tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233254512024-03-05T17:33:15.819-05:00Scott RussMy ranting about books, movies, sports, politics, Christianity, culture, and youth ministry.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-38767217676096058332016-08-31T14:33:00.001-04:002016-08-31T14:33:44.485-04:00Scott Rubin: Ask good questions<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YXcnjdOcUL8" width="459"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-13043624896179032982016-08-31T14:11:00.001-04:002016-08-31T14:11:14.962-04:00Leaders Show Up<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4KR6EtkJDL4" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-91199057156005211642016-05-01T22:10:00.001-04:002016-05-01T22:10:52.991-04:00Epiphany UMC Seniors 2016<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p7e3MUIHHaM" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-52208801747520514572016-05-01T21:29:00.001-04:002016-05-01T21:29:05.565-04:00My Personal Abuse being a Youth Pastor<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uqF7w4q125s" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-45268163551477263372016-05-01T20:55:00.001-04:002016-05-01T20:55:02.476-04:00Confirmation 2016<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RjzJ_RSjRh8" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-20184981636847104092016-03-15T22:16:00.001-04:002016-03-15T22:16:48.246-04:00BB Rounds<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BgPAaar6FKw" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-39213352215098599492016-03-15T21:21:00.001-04:002016-03-15T21:21:17.489-04:00MM March 2016<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kehg1ZhO8jY" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-64298136485514812512016-03-15T21:09:00.001-04:002016-03-15T21:09:28.449-04:00Seniors 2014<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zxeK8JPUb84" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-83673765195844431832016-03-15T20:34:00.001-04:002016-03-15T20:34:04.978-04:00Breakfast Blitz: Brayden and Kari<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5VpwvBy_nBM" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-2720916819399709902016-03-15T20:15:00.001-04:002016-03-15T20:15:16.349-04:00Mission Trips 2015<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VXa8zG_UrbY" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-62258233229270615952016-03-15T19:51:00.001-04:002016-03-15T19:51:50.147-04:00Mission Trips 2014<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VgJ0I8R-4qc" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-61194356352715426562016-03-15T18:29:00.001-04:002016-03-15T18:29:56.517-04:00Breakfast Blitz: Anna, Scott and Elise<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwkPt8KhBvM" width="480"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-11775040524533694912016-01-26T15:17:00.000-05:002016-01-26T19:29:52.019-05:00My Soon-to-Be College Girls!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well it has been a while since I last blogged but it is time I get back to it! Topic for today: I have 2 girls who are on their last half of their Senior year. I don't know how I am going to handle both of them going off to college in the Fall! Both my baby girls at the same time! So I decided to make a list of things that I am looking forward to when it comes to their absence. So here we go:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I honestly can't stand the Kardasians. "Keeping Up With the Kardasians" is my girls favorite show. They have just about every episode of every season on my DVR. They often have the show turned up enough for me to hear Kim's whiny voice echoing all throughout my house. I CAN NOT WAIT to delete them all from my DVR and never ever, ever hear their narcissistic conversations reverberating throughout my house. I think that I may even savor the deleting process by getting rid of one show at a time.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. I am tired of being sent out to buy tampons. They have very specific requests as far as what type of tampons they want and (SURPRISE!) I always get it wrong! I HATE getting tampons at the store! I loathe it!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Laundry, laundry, laundry. With two fashionable girls comes lots and lots of clothes. These clothes often end up in the washing machine. In all fairness, we all help with laundry. But here's the deal, we always have piles and piles of laundry, clean and dirty, always going through the machines! It is an never ending task. With just me, Shelly and Ben I believe that this will be a much smaller task throughout the week.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. We have three cars. The issue is that we have 4 drivers. So there are many days that I have plans of what I want to do when I get home from work that sometimes involves using my car. But oftentimes, when I get home I am confronted with two girls who cannot work out their plans with their one car. So someone needs to use my vehicle to go to work or practice or any number of excuses. So I am stuck at home without a vehicle.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Even though my kids go to public school it seems like there is no end to school fees. The biggest one is for Lacrosse which is not recognized as an official sport (until next year of course), so we have to pay full price for both of them. But it is not just Lacrosse. There are book fees, lab fees, cap and gown fees, lunch fees, cross country fees, etc., etc., etc. Now as Ben heads up to High School in the Fall, if he makes high school show choir that will drain the bank big time. But at least I only have to concentrate on one student in high school. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Another never ending task is the dishes. We have a house without a dish washer. Instead we all take turns doing the dishes. I hate doing dishes. Especially when there are a lot of them left over from multiple meals. I look forward to the fact that there will be a lot less dirty dishes with just me, Shelly and Ben. But I also know that it will be a losing battle to make Ben my permanent dish washer.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. About once every six months something hideous happens with our pipes. The pipe that is directly connected to the drain in my shower starts to back up. As I am taking a shower I notice that I am beginning to stand in a puddle of water because the drain is not getting rid of the dirty water fast enough. That is when I must go get the drain snake and feed it into the pipes. Inevitably I will find a giant hair clog that is preventing the water from draining correctly. These hair clogs are beyond nasty. It is bad enough that the pipe snake is able to pull it out but then I have to disentangle it from the snake to throw it away. Of course the hair clog is from certain people in the family with long hair! The two guilty ones: the girls!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Whenever laundry is done all the socks that are found throughout the rest of the clothes are thrown into a basket. The frustration with the socks lies in the fact that no one but me cares if their socks are matching! So there are many days that I notice that one of my children have one or both of my socks on, neither of which match one another. This messes up my whole obsessive control over having matching socks. Very frustrating!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. About once a week I will have one of the girls say to me that I need to tell the other girl to give back an article of clothing that belongs to the them. Most of the times, they get along really well and share all their stuff just fine. But every once in a while one of them will get protective of their stuff and demand that I step in and draw the line. This doesn't even bring up the fact that all of my kids at times are wearing clothes that belong to me and they never ask first!</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. And the final thing that I am looking forward to is the constant dilemma with my bath towel! I tend to use the same bath towel for a while. After all, most of the time you are just drying off yourself after becoming clean. So to get a fresh towel every time I shower is ridiculous because it just creates more laundry. I typically hang my towel on the edge of my bed just in front of the bathroom door. But what seems to happen more often, is that one of my kids (mostly girls) goes to take a shower (in my shower), forgets to grab a towel so therefore they grab the closest one they can get which so happens to be mine on the edge of the bed. So then when I get up to take a shower and go reach for my towel it's not there! So I am the cold, wet, naked one who has to sneak into the hallway and get a towel out of the closet. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here they are. The top 10 things I am most looking forward to with my girls heading off to college. There are thousands of things I will miss and I am sure I will even get teary-eyed every so often. But when I do, I will come back to this article and remind myself of the things that have finally been righted with the girls gone! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">p. 72 - . . . students who feel the freedom and have opportunities to express their doubts tend to have more Sticky Faith.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">p. 74 - Sticky Faith students often report that while their parents offered opinions, they ultimately gave the students some latitude to arrive at their own conclusions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">p. 77 - . . . you'll interact better with your son or daughter - whatever their mood or attitude - when you learn to listen and ask questions instead of lecture. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-36985096992307213872014-01-13T12:57:00.000-05:002014-01-13T12:57:50.139-05:00Sticky Faith #3<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The 3rd chapter focuses on "Sticky Identity". The teen years are complicated when it comes to forming their identity. There are many stages they could go through in trying to find their identity that can be messy. Parents can sometimes get in the way if identity formation by focusing too much on keeping their teen overly busy or basing their identity too much on performance. The main thrust of this chapter is on the fact that as teens develop their identity we must reinforce ofter that their primary identity rests in the fact that they are a beloved child of God who loves them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">p. 57 . . . the single most important question affecting all of humanity, "Who am I?" is the message of Jesus and the Bible. Your child has been created, redeemed, and called to live as God's precious and beloved child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">p. 59-60 - A rich and sustainable faith recognizes that as I walk in community with God's people, I ultimately discover who I am. . . . The point is the build "social capital" into your child's life, creating a network of caring believers who will pray for, mentor, and bless your children with their presence over the course of their lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">p. 65 - You goal is to train your kid to see life as a whole, connected adventure, versus a frantic race from one expectation and agenda to another. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> p. 66 - When your child fails or is disappointed, model a tenderness that communicates that God understands and will in time life them up. Living as God's beloved child does not mean that pain and suffering won't come, but through gentle encouragement, they can know God has a purpose and a trajectory for them that is unique and good. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1. What are some ways you defined yourself growing up? How were they helpful to you as you grew older? How were they harmful?