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THE URGENCY OF ETERNITY
Romans 6:23
10/31/2012

INTRO
• Sharing the gospel is SIMPLE, not easy.
• Review...
    > God is the just and gracious CREATOR of all things.
    > We are each CREATED by God, but we are all CORRUPT by sin.
    > Jesus alone is able to REMOVE our sin and RECONCILE us to God.
    > We are reconciled to God only through FAITH in Jesus.
• Today... Our eternal destiny is dependent on our RESPONSE to Jesus... THE GOSPEL IS IMPORTANT B/C ETERNITY IS FOREVER!
• When it comes to eternity, You can TURN FROM Jesus or TURN TO Jesus, life and death hang in the balance and there is NO MIDDLE option.

1. THREAD #5: THE URGENCY OF ETERNITY
• Our eternal destiny is dependent on our response to Jesus.
• Will you turn FROM Jesus?
• Or will you turn TO Jesus
• If we LIVE without Christ now... We will DIE without Christ forever

2. SEWING GOSPEL THREADS...
• God is the just and gracious Creator of all things. We are each created by God, but we are all corrupted by sin. Jesus alone is able to remove our sin and reconcile us to God. We are reconciled to God only through faith in Jesus. Our eternal destiny is dependent on our response to Jesus.
• Minimize your conversations about TEMPORARY things.
• Maximize your conversations about ETERNAL things.
• Talking about responding to the Gospel.
    > Be CLEAR - Trust the POWER of the Gospel.
    > Be CHRIST-CENTERED - Point people to an ENCOUNTER with Jesus.
    > Be CONFIDENT - Trust the WORK of the Spirit.
    > Be CAREFUL - Remember the goal is not DECISIONS; the goal is DISCIPLES.
• Talking about HELL...
    > Speak about God’s judgment with humble FEAR.
    > speak about how we would be right under Gods judgment ourselves if not for the completely and utterly unmerited, undeserved GRACE of Christ
    > Speak about God’s wrath with honest COMPASSION.
• Talking about HEAVEN...
    > Take advantage of every opportunity to talk about the hope of being with GOD
    > Take advantage of every opportunity to talk about the fact that dying is GAIN.

3. CALVARY AND THE URGENCY OF ETERNITY.
• Rom 9:1-5 Do we realize people’s CONDITION?
• Do we possess the heart of CHRIST?
• Do we want our lives to COUNT?

CONCLUSION
• Remember the goal is not DECISIONS; the goal is DISCIPLES
• I want us to go to Christ because we can’t manufacture Romans 9 in our hearts. We can’t manufacture this in our lives. We don’t know what it all looks like. We need Christ to do it in us and I want to call us as a faith family, I want to call us to run to Christ and to ask him, “Give us your heart, help us to realize the reality of the things we’re saying, help us to realize people’s condition, and God help us to make our lives count.”

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News About Christ & Faith
Romans 3:21-31
10/24/2012

INTRO
•The Gospel is a confrontational message, but it can be woven into our everyday conversation
• Review...
    > THREAD #1 God is the just and gracious Creator of all things.
    > THREAD #2 We are each created by God, but we are all corrupted by sin.
    > Did you look INTENTIONALLY for opportunities to sew these 2 threads?
•Read Romans 3:21-31

1. THREAD #3: THE SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST
• Jesus alone is able to remove our sin and reconcile us to God.
    > if we realize how HOLY God is and how SINFUL man is, we realize there is a CHASM that cannot be bridged by just ANYONE or just ANY WAY or just ANY SYSTEM
• (1) Jesus’ LIFE displayed the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.
    > Reminder - He is fully MAN and He is fully GOD (turn Rom 1:3&4)
• (2) Jesus’ DEATH satisfied the WRATH of God.
• (3) Jesus’ RESURRECTION demonstrated the POWER of God.

