1 10 4 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/81016086cf8e62fc65870833e04ea67f.jpeg f045cab6aee635a117c6374be93a5e8e https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e1f54321b3427dc5d483756fe0238309.mp4 e4b9ce52b9f5207e7db8635726e5c0f2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2024 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound LOVE is Not Passive Hebrews 10:19-25 Maurice “Moe” Sill – he liked to call himself an “old hillbilly” but his life and legacy proved him to be an amazing man. A philanthropist. He served in the Peace Corps in India and Pakistan. He was an amateur pilot. He taught Rural Sociology at Marshall University. He married the daughter of a Russian Orthodox priest. He took her faith and made it his own. He and his wife settled into an Appalachian farm and on their farm built the first Orthodox church in Wayne County. Moe was a visionary, and wanted to build a community of faith right there in the middle of West Virginia coal country. In the late 1990s he donated his farmland to a group of Orthodox monks so they could build a monastery there (they had been displaced from their land in Missouri.) Moe lived to see the monastery grow and flourish. He witnessed the founding of a parish church in Wayne to help care for the families drawn to the area by the monastery. By the time he passed away in 2019, he could behold the fruit of his labors—the vibrant Appalachian Orthodoxy he envisioned all those years before. He was faithful, he persevered, and through his patience and foresight, and he left a legacy for his entire community. For some of you church members, this probably sounds a lot like the earlier generations of your family who helped establish this church. from the video, it describes a man named Charley Bradshaw, who lived on the farm decades before Mo and his wife. He built the log cabin that they first lived in when they bought the farm: “And when you live with hope for the future, you build things to last. That’s why Charles Golden Bradshaw’s chestnut log cabin still stands to this day, over 120 years since he built it back in the 1890s. It’s the oldest building on the grounds of our monastery. Charley Bradshaw lived here, he labored here, and he died here. They buried him at the top of the ridge. Like so many West Virginians before him, he left a legacy to his family by the sweat of his brow and the work of his hands.” …and now, here WE are. We’re laying a spiritual foundation for all future generations to experience the fullness of our Biblical Christian faith We serve God’s people with purpose – with Love – and Love is not passive. Mo Sill had what we have referred to before as a “Magnificent Obsession” Living and serving from a higher purpose – motivated by Love for God and Love for his fellow man. Gal 6:10 - Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith. Our love for God and for our brothers and sisters in Christ should cause love to empower us, by God’s grace (KEY) to serve and become more. To strive for excellence in all we commit our hands to . To raise the bar of possibility in 2024 To become more. John 13:34,35: (Jesus said) “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This passage may be one of the most famous in the New Testament, and one of the most challenging. Love is the nature of God. By looking at Jesus and what he does, how he treats and responds to people, how, in the end, he sacrifices everything in order to save us from the slavery of sin and death, you get a real sense of what love is, and what it is that he is asking us to do with our lives. Jesus shows us what real love is about. It is about being attentive to the suffering and the needs of the other. It is about being willing to sacrifice your desires, even your needs, when you are confronted by the greater needs of another. This is true for our personal relationships, in our marriages, in our parenting, in our dealings with our neighbors, our co-workers, even those we do not know, who we encounter in various situations during our day, and, yes, even our enemies. The love that Jesus models is unconditional and merciful. At the same time, it is challenging and encouraging. It hates the sin, but loves the sinner. Romans 5:8: But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. This love is active, not passive. This morning’s scripture speaks to us directly in the 21st century church First of all, it reminds we have been made righteous because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for us. And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. …and then, because of this, it tells us how we should step forward in faith now (second portion of today’s scripture) “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” In our human thinking we don’t always feel worthy or qualified, but we must remind ourselves that He is the Vine – and we are the branches. We must move forward in faith. “Forward is not a place you are, it is a direction you go.” Accept the freedom that comes from Christ to live out that which has been placed inside of you. Remember – the anointing on your life is not for you – it for the people God has called you to serve. Love compels us to strive for excellence. “Early to bed and early to rise” has been a phrase I have heard my whole life. …but now it a reality. But it comes from desire – a magnificent obsession – to make a bigger impact. To become more. To serve more effectively. “They who have no central purpose in life fall an easy prey to petty worries.” I once heard a coworker humorously state, “Every day it’s the same thing – breathe , breathe, breathe.” We owe it to ourselves and everyone we are partnered with to become more than that. To have a magnificent obsession. To live from purpose and passion. It’s been said, “Love is not a passive state. It is an active force. It is the force of the soul.” Love is not passive. Kindness is not silence, and compassion is not quiet. Sometimes it means we raise our voices… The apostles gave all for the sake of the gospel. Paul said, (Phil 2:17 ) My life is being poured out as a part of the sacrifice and service I offer to God for your faith. Yet, I am filled with joy, and I share that joy with all of you. We can do this. He is the Vine - We are the branches 1 John 4:9: This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. Strive for progress – not perfection He is the Vine - We are the branches Eph 3:20: Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; Original Format The type of object, such as painting, sculpture, paper, photo, and additional data <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx4dUXEWDkQ&amp;t=8s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx4dUXEWDkQ&amp;t=8s</a> Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Love is not Passive 爱不是被动的 Description An account of the resource Heb 10:19-25: And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 希伯来书 10:19-25: 弟兄姊妹，耶稣已用宝血为我们开辟了一条又新又活的路，使我们可以穿过幔子，就是祂的身体，坦然进入至圣所。 并且，我们有一位大祭司管理上帝的家， 祂洁净了我们被罪困扰的良心，用清水洗净了我们的身体。因此，我们要信心十足、真诚地到上帝面前。 我们要坚定不移地持守我们所认定的盼望，因为赐应许的那位是信实的。 我们要想办法彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善。 不要停止聚会，像那些停止惯了的人，要互相鼓励，特别是你们知道主再来的日子近了 (page 1951) John 13:34,35: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 约翰福音 13:35: 你们如果彼此相爱，世人就会认出你们是我的门徒。(page 1747) Eph 3:20: Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; 以弗所书 3:20: 上帝的能力运行在我们里面，能够丰丰富富地成就一切，超过我们所求所想的。(page 1897) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor Mike Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/07/2024 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2024 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Love Connection 2 Timothy 3:1-5 A new year should be a great opportunity to pursue new things – or at least, live from a new, fresh perspective. A perspective of gratitude – humility – and most of all, love. Love for God. Love for His people. Today’s Scripture: You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! “in the last days…” – doesn’t this sound exactly like the days we are living in now? A young child lives from the self-centered perspective. “Mine.” It’s basically a survival mechanism – but it needs to be something we grow out of. In 2024, we see a large percentage of our population is still living under that same immature selfishness. Mine! It is really a form of fear. A fear of lack. Of inadequacy. Paul said: (1 Cor 13:11) When I was a child, I spoke like a child. I thought like a child. I understood like a child. Now I am a man. I do not act like a child anymore. Where does hoarding come from? Clinging. It is Fear. In this first month of a new year, it is a great opportunity to clear away the clutter caused by fear and selfishness and step into a new day of freedom, of liberation, of LOVE. Ecc 3:6 - A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; Last week we talked about two paths in life – a wide path and a narrow path. One led to destruction – and one to eternal life. When the world looks at us, do they see us following the path of Christ – or living just like they are (as described in today’s scripture lesson?) Is our heart full of clutter today? (Jesus said) Mark 4:19 - But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. “But you need to be aware that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce. People will be self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly. They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God. They may pretend to have a respect for God, but in reality they want nothing to do with God’s power. Stay away from people like these!” WE are not supposed to BE like these people – we’re not even supposed to hang out with them! When we live like this, we are like the dog chasing its own tail. It never achieves its goal. It is a fruitless effort. Examine your own heart. “It starts with me” 1 John 4:7: Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. We ALL know that when we act from love - - when we focus on contribution – our lives are happier. “Let us love one another.” It is a tough challenge sometimes. Our foundation is our salvation. 1 John 4:19: Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us. Spurgeon: “Love is the cause of love.” 1 John 4:8: Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Word of Caution: Today is a day for us to hear God’s Word with new ears. (don’t miss your moment) ? How can we possibly gain a fresh perspective without first being open-hearted to what Holy Spirit wants to tell us today? New Wine goes in New Wineskins. (amen?) So – let’s get back to the purpose of this message - and our mission for 2024: We need to un-clutter our hearts. Uncluttering our hearts will unclutter our lives 1 Cor 14:33 - For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. One of the Desert Fathers: “It’s not possessing something that is harmful, but being attached to it” Jesus: “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12:15: Then He (Jesus) said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Clinging is a symptom of deep-rooted fear of some kind. (whether it is clinging to things, status, approval or false security) Can we approach this shift – this radical transition - with confidence? Can this new start now begin – and then continued? 