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Relational / Friendly - They helped me in any context I was in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cynical / depressed / sarcastic - this did not ever help me </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2. Of Nouwen's three answers to the question "Who am I?" which of these are you most prone to rely on? Describe what that looks and feels like. Which of these does your child rely on? What does that look like?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me: I am what I do. Being a pastor is not something you just stop doing when the work day is over. It has a way of defining you 24/7. But I also recognize that my calling to be a parent and a husband are also 24/7 identities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My kids can be drawn to define themselves with a combination of what they do and what others say about them. Their peer groups and social groups can have a big impact both positively and negatively. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3. On a scale of 1 to 7, 1 being easy, 7 not so easy, how hard is it for you to see yourself as the beloved child of God? How easy is it for your child? Describe what you mean.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Probably a 3 for me. I am prone to see myself as letting God down. It is too much of a "God as Judge" image of him. I would say my kids are more like a 5 I would hope. I think it is much easier for them to accept God's grace and love without the baggage us adults tend to carry around. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">4. Name some ways your can emphasize who your child is (a beloved child of God) rather than what your child does. How would this emphasis change your approach to your child's extracurricular activities or academic achievements?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Never stop telling them how much you love them. This goes for youth group teens too! Don't be afraid to tell them. My love for them would be based on who they are more than what they achieve or do in connection to school or sports. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-8483258676930148232013-12-23T21:36:00.001-05:002013-12-23T21:36:06.016-05:00Allan R. Bevere: The God of Christmas Is an EmbarrassmentFound at <a href="http://www.allanbevere.com/2013/12/the-god-of-christmas-is-embarrassment.html?spref=bl">Allan R. Bevere: The God of Christmas Is an Embarrassment</a>:<br />
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Yes, you read the title of this post correctly. The God of Christmas is an embarrassment. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has no self-r...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-49705876479119366142013-12-23T21:27:00.001-05:002013-12-23T21:27:27.458-05:00NT Wright spanks RC Sproul and Al MohlerAn excellent interview that sums up our understanding of Genesis 1-3 and how your interpretation will affect your eschatology and anthropology.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Bh7L3NHVlsQ" width="459"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-10690774384039305392013-11-21T17:36:00.000-05:002013-11-21T17:36:10.047-05:00Sticky Faith 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This chapter is titled "The Sticky Gospel". The thing that stuck out to me the most was the concept of a faith based on only sin management. If your faith is built merely on a list of do's and don'ts in order to please others and fit in, I can see how that could easily fade away especially when one goes off to college. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the primary lesson in this chapter is to model and instill that faith is about ultimately trusting God to do what he said he would do in our lives. A strong trust in God will help us through up's and down's. It will also help us to be obedient to Christ. But if our faith is based on a set of rules, then we have gotten the cart before the horse. When we try so hard to "do" Christianity all to often we are taking away the very thing that is ultimately the job of the Holy Spirit - to change us from the inside-out. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to do his work in our lives, and our teens' lives, by developing our trust in God's continuing work within us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all that said in this chapter, it is not the easy answer that I had hoped for. I still find that I want the 10 easy steps to perfect Christian teens in my house and in my youth group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The other thing that really stood out to me was the importance of unconditional love no matter what. Teens will make mistakes. Teens will wander away from the faith. But if they sense judgmental, harsh, critical attitudes, they will stay even farther away. Instead, if they receive grace, love, acceptance and forgiveness there is a much greater chance of them embracing their faith and reconnecting with God. Granted there are always consequences to our actions and as parents or small group leaders we need to let them feel those consequences both good and bad, but mercy and grace can always be our response. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Favorite quotes:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the heart of Sticky faith is a faith that trusts in God and that understands that obedience is a <i>response</i> to that trust, in everything. p. 34</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Sticky Gospel reminds us that our focus is to trust, and God promises to work within us at every stage of the process - by strengthening our trust, by giving us peace and patience as we wait for our lives to be transformed, and by actually changing us from the inside out. - p. 35</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To help our kids discover and grab hold of a sustainable long-term, and vibrant Sticky Faith, we must stay true to the words of Jesus and heed the council of Paul: trust in the one the Father has sent, and live convinced that the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love. - p. 36</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In life and in faith, growth is a process. Our job as parents throughout this process is twofold: First, we help our kids learn to trust God and create the kind of environment where they are able to explore faith and trust while practicing their freedom to respond in love. Second, we model an unconditional, nonjudgmental, and ever-embracing love in which our kids can do nothing that jeopardizes or even lessens that love. p. 37</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The greatest gift you can give your children is to let them see you struggle and wrestle with how to live a lifetime of trust in God. . . . As you trust the gospel, and the Lord who saves, your Sticky Faith will help your children discover their own Sticky Faith. - 46-47</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sticky Reflection and Discussion Questions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Dallas Willard describes the "gospel of sin management" as dealing only with sin and its effects, instead of the real life we live. In what ways is your faith as experience of the gospel of sin management?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that to some extent this was true of my faith when I was a teenager. Feeling judged by others pushed me farther down the rabbit hole. Today, I think I struggle with a guilty conscience if I am not practicing certain spiritual disciplines. It is hard sometimes for me not to see God as judgmental also.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. What is the biggest obstacle to helping your son or daughter understand that the primary call of the Christian is to trust Christ? Describe where this is a difficult concept for you, and where it lines up with what you already believe and practice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that this can be a hard thing to teach to teenagers. It is so easy to just trust yourself or your gut instinct without thinking about trusting in God first. I think that we demonstrate this not only through teaching the principle, but also, living into it. Whenever life presents its challenges it is important that we fall back on trusting in God. It is also important to start each day with acknowledging our dependence on Christ. This can be done with prayer and the reading of Scripture. That is what I try to do. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. We stated that "obedience is the response to trust." Why is it better to begin with trust and then respond through obedience? Is it ever good to go the other direction: obey first and hope that trust follows? Have you ever experienced either of these in your faith journey? If so, what was it like, and what happened?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder if obedience and trust is more cyclical rather than linear. Sometimes I know that in order to form a good habit I need to force the obedience in myself and then the trust grows. But then trusting more causes me to be better at obedience. Sometimes I do my spiritual disciplines out of a heart of trust and other times it is out of a sense of obedience. I believe that when children are young it is important to obey their parents and as they grow, their trust develops. As teenagers, it is better for them to trust you first, or God, in order for there to be any type of obedience. Without a foundation of trust they will most likely disregard why they should obey. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. How do you see your child's faith in light of this chapter? Where do you see them growing in what it means to trust Christ, and where do you see them living out of the do's and don'ts of Christianity?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think we can do more for our teens in talking about trusting in Christ especially for the bigger questions that come up in their lives as they come through high school. I think that ways that teens "do" Christianity is through mission which is good. But we can also raise the level of trusting in Christ through our mission experiences. It is important that we wrap our minds around the concept that the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside-out. Religion and the law tries to change us from the outside-in. And as we know from the Old Testament, that didn't work out so well. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-47752154030868501102013-11-06T11:32:00.000-05:002013-11-06T11:37:04.228-05:00Sticky Faith 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iE68WGn2JXs/Unpu1QU58xI/AAAAAAAAf9g/weeXSurIMPE/s1600/sticky+faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iE68WGn2JXs/Unpu1QU58xI/AAAAAAAAf9g/weeXSurIMPE/s1600/sticky+faith.