Empowering Passionate Disciples Equipping people to passionately Live like Jesus lived, Do what Jesus did, and Advance His kingdom together.

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Giving Witness to your Hope Peter’s Directive live a distinct life…be prepared with an answer to your Hope…1 Peter 3:15

Giving Witness to your Hope Make Disciples Matt 28:19 Seek (Luke 19:10) …Go (Matt 28:19) …As you go (Acts 8:4)

Giving Witness to your Hope distinct life + God’s heart + truth = powerful witness

Love One Another Fear God Be Holy Set Your Hope Salvation God’s Life & Government

Giving Witness to your Hope Hope… Hope is a confident expectation in God’s goodness, faithfulness, and providential care both now and eternally.

Giving Witness to your Hope 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Romans 12:12 (ESV) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 1 Timothy 4:10 (ESV) For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, 1 John 3:2–3 (ESV) Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Giving Witness to your Hope 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NLT) — 16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Distinct in Hope

Giving Witness to your Hope Holy… To be dedicated or consecrated to God, His honor, and values; thereby being set apart from sin, unrighteousness, and the world-system’s values.

Giving Witness to your Hope 1 Peter 1:15–16 (ESV) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Ephesians 5:3–5 (NLT) Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Colossians 3:8 (NLT) But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

1 Peter 4:1–4 (NLT) So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do.

Distinctly Holy

Giving Witness to your Hope Fear God… The fear of God is the awareness that God is infinitely awesome, absolutely holy and just, and the all-powerful judge of all human beings, affecting how we conduct our lives.

Giving Witness to your Hope 2 Corinthians 7:1 (ESV)... let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Psalm 115:13 (ESV) He will bless those who fear the L ORD, Proverbs 14:26 (NLT) Those who fear the L ORD are secure; he will be a refuge for their children. Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 (NLT) That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Distinct in Fearing God

Giving Witness to your Hope Love… Love is a servant-based, selfless commitment to the service, honor, and well-being of others.

Giving Witness to your Hope 1 Peter 1:22 (NLT) You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 John 4:18 (ESV) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 3:17–18 (ESV) But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. Colossians 3:14 (ESV) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Distinct in Love

Context in Acts 2:42-47 Abiding In Christ Acts 2:41–43 (ESV) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Context in Acts 2:42-47 Loving One Another Acts 2:44–47a (ESV) And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.

Context in Acts 2:42-47 Witness to the World Acts 2:47 (ESV)... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Power of Life Testimony Titus 2:10..., but showing all good faith so that they will adorn (kosmeo) the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

The Power of Life Testimony "They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners.... They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time, they surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men but are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned. They are poor, yet they make many rich. They possess few things; yet, they abound in all. They are dishonored, but yet are honored.... And those who hate them are unable to give any reason for their hatred."

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Empowering Passionate Disciples Equipping people to passionately Live like Jesus lived, Do what Jesus did, and Advance His kingdom together.