1 We are equipped #2 We are responsible    #1 We are equipped:          What are these gifts,           Who gives them          and what for?What are the gifts?“Gracious endowments, leading to miraculous results.”- Clarkegift of wisdom: enables one to speak out the wisdom of God Stephen in Acts 7gift of the word of knowledge: to know what cannot be known apart from revelation. Jesus in John 4gift of faith: ability to trust God is a particular circumstance. Peter in Acts 3 gift of healing: gift to give or receive God’s healing power. Peter in Acts 3 gift of working of miracles: the act of power where the Holy spirit overrides the law of nature working in and through the available person. Feeding 5k in Matthew 14 gift of prophecy: telling God’s message in a particular situation, always in accordance with his word and work. Paul in Acts 27 gift of discerning of spirits: tell the difference between true and false doctrine. Protect the church from deception. Jesus in Matthew 4gift of tongues: when using the gift of tongues, we agree with God that as the Holy Spirit prays through us, though we may not understand what we are praying, God does. Purpose is to communicate with God. Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 gift of interpretation: allows the gift of tongues to be a benefit for those other than the speakerGift (Greek:charis): gracewho gives these gifts? “4 There are diversities of gifts, but it’s the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities in activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6“7 the manifestation of the Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:7   “The Holy Spirit is always present with believers but at times he is more apparent”- David Guzik3)for what?#1- For His will“11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things (gifts), distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1Corinthians 12:11“18 God has set the members, each one of them in the body just as he pleased.” 1 Corinthians 12:18“Why is the foot a foot and the hand, a hand? Because it please the designer to make it so. So, the hand can take no pride in being the hand, and the foot no shame in being a foot. Each serves the pleasure of the designer.”- David Guzik#2- For unifying His people into one expression#3- For caring for the body.“26 If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it, but if one member is honored, all members rejoice with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26The equipping of the body of Christ are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, given in grace by the Holy Spirit as He wills to the unifying care of the body.#2 How are we responsible? We are responsible for the posture we receive the gifts inWe should receive the gifts in a: 1) posture of humility2)posture of desire3)posture of loveCh 12 of 1 Corinthians describes the gifts of the Spirit to the body. Ch 13 of 1 Corinthians depicts the love which gives the ministry of gifts its value“1Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3“When the helper (Holy Spirit) comes…he will bear witness about me.” John 15:26

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1 Peter 2:4-5God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.John PiperWhat the Church is NOTWhat the Church isThe Church is NOT:Just a BuildingAnd let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.Hebrews 10:24-2516 But when I thought how to understand this,    it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God;    then I discerned their end.Psalm 73:16-17The Psalmist did not merely go to the building, he went to meet with God.Martyn Lloyd JonesWhat a wonderful place God’s house is. Often you will find deliverance by merely coming into it… People who neglect attendance at the house of God are not only being unscriptural—let me put it bluntly—they are fools.Martyn Lloyd JonesA SupplementFor MeA seeker-sensitive church (or seeker-church) is a model of ministry and worship designed to be especially accessible, welcoming, and understandable to unchurched or spiritually curious people (“seekers”). The goal is to remove barriers that might make non-Christians feel out of place and to present the gospel in a culturally relevant way.Stop looking for the perfect church. It does not exist. Even if it did exist, the moment you or I joined it, it would no longer be perfect.Nicky GumbleAn organization of minimal impactPETER’S CRUCIFIXION*DIETRICH BONHOEFFER*The Church is:Christ’s BodyFor as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.Romans 12:4-5The Church is not a religious community of worshippers of Christ but is Christ himself who has taken form among people.Dietrich BonhoefferBut Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”Acts 9:1-4InheritedSo then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,Ephesians 2:19-20For Jesus21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[e] the Spirit.Ephesians 2:21-2225 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.Ephesians 5:25-27The Hope of the WorldIf the Church is central to God’s purpose, as seen in both history and the gospel, then it must surely also be central to our lives.John Stott

