What word would you use to describe our world right now? Chaotic? Angry? A mess? It seems like every week there’s a new story covering the strife in Washington and filling our globe. North Korea. Russia. Healthcare. The President. NFL. It seems like no matter the topic, our world is bitterly divided.

But the great news is that Christians are in agreement! We are unified. We are at peace. We offer a safe-haven to those who want to get away from the chaos… Unfortunately, that’s not true. As Christians, we get caught up in the same chaos. As the church, I believe we can be a counter-cultural safe-haven, offering peace and unity where the world offers unrest. In our passage today, the Apostle Paul tells disciples how we can live differently, and it starts with the gospel.

Live worthy of the gospel. (Phil 1:27a)

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ.” The words “conduct yourselves” is the Greek word politeuomai. Does anyone know the Greek word for “city”? It’s polis. Like our english word for “large city” is metropolis. So the Greek word politeuomai has to do with cities, specifically citizens. Politeuomai (“conduct”) actually means “to be a citizen.” Paul is saying, “Live like you’re a citizen of a different country.” Have you ever met someone from a different country, like France, or Germany or Louisiana? They just act differently. What country are we citizens of? The kingdom of God. 

The gospel is the good news that God’s heavenly kingdom is breaking into this world (Dan 2:34-35; Mark 1:14-15). Jesus in his ministry preached the arrival of God’s kingdom.

Matthew 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. (NIV®)

Jesus preached all about the kingdom of God breaking into our world (Luke 4:43). Now Paul encourages us to act differently because we know we’re citizens this kingdom that is going to change everything about our world for the better, beginning with our hearts and moving outward into society, even healing disease and sickness. So when we speak of the gospel, we should talk of both its message and its impact.

First, the gospel message—the gospel message begins on the inside. I recognize that I am born in sin and choose to sin. I choose to disobey and not trust God. I have a sinful heart, and I personally am in need of forgiveness and healing, which God offers us through Jesus Christ. If we repent of our sin and put our faith in Christ, we are given the righteousness of Christ. The gospel message saves me personally. 

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV®)

Second,  the gospel impact—the gospel impact recognizes that sin doesn’t just hurt me. I have a leaky heart. Sin seeps out into our world negatively impacting our friendships, marriages, culture, social systems, and government, producing oppressive systems and institutions warped by greed, racism, and bitterness. But the good news is that Jesus came to redeem (to fix) this too. The gospel message produces gospel impact, which is about saving all of creation.

Romans 8:20-21 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. (NIV®)

The gospel message and gospel impact is going to change everything, both people and creation. When we realize how life-changing and world-changing this whole gospel is, it changes how we live.

I recently purchased a new gas grill. It has three burners, a drip tray, and that new grill smell. It’s like I’m living in a whole new world full of new possibilities. Because it’s so great, I’m working really hard to keep it that way by cleaning the grill inside and out. I’m living differently because

As I was preparing this sermon on the difficulties of following Jesus this, I began to think about places we face hardship, and I thought of boot camp. I have not gone through boot camp, but my brother went to the Marine Corps boot camp. Boot camp is known for being really hard. You constantly drill, study, workout (sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, running), and this all culminates at the end in the crucible. The crucible is a 54-hour test where you’re hungry, sleep deprived, march 45 miles, and have to problem solve as a team through different courses and obstacles. If you can make it through the crucible, you’re a Marine.

I read a book that followed a Platoon through boot camp. The author described seeing a big strong recruit get so mentally worn down he punched a shower wall and got sent home. From what I can tell it’s not brute strength that get’s you through, but mental toughness, pride in the Corps, and relying on other Marines.

“Some believe that Marines are forged in a furnace of shared hardship and tough training. Shared, intense experience creates a bond so strong between Marines that nothing can stop them from accomplishing their mission.” – Military.com

What would get you through something as hard as boot camp? Pushups? Pride? A clear mission? Not wanting to let others down? As followers of Jesus we go through a type of boot camp too. In this life we face hardships, and like boot camp separates recruits from Marines, hardships separate recruits from disciples.

