When we think of Christianity, we think of morals. It is more than morals. If I'm good. If I attend church. If I have a good job. Everything is awesome. But there is way more than that. We are empowered to make disciples. So how do we Hear & Follow to make disciples?
Philip went to those who were unwelcome inside the established religious system. But he was also unwelcome in their culture. How did he earn an open forum?
The Holy Spirit immerses us. He wants to use us in power. But what does the power go towards?
The Holy Spirit rebuilds us to move us out to build his Kingdom. But how exactly does the Spirit move us?
Everyone has strengths given by God. But when the Spirit comes on us, our strengths are rebuilt from worshiping idols to building the Kingdom.
Everyone groans because of weakness. That groaning is actually us looking forward to a better day. How does God want to rebuild our weakness into his glory?
Our hearts can get clogged with sin so that we don't even want to carry out the good intentions that we get from the rebuilt mind that the Spirit has given us. So how does the Spirit transform our passions and desires to be more like His? We want to have the desire to unclog the sin from our hearts and go after good things, but how do we get there from here?
You rebuild the insides of a house so that you can actually have an outside that is nice. God rebuilds us on the inside so that our outside can be transformed.
How does the Holy Spirit rebuild us? Our mind is our electrical system. Everything starts with a decision. But quite often our decisions are left lacking. God gives us the Spirit so we can have the mind of Christ. How does God give us the mind of Christ?
Our lives are in need of rebuilding. But is there anyone who cares enough to rebuild our lives? God is in the rebuilding lives business. How does he do it?
Vision is seeming the unseen. Faith is making the unseen seen. We can dream about riding the wave of faith. Or we can get on the wave.
We measure greatness by how long we talk about celebrities. Or how permanent they are relevant. Jesus is the most famous person of all time. His greatness is permanent. But why is his fame so permanent?
We love stories of sacrifice...when someone else goes through the sacrifice. Jesus sacrifice is the greatest. And it does the greatest.
We will pay great money or do extreme things to be in the likeness of a celebrity. But that is only outside transformation. Following the law is the same thing. Doing that only brings outside transformation. But there is a transformation of likeness that runs deeper. And it still gives us the law.
What is the coolest thing a ticket has allowed you access to? We're always looking for access to where we don't belong. God's presence is certainly a place we don't belong. How do we get access? And why is Jesus the only way to get access to God?
Celebrities who are "down to earth" appeal to us. But, by definition, a Heavenly God isn't "down to earth." What did God do to come "down to earth" and empathize with us?
We all acquire status symbols and hold on to them. Jesus gave up his status symbols. And the reasons why will shock you!
We rank people by their name. Not their First and Last Name, but by how great they've made their name.
We all go through seasons in which our faith needs to grow. In order to grow, death must occur. Pain must happen. Why? Because resurrection can't happen if there isn't a death.
The Blind Man could see. The religious leaders were blind. What made the paradox work? The Blind Man knew there was more to seeing than what meets the eye.
Jesus doesn't want us to give up our hunger or desire, he just wants our hunger to be satisfied by him.
The Lame Man had a hopelessness because of spiritual superstition. The religious leaders had a false hope because of religious superstition. Jesus brought hope in salvation and mission. Move from superstition to hope!
The official was used to being in control, but now, with his son being sick, he wasn't in control anymore. He needed a miracle. He needed Jesus to Come & Do. But Jesus wants our faith to move beyond Come & Do to Hear & Follow.
Mary tried to use Jesus to make her look good. Either to her relatives. Or just being the mother of the guy who can solve the problem of no wine. But Jesus wants to do something more than making us look good. What is Jesus doing behind the scenes to bring people progressive belief in him?
Why should I give authority to Jesus? Does he even love me? John the Baptist gave us 7 reasons why Jesus should increase and I should decrease. And at the top of that list is the unconditional love of God.
Jesus encountered a broken woman and gave her what she needed.
Jesus encountered a woman at the well that was Down and Out. How did Jesus impact her life?
Many people stay on the outside of church because they think they'll always be on the outside. But what did Jesus think about outsiders?
What work did Jesus do? We give authority to people based on who they are and what work do they do. Last week showed us Jesus is the Branding of God. This week we see what work Jesus did.
What is the big deal about Jesus? He lived so long ago. Why should we make a big deal about him today?
