Unlocking fall 2015 What hold’s us together? Why are we here? Typically, no matter what your answer, it will fall somewhere into one of these three categories

A vital relationship with God Unlocking fall 2015 We pursue… A vital relationship with God A vital relationship with each other A vital relationship with the world A vital relationship with God A vital relationship with each other A vital relationship with the world Mutual expectations and obligations More organic than organizational We are a people joined in the heart. Task is subordinate to relationship

Unlocking fall 2015 Colossians 2:1-2 (ESV) 1  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, Colossians 2:1-2 (ESV) 1  For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,

Unlocking fall 2015 Romans 14:19 (ESV) 19  So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19 (ESV) 19  So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. We serve a covenant making God

Unlocking fall 2015 Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) 31  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32  not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34  And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) 31  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32  not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34  And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” What does covenant mean? A binding agreement between two or more people. It differs from a contract in the following ways.

Covenant Vs. Contract Covenant Contract Based on trust Unlocking fall 2015 Covenant Vs. Contract Covenant Contract Based on trust Based on distrust Based on unlimited responsibility Based on limited liability Not broken when there are new circumstances Voided by mutual consent No restitution Restitution expected Never ending Specific start/stop Covenant Contract Based on trust Based on distrust Based on unlimited responsibility Based on limited liability Not broken when there are new circumstances Voided by mutual consent No restitution Restitution expected Never ending Specific start/stop I resign my right to quit. I have pre-forgiven as God the Father did

A covenant making God with a contract minded following

Unlocking fall 2015 Romans 12:9-15 (ESV) 9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:9-15 (ESV) 9  Let love be genuine (without hypocrisy). Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12  Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Unlocking fall 2015 Romans 12:16-21 (ESV) 16  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:16-21 (ESV) 16  Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17  Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19  Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Twin truths of mankind’s knowledge Unlocking fall 2015 Twin truths of mankind’s knowledge #1 We don’t know what we don’t know #2 Some of what we do know is wrong But we don’t know which ones