2. THREAD #4: THE NECESSITY OF FAITH
• We are reconciled to God only through faith in Jesus.
• up until this point (God, Man, Christ)... you can know all these things and still not be RECONCILED to God! (James 2:19)
• We can be right with God, HOW? Rom 5:1
• Faith involves TURNING (read Rom 6:1-4).
    > from SIN = Read Rom 6:11-14
    > From our SELVES = Rom 7:24-25,This is the whole point of Romans.We can’t manufacture righteousness before God.
    > Faith is a turning FROM something (sin/self), and a turning TOWARD something (Jesus)...
• Faith involves TRUSTING (Read Rom 8:10-11).
    > Jesus as LORD = Rom 10:9-13
    > Jesus as SAVIOR = Rom 10:13

3. SEWING GOSPEL THREADS...
• remember the goal here is not just to talk about the gospel once. It’s to talk about how the gospel infiltrates our conversations on a daily basis, how the gospel permeates our minds and our mouths so that we SHARE this gospel daily.

(a) Jesus alone is able to remove our sin and reconcile us to God.
• Take advantage of every opportunity you have to tell HIS story.
• Talking about Jesus’ LIFE, look for opportunities...
    > to highlight Jesus’ EXAMPLE for us.
    > to acknowledge Jesus’ WORK in us.
    > to point out Jesus’ IDENTIFICATION with us.
• Talking about Jesus’ DEATH, never stop...
    > emphasizing the GRAVITY of sin.
    > talking about your GRATITUDE for Christ
• Talking about Jesus’ RESURRECTION, speak...
    > about difficulties with HOPE.
    > about death with JOY.

(b) We are reconciled to God only through faith in Jesus.
• Take every opportunity you have to tell YOUR story.
• Talking about turning, point to...
    > the FORGIVENESS of Christ when people see their sin.
    > the PRESENCE of Christ when people come to the end of themselves.
• Talking about trusting...
    > Encourage people to see the LORDSHIP of Christ.
    > Urge people to receive the LOVE of Christ

CONCLUSION
• THE CHALLENGE...
    > challenge you to memorize these threads
    > pray and look intentionally each day this week for opportunities to sew these threads.

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News About God & Man
Romans 3:10-21
10/10/2012

INTRO
• Jesus'' work in our life, so captivates us, that the story of God speaks out of our LIFE and LIPS
• Today we will consider the first 2 of our Gospel Threads...

1. THREAD #1: THE CHARACTER OF GOD
• God is the just and gracious Creator of all things.
> God is the starting point for the Gospel. IF YOU DONT HAVE A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GOSPEL.
> What is it about Gods character that is important for us to communicate, as it relates to the gospel?
• Rom 1:18-20 He is our CREATOR - We BELONG to Him (also Rom 4:17)
• Rom 2:2-5, 16; 3:25-26 He is our JUDGE - We are ACCOUNTABLE to Him
• Rom 3:23-24 He is our SAVIOR - We NEED Him.

2. THREAD #2: THE SINFULNESS OF MAN
• We are each created by God, but we are all corrupted by sin.
• Rom 1:21, 25 We have REBELLED against God (3:10-18, 23)
• We are SEPARATED from God (Rom 6:.16-21; 7:14)
• We are DEAD without God (Rom 5:12, 15)

3. SEWING GOSPEL THREADS...
(a) God is the just and gracious Creator of all things
• Talk about God like He is Someone you KNOW & someone you WORSHIP.
• Talking about God as CREATOR...
    > Acknowledge the glory of God in CREATION every chance you have
    > Acknowledge the presence of God in SPECIFIC facets of life
       - God is WORKING in my life (in this way).
       - God is BLESSING me (in this way).
       - God is LEADING me (in this direction).
       - God is GUIDING me (to make this decision).
       - God is TEACHING me (this truth).
       - God is SHOWING me (this realization).
       - Does the way you talk draw attention to God or to you?
• Talking about God as JUDGE...
    > Express CONFIDENCE in God even when things go wrong.
    > Express HUMILITY before God (and others) when you do something wrong.
• Talking about God as SAVIOR...
    > Constantly point out evidences of God’s GRACE in and around you.
    > Credit God as the source of everything GOOD in and around you.
• Remember, its not about have some hour long “presentation” to dump on someone, its about simple opportunities to share truth about God. Conversations about the good news. Sewing one thread at a time.