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As training for my youth ministry team, we are reading through the book "Sticky Faith" by Dr. Kara Powell and Dr. Chap Clark. Chapter 1 sets the stage for what this book is trying to accomplish. Powell describes a story of a teen who came through her youth group only to fade away towards the end of her Senior High years. A few years later Kara finds out that the girl is now pregnant. Kara was able to reconnect with this former student in the hospital after giving birth to her new baby. Kara Powell explains a look between her and the teenagers' father that I completely connected with. I often have wondered what can we do to help teens stay connected in the faith. All too often I see specific areas where we tend to loose some kids:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The transition from Confirmation into youth group</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The transition from Junior High to Senior High</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. The transition from early Senior High into later Senior High (jobs, car, social life)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The transition from High School to College</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have seen some 7th grade classes that were huge in number fade down to a core group of a much smaller size by the time they were Seniors. And this doesn't even factor in the final transition which appears to be the toughest one of them all. One one hand, with this book, I feel a sense of relief that this is not just my problem or my church's problem. Rather it is a national problem within the global church. But after taking that sigh of relief, it still doesn't help within my local context. I still have a righteous anger over why and how faith seems to take a back seat with some teens as they grow up. Enough negativity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another observation that I made was in the importance of the relationship of the parents to the teens. The most influential people in a teen's life is their parents. This fact alone sets a priority for us as youth leaders (who are mostly parents of teens), and other parents of teens within our church to understand the importance of parenting. What we model at home and live out day to day will have a huge impact. This is one of the main reasons that I feel like, at times, when a teenager fades away, it is sometimes beyond anything I can do to keep them active. If the parents don't demonstrate an active faith and make their faith a priority in their own lives, how then do I expect a teenager to excel above and beyond the most powerful influences in their lives? So how do we help parents to live out an active and robust faith?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally I want to answer the questions at the end of the chapter:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. When people decide to read a book, usually they are trying to solve a problem. What problems are you hoping to address by reading this book?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hope is that we discover ways in which we can help teens live into their faith through each transition in life. My heart's desire is that we retain more and more teens to stay active in their faith from 7th grade all the way up into their adult years. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. How would you define sticky faith?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A faith that sticks through all the transitions in life, all the good times and bad, all the challenges both expected and unexpected. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. How does it make you feel to think that you are the most important influence on your child's faith?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually feel good about that. Sometimes it is easy for a parent to doubt their influence and wonder if they have lost control of their teens' faith. But I also understand that it takes a village and I am deeply grateful for all the other adults in my church and in my family who have had a significant impact on my kids and have affirmed all that I and my wife have tried to teach them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. As you think about how you've parented thus far, what have you done that has contributed to your kids' faith? What do you wish you had done differently?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe that loving and caring for my kids through good times and bad times have been instrumental. I have also been honored to be their "youth pastor". But I also know that they would be the first to sniff out any hypocrisy or inconsistencies if I acted differently at home than I do at church. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wish I would have made more time for us to enjoy dinner around the dinner table. All too often I feel like we are all running in different directions and eating on the go. There was a time when they were younger where we would have family prayer before everyone went to bed. I really liked that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. What do you think of the suggestion that parents trust the Lord with their kids and beg the Lord to build Sticky Faith in them? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a great step 1. The authors demonstrate a humility in admitting that this is not a book with "all the answers in 10 easy steps". The fact is that we need to be constantly in prayer over our kids and acknowledging the importance of the Holy Spirit in their lives. To be used of God to help in the transformation of people is the greatest thing ever, especially with your own kids! Let's make sure we are lifting up our teens, small groups and our own kids in prayer on a regular basis. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-15588094610569526022013-11-05T22:45:00.000-05:002013-11-05T22:45:07.616-05:00Misreading Scripture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6yAJH1H7m0/Unms1s_VmqI/AAAAAAAAf9Q/2XURfNGB6PI/s1600/Misreading-Scripture-Through-Western-Eyes-228x350.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6yAJH1H7m0/Unms1s_VmqI/AAAAAAAAf9Q/2XURfNGB6PI/s320/Misreading-Scripture-Through-Western-Eyes-228x350.png" width="208" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been reading a lot of books lately just trying to get through a large stack that I have been staring at for way to long. But then along comes a book that was good enough for me to write a blog post covering it. "Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes" was an excellent read. It helped to bridge the gap between Western culture in contrast to Eastern culture. All to often we read Scripture through our cultural lenses without even realizing how we are distorting Scripture. We have to be constantly reminded that these writings are thousands of years old and from an entirely different culture than the one we have become a costumed to. All to often we distort the true meaning of Scripture because we read it so easily through our own cultural lens. For many of us we don't even realize that we are doing it. This book helps us to understand ourselves and the context we bring with us when we read Scripture. The authors do much to encourage the reader to take into consideration the ancient eastern culture that Scripture originated from before we filter in our own experiences and cultural context. They also do a great job in dissecting American / Western culture and some of the traps that cause us to misinterpret Scripture such as understanding the difference between individualism and collectivism; honor/shame in contrast to right/wrong; and how different cultures view such things differently like time, rules, relationships, virtue, vice and living in to God's will. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now for some of my favorite quotes:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If we're not careful, our individualistic assumptions about church can lead us to think of the church as something like a health club. We're members because we believe in the mission statement and want to be a part of the action. As long as the church provides the services I want, i'll stick around. But when I no longer approve of the vision, or am no longer "being fed," I'm out the door. This is not biblical Christianity. Scripture is clear that when we become Christians, we become - permanently and spiritually - a part of the church. We become part of the <i>family </i>of God. p. 107</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many evangelicals describe our standing before God in terms of forensic justification. While there is nothing wrong with the doctrine, it casts our connection to God in terms of rules, not relationship. . . . grace and faith are relationship markers and not forensic decrees. Paul used these terms to define a relationship, not to explain a contact or a court ruling. Likewise, holiness is a relational and not a forensic term. p. 172-173</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Western Christians, especially North American Christians, tend to read every scriptural promise, every blessing, as if it necessarily applies to us - to each of us and all of us individually. More to the point, we are confident that <i>us </i>always includes <i>me </i>specifically. . . . This misreading of Scripture arises from combining our individualism with a more subtle, deeply hidden and deeply rooted aspect of our Western worldview: we still think the universe centers around us. p. 193</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-49623265701583044282013-10-19T22:54:00.001-04:002013-10-19T22:54:08.795-04:00Sermon on Galatians 1:11-24<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Title: God Gave You A
Brain! June
8/9, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Galatians 1:11-24 (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">11 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For I
want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by
me is not of human origin;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">for I did
not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it
through a revelation of Jesus Christ.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You have
heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the
church of God and was trying to destroy it.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far
more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">15 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But when
God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace,
was pleased</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">to reveal
his Son to me,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">so that I
might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being,<b><sup>17 </sup></b>nor
did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I
went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then
after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him
fifteen days;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">but I did
not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In what I
am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then I
went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">and I was
still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">they only
heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the
faith he once tried to destroy.”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">And they
glorified God because of me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Galatians 1:11-24 (The
Message)</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">13-16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I’m sure
that you’ve heard the story of my earlier life when I lived in the Jewish way.
In those days I went all out in persecuting God’s church. I was systematically
destroying it. I was so enthusiastic about the traditions of my ancestors that
I advanced head and shoulders above my peers in my career. Even then God had
designs on me. Why, when I was still in my mother’s womb he chose and called me
out of sheer generosity! Now he has intervened and revealed his Son to me so
that I might joyfully tell non-Jews about him.</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">16-20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Immediately
after my calling—without consulting anyone around me and without going up to
Jerusalem to confer with those who were apostles long before I was—I got away
to Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus, but it was three years before I went
up to Jerusalem to compare stories with Peter. I was there only fifteen
days—but what days they were! Except for our Master’s brother James, I saw no
other apostles. (I’m telling you the absolute truth in this.)</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">21-24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Then I
began my ministry in the regions of Syria and Cilicia. After all that time and
activity I was still unknown by face among the Christian churches in Judea.