[teaching text]4 And while staying[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8POWERWHAT DOES THIS POWER LOOK LIKE?WHAT DOES THIS POWER LEAD TO?WHAT DOES THIS POWER REQUIRE?4 And while staying[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Acts 1:4-8WHAT DOES THIS POWER LOOK LIKE?The book of Acts shows us what the Christian church is meant to be. If you want to know what Christianity is, do not go to the church as she often appears; go to the New Testament. Go back to the book of Acts, and there you will see Christianity, the Christian life, and the church in action.Martin Lloyd-JonesThe Acts of the Apostles is above all else the book of the Spirit. It is the Spirit who is the principal actor, and it is he who continues the ministry of Jesus through the apostles. Here is a model of normal Christianity—the Christian life lived in the fullness of the Spirit.John StottWhat we see in Acts is what normal Christian living looks like.WHAT DOES THIS POWER LEAD TO?8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Acts 1:8Notice that this really wasn’t a command; it was a simple statement of fact: When the Holy Spirit has come upon you… you shall be witnesses of Me. Jesus didn’t recommend that they become witnesses; He said they would be witnesses.David GuzikIn less than a generation, Christianity had reached the ends of the known world. An uneducated band of fishermen and tax collectors, with no money or power, had transformed history because they carried a message stronger than empires.Michael GreenWHAT DOES THIS POWER REQUIRE?4 And while staying[a] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father,Acts 1:4Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. Romans 8:26The greatest weakness in a person is trusting in their own strength and avoiding God. The greatest strength in a person is admitting their weakness and drawing strength from God’s.42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Matthew 26:42

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:7-1121 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.James 1:21-25CONVICTION AND COMFORT7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:7-1126 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,John 14:26 (NIV)26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,John 14:26 (CSB)26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,John 14:26 (KJV)HOW DOES THE COMFORTER COMFORT US?8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.John 16:7-11Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.Proverbs 3:5The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?Jeremiah 17:9Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.Proverbs 28:268 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8MOVIE CLIP***10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[a] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.Revelation 12:108 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:John 16:8elegchō: declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law.“The Spirit is the ‘advocate’ or helper of those who believe in Jesus, their counsel for the defense. But in relation to unbelievers, to the godless world, he acts as counsel for the prosecution.”F.F. BruceBefore the convicting work of the Holy Spirit one may say, I make a lot of mistakes. Nobody’s perfect. After the convicting work of the Holy Spirit one may say, I’m a lost rebel, fighting against God and His law – I must rely on Jesus to get right with God.David Guzik13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…John 16:138 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.1 Peter 5:8THE ACCUSER LEADS US WITH COMFORTTHE COMFORTER LEADS US WITH TRUTHTHE ACCUSER LEADS WITH COMFORTThe devil will sometimes come to men's souls as a false comforter.Charles SpurgeonIn the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.2 Samuel 11:1THE COMFORTER LEADS US WITH TRUTH“The Holy Spirit never comes merely to make us feel good; He comes to make us holy, and that requires conviction before comfort.”A.W. Tozer“When the Holy Spirit comes, He is like a refiner’s fire. He burns away the dross, but never destroys the gold; He convicts to cleanse, and cleanses to comfort.”Charles Spurgeon5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man!2 Samuel 12:5-7“When He rebukes, He wounds only to heal; when He pierces the conscience, it is to pour in the balm of comfort.”John Chrysostom

