Tenx9

I. The older we get the more we begin to understand about the Bible

(Acts 5:1-11)

A. Why did they die for something so common as a lie?

Genesis 22:1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 

B. Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice the son he had just received?

Matthew 9:18 While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.

II. Our Values Change as we grow with Christ
A. We begin to see God’s heart and understand his point of view

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

III. We need to value the Sacrifice of Christ

He left heaven

John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.

He humbled himself and became Human

Philippians 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus became less than an angel

Hebrews 2:9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

He Served and obeyed His creation

John 2:3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Ridiculed by the people he came to save, including his own family

Mark 3:21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Luke 23:11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate.

He was Beaten

John 19:1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands.

He was Crucified

Matthew 27:35 The soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross.

Forsaken by God

Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Made to be sin itself

 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Spent 3 days in the grave

Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

IV. God Paid for our eternal Life

Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

V. We must Die with Christ

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

VI. God paid for your whole life

Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira

Matthew 12:50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

1 John 2:17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

VII. Count the Cost of Christ

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Celebrating 140 Years of God’s Faithfulness to Dolores Park Church

San Francisco, California
September 24, 2017

Big Idea: God has been faithful. God is faithful. God will be faithful.

God’s best is yet to come!
Why is it important for us to remember our history?
I. Remembering our past is declaring God has been faithful.
Psalm 145:1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2
Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.  3 Great is the LORD,
and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
 Remember the greatness of our Lord and His power.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the
Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is
unsearchable,” (Isaiah 40:28). (Psalm 48:1, 147:5)
“LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for
us.” (Isaiah 26:12 NIV).
Psalm 145:6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare
your greatness. We are declaring the greatness of our God.
 Remember the great works and miracles God has done for us.
“Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he
uttered” (Psalm 105:5).
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they
said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”  3 The LORD has
done great things for us; we are glad” (Psalm 126:2-3).
God has been faithful!

II. Real remembrance leads us to make commitments.
Psalm 145:4 One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare
your mighty acts.  5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous
works, I will meditate.  6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I
will declare your greatness.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. We desire
to fix our eyes on the ways of God.

God is and will be faithful!
A. Commit to the centrality of the Word of God.
“Where is it written?” P.P. Waldenstrom
Jesus said, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete,
equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). (John 6:63, Proverbs 8:11, Ps.
119:11 & 105)
B. Commit to the necessity of the New Birth.
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he
cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“As an evangelical church we believe that conversion results in eternal life. Conversion
can be defined as the act by which a person turns with repentance and faith from sin to
God. Conversion involves a conscious rejection of the life of sin and involves a
commitment of faith. Eternal life is not given through assent to creeds alone but through
a personal commitment to Jesus Christ” (Living Faith p.34). (Matthew 16:26, Acts 4:12,
Psalm 126:5-6)
C. Commit to the Mission of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the
age.” Luke 24:47
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
earth.”
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up
the body of Christ,
2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
D. Commit to the church as being a Fellowship of Believers.
The value of being a ‘Friend’ is embedded in our church family. A friend would ask the
question, “How goes your walk?” They understood the Christian life to be a lifelong
pilgrim journey. Their life grew together into mature discipleship and service. They

inquired about each other’s physical and spiritual wellbeing because they had become
friends in Christ. This is a call to not only believe, but to belong. (Living Faith p.97)
Jesus states, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his
friends. “You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you
servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you
friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you,” (John
15:14-15)
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15.
E. Commit to consciously depending upon the Holy Spirit.
“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my
Spirit, says the LORD of hosts,” (Zechariah 4:6)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, (Hebrews 13:8).
“And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of
the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So
they strengthened their hands for the good work,” (Nehemiah 2:18).
F. Commit to the reality of the Freedom in Christ.
John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word,
you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between
your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Isaiah 26:12 LORD, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have
done for us. (New International Version)
“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man
imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (I Corinthians 2:9).
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

God has been faithful! God is faithful! God will be faithful!

God’s best is yet to come!

