Outgoing 12B – What’s stopping us?

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The recording cut out 10 minutes from the end of the course.

I’ve finally gotten around to re-recording the final session:

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If I’ve got time, I’d like to do a little video summary of the 12 weeks, but we’ll see…

 

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Outgoing 12 A – Problems of the Heart

Outgoing – Session 12

24 November 2011

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Problems of the heart

What stops us from being an outgoing people?

Discuss!

We want to feel ok with the world

But Jesus hits a conversation like a sack of bricks.

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We want to feel ok with God

So I don’t want to get too involved with ‘the world’

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We want to feel ok with ourselves

But frankly we’re spiritually dry and it feels like a duty.

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How would the Apostle Paul handle these objections?

2 Corinthians 5

V1-4 –            Our bodies are from Adam, our Spirit is from Christ

Therefore we groan!  But…

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V5-9 –            We have confidence through the Spirit

We look forward to seeing Jesus

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V10 –              Humanity will appear before Christ’s throne.

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Therefore…

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V11-13 –        We persuade people

V14-16 –        We are driven out by the love of Jesus

We see the world in the light of the cross.

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V17-19 –        To be saved is to be scooped up into His mission

His mission is proclamation.

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V20-21 –        We implore people.

We make an appeal to people

 “Be reconciled to God.”

This has happened cosmically

But it must happen personally

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So how would Paul answer our fears?

We want to feel ok with the world

We want to feel ok with God

We want to feel ok with ourselves

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What can we do to share Jesus in our everyday lives?

Pray

Be human

Love them

Speak of Jesus

Open the Bible with them

Invite them into the community of Christ’s people

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COMMON OBJECTION:  “You don’t really want to be my friend, you just want to gain converts!”

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Outgoing 11B – Problems of the head – part two

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Outgoing – Session 11B - 17 November 2011

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Questions, Questions…

Coming to Christ is like getting married…

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You do ask questions before you’re married

But that’s not the primary way you get to know each other

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You get to know each other by living in each other’s worlds and by telling stories.

And once you get married, then you start asking big questions.

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It’s the same with coming to Christ:

Questions are important but they’re not the main way you get to know Jesus.

You get to know Jesus as His story is told.

Therefore it’s not about taking questions on their own terms.

We must use questions to proclaim Christ.

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Reframing, Reflecting, Revealing…

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We reframe the questions around the Bible’s definitions.

We reflect the question back because they too must answer it.

We reveal the gospel focused on Christ and Him crucified.

 

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DISCUSS

1)    If God is all loving, all knowing and all powerful, how can he allow suffering?

2)    If God knows everything, why pray?

3)    Religion causes wars

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Recommended Reading: Galatians 1-6

What is the gospel?

What does it mean to live by the flesh?  And by the Spirit?

What is the biggest threat to the gospel

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Next Week: What’s stopping us

Why don’t we evangelise?  The real reason is fear, pride and spiritual dryness.  The solution?  Return to the Fountain!

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Outgoing 11A – Problems of the head – part one

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Outgoing – Session 11A – 17 November 2011

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Problems of the head?

The Link Between Knowledge of God and Salvation by God

Fallen humanity does not know God

1 Samuel 3:7; Psalm 14; Matthew 7:24-27; 11:25-26; John 1:5; 1:18; 5:37-38; 7:28-29; 8:19; 14:17; 15:21; 17:25-26; Romans 1:18; 3:10-18; 8:7; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 2:11-14; 3:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 4:17-19; Colossians 1:21; 2:6-8

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To know God is to be saved by Him

Proverbs 1:7; Matthew 11:25-30; John 1:10-13, 18; 14:6-9; 17:3; Rom 10:14-17; 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Eph 4:17-21; 1 Tim 2:3-4

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We’re not saved by works but by God’s grace alone

We don’t know God by our wisdom but by God’s revelation alone

Our knowledge of God is just as much a gift as our salvation by God.
If this is true, what are the implications for evangelism?

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What about Romans 1? 

God is maximally revealed in the world

God is maximally suppressed in us

Something decisive happened with Adam

Though we knew God we exchanged it for foolishness.

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What about Acts 17?

Paul is obsessed with Jesus and the resurrection which seems like strange gods to the Greeks.

Paul says the one thing they know is that they don’t know God.

He begins again with the story of Adam and Christ.

He does not build on their supposed knowledge, he subverts it.

