Advertise on podcast: Faith

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Your Kingdom Come…   Luke 18:8b (NLT) “But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Or “Will he find faith on the earth?”   Luke 18:14 (NLT) “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”   Have We Just Become Professional About the Jesus Parade and Miss What the Kingdom Is Really About?   Is There Fear or Offense at Whom Jesus Pursues and Restores (Notorious Sinners) And Asks Us to Pursue and See Restored?   When The Son of Man Returns… Will He Find Faith on the Earth?   James 2:13 (NLT) “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”   Luke 2:19-20 (NLT) “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”   Jesus Came into This World… To Seek and Save The Lost To Set the Captives Free To Defeat the Works of Darkness To Take Upon Himself the Sin of the World To Defeat the Power of Death and Hell

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Who Is the Greatest?   Mark 9:33-37 (NLT) “After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, ‘What were you discussing out on the road?’ But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, ‘Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.’ Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.’”   Mark 9:38-41 (NLT)  “John said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.’ ‘Don’t stop him!’ Jesus said. ‘No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.’”   Luke 9:49-50 (NLT) “John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.’ But Jesus said, ‘Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.’”   Without Vision People Perish…   Fix Your Eyes on Christ…   Get On with the Kingdom Work of Seeking, Loving, Restoring, Teaching and Protecting   “Whatever You Value You Will Prioritize, And Whatever You Prioritize You Will Maximize”   What Must We Be Moved By?   Mark 9:50 (NLT) “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”   Be Salt and Walk in Harmony with One Another   Opportunities To Just Sprinkle a Little Flavor of Jesus…

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Christ and Community   Acts 4:12-13 (NLT) “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”   Mark 3:13–19 (NLT) “Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, giving them authority to cast out demons. These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).”   We’re Called into Community with Christ – “WITH”   We’re Called to Become Like Christ – “Become”   We’re Called to Do What Christ Did – “Do”   Titus 3:3-7 (NLT) “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But— When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” We NEVER Outgrow Dependence on Jesus and Interdependence on Each Other   1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NLT) “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.’”           Titus 2:11-14 (NLT) “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”   True Christian Community Is Marked By: ·      Fellowship With Christ - Knowing Him ·      Love For One Another - Practice in Community ·      Showing People God’s True Nature - Demonstrate in Public   Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT) “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”   1 Peter 2:4-5 (NLT) “You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”   Where Is the Invitation for You to Please God? ·      Toward Deeper Relationship with Christ? ·      Into A More Committed Relationship with His Community? ·      Activating Greater Boldness to Bear Witness About Him in Your Community?

Matthew 16:13–18 (NKJV) When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.   1.     Built on the Revelation of Christ The overcoming church stands on Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone and the only foundation of salvation. (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4–8; Acts 4:11–12)   2.     Filled with the Life of Christ Those who believe in Christ receive His Spirit, and rivers of living water flow from within them. (John 7:38; 1 Corinthians 6:17)   3.     Strengthened by Knowing Christ An intimate knowledge of the Lord gives believers strength, courage, and power to act. (Daniel 11:32)   4.    Confident in the Supremacy of Christ Jesus comes from above and is above all; His life and light overcome every form of darkness. (John 3:31; John 1:1–5)   5.     Focused on Christ The overcoming church lays aside every hindrance and keeps its eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. (Hebrews 12:1–2)     6.    Illuminated by the Glory of Christ In Jesus, believers see the radiance of God’s glory and receive the light of the knowledge of God. (Hebrews 1:1–3; 2 Corinthians 4:6)   7.     Empowered through Christ By the Spirit of Christ, the church is strengthened with might, rooted in love, and filled with the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14–20)

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // The New Testament   Jesus Came to Set Captives Free…   Luke 4:17-21 (NLT) “The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.’ He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them, ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’”   Jesus Came to Defeat the Works of Darkness…   John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.”   Colossians 2:15 (NLT) “He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.”     1 John 3:8b-10 (NLT) The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.   Jesus Came to Take Upon Himself the Sin of the World…   1 John 3:5 (NLT) “Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.”   Hebrews 9:28 (AMP) “So, Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear [as a burden] the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.”   Jesus Came to Take Authority Over and Ultimately ‘Destroy’ Death…     2 Timothy 1:10 (NLT) “And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”   Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT) “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”   How Does It Work in Community and Culture?   Revelation 22:17, 20-21 (NLT) “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.  He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people.”   Revelation 21:3-5 (NLT) “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘Look, I am making everything new!’ And then he said to me, ‘Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’”

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Repairers of the Broken Places   Haggai 1:3-9 (NLT) “Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.”   Don't Just Look for a Church That You Can Attend. Look For a Vision You Can Engage.   Remember What Matters   Repair the Broken Places   Isaiah 58:6-12 (NIV) “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”   Engage the Vision and Respond with Action   Nehemiah 4:9 (ESV) "We prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night."