(b) We are each created by God, but we are all corrupted by sin.
• Speak RESPECTFULLY to and about all people as individuals created in Gods image
• Look INTENTIONALLY for opportunities to encourage others.
• Talking about our REBELLION...
    > Speak HUMBLY about the seriousness of sin... When we make light of sin, we communicate to others that sin is to be taken lightly
    > Speak HONESTLY about our propensity to sin.
• Talking about our SEPARATION...
    > Acknowledge the ROOT and CONSEQUENCES of sin.
    > point to our DEPENDENCE on & DESPERATION for God.

CONCLUSION
THE CHALLENGE...
• Memorize these two threads.
• Everyday this week, look INTENTIONALLY for ways to sew these 2 threads.

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The Gospel & How to Share It!
Romans 1:1-17
10/03/2012

INTRO
•Gospel Threads = weave gospel truths into peoples lives until they have the full quilt of the gospel.
•This series is NOT about giving you some kind of guilt trip… BUT about being overwhelmed by the Gospel of Christ
•How can these simple threads of the Gospel become part of our daily conversation?... we are hear to lead people to Christ… the Gospel should so captivate us that we can’t not share it!
•Foundations for Personal Evangelism...


1. WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHOSE WE ARE  vs 1-2
•Rom 1:1-2  “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,”
•Notice, Paul’s entire identity is wrapped up in Christ… servant of Christ, called by Christ, sent by Christ, set apart for Christ
•We are SERVANTS of the Gospel.
•We are SENT OUT with the Gospel.
•We are SET APART for the Gospel.


2. WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE WHAT WE BELIEVE  vs 3-4
•Vs 3-4  “concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,”
•The Gospel...The just and gracious God of the universe looked upon hopelessly sinful people and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, to pay the penalty for sin on the cross and to show His power over sin and death in the resurrection so that all who repent and trust in Him alone will be reconciled to God forever. 
•The Threads...
   >  The Character of GOD
   >  The Sinfulness of MAN
   >  The Sufficiency of CHRIST
   >  The Necessity of FAITH
   >  The Urgency of ETERNITY
•How do we let these threads flow into our conversation on a DAILY BASIS… continually, all over Byesville, Cambridge, Guernsey County… THEN look for opportunities to pull all the threads together to help people see the beauty of Christ.


3. WE NEED TO REALIZE WHY WE’RE HERE  vs 5
•Vs 5  “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations”
•WORSHIP - We are here to EXALT His Name.
   >  The gospel is aimed at the GLORY of God.
   >  God is the GIVER of the Gospel
   >  God is the GIFT of the Gospel
   >  God is the GOAL of the Gospel… read Rom 15:8
•DISCIPLESHIP - We are here to PENETRATE the nations… this is why we are here Calvary!


4. WE NEED TO RESOLVE HOW WE’LL LIVE  vs 16-17
•We will live like nothing can SHAME us
•We will live like nothing can STOP us


CONCLUSION
•The Ultimate Question… Will the Gospel STOP with you or SPREAD through you?
   >  Do you need to receive the Gospel yourself? – settle that today!
   >  Do you need to surrender your life as a servant of the gospel? – settle that today!
•Pray ?  God use us to make much of your Name in Guernsey Co. !!!

Freed Through Faith

Galatians 2
06/08/2011

INTRO
* How are you righteous before God?
* Review: Freed By Grace... God’s pleasure in you is NOT based on your performance for Him
    > that truth is both FREEING & FRUSTRATING
    > we want to please God (2Cor 5:9)
    > BUT If His pleasure in us is not based on our performance for Him, HOW DO WE PLEASE HIM?

1. Three Pictures...
* vs 1-10 - A picture of LEGALISM... Right behavior with wrong BELIEF.
    > legalism = working to earn the favor of God... a good thing LINKED to a wrong belief, the belief that doing those things earns God’s favor.
* vs 11-14 - A picture of HYPOCRISY... Right belief with wrong BEHAVIOR.
    > LOOKUP Acts 10
    > vs 14 = hypocrisy = believing the Gospel but not living in line with it
* vs 15-21 - A picture of FAITH... Right belief AND right behavior.
    > key word? = FAITH (vs 16, 20)

