Passage: 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

[jel-uh s] Adjective - “Vigilant in maintaining or guarding something”

Does your heart ache for those who are wandering from the truth? Do you wrestle with what you should feel and do? Good news for you, Paul felt the same stuff. His love for the Corinthians went so far that he was willing to be misunderstood and thought to be foolish. Why? Because his concern for them was greater than his concern for his own image and reputation. Let’s learn from him, and receive from him, this Gospel priority in loving people.

Because of the work of the Gospel that Paul believes has taken place in the Corinthian church, he now steps out to courageously express his concern for their spiritual welfare, even if they think him a fool. So ... Consider this morning these two surprising Godly emotions that fuel his care for the Corinthians, and for you!

1. Divine Jealousy [11:1-2]

2. Protective Fear [11:3-4]

Gaining Gratitude – Thank God for His relentless, reckless, jealous love that holds you fast. Thank God for those people in your life who are jealous for your spiritual progress.

Prompting Prayer – Ask God to give you sensitivity to where you may be led astray from pure devotion to Christ. Ask God to give you the strength to be foolish and courageous in seeking a wayward brother or sister.

Passage: 1 Timothy 6:19

Passage: Romans 8:31-39

As Paul brings the argument for the security of our salvation to a close, he does not finish quietly. His rhetorical questions and unwavering commitment to the gospel bring us to the end of ourselves. And like a loving friend, his commitment is not to win an argument, but to guide us toward worshipping the one who loves us most and loves us best.

What will you do with the love of God? V31a

5 questions leading us to the greatest love of all:

1. Who can be against me? V31b

2. Will God give me all things? V32

3. Who will bring a charge against me? V33

4. Who will condemn me? V34

5. Who (or what) will separate me from the love of God? V35-36

What does being “more than conquerors” look like? V37-39

“If you’re a church person and not a Jesus person, my heart hurts for you. It’s like being engaged and never getting married. It’s miserable.” ― Matt Chandler

Passage: Romans 8:18-30

The Certainty of Eternal Glory is Far Greater than Anything We are Going Through Today!

First, the Groaning of Creation (vs. 19-22)

Second, the Groaning of Christians (vs. 23-25)

Third, the Groaning of the Spirit (vs. 26-27)

The Golden Chain to Eternal Glory...

Foreknew

Predestined

Called

Justified

Glorified

Passage: Romans 8:12-17

Implications of the Spirit’s presence in the life of a believer:

Killing sin by the Spirit (vv.12-13)

Led by the Spirit (vv. 14-15)

Assured by the Spirit (vv. 16-17)

“The activity of the believer is the evidence of the Spirit’s activity and the activity of the Spirit is the cause of the believer’s activity.” John Murray

Questions:

Do you hate sin?—your particular sin?

By the objective standard of Scripture- does your life indicate you are killing sin?

Is the Holy Spirit making you aware of sin—that you are putting to death?

Are you increasing in your love for your Father as His child and heir?

Passage: Romans 8:1-11

The good news doesn’t get any better than this. We are not only forgiven…we are free. Free from the penalty of sin. Free from the power of sin. And one day, free from the presence of sin.

The Purchase of Freedom: The Finished Work of Christ (vv. 1-3)

The Experience of Freedom: The Ongoing Work of the Spirit (vv. 4-9)

The Promise of Freedom: The Completing Work of the Father (vv. 10-11)

The future of the mission of the Gospel depends on Biblical Motherhood and Fatherhood, both in the home and in the Church. We need to celebrate the joys of this together as we shoulder the burdens of one another. In our day where the family faces immense challenges, I want every disciple of Christ to understand and embrace the high calling to be moms and dads... even if you aren’t one.

Three characteristics of Biblical Fatherhood...

1. A Depth of Worship in Your Life

2. Spiritual Fathering in The Church

3. Purposeful Leading in The Home

Jesus taught so many things during his earthly ministry... but what mattered most? If we could spend a semester with Jesus as our professor, what would His syllabus contain? What would He want you and I to master and live out to make “A’s” in His discipleship academy?

Lesson #1 – I am the Christ come to set men free

Taught – Matthew 16:13-20

Modeled – Matthew 17:1-8

Lesson #2 – Following Me is not for the faint-of-heart or the double-minded

Taught – Luke 9:57-62

Modeled – Luke 4:16-30

Lesson #3 – I’ll make you great when you stop trying to be great

Taught – Matthew 20:25-28

Modeled – Matthew 18:1-4

Lesson #4 – Learn to pray and experience the power of the life of faith

Taught – Matthew 6:1-13

Modeled – Matthew 26:36-46

Lesson #5 – There is no such thing as a mission-less disciple

Taught – Matthew 28:18-20

Modeled – Matthew 14:14-16

Passage: 2 Corinthians 10:12-18

[bohst] Verb - “To speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself.”

Do you struggle to not compare yourself with others? Do you know how to properly measure out what God has called you to? With a writhe smile and a twist of sarcasm, Paul points out the futility of all human boasting. Those against him in Corinth had so foolishly set their own standard, and then measured themselves against it in order to pat themselves on the back for how great they were.

Paul would have nothing of it ... and we shouldn’t either!

Three lessons to take to heart so you avoid making unspiritual boasts ...

1. Absurd Boasting [10:12]

2. Appropriate Boasting [10:13-16]

3. The End of All Boasting [10:17-18]

Gaining Gratitude – Thank God for how He uses the weak and foolish things to shame the wise. Thank God for His mercy toward you in your arrogance and self-focus.

Prompting Prayer – Ask God to grant you the faith to stop comparing yourself with others. Ask God to enlarge your boast in the Lord alone.