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Remaining Faithful Regardless of Who Is in Charge     1.     Daniel was Humble You Can Stand for What Is Right Without Being Disrespectful to The Person in Authority…    There Is a Difference Between Conviction and Pride   2.     Daniel Was Honest   3.     Daniel Remained True Daniel 6:1-5 (NLT) “Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. So, they concluded, ‘Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the laws of his God.’"    Daniel Was Serving God First… Even In a Pagan Land… Under Ungodly Leadership…    Daniel Was True    Daniel's Character Was Not Determined by His Circumstances.   4.    Daniel remained Faithful  You Don't Suddenly Become Faithful in the Crisis. Your Response Reveals What You’ve  Been Building into Your Life All Along.   The result is that Daniel walked in favor and influence Daniel 6:3 (ESV) "Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him..."   Philippians 2:15 (NLT) “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”     5.     Daniel Didn’t Do It in Isolation…

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // A Life Shaped by Humility   Will I obey God when God's answer agrees with me?   Will I obey God when His answer is different from what I wanted?   Nebuchadnezzar Humbled Daniel 4:24-37 (NLT) “This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king. You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules. King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper. But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor. While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws. After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, what do you mean by doing these things? When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”   Proverbs 16:18 (NLT) “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”   Proverbs 3:34 (NIV) “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”   James 4:10 (NIV) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”   What does humility look like? 1.     Recognize That God is God and Worship Him Alone 2.     Don’t Be Self-Important and Puffed Up or A Know It All 3.     Don’t Elevate Yourself Above Others Luke 14:7 (NLT) “When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 4.    Recognize Even Your Skills and Abilities are A Gift from God Deuteronomy 8:10-18 (NIV) “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, [your deliverer and your provider] who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth and to prosper.”                   5.     Make Decisions and Take Actions to Affirm These Truths Actions: ·      Worship… Acknowledge God as First and Foremost and Put That into Practice ·      Seek God - Pray and Obey ·      Give Honor Where Honor Is Due and Look for Opportunities to Affirm Others Romans 13:7-8  (NIV) “Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then   revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” ·      Put God First with Your Talents and Your Finances   A Life Shaped by Humility Is Not a Life Where We Just Think Less of Ourselves. It Is a Life Where We Think Rightly About God   We Don't Have to Wait for God to Humble Us.   Remember The Lord Your God, For It Is He Who Gives You the Ability…   Humility Isn't Merely a Principle God Commands   Where Is God Asking Me to Humble Myself?

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // Fresh Mercies – Every Morning Discipline/Punishment/Correction Almost Always Unpleasant No Matter the Degree of The Punishment   Why Does God Put This Kind of Stuff in His Word?   1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV) “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.”   Laminations 3:31-33 (NLT) “For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though He brings grief…He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.”   2 Chronicles 36:15 (NIV) “The Lord sent word to them through his messengers (prophets) again and again, because He had pity on His people and on His dwelling place.”   2 Chronicles 36:16 (NIV) “They mocked God's messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against His people and there was no remedy.”   God Was and Is Long Suffering and Patient With Us When We Sin Because Of His Love   Because He Wants Us to See What A Covenant of Love Looks Like What Godly Discipline   God’s Discipline Isn’t For the Purposes of Destruction   Where We Are Unfaithful, God Remains Faithful Still!!   “Mercy” רַחֲמִים(raḥămîm) / חֶסֶד(ḥesed)  Isaiah 54:7-8 (NIV) "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion (rahamim gedolim). I will bring you back. In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness (hesed olam) (or forever loving kindness) I will have compassion (rahamim) on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.”   God’s Reversals Aka – “Restoration”

From “In the Beginning” to Amen – Come While It Is Still Called Today   God Is Patient, But God Is Not Indifferent   Ezekiel 12:22 (NLT) “Time passes and prophecies come to nothing.”   Warning - Don’t Say, “Nothing Ever Comes of God’s Word”   Ezekiel 12:25 (NLT) “I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen.”   Don’t Confuse God’s Delay with God’s Denial   God’s Delay Is Not God’s Cancellation   Judgment Is Not A “Possibility”, It Is A “Certainty”   He Delayed Judgment for the Honor of His Name   God’s Mercy Was Greater Than Their Rebellion   2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) “God is not slow concerning His promise as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but wanting all to come to repentance.”   Grace Is Not God’s Approval of Our Rebellion   Come While It Is Still Called Today   God Doesn’t Just Want to Forgive You - He Wants to Transform You   God isn’t merely saying, “I’ll overlook what you’ve done.” He’s saying, “I’ll transform who you are.”   Eternity Is Real   Come While It Is Still Called Today   Grace Is Urgent         Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed: we have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves; we repent, and are sorry for all our sins. Father, forgive us. Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. For we do not presume to come to your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so, to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

Vision Sunday     Who Are We Going to Be Going into the Future? Faith Church - A Ministry for Our City   Vision: “A Church Living for the Glory of God and the Good of All People.” Mission: “A Church Living Out the Purposes of Christ in Our City and the Nations.”   Philippians 2:1-8 (NLT) “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”   Luke 19:10 (NIV) “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”   Mark 10:45 (NIV) “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   John 13:3-5 (NIV) “Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So, he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet.”