2. Faith Alone... vs 15-21
A. Through faith in Christ Alone, we are ACCEPTED before God.
* We are justified by faith (vs 16,17,21)
    > Martin Luther: the doctrine of justification by faith alone is “the article upon which the church stands or falls”
    > John Calvin: "it is the hinge upon which everything turns"
    > Charles Spurgeon: “Any church which puts in the place of justification by faith in Christ another method of salvation is a harlot church.”
    > The doctrine of justification by faith alone is the HEART of the gospel.
* Justification is...
    > ...the GRACIOUS act of God...
        - vs 16c this is something God does (Rom 3:10-12, 23)
    > ...by which God DECLARES …
        - justification is a legal term, a judge declares a verdict. IMPORTANT, justification is an ACT, NOT A PROCESS!
        - you cannot be justified “more” or “less”
    > ...a SINNER …
        - God the judge, dealing with man the guilty criminal (Phil 3:8)
    > ... RIGHTEOUS …
          - that the holy judge of the universe would look on me, a willful rebel, desiring my glory above His, idolatry in my heart, guilty... and say “Not guilty, righteous, innocent, accepted!”
        - but we ARE guilty... how does God do it? (and still be a just judge?)
    > ...solely on the basis of FAITH in Jesus Christ.
        - 2 Cor 5:21 “ He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”
        - all the guilt, all the penalty, all the judgment, all the wrath, all the death you deserved, and He poured all that ON CHRIST
        - all the love, all that the Father is pleased with in the Son, His righteousness, His right standing, is poured out ON YOU.
        - thats why to try and ADD something to what Jesus has done is such an insult to the Gospel!

* Heidelberg Catechism = Question 60 = How are you righteous before God? Answer = Only by a true faith in Jesus Christ; so that though my conscience accuse me, that I have grossly transgressed all the commandments of God, and kept none of them, and am still inclined to all evil; notwithstanding, God, without any merit of mine, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me, the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin: yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me; inasmuch as I embrace such benefit with a believing heart.

B. Through faith in Christ, we are ALIVE to God. vs 19-20
* vs 19-20 NOW, We LIVE by faith. What if faith is not only just the only way we are accepted before God?, what if faith is also the only way we are able to live before God? What if Faith isn’t just a one time decision, what if Faith is central in every facet of our lives?
* Paul has no room for the idea that once upon a time you pray some prayer and then your life looking the same after that... its not possible! Because we live by faith!
* vs 20 Dead and Alive? How does this work to be crucified w/ Christ?
    > We die to SIN.
    > We die to OURSELVES. (no easy believism)
    > He COVERS our sin. (Rom 5:9)
    > He CHANGES our lives. (“been crucified” happened in the past with present, ongoing implications)
        - We are not in DEBT to Christ.
        - We are INDWELT by Christ!

* What if the Christian life is not about you living for Christ? But Christ living for you, & in you, Him working His life out through you moment by moment and day by day. Living by faith every second.

CONCLUSION
* How do we live to please God? Not more of me, but more of Christ in me.
* God’s pleasure in you is based on CHRIST’S performance for you.
    > He is PASSIONATE about YOU!... how do you know?...
    > He has PAID a price for YOU!

Resources:
David Platt's Galatians Sermon Series (primary)
Mark Driscoll's Galatians Sermon Series
John MacArthur's Galatians Commentary
Warren Wiersbe's book "Be Free"

Freed By Grace
Galatians 1
06/01/2011

INTRO
* consider all the religions of the world, tirelessly, endlessly trying to make peace with God. They have no concept of grace, of a God who makes peace with us. Grace is a revolutionary, radical concept. Our prideful, sinful, rebellious hearts think we can work our way to God. Grace says “No”, you cannot work your way to God & that is why He comes to rescue you. If we miss grace, we miss the whole point of the Bible and of the Gospel
* Background info...
    > date: AD 50
    > author: Paul
    > theme: Freedom
    > reason: Written to affirm the centrality of Grace in the church, & to counteract legalistic tendencies creeping into the church. Judaizers had infiltrated the church and were false teachers that taught that in order to be saved you had to believe in Christ AND keep all the Jewish rules & regulations (lookup Acts 15:1,8-11)
* Judaizers were basically LEGALISTS, and what they taught THEN is alive and well TODAY (in a different form). There are tendancies in the church today that CREEP in and try and ADD to the gospel of grace & undercut the foun dation of salvation
* Each of us are recovering legalists. Secretly we think there is something we can do to be accepted by God. That if we read our bibles & pray God will love us more, & if we don’t He will love us less.