There was only this report: “That man who once persecuted us is now preaching
the very message he used to try to destroy.” Their response was to recognize
and worship</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">God</span></i></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">because of</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="text"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">me</span></i></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">!</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">SERMON<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well it
is that time of year that is like Thanksgiving time for youth pastors! Why you
ask? Because one fourth of your teenagers have graduation parties that I get
invited to! Every weekend, for about 3-4
weekends in a row, it’s a Thanksgiving feast celebration for one graduate after
another. Of course, this is the way we
youth pastors pack on the carbs and extra baggage to make it through mission trip
season. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
remember, as a student, always looking forward to being <b>done with finals. </b>That nice <b>long sigh of relief</b> that I have
survived another semester of classes, projects, tests and finals was always a
great feeling. Of course, when it came
to turning on the radio I could always expect <b>2 songs</b> in particular to put a big, giant grin on my face. Do any of you have a guess about which songs
I might be referring to?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well the
first was more of a <b>rebellion</b>
towards my teachers by listening to Pink Floyd wail out that <b>“We Don’t Need No Education”. </b>We don’t
need no thought control. Of course I
never fully lived into this song. I knew
deep, down inside that an education was a good thing. But I sure did I love jamming
to this song once I finished with a semester. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">But the <b>ultimate song</b> that is so much fun to
crank up as you are driving away from your school after finishing your last
test is the classic <b>Alice Cooper song
“School’s Out”!</b> Some of you get to sing loudly that “School’s out for <b>Summer!”</b> Others of us get to sing even louder the
lyric that says “School’s out <b>For Ever!”</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you
were here last week you know that we just began a <b>new series.</b> Doug kicked us
off as we began picking apart the letter of <b>Galatians.</b> Doug explained to
us that this is Paul’s <b>angriest letter</b>
to one of his church communities because they were trying to <b>impose additions to God’s salvation</b>
received through grace alone. There were
those who believed that Paul’s explanation of salvation through grace was just
too simple and easy. It made more sense
to some of those in Galatia to add on some extras to make salvation more worthy
of attaining. In order to be an exceptional Christian and stand out from the
others you needed to jump through certain hoops to turn you into a <b>super-Christian!</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now
based on what we learned last week we know that Paul used very <b>strong</b> and <b>angry</b> sounding language to oppose this line of thinking. But as we look at the rest of this chapter I
find it interesting how Paul helps us to understand <b>how we are to think.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">After
attacking those who are trying to add to God’s grace, Paul takes a breather and
goes back to <b>his past</b> to help
understand what happened to him personally that transformed him from a
“law-abiding” and “law-promoting” <b>Pharisee</b>
to a <b>grace-filled Christ follower</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Paul
explains that he was one of the best of the best when it came to receiving his <b>religious education.</b> He was so passionate about his beliefs that
he would vigorously <b>attack and persecute
Christians.</b> But then something <b>dramatic</b> happened. And it is important that we understand the
difference between <u>what Paul knew then</u> in <b>contrast</b> to <u>what he knows now</u>. All of a sudden, Paul received knowledge of
God’s grace through the work of Jesus Christ.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">What I
want us to wrestle with is <b>what does
this do to the knowledge Paul received prior to becoming a Christ follower</b>? This is why it is important for us to get
this. Is Paul advocating an <b>anti-knowledge agenda</b> here? Does
education help us or harm us? There are some in the 21<sup>st</sup> century who
have tried to attach the label of ignorance when it comes to Christians. Some even say we are anti-science. Is there truth to this claim?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Let’s
consider Paul here. I do not believe
that Paul is rejecting his formal education.
Instead he is <b>promoting a new way
of interpreting</b> the body of knowledge that he has been brought up
under. He has the education that he
received in the past but now it has been <b>transformed
through his relationship with Christ!</b>
The old grid of Judaism has been replaced by a new mental grid in which <b>the work of Jesus reinterprets</b> all that
he has come to understand. So it is not
a repudiation of knowledge more than it is a process of <b>transforming knowledge through a new grid.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
Paul makes it very, very clear that <b>he did
not run off to a different school</b> and sit under other teachers to come up
with this new way of interpreting life. His
formal education in the past was under some of the great teachers of his
time. But Paul makes this point, that
this transformation that happened to him was specifically <b>NOT</b> a result of a new book or teaching that hit the stores. Instead, it was an <b>act of God</b> that took everything he already had and <b>reinterpreted</b> it through a new and
transformed way of understanding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
is no way that we would have the depth of wisdom and theology in all of Paul’s
letters if it were not for his intense education in Judaism. Just a quick reading of the <b>letter to the Romans</b> one will conclude
that the writer is extremely knowledgeable and highly educated. Granted, I do believe that the writings of
Scripture were <b>inspired</b> by the Holy
Spirit but that inspiration could have equally been involved in the intense
training and education Paul received beforehand as well as in the moments he
sat down to write out his letters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
are 2 things I want us to capture in this passage that Paul concludes with. The
first thought that Paul leaves us with in this passage is that the
transformation of his thinking had a dramatic effect on <b>transforming his actions! </b> <u>“<span class="text">The one who formerly was persecuting us is
now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.”</span></u><span class="apple-converted-space"> The knowledge that
inspired <b>persecution</b> has now been
transformed to knowledge that inspires the <b>proclamation</b>
of the faith! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Now, <b>why does this matter?</b> We are
gathered together on this weekend to celebrate our <b>graduates.</b> Many of you are
also celebrating the end of a school year and the beginning of your Summer
break. But as we look to the near
future, many of you are heading off to colleges and universities to specialize
in a degree through intensive learning in a particular field of study. Receiving knowledge and applying that
knowledge to life is not necessarily a bad thing. But <b>how
we process the knowledge we receive</b> and then <b>apply it to our context</b> could potentially be <u>good or bad</u>
though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let me demonstrate. When I first
got out of seminary and got my first job as a youth pastor I was so excited to
use the education that I received and start applying it to my first major
ministry. Now, in the field of youth
ministry, back in the early 90’s, only a few colleges recognized youth ministry
as a field worthy of study. Many in
youth ministry were people who just loved teenagers but had no formal education
in youth ministry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">This one and only time in my
youth ministry career I was convinced to do a mission trip to the <b>city of Pittsburgh.</b> As a Cleveland fan I have always known that
there were a lot of pagans in Pittsburgh, but to go there and save them!?!?! My
immediate plan was to jump in a boat and travel north up the Cuyahoga River to
escape that fate only to have a large fish swallow me up, then swim over to the
Ohio River and spit me up at the three rivers crossroads that is the heart of
Pittsburgh. But God did not have to do
that because I went willingly! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">As I was there I had one of my
adult leaders acting up a lot. He would
drink several energy drinks and then be bouncing off the wall. In my highly-educated way I tried to have an
adult conversation with him expounding on my <b>vast knowledge of adolescents</b> and how he needs to act more like an
adult rather than a Junior Higher (no offense Junior Highers). In this conversation, I could tell he sensed
that I was pulling out the <b>“education
card”</b> on him because his defensive response to me was <u>“Do you think you
are better than me because you went to college?”</u> And I can say with all honesty that deep down
in my gut I wanted to yell back with much emotion, “<b>Yes! That is EXACTLY what I am saying!</b> I am much better than you in
understanding youth and mission trips because <b>I got an education and YOU DID NOT!”<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">There were also times in which I
sensed some <b>strange vibes</b> from my
adult leaders as I tried to lead them with the vast resources of wisdom that I
had in adolescent development and ministry to teenagers. They sometimes seemed to act <b>smugly</b> towards me because they actually
were in the process of <b>raising teenagers</b>
in their own households, whereas, I had <b>perfectly
adorable little children</b> that all the teenagers wanted to babysit and play
with. I could see these adults’ piercing
glares and their judgmental attitudes as I know that they thought <b>“You just wait Russ until YOUR kids are
teenagers! Then we will see who thinks they know sooooo much.”</b> But I equally would give those leaders the
side glance of <b>skepticism</b> as I would
think, <b>“Oh yeah, well I have spent more
years studying everything there is to know about teenagers than you have had in
just raising them so there! Plus your teenagers think I am cool and you are
not!”<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Well as some of you seasoned
parents know, there is nothing like <b>personal
experience</b> being your teacher. You
can read all the books you want, but when it comes to raising your own, it is
easy to feel completely clueless about how to parent in all the various and
interesting situations that arise throughout these years. It is in these years where you see the importance
of <b>relying on God and trusting in his
promises</b> so that you don’t make a big mistake in parenting and you are able
to help your kids grow up in a reasonable healthy way – spiritually, mentally,
physically and emotionally. Books and
knowledge can only take you so far. With
the wrong attitude towards our ideas of parenting we can add so many
unrealistic expectations that our teens end up not doing well. Or we could use all that we know, <b>pass it through the grid of God’s grace and
love</b>, and trust that God will use you in the right moments to be an
effective parent. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">I use this illustration as an
example of how we must understand Paul’s approach to his education. At one stage of life, prior to coming to know
Jesus, <b>he used his education to judge,
divide, and persecute others. He used it
to inflate his ego, expand his pride, and make a name for himself among the
elite in his field of study</b>. Once he
encountered Christ, the grid in which he interpreted all he came to know,
changed! Now he <b>reinterprets his education in light of God’s grace, mercy and
love! </b>Instead of having a judgmental
view of people who did not believe like he did, now, with his <u>new worldview</u>,
he is compelled to reach out and include as many people as possible in knowing
Christ as their Savior. This is <b>not a repudiation</b> of his education,
more than it is a <b>reinterpretation of
it.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Students, many of you have just
finished another year of school. You
have had teachers pour into you all the truths of their particular fields of
study. Some of you are going to be
taking the next step in your education soon by going off to college. You will encounter some teachers and
professors who are believers and you will no doubt have some who are most
vocally not. The fact of the matter is
this, <b>all truth is God’s truth,</b> no
matter what the worldview of the teacher might be. <u>The question becomes how do you interpret
these truths?</u> Allow the knowledge
that you gain to pass through the grid of God’s love, grace and mercy. Allow God to <b>redeem everything you learn in order to use it all for God’s
glory. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">And
finally, I want you to notice the <b>reaction
of the people</b> to Paul in the last statement of this passage. It stated, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">“</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">There was only this report: “That man who once persecuted us is now
preaching the very message he used to try to destroy.” <b>Their response was to recognize and worship</b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">God</span></i></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">because of</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">me</span></i></b></span><span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">!</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The way in which Paul previously
used his education and knowledge produced <b>persecution
and fear</b> among people. They knew he
was out to destroy them. But now that
Paul has been changed through Christ, the people’s response was to <b>recognize and worship God</b> because of
him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">May this be true for each and
every one of us. As we use the brains
that God gave us, may we come to <b>know
him more</b>, and be in awe of his vast wisdom and knowledge that he has
designed for us to discover all throughout his creation. May the knowledge we gain through formal
education or the school of experience, be <b>redeemed</b>
through the work of Christ as we become <b>vessels
of God’s grace, love and mercy</b> to a world that is suffering and longs to
know God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">May it never be said of us that
we allowed our education and experience to enslave us into stroking our ego, or
building our own mini-empire, or separating and dividing people who are not
like us. This is what Paul was attacking
in the Galatian church. Instead let us
live into the freedom of seeing and experiencing the world through the <b>grid of God grace, mercy and love</b>,
knowing that he has <b>empowered us to
continue the work of Christ </b>right here and right now. May we be the people of God of whom when <b>others looks at us they are compelled to
worship God</b> for all that He is doing in and through us. May we be a blessing to our families, our
church and our communities. And finally,
May it be said of us that we use our education and experience to glorify God in
all we do. Amen.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-30120128335841507012013-10-19T22:50:00.000-04:002013-10-19T22:50:48.221-04:00Sermon on John 20:19-31<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scripture: John
20:19-31</span></b></div>
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">19-20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but,
fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered,
stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and
side.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">20-21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were
exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent
me, I send you.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">22-23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the
Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good.
