living the passion 2012 a passion for church. living the passion 2012 a passion for god: love god...
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Living the Passion 2012
A Passion for Church
Living the Passion 2012
A Passion for God:
• Love God wholeheartedly
• Obey God diligently
• Trust God completely (in the face of affluence, idolatry & difficulty)
• Proclaim the gospel fearlessly
Living the Passion 2012
A Passion for Church
Living the Passion 2012
Passion Killers:
Disunity:
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3
Living the Passion 2012
Passion Killers:
False teaching:
…tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Eph 4:14
Living the Passion 2012
Passion Killers:
Sin: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… sexual immorality, impurity, greed… obscenity, foolish talk, course
joking… fruitless deeds of darkness.Ephesians 4: 31 – 5: 11
Living the Passion 2012
Passion Killers:
Discouragement:
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Ephesians 3: 13
“Yeah, I’m fine, was just super lazy yesterday! Had a long nap when I got home from work and
couldn’t find the energy to leave the house again.”
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
1. A passion for Christ’s bodyAnd God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1: 22 - 23
Living the Passion 2012
Jesus is supreme over all these ‘names and ‘powers’. So Christians need not fear them. In fact they may replace fear with hope because the world around holds no final threats for them. The power that God exercises is ‘for us’. Those two little words say so much!
Steve Motyer
I am taken aback by the power that that the people in Washington don’t have…
Politicians can rearrange stuff on the surface of life. They can spend money and enact legislation and draw attention to a cause. But they can’t bring fundamental transformation into the life of one individual.
They can’t rewrite the eternal address of a single person. They can’t order genuine reconciliation between two estranged human beings. They can’t instil character into anybody. They can’t turn a selfish heart into a servant heart, or a granite heart into a giving heart.
My job is a lot weightier than his or hers. And so are the ministries of people around the world who are investing their energy into turning irreligious people into fully devoted followers of Christ.
Bill Hybels: Rediscovering Church
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5: 7 - 8
Living the Passion 2012
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
2. A passion for God’s householdYou are… fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,… And in (Christ) you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.Ephesians 2: 19 - 22
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
3. A passion for revealed truthIn (Christ Jesus), and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3: 12
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
A passion for revealed truthThe administration of God’s grace, given to me for you… Ephesians 3: 2
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace… this grace was given me… 3: 7 - 8
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
A passion for revealed truthHis intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 3: 10 - 11
Are you a church, or a club?
John Piper
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
4. A passion for Christian maturity…so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4: 13
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
A passion for the one Christ loves…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5: 25 - 27
Living the Passion 2012
A Passion for God:
• Love God wholeheartedly
• Obey God diligently
• Trust God completely (in the face of affluence, idolatry & difficulty)
• Proclaim the gospel fearlessly
Living the Passion 2012
A Passion for the church:• Christ’s body
• God’s household
• God’s gospel
• Christian maturity
• The one Jesus loves
Living the Passion 2012
Sustaining the Passion:
A passionate prayerAnd pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that … I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6: 18 - 19