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:25-26“The idea of the Spirit held by the average church member is so vague as to be nearly nonexistent. When it is thought of at all, it is likely to be misunderstood as an influence or an impersonal power.”A.W. Tozer“From my perspective, the Holy Spirit is tragically neglected and, for all practical purposes, forgotten... while no evangelical would deny His existence, I'm willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives.”Francis ChanWhat do you believe concerning the “Holy Spirit”?First, that the Spirit, with the Father and the Son, is eternal God. Second, that he is given also to me, so that, through true faith, he makes me share in Christ and all his benefits, comforts me, and will remain with me forever.Heidelberg Catechism, Q.53THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOT A PAST/PRESENT POWER APPLIED TO A CHRISTIAN, HE’S THE PERSON OF GOD WHO HAS COME TO MAKE HIS HOME IN A RESURRECTED HEART.25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:25-26THE TEACHERTeacher: someone who helps others learn, understand, and grow in knowledge, skills, character, or wisdom.MATH EQAUTION PIC***Teacher: someone who takes what is formless and void to the student, and brings order to the chaos through words.25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:25-26ONE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT’S PRIMARY ROLES IS TO PARTNER WITH GOD’S WORD TO CREATE ORDER.Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a] on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Acts 2:2-4Modalism: a theological view that posits the Trinity is not three distinct persons within one Godhead, but rather one God who reveals Himself in different "modes" or “manifestations"THE HOLY SPIRIT IN CREATIONIn the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.John 1:1-5THE HOLY SPIRIT IN EZEKIELThe hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley;[a] it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath[b] to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling,[c] and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.Ezekiel 37:1-10THE HOLY SPIRIT IN JESUS31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.Luke 1:31-35GOD’S SPIRIT WORKS IN TANDEM WITH GOD’S WORDTRY TO SEPARATE GOD’S SPIRIT FROM HIS WORD AND YOU WILL GETWORSHIP THAT IS “WITHOUT FORM” (John 4)22 You worship what you do not know;John 4:22They worshipped a God whom they did not really know. Thereason for this was their rejection of most of His revelation inthe Old Testament. On top of this, the Samaritans had addedpagan concepts to their faith, concepts that came from theirGentile forefathers.Dr. Thomas ConstableWORSHIP THAT IS “VOID” (Matthew 23)2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.Matthew 23:2“AM I GIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT THE WORD TO WORK WITH?”LEARNING TO DWELL AND FEAST ON THE BIBLE IS THE START TO A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE“AM I GIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT ROOM TO WORK WITH THE WORD?”DON’T READ ALONE. INVITE THE HELP OF THE TEACHER....

Open-mic testimony night about all God did at camp this summer! 🕊️

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.Ezekiel 34:1-6Shepherd“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.John 10:1-6Strangers, Sheep, and Shepherds“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.John 10:1A shepherd in scriptures represents any spiritual leader who is called to lead, feed, and care for God’s people.John 10 is Jesus’ response to John 9 and the Man born Blind34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.John 9:34The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.Ezekiel 34:1-2, 4A stranger is anyone who operates in spiritual authority over another person without going through Jesus, with Jesus, and like JesusThe man who makes much of Christ is a pastor after God’s own heart, whom God delights to honor. The minister who makes little of Christ is the one whom God regards as an imposter—as one who has climbed up to his holy office not by the door, but by “some other way”J.C. RyleConfidence in a  stranger leads to REJECTION.34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.John 9:34DO I EASILY FEEL REJECTED BY PEOPLE?He that enjoys the favor of the Son of God will not tremble at the frown of the Sanhedrim.Charles Spurgeon2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:2-5A sheep is anyone who belongs to Jesus, listens to Jesus, and follows JesusConfidence in a sheep leads to PRIDE18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?20 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue[b] my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.Ezekiel 34:18-22A true shepherd is anyone who feeds, leads, and cares for the sheepConfidence in Jesus leads to WORSHIP· Jesus is a man (John 9:11).· Jesus is a prophet (John 9:17).· Jesus is my master, I am His disciple (John 9:27).· Jesus is from God (John 9:33).· Jesus is the Son of God (John 9:35-38).· Jesus is who I trust (John 9:38).· Jesus is who I worship (John 9:38).24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” John 9:2438 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.John 9:38

Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”John 18:37The goodness of God is so boundless that no mind can grasp it, no tongue declare it. To know Him is to worship, for His attributes are not just mighty—they are lovely.Ulrich ZwingliThe divine attributes are not separate parts of God; they are how He is. And this God—eternal, infinite, unchanging—is the most beautiful being that ever was or could be.A.W. TozerGod’s attributes are the beams of the sun of His nature. Is He wise? His wisdom draws admiration. Is He powerful? His power begets awe. Is He holy? His holiness evokes reverence. The perfection of all His attributes makes Him infinitely beautiful.Thomas WatsonKingAuthority: the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”John 18:33-38Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews[a] answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. John 19:1-11‘Any one might make himself king by putting himself at the head of a band of rebels whom he fell in with.’Josephus, 4 B.C.These [rebels] were the only types who would be foolish enough to claim to be the King of the Jews in the face of Roman domination. Pilate had seen these kinds of men before, and knew Jesus was not like them.David GuzikWhen the kingship of Jesus is misunderstood: Worldly power is OVERestimatedGod’s power is UNDERestimated Worldly Power is OVERestimatedPilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews[a] answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?”John 19:6-10The same man who claimed to have all power tried to wash his hands of the decision (Matthew 27:24) claiming, “I didn’t really want to do this.”GuzikGod’s Power is UNDERestimated11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. John 19:11What happens when we understand Jesus is truly king? We find true power in: HIS VOICE37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”John 18:33-38HIS AUTHORITY36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”John 18:36SUMBISSION33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”John 18:33Whose authority are you under?"If Jesus is King, then there is no part of our lives—no politics, no finances, no relationships—that He does not claim with authority and grace."Tim Keller

