Communion

Communion

What is love? 1999 Foreigner — I want to know what love is. Its a question that we all have! Love is something that we all seek.

"In my life, there's been heartache and pain, Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life"

"Gotta take a little time
Little time to look around me…"

"I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me"

Video starts with romantic love and ends with an interracial community of brothers and sisters loving each other.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."
1 John 3:16 NIV

"This is how we know what love is"!
"Laid down his life"
1. Willingly went to the cross
2. Not just the act of physical death
3. Laid down his power.
1. Glory
2. Power
3. Status
4. Rights
5. Desires
6. Comfort
7. Judgement
4. Lay down your life!

No matter where you are today…

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
1 John 4:9-12 NIV

The Character of Jesus

The Character of Jesus

List of character traits:
1. Bold/fearful
2. Respectful/disrespectful
3. Self controlled/Angry
4. Honest/dishonest
5. Loving/unloving
6. Patient/impatient
7. Friendly/rude
8. Unselfish/selfish
9. Humble/proud
10. Giving/stingy

Question: What is your greatest character trait? What would you want people to say was your greatest character trait?

Lets look at the character of Jesus and let his life challenge us?

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?" But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then he and his disciples went to another village."
Luke 9:51-56 NIV

1. How did Jesus respond to opposition in this story?
2. Great power kept under control, what is a good word for this trait?
1. Meekness
2. The greek word was used to describe a war horse that was under control and willing to submit.
3. Are you meek in character?
1. 2 Timothy 1:7
1. How does this relate to being meek?

"From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.""
Matthew 16:21-23 NIV

1. Here we see Jesus sharing the details of the sacrifice that he is about to make and he is tested with a lack of compassion or appreciation.
1. Peter rebukes Jesus instead of comforting him or showing gratitude.
2. He knew he would die for them and yet he received no compassion or appreciation.
2. What motivated Jesus to be willing to sacrifice his life for them?
1. What is your motivation for sacrificing for others?
1. Are you willing to sacrifice for others when they do not appreciate it?
2. Romans 12:1
1. What is the motive that we should have based on this passage?

"On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
Matthew 14:6-14 NIV

1. Jesus hears about the death of his cousin John the baptist.
1. What do you see in this passage about the character of Jesus?
2. Do you love those that are hard to love?
3. What are some situations where people are hard to love?

Closing:
1. We've looked at three story's that show a few character traits of Jesus.
1. He's meekness, unconditional love, endless giving…etc
2. What other character traits describe Jesus character?
1. Unselfish, humble, faithful, trustworthy, compassionate…etc
2. To be more like Jesus, what two or three character traits do you need to grow in the most?

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."
1 Peter 2:21

Seeking God — A Father better than a best friend!

Seeking God — A Father better than a best friend!

Acts 17:16-34

We create other gods and idols often times because of our insecurities. We want something to turn to and the more we have a pseudo security. Some say that the greeks had all these gods because they didn't want to miss out on something!

The one true God provides everything we need if we only have faith in him. Paul's counter argument is that God does not need us but that we need God!

Paul is also addressing spiritual ignorance. These greeks were full of religion and yet missed the tru nature of God. They were spiritually ignorant. Paul was distressed by the spirit because of their ignorance. Do you allow Gods spirit to distress you over the lost and their ignorance towards God!

How do you worship God?

John 4:21-24 many people bring pagan ideas into their worship. We worship God for what he provides or for what we get out of the relationship.

David worshiped because because he loved him for who God was. Psalms 63:1-5

Luke 11:5-13
1 John 5:13-15

Sermon on the mount

Sermon on the mount

Matthew 5-7

Jesus's longest recorded sermon! Topics he discussed, being blessed through the be-attitudes, for-filling the law, seeking the kingdom, and salvation!

Each ofJesus teachings was something new and from a heart perspective.

Matthew 7:13-18

This is not a fork in the road. The two roads are going in different directions. Its only one road or the other! How do you know which road you are on? Jesus describes a tree and its fruit. We can look at the fruit and know with out question.

There is no such thing as a christian whose long term life is characterized by sin. Not that anyone is perfect, but a good tree will produce good fruit!

Matthew 7:22-25

Just saying the right things do not matter. Just being religious is not what God wants. "Not everyone" who says Lord will make it on that statement alone! "Everyone" who puts this into practice! How well do you know Gods word vs how much do you live out Gods word?

The storm is coming, what you built your house on will show how you weather the storm. What are you building your life on? What fruit are you producing? What road are you on?