1 John 4:18: Perfect love cast out fear It starts with me. It starts with repentance of my own fears – my own selfishness – my own clinging. My own need to fill the empty places with the things that fade and disappear. “ …in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. …reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.” WE must BE the Change Believe and Live by Jesus’ Commands Matt 22:34-40: Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (another version) Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and most important command. And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ If we live by Jesus’ commands, we will, by default, seek to unclutter our hearts of anything that would block the flow of God’s love in and through us. “Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him” The behaviors we read about today in our opening scripture passage describe the type of lifestyle that is the exact opposite of living by Jesus’ commands: “self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly. They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires haters of what is good and right. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God.” John 13:34,35: “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.” “So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.” An uncluttered heart can see the world with a whole new set of eyes Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Love Connection 爱之纽带 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/21/2024 Description An account of the resource 2 Timothy 3:1-5: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 提 摩 太 後 書 3:1-5: 你要知道，在最后的日子里，困难的时刻会降临在我们身上。 那时人们会自私、贪婪、自夸、骄傲、亵渎圣灵，不孝敬父母、不善良、没有信仰、 不互爱、不宽恕人、造谣诽谤、缺乏自制、野蛮、嫉善如仇， 他们出卖朋友、鲁莽、骄傲自满、爱享乐胜过爱上帝。 他们披着宗教的外衣，但是却否认它的权力。要离他们远远的 (page 1931) Mark 4:19 - But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.馬 可 福 音 4:19: 但却让现世的烦恼、财富的诱惑和其它的欲望膨胀，窒息了福音，而无结果。(page 1623) 1 John 4:7: Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of him. 約 翰 一 書 4:7: 亲爱的朋友们，让我们彼此相爱吧。因为爱来自上帝，有爱的人就是上帝的孩子，也认识上帝。(page 1981) 1 John 4:19: Our love for others is our grateful response to the love God first demonstrated to us. 約 翰 一 書 4:19: 我们爱，是因为上帝先爱我们。(pg 1981) John 13:34,35: “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you.” 約 翰 福 音 13:34: 我给你们一条新的命令：你们要彼此相爱。就像我爱你们一样，你们也要彼此互爱。(page 1747) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor Mike Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2024 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Near-Life Experiences John 10:1-10 Turbulence on a plane ride home… My thoughts were not so much about past mistakes, but about what contributions I had still hoped to make in my life. All of the life I had postponed until “someday soon.” The times I had held back on taking new actions because of fear or self-limitations. The fear of breaking free from my own comfort zone. Everybody needs a “do-over” at some point. Look around – you’ll see a lot of do-overs that never happened. The new beginning must start with an end. “closure” The end is only the beginning, because it releases the new into existence. Last week: Decluttering our hearts. Cleaning out the closet of your life. Surrendering the past. Surrendering should not be viewed as a loss – it should be a liberation. "Personal growth is a process where we begin to lose the limitations of who we were in recognition of who we can become." Jesus said in John 12:24 – “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” ? What do you need to die to in order to come back to life – to a new beginning? Prayer of St Francis: “It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” Eph 5:14: “Awake, thou that sleepest…” Only by waking from our sleep can we recognize we have been asleep. ? Are we living our lives or just trying to stay safe until we leave this earthly body? How long can a person just go through the motions without ever truly living? A spy was captured and sentenced to death by a general in the opposing army. Before carrying out the sentence the general gave the spy a strange choice. He told him he could have his choice of a firing squad or a big black door. After much deliberation the spy chose the firing squad and within a few moments he was dead. The general turned to his aide and said, “They always prefer the known way to the unknown.” The aide then asked the general, “What’s behind the black door?” “Freedom!,” replied the general. Behind the black door is a passageway that leads outside, but only a few have been brave enough to see what was behind it! Fear is the big, black door that keeps us trapped inside our comfort zones! In order to be free from what imprisons us, we must be brave enough to open the door! We must be brave enough to let go of what we have in order to receive what God wants to give us – which is a truly abundant life. In the human body, scar tissue can inhibit healthy functioning. It is the same way with our emotions. Trauma – hurts - disappointments We can often allow scar tissue to form on our soul that inhibits us from receiving fresh light from the Son. We are all unique individuals – with unique and vital purposes for being here.  