The Rock of KC

- 2 Tim. 3:1-5 the last days started at pentacost and continues even today - in order to pursue godliness, there are some things we need to watch for in our own lives and avoid.

- 1 Tim. 4:7-8, pursuing Godliness is profitable now and in the life to come. - 1 Tim. 2:1-2, 6:3-21 - v.6 Godliness with contentment is great gain - v.11 pursue all these things - who can I do good to this week? - v.18 God says to be rich in good deeds.

- Chris' story - Because He died - I am forgiven (Isaiah 53:1-12) - transgressions - rebellion - iniquities - guilt, depravity, our inherent propensity to sin - Emily's story - Because He rose - I can see (John 20:1-9) - 3 types of seeing: - blepi - a partial viewing from the entrance. It means to acknowledge. He simple acknowledged what Mary saw was true. (John 20:5) - theorei - to behold something astounding, perceive and look with scrutiny (John 20:6) - ho-ra-o - to see with the eyes or the mind, to perceive, know, to become acquainted with by experience, to the point of belief. - 3 responses: acknowledgement, scrutiny, and perceive and believe - the stone was rolled away from the tomb not to permit Christ to come out, but to enable the disciples to go in. - the question for each of us today is how do we respond to the resurrection? The resurrection did not produce the same thing in everyone present: some fled in terror, some were bribed to lie, some doubted, and some worshipped and believed - Because He lives - I have hope (1 Cor. 15:12-26)

- Time to get to the gym - 1 Tim. 4:7-11 - gymnazo - greek, means to train, discipline, exercise. Means to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind - Heb. 5:12-14 - paideia - greek, means the whol training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) it also includes the training and care of the body. Another definition means whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes an curbing passions - Heb. 12:1-15 - 4 things to settle: 1. discipline is part of the Christian walk (1 Cor. 9:24-27) 2. you are not your own (1 Cor. 6:12-20) 3. you will be a slave to something (Rom. 6:16-18) 4. you must set your mind on the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-14)

- 1 Tim. 3:16 - 4:16 - The Pursuit of Godliness Involves Fulfilling Your Calling (1 Tim. 4:6) - this involves instruction and modeling with life and practice - it means remaining anchored in God's Word and following sound doctrine - it means keeping priorities straight (1 Tim. 4:7-10) - reject profane and old wives' fables - exercise yourself toward Godliness - Godliness is profitable for all things - Isa. 26:3, Rom. 8:6 - the Savior of all men - especially for those who believe - personal instruction in Godliness (1 Tim. 4:11-16) - these things command - let no one despise your youth - be an example to the believers - by what you say (word) - by what you do (conduct) - in love - in attitude (spirit) - in faith (in the sense of faithfulness) - in purity - reading, exhortation, doctrine - do not neglect the gift that is in you - "God's gifts groan under our disuse or misuse." - Trapp - meditate on these things - give yourself entirely to them - take heed - save both yourself and those who hear you

- 1 Tim. 3:16, 4:1-16 - Godliness without Jesus Christ is just man made - no man can come to the Father except through Jesus - ungodliness will manifest in: - speaking lies in hypocrisy - a seared conscience ("well I know I shouldn't but...") - forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from foods (following man-made rules) Rom. 3:24 - a refutation of legalism - for every creature of God is good - nothing is to be refused - it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer (Gen. 1:29, 9:3)

In Pursuit Of Godliness

- Luke 18:1-8, Isa. 40:28-31, Prov. 24:10 - "faint" - to become feeble, idle, or lazy; to lack stamina - it's not wrong to feel faint, it makes you human - we need strength when adversity comes - individuals being obedient to God makes a huge affect in the world - there's no generation gap, but there is an experience gap - examples of people that didn't quit: Walt Disney, Henry Ford, R.H. Macy, F.W. Woolworth, Soichiro Honda, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, etc. - when a Christian faints - at least three things take place: 1. they become spiritually weak - the least little things detour them 2. there is darkness 3. there is a losing touch with reality - when you find yourself faint, 1. find someone to lean on: - the Lord (Isa. 40:31, Job 2:7) - saints (God's people will pray for you and hold you up) - family (they will stand by you when others won't) - friends 2. sit down for a while (rest in God) 3. get a drink - drink deeply from the Word of God 4. get some fresh air. Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe over your soul (Ps. 61:1-8)

