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1 John 4:1-6

1 John 3:4-101. The nature of sin, v. 4“lawlessness”- the rejection of God’s authority and the exaltation of the autonomy of the self. 2. The person and work of Jesus, v. 5-8Sound doctrine is a summary of the Bible’s teaching that is both faithful to the Bible and useful for life.                  -Bobby Jamieson Two foundational truths...a) the incarnation b) the sinlessness of Godv. 6-  “in him…in him”  v. 7- “is righteous…as he is righteous”v. 8- “makes a practice of sinning…has been sinning from the beginning”3. The agency of the Holy Spirit, v. 9“seed”-whatever possesses vital force or life giving power; of divine energy, of the Holy Spirit operating within the soul by which we are regenerated.” “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”                  -Romans 8:1-114. Biblical doctrine provides clarity, v. 10The evidence…a) practice righteousnessb) love othersThree things to consider in loving hard to love people…Do I want to forgive this person?Do I believe things about them that are not true but you like believing them?Do I really know them?Mental worship…What, if anything, is evident about your faith?What was your attention drawn to in the sermon today?How often do you experience the life of the Holy Spirit in you?Is there one doctrine/belief in Christianity that you want to better understand as a result of what you heard today?Who is the hardest person for you to love right now?

I John 2:28-3:31. Confidence is born of consistency, v. 28“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”                         -Revelation 19:11-162. Confidence comes from practice, v. 29Two things to notice here…a) God imparts spiritual life to people“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”             -John 1:12-13b) The practice of righteousness is evidence of being born of God3. Confidence is anchored in other world love, v. 3:1Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving-kindness as the flood, when the Prince of Life, our Ransom, shed for us His precious blood. Who His love will not remember? Who can cease to sing His praise? He can never be forgotten throughout heav'n's eternal days.On the mount of crucifixion fountains opened deep and wide; through the floodgates of God's mercy flowed a vast and gracious tide. Grace and love, like mighty rivers, poured incessant from above, and heav'n's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love.4. Confidence comes from perspective, v. 2“now”…..”will be"5. Confidence has its hope in the right place, v. 3Mental worship…What do you practice?Is the Gospel to you more about forgiveness or restraint? To purify yourself do you need to practice addition or subtraction?When did you first grasp the manner in which God loves you?Where do you live more often, in the “now” or in the “will be?” What do you hope in?

John 12:12-361. People, v. 12-13, 17-19John 11:45-572. Promise, v. 14-16Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.” -Zechariah 9:9-12Three things about the Messiah, the one who is to come...a) righteous“The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation.”- Charles Spurgeon“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”-Titus 3:4-7b) having salvationc) humble3. Provision, v. 20-36Mental worship…1. Do you confuse Gods patience with tolerance?2. How was the Bible shaped your view of God? 3. Besides the Bible, what has most shaped your view of God? 4. What motivates you to do the right thing when nobody seems to     understand? 5. Is there any area of your life that feels as if God doesn’t have a plan? 

Author and host of the Alisa Childers Podcast shares on progressive Christianity, apologetics, the gospel, and more.Interview by Spiritual Formation Pastor Blake Hardcastle.

1 John 2:18-271. Remember there are deceivers among us v.18-19, 26, 22-232. Relax, you can spot them, you’re anointed v.20-21, 273. Abide! That’s a command and the clutch v. 24-25, 27Mental WorshipDo you know any deceivers? Who are you concerned has left the faith?Are you ignoring that it is the last hour and think you have “plenty of time” to obey in the future?What do you hope is in God’s heart to provide for you? For your family? For this church?What persistent “respectable” sin is the Spirit wanting to lead you out of?What needs to change for you to more fully enjoy the life of eternity?

1 Corinthians 11:23-32

John 2:3-11Have you ever had seasons in your life where you questioned if you really know God? If you asked God right now "am I your child?" What do you think He would say?How is your heart toward others right now?  Is it marked by love?Do you have anyone in your life that has hurt you in the past?  How much has God forgiven each of us?How is your heart toward people that have hurt you?  Is there any bitterness or unforgiveness there that needs to be dealt with?

1 John 1:1-4What Is Eternal Life?These false teachers emphasized two things…a) matter/flesh was impure, badb) knowledge was supremeThese teachers were known for three things…a) they did not believe in the incarnation, that Jesus came in the fleshb) they believed sin didn’t matter because morality did not matterc) they were not loving, very dogmatic, harsh and divisive1. This has always been the Gospel, v. 12. Eternal life is about quality of life not quantity, v. 2“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”                  -John 3:16“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”                  -John 3:36“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”          -John 5:39-40“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”         -John 10:10“And this is eternal life that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”                -John 17:3 “Zoe (life) refers to the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions and to last for ever.”“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus.”                                                                                                        -2 Timothy 1:13. Experiencing this life is what motivates us, v. 34. Eternal life reshapes our joy, v. 4a) joy- “to make our joy completeb) holiness- “so that you will not sin”c) certainty- “so that you make know that you have eternal life”Mental worship…Do you experience the life of eternity?What could you do today that would add to your joy?What is one question you would ask as a result of what you heard today?Have you seen and heard enough to be sufficiently motivated? What is the one thing you want people to know about God right now?Does your definition of joy require the Gospel?