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What would convince the world to believe?

The world demands wisdom or power.

What does God give them?  The cross!

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1 Corinthians 1:17-2:5

The cross splits the world

We mustn’t attempt to mend the tear by our own power/wisdom

A Cross-Shaped Message

 

 

            A Cross-Shaped People

 

 

            A Cross-Shaped Messenger

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People look for power and wisdom

They are frustrated by the message of the cross.

Yet some believe.

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Outgoing 10 – Proclamation People

Outgoing – Session 10 – 10 November 2011

Sorry no audio!

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Proclamation People

John 20:19-23  As the Father sends Jesus, so He sends us.

This doesn’t mean we are sent to save the world.  John 19:30!

It does mean that we proclaim the forgiveness He won.

How?

 

John 20:24-31  A Thomas Experience versus The Scriptures

It is more blessed to meet Christ in the Bible

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 This is our method – as a priestly people,

we bring Christ to the world biblically

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How do you think of the phrase “WORD OF GOD”?

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Genesis 15:1-6
1 Samuel 3:1,7, 19-21
Psalm 18:30
Psalm 33:4-6
Jeremiah 1:4-10
John 1:1-3
Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:49; 19:20
1 Thessalonians 1:8-13
Hebrews 4:12; 13:7

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The Threefold Word

Christ

Scripture

Proclamation

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Matthew 10:40; Luke 10:16

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When are my words God’s words?

When Christ is proclaimed biblically.

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Discuss:  If this is true, how should it affect the manner of our evangelism?

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Christ must be proclaimed biblically

 

John 5:37-46

Luke 24:44-49

 

Our job is not to speak about the Bible.

Our job is to speak about what the Bible speaks about:  Christ!

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The essence of evangelism: “I offered them Christ.” (Whitefield)

When we don’t, we offer them….

 

• Cool
• Credibility
• Creeds
• Courses

 

Why?

 

1. We think these are more attractive than Jesus.

 

2. We imagine the gospel’s a process not a Person.

 

3. We don’t think people will become Christians.

 

4.  We don’t believe in the Holy Spirit.

 

5. We refuse to be as vulnerable as the Lord we proclaim.

 

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Christ must be proclaimed biblically

 

Acts 17:11

 

1 John 4:1-3

 

We don’t just open the Bible – we open it to feed on Christ!

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Christ must be proclaimed biblically

 

Jeremiah 20:9

1 Corinthians 9:16

2 Corinthians 4:13

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

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The evangelist is never capable of speaking of Christ.  They are incapable of doing otherwise.

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Common Objection:  I’d believe in God if He showed up in awesome power.

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Recommended Reading: 1 Corinthians 1-3; 2 Corinthians 4-5

How does Paul evangelise?

Why does Paul evangelise?

 

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Next Week: What’s stopping us

 

Why don’t we evangelise?  Is it really because we don’t have all the answers?  What’s the relationship between ‘reason’ and ‘faith’ anyway?

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Outgoing 9 – Priestly People

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Outgoing – Session 9 – 3 November 2011

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Priestly People

The Priesthood of Christ 

Christ is Man in the presence of God.

We are in that Man.

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Discuss:   How do you consider your standing with God?

How do you respond when you’ve sinned?

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Priesthood in Hebrews:  4:14-16; 5:1-3; 6:19-20; 7:24-28

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We’re carried on the heart of our Perfect Priest, through death and into the throne-room of the Father.

Therefore approach God boldly!

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“Christianity is not about rules, it’s a relationship.”

Careful!  Don’t make “relationship” the new work!

We’re not saved by faith as though faith is the thing we bring to the table.

It’s not that God dislikes deeds but really likes creeds.

Our faith doesn’t save us!

We’re saved by Christ alone because we bring nothing to the table

When we rest in His work – that is fath.

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Faith is not a thing.  Faith is merely receiving the only saving thing – Christ!

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It’s not about my personal relationship with God.

It’s about Christ’s personal relationship with God.

Charles Spurgeon: “It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee–it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee–it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument–it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.”

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesu’s blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesu’s name.”

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The Priesthood of All Believers

John 17:20-26

What is our relationship to…

Jesus

The Father

Each other

The world?

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John 20:19-23

How has the Father sent Jesus?

Eternally – it’s part of who He is!

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The Church does not send missionaries

The Church is the missionary body!