If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">24-25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not
with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">But he said, “Unless I see the
nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in
his side, I won’t believe it.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">26 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time
Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them,
and said, “Peace to you.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and
examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving.
Believe.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">28 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">29 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own
eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white;">
<span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">30-31 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down
in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the
Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal
life in the way he personally revealed it.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
Well, I would like to welcome you all to the weekend
services AFTER Easter: otherwise known as <b>Clergy
By-Pass Sundays</b>. This typically
involves the Sunday after Christmas too.
Youth pastors around the world get their crack at the pulpit. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have a confession to make. <b>I love
FEAR.</b> I always have. I enjoy scary movies. The movie that scared me to death as a child
was the old Steve McQueen movie called <b>“The
Blob”.</b> And I always had a cross by
my bed to ward off any possible vampire attack. I can have a fluent
conversation in a wide spectrum of horror movies from zombies, to the
demon-possessed, to monsters of the likes of aliens, predators, vampires,
werewolves, Frankenstein, mutants, Godzilla, King Kong, and on and on. I could talk about some of the most notorious
villains in film from Hannibal Lector, to Freddy Krueger, to Jason Vorhees, to
Michael Myers, to the villains of Spiderman, Batman, Superman, Indiana Jones,
the Star Wars universe, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes, and
James Bond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In fact if you think about it, <b>the greater the fear</b> in any given story the more <b>intense and rewarding is the climax</b>
that eventually overcomes the fear with victory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I have always been one to play on <b>people’s fears</b>. Ever since I
was a little boy I would be so excited to wait around a corner of a room for
one of my parents, preferably my mom, to come around so I could jump out and
scare her. Of course, if I got my dad I
always knew the revenge would double back on me and I would be scared silly
waiting for his retaliation move. But,
still to this day I do this now to my own kids.
If I am home when they get off the bus, I am always tempted, and
willfully give in, to run to the door and hide so that when they come in I can
scare them. <o:p></o:p><br />
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But I will have you know that I, Scott Russ, do so have
an <b>arch-nemesis</b> right here in
Loveland. When you see the picture of
this person you may be shocked, but I tell you as Sigorney Weaver warned in the
Aliens movie <b>“BE AFRAID, BE VERY
AFRAID!” BEHOLD THE FACE OF FEAR!!!</b> I know, I know. This young little girl looks very innocent
and sweet. This little girl goes by the
name “Nayomi”. She goes to pre-school and
then gets dropped off at the church at around noon on the weekdays. She has this uncanny ability to catch me deep
in thought and unaware of her presence and then shrieks like a <b>banshee</b> right behind me as I am walking
through the offices. And here is the
thing that <b>really, really irks me to no
end</b>. I, being in the nature of who I
am, feel this overwhelming need to <b>seek
revenge</b>. No one can ever “one-up”
me. In fact I have made it my mission to
never be “even” but to always be one-up on any of my arch-nemesis. So I deploy the same exact tactics on Nayomi
to scare her. What does she do? She <b>pouts and cries</b> to the office staff and
then I am the big bad guy! I get sent
back to my cave down in the youth room for scaring a sweet, little girl. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Anyhow, the kind of fear that I am talking about is <b>manufactured fear. </b> For the past 8 weeks I have looked forward to
Sundays more so than usual. Is it
because I get to see all my favorite teenagers throughout the day? Is it
because I get to hang out with the coolest adults ever who lead our small groups?
Well, yes to all that but these past 8 weeks I was also able to look forward to
getting home and turning on my TV at 9PM to watch the latest episode of <b>“The Walking Dead”.</b> Now that season 3 is officially over I
promise to be a good pastor and watch “The Bible” series now. It is on my DVR. But people, my March Madness has been “The
Walking Dead”. This show provides great
story telling with occasional zombie attacks.
<b>Perfect television for me.</b> Just imagine how much better television shows
would be if they all included random zombie attacks! The Bachelor? Dance Moms? What many of you
don’t know, for those of us who are really insane fans of The </span><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" style="height: 85.4pt; margin-left: 389.45pt; margin-top: 294.75pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 113.7pt; z-index: 251676672;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-45 0 -45 21540 21600 21540 21600 0 -45 0">
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Walking Dead, is that there is another full, one-hour
program right after called <b>“The Talking
Dead”.</b> For one hour, they dissect
the story line and all the events that just happened. I love it!
