Austin Baptist Church

Ephesians 4:29-32

1. Godly speech in the church 
     -Edifies
     -Timely
     -Full of Grace

2. Our sin against one another breaks the heart of God

3. Why does He grieve over our sin against one another?
     -God has better plans for our lives
     -God has better plans for our church

4. God has given us a spirit of self-control

5. Forgiving One Another in the Church:
     -Preserves
     -Protects
     -Preaches

Romans 15:1-7

1. Church unity comes through SACRIFICE
2. Church unity comes through CONFORMITY to Christ
4. Church unity comes through SUBMISSION to God’s Word
5. Smoke rises when….
     -Leaders stop preaching
     -Members stop reading
6. Church unity comes through commitment to PRAYER
7. The goal is UNITY, not UNIFORMITY
8. A welcoming church will be filled with different types of people

John 13:31-35

1. The Cross Displays the Glory of Jesus Christ

D.A. Carson, “The supreme moment of divine disclosure, the greatest moment of displayed glory, was in the shame of the cross."

2. How is this commandment new?
      -The Spirit gives us a new POWER to love
      -The Son gives us a new MODEL for love

3. What does the cross communicate about His love?
      -His love is SACRIFICIAL
      -His love is PATIENT
      -His love is UNCONDITIONAL

4. ABC must have a SACRIFICIAL LOVE for one another
5. ABC must have a PATIENT LOVE for one another
6. ABC must have an UNCONDITIONAL love for one another

7. Our love is our witness to the world

Matthew 5:14-16

Our Mission: To lead people into a life-changing relationship with the Light of 
the World, Jesus Christ.

Our Vision: to see God light up your life, your home, your neighborhood, and the world.

Our Core Values: Truth, Grace, Authenticity, Impact.

Luke 15:1-32

1. The Prodigal
2. Response of the Father

C.S. Lewis Quote - ““It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

3. The Begrudging Brother

Matthew 25:14-30

1. God invests His grace, love, and power in us.
2. Delighting in God will mean investing His gifts.
3. Overprotection isn’t investment; it’s fear.
4. The abundant life in Jesus will invest and multiply for the glory of God.
5. Your choice today isn’t whether to invest or not. It’s whether you will live or just exist.

Matthew 25:1-13

1. Some in church are not ready for His coming
2. Jesus’ return will be unexpected
3. Jesus’ judgment will be irreversible
4. Wise people prepare for His coming:
     -Faith in Jesus
     -Live for Jesus
     -Share Jesus

Matthew 13:31-32

1. The Kingdom is ADVANCING
2. God is at work:
     Around You
     In You
     Through You
 3. The Kingdom is ACCESSIBLE
4. Kingdom-minded people should be HOPEFUL and HELPFUL

Matthew 13:24-30
1. We are planted into war
2. God chooses to grow us in the midst of adversity
3. God will bring those He loves into glory

Matthew 18:21-35

1. The King forgave a debt we could never pay
2. Those who RECEIVE grace are expected to GIVE it
3. Why Forgive?
     -Forgiveness PRESERVES unity
     -Forgiveness PREACHES the Gospel
     -Forgiveness PROTECTS our hearts

John Stott, “This certainly does not mean that our forgiveness of others earns us the right to be forgiven.  It is rather that God forgives only the penitent and that one of the chief evidences of true penitence is a forgiving spirit.  Once our eyes have been opened to see the enormity of our offense against God, the injuries which others have done to us appear by comparison extremely trifling.”

4. A FORGIVING heart is evidence of a FORGIVEN heart