kingdom common grace "these people are part of that system and that makes them our enemy"

Kingdom

Common Grace

"These people are part ofThat system

And that makes themOur enemy"

Here's what you've seen…

Them and usSeparate from- be ye separate!Media, kids sports, booksSubculture that's "better than"

Because we're good and worthyWe're the people of God

They aren't, so…They're the enemy

Or the project

At least 2 waysOf interacting with our world

- Separation/evil/wickedRun from "them"Only hang with "us"

Moralistic religionAs a basis for separation

Is demonstrable falseAnd sets us up as hypocrites


- Beauty, truth, Imago Dei..Capable of good and evilBut not our enemy


- The difference is JesusAnd our need for himNot Enemy or Project

The difference is Common Grace

What would God owe?

Salvific GraceCommon Grace

God's blessingsWithout distinction

Common Grace

He makes his sun shine onthe righteous and the unrighteous

Common Grace:

Physical, Intellectual,Moral, Creative, Societal

Religious

Common Grace meansWhat God created is goodAnd we all experience

His goodness and grace

You are a called by God to be a Channel of God's Grace

Blessing your worldWithout regard to worthiness

Jesus showed graceTo the undeserving

Who never became followers

Bethesda…

One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already

been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want

to be healed?”

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me”

Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at

once the man was healed, and he took up his

bed and walked

Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed”

But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that

man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk’”

They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was,

for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd

in the place

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you”

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus

who had healed him

And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath- John 5:2-16

Did Jesus do right by this guy?Did Jesus bless this man?

Either before or after the blessing…did he deserve it?

Lifting up his eyes…and seeing that a large crowd was coming

toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so

that these people may eat?

Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little”

One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to

him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two

fish, but what are they for so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number

Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who

were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted

And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost”

So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with

fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who

had eaten

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”

Was there a religious test first?A test of morality?

Was it about being worthy?

Did Jesus bless them?

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves

You just want what you can get

Jesus is blessing peopleWithout regard to

their worthiness

But he's not avoiding speakingTruth that can change them

Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you”

Talk of Moses and Manna

"I am the bread of life…I have come down from heaven…"

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you”

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer

walked with him- John 6

Did Jesus feed them?Did they deserve it?

Was it about being acceptedBy the crowd?

"My favorite story of Christ Feeding the multitude is when

he didn't because his ministry was only focused

on Salvation"

"My favorite story of Christ Preaching is when he told them there are many paths to the Father because he wanted to be loved and be seen as tolerant"

Jesus…stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his

disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and

Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon

…who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases

And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured

And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all- Luke 6:17-19

When Jesus healed crowdsDo we ever find him

Asking first about how they live?

Why not?

In his graceGod has decided to bless

People who will neverLove, trust or acknowledge himBut instead blame & curse him

Yeah, but that's all Jesus

I ain't Jesus…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth’

Reciprocity…agent of Karma

But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if

anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him

the other also

And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well

And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles

Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you

In not defending your egoYour possessionsYour time and effort

You are blessing peopleWho are taking advantage

Treat people like you're treated?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your

neighbor and hate your enemy’

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven

Kingdom Principle:

Children are like their FatherElse they may not be children

For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends

rain on the just and on the unjust

Blessings to all: Common Grace

Where's the us vs. them?

The separate subcultureAnd the looking down on?

Common Grace

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you

doing than others?

Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect- Matt. 5:38-48

So how do we relate toA world that is often hostile

To believers?

"If God doesn't judge Americasoon, he'll have to apologize to

Sodom and Gomorrah!"

Do we hope for judgment?NotSoMuch

China attacks!

“Thus says the Lord of hosts...to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

You are where he wants you

Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat

their produce

Live where you areWhile you're there

Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,

and pray to the Lord on its behalf

Common Grace: Bless themThem? Yeah, them!

…for in its welfare you will find your welfare- Jeremiah 29:4-7

But they'll laugh at me…Serving them after

What they did!

Whose opinion matters most?

God gives grace to the…?He resists the…?

…in its welfare you will find your welfare

God promises to recompenseWhen we serve in his name

We are citizens of 2 Kingdoms

They aren't your enemies"If it is possible, as far as it

depends on you, be at peace with everyone"

Immigration: Regardless of your viewOn government policy

As a believer…serve

Skill, talent, capability

Physician…may not be believer?Mechanic?

Teacher?Who you vote for?

At least 2 ways:

- Us vs. Them- Us glorifying God in all things- Us consuming, not discerning

Jesus served and blessedBut he spoke hard truth

And upset people

Because eternity is at stakeAnd being everyone's friend

Keeps you from a crossEven today

Next Steps:Have I recognized God's

Unearned love and blessings

Or am I busy blaming himFor what he didn't do?

Next Steps:Am I making distinctionsIn who I love, serve and bless?

Does this reflect my KingAnd my call?

Questions, CommentsDisagreements

Today10:15 AM

Men

kingdom common grace "these people are part of that system and that makes them our enemy"

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