CCF Weekly Services Podcast

Faith has been redefined from its original and intended meaning. Faith, or trust with reason, has been understood rather to mean assumption. We need to be careful not to exchange faith for cynicism because it is a foundational aspect of our relationship with God and men.

1. Faith isn't assumption.
2. Faith isn't devoid of reason.
3. The virtue of faith is based on how trustworthy its object is.

Hope is the joyful expectation of a promise not yet fulfilled. The cynic has abandoned hope due to disappointment in what they are hoping for or a lack of reason to rejoice in the object of their hope. Without joy in God, hope in His promises will not happen.

1. The enemy of hope is cynicism. The response to cynicism is faith.
2. The hope of Christians is directly tied into the example of Jesus' own death and resurrection.

Love is the unique characteristic of God demonstrated to us in a moment of human history. The character of Jesus Christ and the act of redeeming us on the sole basis of His goodness is the model by which our relationship with God will continue to be defined by into eternity. Apart from the Holy Spirit, it will not be demonstrated in our Christian lives. Yet it is the only thing that should separate the Christian from anyone else.

1. Perfect love isn't natural for mankind.
2. Love is defined based on the character of God and His treatment of us.
3. Love God's way is impossible apart from the Holy Spirit.

Intrinsic value is an assumption in Christianity. It should not be taken for granted without understanding where that sense of value comes from. Fellow Christians share a Father and should treat each other like family. Fellow humans share a Creator and should be respected as such. And Christians who are suffering are experiencing this for the very same thing we ourselves ought to be doing. Act like Jesus to whoever and wherever you can.

1. Treat everyone in the church on the basis of their relationship with the Father.
2. Treat everyone outside the church on the basis of their Creator.
3. Treat those who suffer with the same comfort you'd want in their situation.

The parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin were both spoken to the same audience in order to emphasize the same point. God is in the rescue business when it comes to His relationship with mankind.

1. The audience of Jesus' parables in this passage were the kind of people who needed saving and knew it.
2. The focus of the parables of the Lost Sheep and Coin were to emphasize God's focus concerning mankind is our salvation.

God is not someone to be underestimated or treated lightly. The reality of some of the most pitiful things in this Creation being out of our control or against us can terrify us to our core, yet the being above and beyond the universe itself is treated like a house pet. In order to properly understand and appreciate the mercy God has shown us by coming to redeem us as a man, we first need to recognize just how serious it is to be in the presence of a Holy God. God is good, but we are bad. If we aren't shown mercy, we're toast. The good news is that we don't have to be. While most reject Him and prefer themselves, those who know Jesus have recognized just how amazing God really is and has been to us.

1. The fact that God is holy is as much a comforting one as it is a scary one.
2. God isn't tame or in our control.
3. The reality of this world coming to an end is only a comfort if you understand the One who made it will redeem us from it.
4. The people who go to Hell want it. They would rather suffer separation from everything good than be in the presence of a Holy God.