So here’s our question. Do I want to be a a recruit who doesn’t make it through? Who drops out? Or do I want to be a real disciple of Jesus who makes it all the way? Do I want to be a real Christian?

Disciples embrace hardship for Christ.

Near the end of Paul’s life he faced incredible hardship. He was arrested in Jerusalem and imprisoned for the next two years from 57 to 59 AD at Caesarea (Acts 24:1, 27). Then he was transported to Rome where he spent another two years in prison from 60 to 62 AD. In Rome, Paul lived by himself under “house arrest” but was constantly guarded (Acts 28:16, 30). Today’s passage describes three types of hardships Paul faced during this time, which we may face as disciples today.

1. Suffering (v. 12-14)

Paul may be in a low-level prison situation under house arrest, but he’s still physically chained to his guard (1:7, 13, 14, 17). Pastor and author Steven Lawson writes that his chains were about 18 inches long and were attached to his wrists like “extended handcuffs,” which were attached to his guard 24/7.

Can you imagine how uncomfortable this is? Your wrists would be constantly tender and sore. You’d develop a constant ache and stiffness in your forearms like carpal tunnel syndrome. Monica and I visited Colonial Williamsburg where you can put your head and arms in prison stocks at their town square. I did that when I was a kid because it was fun but I didn’t want to be in them for even a moment this time around because they looked so uncomfortable. Paul endured this type of pain for two years but it was worth it.

Philippians 1:14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

As a result of Paul’s suffering, the other believers are becoming bolder and more courageous to proclaim the gospel. Would you be willing to suffer if it somehow furthered the cause of Christ? 

In Burma (Myanmar) right now there’s a humanitarian crisis because of a conflict between the Burmese government and an indigenous Muslim people group called the Rohingya. The Burmese don’t recognize the Rohingyans right to live in Burma and are pushing them out. Last month Rohingyan insurgents attacked Burmese police and now that government is cracking down on all forms of religion that aren’t Buddhist, including Christianity. The government passed a law that said you can only practice Christianity in historically Christian zones, the places the missionary Adoniram Ju

Have you ever thought about how you might act if you were to meet someone really important? What you would say? How you would talk to them? If I were to meet Prince William and Kate (formerly Middleton), the Duchess of Cambridge, I’m not sure how I would act. Should I bow or shake their hands? Should I do both at the same time? What should I say to them? How long should I talk to them? This is William and Kate’s one big chance to meet me. I want it to go well for them.

A couple years ago Prince William and Kate visited the States and attended a Cavaliers game. Afterwards LeBron James took this picture with them, which made the British media have a British meltdown. They were horrified that LeBron James, who hadn’t showered after the basketball game, would dare to touch royalty, especially put his arm around Kate. Piers Morgan, who is British, and a TV host, said this to LeBron James.

“You do not put your arm around the future queen of England, LeBron James, you may call yourself King James — you are not a real king. Prince William is going to be my king, that was his wife — hands off the duchess.”

The British media was floored that LeBron James would break royal protocol this way. What they didn’t know was that LeBron James was just giving the Duchess an awkward Christian side-hug. So chances are, if you get the opportunity to meet the royals, you probably shouldn’t hug them. If you’re someone who doesn’t like hugs, next time I try to give you one (because I’m a hugger), just say, “I’m royal.”

How should we approach God? Prayer is simply talking to God, right? So we should just talk to him? In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray to “our Father in heaven” (Matt 6:9-13). But if God the Father created everything, and is the true sovereign (Isa 33:22; 64:8)—shouldn’t we be thoughtful about how we pray?

Today we’re studying how Paul prays and what Paul prays for in Philippians 1:3-11. Now Paul doesn’t say, “You need to pray like me” but I think he gives four ways disciples, followers of Jesus, should pray, and four things they can pray for. In his letter he gives us a pattern we can follow. So first…

How should we pray?