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1 Peter 2:9-12

The Priesthood of All Believers does not mean that we are all individual priests.

My priestliness does not exist in myself.

It exists in Christ and in community.

But in Christ and together with others we bring the world to God.

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The Priesthood of Christ:

I’m not walking a holiness tightrope

The Priesthood of all believers:

We’re moving out together into the world

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What does godliness look like?

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Common Objection:  I just want to live my life.  Why should I shrink my world and become a Christian?

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Recommended Reading: Hebrews 6-10

What is the difference between Old and New Covenants?

How might we be tempted to live an Old Covenant Christianity?

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Next Week: A Proclamation People

We have a gospel to proclaim.  This is our priestly mission to the world.  Christians will want to love their neighbours in all kinds of ways but the church is sent into the world to proclaim Christ.

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Outgoing 8B – Raised part two

Outgoing – Session 8B – 27 October 2011

Michael Milmine

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Raised – part two

The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus

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Is God like a father?  No! God is Father

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When Christ ascends to His right hand He declares/ anoints/crowns/seats the Man Jesus. (Heb 1:5; Act 13:33)

Man is now in the presence of God.  And we are in Him!!

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Colossians 3:1-4 – We are raised with Christ!

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What are the benefits?

Saved from damnation

Accounted righteousness

Brought to life

Given His riches, inheritance and honour

A life of purpose…

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But these are not the greatest benefits of the Gospel.

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What is the greatest benefit of the Gospel?

We are given Christ Himself!

All other benefits are found in Him.

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Discuss: What difference does it make to our evangelism and Christian lives that God offers us Christ, instead of abstract salvation ‘stuff’ zapped into us?

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If the Gospel gives us commodities– we need to keep hold of them

If the Gospel gives us Christ – He keeps hold of us.

Therefore, we are not walking a tightrope, we are in our Head forevermore.

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Therefore we are saved by grace alone through faith alone

The gift of God to be received.

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Common Objection:  What’s to stop people doing what they want and sinning?

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Recommended Reading: Hebrews 1-5

What makes Jesus a good High Priest?

What is the quality of the Christian’s relationship to God?

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Next Week: A Priestly People

How do we live our lives in Christ?  We rely on the Priesthood of Christ.  And we are a priesthood to the world.

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Outgoing 8A – Raised part one

Outgoing – Session 8A – 27 October 2011

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Raised

 

He became what we are that we might become what He is

 

Tonight we see that Christ Himself is our salvation.  Just as our being in Adam was the problem, so the solution is the person of Christ.  We will examine Christ’s life, death, resurrection and ascension and how we are included in Him.

In this session we consider Christ’s life and death.

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What is our Situation as Christ comes to us?

Dominated by five powers:

Wrath, Death, Sin, Law, the Flesh

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The Life of Jesus

Matthew 1:17 – Jesus the end of exile

Matthew 2:14-15 – Jesus the true Israel

Matthew 3 – Jesus joins us in our plight

Rest of Matthew – Jesus fights for us.

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Jesus did not just die for you – He lived for you too!

Jesus is our Representative.

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Martin Luther: “The chief article and foundation of the gospel is that before you take Christ as an example, you accept and recognize him as a gift, as a present that God has given you and that is your own. This means that when you see or hear of Christ doing or suffering something, you do not doubt that Christ himself, with his deeds and suffering, belongs to you. On this you may depend as surely as if you had done it yourself; indeed as if you were Christ himself. See, this is what it means to have a proper grasp of the gospel.”

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Discuss: What’s the difference between reading the Gospels with Christ as your Example and reading the Gospels with Christ as your Representative?

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Jesus was baptised into our life – we are baptised into His life

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It is a marriage union:  The King marries the prostitute.

“All that I am I give to you, all that I have I share with you.”

We get all His riches, He takes all our poverty…

 

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The Death of Jesus – Colossians 2:9-23

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In Adam: you didn’t taste his fruit but u sinned in his body

In Christ: u didnt taste His death but u were punished in His body

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We have been carried through death in the body of Jesus. Now we are beyond wrath, beyond death, beyond sin, beyond law, beyond the flesh (though still in it).  Our judgement day was Good Friday.  We were judged in Christ and that judgement is now finished for us.

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Outgoing 7B – Buried part two

Outgoing – Session 7

20 October 2011

Buried – part two

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We’re enslaved to our passions:  Ephesians 2:1-10

In Adam we are dead, dominated and damned.

