This week we focus on the mandate and commission of the church.

We have a responsibility to see Jesus' command and desire fulfilled. The church is God's primary method in discipling the nations and this process is still ongoing.

When we come to the cross we must remember Jesus. We are looking at the relationship between the church and the cross. The cross should be central in our lives and in everything that we do in our lives.

This week we are looking at the character of the church, the character of Christians.

There are so many things that shape our concept of what church is and what it should be doing. They say that most of our ideas about church is what we got from our parents and society. But what is church and what is its purpose according to Jesus?

What can we learn from Paul's final appeals to the Philippian Church

1. The Unchanging One in a changing world

You have to understand that even though everything around us, and even us ourselves will, God never does.

2. Be Peacemakers

We have to become a peacemaker, and pursue reconciliation where there is a disagreement

3. rejoice always

We should never let our feelings determine our choices, our choices should determine our feelings.

4. Overcome Fear & Worry

When we worry about things we must take them to God

5. Focus your thoughts

If you follow the path of your thoughts, where will you end up?

2 Timothy 2:14-26

We should:

1. Pursue God

2. Pursue Truth

3. Pursue Righteousness

4. Pursue Unity

Is the temporary worth the eternal?

Our priorities determine our choices. When we are focused only on temporary things, temporary fulfilment, temporary solutions, we can start suffering long term consequences.

Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Luke 19:11-27 The Parable of the Ten Minas

Luke 19:28-44 Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

Luke 18:1-14 Two Parables about Prayer

We should pray with confidence that God will respond, but our confidence should be in God's mercy, not in our own merits.

Luke 15-34 The Revolutionary Values of the Kingdom of God

In the Kingdom of God accepted human values of status and importance are turned upside down.

Luke 18:35-43 The Blind Beggar

Our Faith should be personal, not generic. Our faith should persistently overcome all hinderances.

Luke 17:1-19 Lessons in Discipleship

Discipleship cannot be undertaken casually; the service of God demands all that we can bring to it.

Luke 17:20 The coming of the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of God is already here, but there will be a future appearance of the Son of Man for which people will be unprepared.