The Church is called to love. We need to be who we have called to be.-We are not to love in the way the world sees love. True love is through Christ.-He first loved us, therefore we love.-We know that God is at work by His love. The work of God in us is a desire to love Him.-The gospel is more relevant today than ever.-Live a faithful life right where you are

The Church has to-must deal with the influence of the world, but we must also remember that the Church is altogether different from the world. The Church itself is not here to change the culture, but to faithfully preach the Gospel. Those who hear and believe then go out and change the world. Here Paul defends the Church. The question should be asked- Are we being biblically faithful, so that the Church does not lose its way--All cultural ideas have a moral root, so we must ask the right questions of the culture.-Remember at all times that the Church is a place of Grace and the Church belongs to God and He will protect it.

While on the cross, the surrounding soldiers and the acts of the crowd were of mockery. The two criminals on the adjoining crosses were casting the same insults to Christ. One of the criminals was touched by the insults thrown at Christ. In him was repentance and faith. He says to the other criminal, -Don't you fear God-- God gave the man the ability to see Christ. The criminal was transformed, for the Lord knows our hearts. Jesus told the criminal, -Today you will be with me in paradise.--The Lord knows the heart.-As we see with the criminal he was saved at the last moment before dying.

Jesus changes the Passover celebration to the Lord's supper. We, as believers are to do this in remembrance of His and what He has done.-The Table is also a reminder of the unity of Scripture. Jesus gives the Passover a ne meaning. We celebrate it as a remembrance. The Passover and what happened back in Egypt was a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. The table represents the vicarious atonement of Jesus for our sins. -The table is a table of Assurance.

The Son of Man sees through the sinfulness of man. He speaks the truth. The question. -do we pay taxes- is deceptive, crafty, tricky. The Pharisees wished to trap Jesus into giving an answer the question that would either get him is trouble with the Roman governor or that the over taxed people would not like. He did neither.-The Pharisees were self righteous and hated Jesus. In verses 17-18, -Jesus quoted Psalm 118- 22, basically telling them the cornerstone would crush them.-Jesus asked for a denarius and then asked them whose inscription was on the coin. Caesar was the answer. Jesus the replied -give to Caesar what is his and to God what is due him -Genesis 1-26-27-.-This rendered the Pharisees silent.

The Christian is called to a different form of life by means of a drawing and effectual calling. We see in Ephesians, chapters 4-6 the practical application with all humility, unity in the Lord and holiness of life. Yes, a transformation--a newness of life. We are asked to walk worthy of your calling.-In these Scriptures the Gentiles are futile in their thinking -apart from God-, darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God. Man's sin is in the futility of his thinking, which is rooted in the whole being of the person. Then some people think they can make circumstances better by their destruction. Our hearts have to be transformed--not hardened. In today's culture, we are seeing hardened hearts refusing to change.-The Gentiles were unaware of the holiness, righteousness and truth. We were made for God in these things.-In Romans 1-18, we see the people suppressed the truth by their wickedness. In darkness there is no light. Scripture tells us in Romans 1 God gave -them over to their own lust-. We are to be examples of the truth, walk the truth, and pray for the truth.-When God effectually calls us, we are there. The Spirit of God changes our hearts.

God is at work in and through us, which often we forget. We need hearts to hear God's work in us. The people of Isaiah's time were in moral difficulty, with captivity and punishment -suffering- looming in their future. They face the discipline of the Lord.--We are called to fear not, for we are His. This redemption is personal- I have called you by name. Because of this we need not complain about our circumstances.--In light of the history of redemption, do you think God will take back His salvation- Romans 8-28

What does it mean to have eternal life- To know God through Jesus Christ.--1- Knowing God intellectually-2- Knowing God savingly-3- Eternal life is communion with God through his Son, Jesus Christ

The Table is a reminder to us of what Christ has done for us. We serve the Church even in adversity, providing comfort as we serve in the world.--These verses in 1 Peter 2 are a great description for the Church. The Table is where we come and meet the Lord. Peter reminds us that Jesus is precious to us who believe , and a stone of stumbling those those who do not. We are reminded that He intercedes for us before the Father.

Peter had to learn the lesson of what it meant to follow Jesus. We must be careful, patient, and abiding in long-suffering lest we be humbled as Peter was humbled. As Peter denied Christ three times, Christ asked him three times if he loved Him. Peter is given the instructions to -feed my sheep-. Peter was issued a -calling- for God's people. He was given a purpose. Peter, as we as believers, are called, redeemed, restored, and given a job.-Each of us has been called for a reason. God knows our beginning and our end.-We each may be used by God, no matter our temperaments. God calls us right where we are. We must know who we are to follow God as His child.