- Col. 4:12 - A - Alone and Assembled - being devoted to prayer means you'll regularly pray alone and in teh assembly of others - is assembled prayer part of your life? Do you gather with at least one other person to pray on a regular basis? - be alert to what God puts on your heart about who to pray with and when - Acts 1:14, 12:12 - D = Desparate and Delighted - E = Explosive and Extended (both short and long) - be intentional about extended prayer - S = Spontaneous and Scheduled - scheduled planning and practice allows for spontaneity - if we are devoted to prayer, we will pray spontaneously through the day without ceasing - The true rich fruit of spontaneity grows in the garden that is well tended by the discipline of schedule. - whatever you give yourself to, that's what you'll become strong in

- be devoted to prayer - why pray? 1. God commands us to pray 2. the needs are great and eternal things are at stake (Rom. 10:1) 3. God acts when we pray and often does more in seconds than we could do in hours or weeks or sometimes years - how to pray: - F = free and formed: - pray the Bible, Eph. 3:14-19, pray the Lord's prayer, pray the commands of the Bible, pray the promises of the Bible, pray the warnings of the Bible - lists, books, patterns

- Romans 12:1-3,9-12 - verse 12: rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer (NASB), - rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer, - rejoice in our confident hope. Be patienct in trouble, and keep on praying. - Mark 3:9 - Devoted: dedicated for a task, appointed for it. Greek verb communicating "a steadfast and single-minded fidelity to a certain course of action." to persevere and not to faint - Acts 1:14,2:42,6:4, Col. 4:2

- Matt. 6:5-10 - Eight Biblical Truths Abou tthe Kingdom: 1. The Kingdom of God is Divine (Ps. 103:19) 2. The Kingdom of God is Messianic (Matt. 12:28) 3. The Kingdom of God is Revolutionary (Luke 17:20-21, NIV) 4. The Kingdom of God is Opposed (Eph. 6:12) 5. The Kingdom of God is Missional (Rom. 16:20, 1 John 3:8) 6. The Kingdom of God is Progressing (Rev. 21:1,5,1 Cor. 15:24) 7. The Kingdom of God is Responsive - the Kingdom of God comes through prayer 8. The Kingdom of God is Personal - the Kingdom of God is a present reality that requires your response (Josh. 24:14-15)

- 2 Kings 6:8-17 - praying is engaging with God in a personal way - Ps. 35:1-10 - imagine and see God as your defender when you pray - see your weakness as your enemy and ask God to defend you - see God standing up - Hebrew is to arise in a hostile sense, become powerful, come on the scene - see God blocking the way - also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue you - see God speaking to you - God saying "I am your salvation" - see your enemies confounded, confused, turning back - resist temptation by replacing the thought with something else - see angels working on your behalf - see your enemies tangled in their own net - see your soul joyful in God - see yourself delivered from that which is too strong for you - this is the posture of humility

- profession is not the same as possession - profess things by faith and call those things as not as though they were - Christ in you is the hope of glory - when things share, when nations rage, you discover where your confidence is, who it is in, and what it is in - Ps. 55:17, Gen. 22:3, Ps. 141:2, Acts 3:1, 2:1, 10:9, 30, Ps. 5:3, 88:13, 92:2, Dan. 6:10 - Significance of the number 3: it's the first geometrical figure, 3 lines are necessary to form a plane figure, 3 dimensions of lenght, width, and height are necessary to form a solid. Three, therefore, stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. All things that are specially complete are stamped with this number - three great divisions completing time: past, present, and future - three persons, in grammar, express and include all the relationships of mankind - thought, word, and deed, complete the sum of human capability - three is the number of divine fullness, the Godhead is made up of Father, Son and Holy Spirit - a disciple was considered whole or disciplined with a life of prayer, fasting, and giving - facts were to be established at the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses - three is a number of resurrection (Luke 13:32) - it was at the third hour He (Jesus) was crucified - Jesus raised three people from the dead - the inscriptions on the cross in three languages show the completeness of His rejection by man - the perfection of Jesus' offices are shown in His being Prophet, Priest, and King, raised up from among His brethren (Deut. 17:15, 18:3-5, 15) - the divine completeness of the Shepherd's care (John 6:39) is seen in His revelation as: the 'Good Shepherd' in death (John 10:14), the 'Great Shepherd' in ressurection (Heb. 13:20), the 'Chief Shepherd' in glory (1 Peter 4:5) - His three appearances in Hebrews 9 show that His work will not be divinely perfect and complete until He appears again. - He 'hath appeared' in the end of the age to 'put away sin,' and to 'bear the sins of many' (Heb. 9:26,28); 'now to appear in the presence of God for us,' He has ascended into Heaven (Heb. 9:24); He 'shall appear' again part from all question of sin for those who look for Him (Heb. 9:28) - man's three great enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil - the world is set over against the Father (1 John 2:15-16); the flesh is set over against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17); the devil is set over against the son (the Living Word (Matt. 4:1, 1 John 3:8) and the Written Word (John 8:44)) - the three temptations: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) - Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest - Jesus was crucified at the third hour and died at the ninth hour - there were three hours of darkness that covered the land while Jesus was dying - Types of prayers (1 Tim. 2:1-4) 1. supplications - seeking, asking, entreating, gives prominence to the expression of personal need 2. prayers - is a word of sacred character, being limited to prayer to God, the element of devotions a broad word, referring to all communication with the Lord 3. intercessions - a falling in with, meeting with, a coming together to visit, converse or for any other cause, that for which an interview is held, a petition or supplication 4. thanksgiving - thankfulness, the giving of thanks