But a part of the benefit of this program is that you realized how they
manufacture fear. You get to see how
they shoot certain scenes. What they use
to make blood and guts. How they turn an
actor into a zombie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Now let’s try to transition into our <b>Bible story</b>. We just
celebrated Easter. Jesus faced death on
the cross, he took on the weight of the sins of the world, he overcame
temptation and defeated Satan. But the
story did not end with the cross. He <b>rose again and defeated death</b> once and
for all. He established his kingdom here
and now. Victory is his. Now he is
taking back the territory that the devil thought he owned. Where does he begin? With the very people who
abandoned him at his arrest. <o:p></o:p><br />
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As our story begins it is very important to recognize
just <b>where exactly are the disciples</b>. They are <b>hiding</b>. Behind <b>closed
and locked doors</b>. They are <b>afraid.</b>
This is not a manufactured fear but a real fear that they have given
themselves over to. They are afraid of
the <b>religious leaders</b> who were so
zealous to work the crowds against Jesus and bring about his crucifixion. They were afraid of the <b>Roman government</b> who seemed to cave to the demands of the people in
order to maintain their control. They
were afraid of the <b>common people</b> who
might recognized them and point them out to others who might feel free to
persecute them. They were in fear for
their very lives.<o:p></o:p><br />
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But then, all of a sudden, <b>Jesus appears</b> to them. They knew
his body was not in the tomb, but at this moment they weren’t sure what to
think. Now with the doors locked, Jesus
all of a sudden is there. Are there new
properties to Christ’s physical resurrected body? It is very possible. But I think the bigger lesson here is that <b>no locked door is going to prevent Jesus
from entering in</b>. Because the
disciples chose to hide in fear, they missed the greatest event ever, the
resurrection of Christ! Their fear of
the world prevented them from seeing what God was doing so as to be a witness
to His resurrection. <o:p></o:p><br />
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And I also find it interesting what Jesus says to them
over and over again. I remember learning
in seminary that often times in Scripture when you see something repeated 3
times it is very, very important! Jesus
three times says, <b>“Peace to you.”</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The <b>first time</b>
Jesus says this, it helps the disciples to understand who the <b>source of peace</b> ultimately is,
Jesus. All the disciples just went
through an experience that was anything but peaceful. They were in fear for their lives. They were afraid of a gory, horrific,
agonizing death just like they knew Jesus went through. But now Jesus stands before them alive! As painful as all that was, Jesus ultimately
defeated death! He was a visible
demonstration that there was no longer any reason to fear death. He defeated it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The <b>second time</b>
points the disciples in the direction of where they are to take this peace:
“Just as the Father sent me, <b>I send you</b>.” They are all hiding behind closed and
locked doors. They have disconnected
themselves from the outside world. Jesus
was there to <b>bust open the door and send
them out</b> in many directions as a visible demonstration of God’s peace and
love.<o:p></o:p><br />
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And the <b>third time</b>
is to help them understand that even in the <b>face of doubt, there is peace.</b> We trust in the accounts of those who were
there and wrote about it. But as we live
our lives in the 21<sup>st</sup> century it is easy to be just like the
disciples and hide in fear and doubt when we look at the world. It is easy to cave into the divisions and
dissentions that stoke fear in people. <o:p></o:p><br />
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In case you haven’t noticed lately, the very things that
we enjoyed in science-fiction stories as kids are now becoming reality as
adults! Han Solo and Chewbacca saved the
Rebel Force on the planet Hoth by attacking the Imperial drone that was
scouting out the planet. Now we hear
stories of drone technology, robots, war machines and Google glasses that will
be able to track our every move. There
are even those who are celebrating the year 2045 as the <v:shape id="_x0000_s1042" style="height: 82.5pt; margin-left: 363.9pt; margin-top: 65.6pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; position: absolute; width: 109.8pt; z-index: 251693056;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-45 0 -45 21540 21600 21540 21600 0 -45 0">
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">date of <b>the
Singularity.</b> Computer technology
will be so advanced that you will be able to take all the information from your
brain and put it onto a computer chip, then when your physical body dies you
put the chip into a synthetic body and live forever. Then all our brains can be connected into one
collective consciousness. This is the <b>futurist’s idea of eternal life</b> through
science! It sounds like another <b>horror movie</b> to me. It increasingly is becoming a strange,
strange world that we live in. Technology is moving so fast that we don’t
even have the time to ask ethical and moral questions as to whether we should
or should not be pursuing this.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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We live in a culture that is just <b>saturated in fear.</b> People
are buying up guns and ammunition like crazy because of fear; either fear of a
made-up bad guy that they imagine, fear of the government (who by the way has
science-fiction type weapons now!), fear of the unknown, and there are even
people who truly believe in being prepared for a zombie apocalypse. Of which any zombie expert would know that
guns would only make the matter worse because the sound would attract even more
zombies. You need a good <b>sword</b> or <b>crossbow</b> to quietly defend yourself against roaming zombies! Duh! There are many understandable reasons why a
person may buy a gun but when the <b>driving
force is fear</b>, we really need to be honest with ourselves that that really
does say a lot about the nature of our faith, our culture and our society.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We have good Christians around the world who have to deal
with fear all the time due to <b>persecution.</b> I am not talking about some lame “war on
Christmas or Easter” as if the American Church is being persecuted. I am talking about the Christians in Egypt, India
and Iran; the Christians all throughout the Middle East who suffer and face
death for their beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The fact is that we live in a world that at times seems
to be going <b>completely insane</b>. Do we give into that insanity? Do we allow
the fear to penetrate our hearts and control our thinking? Do we hide behind closed doors with locks
thinking that we are sheltering ourselves from an evil world out there? <o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus told his disciples to <b>take his peace</b> and <b>open up
that door</b> and <b>go out into the world</b>
and be visible demonstrations of God’s peace.
The church is called to be <b>counter-culture</b>
when it comes to fear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I will be straight up with all of you. I do not want to die. I want to live a full life and then have
Jesus return so I do not have to deal with a physical death. But the fact of our faith entirely hinges on
one event: <b>THE RESSURECTION! </b> Jesus defeated death. He triumphed over sin. He empowers us to be his kingdom people. Come death, disease, war, terrorism, or even a
zombie attack, through the power of the Holy Spirit, death will not have the
final say, but one day I will live in God’s Kingdom with a <b>resurrected body</b>. It is in knowing
this <b>power</b>, this <b>outcome</b>, this <b>victory</b> that helps us understand how to live in peace when there is
so much around us that screams out just the opposite.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many of the disciples were transformed when they finally
understood this. They lived lives of <b>courage</b> and <b>conviction</b> spreading the message of God’s love and peace wherever
the Holy Spirit directed them. Many of
them died a martyr’s death just like Jesus.
They <b>overcame their fear</b> with
a <b>peace</b> that transcends all
understanding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> In closing let me remind
you what Paul said to the church at Philippi who must have been struggling with
this very thing. He says to them in
chapter 4, verse 7: <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">And the <b>peace of God</b>, which transcends all understanding, will <b>guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">The grand and mighty peace
of God, that transcends our puny little, limited-knowledge-filled minds, this
all-encompassing peace will guard our<b>
heart</b>, the center of our <b>emotions</b>,
and our <b>minds,</b> the center of our <b>intellect</b> and rational thought, and
keep us <b>focused on Jesus.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">For Lent I gave up something
that was an important part of my morning.
I regularly would watch <b>Good
Morning America.</b> But I was beginning
to realize just how much negativity was in the news and it would always start
off my day focused on all of the fearful issues that made headlines. I wanted to push all that aside for 40 days
and give up the morning to focus more on <b>Bible
reading and prayer.</b> It definitely
helped me be more focused at the beginning of the day on Christ instead of the
latest crisis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Do not let the insanity of
our world out there rob you of the peace that can only come from God. Do not let your self-worth be determined by
cultural standards. Instead, realize
that God has invited you into His Story.