Sometimes Paul has some pretty harsh words to say when he opens his letters. When he opens his letter to the Galatians, he calls them deserters because they’re abandoning the gospel. But when Paul writes to the Philippians, although he encourages humility and unity, he has lots of things to be grateful for because of them, and that’s reflected in his opening prayer. How should we pray?

1. Gratefully (v3)

Paul says in v3, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” What is he thankful for?

There was no church or believers when he arrived in Philippi and now there is—Lydia, the jailer, a demon-possessed girl, a man named Epaphroditus, two women, Euodia and Syntyche, and many more (Acts 16).

The Philippians gave money to support Paul, one of the few churches to do so. (2 Cor 11:9; Phil 4:15)

They sent Epaphroditus to keep Paul company and care for him while he sits in prison.

So as you can see, Paul has plenty of reasons to be grateful. If Paul truly is writing from prison, it would be easy to sit around and feel sorry for himself, but he doesn’t. Instead he thanks God for the Philippians.

When I pray, it’s so easy for me to immediately launch into a list of ways God can make my life easier. Heavenly Father, would you help me get my sermon done? Would you grow Cornerstone? Would you fix a difficult relationship by changing them (and not me)? What if we started with gratitude first? Heavenly Father, thank you for the 143 sermons you gave me before this one. Thank you for the 101 members and attenders coming to Cornerstone. Thank you for the people you have placed in my life to make me more like Christ.

I want you to recall one request you’ve prayed for recently that was just you telling God you needed something. Praying our need is a good thing, but can you now silently pray the same request in the form of a t

What is a disciple? That’s not a word we hear very often. When you think of a disciple, you may think of a religious person who adheres to the teachings of Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, Plato, or some other religious teacher or philosopher. Disciple means “learner” or “student,” but the idea of being a disciple seems to be less and less popular, at least among my generation, the millennials.

According to a Pew Research Center study, more than one-third of Millennials are not affiliated with a religion, which is double the amount of Baby Boomers who identify as unaffiliated. Additionally, another Pew study … indicated that about one-quarter of American Millennials say they attend religious services on a weekly basis, and about half say they believe in God with absolute certainty, compared with seven-in-ten Americans in the Silent and Baby Boomer generations. 

So in other words, millennials are less religious, and less interested in God (or being a disciple of Jesus) than ever before. Why is this? Two Harvard Divinity School students published a study entitled How We Gather that says instead of finding community and personal transformation at church, we find it in gatherings like Alcoholics Anonymous, community running clubs, yoga, and even CrossFit. Instead of going to church to hear a sermon, we go to TED talks or listen to a Podcasts to challenge ourselves intellectually and spiritually. We find our purpose in organizations like Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and Race for America.

Now I agree that my generation is looking for spiritual fulfillment elsewhere, and finding it, but I still think there’s something missing that those things can’t replicate. In this sermon series, Discipleship 101, I’m going to explain what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and why he is worth following in a world of options. Let’s begin with a story of one of the first disciples, a man named Saul.

Saul, the unlikely disciple.

Saul is a character from the New Testament. But he doesn’t enter the story until after Jesus’ ministry on earth comes to an end. Jesus has died, risen again, and ascended into heaven, and now a new community is taking shape called the church. The church is made up of people who love and trust Jesus so much they are willing to die for him. In fact, we’re introduced to Saul at the death of the very first Christian martyr, Stephen. When the religious leaders stone Stephen to death it says they “laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58b). Saul was a Pharisee, one or the religious elite of the day, who hated Christians.

