1. Enemies of the Truth

2. American Dream Christianity
1. What is the “American Dream?”

3. American Dream Christianity
1. What is the “American Dream?”
2. What are the “Christian” versions of American Dream thinking?

4. American Dream Christianity
What is the “American Dream?”
What are the “Christian” versions of American Dream thinking?
How can this thinking be destructive to our walk with Christ?

5. Enemies of the Truth

6. Ephesians 1:1-3
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”

7. Ephesians 1:4-5a
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ”

8. Ephesians 1:5b-6
“in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”

9. Ephesians 1:12
“in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”

10. Ephesians 1:13b-14
“When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

11. So What is the Point of the Story?

12. Ephesians 1:11
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,”

13. Ephesians 1:18
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people”

14. Romans 11:36
“For from him and through him and for him are all things.     To him be the glory forever! Amen.”

15. Luke 7:18-23
“John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” 21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

16. So What?

17. SO WHAT? “Yet I Will Praise Him”
Habakkuk 3:18 - Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
Acts 16:24-25 – “When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…”

18. SO WHAT? “Thy Will Be Done”
Luke 22:42 - Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”