Following Jesus Son of God …

Hello to Everyone,

▶︎ Israel chose their story over the Story of God.

• Missing God’s Story was not new to the Jewish people.
• At one time Elijah wondered if he was the only one left true to God (1 Kings 19:10, Romans 11:2-4).
• The people of Israel (north and south kingdoms) were ravaged and sent off to foreign lands as captives as God’s judgment on their rebellion.

▶︎ But … They tried to keep the parts of God’s Story  that fit their story.

They kept the teaching of Moses but not really …

• Moses … (John 5:46–47 ESV) For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?
• Moses … (John 7:19 ESV) Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?

▶︎ And in the process … They lost God’s Story.

• (Jeremiah 23:36 NCV) But you will never again say, ‘The message of the LORD,’ because the only message you speak is your own words. You have changed the words of our God, the living God, the LORD All-Powerful.
• (Jeremiah 23:36 NKJV) And the oracle of the LORD you shall mention no more. For every man’s word will be his oracle, for you have perverted the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.

▶︎ How do we learn from their mistakes?

We receive our “information” from God, and we deliver what we receive from God.

• No editing. No adding or subtracting.
• (Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV) You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.
• (Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV) Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

Message Title: Truth I Am Speaking in Christ!

Message Text: Romans 5:1-5

• PDF 22A Truth I Am Speaking in Christ : Romans 9:1-5 : ffc : dave scott : 020815 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF 22A Truth I Am Speaking in Christ : Romans 9:1-5 : ffc : dave scott : 020815 : STUDY SHEET TWO

What wall is your ladder leaning against?

You’ve heard the expression: “He made it to the top of the ladder but realized that his ladder was up against the wrong wall.”

This was the problem for many of Paul’s countrymen. Their ladder was against the wrong wall. Sometimes we think that the Jews who rejected and crucified Jesus had a problem only with the new covenant.

But that isn’t true. These Jews, as Jesus pointed out, and as Paul does here in our text, had a problem with the old covenant also. They thought tradition and nationality meant salvation. They held their own righteousness over God’s. They rejected faith for law and rejected grace for works.

If they were living by the old covenant in a way that honored God, then they would have welcomed Christ with open arms instead of viewing him as another religious competitor.

They didn’t realize that it was all based on the promise of God.

They didn’t live by the Holy Scriptures of which they were so proud!

But we wouldn’t do that, would we?

Message Title: The Children of the Promise

Message Text: Romans 9:1-18

• PDF The Children of the Promise : Romans 9:1-18 : ffc : dave scott : 020115 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF The Children of the Promise : Romans 9:1-18 : ffc : dave scott : 020115 : STUDY SHEET TWO

The commanded love of God.

• God commands us to love him, commands us to love our neighbors. God commands us to love our enemies. And now John echoes the words of Christ where Christ commands us to “Love one anther.”

Why? Why all the commands? I know that God is God but why so bossy?

Why? So he can perfect his love in our lives that we might truly live in Christ.

Have you ever heard this? “Do you know what you need?” Or maybe you’ve said it. “Do you know what you need?”

Well, God does know what we need, and he knows how to get us there.

“Beloved, let us love one another.”

Message Title: Perfect Love

Message Text: 1 John 4:7-18

• MP3: Perfect Love : 1 John 4:7-18 : ffc : dave scott : 012515

“Love one another.”

Allowing God to love us to the fullest extent of his love.

• In some ways this has been a “How to Let God Love Us” series.
  God commands us to love him.
  God commands us to love our neighbors.
  God commands us to love our enemies.
  And echoing Christ the Apostle John exhorts us to love one another.

Why? Why all the commands? I know that God is God but why so bossy?

So he can perfect his love in our lives, so we can truly live through Christ and receive the love of God to its fullest extent.

God does know what we need, and what we need is to be completely filled and transformed by his great love.

*This is how he started the “Save the Humans Project” on Earth.

“For God so loved …”

How great is this love of God’s?

• Great enough and powerful enough and all-consuming enough to quash even our greatest fears … WHEN we allow God to perfect this love in our lives!

Message Title: Perfect Love!

Message Text: 1 John 4:7-18

• PDF Perfect Love : 1 John 4:7-18 : ffc : dave scott : 012515 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF Perfect Love : 1 John 4:7-18 : ffc : dave scott : 012515 : STUDY SHEET TWO

A seminar on godly living …

If I were to invite you to a seminar that promised to make you like your Father in heaven, would you consider that a seminar on godliness?

Or if I invited you to a seminar that instructed us in ways to live like the Most High, would you consider that a seminar on godliness?

Well, here we are today, presenting a “seminar” on godliness directly routed through Jesus’ command to love our enemies.

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies!
[A Command, not a Suggestion.]

Message Title: Love Your Enemies!

Message Text: Luke 6:27-36, Matthew 5:43-48

MP3: Love your enemies : Matthew 5:43-48 : Luke 6:27-36 : ffc : dave scott : AM MESSAGE 011815

“I say to you who hear …”

The opening line of this week’s text. “I say to you who hear, Love your enemies.”