Sinners are as open to the gospel as Lazarus to Christ’s word!

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In what ways are we free?

In what ways are we enslaved?

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We do what we want to do – that is our freedom and our slavery!

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“What the heart loves the will chooses and the mind justifies.”

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The alcoholic can choose beer, wine or spirits

The sinner can choose a thousand ways to reject Christ

But we can’t simply choose to love God

We must be regenerated, recreated, resurrected!

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Our best is rubbish: Isaiah 64:4

Romans 3:19-20;  Romans 5:20-21

What is the place of the law?  Galatians 3:15-25

But…

Philippians 3:1-10

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Common Objection: “I can be a good person without Jesus.”

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Recommended Reading: Romans 5-8

How is the believer connected to Christ?

What is our relationship to sin, law, sinful nature, condemnation?

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Next Week: Raised

Good news!  Christ comes to dead and buried sinners.  He takes our predicament on Himself, puts it to death and rises up new.  Best of all, He takes us with Him!

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Outgoing 7A – Buried part one

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Outgoing – Session 7 – 20 October 2011

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Buried

 RECAP:  Since God is Giver – what is sin?

Sin is not receiving

Sin is not about behaviour, it’s about being.

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Common Objection: “Sounds like I’m born sick and commanded to be well. How is that fair?”

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THIS WEEK:  We will explore four statements:

We’re born in sin

We’re condemned already

We’re enslaved to our passions

Our best is rubbish.

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We’re born in sin:  John 3:1-8

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We’re condemned already:  John 3:16-18

.What state are we in as Jesus comes to us?

What is the mission of the Father and the Son?

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Why is it good news that I’m condemned already?

I’m not at a cross-roads, I’m not on a tight-rope

Eternity is not in the balance, it’s out of my hands

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Therefore “DECISION” is dethroned.

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 “Predestined”

In Adam my destiny was determined “pre”-me.

In Christ my destiny was determined “pre”-me.

Salvation is not a taxi, it’s a bus.

I don’t pay for the ride, I don’t determine the destination.

I find myself along with others on a predetermined path.

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Outgoing 6 – What kind of gospel?

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Outgoing – Session 6 – 13 October 2011

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Dead

RECAP:  Our God is more wonderful than we can imagine!

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Therefore, what is sin?  Discuss

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“The Fall” is living apart from the Life-Giving God

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The Head takes creation with Him

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Is this unfair?

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Romans 5:12-21

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It’s about our being not our doing. 

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We are bad trees producing bad fruit

Good fruit will not make us good trees

We must be made good trees to bear good fruit.

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We are not neutral – we are a sinner in Adam.

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Example:  Hebrews 7:1-10

Levi was in Abraham

We are in Adam

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Therefore it’s DONE – it’s not down to us

We are carried in the body of our Head

We share the Head’s destiny!

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How should we communicate the truth that we’re sinners?

John 16:5-15

God is Giver.

Sin is not receiving.

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Luke 15 – Two Ways to Reject the Life-Giving Lord

Jesus is surrounded by sinners and slaves.

Sinners opt out of the system and go for freedom

Slaves opt into the system and go for respect

Slaves hate that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them

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Therefore Jesus tells a story about a man welcoming a sinner and eating with him – while the slave grumbles.

Who is the slave?

Who is the sinner?

Who is the man (who welcomes the sinner and eats with him)?

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The turning point….

… the pig-sty?

… the father’s arms!

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Therefore:

What is sin?

What is repentance?

Who is Saviour?

How should we present the gospel?

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Common Objection: “Sounds like I’m born sick and commanded to be well. How is that fair?”

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Recommended Reading: Romans 1-4

What saves us / What does not save us?

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Next Week: Buried

Those cut off from the life of God try to seek life in all the wrong places.  Yet all our goodness and all our will-power only mires us deeper!

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Outgoing 5 – The Outgoing God

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Audio part B

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Outgoing – Session 5 – 6 October 2011

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The Outgoing God

 Last week we considered the Triune God.

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The Trinity is not a maths problem,
It’s the good news that God is love, and we’re invited.

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What are the roles of the Persons?

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2 Corinthians 13:14:

Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ

Love of God

Fellowship of the Holy Spirit

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Isaiah 11:1-5

Isaiah 42:1-4

Isaiah 48:12-16

Isaiah 61:1-3

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Father

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Son

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Spirit

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What was there in the beginning?

