Martha – “busy, busy, busy all the time, time, time.” Mary – “busy, busy, busy, BUT NOT all the time, time, time.” Martha is DISTRACTED Mary is DEVOTED 1. How does busyness distract us?: We DOUBT or UNDERMINE God’s goodness, grace and glory We FOCUS on self or others and become PROUD Our JOY is…
1. BE JOYFUL! (v4-5) Rejoice in the Lord, He is near 2. BE PRAYERFUL! (v6-7) Choose prayer not despair Let peace guard your heart & mind Pray about everything 3. BE THOUGHTFUL! (v8-9) Practise thought management by the power of the Holy Spirit: Truth, honour, justice, purity, loveliness, commendation, excellence & praise Emulate, demonstrate
1. THE PLAGUE! The epidemic of division was affecting the whole church 2. THE PLEA! Agree in the Lord 3. THE PLAN! Help bring restoration – Syzygus 4. THE PLEDGE! “For there the Lord has commanded the blessing…..” (Psalm 133:3b)
Straining Forward (3:12-16) Staying Focused (3:17-21) Standing Firm (4:1)
A) PRIDE Shows itself: 1. In our WISDOM We think we know better than God 2. In our POWER We rely on our strength rather than God’s 3. In our RICHES We get our value from “things” rather than God B) PRIDE Leads to: 1. ENVY – we think we’re more worthy 2. BITTERNESS –…
1. REJOICE! (v1) In the Lord 2. RENOUNCE! (v2-6) All confidence in the flesh 3. RELY! (v7-11) On Christ alone
Principles of mission: Take the gospel to people groups not political nations The gospel has power in itself. The spread of the gospel is by those in the local culture People have to be sent – missionaries Who sends these missionaries? The Holy Spirit & the local church There are two paths of mission:…
1. WORK OUT! (v12-13) Your own salvation 2. SHINE OUT! (v14-15) By being thankful, gracious & godly in a crooked world 3. GIVE OUT! (v16) God’s Word! Verbalise the Gospel 4. POUR OUT! (v17-18) Your life in His service
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures Christ was buried Christ was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures Christ was seen by many people: Cephas, Peter, the twelve apostles, to more than 500 brothers at one time… then to James, then to all the Apostles and last of all…
FOR HARMONY! (v1-2) “…being of the same mind, having the same love and being in full accord….” FOR HUMILITY! (v3-8) Think of others, have the mind of Christ, follow His example: a man, a servant, a victim, a curse FOR HOPE! (v9-11) Those who are humble God exalts. The exaltation of Christ is…