We continue our discussion of 2 Peter 1 and the seven virtues that we are to add to our faith. We look at the issue of "self-control" and think about what this means as an attitude of submission.

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Tags: grace | knowledge | jesus

We continue our exploration of 2 Peter 1 by considering the first two "virtues" that Peter exhorts us to add to our faith: Moral excellence and knowledge. Before we can make any progress in growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, we have to intend to be people of moral excellence and pursue this in all things. This is the foundation for all the other virtues that we will consider. As Peter seems to indicate, these are the first steps in "escaping that corruption that is produced in the world by evil desire."

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Tags: virtue | faith | excellence | jesus

We continue our discussion of 2 Peter 1 and how we can "grow in the deep/rich/true knowledge of Jesus." This week we focus on how God's empowerment through His grace interfaces with our activity.

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Tags: growth | deep knowledge | truth | jesus

This week we begin to hear what Peter tells us in the first chapter of his second letter. In the midst of false teachers, those who belong to the faith must be all the more diligent to "make your calling and choosing sure." In this chapter, Peter gives us some practical advice in living effective and productive lives for the sake of Jesus' kingdom.

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Tags: election | jesus

We conclude our discussion introducing spiritual formation this week. We consider how the Holy Spirit works from the inside out to form Christ in us. We begin to discuss the tools that are available to us to cooperate with the Spirit.

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Tags: spiritual formation | jesus

Diagnosing our fallen condition is the first step in engaging effective spiritual formation. Dallas Willard diagnoses our key issue as "radical evil in the ruined soul." Before we can understand the knowledge, power and wisdom that are available to us in Christ, we must first own the fact that we are completely lost without Him.

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Tags: fallen condition | grace | jesus

We continue our discussion of discipleship by focusing on the idea of "oneness." Jesus does not just desire that we know about Him; He desires that we know Him. This type of knowledge is an intimate, personal knowledge that has as its goal being of "one heart and mind" with Jesus.

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Tags: jesus

We continue our discussion of spiritual formation by talking about the heart and soul. We will continue this discussion next week.

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Tags: spiritual formation | heart | soul | spirit | jesus

This week we get back into our discussion by talking about spiritual formation. Talk about spiritual formation is finally making some headway into evangelical circles. In order to understand this important aspect of our spiritual growth, we need to understand the reality of God's work in us from the inside out.

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Tags: spirit | spiritual formation | growth | grace | jesus

Too often, the eternal aspects of God's choosing and predestination of those who will be saved is discussed apart from the reality of the Cross of Christ. Before we can fully grasp the implications of God's gracious work of choosing in salvation, we must first see ourselves from the perspective of being the very people who first despised, mocked, beat, spat upon and crucified Christ. God chooses to redeem His enemies; in this lies the scandal of His grace.

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Tags: election | salvation | jesus | grace

This week we continue our discussion of Philippians 3 by considering the the main goal of keeping our eyes focused on the main goal - Christ. In this passage Paul says, "One thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and looking to what's ahead I press on..." Our past, whether good or bad, is behind us and in the present God wants us to keep looking toward our goal - being fully transformed and conformed to Christ's glorious image.

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Tags: jesus | grace | vision

We take a look at Philippians 3 and Paul's "one thing" that gives him vision and clarity as he follows Christ. Anything that we might consider personal "asset" becomes dung when we compare it to the exceedingly better "asset" of knowing Christ and discovering the righteousness come to us by means of faith. Whereas the false gospel of religion says, "I am accepted and loved by Christ for what I do," the true gospel of faith says, "I do what I do because I am loved and accepted in Christ."

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Tags: jesus

Romans 3:21-26 may be one of the most significant passages in the New Testament. In this passage the heart of Paul's Christ-centered theology is explained: God's righteousness is revealed in the faith (and faithfulness) of Christ for the faith (and faithfulness) of the believer. When we believe in the message that Christ has done all that is necessary to redeem us from our fallen way of life and reconcile us to God, we are declared righteous. This declaration is no "legal fiction" - stating something that is not really true. When God declares that we are righteous in Christ, this powerful and creative act changes our identity and our position before God. Our relationship with God has changed and this is the beginning of His work in us to transform us and conform us according to Christ's perfection.

