1) 1 Timothy 3:14-15 – God makes us into a household.

2) 1 Timothy 3:15 – God gives us life. Hearts of stone become flesh. We were dead prior to God saving us.

3) 1 Timothy 3:15 – God gives us a purpose. We are to teach and hold up the truth, like a pillar. Like the pillar of fire in the wilderness that the Jews followed for 40 years, a pillar is meant to be seen and followed.

4) 1 Timothy 3:16 – God unites us with a confession. All true believers believe some core truths:

A) Jesus came in a physical body

B) Was vindicated (revealed to be true) by the Spirit

C) He was seen by angels

D) He was announced to the nations, as in Acts where many nations heard the message in their own tongue. It is one gospel for all nations

E) He was believed on by the world – this is the only appropriate response to the Gospel

F) He was taken up to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the father – there is a real afterlife

What step can you take this week to make your body of believers a closer family?

Are you spending time in prayer and meditation on who God is and what He’s telling you?

Is your faith a secret or on display at your workplace?

What does it mean to be a Christian? Many people call them selves Christian, but do not follow Christ, or study the Bible. There is a lot of confusion in our culture as what it means to be a “good Christian.” Theology is constantly debated even within the church. Values of the world are starting to invade the church and change what it means to be a Christian.

You can believe anything you want and feel pretty confident that you are right….until you open the Bible. Examining the scriptures is key to understanding God. Without that, our own imaginations will never lead to truth. Truth is absolute. Just because someone believes that the way to heaven is by feeding the hungry or bowling the perct game, that is not true unless God has made it so. And the way to know what God says is true is in the Bible.

Paul means “small.” He is an old man, with much experience as an apostle when he writes to Titus. Titus was on the island of Crete, which was known for the dishonesty of its inhabitants.

Titus 1:1 – Paul calls himself a bond servant (“Dulas” or slave) of God. He was owned by God…with no rights of his own. This is a far cry to how most people in our day would define what it means to be a Christian. We tend to make church and our faith about US more than about God, which is idolatry. But was have been purchased at a great price (the crucifixion of Gods own son) out of slavery to sin, and into slavery to God.

In our country we stand on the thought of liberty. But liberty does not mean doing whatever you want….it is doing what you ought to do. That is the liberty produced when you become a slave of God.

Philippians 3:4-7

1) The future is not dictated by the past. It’s not about what you did 10 years ago. Paul had a strict Jewish background, heredity and education to boast of to his peers, but he put that all behind him to follow Christ, as it did not bring him salvation. He says later in Ephesians, that it’s not about your works, that we would boast. What are you doing now?

Philippians 3:7-14

2) The future is determined by what is done in the present. Paul counts all his noble background as rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ. We know Christ by studying the Bible. That is how God speaks to us. Are you spending time in the Bible each day? Perhaps that would be a good New Years resolution.

Paul also says that he wants to know Christ through his suffering. Paul knew that when you pursue Christ I your life, it will it you into opposition with this world. You should stick out like a sore thumb at your school or place of work, if you live like your life is dedicated to Christ.

Today after church, many will be watching Athletic football players give their all on the field, while they sit at home on the couch eating junk food. Unfortunately, many churches find themselves in this same position – sitting on the sidelines when we should be in the game. Serving others, sharing Christ….making a difference for Christ in our sphere of influence.

Philippians 3:12-14

3) The future demands an eternal future perspective. We should strain to reach the goal set before us by our Creator. Are our eyes fixed on the eternal prize (our ultimate destination) or are we looking at the here and now?

Luke 1:68 – six months earlier, Zacharias sings poem/ chant, while holding his new son, John.

Luke 1:76 – you will be the prophet most high, to proclaim and prepare the way for the messiah. This is same concept as in those times cities would build a road for kings when they visit, as roads were not very good and carts would get stuck in the mud.

John announces what Malachi had foretold 400 years earlier.

John 1:10 – Jesus will come, but he will not be recognized. Ultimately he was crucified by the ones who he came to save, these same men who did not recognize him and also rejected his forerunner, John.

John 1:11 –  Most people did not receive him, despite prophesies that detailed how the messiah would come.

John 1:12 – Some did receive Him and became children of God.

• This was the greatest demonstration of unconditional love ever
• Colossians 1 – creation
• Jesus is God – John 1:1
• Philippians 2:6 – Jesus gave up some privileges of Godhood to come to earth to be born humble conditions to live a difficult life and die for sinners.
• Verse 7 – Jesus empties himself, becoming a bond servant
• While Jesus was on the earth, he was fully man but also fully God, holding the universe together.
• Jesus (God) humbles himself, gives the ultimate sacrifice, to redeem us who he loves.

Mary is told by Gabriel that she will bear a son, he will be named Jesus, he will be great, the son of God. He will rule over Israel and all the earth.

Much like Zechariah, she was uncertain at this news, but Mary was not lacking in faith, like Zechariah was, but instead ignorant the physicality of how she could bare a son, and had not been with a man. Zechariah was a priest and therefore would have known that God has done this kind of thing before.

Luke 1:36 – the news of pregnancy will end the shame of Elizabeth, having wanted a child her whole life (being barren was considered a sign of sin), but the news for Mary will create shame on Mary in the community, for being pregnant outside of wedlock.  Gabriel tells Mary about her cousin Elizabeth being pregnant,  giving her a place to go when her reputation is shattered.  Elizabeth was uniquely in a position to understand Mary’s shame.

Luke 1:38 – Mary says “here I am” use me as you see fit, to God.  This is how we should respond when we are called by God as well.

Luke 1:39 – Mary travels close to 100 miles to Elizabeth’s home, with no indication that anyone travelled with her. If Mary had become pregnant by sinful relations, the last place she would want to go is to the home of a priest, Zechariah.

Elizabeth knew that Mary was with child because she was told her son would be the forerunner of the coming messiah, and when she saw Mary, John leaped in her womb.

Luke 1:56 – Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t tell their family of the new baby until after Johns birth. Mary does not return home until after Johns birth. Meaning she would likely have served as a midwife for Elizabeth, preparing her with an education on childbirth, that would come in very handy 6 months later when she would deliver with no one but her husband to help

Posted by my Bro, Crucial. Read the full post on DaSouth here.