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // True Religion     Have You Ever Wondered, What Pleases God?   Isaiah 58:3-12(ESV) “Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?”     Religious Activity Can Hide a Heart Far from God’s Heart.     God’s Heart (Light) Is Revealed in How We Treat People.     Fasting Isn't Merely Emptying Yourself of Food. It's Learning to Empty Yourself for Others.     God Turns Surrounded People into Workers of Restoration.     Jeremiah 22:3-5 (NLT) “This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! If you obey me, there will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. The king will ride through the palace gates in chariots and on horses, with his parade of attendants and subjects. But if you refuse to pay attention to this warning, I swear by my own name, says the Lord, that this palace will become a pile of rubble.”     James 1:27 (NLT) “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”     Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”     Romans 8:29 (ESV) “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.   Romans 8:29-30 (MSG) “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.”     Mark 2:27 (NLT) “Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath.”     Matthew 5:17-22 (NIV) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”     God Cares More About Your Availability, And He Does About Your Capability.

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // God’s Grace   Sin Can Take Us Farther Than We Ever Intended to Go   Grace Can Reach Farther Than We Ever Imagined   Restoration Produces a Transformed Life   2 Kings 21:1-9 (NLT) “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them. He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, ‘My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.’ He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger. Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple, the very place where the Lord had told David and his son Solomon: ‘My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. If the Israelites will be careful to obey my commands—all the laws my servant Moses gave them—I will not send them into exile from this land that I gave their ancestors.’ But the people refused to listen, and Manasseh led them to do even more evil than the pagan nations that the Lord had destroyed when the people of Israel entered the land.”   Sin Never Remains Satisfied… It Always Asks for More   James 1:14-15 (ESV) "Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."   Sin Always Promises Delights but Eventually Produces Destruction   Manasseh Led Others Astray   But God in His Love and Care for Us Will Warn Us and Discipline Us       2 Chronicles 33:10-11 (NLT) “The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings. So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon.”   Grace Meets Us in the Place of Humility   2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (AMP) "When he was in distress, he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers."   Grace Doesn't Only Forgive—It Restores   True Grace Produces Real Change   Manasseh Points Us to Jesus   What Does This Mean for Us?   We Are Required to Pay It Forward…

From “In the Beginning” to Amen – What Does God Really Want of Me?   Micah 6:6-8 (NLT) “What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”   Micah 6:1-5 (NLT) “Listen to what the LORD is saying: ‘Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints. And now, O mountains, listen to the LORD ’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me! For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor blessed you instead? And remember your journey from Acacia Grove to Gilgal, when I, the LORD, did everything I could to teach you about my faithfulness.’”   God Doesn't Want Empty Religion   1 Samuel 15:22 (NASB) Samuel tells Saul: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams."   Hosea 6:6 (NKJV) “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."   Amos 5:21-24 (NIV) “I hate your festivals…I will not accept your offerings…Instead, let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."   Isaiah 1:11-17 (NLT) “God says, ‘I am tired of your offerings. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting— they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.’"   Obedience Has Always Mattered More Than Ceremony   God Has Told Us What He Wants (Micah 6:8)   Do Justly or Do Justice   Love Mercy   Matthew 18:33 (NLT) “Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?”   Walk Humbly with God   Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly with God.   The Gospel Isn’t "Try Harder”, It’s "Trust Christ.”   God Isn't Interested in or Impressed by Religious Activity That Leaves Our Character Unchanged

From “In the Beginning” to Amen // God's Dwelling Place   God’s Purpose Is Not That We Just See Him or Are Aware of Him, But Rather Seek Him and Know Him.   Psalm 132:13-14 (NLT) “For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem he has desired it for his home. ‘This is my resting place forever,’ he said. ‘I will live here, for this is the home I desired.’”   God Always Chooses a People Before He Chooses a Place.   God's Passionate Desire Is to Dwell with His People.   Not To Exclude the Nations… But To Reach and Bless the Nations.   God's Interested in Building People but He Did Choose a Location… God Chose Jerusalem.   2 Chronicles 6:6 (NKJV) "I Have Chosen Jerusalem That My Name May Be There.”   God Was Showing That His Promises Never Fail.   Does Israel and Jerusalem Still Matter?   God Never Breaks His Promises.   Romans 11:28-29 (NLT) “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you, Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.”   Jerusalem Still Matters Because God's Covenant Faithfulness Still Matters.   Hosea 14:4-7 (NKJV) “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,
For My anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel;
He shall grow like the lily and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree,
And his fragrance like Lebanon. Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall be revived like grain and grow like a vine.”     Zechariah 12:2-3, 9-10 (NLT) “I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock. All the nations will gather against it to try to move it, but they will only hurt themselves… For on that day, I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on ME whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son.”   Because Wherever God Places His Purposes… The Enemy Concentrates His Opposition.   Don't Be Surprised When the Place God Chooses Becomes the Place the Enemy Attacks.   Behold… The Dwelling Place of God Is with Mankind.