The Well Church OKC

Today’s teaching is fundamentally a master class in hiring or appointing folks to positions of leadership in a church. In fact, it is often used to guide just this process.

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Timothy, a strong, capable young leader, sent by God through Paul to lead the church in Ephesus. He is tasked with addressing those who would perpetrate false teachings in the church.

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How different would our everyday behavior be if we conducted our lives as if God is always watching. Well…He is.

Who we really are is clearly seen in how we live, not simply by what we say. Our actions are the natural behaviors of our most sincerely held beliefs and core values. Many people say that they want to be healthy, financially secure or educated, but the actions that accompany these stated beliefs show otherwise.

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We have to understand the fullness of our condition. While we are all created in the image of God, and He designs us to live in harmony with Him and with others, as creatures given free will, we have all chosen to turn away from our perfect beginning, and are fully corrupted by sin. We are created, in the image of God, to have autonomy, self-awareness and free will.

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Today we will learn the basic facts of the birth of Jesus. We will read the account of his birth, his lineage, the location and events surrounding his birth as well as those who bore witness to his birth. We will see the account in Matthew and Luke, the only two Gospels to specifically address Jesus physical birth.

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Last week, we saw Absalom’s conspiracy emerge and the kingdom in turmoil. David has taken his household, and many who are loyal to him, and they have fled into the wilderness. Absalom has taken years to curry the favor of the common people and to develop an army. He has also followed the cunning counsel of those around him and used a network of (false) communication means.

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Last week we looked at the beginnings of prophecy come true in the life of David. Nathan had foretold him of the disaster to come that would arise from within his own family. The dark, wrenching tragedy of Absolom, Amnon, and Tamar. It is heartbreaking to really take the time to see the human cost in the wake of David’s sin and in the sin of his sons.

If we do not understand the reality and tragedy of the spiritual darkness we face on our own accord, we cannot begin to fathom the beauty and necessity of the offer of Christ of our salvation. This is what is often the challenge of communicating the Gospel. It begins with the need of a Savior. If we have no need, we are not interested in Christ.

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Lust is such a powerful force, but only when it is allowed to take root. It has to be stopped before it grows unbearably strong. It grows when the heart of man turn inward, instead of toward his God. This is what happened to David. He eagerly followed the seduction in front of him until he no longer even wanted to resist. He blinded himself to the inevitable outcomes of his sin, becoming single-minded in its pursuit. Because his heart turned away from God, he was unable to see all that was going to be lost, for him, for his family and for the Kingdom.

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We have been studying the life of David, a man chosen by God, and a man who, the Bible says, was “after God’s own heart.” We have seen how he lived in his youth and in his young adult life. We have read about his warrior spirit, victories in battle and his eventual ascension to the throne he was called to assume. We have see the nation of Israel reunited under his leadership and the reestablishment of the central city of Jerusalem as the seat of worship and power. We have seen the Ark of the Covenant returned to the City and we have read of David’s desire to build the permanent temple in Jerusalem. We have seen the dawn of the golden age of David’s reign. His power was complete, his enemies either destroyed or on the run. The promised land had finally been occupied by the children of Israel. Prosperity has come for the people and David sits in power on his throne. He is literally now positioned for what God has intended him to do.

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