In this final section of the -Upper Room Discourse,- we learn how to overcome the world's hatred for Christ and for Christians. Jesus is clear, the world will hate his disciples, but his equally clear that we are to be of -good cheer- for he has overcome the world. How that occurs and what that overcoming looks like, is the purpose of these messages.

Many churches these days have adopted a carnival, showtime, business model approach to reaching their communities. Free pony rides, games, free food and events are advertised, and all are welcome. One has to ask, -What are these churches getting in response-- Are there conversion and transformed lives coming out of this approach- Or is it just another way of avoiding the offense of the gospel message- Are these carnival churches but an extreme witness to the superficiality and worldliness to which the evangelical church has fallen-

The original language and grammar of this text speaks of a present-continuing call to -Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.- It is a living, present moment call to behold God's solution for your sin. While some may call you to -Behold your sin,- the Bible calls you to -Behold the Lamb of God- which takes away your sin. Perhaps belief is hard for you. Perhaps you struggle with unbelief. This text simply calls you to -Behold.- Sometimes that is all we can do, but we can do this, we can -Behold the Lamb of God- who is also the author and finisher of faith. Look to him for faith. Faith is a gift.

The Bible teaches that the world hates Jesus, and the world hates those who belong to Jesus. This is evident in the New Testament, and most certainly evident within church history. But the gospel is always -good news,- and this is true even on this somber note. And it is good news because although the world hates Jesus and those who belong to him, Jesus tells us he has overcome the world. In Jesus we overcome religious-based hatred from the world. This series will examine the how and why of overcoming religious hatred.

A change of status from a household servant to a friend within a grand household is a glorious privilege. Jesus calls his disciples, -friends.- And In this message we learn the basis of how we become his friends and what is expected of his friends. It's all good news-

It is important to feel the weight of a lost and dying world, but not to succumb to the fear. Christians are Christ's ambassadors, and as God's eschatological community, filled with the Spirit, we have the hope that people in the world desperately need.

We are to look to Jesus as our standard for every aspect of Christian living. So it is we are to love one another as Jesus loved. So how did Jesus love- In this critical message we examine four aspects of how Jesus loved, including the love between the members of the Trinity.

The commandment to love one another is given with an expectation of obedience. What is the ground of Christian obedience- How do we obey and yet avoid legalism- The answer is found with the heart of the new covenant, which is the promise of a new heart.

Jesus commanded his disciples three times within the same discourse to love one another as he loved them. But it is not too strong to say that the state of interpersonal relationships today is sub-Christian. As a rule, the church falls far short of obedience to this command. In this series we will exam why this is the present state, and how we can learn to love by adopting biblical relational skills using the Trinity as our model.

This is a abbreviated synopsis and overview of the principles of the sermon series -Ever-Increasing Joy.-