“The Cross: How Brutal Became Beautiful” Part 3 of 3

Sharing the Divine Nature: Godliness

The Cross: Death and Forsakenness Part 2 of 3

Sharing in the Divine Nature: “Patience”Intro: Give me patience, and give it to me NOWI. What does it mean to be patient?A. Opposite of patience?B. Patience flows from love (1 Corinthians 13:4) C. Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)II. The struggle of patienceA. The patience of Job (Job 6:11)B. The patience of Abraham (Hebrews 6:13–15) C. Anger issues

* Proverbs 14:29; 15:18; 16:32; 19:11 2. James 1:19* Matthew 5:21–26D. With whom should we be patient? (1 Thessalonians 5:14–15) E. Patience & the struggle to forgive (Matthew 18:21–35)III. God’s patienceA. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. – 1 Peter 3:9B. Does God ever get angry?C. Slow to anger (Psalms 86; 103; 145)* Exodus 34* They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that You performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. – Nehemiah 9:17* Numbers 13–14* Joel 2* Jonah 4D. Presence – The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. – Nehemiah 9:19E. Instructs* You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them and did notwithhold Your manna from their mouth and gave them waterfor their thirst. – Nehemiah 9:20* Grounded in God’s Word (2 Peter 3:15–18)* Lamentations 3:22–26

In what areas of life (or with which people) do you need to be more patient? How has God been patient with you in your life?

The Cross:“What the Law Demands” (Part 1 of 3)Intro: Ignoring laws can be dangerousI. Ways to misunderstand God’s Law A. I’m a good personB. Too restrictiveC. Subjective / Too many grey areas D. Consequences are too harshE. Unattainable, so why botherF. I’m forgiven, so why botherII. The nature of God’s LawA. God’s Law is GoodB. God’s Law leads to JOY

* Fruit of the Spirit 2. Never self-centered 3. All about LoveC. Violating the Law results in serious consequences D. God’s Law is part of our DNA (1st use)E. Written Law – since our DNA is corrupted (2nd use)* How many written laws are enough? 2. Context is keyIII. God’s Law Demands PerfectionA. “You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commandedyou, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you maylive long in the land that you shall possess.” – Deuteronomy 5:33B. “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”– Matthew 5:48C. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I havenot come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” – Matthew 5:17–18D. “And being found in human form, Christ Jesus humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”– Philippians 2:8E. You get credit for the obedience of JesusF. What we do matters (3rd use) – Matthew 5:19–20What is your attitude towards God’s Law?How does Christ’s obedience and forgiveness motivate you in regards to God’s Law?

Sharing the Divine Nature: Self Control

Sharing in the Divine Nature: Knowledge