James 3:1-12The M Word:  My Mouth1. Greater strictness should make preachers intentional, v. 12. Must learn to see our tongue in relation to our whole body, v. 2-6Three word pictures…a) bit- “we guide their whole bodies as well”b) rudder- “so large…strong winds…very small rudder”c) fire3. Our mouth makes visible what is invisible, v. 4 “…wherever the will of the pilot directs.” words…will…worship (idol) “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”           - Luke 6:45Root idols of the heart…a) power- a longing for influence or recognitionb) control- a longing to have everything go according to my planc) comfort- a longing for pleasure  d) approval- a longing to be accepted or desired4. Identity makes the difference, v. 7-12“The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.”              -Isaiah 50:4Mental worship…Are you guilty of talking too much about things you shouldn’t or talking too little about things you should?How often do you think of yourself in terms of your spiritual identity?What is the last thing somebody said to you that blessed you?What do your words reveal to be the idol of your heart? As a result of what you heard today, is there a necessary conversation you need to have or action that you need to take?

Colossians 1:15-20 1. We see His relationship with God the Father Col. 1:15aHebrews 1:3John 14:92. We see His relationship with creation  Col. 1:15 - 17“You have a hundred trillion cells in your body. Each one of them, scientists will tell you, is like a complex city—like the city of New York on a cellular level. Every second of every day your cells are operating on a millions of parts and interactions. A scientist named Lewis Thomas (not a believer, by the way) once wrote eloquently about the beauty of a single human cell: "If I could explain what goes on in a human cell, I would for the rest of my life hire a plane and fly it back and forth across the earth just to proclaim the incredible wonder of how and why a cell works.” - Matt Woodley Psalm 19:1-23. We See His Relationship with the Church Col. 1:18Ephesians 5:25-27Acts 9:4-54. Lastly, We See His Relationship with the CrossColossians 1:19-23_________________Questions: Jesus is King of creation…how should that change the way you trust, pray, and worship? Have you ever taken time to marvel at the fact that the church is bride of Christ? What does that say about what God sees when He sees you?What role does Jesus play most often in your life: tool or treasure? Why?

I Kings 8:1-21, 54-61 1. PresenceWhy is God’s presence so important…a)  God’s presence is an indication of God’s pleasure. b)  God’s presence distinguishes us as God’s people. “Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”                   -Exodus 33:13-162. ProvisionProvision is God doing what is in His heart and God’s people being faithful with what God has put in their heart. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or 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 7:7-11“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”              -Luke 12:32Twice the word “fulfilled” is used but there are two different definitions to the word...a) v. 15- “to fill full”  b) v. 20- “to be fixed, proven, established”  3. Progress, v. 54-61

Matthew 28:16-20 The church is not an audience to be entertained; it is an army to be empowered. The large crowd will not change the world. The mobilized force of Spirit-filled believers will. -JD Greear  1. If you want to hear from God.  You have to obey what he says.  2. If you are doubting run to Jesus not away from Jesus.  3. We are all called to Go.  Every Christian here is either a missionary or an imposter. -Charles Spurgeon.  4. We are to make disciples(mentors and mentees) 5. We are to make disciples of ALL Nations  Questions:  How many of you find your lives boring and unfulfilling right now?  Do you feel there is more to a relationship with Jesus than just a quiet time with Him each day?  What is the last thing that God told you? Have you been obedient to what he told you?  How have you and your family responded to God's call to Go? Who are you discipling right now?  If you are not discipling someone who is God leading you to pursue?  What are you doing to reach all nations here in Fort Bend County?  Think of a time when you were encouraged by ministering to someone else. Go tell someone about it. 