16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. 18 I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. Ecclesiastes 3:16-1818 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.John 1:18This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.Psalm 18:10“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.Deuteronomy 32:4“God alone is good essentially. Other things are good by participation.”Thomas AquinasIt [John 8:1-11] was omitted because of a prudish fear that it would encourage adultery.Thomas Aquinas1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”John 8:1-1115 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning,[d] when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's[e] will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.John 7:15-193 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.John 8:3-610 “If a man commits adultery with the wife of[a] his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.John 7:24You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.Matthew 7:56 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.John 8:6WHAT KIND OF JUDGE IS JESUS?HARSHLENIENTWILL JESUS JUDGE WITH THE LAW? (NO MERCY)WILL JESUS THROW AWAY THE LAW? (NO MORALS)JESUS’ JUDGEMENT IS NOT HARSH OR LENIENT; IT’S PERECT“There is no mistake in God’s court. No flaw in His evidence, no error in His verdict, and no miscarriage in His sentence.”Charles SpurgeonHE LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.John 8:6O Lord, the hope of Israel,    all who forsake you shall be put to shame;those who turn away from you[c] shall be written in the earth,    for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.Jeremiah 17:13Their names shall be written in the earth. This is what I think He wrote, linking their names with sins of their past. Perhaps He wrote the name of a woman living in Rome. One old pious Pharisee had had an affair in Rome when he was a young fellow. His wife didn’t know about it; no one in Jerusalem knew about it; but our Lord knew that old rascal. AS He just wrote the name of the old woman, the old Pharisee came over and saw—and suddenly remembered that he had another appointment. Perhaps one of the scribes made regular trips to Ephesus, a great sinning place, to a certain address over there which Jesus wrote in the sand. The scrub looked and said, “Oh, my gracious!” He left hurriedly. Another scribe may have left a girl in Galilee who was pregnant. He didn’t marry her, and he didn’t think anyone knew. Our Lord wrote the name of the girl and the scribe’s name with it.J. Vernon McGeeSecret sin on earth is open scandal in heaven.J. Vernon McGee9 What then? Are we Jews[a] any better off?[b] No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.Romans 3:9-11HE POURS OUT GRACE10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you;John 8:10-11Is Jesus reversing the Mosaic system? No. He is placing His cross between that women and her sin.HE COMMANDS A CHANGED LIFE“Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”John 8:11...

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.John 17:1-5Anyone who has fasted understands the lethargy and fatigue that the body feels. So too, with your spirit. If you fast from the bread of God, your spirit will become lethargic and sleepy.Peter K. LouisSocial Schema: A mental framework that helps organize and interpret information. People use social schemas to interpret others based on past experiences and expectations.A bio is basically answering the question, “Who is _______?”FACES OF GOD“We must not think of God as like ourselves. We are creatures; He is Creator.”Athanasius of Alexandria“Your thoughts of God are too human.”Martin Luther“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”J.I. PackerWHAT IS GOD LIKE?What do you get from a God who is a CREATOR first?If God’s very identity is to be The Creator, The Ruler, then he needs a creation to rule in order to be who he is.Michael ReevesWhat do you get from a God who is a JUDGE first?What do you get from a God who is a FRIEND first?What do you get from a God who is a KING first?He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.Colossians 1:15He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Hebrews 1:3No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.John 1:1825 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.John 17:25-26“He became what we are so that He might make us what He is.”Athanasius of AlexandriaFather: ~165+My Father: ~40+The Father: ~60+Your Father (to disciples): ~20+Abba, Father: 1God: ~15-20Lord of Heaven and Earth: 1Holy Father: 1Righteous Father: 1Bar Graph Picture***“If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God’s child and having God as his Father.”J.I. PackerIf you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!Matthew 7:9-11“God is not only a father but the best and kindest of all fathers.”John CalvinWhat do you get from a God who is first a FATHER? DNA14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[f] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:14-15PROVISIONOr which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!Matthew 7:9-11DIRECTION AND CORRECTION7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Hebrews 12:7-8FAMILYSee what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.1 John 3:1THE FATHER’S LOVE “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.”Augustine of Hippo“The greatest sorrow and burden you can lay on the Father, the greatest unkindness you can do to Him, is not to believe that He loves you.”John Owen25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”John 17:25-26

