The Main Idea: God wants us to show Christ-likeness to the world by truly loving our eternal family.

*The Big Question: How do we we TRULY LOVE our eternal family?

*The Central Point: By Godly WISDOM we REFLECT the GOSPEL by:

1.) LIVING UNTO THE LORD BY FAITH (vv. 1-12) – (Application: Love means we live in light of the Lord’s love to us in the GOSPEL of Christ.) (THIS WEEK)

2.) LIVING WITH ONE ANOTHER BY FAITH (vv. 11-14) – (Application: Love means we love one another as Christ loved us in the GOSPEL: by sacrifice.) (NEXT WEEK)

The Main Idea: God wants us to show Christ-likeness to the world by truly loving others.

*The Big Question: How do we know we TRULY LOVE others?

*The Central Point: By STARTING with a RIGHT relationship to God’s Law:

1.) LOVE AND LAW COOPERATE (vv. 8-10) – (Application: Love means nothing unless it’s measured by the standard of God’s law.)

2.) LAW GIVES WISDOM TO LOVE (vv. 11-14) – (Application: Love only means something if we are going to be held accountable to the standard of God’s law.)

The Main Idea: God is leading us into Christ-likeness in the context of the world to show his reign.

*The Big Question: What does SANCTIFICATION look like in the world?

*The Central Point: SANCTIFICATION looks like SUBMITTING:

1.) TO AUTHORITIES (vv. 1-3) – (Application: The authorities serve because of God’s designation, so submitting to them is integral to our witness to the world.) (LAST WEEK)

2.) TO GOD (vv. 4-5a) – (Application: God works his will through the authorities so respect them and submit to them as God’s sovereign servants.) (LAST WEEK)

3.) TO CONSCIENCE (vv. 5b-7) – (Application: Support your authorities in every way possible as a Christian and you won’t have a noisy conscience) (THIS WEEK)

a. Avoiding God’s Wrath (v. 5b)

b. How You’re to Be Good (vv. 6-7)

The Main Idea: God is leading us into Christ-likeness in the context of the world to show his reign.

*The Big Question: What does SANCTIFICATION look like in the world?

*The Central Point: SANCTIFICATION looks like SUBMITTING:

1.) TO AUTHORITIES (vv. 1-3) – (Application: The authorities serve because of God’s designation, so submitting to them is integral to our witness to the world.) (THIS WEEK)

2.) TO GOD (vv. 4-5a) – (Application: God works his will through the authorities so respect them and submit to them as God’s sovereign servants.) (THIS WEEK)

3.) TO CONSCIENCE (vv. 5b-7) – (Application: Support your authorities in every way possible as a Christian and you won’t have a noisy conscience) (NEXT WEEK)

The Main Idea: God is leading us unto Christ-likeness in the context of the church to show his glory to the world. *The Big Question: What does SANCTIFICATION look like? *The Central Point: SANCTIFICATION looks like LOVE: 1. LOVE ONE ANOTHER (vv. 9-13) (Application: Sanctification looks like a deep affection full of love for all the saints.) (Last Week). 2. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (vv. 14-21) (Application: Sanctification looks like an unexpected love for those who could, would and do hurt us.) (THIS WEEK) a. The Unnaturalness of God’s Love in Christ for Us (vv. 14-16) b. The Unnaturalness of God’s Love Flowing out to Our Enemies (vv. 17-21)

The Main Idea: God is leading us into Christ-likeness in the context of the church to show his glory to the world.

*The Big Question: What does SANCTIFICATION look like?

*The Central Point: SANCTIFICATION looks like LOVE:

1.) LOVE ONE ANOTHER (vv. 9-13) – (Application: Sanctification likes like a deep affection full of love for the saints.) (THIS WEEK)

a. The Outward Flow of Love (vv. 9-10)

b. The Practical Marks of Love (vv. 11-13)

2.) LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (vv. 14-21) – (Application: Sanctification looks like an unexpected love for those who could, would and do hurt us.) (Next Week)

The Main Idea: God is leading us into Christ-likeness in the context of his body, the church.

*The Big Question: Why is the church SANCTIFICATION’S PRIMARY context?

*The Central Point: Because SANCTIFICATION is not merely a “me” thing, but a “we” thing:

1.) IT STARTS IN YOUR MIND (v. 3) – (Application: In order to be Christ-like, seek God for SOBER JUDGMENT about your role in his body, the church.)

2.) IT MOVES ON TO THE BODY (vv. 4-5) – (Application: In order to be Christ-like and have sober judgment, think schematically about how GOD ENVISIONS his body, the church.)

3.) IT POINTS US TO SERVING (vv. 6-8) – (Application: In order to be Christ-like think strategically how you can SERVE and BUILD UP others in his body, the church.)

The Main Idea: God doesn’t merely save us from hell—he saves us unto life.

*The Big Question: If SANCTIFICATION is simple, then why isn’t it easy?

*The Central Point: Because Sanctification Aims at Total Transformation by:

1.) EXTENDING GOD’S MERCY (v. 1a) – (Application: God’s TRANSFORMING GRACE flows from his heart of compassionate mercy to us —so REST in his commitment to you sealed by the blood of Christ.)

2.) CALLING US TO SACRIFICE (v. 1b) – (Application: God’s TRANSFORMING GRACE puts you on a collision course with the world—so expect some PAIN.)

3.) COMMANDING US TO SEEK GOD’S WISDOM (v. 2) – (Application: God’s way TRANSFORMING GRACE opens up the way of wisdom—so DISCERN its way by God’s word and Spirit.)

The Main Idea: God Reveals the Mystery of Salvation in Christ to Cure Conceit.

*The Big Question: What’s the cure for conceit?

*The Central Point: Understand the Mystery of How God Works to Save in Christ:

1.) ELECTION AND REPROBATION (vv. 25-27) – (Application: God only sees two kinds of people: MAKE SURE YOU’RE “IN ISRAEL” [in other words: IN CHRIST].) (TWO WEEKS AGO)

2.) SOVEREIGNTY AND RESPONSIBILITY (vv. 28-32) – (Application: God’s mercy can only be extended to a disobedient people: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SIN AND RECEIVE JESUS.) (LAST WEEK)

3.) WISDOM AND WORSHIP (vv. 33-36) – (Application: God’s way of salvation in Christ is beyond our imagination: STAND IN AWE.) (TODAY)

a. Curing Conceits by Fascination with the Wisdom of God (vv. 33-35)

b. Curing Conceits by Reflecting His True Glory Back to Him (v. 36)