Saul hated Christianity so much he went house by house through Jerusalem and drags away men and women who believe in Jesus and throws them in prison (Acts 8:3). He wants to go even further than this.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2

The first believers were not called Christians, but “the Way”—and Saul wants to kill the Way. But then…

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:3-4

Imagine yourself walking from Jerusalem to Damascus, which is about 150 miles. It will take you 4-6 days, but you’re on a mission, so you’re Olympic speed-walking. It’s dusty and hot and you feel the sweat on your forehead, but as you come around a rocky outcrop lightning flashes all around you, and you fall on your hands and knees in the dirt trembling. You bite your lip so hard you taste blood, but what scares you the most is not the blinding light, but the voice, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Only God speaks that way. So what do you do? You ask for clarification…

“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am J

When you think of heaven, what do you think about? Our popular conceptions of heaven are usually a bit weird, and a bit boring, and are more influenced by film, television, and culture than the Bible.

Did you ever watch the 1969 movie The Littlest Angel? An eight-year old shepherd boy from Biblical times dies and goes to heaven, only to discover, heaven is really boring and serious. Everyone wears robes, which are a light shade of pink, and spend their time flying around in pink clouds and singing. In the movie, the angels are really men dressed in short robes, wearing wings, jumping around on trampolines. It’s creepy.

I saw a newscast a couple years ago where one host asked someone whose child had died recently if they felt better knowing their child was now an angel in heaven with wings. That’s not how it works.

More recently, there’s a show on television called The Good Place, staring Kristen Bell (famous for Veronica Mars and Frozen). She dies and goes to heaven only to discover there’s been a mistake and she’s not supposed to be there. Heaven is a tiny neighborhood reserved for only the best of people who aren’t just good, but great. Lot’s of people believe you just have to do more good than bad to get into heaven.

Last week we started our final Article of Faith, which explains what happens when we die.

The Last Things (15): We believe in the personal and undeniable return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the fulfillment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal punishment of the wicked, and the eternal peace and joy of the righteous.

Last week we learned hell is a real place, where we don’t want anyone to go, and that anyone who repents of their sins and puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ goes to be with Jesus in heaven. This week I want to explain where believers end up after the final judgment. Let’s pick up where we left off.

Christians will inhabit the new heaven and new earth with God.

This week I re-read a book called Eternity Changes Everything by Stephen Witmer, as well as listened to a new one, Heaven: Biblical Answers to Common Questions by Randy Alcorn. I like how Stephen, a pastor in Pepperell MA and a friend, explains the new heaven and new earth in Revelation 21, so I’ve adapted his material here. Our current earth (not some different planet) will transform into the new heaven and new earth through a removal, a renovation, and a return (3Rs).

1. Removal

Today’s passage, Revelation 21:1-4, comes right after the great white throne judgment. At that judgment, it says, “the earth and heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.” (Rev 20:11b). So the final judgment takes place outside of this universe in a kind of limbo, elsewhere, or no-space. Once the judgment is complete, and God banishes Hades, death, and those who reject Jesus to hell, we leave that limbo and return to something even better than what we had before.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. … ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1, 4 (cf. Isaiah 65:17, 19)

So what is happening? God is finally joining heaven and earth together, and the first thing he does is completely remove death, hades, hell, and the wicked from this brand new universe. In heaven, we won’t watch the wicked burn forever because they’ll be gone. Death is gone too. You’ll never have to be separated from Jesus or your family in Christ again.

That’s what “there was no longer any sea” means. Throughout the Bible, and in the ancient world, the sea is a place of judgment, of chaos, of death, of separation (Rev 13:1). There will be beaches, and oceans, and snorkeling in heaven, but none of it will keep us from each other. More personally it says, there won’t be any tears in heaven. Does

What happens when you die? In 2005, a group of theologians tried to answer this question. This group, self-titled Modest Mouse, wrote down what they believed in an album called Good News for People Who Love Bad News. In their hit single “Float On” they sang this…

And we’ll all float on OK (x3)