1 Timothy 6:2-19 1. The prosperity gospel is nothing new, v. 3-5 2. Contentment is the goal, v. 6-10 Two kinds of poor Christians referenced here… contented poor, v. 7-8  covetous poor, v. 9-10 3. Preachers should be an example, v. 11-16 a) ethically, v.11 b) doctrinally, v. 12 c) experientially, v. 12 -2 Timothy 1:1 Besides me, here is a list of people you should look to in order to see what this life looks like… Caleb Miller    Travis Dunham Chris Sedgewick Clyde Copeland    Jana McKee Mike Rice Leo Almeida    Brent Wildeson Krista Hood Gary Cooper    Wade Collier Jason Dailey Wade Burgess    Marcie McClendon David Mertins Brandon Fralick    Theran Gay Tommy Hamor Blake Hardcastle     Cheyenne Burge Barkley Peschel Tommy Hamor    Brian McKee Steve Mittanck Joe Page    Brad Snyder Al Williams Thomas Brown    Jeff Wood Ryan Yokubaitis 4. If you are rich then be rich, v. 17-19 This is what the Bible says to rich Christians... don’t be haughty don’t set your hopes on money but God believe this How do I enjoy what God provides?  a) by doing good b) be generous c) ready to share- "sociable, ready and apt to form and maintain communion and fellowship. Inclined to make others sharers in one's possessions.” “The reason the use of your money provides a good foundation for eternal life is not that generosity earns eternal life, but that it shows where your heart is. Generosity confirms that our hope is in God and not in ourselves or our money. We don’t earn eternal life. It is a gift of grace. We receive it by resting in God’s promise. Then how we use our money confirms or denies the reality of that rest.” -John Piper, Desiring God Mental worship… Today we read these words, “for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” How does this affect the way you think about your money and possessions right now? When you covet what do you covet most often? What is the easiest thing for you to be generous with and what is the hardest?  What are you not enjoying enough right now? Is stealing the only sin you can imagine when it comes to money? What is your theology of money? Can you rejoice with those who rejoice when you are around people who have more money than you?

My Body: Sportsmanlike Conduct 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 1. Win! (By giving up) v. 19 - “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.”  A. Win the religious v. 20 - “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law.” B. Win the regular man v. 21: “To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.” C. Win the weak man v. 22: “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak.” 1 Cor. 8:12: “if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again…” 1 Corinthians 9:12: Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. v. 23: I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. 2. Run to win (pictures for tomorrow) A. Athletic awareness verse 24: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.  B. Self control verse 25: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” verse 27: “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Romans 12:1: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” C. Aim for the prize verses 25-26: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.” Questions Do you run your rights through the filter of the Gospel? Or do you typically choose the most convenient option? How does the Gospel speak to the way you view your body?  Besides self-control, what are other ways you could use your body as an instrument of worship for the Lord this week?  How would your week look different if you ran solely focused on the reward from Jesus? 

The “M” Word:  My Marriage/RelationshipsEphesians 4:17-32Introductory matters...1) callous- “to cease to feel pain or grief, apathetic” 2) sensuality- “unbridled lust, excess, shamelessness”Three important phrases:"that is not the way you learned Christ!"“assuming that you have heard about him”“you were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus”Six characteristics of my relationships...1. Speak truth, v. 25“for we are members of one another.” 2. Be angry, v. 26Three ways we sin in our anger..When you practice triangulation instead of confrontation.When you tell yourself how they are going to respond as an excuse for not going to themWhen your anger justifies what you really want to think about that person 3. Be repenting, v. 28Repentance is a change of mind that produces a change in behavior which produces a change in outcomes. 4. Give grace, v. 29“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth…” refers to words that are "worn out, of poor quality, unfit for use, stale.” 5. Be Spirit aware, v. 30-31Behaviors that grieve the Spirit...bitterness- deep sense of hatred that produces bitter fruitwrath- ever present anger, the wine of passionanger- agitated soul that gives in to impulses of the mindclamor- an inability to not speak out, outcry.slander- to speak in a way that injures another person’s namemalice- a desire to injure6. Be kind, v. 32The Gospel always puts the motivation for our behavior in a context bigger than ourselves because not only does it rescue us from ourselves initially but it keeps on rescuing us from ourselves. "…as God in Christ forgave you."Mental worship…Where do you experience oneness these days? What is your theology of anger and how do you practice that?Are you aware of all the ways you steal in your relationships?Do you find it hard to be kind, tender-hearted or forgiving to certain people? What is the most necessary conversation you need to have as a result of what you heard today?How often do you put your behavior in the context of the Gospel? 

Philippians 3:1-111. Reminds yourself of some things, v. 1-2“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”-Proverbs 18:212. Define Christianity biblically, v. 2-3A Christian is someone who’s life is characterized by three things…a) worship by the Spirit of Godb) glory in Christ Jesusc) put no confidence in the flesh“For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.”-Romans 2:28-293. Let the Gospel change what you value, v. 4-11Mental worship…What do you need to remind yourself about today?Is there anything in your life that is losing its value because of the Gospel?Do you speak more life or death when you open your mouth?What questions do you have as a result of what you heard today?