2. The Good Life A life of calling A life of character A life of compassion A life of courage A life of celebration

3. Matthew 3:
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptised by you, and do you come to me?’ 15 Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then John consented.

4. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water
16 As soon as Jesus was baptised, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’

5. John Calvin The institutes of Christian Religion Nearly all wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves.

6. v17 This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. v17

7. Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

8. Religion
Gospel
I make a sacrifice, therefore I am acceptable.
I’m accepted because Jesus made a sacrifice.

9. Religion
Gospel
When things in my life go wrong or when I fail, I’m angry at myself and at God, since I believe that anyone who is good is owed a successful life.
When things in my life go wrong I struggle, but I know that while God may allow this difficulty to shape me, my Father in heaven always loves me.

10. Religion
Gospel
My identity and self worth are based on what other people think and how they rate my success.
My identity and self worth are centred on the one who died a shameful death because he loved me. Therefore I am free to pursue callings that have no prestige in the world’s eyes.

11. Matt 3: 5 – 6 People went out to him (John the Baptist) from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins they were baptised by him in the Jordan.

12. Matt 3: 15 Jesus replied, let it be so now; it is proper of us to do this to fulfil all righteousness. Then John consented.

13. 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, who called you into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

14. 1 Peter 2: 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

15. The Good Life A life of calling A life of character A life of compassion A life of courage A life of celebration