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Nothing

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Chaos

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Power

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Love

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Common Objection:  What’s all this nonsense about Trinity?  Isn’t it easier to stick with one God?

 

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Nicene Creed

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We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.

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What does it mean that the Son is “eternally begotten”?

By the Spirit and through the Son, God is eternally outgoing

Life-giving

Communicating

Shining

Loving

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Richard Sibbes: “God’s goodness is a communicative, spreading goodness. . . . If God had not a communicative, spreading goodness, he would never have created the world.  The Father, Son and Holy Ghost were happy in themselves and enjoyed one another before the world was.  But that God delights to communicate and spread his goodness, there had never been a creation nor a redemption.  God useth his creatures not for defect of power, that he can do nothing without them, but for the spreading of his goodness.”

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God so loved the world that He gave…

His Son…  and

His Spirit

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At Christmas He gave Himself particularly

At Pentecost He gave Himself universally

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Common Objection: “Why did God make us?  And who made God?”

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Recommended Reading: Genesis 1-5.

What is the relationship between

God <=> Humanity <=> World

Life and Death

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Next Week: Dead

God is Life and life-giving, but how do we respond?  We naturally close ourselves off from our true Life-source.  This is the problem for the world.

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Outgoing 4B – The Triune God part two

 

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Outgoing – Session 4 – 29 September 2011

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The Triune God – part two

Compare and contrast the omnibeing with the trinity.

How do these different gods lead to different gospels?

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What is our big problem with the Trinity?

We try to reconcile the omnibeing with the Trinity.

 

We need to replace the omnibeing with the Trinity.

 

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How is God Three?

 

Eternally distinct Persons.

 

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How is God One? 

 

Eternally united in love

Deuteronomy 6:4

 

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Use of “one” in the Bible:  Genesis 2:24; 11:6; 34:16; Exodus 24:3; 26:6; Deuteronomy 6:4; Joshua 9:2; 10:42; 2 Samuel 2:25; 2 Chronicles 5:12; 30:12; Ezra 6:24; John 17:11,20-21

 

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God is one the way a married couple or a united church is one.

 

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Perichoresis – the round dance of the Three!

 

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We must uphold UNITY, DISTINCTION and EQUALITY

 

Arianism:  Jesus is not as God as God is God!  (JWs)

Modalism: There’s one Person wearing 3 masks (TD Jakes)

Tritheism: There are three Gods doings their own thing.

 

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Almost all analogies are rubbish.  But….

 

Humanity is in the image of God!  Genesis 1:26ff.

 

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The Roles of the Persons

 

2 Corinthians 13:14
Isaiah 11:1-5; Is 42:1-4; Is 48:12-16; Is 61:1-3

 

The Father is the Loving Sender / Initiator

 

John 3:16, 35; 1John 4:8-9

 

The Son is the Beloved and Obedient Sent-One / Executor

 

Psalm 40:7-8: John 5:30

 

The Spirit is the Personal Empowerer / Perfector / Applier

 

Acts 10:38; Romans 8:14-16

 

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All things are FROM the Father,

THROUGH the Son

and BY THE POWER OF the Spirit.

 

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What are the benefits of being explicitly Trinitarian?

 

Relationship
Radiance
Room
Response

 

 

 

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Common Objection: “What’s all this nonsense about a trinity? Isn’t it easier to stick to the one God?”

 

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Recommended Reading: 1 John. What does it mean that God is love?

 

 

 

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Outgoing 4A – The Triune God

 

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Outgoing – Session 4 – 29 September 2011

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The Triune God

 What was there in the beginning?

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The Trinity – Tri-unity – Three Persons united in love.

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Galatians 3:26-4:7

God the Son became God our Brother.

He came to make the perfect offering.

He brings us into His Sonship.

We are clothed in Christ,

Filled with the Spirit,

Doted on by the Father.

The trinity is not a maths problem!

It’s the good news that God is love…

… and we are invited!

Compare and contrast with the solitary, lonely god.

 

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Outgoing Session 3 – The Surprising God

Outgoing Session 3 – 22 September 2011

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The Surprising God

The Question is always Which God?

It’s not about Theism versus Atheism

It’s a god eat god world out there and it’s every god for himself!

Everyone believes.  Everyone has a god.

We proclaim Jesus – the Surprising God.