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.Proverbs 13:12Let Down - “I tried faith and it didn’t work.”Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!Psalms 34:8After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.John 6:1-611 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.John 6:11-1524 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.John 6:11-2435 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.John 6:3541 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” John 6:41-4252 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6:52-5666 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”John 6:66-67Jesus helps us ask better questions.24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.John 6:11-24Instead of asking “why did you leave Jesus?”, we need to be asking “why did you seek Jesus?”Hope deferred makes the heart sick,    but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.Proverbs 13:123 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.2 Timothy 4:1-5False Gospels that will never meet our expectationsComfortable Gospel - “Following Jesus will make life easier”Prosperity Gospel - “God will give me everything I want if I follow Him”Super-Christian Gospel - “Good Christians don’t struggle with doubt, sin, or mental health”Magic Pill Gospel - “Once I’m saved, change will be instant”Utopia Gospel - “Christians will always reflect Jesus perfectly”Faith Gospel - “If I have enough faith, everything will go right”Cross-less Gospel - “God’s Will always feels good”Earn it Gospel - “I must earn God’s love or approval through performance”Nice Gospel - “Following Jesus is about being a good person”Faithless Gospel - “God will answer all of my questions”THE PRODIGAL SONS29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”Luke 15:29-32

GOD DELUSION SLIDES wk. 4 God is a good Creator and He loves His creation.“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job 38:1-4The BIGOT myth“WHY WOULD A LOVING GOD TELL PEOPLE WHO THEY ARE REGARDLESS OF THEIR FEELINGS?”#1 For God to tell people who they are is in conflict or contradiction with Him being loving #2 Who he would tell you to be is not in agreement with how you feel #3 By “denying” your feelings he does not care for you and is not the loving God he claims to be #4 Feelings are the same as truth. So, in essence it is your truth being deniedGod is a good Creator who does in fact love his creation“3For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT“The death of truth in our society has created a moral decay in which every debate ends with the barroom question, ‘says who?’”-Gregory KovelThe truth Christianity asserts:Humanity was created in God’s image by GodOur bodies are the temple of God“1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.  5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone…. 8 Or who shut in the sea with doors….10 When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; 11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!’  12 Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place…. 19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness where is its place,20 that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home. 21 Do you know it because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great? .....25Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt…. 36 Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?.... 39 Can you hunt the prey for the lion….41 Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?” Job 38:1-41NKJV“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Job 40:2 NLTWhen truth is led by feeling, the creation begins to argue with the Creator“So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27“3 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. 5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes twice, but I will proceed no further.” Job 40:3-5 NKJV“8 Would you indeed annul My judgement? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” Job 40:8 NKJV“9 What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ 10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?’ or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’11 This is what the LORD says-the Holy One of Isreal and your Creator: ‘Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? 12 I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars at my command.” Isaiah 45:9-12 NLT#1 God is Creator. We are created   “When we reject God as creator, we reject the God of the Bible and serve a God of our own imagination.”- David Guzik  #2 He is a good CreatorThe familiar satanic lie: God’s withholding from you (Gen 3:1) What God said, that’s not really the truth (Gen 3:4) God just is keeping you down from being who you were meant to be (Gen 3:5)“God comes not to answer. God comes as the answer.”- Jon Courson It returns created to Creator     He says: “I am the potter; you are the clay” Isaiah 64:8 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5 “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you’, says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” Jeremiah 29:11God is a good Creator who loves his creation

