Pursue Wisdom

The final sermon in the Think Deeply and Love Widely sermon. In this series we have focused on having a Christian Worldview.

The second sermon in the Think Deeply and Love Widely Series.

The first sermon in the Think Deeply and Love Widely series.

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

We often equate faith with certainty and therefore doubt with a lack of faith. The problem is that many of us have questions and a lack of understanding about what the Bible says or how God is at work in our lives. No matter how hard we try we can’t come to a place of certainty. Does that we lack faith?

Text: James 1:5-8

Big Idea: What matters to God are not our questions, but our commitment.

Challenge: Write down any questions and uncertainties you have and give them to Pastor Paul so he can find answers to them.

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

Jesus taught his followers not to worry and the Apostle Paul told the Philippians to rejoice. We can take a look at these teachings and come to the conclusion that it is sinful to be anxious or experience depression. The reality is that anxiety and depression are part of the human condition. The important thing is to learn to find our hope in Jesus.

Text: Psalm 61:1-4

Big Idea: When we experience depression or anxiety we need to anchor our hope in the love and promises of God.

Challenge: Check in on a friend you know struggles with depression

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

When it comes to having a relationship with God we are usually given two paths to follow: being spiritual or being religious. The Bible tells us that there is an essential component to having a relationship with God and if you are missing that component, then it doesn’t matter if you are spiritual or religious, you will miss out on a relationship with God.

Text: Galatians 5:2-6

Big Idea: Having a relationship with God isn’t about being religious or being spiritual, it is about having faith in Jesus.

Challenge: Spend the week practicing a spiritual discipline that you don’t normally do: meditate, journal, study, serve.

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

Marriage is a universal practice. We see evidence for marriage all throughout history and spread among different cultures. Yet, we find ourselves living in a time in history when the culture has different definitions of what marriage is. For people who follow Jesus we need to turn to the Bible to have the proper understanding for what God intended marriage to be.

Text: Matthew 19:3-12

Big Idea: Marriage is a life long love commitment between a man and a woman to represent God in this world together.

Challenge: This week pray. Pray for the church in the United States to return to a proper understanding of marriage.

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

When we follow Jesus we will find ourselves out of step from the culture that we live in. When we have these situations it is crucial that we remember what is the most important thing: to represent Jesus well in what we say and do.

Text: Genesis 1:27

Big Idea: Christians enter into the trans* conversation with love and truth.

Challenge: This week pray. Pray for the Trans* people you know. Pray for Trans* influencers. Pray for policy makers.

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

A.W. Tozer wrote: "What comes to our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our vision of God shapes our worldviews, what we believe about people, what we believe about ourselves, what we believe about the past, and what we believe about the future. It is crucial that have a proper understanding of God, and the foundation of that understanding is that our God is Trinity.

Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2

Big Idea: The God we worship shapes who we become.

Challenge: In prayer this week as God how doctrine of the Trinity should influence your life

Everyone has questions. Some questions we can find the answer with a quick search on Google. Other questions are more intimidating. Questions that surround our faith can be scary because we worry about what the answer might be and whether or not those answer will affect our faith. What ends up happening is that we ignore the question, but that question still lingers in the back of our mind.

In Asking for a Friend we want to look at a few of these questions and see if there is a way to provide an answer to them that will not only strengthen our faith, but also help us see the world through a more Christian perspective.

The truth of Christianity hinges the question: Did Jesus really rise from the dead? In other words, if Jesus remained in the tomb, then Christianity is not true. If Jesus did rise from the dead, then following him is the most important thing in our lives. There is good evidence for believing that the resurrection of Jesus did happen.

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:16-28

Big Idea: The reality of the resurrection empowers us to live lives of hope and purpose.

Challenge: Write out the reasons you believe the resurrection of Jesus happened and be prepared to share them.