 

Jesus is God-Sized.  And God is Jesus-Shaped.

 

Matthew 11:25-30

Only through Jesus are we let into the Family Secret

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Without Jesus are there other ways of knowing God?

Let’s examine: Reason, Religion, Old Testament and Creation.

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Alternative Paths to God?

Reason

Proverbs 3:5-7
Romans 8:7
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
2 Corinthians 4:4
Colossians 1:21
Colossians 2:8

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The god of philosophy looks nothing like the God of the Cross!

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Religions

Numbers 33:50-53; Deut 7:1-6; 12:1-3; 29:16-18; 32:15-21; Psalm 96:4-5; 106:35-40; Isaiah 41:21-24; 44:6-26; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Romans 1:23-25; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; 10:20.

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The gods of the religions look nothing like the God of the Cross!

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Old Testament

John 1:1
John 1:18
John 8:56-58
John 12:38-41
John 5:37-46

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Jesus has always been the Way to God

Abraham, Moses and Isaiah trusted Christ.

Jesus simply is the Lord God of Israel.

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Creation

Psalm 19
Romans 1:16-20
Colossians 1:23
John 12:23-24

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Jesus is Lord – Creation’s Voice Proclaims It!

The creation reveals a very great deal about God

It does so by revealing Christ!

But unless our eyes are opened through the Spirit and His Word we will miss it.

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Jesus really is the One Image of God!

He should be the One Subject of our conversation.

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Common Objection: Isn’t it a bit narrow to say that Jesus is the only way?

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Recommended Reading:

John 13-17

How are the three Persons of the Trinity described?
How do they relate to each other?

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Next Week: The Triune God

The Trinity is not a problem in evangelism.  It’s the solution!

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Outgoing 2B – The God of the Cross

Full Text Session 2B – The God of the Cross

Powerpoint Slides – Session 2

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The God Revealed at the Cross

Philippians 2:5-11

1 Corinthians 1:17-25

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Group Discussion:

How do you react to these religious statements?

What do they have in common?

-          Divine beings created humanity in order for us to mine gold and other precious materials for them.

-          God created us to test us, to see if good would triumph over evil.

-          God created us so that we would give him glory.

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What is glory?

John 8:54

John 12:23-24

John 13:31

John 17:1-4,5,24

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The cross redefines…

Lordship

Majesty

Strength

Wisdom

Holiness

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Jesus shows us that God is Giver!

Therefore repent and believe the good news!

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Common Objection:  I don’t believe there is a god and I’m not sure I want one!

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Recommended Reading:  Colossians

How does Jesus shape:

our view of God

our view of ourselves

our view of ministry

our view of the world around us

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Next Time:  The Surprising God
Jesus is not the God of the pub discussion or the philosophy department.  Exploiting the shock value of Jesus in evangelism!

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Read Full Post »

Outgoing 2A – Which God?

Audio For Session 2A

Powerpoint for Session 2A

Full Text of Session 2A

OUTGOING – Handout Session 2 – 15 Sept 2011

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Which God?

Group Discussion: With whom could you spend more fruitful time in evangelism – a theist or an atheist?

Colossians 1:15-23

When you picture God, what do you think of?

When you picture Jesus, what do you think of?

When God pictures you, what does He think of?

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If God isn’t like Jesus Christ, He ought to be –
Lord Byron

God is Christlike and in Him is no unChristlikeness at all –
Archbishop Michael Ramsey

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God is not obvious – He is the unknown quantity.

Jesus is the Image of the invisible God

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We must all begin again with Jesus.  Therefore…

The question for theists: Which God do you believe in?

 

The question for atheists: Which God don’t you believe in?

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God is Jesus-Shaped

Jesus is God-Sized

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Outgoing 1B – Peter, a model evangelist?

Previous session (1A) here.

Session 1B audio.

Session 1 Powerpoint.

Session 1B Full Text.

Outline below…

Peter – A Model Evengelist? 

 

It depends which Peter!

Matthew 26:31-34 – Brash and self-assured

John 21 – Humbled, assured of Christ’s love and forgiveness.

 

1 Peter Overview

Chapter 1

A feeble minority…

Gripped by God…

Showered with blessings…

Enduring suffering

Bringing People to God

He did – 1 Peter 3:18

We are – 1 Peter 2:9-11; 4:10-11

I can – 1 Peter 3:15

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