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.Colossians 2:1-4Blind Faith - “I only believe in what can be proved through evidence.”“[Faith is] believing what you know ain’t so.”Mark TwainFaith is not OptionalTo move from religion to secularism is not so much a loss of faith as a shift into a new set of beliefs and into a new community of faith, one that draws lines between orthodoxy and heresy in different places.Timothy KellerScience by its very nature is not fit to investigate whether there is more to reality than the natural world.C. Stephen EvansReason depends on the faith that our cognitive senses—eyes and ears, our minds and memories—are not tricking us. Yet there is no noncircular way to establish that. We cannot test their reliability without using and therefore assuming their reliability. To explain what Wittgenstien means, consider the movie The Matrix. Can you prove that you aren’t actually in a vat somewhere with plugs coming out of the back of your head feeding you an alternate reality? We cannot, then, prove these fundamental premises for the operation of reasoning. We take them on faith…To state that there is no God or that there is a God, then, necessarily entails faith. And so the declaration that science is the only arbiter of truth is not itself a scientific finding. It is a belief.Timothy KellerFaith is not opposed to ThinkingChristianity birthed universities, preserved classical learning, and encouraged scientific inquiryNow faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.Hebrews 11:1-3To the writer to the Hebrews faith is a hope that is absolutely certain that what it believes is true, and that what it expects will come. It is not the hope which looks forward with wistful longing; it is the hope which looks forward with utter certainty. It is not the hope which takes refuge in a perhaps; it is the hope which is founded on a conviction.Barclay17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.Hebrews 11:17-19Logizomai [considered]: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over. (Where the word “LOGIC” comes from.)Faith is not opposed to EvidenceAnd the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them,[a] “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.Matthew 16:1-4The evidence is there, examinable and understandable for those who are open to it and who welcome it. The issue in the knowledge of God is not intellect but receptivity.HagnerMiracles will give confirmation where there is faith, but not where there is willful unbelief.Wiersbe1. Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus2. Manuscript and Textual Reliability of the Bible3. Fulfilled Prophecy4. Philosophical and Moral Arguments for God’s Existence5. Experiential and Transformational EvidenceFaith is not opposed to MysteryFor I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.Colossians 2:1-4Faith does not contradict reason, though it may go beyond reason. One may objectively prove the Bible is the most unique book ever published and has impacted society more than any other book. But only faith can prove that the Bible is the Word of God. Therefore, this is a belief beyond reason but not in contradiction to reason or against reason.David GuzikDoubt your doubtsConsider the object of your faithEven in times when it seems God expects a faith that contradicts reason, closer examination reveals He does not. For example, it might seem contrary to reason for God to expect Abraham to believe that Sarah’s dead womb could bring forth a child. But it is not unreasonable to believe that the God who created life and the womb could do this, and that He would do it according to His promise.David GuzikFuel your faith with God’s Word14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.Romans 10:14-176 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and th...

