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23
Sep 2019

A Summary of Galatians 5

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Galatians 5 offers us three different, but interrelated ways to think about how to live the Christian life. Guard your freedom in Christ. 1-12 Serve one another in Love. 13-15 Walk in the Spirit. 16-26 The first speaks of our spiritual reality — knowing that God accepts us completely in Christ. The second speaks of our spiritual responsibility — to serve one another in love. The third speaks of our spiritual resource – we live the Christian life through the Spirit who lives within us. These three exist in unity, they never......

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23
Oct 2017

Summary – The Gospel in Genesis 1-50 and in the City

Church, core values, evangelism, gospel, grace of God, humankind, Jesus Christ, ministry, Sin categorizar, spiritual growth, worship
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Summary – The Gospel in Genesis 1-50 and in the City Genesis has introduced us to the Creator-Redeemer God who graciously gives mankind a garden-temple in which to serve God and from which to extend the worship of God throughout the earth. In Adam all mankind rebels against God and is banished from the temple-garden. Prior to banishment from the temple-garden, a promise is given of a second Adam, who would not succumb to Satan’s temptation and would finally defeat Satan. After the progression of sin and rebellion, mankind and the earth......

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16
Oct 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 47:28-50:26

evangelism, grace of God, holiness of God, humankind, Jesus Christ, ministry, salvation, Sin categorizar, social issues, worship
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Reunion and restoration to Canaan (47:28-50:26) As the story of Genesis winds down, we are wondering about the outcome of the Abrahamic promise that God’s people would bring blessing to the nations. Ironically, the people of God are in exile from their promised land; yet while living as strangers in the midst of a powerful nation, they have opportunity to be the bearers of blessing. Not only do they have opportunity while in exile to bless the nations, but here they receive the blessing of their father, who speaks to each of......

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25
Sep 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 46-47

Church, church planting, core values, discipleship commitments, Encouragement, evangelism, gospel, grace of God, humankind, Jesus Christ, social issues, spiritual growth
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Jacob’s family in Egypt (46:1-47:27) As Jacob and his family go to Egypt during the time of famine, he is assured by the Lord that the Abrahamic promise of numerous descendants will be fulfilled in Egypt and that the covenant family will eventually return to the land of promise. While in an alien land, God continues to bless Joseph with wisdom and influence so that he becomes a blessing to the Egyptians. God prospers His people as they settle in the alien land. ” 27 Thus Israel settled in the land of......

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18
Sep 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 42-45

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The Refining of the covenant family (42:1-45:28) The covenant family has suffered brokenness due to their own sinful choices born out of jealousy, rivalry, and succumbing to pagan morality. If dependent alone on Jacob and his eleven sons, the covenant promise of blessing to the nations through the seed of Abraham would fail. Nevertheless, though in exile, Joseph fulfills the responsibility of Abraham’s descendants as he brings blessing to Egypt. Reconciliation and restoration come to this broken family from an unlikely person. The one who has been betrayed and most deeply offended......

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11
Sep 2017

The Gospel for the City in Gen 39:1-41:57

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Joseph in Egypt (39:1-41:57) These chapters highlight the presence of God and His providence in the life of Joseph. Despite the injustice and betrayal of his brothers, Joseph experiences fresh grace which takes him through the trials of captivity and brings blessing to him and others in the midst of his troubles. The Lord gives grace to Joseph to flee the seductions of Potiphar’s wife; the Lord protects him while unjustly imprisoned, and eventually exalts him to the second highest position in Egypt. While the covenant family remains in the land of......

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24
Aug 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 37:2-38:30

discipleship commitments, evangelism, gospel, grace of God, humankind, Jesus Christ, salvation, sin, worship
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Family disunion in Canaan (37:2-38:30) These chapters demonstrate the far reach of sin even among those chosen to bring blessing to the nations. The family disharmony that temporarily interrupts the advance of God’s purposes is eventually reversed by the gracious work of God. Joseph is the son favored by his father yet envied by his brothers. In their jealousy, they revert to a vicious act of casting their brother into a pit, selling him into slavery, then telling their father that he was killed by an animal. As we read this story,......

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13
Mar 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 36:1-37:1

Church, church planting, core values, gospel, Jesus Christ, social issues
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Genesis 36:1-37:1 record the descendants of the rejected line of Esau. The prosperity of both Jacob and Esau makes it difficult for them to share the land of Canaan so Esau chooses the higher elevation of what is later called Edom. Esau takes multiple wives one of whom is a descendant of Ishmael, perhaps an attempt to bring some unity to the two lines that were not heirs of the Abrahamic promise. The Edomites create their own alien kingdom to the kingdom of God in establishing themselves in a fortress like land......

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13
Feb 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 35

Church, church planting, discipleship commitments, evangelism, gospel, grace of God, Jesus Christ, ministry, social issues, worship
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In chapter 35, the Lord instructs Jacob to return to the place where Abraham had built and altar and where he had made a vow to the Lord after he had been assured by the Lord that the promise to Abraham belonged to him and his descendants.  Jacob returns with a serious commitment to shun idolatry and to worship the Lord. He is keeping the vow he made at Bethel that if the Lord brought him back in peace, then the Lord would be his God and he would honor Him as......

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23
Jan 2017

The Gospel for the City in Genesis 34

Church, core values, ethics, evangelism, gospel, grace of God, humankind, Jesus Christ, mercy ministries, ministry, relationships, salvation, Sin categorizar, social issues, worship
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Genesis 34 is one of those sad chapters in the history of redemption.  Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, is raped, humiliated, and then treated like a commodity to be traded for mutual benefits. Jacob appears ready to make the exchange of his daughter for the benefit of prospering in the land – the land already promised to him by the Lord. When Dinah’s brothers hear of the atrocity they first object because the Hivite’s do not bear the covenant sign of circumcision. It appears already that the covenant itself has become less significant than......

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