And we’ll all float on alright

Already we’ll all float on

Now don’t you worry we’ll all float on alright

Already we’ll all float on alright

Don’t worry we’ll all float on

I understand their message to be this. No matter what we go through, good or bad, we’ll all float on to a better place in the end. That’s a very attractive message, and maybe it’s one you believe, but is it true? In 1999, a different group of theologians named Cake sang a song with these lyrics:

Sheep go to Heaven,

Goats go to Hell,

Sheep go to Heaven,

Goats go to Hell,

So in this battle of the bands, who is right? Do we all float on alright in the end, or do the sheep go to heaven and the goats go to hell? This is the most important question you can ever ask. If hell is fake, you’re wasting your time here. But if it’s real, do you know for sure that you won’t end up there? Today I’m going to give you a simple explanation of what happens when you die according to the Bible. The best place to start is at the moment of death for a Christian and a non-Christian. The Bible teaches…

1. When Christians die, they go to be with Jesus in heaven.

What do I mean by Christians? Do I mean any one who says, “I’m a Christian?” No. Many people call themselves Christians but really aren’t, so I’ve created this definition from our articles of faith and the Bible.

A Christian is anyone who repents of their sin, puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone, and bears fruit as they follow after him—all through the work of the Holy Spirit.

This definition of a Christian is basic. To be a Christian, you have to recognize your own sin, ask Jesus to forgive you, and put your faith and trust in him. You give evidence of that salvation through bearing fruit, like caring for the poor as our passage describes; and this whole process is overseen by the Holy Spirit. This looks different for a child than for an adult. One is more basic than the other; and we’re all saved by grace.

But what happens when a Christian dies? For those of you who are visual, I’ve tried to illustrate a Christian dying and going to be with Jesus in heaven in our slides (see the end of this sermon for the slides). Paul writes…

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

We are taken by God to be with Jesus in a place called “paradise” or “heaven.” Later Paul speaks of a man who was actually taken to heaven. Notice Paul calls this place both “paradise” and heaven.”

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven… And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.

2 Corinthians 12:2a, 3-4

If you are driving home from church today, and you drive your car into a really large pothole and die, if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you’ll be okay. Yes. Your spirit will be apart from your body, but  your spirit will be with Jesus in a place that’s more beautiful and wonderful than you can ever imagine. The next time you start to feel afraid of death, just imagine being with Jesus, because that’s what will happen. But that’s only half the story. What happens to people who don’t believe in Jesus when they die?

2. When non-Christians die, they are locked away in Hades.

Were you were expecting me to say non-Christians go to hell? The Greek word for “hell” is “geenna” or “gehenna” and it’s the place non-Christians go after the final judgement (more on that later). Gehenna was a place in “the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem” where people worshipped Molech. They sacrificed animal

Thierry Mirone is a French Missionary and Church-Planter from France to France. He has served in many different capacities, including Director of Champfleuri where we sent our youth team this summer, Director of Youth for France Mission, and most recently he, his wife Valarie, and his three sons, Jonathan, Lucas, and Silas, are part of a church-plant team in Aix Les Bains. He is now entering a new stage of ministry to do as the Regional Director of France Missions, through which he will train the next generation of leaders and coach the regional church-planting efforts.

Pastor Jonathan’s family has known him for many years, and many people from Cornerstone and our parent church, Immanuel, know him as well. Although we don’t have a missions program yet, today is a great opportunity to learn about missions in line with our current sermon series, What We Believe, since this week is The Mission of the Church. Please listen or watch his sermon on John 20:19-23 above, or you can access his slides below. You can learn more about Thierry by watching this 10 minute video of him introducing the project in France and interviewing some of the participants.

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What is the church? Have you ever asked that question. I want you to imagine two college friends getting lunch together, Matt and Ben. In college, they both volunteered in Intervaristy, a Christian ministry to students, so they’ve always known each other as strong Christian friends. Now, five years later, they’re sitting outside on the deck of a small café, Matt prays for their meal, and they begin to chat about their lives.

