THE WORD PROCLAIMED: GUARDING THE TREASURE. Damon Life Group

THE WORD PROCLAIMED: GUARDING THE TREASURE Damon Life Group 01.15.12

316 Coincidinc? Favorite verse John 3:16 Threw for 316 yards TV rating @ time of touchdown 31.6 Average yards per completion 31.6 Pittsburgh s time of possession 31 min, 6 seconds #1 Google search on Monday John 3:16 Over 90M Google searches of John 3:16 on Monday Twitter reports 9,420 tweets/second after the 80 yard TD pass in Overtime (this # crushes the Royal Wedding and Bin Laden s death) Voted Most Popular Athlete in America this month in ESPN s Sports Poll Baptist Press reports more than 150 people made eternal decisions to follow Christ (tracked by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website)

A Little More 316 Fun 1 Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness

Boldly Proclaim The Gospel Running counter to our culture requires boldness and a firm identity in who you are IN CHRIST Ephesians 6:19-20 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Acts 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

How Are we to Be Bold Last Week, 2 Timothy 4:2-5 Preach the Word Preach means to proclaim aloud or to proclaim as a herald. The Word is the gospel of Christ in season out of season Be prepared means to be ready a sense of urgency In season means when it seems right; out of season means when it does not seem appropriate or convenient Correct This is a philosophical or legal term that refers to a questioning process or crossexamination The result of this process is to make the sinner aware of his sin Rebuke Means to call people under God s judgment b/c of sin Encourage Has two-fold meaning both comfort and urge Keep your head Means be sober and keep your eyes open; be wakeful like an athlete abstaining from alcohol to stay alert to remain in total control Endure hardship Preaching will evoke harassment and persecution (see Phil 1:7, 13-14; John 15:20) Paul encourages Timothy to preserve Do the work of an evangelist Literally means preach the gospel despite the persecution that follows Discharge the duties of your ministry Paul encourages Timothy to give his full measure

Last Sunday Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjayorr-z4m

Today s Game Plan Read our study passage II Timothy 4:6-22 Biblical Discipleship Luke 14:25-34 Luke 9:23-27 Matthew 8:18-22 Watch two video segments with Joel Osteen and Piers Morgan Listen for ways we can boldly proclaim the Gospel, fighting the good faith, running the race, & keeping the faith Will zero in on two relevant topics and lay them against the truth of God s Word Capital Punishment Mormonism Re-read today s study passage II Timothy 4:6-8

Bridging Last Week & This Week Contrasted a Biblical view of discipleship with the American Dream Discussed the concern that we, the Church, can get desensitized to a prosperity message that is ABOUT US that runs counter to the teachings of Christ and the cost of discipleship If we make joy, prosperity, peace, personal power, victory, etc. ends in and of themselves we have embraced a theology of the resurrection that ignores the cross In other words it is BECAUSE of the cross (suffering) that we can experience joy, hope, peace, victory, power, etc. (resurrection) Teaching that almost exclusively focuses on the benefits of the cross without the call to pick up your cross and follow me ignores Christ s teachings, the history of suffering of the church, and the call to die to self Before we get into our two focus topics today, let s wrap-up this proper view of the resurrection by reading a few accounts from Christ on the cost of following Him then look at how we are to boldly proclaim God s truth in the context of current social issues

The Red Letters on the Cost of Discipleship Luke 14:25-34 26. if anyone comes after me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters yes even his own life he can not be my disciple.27 And if anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 33. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.34 Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Luke 9:23-27 23. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24 For whoever wants to save his life must lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? Matthew 8:18-22 20.Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head 22 Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.

Last Week s Challenge Listen closely Tell me how many times you hear Christian themes of The name of Jesus Christ The cost of discipleship (following Christ) The true meaning of life to glorify God Listen for themes of the American Dream of A therapeutic prosperity theology - be happy (Every Day a Friday) Moral relativism ( what s right for me may not be right for you ) I don t know or I m not willing to take a stance

On Capital Punishment Let s walk through the SBC document Genesis 9:5-6 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from every man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man. What is the difference between abortion and capital punishment with respect to the sanctity of life? IMPORTANT: One has to do with justice God has given authority to carry out this justice to the civil magistrate who is to protect the innocent and punish the guilty (Romans 13:1-3)

Justice & Forgiveness Is there error in the justice system? Headlines yesterday on Governor s Pardons Barbour: Forgive, Cut Medical Costs What s the distinction between forgiveness and justice? What examples can you think of when Jesus challenged the Roman government? When is it ok to stand up against the established government in light of Romans 13? Note Acts 5:29 Smuggling Bibles, Daniel not praying, preaching in some countries, David Plat s Underground Church, etc. Look at Jesus' actions in John 8:1-11 What kind of pardon does Christ grant?

Mormonism Let s watch two very short clips to set up the discussion, then walk through the handout material http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=ybmvqowi8fm Britt Hume (Fox) asks Joel Osteen Is a Mormon a true Christian? Joseph Smith

Mormonism Let s walk through a few documents One page narrative from watchmen.org One page of Barriers, Bridges, and Action Points for Churches, Associations, and State Conventions Booklet produced by the North American Mission Board that offers a cross walk and comparative religions matrix So, let me ask you Is a Mormon a true Christian?

Sum Matt 6:24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money We can not pursue two mutually excusive things The Bible has a very radical view of what it means to follow Christ Die to self, live for Christ - If I die to me, I can make much of Christ The American Dream has a different message Live for me - If I work hard enough I can make much of me Pray for discernment to distinguish Truth from heresy Be faithful to spend time in God s Word so you can discern truth and articulate a never-changing Biblical perspective to our ever-changing social issues When given the chance, boldly speak the truth (in love) Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Live today with the eternity in mind! (2 Timothy 4:7-8) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed his appearing.