Sunday September 8th we continued to explore our relationship to the world. In our study passage, John 15:18-16:11, Jesus makes it clear that as his followers we will be mistreated. The key question for us is: What does Jesus expect from us as we live out our lives in a system of organized society that is hostile to God?
As a reminder, here are the scriptures we looked at together:
John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues and in fact a time is coming when they think that by killing the followers of Jesus they are actually offering a service to God ...
As a reminder, here are the scriptures we looked at together:
John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues and in fact a time is coming when they think that by killing the followers of Jesus they are actually offering a service to God ...
Act 6-7 Stephen is the supreme example of living out a faithful witness in an organized society that is hostile to God.
Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony for they loved not their lives even unto death ...
2 Corinthian 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen
Act 7:56 And he said, ' Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
The answer we arrived at was - Jesus expects us to go into the world; that our highest calling is to be a faithful witness through it all, no matter what!
As I have chewed on Sundays message and scriptures, additional scriptures and thoughts came to mind. Here are a few of those scriptures and thoughts:
1 Peter 2:20-21 ... if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Revelation 12:11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony for they loved not their lives even unto death ...
2 Corinthian 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen
Act 7:56 And he said, ' Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
The answer we arrived at was - Jesus expects us to go into the world; that our highest calling is to be a faithful witness through it all, no matter what!
As I have chewed on Sundays message and scriptures, additional scriptures and thoughts came to mind. Here are a few of those scriptures and thoughts:
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6-9 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia--your faith in God has become known everywhere...
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14-15 you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone...
- Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
1 Peter 2:20-21 ... if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
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