He is sending you out to show an insane culture that it is possible to
live in <b>love and peace</b> despite the
latest news headlines. Our inner peace <b>will not be provoked</b> by the constant
stream of news. Our peace will not allow
us to <b>run and hide</b> behind things
that give us some false assurance that we are safe. <b>Our
peace comes directly from God</b> who is the author and finisher of our
faith. He has defeated death and now
offers <b>eternal life</b> to all who
believe in his one and only Son. Do you
have that peace? Do you want to have that supernatural peace in your life? If
so, give your fears over to God and open your heart and mind to the Holy
Spirit’s power to transform your fears into peace. Amen.<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-65251496208550433862013-10-19T22:37:00.001-04:002013-10-19T22:37:48.956-04:00God's Story: The Church<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God’s Story: The
Church<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> We spent the <b>whole year</b> looking at <b>God’s
Story.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It began with a perfect <b>creation</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> humans living in <b>perfect love</b> with God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Then <b>sin</b>
entered into the world and changed everything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> God <b>did
not give up</b> though<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He <b>found
a way</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He began by calling out <b>Abraham </b>to follow him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> From Abraham came the <b>nation of Israel</b> and the <b>Law
given to Moses</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But sin always had a way to keep people <b>separate</b> from God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-5: UNTIL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The <b>Son
of God</b> came to do what all of us were unable to do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Live a <b>perfect
life</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> And give himself as a <b>sacrifice </b>once and for all for our sins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus died, but then <b>rose again</b>, defeating death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He empowered his followers to <b>continue</b> the work that he began.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He told them,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>All authority</b> in heaven and on earth
has been given to me.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Therefore
go and <b>make disciples</b> of all
nations,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>baptizing</b> them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and<b> teaching </b>them to <b>obey </b>everything
I have commanded you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And
surely I am <b>with you</b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">always, to the very end of the age.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> At
another moment with his followers he spoke to them saying<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You will receive<b>
power</b> when the <b>Holy Spirit</b> comes
on you;<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and you will be my witnesses<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in <b>Jerusalem,</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and in all <b>Judea and
Samaria,</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and to the <b>ends of
the earth</b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Wait one minute! Why doesn’t he just <b>stay here</b> and do this?!?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I would think that people would be more inclined to <b>follow him rather than <u>ME</u></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Then before all his followers Jesus <b>ascends into heaven</b> promising to return one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>Now WHAT?!?!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Well, Jesus did tell us to <b>wait</b> in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Pentecost came and so did the <b>Holy Spirit.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>Miracles</b>
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> People spoke in different<b> languages</b> spreading the message of Christ rapidly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Peter gave his <b>first
sermon</b> to the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>Repent </b>and be <b>baptized,</b> every one of you, in the name
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the <b>gift</b> of the Holy Spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Over<b> 3,000 </b>people
accepted Peter’s message.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Believers began <b>meeting</b>
together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Through these <b>communities</b>
they were able to devote themselves to <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1: teaching<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2: praying<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3: eating
together<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4: helping</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> each other out if anyone had need<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>praising God</b> and
enjoying the favor of all people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But eventually <b>persecution</b>
broke out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Steven was <b>murdered</b>
for his beliefs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Saul began <b>hunting</b>
down Christians and putting them in jail<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But then Jesus <b>confronted</b>
Saul on the road to Damascus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Saul <b>converted</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He changed his name to <b>Paul</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Everyone heard about this but were <b>afraid</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This is just a <b>trick</b>
to get Christians to come out from hiding!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Don’t trust him! It’s
a <b>trap!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But one person showed him <b>grace.</b> His name was <b>Barnabus</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> His very name means <b>“Son
of encouragement”</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Paul and Barnabus worked together on <b>mission trips</b> to start faith communities<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> What started in Jerusalem spread all the way to <b>Rome</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> People’s lives being<b>
transformed</b> by the Spirit of God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> For <b>20 centuries</b>
so many people have come before us to continue the work of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Christianity spread throughout the <b>Middle East</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Christianity made its way through <b>England and Africa</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And eventually the message of Christ made it to <b>America</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Many people have <b>given
their lives</b> to spread the message of God’s love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Many sacrifices were made to see this truth get into the <b>hearts</b> and <b>minds</b> of all people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Christians have been<b>
persecuted</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Some have been <b>executed</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Some have been marginalized as <b>ignorant, stupid and dangerous</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But now this precious message has been <b><u>handed down to you</u></b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The message and mission of Christ has been carefully <b>handed down</b> from generation to generation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And now it is given <b>to
you!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> What does this <b>mean?</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> How does this <b>affect
who you are?</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Consider what the Bible teaches us about our <b>identity in Christ!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> In Christ you are…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Godʼs beloved child</b> (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Christʼs <b>dear friend</b> (John 15:5)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Declared <b>perfectly righteous</b> (“justified”)
(Romans 5:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Free from condemnation</b> (Romans 8:1; Colossians 2:14-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>United with Christ, “one spirit” with Christ</b> (I Corinthians 6:17;
Ephesians 5:31)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A member of <b>Christʼs body</b> (I Corinthians 6:15,
12:27)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The <b>Temple of God</b> (I Corinthians 6:19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Filled with the <b>“fullness of God”</b> (Ephesians 3:19)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A “<b>holy one” [saint]</b> (Ephesians 1:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Blessed with every spiritual blessing </b>(Ephesians 1:3)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Holy and blameless</b> (Ephesians 1:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Bought with an infinite price</b> and <b>forgiven</b> (I Cor. 6:20; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Bathed with <b>wisdom and understanding</b> (Ephesians
1:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The recipient of an <b>eternal, infinitely rich, inheritance</b>
(Ephesians 1:11, 18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Possessed with the <b>mind of Christ</b> (I Corinthians 2:16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Inseparable from Godʼs love</b> (Romans 8:35-39)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> One who will <b>NEVER be abandoned</b> (Matthew 28:20)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The <b>beautiful bride</b> of Christ who <b>“ravishes” the heart of God </b>(S. of S.,
4:1, 6:4)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> One over whom the
Lord <b>rejoices, sings and claps his hands</b>
(Zephaniah 3:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> One for whom the
Lord <b>throws a party </b>(Zephaniah 3:17;
Luke 15:7-10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A recipient of <b>Godʼs own peace</b> (John 14:27)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Filled with the <b>peace and joy of God</b> (Romans 14:17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> One in whom <b>Christʼs joy</b> is fulfilled (John 15:11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Given direct <b>access to the Father</b> by the Holy Spirit
(Ephesians 2:18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>Seated
with Christ</b> in heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The writer of Hebrews reminds us of all
those throughout history who have <b>come before us<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Those who <b>continued the work and mission of God</b> to bring it to this point and
time<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And then the writer tells us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a <b>great
cloud of witnesses, <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> All of
those believers who have <b>come before us,</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> let us <b>throw off</b> everything that hinders and
the sin that so easily entangles. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Don’t
get <b>tangled up</b> by sin but have the
discipline to <b>say no</b> to those things
which will hurt me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And let
us run<b> </b>with <b>perseverance</b></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the race marked out for us,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the spiritual life is a <b>marathon</b>,
not a <b>sprint</b>. We must <b>pace
ourselves</b> for all of life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> fixing
our <b>eyes on Jesus</b>, the pioneer</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">and perfecter of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> So many things
try to divert our attention. We must <b>stay
focused</b> on Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> For the
joy set before him he <b>endured the cross</b>,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">scorning its shame</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and sat
down at the right hand of the <b>throne of
God</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> What appeared to be the <b>defeat </b>of
Christ at the <b>cross,</b> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> God was able to bring<b> victory</b>
through his <b>resurrection.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And now <b>all authority</b> has
been given to him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Consider
him who <b>endured</b> such opposition from
sinners, so that you will not grow weary</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">and lose heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The
Christ-filled life is<b> not</b> always
easy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Our
loyalty to Him will be <b>challenged</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> People
will often <b>let you down<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Life can
just be <b>really hard</b> sometimes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But God
has not left us <b>alone</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We have
the same <b>power</b> within us that Jesus
had throughout his lifetime<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The Holy
Spirit can <b>transform us</b> to be more
and more like Christ<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The Holy
Spirit can <b>use us</b> in ways we could <b>never have even imagined</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The Holy
Spirit can <b>forgive us</b> when make
mistakes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The Holy
Spirit can <b>give us gifts</b> that can be
a blessing to so many people<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>The future of the church rests on our
shoulders</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The
mission of Christ has been <b>entrusted to
you!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> You have
been invited to be a <b>main character</b>
in the <b>continuing saga of God’s Story!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> What
will the newest chapter look like? <b>How
will you make a difference?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <b>Let’s Pray</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">PASTOR:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Dear Lord. We thank
you for writing such a beautiful story, a story filled with your love reaching
out to us. We thank you for making a way
for us to be invited into your story in such an amazing way. I pray that we would fully give ourselves to
your love. I pray that we would see
ourselves as you see us – as the full expression of Christ to this
generation. Help us all to fully live
into our faith. May we be given the same
power that you had to change the world.