1. LEGALISM DEFINED...
A. WORKING IN OUR OWN POWER.
* Trust in Christ, PLUS...
* Saved by grace, PLUS living by our own strength
B. WORKING ACCORDING TO OUR OWN RULES.
* do “this” to be accepted by God (man made rules)
* we obey Gods commands, but abandon our man-made rules
C. WORKING TO EARN GOD’S FAVOR.
* earning “credits” from God
* Gods pleasure in you is NOT based on your performance for Him
* vs 8-9 if ANYONE says the Gospel is anything but GRACE let them be CONDEMNED!
* Martin Luther: “Wherefore, God assisting me, my forehead shall be more hard than all men’s foreheads.... Yea, I am glad even with all my heart, in this point to seem rebellious and obstinate. And here I confess that I am and ever will be stout and stern, and will not one inch give place to any creature... let this be the conclusion of all that we will suffer our goods to be taken away... Let this be the conclusion of all, that we will suffer our goods to be taken away, our name, our life, and all that we have, but the Gospel, our faith in Jesus Christ, we will never suffer to be wrested from us. Let every Christian here be proud and spare not, except he will deny Christ.”
* How do we address this performance based mentality that creeps into our hearts and minds?...

2. LEGALISM DESTROYED...
A. TRUTH #1 THE GOSPEL IS FREE (vs 3-5)
* Grace is Paul’s theme... 1:3, 15, 2:9, 21, 5:4, 6:18
* Grace = Gods unmerited favor. The Gospel is free, salvation is free, mercy is free!
* Gods pleasure in us is NOT based on our performance for Him, instead Gods pleasure in us is based on His performance on our behalf...
* vs 4c GOD THE FATHER HAS INITIATED OUR SALVATION
    > vs 13-14 “I, I, I...”
    > vs 15-16 “but when GOD... pleased...”
    > vs 11-12 THE GOSPEL IS NOT INVENTED BY MAN
    > vs 12 THE GOSPEL IS REVEALED BY GOD
* vs 4a GOD THE SON HAS ACCOMPLISHED OUR SALVATION
    > Christ has done everything necessary for our salvation. The gospel is not about what man can do, its all about what Christ HAS DONE. Jesus Paid it ALL.
    > WE INSULT THE GOSPEL WHEN WE ADD TO GRACE.
    > WE MISUNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL WHEN WE CHEAPEN GRACE
        - Gal 2:14 there is a way of life that is IN LINE w/ the Gospel
        - we don’t suggest that b/c of grace we can live in sin, not a license to sin, not lawlessness
        - Faith produces works
    > WE MAGNIFY THE GOSPEL WHEN WE TRUST IN GRACE

B. TRUTH #2 THE GOSPEL IS FREEING (vs 4)
* Rescued from the power & dominion of the world. A gospel of rescue, freedom from bondage
* We dont get saved and leave grace behind, we live by grace, we pray by grace, we read our Bible by grace
* BY HIS GRACE, WE ARE FREE FROM SIN IN THIS WORLD
* BY HIS GRACE, WE ARE FREE TO SHARE WITH THIS WORLD
    > Why was Paul saved?... (vs 16) so that he would be a proclaimer of Grace among the nations!
    > Why are we born in a nation where the Gospel is so readily available? By His grace, to rescue us, and to PROCLAIM it to the nations.

CONCLUSION
* if you have been trying to work your way to heaven... if you have been trying to keep all kinds of man made rules to make a way to God... I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, God has made a way to you!
* God has come to you in the person of Jesus Christ, not based on what you have done, but based on His grace, and he can rescue you and give you peace with God.
* Grace is not CHEAP, but it is FREE
* Grace is available in Jesus... ALONE, not Jesus PLUS

Resources:
David Platt's Galatians Sermon Series (primary)
Mark Driscoll's Galatians Sermon Series
John MacArthur's Galatians Commentary
Warren Wiersbe's book "Be Free"

I recently finished a teaching series on "What is a Baptist?", also known as the Baptist Distinctives and I taught the following 11 points...

