God’s Rubric for Life

1) God cares about what we actually do
2) God cares about our motives
3) God will evaluate everyone by the same standard
4) The Gospel

Our society has trained us to think that being a “good person” is pleasing to God. That our “good” actions like attending church or serving the poor gain us favor and forgiveness. However, the hypocrisy that leaks from our life is actually causing a righteous anger in our patient God. We are storing up the WRONG treasure (God’s wrath), and this has massive implications. 

Paul is writing to a multi-faceted Church to prove that at the foot of the cross they’re all equal: sinners who have rejected Christ, exchanged absolute truths for a lie, and settled for lesser joys. Sin is the “fruit” of His truth being exchanged for what we feel is right. It starts in the head, penetrates the heart and flows through the hands in a myriad of actions (hands) that show who really sits on the throne of our hearts. If it’s anyone other than Jesus, we are ALL in big trouble.

3 TRUTHS ABOUT THE GOSPEL
1) We don’t need to be ashamed of the Gospel.
2) The Gospel is the only viable solution to life’s greatest problems.
3) We need to know the Gospel to live the Gospel.

Paul calls the Church of Rome to be united by the Gospel. The benefit of this will literally change their neighborhoods, Rome, Spain & the Ends of the Earth. It is no wonder Paul desired to GO to Rome and one day be SENT by them too. May we faithfully and collectively be united by the Gospel to do and be the same—here and to the ends of the earth.

1. We are SENT (UnitedToGod +ToGether)

2. Paul got the Gospel, but really it’s the GOSPEL that GOT a hold of HIM.

#RighteousnessRevealed #UnitedBYtheGospel #Communitas #SendingStation #Sent

The Church operates like a battleship where every believer is called to recognize their role and live on mission for Christ. We carry out this mission by being disciples who make disciples as we devote ourselves to 3 key relationships in our lives (R3). When each of these relationships is lived out, we grow as disciples who make disciples (E1H1). Weekly we gather, in order to be scattered and live SENT. As we scatter, we are united through Christ, living on mission in our pray-watch communities so that the Gospel may flow through us to reach the yet-to-believe with the Gospel.

"We believe in the personal, bodily and glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ, at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission"

The Church is God’s Plan A for glorifying His name and spreading the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Each person who is a part of the body has a unique and important role in order for the Church to carry out its mission. Through the body we experience Communitas as we share in a special community together on mission. This Communitas sharpens, transforms, and helps us grow deeper in our relationship with God. Further, the Communitas we experience fuels us to live on mission as together we are the living proof of a loving God.

Jesus died so we would experience life in His kingdom. We must surrender our lives not only to the King, but also to the SPIRIT, as He guides us in exploring and experiencing (#JoyInJesus) Kingdom/Garden living.