Summit Church Garden City

Setting up Galatians 4:21-31 - God is in charge - Big difference between God’s will and God’s timing - When we try to help God, we end up hurting others 1. Are you creating a law culture or a grace culture? Law based system leads to 3 common attitudes: - the self-justified - the religious performer - the cause warrior 2. God’s good is better than your bad The Law: - reveals God’s holiness (Romans...

1. Seek to be a means of grace 2. Don’t overlook the demonic 3. Show grace and truth 4. Connect before you correct

1. Do you belong to Christ? 2. Do you see yourself as a son or a slave? 3. Do you see God as a father or a master?

Jesus is the seed to who belongs the promises The law was not for the one seed but for the seeds Only through the one seed is any future and past seed established.

Self-made righteousness is… 1. Logically foolish 2. Historically incoherent 3. Theologically a curse 4. So that we would receive the promise

1. Because Unbelievers Lie 2. Because Believers Make Mistakes 3. Because God Can Do Neither

The Gospel: - you have a problem - you are the problem - there is a solution - you are not the solution - Jesus is the solution   1. Revelation vs speculation 2. Redemption vs religion 3. Calling vs job

Accepting an altered Gospel… 1. Is a rejection of the true Gospel 2. Is to subject oneself to the Judgment of God 3. Is not a matter of personal preference

1. Your choices are important 2. Your bad choices have consequences 3. The necessity of the Holy Spirit

Start with God - he finds strength in God - he seeks God’s will in prayer - he acts on God’s word in faith Go With God Do as God God will use trials: - to strip away other objects of faith that we're trusting in - to reveal to us our true selves - to remind us that something has gone terribly wrong with our planet and someone needs to fix it - to reveals to us who and what really matters  

1. Living out your faith brings conflict with the world 2. The highest goal of our life is to bring glory to God 3. Trust in God’s sovereignty - He will provide a way of escape - He will work all things for the good of those that love Him

The allure of En-dor… 1. Begins and ends with fear 2. Promises answers but leads to death and isolation 3. Is the result of not listening to the voice of God

1. The Resurrection is a life-altering historical event 2. The Resurrection is the key to understanding all the Bible 3. The Resurrection is a powerful message to the world 4. The resurrection gives us hope for the future - Real - Personal - Certain - Unimaginably beautiful

1. We are to live in the world, but we are not of it 3 access points to our hearts: - desires of the flesh - desires of the eyes - boastful pride of life 2. We are to live as good citizens in the world - submit yourselves to the governing authorities - pray for and seek the good of your community 3. We are citizens of a different kingdom

Rationalizations that lead to sin: 5. I’ll just do it one time 4. Nobody will know 3. That’s not sin, that’s not wrong, everyone is doing it. 2. This can’t possibly be wrong 1. God will forgive me   1. Trust God to make things right Lesson: Watch out for temptation 2. Trust God to Protect you 3. Trust God for your salvation   Ways we can be misled into thinking we have assurance of salvation: 1. I...

Do not repay evil for evil Be careful to display the Gospel in everything Live at peace with everyone as far as possible Do not take revenge but leave it in God’s hands Return good for evil, not evil for good This will lead others to conviction and repentance

Respond properly to suffering Be a man or a woman of prayer Don’t hold grudges, but forgive others Be patient Be Kingdom focused Be a lifelong learner

1. Seek God’s will through the word of God and prayer (David at Keilah) 1st lesson: we should be bold in trusting God’s promises 2nd lesson: we should be wise in avoiding unnecessary danger   2. Persevere and grow in the faith (David at Ziph)   3. Trust God’s providential care (David at Maon) 1st lesson: Be alert, the enemy seeks to destroy you 2nd lesson: Be at peace, God is in control

From the Cave to the Crown Finding Grace in the Darkest Places

What do we trust when we are afraid or desperate.. 1. Do we trust in our own plans? 2. Do we trust in a common enemy? 3. Do we trust in the Lord?

1. The absolute importance of biblical friendship 2. Faithfulness and honesty are crucial components of biblical friendship 3. Where do we get the strength to pursue biblical friendship 

1. Delayed Repentance->Deeper shame->Dimmer discernment 2. EVIL NEVER CHANGES 3. Dimmer Discernment: God appears further and the darkness around you will deepen 4. How to be free: - Christ our inheritance - Christ our deliverance - Christ our confidence