Authentic Christianity
Staying Power James 1:1-- 8
Pastor John Lloyd
September 10, 2017

My prayer and goals for this study are that we would:
1. grow closer to God.
2. reveal Jesus in our lives.
3. build stronger Christian community by obeying His Word.
4. learn our Bibles better.

Introducing James:
Who? Half brother of Jesus (John 7:5; Acts 1:14)
What? Leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17,15:13; 21:18;
Gal. 1:19)                                                                                                                                                       Why? The congregation was scattered by persecution.
Acts 7:54,8:1

Issues James was dealing with:
1. Divisiveness
2. Intolerance
3. Favoritism
4. Overpowering desire for wealth and status.

I. We need a different attitude toward our problems.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers,] when you meet trials of various kinds, My brothers- this term is used 15 times in the book. Each time it is used, James is getting ready to teach us something that will help have authentic faith. (See question 3)

Trials of various kinds-Suggest an unwelcome and unanticipated experience. The idea here is that they are unexpected and at least initially unwelcome. (Luke 10:30)

I Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s
sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is
revealed.

1. Trials are not always a Bad Thing. (See John 9:2-3)
2. Trials develop Staying Power. James 1:3, Romans 5:3
3. Trials produce Maturity and Stability. James 1:4

Our culture is bent on eliminating any type of discomfort.
Let’s choose to grow in our trials. Rejoice instead of complain!
II. We need a different response to our problems.

James 1:4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ,

The Gospels present maturity as the imitation of God and the
development within of His character traits so that, through the Holy
Spirit, we become persons of integrity and single minded in our
devotion to God.

How to develop this character: Stay instead of Run.

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.(Heb. 12:2)
Commitment: Let’s not compromise our morals or values when
attempting to remove hardship or heartache.

III. We need to pray for wisdom instead of deliverance.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives
generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1: 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who
doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven

I need wisdom to see my trials from God’s point of view!

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.

There is a connection between wisdom as a gift and asking for it.

James 1:7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive
anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all
his ways.

The people James was writing to were experiencing adversity, but
James sees it as cause for joy because he discerns that God’s
purpose is purification. If they endure their trials with patience, they
will be both purified and approved.

Commitment Prayer: Lord, I need staying power for my
relationships, job, school and ministry. Help me look to you for
wisdom and strength to not squirm out of my responsibilities and your
plan to develop maturity and stability. Jesus, I turn my life and
situations over to You again this day!

Spiritual Growth Questions for James 1:1-8 “Staying Power”

1. As you look back on the “good old days” in your life, were they
more likely to be the hard times or the easy times?

2. *Read James 1:1-8. In your own words, rewrite what you hear
James saying. Try to put it in a way you could share with a
friend.

3. Read James 1:2. Spend some time following James’ use of the
word “brothers” throughout the letter. Read James 1:16, 1:19,
2:1, 2:5, 2:14, 3:1, 3:10, 3:12, 4:11, 5:7,5:9, 5:10, 5:12 & 5:19.
How does his use of “brothers” help you understand this book?

4. *Study the following verses this week, James 1:2,3;
Ephesians 5:20; I Thessalonians 5:16-18; Philippians 4:4; I
Corinthians 10:1, 6, 10-11. As you meditate on these verses
look at the different attitude presented towards difficulties and
trials.

5. *What are some areas you have seen the value of staying
power in your life? (Read the following verses on the need for
staying power: Hebrews 6:11-12; Galatians 6:9; Acts 14:21-
22; 2 Timothy 2:3) What do these verses teach you about it?

6. *What is the natural human response to trials? What response
is James asking us to have towards our trials?

7. What causes you to doubt God? What misconceptions do you
have about God and trials in your life?

8. How has our “American Dream” thinking, with its standards of
success and joy, kept us from God’s wisdom?

9. *Concerning a trial you have experienced, what pressures did it
bring on your faith? What wisdom did you gain through it?

