1. “Striking the Right Balance” Christ Connect Church (23-June-2013)

2. “ 1 Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. Isaiah 55:1-5 NIV

3. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” Isaiah 55:1-5 NIV

4. Getting the Balance Right The right tension is needed to produce the right note. -Too much tension -> sharp notes (too high) - Too little tension -> flat notes (too low)

5. Getting the Balance Right Coffee plus Sugar (w/o milk) -> very sweet coffee Coffee plus Milk (w/o sugar) -> very bitter coffee

6. Where is the Balance? 1.“Grace” Preachers and Teachers: Loves forgiveness and freedom Loves forgiveness and freedom Sometimes neglects biblical study Sometimes neglects biblical study Sometimes call morality a form of “legalism” or “salvation by works” Sometimes call morality a form of “legalism” or “salvation by works” 2.“Truth” Preachers and Teachers: Loves to study the Bible and theology Loves to study the Bible and theology Sometimes are quick to judge others Sometimes are quick to judge others Sometimes are slow to forgive sinners Sometimes are slow to forgive sinners

7. “Full of Grace and Truth” John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth Verse 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ “To be Christ-like is to be full of what He is full of: Grace and Truth”

8. The Cross – Grace and Truth 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God Verses 22-24 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God

9. The Cross – Grace and Truth “Truth”: 1.The Jews – keepers of the Law of Moses 2.“Christ Crucified” – a stumbling block (Greek is skandalon) Why? Because they thought they can earn their salvation without Christ “Grace”: 1.The Greeks – seekers of wisdom and knowledge 2.“Christ Crucified” – foolishness. Why? Because they thought they know the way to joy and peace without Christ

10. The Cross – Grace and Truth “Truth and Grace together”: Verse 24 But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God Christ the power of God – for our salvation Christ the wisdom of God – for our peace and joy 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified

11. The Cross – Grace and Truth VERTICAL – GOD’S TRUTH (ISAIAH 55:9) HORIZONTAL – GOD’S GRACE (PSALM 103:12)

12. The Parable of the Twins

13. Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new

14. “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?” - Our Heavenly Father (Ezekiel 18:31)