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Tags: faith | jesus

We continue our discussion of the faith of Christ as part of the revelation of God's righteousness. The Gospel reveals both that God is righteous in both being (His character) and doing (His actions). In the Gospel we see that God reveals a way to be right with Him that is not according to law - self-righteousness by good works - but by way of Christ's faith.

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Tags: jesus | faith

This week, we begin a two part discussion on the faith and faithfulness of Christ. God saves us based on the faithfulness of Christ to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In all that He has endured as a human, Jesus is qualified to be our faithful and merciful high priest who saves us by His grace. The Gospel therefore calls us to focus on Christ as our one and only savior.

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Tags: faith | jesus

What does Jesus mean when He says, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." This week, our exploration of the 12 Aspects of the Gospel leads to a lively class discussion about the nature of God condemning our sin in truth but also displaying His grace to us in and through Jesus Christ.

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Tags: judgment | grace | jesus

This week, we begin to explore how Jesus' "one act of righteousness" on the Cross heals our fallen condition. We begin to look at 12 aspects of Christ's work as the means to providing eternal redemption. We will continue this discussion next week.

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Tags: the cross | jesus | grace | redemption

This week we begin to explore what Christ has accomplished for us by observing Paul's teaching in Romans 5:12-21. Here we see that Adam (our first human father, the father of us all) made choices that have had disastrous consequences for the rest of us. In the same sense, Jesus has made choices that have provided an alternative to Adam's rebellion. We also take a brief overiew of Jesus' time on the Cross as His "one act of righteousness."

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Tags: jesus | grace | righteousness

Today, we move from the Larger Story of life to the Central Story of the Gospel. Central to the Gospel is the revelation of what Jesus has done for us AND what He desires to do to us. As we begin to consider this, we begin by thinking about three types of people and their response to the message of the Gospel. We will conclude this discussion next week.

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Tags: gospel | jesus

In our last session we consider the remaining theories on the Rapture - the PostTrib, MidTrib, and PreWrath. The study of the Last Days is a study that should do more than give us a fascination with prophecy and end times events. Because all things are coming to together in the way that the Bible reveals, we are called and exhorted to live holy, godly lives making the most of our time because our Lord is returning to set all things right.

>Download the Notes for this class here.
>Download the Presentation for this class here.
>Download or listen to the Podcast here.

Tags: godly living | living well | jesus

This week we begin exploring one of the most controversial and debated aspects of the Last Days: the timing of the Rapture. When Jesus comes for His people, He will raise the bodies of those who are "asleep in Christ" in resurrection and He will instantaneously transform those who are still alive. The Scripture is clear on this reality. What is not so clear is the question of when this will take place in relation to the 70th Week of Daniel, the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. This week we consider the Pretribulation view of the Rapture.

>Download the Notes for this class here.
>Download the Presentation for this class here.
>Download or listen to the Podcast here.

Tags: jesus | rapture

This week we consider what Jesus taught on the Last Days in the Olivet Discourse. At the end of His ministry, Jesus prophesied the destruction of the Temple. From this the disciples ask Him "When would these things happen?" and "What would be the signs of the end of the age and of His coming?" This important teaching serves as a bridge between the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures as well as a foundation for the rest of New Testament teaching on the End Times.

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>Download the Notes for this class here.
>Download the Presentation for this class here.

Tags: eschatology | jesus | last days | signs | the return

This is week we consider the second of our core exercises: study. As we study God’s Word, we seek to be mastered by His word. We seek to understand His word in order to meditate on it and in this way hide His Word in our hearts. The exercise of study bridges the exercises of prayer and service.

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Tags: exercise | jesus

We conclude our discussion of the Three Core Exercises with an overview of service. As we seek our Father’s desires in prayer, study the Scripture with the illumination of the Spirit, we are led to follow the example of our Lord Jesus living a life of self-sacrificial love. The beauty and glory of Christ is displayed in a through us as we seek to follow Him in all that He is doing.

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Tags: exercise | service | jesus