B iblical Authority
A utonomy of the Local Church
P riesthood of the Believer
T wo Ordinances: Baptism & The Lords Supper
I ndividual Soul Liberty
S aved, Baptized Church Membership
T wo Offices: Elder (Pastor) & Deacon
S eperation of Church & State & Security of Salvation

I think this list is both biblical & helpful, however I recently read something by Baptist historian Walter B. Shurden that I think really boils it down even more to the 4 core issues that differentiate a Baptist church. They are entitled "The Four Freedoms"...

THE FOUR FREEDOMS

SOUL freedom: the soul is competent before God, and capable of making decisions in matters of faith without coercion or compulsion by any larger religious or civil body

BIBLE freedom: the individual is free to interpret the Bible for himself or herself, using the best tools of scholarship and biblical study available to the individual

CHURCH freedom: freedom of the local church from outside interference, whether government or civilian (subject only to the law where it does not interfere with the religious teachings and practices of the church)

RELIGIOUS freedom: the individual is free to choose whether to practice their religion, another religion, or no religion; Separation of church and state is often called the "civil corollary" of religious freedom

Returning to the Lord
(Personal Revival #1)
Hosea 6:1-3
9/29/10  Awana

ref:  Book "Downpour" by James MacDonald (and sermon series)

INTRO
  *  Def. "Revival" = God, gladly at the center of my life, experienced and enjoyed... to be dissatisfied w/ anything less than a genuine, personal, passionate experience w/ God
  * Illustration:  at our shop we have to recalibrate equipment/machines periodically.  Revival is when Christians periodically need recalibrated, re-centered on Christ.
  *  read Hosea 3:1-3
      >  Hosea preached for approx 80 years.  Isaiah & Micah were his contemporaries
      >  1st, largest, and most theologically complete of the minor prophets
      >  theme: Gods love for His people when their hearts are far from Him
      >  ministered in the northern Kingdom of Israel.  The people were prosperous, wayward, self-indulgent, & idolatrous
      >  Hosea was commanded by God to marry a women named Gomer, who later became a prostitute.  Hosea's faithful love for his unfaithful wife became a picture of Gods love for His unfaithful people
      >  Hosea pleads for change of heart and direction to avoid judgment and experience restoration and revival

1.  THE INVITATION TO REVIVAL

  a.  Let Us RETURN To The Lord  (vs 1)
    *  "come" - come, return, you dont have to stay where you are!  things can change!  doubt can become faith, discouragement can become joy, defeat can become victory
    *  "let us" - your not alone... you may wonder if you are alone or if anyone cares, we do!
    *  "return" - used over 1000 x's in OT. repentance, turning is a crisis. 
        >  Hosea 5:4,  7:10,  11:5,  14:1-2
    *  returning to the Lord is...
        >  recognizing... recognize your going the wrong way.  recognize sin for the rupulsive thing that it is.  God has to shine his light on your mind
        >  repenting... I'm wrong, I'm sorry, I have no excuse,
        >  returning (leaving)... I dont want this sin, I am leaving it behind, I want what God wants for me
    *  remember... we dont fix ourselves in order to come to God, we come to God to get fixed.  (Illustration: You dont need to take a shower before you take a bath)
    *  Christianity is seen as a PROCESS.  see Col 2:6.  You NEED to have a periodic CRISIS, a turning, a returning, repentance.
    *  When was the last time you experienced a real spiritual CRISIS?...A deep, heartfelt  rekindling of passion over His Word?... a deep heart ache over lost souls?... over a struggle w/ sin?... over your ministry?

  b.  Let Us PURSUE The Lord  (vs 3)
    *  "let us strive to know" = let us pursue the Lord
    *  knowledge of the Lord is...
        >  facts about God... Gods resume, who He is, what He has done
        >  a heart understanding of the facts... impacts you at the core of your being
        >  experience w/ God... God is everywhere & always working
        >  blessings from God... a heart awareness that every good thing is from God
    *  "strive" = not just "know", but to press on to know, notice the intentional pursuit.  intense, active, passionate... WAKE UP & GO AFTER THE LORD!
    *  Illustration:  a wake up experience like a car accident... it wakes us up and makes us think about how much time we have here on earth... pursue the Lord!

