07.01.18 AM
All Age Talk/Activity Motto 2018
1 John 2:3-6
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
2018 Theme - Living as Jesus did - The Life of Obedience
How did Jesus live his life amongst us? What does obedience to God look like?
Obeying God's word - God's commands
Focusing upon "What did Jesus command?"
All Age Talk Motto 2018 Obeying Jesus Commands
What did Jesus Command?
Obeying Jesus Commands # 1 "Repent! & Rejoice!"
1. Repent! - Matthew 4:17, Luke 13:3
Context :
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
We celebrate over the Christmas period, the coming of Jesus, the light into the world.
And he shines a spotlight upon us - upon the dark recesses - the secrets - and calls us to turn from sin and turn to Him.
Use the new year as a new opportunity to start afresh - to confess sin and turn around from the wrong way to walk in the right way.
To make a U-Turn
And Jesus makes it clear that where there is an absence of repentance, there is only to be an expectation of judgement.
Luke 13 [NIV - "Repent or Perish" - Turn or Die!]
13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
For around three years Jesus ministry was amongst his people, this message of repentance was proclaimed.
One more year of grace - a year of favour!
Not one of us is perfect.
Not one of us can claim to be any more worthy of God's grace than the next person.
We each are called by Jesus to follow, to obey, and it is up to us to do it. Not someone else on our behalf.
2. Rejoice!
There is much we can rejoice, over, be joyful about
What do we rejoice over? What brings us joy?
But Jesus takes rejoicing / joy to a whole new level
One of Jesus first sermons / teaching - the Beattitudes - what is our attitude to be?
Matthew 5:12
Matthew 5
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
So what are we to rejoice over? What are we to be glad about?
Rejoicing in the midst of insults, persecution, false accusations - joy in the face of evil
Because - great is our reward in heaven - we are simply following in Jesus' footsteps.
If we are being obedient, then we will live as Jesus did, and how Jesus lived brought trouble.
Paul's teaching - 2 Cor 6
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 12:10
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
James' teaching: - James 1:2-4
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.