“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1

There is hardly an hour of news that goes by where we don’t hear of the devastating effects of drug addiction in our community. Lives that are cut short by the easy access and the lure of something more. But, it is not just in our community. It is in our families, and in our own hearts as well. We need to think carefully, compassionately, and theologically about addiction, so that we can engage our culture with the riches of Gospel truth that changes lives.

“It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” [The Weight of Glory: C. S. Lewis]

1. Worship (The Pursuit of God)

You will never hear us call you to anything more primary than loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. We will always call you to that with a rich understanding that you do not perform for God to earn His love, but respond in worship to all God has done for you. The work of Christ rightly understood and embraced will expel all other lovers (idols), and create in you a hunger to know God and His Word above all. Spiritual maturity starts with you seeking God as your greatest delight and deepest satisfaction. Get into the Word, spend time in prayer, fellowship with your Maker, Savior, and Friend!

2. Relationships (The Pursuit of Real Spiritual Friendship)

God did not send His Son into the world to save you. He sent His Son into the world to save a people (plural). A chosen people, a royal priesthood, the bride of Christ … The Church! It is not true love for Jesus to cherish Him, but not His bride. That means that a spiritual priority in your life will be the purposeful pursuit of brothers and sisters in Christ for the mutual edification of one another. It doesn’t matter whether you are an intro-vert or an extravert; your spiritual maturity is never only about a personal relationship with Jesus, but a “speaking truth in love” relationship with God’s people.

3. Mission (The Pursuit of Lost People)

When it comes to your spiritual growth, you are never the end user. God has uniquely gifted each and every one of His kids to be a giver in the mission of the Kingdom. If you are going to be intentional about spiritual maturity this year it will include the third converging road of ministry. How will you use your time, talents, and resources to contribute to the work of missions near and far? “Missions exists because worship doesn’t” (John Piper) … and we are right back at the beginning, inviting lost people to love God and find their joy in Him!

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:13

4 Principles for Coming to the Sermon Spiritually Prepared

1. Come Hungry

2. Come Praying

3. Come Expecting

4. Come Forgiving

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

[kuh n-trohl] Verb - “to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command; to hold in check”

Are you controlled by fear? Are you afraid of love? These realities of the human heart can hopelessly trap someone in isolation. But the Gospel creates a fear that frees and a love that controls. Paul had an awe for God that freed him to minister courageously. How? He knew the love of Christ that had been poured out for him at the cross. These twin motivations drove Paul to selflessly live for God and others all his days. They can place your life in that trajectory too!

The simple summary of Paul’s two true motivations …

1. Fear that Frees [5:11-13]

2. Love that Controls [5:14-15]

Gaining Gratitude – Thank God for the substitutionary death of His Son. Thank God that you have been rescued from death and given life through this sacrificial act of the One Man.

Prompting Prayer – Ask God to grant you greater freedom from the fear of man and a greater fear of God. Ask

God to produce in you a more selfless life directed at the worship of God and the service of others.

[eym] Verb - “to strive, try; to intend; to direct efforts.”

What is the aim of your life? Is it clear? Do people clearly see it? How do I please God and know if He is pleased? This morning we need to slow down and take a little time to think through the life that pleases God. What is rewarded and what is judged? What a loss it would be to get this one wrong, so listen well!

Thinking through the life that pleases God …

1. Pleasing God! [5:9]

2. God Pleased? [5:10]

Gaining Gratitude – Thank God for your sin being fully and finally judged at the cross through the work of

Christ. Thank God that your days now, full of active obedience and Godly motivations, matter in the future!

Prompting Prayer – Ask God to purify your ambition. Ask God to give you greater ambition to please Him in

all you do. Ask God for clarity in revealing those places in your life right now that don’t honor Him.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

[kur-ij] Noun - “The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.”

Where do you find the courage to face difficult times? With all the uncertainty of this age, how do you walk confidently? The solid and certain future of every child of God ought to instill courage and passion for the very uncertain present you face. With vivid imagery, Paul describes what gives him the courage to keep ministering the New Covenant message of Christ amid affliction. It just might

help you too!

Four truths to give you courage in the face of present uncertainty:

1. Knowing You Have a Greater Building [5:1]

2. Knowing You Will Never Be Naked [5:2-4]

3. Knowing You Have a Guarantee [5:5]

4. Knowing You Have a Forever Home [5:6-8]

Gaining Gratitude – Thank God for the groanings of your soul that long to be home. Thank God for an age of

permanence that is yet to come. Thank God for the Spirit who gives and gives and gives.

Prompting Prayer – Ask God to stir up in you a greater homesickness for heaven. Ask God for a clearer vision

of what walking by faith looks like for you right now in life. Ask God to make you more courageous.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

[fyoo-cher] Noun - "Time that is to be or come hereafter; something that will exist or happen in time to come."

How do you keep going when the stuff you see feels so overwhelming? What do you preach to yourself to make it through the day? Fully aware of the reality of pain and human weakness, Paul now takes us to some grand Biblical realities that keep him steadfast in life and ministry. This is the kind of faith this is neither trite and superficial, nor dark and hopeless. Will you press in to this kind of confident faith in your life?

Five characteristics of the confidence that motivates Gospel faithfulness:

1. A Truth-Rooted Confidence [4:13]

2. A Resurrection Confidence [4:14]

3. A Glory-Driven Confidence [4:15]

4. A Transformation Confidence [4:16-17]

5. A Complete Confidence [4:18]

Gaining Gratitude – Thank God for the temporary circumstances of life that God uses as a tool to grow your

inner man. Thank God that the eternal reward of your faith far exceeds anything this world has to offer.

Prompting Prayer – Ask God to make you more confident in the rich Biblical truths of your faith. Ask God to

give you eyes that gaze at the future glory while you glance at the temporary trials and stresses of life today.

Testimonies from individuals in our church as it relates to the 6/25 sermon "How You Show Off God’s Great Power".

Originally recorded on June 25th.

Passage: 2 Corinthians 4:8-12

[moov] Verb - “To pass from one place or position to another; to advance or progress.”

Do you ever wonder if your life matters in the lives of others? Or ask - How does God use me to help others move forward in their spiritual life? The great power of God operates in the weakness of frail humans who love the treasure of Jesus (4:7). It follows then, that ministry moves forward through the ever-present breaking of the clay pot day after day. It is the pain and perplexity of life that draws the attention away from us and on to God. Will you walk in humble dependence on your glorious God and see Him use you to bring life to others?

Three powerful dynamics to keep front and center in the difficulty of life as you seek to see the Gospel move forward

through you:

1. The Real Pain [4:8-9]

2. The Real Reason [4:10-11]

3. The Real Result [4:12]

Passage: 1 Corinthians 7:6-7

As we have said so many times at LCC, the grace of God in Christ Jesus changes everything; even our view of marital status. In Christ, our status as married or not married is as secondary as our skin color, nationality or gender. In fact, there is nothing in marriage that is necessary for a person to live a meaningful and fruitful life. Singles are not a lesser form of Christian waiting for the higher calling of marriage; they are called in the body to live work and play to the glory of God right where God placed them. Today we take the time to think biblically about some of the challenges and joys of singleness.

1. Theological Foundation of Singleness.

2. The “Gift” of Singleness (1 Corinthians 7)

3. Pastoral Exhortation and Encouragement for the Single and Married Together.