As they dig in, Matt tells Ben about his church, how he loves the worship, and teaching, and being a part of a community of believers who challenge him to grow in faith. Then Ben says, “I have all those, I just don’t go to church.” Ben tells Matt he joined a ministry that provides solid Bible teaching, worship, and community, so he feels he doesn’t need to be a part of the “institutional church.” The church is the people, not the building, right? So why go to church?

Who is right? Is Matt and his love for the institutional church a good thing or has Ben found a better way? Today, I’m explaining what the church is and why it matters. If I were a part of this conversation with Matt and Ben, I think it would be helpful to define the difference between the universal church and the local church, because what Ben is really saying is that participation in the universal church is enough.

The universal Church is the people of God from all times and places.

This is what we call the big “C” Church, the worldwide or invisible church. It’s “invisible” because it doesn’t have a mailbox or sanctuary, and even if you fit every Christian you know or have heard of in one room, this would only be a tiny speck of the universal church. Our articles of faith define it this way:

The Church: (10) We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head, and of which all people (past, present, and future) who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are members.

The first time the Greek word for church (ekklesia) is used in the NT, it refers to the universal church.

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church (ekklesia), and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18

The church Jesus is talking about is all the people who are going to become Christians as a result of the ministry and message of Peter and the other early Christian leaders, the Apostles. The universal church includes not just converts in the New Testament, but you and me today. We’re part of this church.

What is required for entrance into this universal church? Our article says anyone “who put[s] their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are members.” This includes anyone in the Old Testament who put their trust in the coming Messiah. They looked forward in faith yesterday while we look backward in faith today.

The Matt of my imagination, and the Matthew of the New Testament, the one who was a tax collector and became a disciple of Jesus, though separated by 2,000 years, are both a part of the same universal church because they have each confessed their sins and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. To become a Christian means to join the universal church. If you’ve never done that, I want to encourage you to join the universal church today. Confess your sins. Put your faith in Christ, and join.

Our article of faith also uses the analogy of a body and head to explain Christ and the church. Ephesians tells us Christ is the head of the church body (Eph 1:22-23). As the head, Christ has authority over all Christians, and leads and guides all believers from all times and places—the universal invisible body.

It’s a bit weird to call a body invisible, isn’t it? Paul actually talks about the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12, and when he does, he speaks of the local church at Corinth. The local church is the visible manifestation of the invisible church. The little “c” church, with its mailboxes, sanctuary, and people from a particular city make visible the i

IV Salvation

We believe that Jesus Christ secured forgiveness for sin and the gift of perfect righteousness through his obedient life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead.[1] We believe that those who repent[2] and put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ[3] alone[4] as Lord and Savior receive eternal life.[5] Through the work of the Holy Spirit (regeneration) they are delivered from condemnation[6] and become a new creation.[7]

Sermon Ephesians 2:1-10

Made Alive in Christ

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The unit of thought is maybe as large as all of Ephesians, but 2:1-10 is acceptable.

Subject: We were dead and made alive again by God in Christ.

Compliment: If we were truly dead and made alive again, how would we behave?

Homiletical Idea:

You were dead; you are now alive; tell others about your Salvation and Savior

Introduction:

Having a lovely, fun meal with my 14-year-old son. We’re laughing, having a good time, enjoying pizza, talking about the what’s on tap for the evening. I love the pizza which I’ve noticed, a little disappointed, is burned on the crusts. Two Amy’s makes such good crust, that I think to myself, “what a shame.”

I start to take bite into a burned section of the crust. As I bite, I inhale. I have actually not even taken a bite of the crust, not one piece of food is in my mouth. But as I inhale, I can feel IT (and I can even remember seeing IT — a tiny, size of a clipped pinky finger nail, piece of paper thin charcoal. It’s not even dough. It’s whatever is left over from burning a piece of dough. It’s literally a piece of charcoal crust.

