You can check notes and messages from previous delivery of same message-----June 10, 2012---https---www.sermonaudio.com-sermoninfo.asp-SID-610121031231----July 1, 2012---https---www.sermonaudio.com-sermoninfo.asp-SID-71121035390----November 16, 2014---https---www.sermonaudio.com-sermoninfo.asp-SID-111614103251----November 30, 2014---https---www.sermonaudio.com-sermoninfo.asp-SID-1130141040232

Thesis- Be imitators of God presumes that as beloved children, we walk with God.1. Be Imitators of Goda. -Become mimickers of God-b. Be intentional2. Walk in Lovea. God's love is intrinsic to the fact that He is Triuneb. 1 John 4-8c. God has loved always, then merciful3. As beloved childrena. Because we are loved, be imitators of Godb. Some may limp without ever connecting this to their earthly lifec. -may love be the hallmark of your conduct-

Thesis- Racism and discrimination have been a problem since the garden.----1. Discriminating Focuses our Heart on the wrong Kingdom verse 1-4---- -If discrimination rules your thoughts the enemy is ruling your heart.-- -Discrimination is the opposite of showing God glory.-- -The Bible would focus our hearts on the Glory of God and away from temporal glory.-- -All people are equally created by God-- -Your view of people is governed by what rules your heart-- -Our acts towards others reveal what is important in our hearts-- -We cannot use our sin nature to excuse our prejudices-- -Through grace we all stand equal at the foot of the cross-- --2. James gives the illustration in verses 2-4-- -- -What kind of person makes you uncomfortable--- -What kind of person makes you feel unprotected on the street--- -Is your heart embracing the radical counter-culturalism of the Gospel--- -As Christ's Ambassadors we have to think and view people as Christ does.-- --3. Discrimination Forgets the Work of the Gospel. verse 5-13---- -How did you come to Christ- Poor - with nothing to offer-- -A believer knows they are unworthy before the Lord.-- -You are the person who is unclean and deserves to be shunned.-- -Prejudices and racism fly in the face of the Gospel-- -James reminds us that the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of love.-- -Does the Gospel effect how you view others--- -Personal prejudices reveals my lack of submission to the law of my Lord.----Conclusion-----Verse 13 reminds us of the Mercy we have received from the Lord. The Gospel welcomes you to hope because Jesus has come and we will dwell with Him.

Thesis- Like Paul, we should have a right and informed heart for people to be saved.----I. PAULS HEART FOR ISRAEL-- - We should desire nd pray for salvation-- - Pray should focus on salvation - every person's-- greatest need.-- - Desire for religious to know truth of gospel-- - You can be zealous for God and be false-- - Righteousness of God is 10 Commandments, summed-- up by- Love God and Love Your Neighbor-- - Israel rejected Gospel by replacing God's-- provision for righteousness -Messiah-, with-- man-made religion - law-- - Law and righteousness do matter. But their-- fulfillment and completion in Christ.-- - Seeking own righteousness before God is futile,-- we must look to Jesus' obedience and-- righteousness

1. Romans 9- 1-24 - Summary--a. Israel covenant privileges V1-5 - adoption, the Law, God's glory, covenant promises and Christ according to the Flesh--b. Israel Identification V6-8 - heirs of a promise to Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob--c. Israel Sovereign Election v9-24 - solely on God's grace, not on human merit----2. Israel hardening - Gentile inclusion -v25-33--a. V25-26- Paul takes Hosea beyond historical context ties to narrative to the Gospel Universal Reach.--b. God is restraining Israel in order to make room for the Gentiles----3. God's Preservation of a remnant to Israel v27-29--a. Covenant blessings are not ethnically - only a remnant will be saved--b. Israel is not any better than the gentiles because they had the promises--c. God spared Israel because of His preserving Grace not Israel's righteousness.----4. Why is this fair- v30-33--a. Jesus is the dividing point in God's plan to reach the gentiles--b. Israel pursued righteousness through the law and stumbled with Jesus - Jn 5-46-47--c. The rock laid in Zion, 2 effects---i. Rock of stumbling - righteousness through the law--ii. Rock of Hope and refuge - righteousness by faith----5. Conclusion--a. We are Gomer and God the forgiving husband--b. Righteousness found us - we were not interested--c. We were not loved but are BELOVED

Thesis- Sins of pride, self-preservation and the like can serve to bring discord and disunity in all situations of life. But within the church, God's people are to be united around God's grace.----This Gospel unity is reflected in making us -----1. PARTAKERS OF THE SAME PROMISE -v. 11-14--- - Christ broke down division between Jews and Gentiles-- - All in Christ have spiritual intimacy with one another-- - Christ's removal of sin gives us peace with God and-- each other-- - Spiritual unity - all one family --- 1 Corinthians 12-13, Galatians 3-26-28----2. PART OF THE SAME BODY -v. 15-18--- - Christ made differing people into one -man-kind-- - Christ's sacrifice mediated our hostility and brought-- peace----3. ALL HIS PEOPLE -v. 19--- - all citizens of His Kingdom-- - all believers are members of God's household,-- joint heirs with Christ----4. ALL HIS TEMPLE-PALACE -v. 20-22--- - We are joinded as the building material for God's-- habitation, of which Christ as the cornerstone and-- the apostles-prophets as the foundation-- - Unified pieces of eternal construction project

1. COVENANTAL PRIVILEGES verses 1-5---- -Paul's Personal Remarks 1-3-- -What are those Covenant Privileges--- -Adopted by God-- -They had the Glory of God-- -Received the Law at Sinai-- -Christ is from their lineage-- -Adopted by God Deuteronomy 7-7-8----2. ISRAEL TRUE IDENTIFICATION verses 6-8---- -Paul answers a sincere question--- -Why does Israel appear dispersed, rejected and alienated from God-s redemptive plan--- -Not all Israelites are Israel-- -children of God - those who received the promise of grace-- -God has one people-one church, His elect

Two thoughs---a. Some focus heavily on Man's sinfulness and the sufficiency of God's grace to cover it, --b. Others argue about not teaching spiritual disciplines in a way that encourages others to pursue God's ways.----Positional Santification--- Believers unchanging status before God never changes--- Saints set apart to God once for all - true of all believers--- Our position in Christ is the greatest incentive for living a christian life--- it is true regardless of the degree of one's spirituality----Progressive Sanctification--- Process--- Our role - active and passive--- Rom 6-13-12-1- 1 The 4-3-Phi 1-6-1 The 5-23-2 Cor 3-18