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.Luke 12:2Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,1 Peter 3:14-15HYPOCRISY - “Isn’t Christianity just full of hypocrites?”HYPOCRISY IN THE CHURCH AND IT’S EFFECT“How many people are radically and permanently repelled from The Way by Christians who are unfeeling, stiff, unapproachable, boringly lifeless, obsessive, and dissatisfied? Spirituality wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.”Dallas Willard“The perception and reality of hypocrisy remain among the most significant barriers to evangelism and credibility in the modern age.”Pew Research (2023):Only 31% of U.S. adults now identify as Protestant (down from 51% in 2007).One key reason cited: “Christians don’t act like Jesus.”Barna Group (2019):85% of non-Christians in the U.S. see Christians as “hypocritical.”Among Millennials (Christian or not), 66% say churchgoers are “more judgmental than loving.”Lifeway Research (2019):66% of church-going teens stop attending church regularly in their twenties.Top reason: “Church members appear judgmental or hypocritical.”Edelman Trust Barometer (2022):Trust in religious institutions is lower than in tech companies or NGOs globally.Many still seek spirituality but avoid institutional religion due to perceived hypocrisy.Pew (2021):29% of U.S. adults now identify as religious “nones” (atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”).13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.Matthew 5:1317 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.1 Corinthians 11:177 WOES / CONTEXT OF THE PHARISEESNo passage in the Bible is more biting, more pointed, and more severe than this pronouncement of Christ upon the Pharisees. The pharisees, while attempting to honor the Word of God and manifesting extreme form of religious observance, were actually the farthest from God.WalvoordConverting the Church - Church of the City NYThen Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi[b] by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[c] 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.Matthew 23:1-12HYPOCRISY FROM THE PLATFORM26 “Today I am giving you a choice. You may choose the blessing or the curse. 27 You will get the blessing if you listen and obey the commands of the Lord your God that I have told you today. 28 But you will get the curse if you refuse to listen and obey the commands of the Lord your God. So don’t stop living the way I command you today, and don’t follow other gods that you don’t know.Deuteronomy 11:26-284 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others.Matthew 23:4-5Majoring over minors28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters.[f] It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover.John 18:28Seeking honor of man vs. approval of God“Honor is like a shadow, which flees from those that pursue it, and grasps at it, but follows those that flee from it.”Henry12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.Matthew 23:12“They will be better through me.” - The PhariseesHYPOCRISY FROM THE PEW8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.[c] 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.Matthew 23:8-10The perversity of the religious leaders of Israel does not excuse the people of Israel. They were guilty of willfully following blind guides.Toussaint“I will be better through them.” - The IsraelitesHYPOCRISY FROM THE STREETWhoever…Matthew 23:12FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR“I will be better apart from them.” - The WorldNO ONE IS SAFE (NONE ARE GO...

1 Corinthians 1:17-25NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER SLIDE***Corporate Cry: “God we need you to move in our midst to see people AWAKEN WITH HOPE, LIVE IN GRACE, and REST ON FAITH.”GOD DELUSION30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”Luke 16:30-3116 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:1615 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…1 Peter 3:1522 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.1 Corinthians 1:17-2516 For I am not ashamed of the gospel…Romans 1:16“ISN’T RELIGION OUTDATED?”“Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right and will be proved right. We’re [the Beatles] more popular than Jesus now—I don’t know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity.”John LennonPride goes before destruction,    and a haughty spirit before a fall.Proverbs 16:18For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.1 Timothy4:3-4THE “GOSPEL” OF TECHNOLOGYTHE “GOSPEL” OF SCIENCEOne day, students in one of Albert Einstein’s classes were saying they had decided that there was no God. Einstein asked them, how much of all the knowledge in the world they had amongst themselves collectively, as a class. The students discussed it for a while and decided they had 5% of all human knowledge amongst themselves. Einstein thought that their estimate was a little generous, but he replied: “Is it possible that God exists in the 95% that you don’t know?”THE “GOSPEL” OF PERSONAL FREEDOM21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.Romans 1:21-23THE TRUTH IS WE ARE NOT GETTING BETTER OVER TIMEThe record of personal achievements and spiritual milestones he attained while still in his childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood is int itself remarkable. He began devouring Puritan classics at the age of five or six years old. He was strikingly converted when he was only fifteen, began to preach regularly when he was sixteen, and took his first pastorate in a country village at just seventeen. He received a call to pastor perhaps the most prominent Baptist church in London when only nineteen years old, and by the time he reached the age of twenty, he had already preached over 600 sermons. The first biography of Suprgeon, written by an American, appeared when he was only twenty-one years old. By his mid twenties, he was pastoring the largeset church in the entire protestant world. Alex DiPrimaTHE TRUTH IS BELIEF IN GOD IS GROWING; NOT DECLININGBarna's latest study shows that 66% of U.S. adults now say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-point increase since 2021, when the number reached its lowest level in more than 30 years of Barna tracking.“Undeniably, there is renewed interest in Jesus,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna. “This is the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal.”The growth has been especially concentrated among Gen Z and millennials. Gen Z men reported a 15-point increase in personal commitment to Jesus between 2019 and 2025. Millennial men reported a 19-point increase over the same period.Barna Research GroupWHY?THREE THINGS THAT WILL NEVER GO AWAY OVER TIME:JESUS’ IMPACT ON THE EARTHOUR LONGING FOR MORE10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11OUR NEED FOR A PERFECT SACRIFICE11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.Hebrews 10:11-14

“Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land thatis not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also thenation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. Nowas for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But inthe fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.””Genesis 15:13-16 NKJVIn the crucible of hardship is the beginning of forming the nationThe moments of hardship bring with them blessings that are set to grow us to the next level ofour faith - if we see it.“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, becauseyou know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its workso that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, youshould ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Butwhen you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave ofthe sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything fromthe Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humblecircumstances ought to take pride in their high position. For the sun rises with scorching heatand withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich willfade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres undertrial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord haspromised to those who love him.”James 1:2-9, 11-12 NIVPerseverance = To remain under“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet,and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Thenthey said to Moses,“You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest wedie.””Exodus 20:18-19 NKJV“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in variousways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of allthings, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s gloryand the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After hehad provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So hebecame as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”Hebrews 1:1-4 NIV““Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacleand all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.”Exodus 25:8-9 NIV“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory ofthe one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:14 NIVGod did not wait for them to get to the promised land before He made a wayto be in fellowship with themGod will not be worshipped in the same way as pagan gods are worshipped. He provides forthem a way of worship that is different, specific and unique.The Tabernacle and all its artifacts are a representation of Jesus foreshadowing what was tocome.The Most Holy PlaceThe Ten Commandments -““Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolishthem but to fulfill them.”Matthew 5:17 NIVThe Mana -“Jesus said to them,“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread fromheaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God isthe bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.””John 6:32-33 NIV“I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But hereis the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the livingbread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is myflesh, which I will give for the life of the world.””John 6:48-51 NIVAaron’s Rod that budded -“So the Lord said to Aaron,“You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall beariniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquityconnected with your priesthood.”Numbers 18:1 ESV“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lordhas laid on him the iniquity of us all.”Isaiah 53:6 ESV

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,     and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the LORD is a God of justice;     blessed are all those who wait for him.Isaiah 30:1823 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Matthew 23:23GOD WILL SHOW MERCYTherefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,     and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.For the LORD is a God of justice;     blessed are all those who wait for him.Isaiah 30:18And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.Luke 4:1-2"Misinterpretations of our Redeemer's delays are the occasion of a great deal of wickedness. Our Lord Jesus has gone up into the mount of glory, where he is appearing in the presence of God for us, but out of our sight; the heavens must contain him, must conceal him, that we may live by faith. Weariness in waiting betrays us to a great many temptations."HenryHow we act in the wilderness is not the exception; its the rule (its who we really are)Certain of God’s people are in trouble and distress, and they are eager for immediate rescue. They cannot wait God’s time, nor exercise submission to his will. He will surely deliver them in due season; but they cannot tarry till the hour cometh; like children, they snatch at unripe fruit. ‘To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven’; but their one season is the present; they cannot, they will not wait. They must have their desire instantaneously fulfilled, or else they are ready to take wrong means of attaining it. If in poverty, they are in haste to be rich; and they shall not long be innocent. If under reproach, their heart ferments towards revenge. They would sooner rush under the guidance of Satan into some questionable policy, than in childlike simplicity trust in the Lord and do good. It must not be so with you, my brethren, you must learn a better way.Charles SpurgeonHOW WILL YOU WAIT FOR GOD?IN VIEW OF HIS ABSENCE“Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Luke 24:19-2132 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”Luke 24:32God’s absence might be a lack of feeling or understanding; but it is never a true absence. God is always there.IN VIEW OF OUR SINLike a dog that returns to his vomit    is a fool who repeats his folly.Proverbs 26:11God’s absence might be due to our pursuit of sin; but it does not stop Him from pursuing us.HOW DID MOSES WAIT FOR GOD?IN VIEW OF GOD’S MERCY11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.Exodus 32:11-1411 But Moses implored the Lord…Exodus 32:11ḥālâ — to become weak; to groan26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because[g] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27HOW DOES JESUS WAIT? 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[a] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.Hebrews 7:25JESUS MAKES INTERCESSION FOR USThe son’s intercession does not reflect the coolness of the Father, but the sheer warmth of the Son. Christ does not intercede because the Father’s heart is tepid toward us but because the Son’s heart is so full toward us. But the Father’s own deepest delight is to say yes to the Son’s pleading on our behalf.Dane C. Ortlund