“If I profess, with the loudest voice and the clearest exposition, every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christianity. Where the battle rages the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battle-field besides is mere flight and disgrace to him if he flinches at that one point.”

Prophetic Lifestyle Faith

Understanding our world Modernity, late (or post-) Modernity Nihilism (existential, epistemological, moral) Ephesians 2:12 without God and without hope in the world

The widespread, unspoken assumption of nihilism lies behind many of the behaviours we see in our society Lack of morality / integrity Cult of youth Hedonism Consumerism Despair Relationship breakdown Despair / depression Isaiah 22:12-14 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, called you on that day to weep and wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth. But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! ‘Let us eat and drink,’ you say, ‘for tomorrow we die!’

Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Revelation 22:12 Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done… Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.