10. * Study the following verses and try and get your arms around
this concept of wisdom. What is wisdom? How do we receive
it? Job 28:28 ; Proverbs 4:7 ; Hosea 14:9 ; Matthew 7:24 ;
2 Timothy 3:15; James 1:5 ; Luke 21:15 ; Ecclesiastes 2:26.
As you navigate through a situation you’re facing,
we pray for God’s guidance, strength and wisdom.

Our Identity in Christ Part Five
September 3, 2017
Pastor John Lloyd

A new identity in Christ creates liberation in our soul.
A new identity in Christ brings cleansing & holiness to our soul.
A new identity in Christ changes our loyalty and allegiances.
A new identity means God can bring metamorphosis.
A new identity brings us into a new relationship with God.
A new identity means our lives can be redeemed.
A new identity means we can have peace/rest in this world and the next.
A new identity means Jesus has exchanged our sin for his righteousness
Big Idea: The same Jesus who makes us right with God, heals our
broken souls. Help me to abide in Christ’s identity and abound in
His work.

I. A new identity in Christ means we are rightly related to God.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested
apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to
it— 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who
believe. For there is no distinction.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to
be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in
his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26I t was to show
his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the
justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

a. While guilty, we are declared righteous.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified
by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of
God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

b. Jesus exchanged our sin for his righteousness.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are
in Christ Jesus.  2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ
Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law,
weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Consider the legal image of being declared righteous by the God who
made the universe.

c. We have been legally redeemed by God.

Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness
and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are
zealous for good works. ( I Peter 1:18-19)
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Jesus redeemed us to be His workers.
II. A new identity in Christ brings healing to my life.
Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick
he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name
the Gentiles will hope.”
 

a. Jesus heals our broken hearts.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;   to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord. (NKJV)
b. We were blind but not we see.

John 9:25b “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the
crushed in spirit. (Psalm 147:3)
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and
contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 56:8)
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death
shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have passed away.” John 14:27, 16:33
John 19:30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is
finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
I John 1:9 I f we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (See question 4)

Jesus paid it all! Jesus offers a new identity
to anyone who humbly comes to Him!

III. Live in your identity in Christ.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a
manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Colossians 2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in him, (Matthew 5:16, John 9:25)
Our world desperately needs to see us walking in our identity in
Christ. Every person needs to find their identity in Christ and not
the things of this world.
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in
the Lord your labor is not in vain.

May we keep abiding in our identity in Christ
and abounding in His work this fall.

Spiritual Growth Questions

1. How is it going with your reading plan? Sun. 2 Corinthians 9 Mon.
2 Corinthians 10 Tues. 2 Cor.11, Wed. 2 Cor. 12 Thurs. 2 Cor. 13
Fri. & Sat. reflection. Pick out one verse that has ministered to you.
Share a truth you’ve been learning with a friend.
2. As you think of the tremendous floods in Texas, what
encouragement would you share with someone who has lost their
possessions and home?
3. Read Romans 5:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:21. What does it mean to
be declared righteous? How does this truth connect with our
identity? Why is this image so important to our identity in Christ?
4. Read I John 3:20, 1:7-9, Ps. 139:23-24, 19:14. What should we
do when our feelings and thoughts are the exact opposite of our
identity in Christ? What do these verses teach us to do? Who is
responsible to do it? Read 2 Corinthians 10:5-6
5. Read 2 Chronicles 7:14, Proverbs 4:22, 12:18, 13:17, Acts
10:22. Read each verse and write down who or what brought
healing? Describe a time when you were healed?
6. Read Psalm 34:18, 51:17, 56:8. 147:3. Write down what God
promises to the brokenhearted? How does this help you face your
challenges this week?
7. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. Make time to share the comfort of God
with someone this week. Spend some time praying for this person
and others who need God’s healing touch.
8. Ask God to give you ways to abound in the fruits of your identity
this fall. Ask Him to breath new vision into each of us.
John 9:25b “One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

Next week: We will begin a new series called Authentic Christianity:
practical wisdom from the book of James.

