TO WHOM SHALL WE GO
In seeking to know the mind of Christ, we have begun a journey! Together we will travel through the gospels learning along the way what we can about our Lord, and Savior. About His humanity, his interaction with man, how Jesus handled the approaches of sinners, and how He used scripture to answer their often-foolish questions. How, many with good and honest hearts came to Jesus for wisdom, for healing, for comfort and chose to become His disciples.
On this journey, we will learn of His compassion, His power, His love!

To know the mind of God, means that we have received the message directly from God, and that message came into the world, out of the love of God, to be our redemption, Savior and Friend.

What a better place to begin, than in the gospel account of John…

YOU ARE SAINTS

Webster defines the word “identity” simply as, “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual”. We all have an identity such that when someone talks about us, the hearer quickly recognizes the person being spoken of. You remember him, he’s 71 years old, he preaches the gospel at the Columbus Street Church of Christ, his wife’s name is Sharon, and they have three children. . .

We’ve all heard of the “Witness Protection” program. Where a person testifies against another in a court of law and the authorities give them a new “Identity”. New name, new SS number, and often times even a new background, so that for all intense and purpose the “Old Person”, no longer exists.
Much like what happens when one obeys the gospel. “3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:3-4)

WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU?

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

The question asked by the prophet Micah so many years ago suggests that the LORD requires certain thins of His people.
We who love the word of the Lord, we who love Him because He first loved us have the desire to please Him.
We want to do all that He commands us to do.
This verse may contain the most comprehensive and all-embracing statements from the old testament, asking and then answering “What does the LORD require of you?”

Join me as we pull thoughts from the mind of God through the scriptures on this subject. 

LET US GOD ON TO PERFECTION

Have you ever run up the down escalator? Trying to walk up the down escalator is dangerous, and exhausting.
Spiritually brothers and sisters, living a faithful, obedient life in Christ in this world, is like being on an escalator going down, all the time you need to go up.
This world is going downward, we are striving to go upward. It is a challenge, but with God on our side (Rom. 8:31), it is also attainable.

To the Hebrews a warning was written, “1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.” (Heb. 6:1-3)

There in the first verse you see the words, let us go on to perfection. This in context is a warning for every Christian to press on to spiritual maturity.

We must not think of spiritual maturity as a state of sinlessness because it is not.
The goal of every child of God in striving for completeness, is to serve God through obedient love, to love the body of Christ (Col. 1:18) and to keep His commandments (John 14:15).

Let’s spend some time studying these great things…

PRECIOUS THINGS

In this lesson I want to express my understanding of a few, from the many, precious things found in the Bible.

So that we don’t “misuse” the word let us begin with a definition of the word “Precious”…

τίμιος

properly, held as of great price.
metaphorically, held in honor, esteemed, especially dear:
Hebrews 13:4; τίνι, to one, Acts 5:34; Acts 20:24

We will look at these precious things: Precious Word, precious Christ, precious blood of Christ, and precious Faith…

THINGS PEOPLE WISH TO BELIEVE

I wish, I wish, I had a billion dollars! A Japanese company called Softbank promised to invest 1 billion dollars in the U.S. in 2025 for tech company growth, and to add 100,000 jobs. I daydreamed for about 1 minute. What could I do with that kind of money? How many more people could I reach for the sake of the gospel? How many people could be helped? Then reality set in and I know that was not going to happen. 

It’s ok to dream, to invision, and sometimes our dream becomes a reality. In context of the faith, many people dream for things that are not from faith that ends up creating a “false religious practice”. Like, “I dream of a church with thousands of members, light shows, great music and programs for every age. Fellowship halls, preschools, day care, zoomba classes and a family life center complete with pools, basketball, and weight-rooms. 

Problem: If you dream hard enough all that will come to pass, but at what cost. The church we read about in the word of God, our standard for authority, paints a completely different “church”. A local church whose purpose is to evangelize, edify, and care for the saints of God, and not for food, fun, and fellowship. Not for entertainment, not for filling the belly, but for filling the soul with the bread of life, Jesus. 

In this lesson, we’ll consider 6 things that people wish were true, that are not. Six things that people have inserted into “their church practice”, which do not please God. 

A FATHER’S ADMONITION

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

In this text, we have David, as king of Israel, giving 5 points of advice to embolden his son, Solomon, who will soon take over the leadership of the nation of Israel.
1. KNOW GOD
2. SERVE GOD
3. REMEMBER THE LORD SEARCHES ALL HEARTS
4. SEEK THE LORD
5. IF YOU FORSAKE THE LORD – HE WILL CAST YOU OFF FOREVER

Let’s notice what this ancient father had to say to his son, and make application to ourselves…

Rejecting the King!

We read in the scripture that Jesus was taken by lawless hands, tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin who find nothing to accuse Him of, so they turned Him over to the Roman Law, to Pilate. Pilate found no fault either which should have ended everything. But, when given a choice between freeing Jesus and a notorious prisoner called Barabbas the Jews chose Barabbas, and shouted crucify Him! When Pilate aske, “shall I crucify your King?”, the chief priests answered, “We have not king but Caesar!”

I want to see by the scriptures what it was that the Jews rejected when they followed after their leaders’ directions, as a warning to us not to do the same…

LOST AND FOUND
We know that the devil was a murderer from the beginning. . .
We know that the devil does not stand for truth. . .
We know when he speaks a lie, that it’s from his own self, because he is the father of it (John 8:44).

In the garden that serpent created a “desire to sin” in Eve’s heart simply by highlighting the “benefits” of eating the forbidden fruit.
Benefits, yes, but at a great cost!

in this lesson I’d like us to consider 3 things that were lost when sin entered the world…

THE MAN OF INTEGRITY

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?” (Job 31:1)

Integrity is a firm, unwavering commitment to ethical behavior. Real integrity is not like the waves of the sea – rather means you have a clear sense of morality, as received from God, and you stick to it at all costs. Real integrity does not depend on the status quo, or the wishe of society, does not depend on other people reactions to you, and  does not depend on your personal feelings.

How is it that Job knew not to look upon a young woman? How is it that Job understood the differeance between right and wrong?