Your purpose is not a job – your purpose is a life-long journey that should be filled with joy and a passion for daily living. “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation." We can no longer tolerate going through the motions in our lives, having a near-life experience. Today is a day to wake-up and live. “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Good Things Your new life begins on the other side of your comfort zone. (dog sitting on a nail) Your comfort zone may not be so “comfortable” – but it is what you are used to. …What you’re “familiar” with Notice the word “familiar” ends with the letters “liar” …because we are responding and resonating with what is comfortable – what may be familiar to us – but not what is necessarily true or best for us. This is why we often gravitate back to the same people and make the same kinds of mistakes. Prov 26:11 – “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.” We have to abandon our comfort zones – we must forsake the familiar – if we are to grow. We may feel comfortable with people and situations just because of our previous programming. This is a symptom of a near-life experience. The comfort zone may seem “comfortable” – like a well-worn pair of sneakers – but those old shoes won’t serve you well if you are planning on training to run a 5k… …or even a nice walk around the park. Jung : “First you must realize you are asleep, then you wake, Then you die so you can be born You cannot be born until you die and you cannot die until you wake.” unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” “Awake thou that sleepest…” it’s time to wake up and live again. Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” “God, grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change, to change the one I can, and the wisdom to know that one is me.” People will do all kinds of odd things in order to stay comfortable. (hoarding) Many people find ways to stop addictive behaviors but never escape the shame of their past actions. They’re still addicts and abusers in their self-images. Sometimes it’s destructive actions we take – sometimes it’s in-action Avoidance – Resistance – Denial – all are ways to keep us trapped in our pasts. “Paralysis by Analysis” We remain stuck. Inertia. We still identify with a past that we haven’t fully died to yet. (ponder) The shame of the past can be healed by a present-day confession and release. Liberation is God’s plan for us. “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” The thief wants to keep you in chains to your past so you cannot live in today. “Confess your faults that you may be healed.” (intention) Can you just confess your faults – your old mistakes – and then die to them? Gal 2:20 – “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, (key) who loved me and gave himself for me.” Your sin – your shame – were nailed to the cross. > You can’t take them back off of that cross – no matter how hard you may try. (what are you still holding on to?) Substitutionary Atonement: “The guiltless given for the guilty” 4 Words (Jesus Paid It All) Heb 12:2 - We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. ? Are you redeemed by Christ and His sacrifice? “I’ve been redeemed” “A double-minded person is unstable in all their ways” The choices and actions we make that are still based on our past mistakes (sins) are the equivalent to driving your car using your rearview mirror There is a reason your windshield is much larger It indicates the direction we should be moving. Forward. Prayer: Hold out your hands. Hold your past hurts and failures in your hands. Feel them. “Lord, I give you my past hurts. My past failures. My past sins. My past mistreatment. I know that you bore all of this on the cross for me, so that I wouldn’t have to. You knew I couldn’t handle this in my own power – so you allowed Your strength to overcome my weaknesses. Take this all away from me now. Give me the grace to let it go. In Jesus’ name.” Look into your hands and realize that there is nothing there. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource LIFE 生活 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/28/2024 Description An account of the resource John 10:7-10: Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 約 翰 福 音 10:7-10: 耶稣又说∶“我实话告诉你们，我就是羊圈的门。 在我之前来的人都是小偷、强盗，而且羊群也不听他们的。 我就是这扇门，从我这扇门进来的人将得救。他既能进又能出，他将会找到牧场。 小偷来只会偷、会杀、会破坏。我来是为了让他们获得生命—那是富足和美好的生命。 (page 1738) John 12:24 – “Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” 約 翰 福 音 12:24: 我实话告诉你们，如果一颗麦粒没有落在地里死去，它依然是一粒种子，但是，一旦它死了，它就会结出许多麦粒 (page 1744) Eph 5:14: Thus God speaks through the scriptures: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” 以弗所书 5:14: 因为光能使一切显明出来。因此有人说：“沉睡的人啊，醒来吧！从死人中起来吧，基督要光照你了！”(page 1899) Gal 2:20 – My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 加拉太书 2:20: 我已经与基督一同被钉在十字架上，现在活着的不再是我，而是基督活在我里面。我现在是靠信上帝的儿子而活着，祂爱我，为我舍命。(page 1887) Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor Mike Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2024 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound By Grace Alone Titus 3:3-5 Ripley’s Believe It Or Not There was a time – many decades ago – when going to the gym was a daily part of my routine. Not just the treadmill, either. The iron plates! The usual crowd was there most days – and since we knew each other, we worked out together – spotting each other at the bench press, etc. More than once during this time period, I would get to the point that I needed help getting the heavy weights off my chest. I just couldn’t push them off of me and onto the rack all by myself. If I didn’t ask for help, I wasn’t going anywhere. The weight would only get heavier. There are situations in all of our lives where we can’t take care of things all by ourselves. The burden just gets too heavy. Like the burden of our sins. as Step 2 of the Twelve Steps describes it, “We came to be aware that a Power greater than ourselves”… was necessary. U2: “Sometimes you can’t