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The world says: do it yourself! But the gospel message is not do but ___. Justification is the gracious act of God by which God declares you righteous solely through faith in Jesus Christ. New life in Christ comes not by doing but by “faithing”. Faith is not just mental assent, but complete trust and surrender. What do you need to completely trust and surrender to God?

To make disciples who love God, love people, and serve the world.

To make disciples who love God, love people, and serve the world.

Jesus went to the cross to set us free. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) Freedom in Christ means: 1. We keep in step with the Gospel – free from legalism to love God and others. (Gal 5:1-15) “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (v.6) 2. We keep in step with the Spirit – showing Fruit of the Spirit in us to love and serve others. (Gal 5:16-26) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (v.22)

Advent is a time of preparation; more specifically, for the coming of Jesus. Why just limit this to a month? Shouldn’t we do this all the time? For one urgent reason, “Yes!” People’s eternal lives are at stake. Let’s be “turn signals” for Jesus, so people know Jesus is coming (again). Like a turn signal, John: 1. Got people’s attention by how wild he looked. (v.1, 3-6) Question: Do I look “wild” to other people when they look at me? 2. Told others a message, mainly the coming of Jesus. (v.2, 11) Question: How do I share about Jesus? 3. Challenged others to change direction. (v.7-9) Question: Do I challenge people’s worldview? 4. Warned of danger if message not heeded. (v.10, 12) Question: Can I warn others about Judgment Day? Testimony?

The problem of personal entropy Is this true for you? Matthew 24: 36 - 44 1. What does Jesus mean when he says “stay awake” and “be ready”? Cultivate an intentional LIFESTYLE. 2. Is Jesus calling you to live in a constant state of fear? We do not do good to be SAVED, we are SAVED to do good. So what now? (Two testing questions) If you were to stand in JUDGMENT before Jesus next week, what would you do today? Is there any part of my life that is inconsistent with the gospel?

The Meaning The Struggle Divine Revelation Divine Encounter

Verse 17a: BE A GOOD _______ • Government is a good gift from God • Jesus gave legitimacy to a pagan state • Two implications… Verse 17b: KNOW YOU ARE ULTIMATELY ___________ TO GOD • (We need a Savior!) • But what if Caesar and God disagree? What does this mean going forward? • What if racist laws are passed? • What about speaking up for the unborn?

We all need to blow off steam sometimes: to vent, to scream, to throw a tantrum. Can we do this with God? Sure. In Psalm 13:1-4, David is venting and feels God is not answering him. Big Idea: When God seems silent, He is just waiting for you to be quiet. Why be quiet? Practice reflection. John Dewey (educational reformer): “You don’t learn from experience. You learn from reflecting on experience.” So you can: 1. Remember (v.6), 2. Which leads to Trust (v.5), 3. And brings Blessing (v.5). “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 42:10)

Three baptisms: Jared Chin, Kira Chin and Tate Tong. Listen to their testimonies and baptisms.

“If God would only give me _____ then I would be happy.” (But what if God has already given you everything you need to be happy…in Himself?) A WORD ON JOY God plus ___________ is everything. A WORD ON HOPE “pleasures forevermore” Pastor Andrew shares a video at the end of the message from his India mission trip.

To make disciples who love God, love people, and serve the world.

To make disciples who love God, love people, and serve the world.

The scripture teaches us not just to be satisfied in God, but to also be hungry for Him. If it is true that God has called us to be hungry and homesick for Him, what will happen to us if we are not and continue not to be? Matthew 9: 14-15 • When Jesus is in the house, there is _______. • Is Jesus talking about the three days between Good Friday and Easter, or is he talking about ___? Why Fast? We fast because we miss Jesus. We fast because we are homesick for Jesus. We fast because we are hungry for more of Him. What Holds Us Back What keeps us from being hungry and homesick for Jesus? “Wanna know what the greatest enemy of God is? It’s not poison. It’s apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. What keeps you? __

Slow Down. Reset. Listen. Luke 10:38-42 I. Sitting (v. 39) • Mary’s posture: • Mary’s purpose: II. Serving (v. 40-41) • John 15:5 III. Seeking (v. 41-42) • The example of Jesus: Mark 1:21-37; Luke 5:12-16 • The good portion is Jesus: Psalm 27:4; Psalm 16:5; Psalm 73:26 • Access, Invitation, & Relationship: Hebrews 4:14-16

Review • Love begins with _______. • Whenever you see a speck in someone’s eye, first reflect on your own ___. • The key to forgiving someone is by doing it as a ________ to God’s love for you. • Love takes the ______ place. Today we focus not on how or what, but on WHY(?) Why do any of the above? Why love sacrificially? 1. We should love others (to the point of sacrifice) because of ___. • Matthew 22:39 • Ephesians 5:28 Love seeks its ___ in the ___ of the other person. 2. We should love others (to the point of sacrifice) because of ______. Hebrews 10: 34; 11: 24-26; 12:2 What do you call a person who focuses on the next ten days? What do you call a person who focuses on the next ten years? What do you call a person who focuses on the next ___ ______ _____?

We are commanded by God to love people. This is not optional. To love people means we are to meet their needs tangibly, and not merely say words like “I will pray for you.” A Love Like This means we recognize people’s needs and respond. So where do we begin? Following Jesus’ example from the story of the Feeding of the Four Thousand in Mark 8: 1. We are to notice. (v.1-2) 2. We are to listen. (v.3b) 3. We are to project. (v.3a) 4. We are to act. (v.4-8) Like the disciples in Mark 8, often we have resistance to help others, especially those who are different from us. But God gives no exclusions. So how can we overcome our fears or barriers? 1. Dependence on Jesus (v.8) 2. Have a plan (v.6) Response: Who has God called you to love? What needs do you recognize and how will you respond? Loving those in need makes us close to Jesus. (Matthew 25:40)

The problem: you want to be the greatest But according to Jesus, greatness is: 1. Someone who doesn’t… 2. Someone who is focused on… Put these together: love takes the ______ place.

God commands us to love others. If we are honest, this is not easy to do, especially when people we are to love are hard to love. Have you been there? So what to do? When love is hard, our love depends on God: 1. To have compassion for others. (v. 27a) If you are struggling, try first to “Hold Space” for them. 2. To forgive others knowing we are forgiven. (v. 27b) 3. To love others because God first loved us. (v. 33) 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:19-21)

The Four Horsemen (according to John Gottman) are: 1. Defensiveness 2. Stonewalling 3. _________ 4. ________ The attitude behind both of these is putting yourself on a ______ self-righteous plane. Matthew 7: 1-6 • Beam Research - looking at yourself _____ • “Do I do that?” • “Have I done something similar?” • “What’s my flaw?” How Beam Research is like bad breath… So does loving people more mean being honest less? (But before you take this too far, read v. 6)