In our time, Christianity is not exactly popular but then, it wasn’t exactly popular in the first century. Jesus told His disciples, “24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause’” (John 15:24-25). And He also told them “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19).

In this series called, “The Unpopular Way”, will be looking at a number of unpopular teachings from the Bible. In this lesson we’ll consider the ways the world tries to suppress you and how you can overcome such things as DEI, the majority rule fable, and it doesn’t matter what you believe. 

Join with me and remember the power to save is not in us, but it is God’s word.

GOD OF ALL COMFORT

Paul wrote, “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any [a]trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4)

God is Ever Present to Sustain Us Through Adversity – (Psa. 23; Heb. 13:5-6; James 4:10). We will face hardships in many forms, physical, emotional, yet when finally give up and lean on Christ, such a result cannot be all bad.
It’s been said, the only gospel to the poor and unfortunate is the gospel of better wages, better homes, less work and more play.
But truth is that adversity, suffering is what produces the noblest and strongest characters we have known. Forged to serve by these circumstances.
“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the [a]strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psa. 73:26)

Let us think on these things…

A WALK WITH GOD!

The previous lesson was about how to be pleasing like Enoch. This lesson is about how we can “walk with God”!

The New Testament teaches us to…
…walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
…walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25)
…walk in good works (Eph. 2:10)
…walk in love (Eph. 5:1-2)
…walk wisely, redeeming the time (Eph. 5:15-27)
…walk in the light (1 John 1:7)

Listen in as we discuss these six ways we can walk with the God of Creation, and the Lord Jesus Christ…

BE PLEASING LIKE ENOCH: Our most important thought must be what must I do to please God? This is an absolute truth! The Hebrew writer said of Enoch, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)

Jesus Pleased God by Doing the Father’s Will – So Must We! Obviously pleasing God requires faith in action, that is walking…

HOW CAN WE BE PLEASING TO GOD? PLEASE GOD THROUGH THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING.
– Not to Please Men – 1 Thess. 2:4
– Not Another Gospel – Gal. 1:8-9
– Preach In and Out of Season – 2 Tim. 4:1-4
– Preach As A Bond Servant of Christ – Gal. 1:10

OUR SALVATION PLEASES GOD
– It’s God’s Desire – 1 Timothy 2:3-4
– Our Waiting – Phil. 3:20-21
– Putting On Christ – Gal. 3:27

A LIFE OF A SERVANT

The Master said, “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve….” (Matt. 20:28)

JESUS NOT ONLY SPOKE THESE WORDS BUT HE WAS A DOER.
– He showed us this service through the example of His own life.
– Healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and by His sacrificial death on the cross.
– TRULY THE SON OF MAN DID COME TO SERVE, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.
– The LORD, our MASTER Jesus was willing to serve us in the most perfect and complete sense by laying down His life for us.

What will we do to serve Him in return?
Let us consider together, what is involved in serving God…

Let us consider together, what is involved in serving God…

The psalmist says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6)

WE PROCLAIM THE PRAISES OF HIM…
* BY BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
* BY OUR WORSHIP
* BY SHARING THE GOOD NEWS
* BY OUR GOOD WORKS
* BY LIVING FAITHFULLY

TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
“Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23)

THIS LESSON: 
CONTROVERSIAL TRUTH
TRUTH MUST BE PREACHED

“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him–the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (John 12:48)

GOD PROVIDES AND DELIVERS

“20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you [f]complete in every good work to do His will, working in [g]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

In this lesson we’ll consider three points. 
1. God is Always Good
2. The Fear of God Leads to Reward
3. One Who Desires Life Desires Holiness

JOY

There are many things in this life that can produce joy in our hearts. I played violin for years it brought me joy. Falling in love and finally marrying the love of my life brought be joy. Seeing my children born and grow to be godly children of God brought me joy. 

But, all these great things are temporary. I played the violin for others and brought them joy until I cut off my finger in a table saw accident. Now I am learning to play the trumpet with when I play doesn’t bring anyone joy. Someday I will die (Heb. 9:27), or the love of my life will go before me which will, for a time, bring great sorrow. But again, though these things will one day pass – the joy that comes from above – the joy of being a member of the body of Christ and being recipients of the promise of eternal life – can never be taken away. 

We’ll investigate this and I pray all will have that eternal fruit of the Spirit – Joy by accepting the invitation of Jesus Christ…

INHERITING THE PROMISES

Our lesson today comes from the great inheritance that God promised and delivered to His people, who after taking the promised land, became the great nation, Israel.
We learn from this account what Kind of FAITH we must have today. We will learn of three preconditions of faith—then apply them to our walk as Christians. Also, for those who have not yet obeyed the gospel—the same principles apply. Understand that Israel was seeking the land of milk and honey which God promised before to Abram. In the same way we are pilgrims seeking a heavenly home. Just like the chosen people of God under the Old Law only received that promise by obedient faith. So also, today all who are the chosen people of God – that is the church – must have obeyed the gospel by obedient faith.
Let’s begin then with the first precondition for inheriting the promised land which is…
FAITH AND OBEDIENCE