2.  THE PATHWAY TO REVIVAL

  a.  from PAIN to PURPOSE (vs 1)
    *  "torn" = like torn by animals
    *  "He" = behind the hurt in your life, is God.  God is creating a crisis to call us back. 
    *  In our church we could share testimonies of thanksgiving to God for how He has used PAIN to bring PURPOSE.  A CRISIS to get us on the path to revival.
    *  see Hos 5:14-15
    *  WHY? that He may HEAL us.  no healing - no returning!  To cause you to SEEK and search for Him.

  b..from DEATH to LIFE (vs 1-2)
    *  "wounded" = to strike down, sometimes means death, rock bottom
    *  just as a Dr. must wound to heal, as a bone is sometimes broken to be set
        >  illustration:  cutting through the sternum to get to the heart for surgery
        >  Job 5:17-18
        >  God would rather see us anywhere than living in rebelling and resistance to His will for us.
    *  "two days" = not Christs resurrection but YOURS.  God know you are in the fire but its for a SPECIFIED amount of time and NOT a moment longer!
    *  REMINDER: you cant be revived w/o first being "vived"... you cant have renewed life if you've never had life... Jn 5:24 (Have you been converted?)
    *  Will you let life's PAINS bring you to Gods PURPOSES?  or will God have to TEAR that SIN from your life?

3.  THE EXPERIENCE OF REVIVAL

   a.  Its AVAILABLE! (vs 3)
    *  "going out" = troops, marching out to battle, His work is CERTAIN
    *  He is NOT reluctant, He is willing, nothing can stop Him!!
    *  "He... He... He,,," = God is doing it
    *  You CANNOT bring revival to your town, church, or home... BUT you can bring it to your OWN HEART... today?

  b.  Its ABUNDANT!
    *  when revival come to the heart, its not a sprinkle but a downpour!  its a flood!
    *  I have been praying for revival for me, and for you!

CONCLUSION
  *  "Revival" = God, gladly at the center of my life, experienced and enjoyed... to be dissatisfied w/ anything less than a genuine, personal, passionate experience w/ God
  *  In the coming weeks, we are going to search the Scriptures to see...
      >  God on the Throne (Holiness)
      >  Sin in the Mirror (Brokeness)
      >  Self in the Dirt (Repentance)
      >  Christ on the Cross (Grace)
      >  Spirit in Control (Power)

I had a weird email exchange with someone last week and it left me a little discouraged. The subject matter was if he could "recommend our church" to people that might be coming to my area.  We have virtually the same doctrinal statement (Baptistic, Calvinistic, etc.) and we admire many of the same preachers and ministries (John MacArthur, John Piper, Shepherds Conference, 9 Marks, etc.), and we have very similar philosophies of ministry (emphasis on expositional preaching, emphasis the local church & discipleship, not "emergent", not "charismatic", not "seeker driven", etc.).  BUT, at the end of the day he would not recommend our church because our website mentions that casual dress is "OK" and we stress a come as you are attitude.

Don't get me wrong, among our church people and in our youth group we teach about "appropriate" and "modest" dress.  We believe the Bible teaches us to be modest and we think common sense and an appreciation for Who we worship would require that we dress appropriately.  I mean, I wouldn't come to church in a bathing suit, nor would I attend in a tuxedo.  Both say "look at me" instead of looking to Christ.  But I digress...

So how big a deal is "casual dress" to church?  Could you recommend or attend a church that was doctrinally and philosophically sound but lacked a clear "dress code"?  Do you think some kind of "church dress code" can be found in the New Testament?  Should we police the front door and turn away those dressed "inappropriately" or those who lack the proper "reverence"?  I guess at the end of the day, is this person (who I respect greatly by the way) taking the issue of dress and blowing it way out of proportion, OR am I the one who is way too lax and not giving this issue the weight that it deserves?

Just Curious...

eek
Phil. 3:10

PS: this is the part of my church webpage mentioning dress... http://www.calvarybyesville.org/sunday.htm