- Col. 1:1-23 - Proteuoto - be first, hold the first place, to have pre-eminence, literally means having the first, highest, chief, and best place in all things. - a great battle is raging (Rom. 8:28-39, Luke 6:46-49) - seek Christ, embrace Christ, know Christ, and you have touched Him who is Life, and in Him resides all Truth, Values, Virtues, and Gifts in living color. Beauty has its meaning in the beauty of Christ, in whom is found all that makes us lovely and loveable. - biblical community is founded and found on the connection to that person - conversion is more than a change in direction; it's a change in connection - Shubh - to call for "repentance" - implies not viewing God from a distance, but entering into a relationship where God is command central of the human connection - major diseas of the church today is JDD (Jesus Deficit Disorder) - Testimony we are called to bear: 1. the center and circumference of the Christian life is none other than the person of Christ. 2. Jesus Christ cannot be separated from His teachings. 3. God's grand mission and eternal purpose in the earth and in heaven centers in Christ ... both the individual Christ (the Head) and the corporate Christ (the Body). This universe is moving towards one final goal - the fullness of Christ where He shall fill all things with himself. 4. being a follower of Jesus does not involve imitation so much as it does implantation and impartation. - what God the Father was to Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ is to you and to me. He's our indwelling Presence, and we share in the life of Jesus' own relationship with the Father. - following Jesus means "trust and obey" (respond), and living by His indwelling life through the power of the Spirit. 5. the "Jesus of history" cannot be disconnected from the "Christ of faith". 6. it's possible to confuse "the cause" of Christ with the person of Christ 7. Jesus Christ was not a social activist nor a moral philosopher 8. it is possible to confuse an academic knowledge or theology about Jesus with a personal knowledge of the living Christ Himself - the meaning of Christianity does not come from allegiance to complex theological doctrines, but a passionate love for a way of living in the world that revolves around following Jesus, who taught that love is what makes life a success 9. only Jesus can transfix and then transfigure the void at the heart of the church. Jesus Christ cannot be separated from His church - the Christian life, therefore, is not an individual pursuit. It's a corporate journey. Knowing Christ and making Him known is not an individual prospect. Those who insist on flying life solo will be brought to earth with a crash. 10. in a world which sings, "Oh, who is this Jesus?" and a church which sings, "Oh, let's all be like Jesus," who will sing with lungs of leather, "Oh, how we love Jesus"? - may God have a people on this earth who are a people of Christ, through Christ, and for Christ. A people who are consumed with God's eternal passion, which is to make His Son preeminent, supreme, and the head over all things visible and invisible. A people who have discovered the touch of the Almighty in the face of His glorious Son. - a people who wish to know only Christ and Him cruicified, and to let everything else fall by the wayside. A people who are laying hold of His depths, discovering His riches, touching His life, and receiving His love, and making HIM in all of His unfathomable glory known to others. - Jesus the Christ: - Christians don't follow Christianity; Christians follow Christ - Christians don't preach themselves; Christians proclaim Christ - Christians don't point people to core values; Christians point people to the cross - Christians don't preach about Christ; Christians preach Christ - He is our pursuit, our passion and our life