Sermon INTRODUCTION

If you want to know what it means to live as a Christian then you shouldn’t go to the Bible to find out. “DISCIPLE”

EXALT EXPRESS EQUIPEQUIP ENCOURAGEENCOURAGE EMBRACE

Stott – “The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us. “

EMBRACE – A Heart That Trusts And Treasures Christ / Gospel Driven EXALT – A Heart Response of Faith Toward God/ Passionate Worship EQUIPPING THROUGH THE WORD AND PRAYER – Learning To Be A Disciple

ENCOURAGE – Learning To Love Others And To Be A Part Of The Body Of Christ / Authentic Community EXPRESS – To Communicate The Reality Of Christ Through Word And Deed/ Outward Focus EXHIBIT – Life Changing Transformation Is Becoming Evident / Life in the Spirit

Tertullian "Just as Christ was crucified between two thieves, so this doctrine of justification is ever crucified between two opposite errors."

Religion and irreligion or legalism and antinomianism. More common terms could be moralism and relativism

ENCOURAGE –Loving Others And Helping Them Be A Part Of The Body Of Christ. 1 John 5:1-5; 1 Thess 2:8-12

I am growing in my faithfulness to what the Bible teaches about family relationships with my spouse, children, and parents I am faithful to my church membership vows. I am pursuing authentic Christ centered relationships

I am honoring my parents. I am investing my time, talent, and treasure in a way that honors God and His eternal values

I am pursuing Biblical principles of sexual purity I’m more willing to risk getting close to others by building authentic relationships.

I’m regularly involved with a small group of believers who are getting to know me and who could fairly fill out this assessment on me. I pray for and with others in the church on a regular basis

I practice Priority Giving – I regularly give my “tithes” and offerings from the front end of my salary, not the back end

What are the “one-anothering” practices of the Christian life? Love one another Care for one another Accept one-another Encourage one-another

Rebuke one another Exhort one another Pray for one another Be devoted to one another Be subject to one another Bear with one another

Bear the burdens of one another Forgive one another

“Communal Sex” or “Why your neighbor has any business asking you what you did last night” -Lauren Winner

Wendell Berry- “Sex, like any other necessary, precious, and volatile power that is commonly held, is everybody’s business.” Lauren Winner… “Sex is communal rather than private, but it is still personal rather than public.”

If you want to grow as an ENCOURAGER then draw near to and look to Jesus.

Equipping through the Word and prayer Heb 3:12- 14; 1 Thess 2:8-12 I regularly preach the gospel to myself and us it in my own life

I know that God loves me, and this gives me joy, energy, confidence, & security. I am seeing growth in struggles with temptation through faith in Christ. I’m also becoming more aware of sinful attitudes, thoughts and behaviors in my heart and life

I’m believing that God is at work in my worst moments as well as in my best moments. I have a growing sense of walking in the Spirit and seeing the fruit of the Spirit in my life. I can find my way around the Bible

I can explain to someone else the main points of Christianity. I can explain to someone else the biblical distinctives of my church

I could defend my beliefs if challenged by a non- Christian. I consciously walk by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit

“one who is committed to observing all the commands of Jesus.”

"The righteous man is the one who lives for the next generation." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The key to transformation from the heart isn’t to look at ourselves, but rather to keep looking to Christ - who He is and what He has done for us.