Lead as a servant by establishing the gospel in the household 1 Peter 4:7-11

Key verses: Joshua 24:15 “…choose this day whom you will serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

When the gospel is established in our household, it impacts…

1) Our time (4:7a) - The end of all things is at hand;

Eph 5:15-16

2) Our mind and motives (4:7b) therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded

1 Thes 5:6

3) Our prayers (4:7c) for the sake of your prayers.

Col 4:2 and James 5:16 

4) Our love (4:8a) 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly,

1 Cor 13:4-8, Rom 12:9, 1 Cor 13:7, John 13:35

5) Our forgiveness (4:8b) since love covers a multitude of sins.

James 5:20, Prov 10:12

6) Our attitude (4:9)

7) Our gifts (4:10-11a)

The goal of establishing the gospel in the household (4:11b)

in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Love as a Community by protecting the unity of the church

Protect the unity of the Church by focusing on…

1. the message of the gospel over the ministry of a group (1 Cor 1:10-17)

2. the Spirit’s Wisdom over the Strategy of the World (2:1-5)

3. the Power of God over the performance of a person (3:5-11)

Matthew 20:20-28

What serving is not...

2. Serving is not about pleasure

3. Serving is not about prestige

4. Serving is not about power

What serving is...

1. Serving is greatness

2. Serving is giving (of yourself)

Love as a community by encouraging the people of the church

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

Key verse: 1 Thess. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up...”

3 Focus of Encouragers

We need Community Groups of Encouragers focused on…

1) internals over externals (5:8)

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

- Encouragers Promote Integrity over Prosperity

- Encouragers Promote Attitude over Appearance

2) grace over works (5:9-10)

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

- Encouragers Promote Acceptance over Accomplishments

- Encouragers Promote Unconditional over Conditional

3) tomorrow over yesterday (5:11)

(5:2, 11)  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.….11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

- Encouragers Promotes Future Hope over Past Hurts

- Encouragers Promotes Potential over Problems

2 Corinthians 8 and 9 

2 Cor 8:7 But as you excel in everything

1) NEW Will (8:1)     2) MY Will (8:5)   3) FREE Will (8:3)     4) GOOD Will (8:4, 8)

1 Jn 3:16-17 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 2 Corinthians 8:1-8

1) Financial Stress

2) Financial Freedom

3) Sow Sparingly - 9:6

4) Sow Bountifully - 9:6

5) Cheerfully - 9:7

6) Non-giver

7) Initial Giver

8) Consistent Giver - “on the 1st day of the week” (1 Cor 16:2)

9) Proportional Giver - (8:3)“according to their means” 

10) Sacrificial Giver - (8:3) “beyond their means” 

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.

4-month giving challenge - https://wlbc.life/four

Live as a worshipper

Our Process is to Live, Love, and Lead like Jesus

Live as a worshipper

· by walking with God personally through Scripture and prayer

· by worshipping God corporately with the church

· by giving to God cheerfully and regularly through the church

Love as a community

· by encouraging the people of the church

· by serving the ministry of the church

· by protecting the unity of the church

Lead as a servant

· by establishing the gospel in the household

· by sharing the gospel in the community

· by spreading the gospel around the world

Live as a worshipper by walking w/God personally through Scripture & prayer

What is worship? – Worship is more than an event

worship is honor and admiration directed to God

3 Dimensions of Worship

Upward - Matthew 6:33

Inwards - Mark 8:34

Outward - Phil 1:21-24

3 Postures of Worship

Sit, Walk, Stand (Eph 1-6)

3 Models of Worship

Able (Heb 12:4)

Enoch (Hebrew 12:6)

Noah (Hebrews 12:8)

Brandon Roger

Refuge: The Place of Protection (v1-3)

Refreshment: The Place of Permanence (v4-5)

Reassurance: The Place of Power (v6-9)

Rest: The Place of Praise (v10-11)

Everlasting - What lasts forever? The things you buy, places you go, and the services you use will not last!

There are only 3 things that will last: God, God’s Word, and People

Notice that in Isaiah 9:6, the Child is a Son and is Father… Everlasting Father

The title “Father” is normally associated with the 1st person of the Godhead, BUT “Everlasting Father” doesn’t suggest that the Son is also the Father. That is Modalism, the belief that the members of the Trinity are not 3 distinct persons but rather three modes or forms of activity.

Each Person in the Godhead is distinct. Father-Son-Spirit

Westminster Catechism - How many persons are there in the Godhead? There are 3 persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

1) Jesus is called EVERLASTING - Hebrews 7:3, Eph 1:4, Col 1:16, Hebrews 1:8 

He has no expiration date - He never gets old - He is forever - Jesus always was, always is, and will always be!

He is not lost... he is not dead... He is not absent...He is alive and very present!

Heb 7:25 'He always lives to make intercession for them.” 

Rest in your relationship with Jesus! Tell Him your troubles, confess your sins, though the eyes of faith see beyond your current circumstances.

2) Jesus is called FATHER - 3 ways Jesus is our father

A. FATHER - As a Representative - for those who follow Him

“Adam, our father and our head” by Isaac Watts

1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Under the covenant of works, Adam is our father & under Adam we sin and die.

Under the covenant of grace, Christ is our Father, & in Christ we are made alive.

Being born, we are the next generation as a child Adam;

Being born again, we experience regeneration as a child of Christ!!

B. FATHER - As a Founder

C. FATHER - As a Life Giver - 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 4:14, 1 John 5:12, Romans 6:23

3) Jesus is called EVERLASTING FATHER

● Jesus does not die nor vacate His position nor become childless.

● Jesus loves His family and serves as the Head of His family!

* Today, you may have worries & troubles, but Christ is your Everlasting Father who cares for you.

* In 2021, you may have had a loss or a disappointment... but Jesus is the Everlasting Father that knows what you need

* You may be depressed or full of doubts & fears; but Christ, as the Father of your faith never ceases to be with you, pray for you, & love for you

You can trust Him, count on Him, rest in Him!

Rev 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."

Recognize Him, Respond to Him, and Receive from Him!