Not a message for everyone. “To you who hear …”

Christ is speaking to only those who hear, who actually listen to his words. And what are the words? Another command. More biblical instruction as to how we handle our personal relationships. Bible doctrine concerning our attitude toward and treatment of our enemies.

Oh, and by the way, another command, not a suggestion.

• Want to live and act like God? Want live the life of a son of God? Want to receive great reward from the Most High? Love your enemies.

Who would have thought that honoring and obeying God would take a direct route through how we treat the people who contend against us?

BILLBOARD TRUTHS: I have found these truths continuing to bubble to the surface through this entire Love God, Love Your Neighbor series.

• We must trust God with all our heart.
• Mercy wins.

Message Title: Love Your Enemies!

Message Text: Luke 6:27-36

PDF Love your enemies : Luke 6:27-36 : ffc : dave scott : 011815 : STUDY SHEET ONE

PDF Love your enemies : Luke 6:27-36 : ffc : dave scott : 011815 : STUDY SHEET TWO

So are we stumped over a definition?

Or are we like the lawyer … 

• Lord, could you define “neighbor” for me? And how about love?  Just what do you mean by love? Lord, would you define “enemy”? And “Frenemies”? Do we need to love frenemies?

Not Just Suggestions but Commands!

You’ve heard that before I imagine. “The Ten Commandments. Commandments, not just suggestions. Not the Ten Suggestions.”

If you have been on the planet for any length of time and have been in church or listened to Christian radio, you surely have heard this. “Not just suggestions.”

• But what you probably HAVE NOT HEARD is this phrase–“Not Just Suggestions”–used in references to the two greatest commandments.

Interesting, isn’t it? The commandments that we have deemed most important “get all the press,” but the two COMMANDMENTS that Jesus says are the most important, the greatest, not so much.

Our priorities are skewed!

“Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and might” — Not a suggestion!

“Love your neighbor as yourself” — Not a suggestion!

“Love your enemies” — Not a suggestion!

And more “not suggestions” …

• (Leviticus 19:18 ESV) You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
• (Romans 13:8 ESV) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
• (Galatians 5:14 ESV) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
• (Colossians 3:14 ESV) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Not suggestions but it seems that too many of us don’t know this.

There is tremendous blessing in letting God establish our priorities and living by those priorities. It is a faith challenge well worth the journey.

Message Title: Second Love, Second Doctrine!

Message Text: Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-37

• MP3: Second Love, Second Doctrine : Matthew 22:34-40 : Luke 10:25-37 : ffc : dave scott : 011215

#1 PRIORITY BEFORE GOD:
Love God, love neighbor as yourself, Matthew 22:34-40, Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 19:16-22, Leviticus 19:18, Colossians 3:14.

• QUESTION: WHO ORDERS YOUR PRIORITIES?

#1 MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD:
The gospel according to the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15:1-9.

• QUESTION: FROM WHOM DO YOU RECEIVE YOUR MESSAGE?

#1 KINGDOM TO BE CONSIDERED:
The kingdom of God, Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-2.

• QUESTION: TO WHOSE KINGDOM ARE YOU LOYAL?

Hello All,

Brrrr……. Hope you are warm and safe during this bitter cold.

So this week we are looking at the #2 Doctrine in Scripture according to Jesus.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself!

Message Title: Second Love, Second Doctrine!

Message Text: Matthew 22:43-40, Luke 10:25-37

• PDF Second Love, Second Doctrine Matthew 22:34-40 : Luke 10:25-37 : ffc : dave scott : 011115 : STUDY SHEET ONE
• PDF Second Love, Second Doctrine Matthew 22:34-40 : Luke 10:25-37 : ffc : dave scott : 011115 : STUDY SHEET TWO

-> This has been “big worm” week. Do you know what I mean?

Some years ago I heard this advice: “When you start your day, if you have two worms to eat, eat the big one first.” If I remembered who said that, I would certainly give them credit, but, alas, I remember not.

But I do remember and practice the principle. This is that time of year where I am still trying to organize expense budgets, estimate taxes, breakdown salary package, review IRS regulations, hope my calculations and estimates are correct, etc.

Yes! All of that is just as much fun as it sounds. So Thursday Kerry and I are planning a fun day. Celebrating victory over the worms maybe?

• (Philippians 4:4–9 ESV)
  ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

-> A spoonful of Scripture helps the worm go down …

Yes. Rejoice. Truly rejoice. In fact, I have found that I appreciate the good things in life so much more, so much tastier after eating several worms. Cleansing to the palette possibly?

Mmmm……..

• (1 Thessalonians 5:16–19 ESV)
  ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.

Not cliche. Not rose-tinted glasses.

-> But the word of God!

And Jesus taught that the #1 doctrine was to love God first with of our heart, soul, mind and might!

• Two vital questions:
  ONE: When we are commanded from Scripture to love God and love our neighbor, is that Bible doctrine?
  TWO: What priority should we give this command?

Jesus’ doctrinal teaching was so powerful that after he finished the discussion on the greatest commandment in Mark 12 that no one else dared to question him.

• (Mark 12:34 ESV) And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Message Title: First Love, First Doctrine!

Message Text: Mark 12:28-34 & Revelation 2:1-7

• MP3: First Love, First Doctrine : 010415 : FFC : dave scott : Mark 12:28-34