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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