Our Identity in Christ Part Four
August 27, 2017
Pastor John Lloyd

A new identity in Christ creates liberation in our soul.
A new identity in Christ brings cleansing & holiness to our soul.
A new identity in Christ changes our loyalty and allegiances.
A new identity means God can bring metamorphosis.
A new identity brings us into a new relationship with God.
A new identity means our lives can be redeemed.
A new identity means we can have peace/rest in this world and the next.
2 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the
grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in every way you
were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge.
I Cor. 13:12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now
I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
Big Idea: What I have received from God, I share with others.
What I have received in me, I humbly share with thee.

I. A new identity in Christ means we are redeemed!
Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will
stand upon the earth. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen
from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you
will see him. See, I have told you.”
“Religion makes us proud of what we have done, salvation makes us
proud of what God has done.” Timothy Keller
a. We were poor but now we are rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his
poverty might become rich.
b. While deserving the wages of death, we have been given the free
gift of life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (John 5:24)
John 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes
him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but
has passed from death to life.
c. Our debts are cancelled.
Matthew 6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors.
Luke 7:42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now
which of them will love him more?” 43Simon answered, “The one, I
suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him,
“You have judged rightly.” (Luke 7:47)
d. We are heirs of God.
Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then
an heir through God. (Romans 8:17, Eph. 1:18)
I Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(I Peter 1:4-5)

In the economics of souls, no one is beyond
the reach of God’s redeeming power.

II. Victory is a gift given to the redeemed.
2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us
in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the
knowledge of him everywhere.
I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be
made alive.

a. Jesus defeated the devil, principalities and powers, sin and
death! (I Corinthians 15:23-25)

I Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Colossians 2:14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us
with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He
disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by
triumphing over them in him. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

b. We share in Jesus victory and resurrection.

I Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and
the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is
written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your
victory? O death, where is your sting?” (I Corinthians 15:57)
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. 
Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and
everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe
this?”

c. We have eternal rest and peace.

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. (Hebrews 4:1-2)
Hebrews 4:9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of
God,

d. We have the promise of heaven; a new creation living in the
presence of God forever.

Revelations 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them,
and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their
God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be
no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.”
I Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in
the Lord your labor is not in vain.

What I have received in me, I humbly share with thee!

Spiritual Growth Questions

1. How is it going with your reading plan? Sun. 2 Corinthians 4 Mon.
2 Corinthians 5 Tues. 2 Cor. 6, Wed. 2 Cor. 7 Thurs. 2 Cor. 8 Fri.
& Sat. reflection. Share a truth you’ve been learning with a friend.
2. What spoke to you as you experienced the eclipse this week?
Read Psalm 19:1-6 for some inspiration.
3. Look up the word “redeemed” in a dictionary and in a Bible
dictionary. Read the following verses and write down what is being
redeemed: Exodus 6:6, Ruth 3:13, 4:4, 2 Sam. 7:23, Psalm
69:18, 119:134, 130:8, Gal. 4:5, Tit. 2:14.
Discuss the examples of God’s power to redeem. What does this
teach you?
4. Read Luke 7:36-50. What is Jesus teaching the disciples? How
could this be applied to you? How could you apply this to others?
5. Read Romans 6:4-11. From this passage, list the areas in which
we’ve been given victory. Read again. Write down why we have
this victory. Is this an easy or difficult passage to believe? Why?
6. Read Hebrews 4:1-9, Matt. 11:28-30. Why do some people not
experience rest? What does Jesus teach us about rest? What
helps you to experience His rest?
7. Read I Corinthians 15:21-26, 51-57. Describe the victory given to
believers. Share what encourages you in this passage? Who can
I share this victory with this week? Who needs me to pray for them
to receive this victory in Jesus?
8. Read Revelation 21:1-4, I Cor. 15:58. How does the promise of
heaven help you face the struggles of this life? What response is
I Cor. 15:58 looking for in our lives? How can we live this out this
week?
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may
have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I
have overcome the world.”
I Corinthians 15:58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and
immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know
that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (NLT)

Next week: We will look at healing images and legal images.
The following week, we will begin a new series called Authentic
Christianity: practical wisdom from the book of James.
What I have received from God, I humbly share with you!