Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday Recap 9-16-12

Morning: The sermon, "Who You Are in Christ," focused on 1 Peter 2:9-10. In this passage, Peter reminds us that in Christ we are God's special possession. Peter wrote this letter to encourage believers who were enduring hardship because of their faith. He wanted to remind them that destruction awaits those who reject the grace of God, but something better awaited them. If you are in Christ, the following is true of you.

1. You are part of a chosen people. The doctrine of election freaks people out. Usually, they either want to talk about it all the time or ignore it. The idea Peter is trying to convey is that God willing selected his people. It isn't an accident you were saved. God loved you, pursued you, and won you.

2. You are part of a royal priesthood. It isn't a mere priesthood. No it's royal. A kingdom. We are princes/princesses in the kingdom of God set to judge the angels (1 cor. 6:3) and reign with Jesus (Rev. 2:26-27; 3:20-21).

3. You are part of a holy nation. You are part of a unique group made up of diverse ethnicities. It has been set apart to God.

4. You are part of a people belonging to God. We are his prized possession. The apple of his eye.

5. You are part of God's people. Once foreigners, now children.

6. You are loved.

The express purpose of all this is that we might make known the glories of God's grace, because he has called us out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.

What do we do with this?

Embrace the Savior.
Get rid of everything that dishonors Christ.
Crave the milk of the Word.
Speak his praises.

Evening: The lesson, "Who do You Love?", focused on John 12:42-43. John reminds us that we should love praise from God, more than praise from men. Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, and enjoyed a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Multitudes were waiting to see the unveiling of his kingdom. However, the climate was ripe with hostility. The Jews were threatening to put anyone who said that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. Individuals would have to decide to join with Jesus and risk something, or go with the crowd and lose Jesus.

Why would people choose the praise of men over the praise of God? Here are some generalizations:

Praise of men                                      Praise of God
it's visible                                            it's usually invisible
it's immediate (nearly)                        it usually requires waiting
it feels good                                        it may hurt
It satisfies a human drive                   it goes against a human drive
it has a low upfront cost                     it often cost greatly up front

Problems with Loving the Praise of Men
1. The trouble with perceptions. Human beings aren't the best at measuring value.
2. Failure to understand motivation. We don't always understand why we do what we do.

Developing a taste for the Praise of God.
Focus on the cross
Put others first
Pray
Read Scripture
Count your blessings

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