I inhale, this sliver of black crust and immediately I realize it’s lodged in the back of my throat. I cannot imagine that it’s blocking my passageway. I know my throat isn’t that small, but I can’t breath through my mouth. I go for water, but the water does nothing to help me and I am confused. I don’t understand how this tiny piece of charcoal is causing this problem. Seconds later I grow terrified when I realize I cannot breath my nose either. In my mind, I am well past that point we’ve all been when a piece of food goes down the wrong way and we’re left with a cough and watery eyes and the inability to speak a coherent sentence. I cannot cough. I am more than worried about regaining my composure and speaking again; I am immediately worried only about being able to breathe. I realize I need help. Now.

I look at my son and make hand gestures that I can’t breathe. And for a second I am so happy I am with the child who doesn’t ever get embarrassed and has never been shy a day in his life, because I know he’ll help me. I know that he will be the heroic catalyst who has the force of character to lead me to safety.

I hear him say, “Are you okay, Mom?” And I shake my head, “No.” More hand gestures.

I think I hear him say, “My mother is choking, my mother needs help,” but, in response to his call for help, I don’t remember seein

Bernie shared a little story with me this week about a farmer who never wanted to go to church, in spite of being asked by his wife over and over again. One day, when his wife was just too tired to go, he decided to make her happy by going to the service. When he got back, his wife asked, “How was it?” The man replied, “Good.” So she asked, “What did the pastor preach on?” He answered, “Sin.” She asked, “Well, what did he have to say about it?” The farmer replied, “He was against it.”

At Cornerstone, we’re going through a sermon series entitled, What We Believe. Today, I’m preaching on the topics of sin and mankind. I am against sin, but not mankind.

Our Articles of Faith explain both our humanity and our sin, linking the two in the same statement. Why does it do that? Because wherever humans are, there is sin. Wherever humans are, there is pollution, poverty, corruption, injustice. Humankind is broken. But at the same time, we know this shouldn’t be. It’s like we know humans weren’t this way originally. Article III, number 7, says,“We believe that God created all people in His own image…” It references Genesis 1:26, so I want to read it and the next verse.

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. (NIV®)

God created human beings in the image of God. The Hebrew word for “image” is ṣelem, and it means “idol.” An idol is a physical representation of a diety. Idols in the Bible and in some religions today are made of wood, stone, or maybe silver or gold if they’re expensive. The idols (or images) God makes of himself are different. They’re living, breathing, acting, human-beings that join him in ruling over creation. When God creates humans, he creates them like him, with the capacity to know God and participate in what he is doing.

To be human is to be made for relationship with God and others.

The God of Christianity is a relational being. One of our newest Elders, Terry, pointed out to me the unity and diversity we see in God in Genesis 1:26-27, but to see it we have to look at the ESV translation.

v.26a Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…

v. 27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them. (ESV)

Is God plural or singular? God is unity and diversity. He is one God in three persons, Trinity. Male and female, men and women, somehow reflect this unity and diversity together. This means three things:

Both men and women are made in the image of God. One gender is not better than the other. It takes both genders equally, working together, to truly reflect God. Humanity needs both men and women.

Today we installed our Cornerstone Elders. As I read our philosophy of ministry, you may have noticed that Cornerstone believes only men can be Elders. Honestly, I was a bit nervous to publish our list of Elders online as outsiders might question this. Before the team from Immanuel planted this church, we surveyed the community to get to know them and one woman told us she “has issues with patriarchal churches.” There’s something I want to make perfectly clear. The Elders believe men and women are just as valuable and talented as each other, but the team who founded this church and our Board of Elders believes God calls men and women to different roles in the family and church (1 Tim 2-3). Now this doesn’t mean we can’t politely disagree on this issue, holding to different points of view even among the Elders, but as a church, we believe God values both men and women equally, but calls them to different tasks. Thus we reflect God’s unity and diversity. Both men and women are made in the image of God.

Men and women are made for relationship with Go