make it on your own” Tough. You think you've got the stuff You're telling me and anyone - You're “hard enough” You don't have to put up a fight - You don't have to always be right Listen to me now - I need to let you know - You don't have to go it alone. Trying to bench press too much weight and discovering that you are trapped by your own denial of human limitations – is a lot like what we do when we try to live a victorious life under our own power. PRIDE could have kept me trapped under those heavy weights… how would that have ended? (what if I had been all alone in that gym?) As long as you’re running away, you’re going to miss the greatness God put in you. You can’t conquer what you don’t confront. Too often we’re comforting what we should be confronting. We’re making lists of excuses. But you can’t run from everything that’s uncomfortable. You can’t ignore issues, sweep them under the rug, and think they’ll go away. When you get honest with yourself, when you confront what you know you need to deal with, it may be uncomfortable, but God gives you the grace, the strength, and the power to do what you couldn’t do on your own. THIS is why Jesus came. This is why He shed His blood. THIS is why He died on that cross. For you and for me. Revelation: If I preach anything less that our complete and total redemption because of Christ alone, I am not truly preaching the cross – and therefore, not preaching the truth. “ …he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Today’s Message is entitled: By Grace Alone. My purpose for this message is to instill in a deeper way the truth that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of works. We can never earn our salvation. It is a gift. (Eph 2:8) A gift we should receive with gratitude and humility. Wesley: “It is strange that any whom he has actually saved should doubt the universality of his grace!” “We allow, it is the work of God alone to justify, to sanctify, and to glorify; which three comprehend the whole of salvation.” “I believe justification by faith alone, as much as I believe there is a God…I have never varied from it, no, not a hair’s breadth from 1738 to this day.” “Taking the word in a more particular sense, faith is a divine evidence and conviction, not only that ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,’ but also that Christ ‘loved me, and gave himself for me.'” Martin Luther: "We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been made righteous, we do righteous deeds." R.C. Sproul: "The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, that which is not earned." Anyone who has shared the gospel with others has discovered people who said things like, “I try to live a good life.” “I hope my good outweighs my bad.” They think they can push off that weight (and debt) of sin under their own power. Here is an illustration of Salvation through Grace by Faith, as illustrated by Jesus: Luke 18:9-14 (read) The publican goes to heaven not because he is special but because he is shown mercy by God through receiving the redemption of Christ the Savior. A sinner does not need to pay any cost to go to heaven because the Lord Jesus has paid everything on the cross. The Pharisee perishes because he does not have the Savior, whereas the publican is saved because he has the Savior. Like that Pharisee, PRIDE can keep you buried under those heavy weights… Pride can keep you lost. Pride can keep you bound. “That’s just the way I am” If you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them. God sent us a savior because we needed to be saved Watchman Nee: Salvation is the free gift of God, and it is freely given to all sinners who believe. “In summary, you who are good men, do not boast in yourselves, for your good cannot save you. And you who are bad men, do not be discouraged, for your bad may not be your condemnation. Praise and thank God, how wonderful is His salvation! Though we all are like the publican, being hopeless and helpless sinners who deserve eternal punishment, God nevertheless has caused the Lord Jesus to die on the cross for us that we may be saved by believing and accepting Him as our Savior. What amazing grace this is! Let the sinners follow in the steps of the publican. Come to God, confess your sins, and ask Him in faith, saying: “God, be merciful to me a sinner, for the Lord Jesus has indeed died on the cross for me.” God will save you. Thank Him for His so great salvation.” Straight is the Gate Matt 7:14: But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it. John 3:36 - “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” This grace not only saves us, but also empowers us to live the Godly life we wanted to live: Titus 3:8: This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Rev 22:17: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource By Grace Alone 恩典 Description An account of the resource Titus 3:5: He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. 提 多 書 3:5: 他拯救了我们，不是因为我们的行为，而是靠他的怜悯、重生的洗礼和使我们更新的圣灵。(page 1936) Matt 7:14: But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it. 馬 太 福 音 7:14: 但是，通向永生的门是非常窄小和艰难的，只有极少数的人才能找到它。(page 1568) John 3:36 - “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” 约翰福音 3:36: 信子的人有永生；不信子的人得不到永生，上帝的烈怒常在他身上 (page 1721) John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” 约翰福音 5:24:“我实实在在地告诉你们，谁听从我的话，又信差我来的那位，谁就有永生，不被定罪，已经出死入生了。(pg 1725) Rev 22:17: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 啟 示 錄 22:17: 啟 示 錄 22:17: 圣灵和新娘说∶“来！”愿听到的人都说∶“来！”愿口渴的人都过来。愿任何想得到赋予生命的泉水的人，都无偿地得到它。 (page 2017) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/14/2024