I pray that you would raise up from this youth group pastors, teachers,
musicians, missionaries; a community of people full of God’s love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. May our actions and the way we live our lives
attract people to you! Give us a global
vision for how we can change our world beginning with right here, right now. <b>Amen</b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-91910472847100040852013-10-19T22:32:00.001-04:002013-10-19T22:32:31.270-04:00God's Story: The Death and Resurrection of Christ<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God’s Story: The
Death and Resurrection of Christ<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> INTRODUCTION<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> God’s story began with Creation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Humans living in perfect relationship with
God<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Then sin entered into the world infecting
everything<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> God established a people through Abraham<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He rescued them from Egypt through Moses<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He gave them his law and provided land for
the people of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But the issue of sin always had a way to
turn people away from God until . . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The Son of God was born in a manger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus grew<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He called out 12 disciples saying to them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> FOLLOW ME<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The final week of Jesus’ life begins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SCENE 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus warned his disciples many times<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> His mission on earth would not be what they
expected!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The Son of Man must die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus, this is crazy talk. You need to stop
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Peter, get thee behind me Satan!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SCENE 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It is time to enter into Jerusalem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Look, Jesus comes riding on a donkey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> It is not quite the big giant entrance like
a king or pharaoh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The poor, the children, throwing down palms
on Jesus’ path<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> The religious leaders stand by indignant<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus surveys the crowd and begins to weep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> People who are yelling <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Hosanna!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> will soon be used to scream out <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Crucify him!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> SCENE 3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Jesus meets with his disciples for what he
knows is his final supper with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> While they were eating, Jesus took bread, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and when he had given thanks, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> he broke it</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">and gave it to his disciples, saying,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Take and eat; this is my body.”</span></span><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></sup></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Then he took a cup,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">and when he had given thanks, he
gave it to them, saying,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the<b><sup> </sup></b>covenant,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.<b><sup> </sup></b>I
tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink
it new with you<b><sup> </sup></b>in my Father’s kingdom.”<b><sup><o:p></o:p></sup></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">PASTOR:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Let’s pray (Communion)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> After the supper Jesus announces that one of the disciples will
betray him<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> They all look astounded and shocked<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> They were all quick to swear loyalty<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus looked at Judas and said<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “What you are about to do, go and do it quickly”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> At that moment Satan entered into Judas <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 11 disciples reclining at a table eating food<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Unaware that the very presence of God and Satan are physically in
the room with them, </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Judas left to
carry out his plans</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> SCENE 4<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The Garden
of Gethsemane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus
takes his disciples so that they can pray together<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to the point of death. Stay here and
keep watch with me.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus prays with overwhelming stress and anxiety<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He wrestles with his options<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He finally prays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>be taken from me. Yet not as I will,
but as you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The betrayer comes with the mob<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He greets Jesus with a kiss<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The mob attacks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The disciples scatter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus is taken to court<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Accusations fly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus remains silent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The judge feels pressure from the crowd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He caves to their demands<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus is flogged then lead away to be crucified<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and the disciple who swore to stay with him denied he ever
knew him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> not once, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> not twice, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> but three times; just as Jesus said he would<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> SCENE 5<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> In his crucifixion there are two responses that resemble all
of humanity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> One who was on a cross beside Jesus, mocked him and made fun
of him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The other recognized his sin and the scandal of being
executed alongside Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds
deserve. But this man has done
nothing wrong. Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4: </span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus answered him,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Today you will be with me in paradise.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> How do
we see Jesus? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Do we
look at Jesus’ powerlessness as an example of God’s impotence?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Or as
proof of God’s love?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> One
sacrifice given up for all of our sins<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> While we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Satan
was defeated at the cross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A new
era of God’s kingdom was about to begin!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Isaiah
sums up all these events in a prophecy many years prior<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He
paints the picture of Christ’s suffering in stating that<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Surely
he took up our pain</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="text"><span style="background: white;">and bore our suffering,</span></span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> yet we
considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But he
was pierced</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">for our
transgressions,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> he was
crushed</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">for our iniquities;</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> the
punishment</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">that
brought us peace</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">was on
him,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and by
his wounds</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">we are
healed.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> We all,
like sheep, have gone astray,</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> each of
us has turned to our own way;</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="text"><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">has laid on him</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="text"><span style="background: white;">the iniquity</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white;">of us all.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> One
sacrifice, once and for all. Taking upon himself <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> our sin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> our
shame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> our
punishment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> our
suffering<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> our
pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> SCENE 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But the
story does not end with the cross!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Three
days later some of the women go down to the grave to care for the body<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> They
were shocked to see an empty tomb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Even
more shocking, an angel announcing to them that Jesus is not here. He has risen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> They
went back to the room where the men were hiding<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus is
gone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> All of a
sudden Jesus appears among them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Peace be
with you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> After
all the disciples have experienced in the past three day, peace was the last
thing they were experiencing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But
Jesus stands before them . . . alive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Death
was not the final chapter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> In fact,
he defeated death and now lives again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Oh wait,
didn’t Jesus try and tell us he would rise again on the third day?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1-5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Ohhhhhhhhhhh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But even
then some of the disciples wrestled with their thoughts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Thomas
heard about Jesus but had serious doubts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus
came directly to Thomas and showed him the evidence that he was definitely alive<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Peter
felt embarrassment and shame<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He didn’t
know what to think<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He
decided to go back to the old business of fishing for fish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> On a
boat he could just distance himself from the whole Jesus thing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> But
after a bad night of fishing someone on the shore encourages them to try one
more time before they come in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> All of a
sudden the nets could barely hold the catch of fish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The boat
almost started sinking due to the amount of fish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Peter
figured it out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> That is
Jesus on the shore<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Why did
he bother to come and find me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus invited
them to eat food that he prepared on the beach<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Peter,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Do you love me more than these?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Feed my lambs.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Again Jesus said,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Simon son of John, do you love me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Then take care of my sheep.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The third time Jesus said to him,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Peter, do you love me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> “Lord, you know all things;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">you know that I love you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus said,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Feed my sheep.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Three times Peter denied Jesus <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Three times Jesus affirms Peter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus did not disown Peter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> He did not punish Peter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Instead Jesus pursued Peter when Peter was trying to avoid Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus affirmed Peter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus gifted Peter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> And Jesus helped to remind Peter of who God called him to be<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Just like the disciples who had doubt, fear, insecurity and guilt<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus pursued them, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> loved them <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> affirmed them <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and launched them out into ministry<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span class="woj"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5:</span></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Just as he does with each and every one of us. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04326645003128408149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23325451.post-70763960169324722002013-10-19T22:27:00.000-04:002013-10-19T22:27:01.994-04:00God's Story: The Mission of Jesus<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">GOD'S STORY: The
Mission of Jesus<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: Three
stories that help us get a glimpse of the <b>mission
of Christ</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: Story
#1 begins with Jesus after he has been <b>baptized</b>
by John then <b>fasted </b>for 40 days in the desert only to be <b>tempted</b> by the devil himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: Once
Jesus passed these tests he went to his home town of Nazareth to state his <b>mission</b>
and begin his <b>ministry.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: On
the Sabbath day Jesus went to the local <b>synagogue</b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: He
stood up to <b>read.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: He
opened up a scroll of the prophet <b>Isaiah</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: He <b>read</b> out loud<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: The
Spirit of the Lord is <b>on</b> me,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: because
he has <b>anointed</b> me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> to preach the <b>good news</b> to the <b>poor.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> He has sent me to proclaim <b>freedom</b> for the <b>prisoners</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> and recovery of <b>sight</b> for the <b>blind,</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> to <b>release</b>
the <b>oppressed,</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> to <b>proclaim</b>
the year of the <b>Lord’s favor!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He <b>stopped</b>
and rolled up the scroll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The people waited in anticipation for his <b>wisdom</b> to unpack this Scripture<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But Jesus said something that <b>no one expected. </b>Jesus said’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “Today this scripture is <b>fulfilled</b> in your presence.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1,3,4,5:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b>What?!?!</b>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What is <b>that</b>
supposed to mean? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Who does he <b>think</b> he is? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Isn’t this <b>Joseph’s son</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But now that Jesus piqued their curiosity and
has them muttering, he drops <b>the bomb</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">First, he comments that a prophet is <b>without honor</b> in his hometown<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Second, he refers to the widow that Elijah
helped. She was <b>not</b> an Israelite.
She was an <b>outsider.</b> God did not send Elijah to any of the widows in Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Third, he points out that Elisha was sent to
heal <b>Naaman</b> the Syrian of <b>leprosy!</b> There
were many in Israel with leprosy but God chose an <b>outsider</b> again! An <b>enemy</b> of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At this, the crowd went into a <b>rage!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Some already wanted him <b>dead.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But Jesus <b>walked</b> right through the mess and went his way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: What</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> were they upset over?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: Why</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> the rage?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus was <b>pointing out</b> that in the Isaiah passage that <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the <b>poor</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the <b>prisoners</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">the <b>blind</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and the <b>oppressed</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1-5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">were <b>ALL
</b>to receive God’s good news!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This was <b>NOT</b>
limited to just <b>ONE</b> nation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But now is available to <b>ALL nations</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We live in the time when we can <b>ALL</b> receive the <b>Lord’s favor</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And for that Jesus was preaching a <b>radical </b>and <b>inclusive</b> message of <b>God’s
love for all people!<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus initiates the “good news” or better yet
the gospel of <b>God’s grace for all</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Story #2 happens in the darkness of <b>night</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">While the religious leaders were very much <b>opposed</b> to Jesus and his message<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">There was one from among the Pharisees who
needed to find out <b>more</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He had <b>questions</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He wanted to <b>understand</b> Jesus’ message for himself<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nicodemus caught up with Jesus one night and
recognized that Jesus had to of come
from God because of the <b>miracles</b> he
was performing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus said to him<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I tell you the truth, no one can see the
kingdom of God unless he is <b>born again.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: Born again???</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> What does that mean? How can anyone be “born again”? It is not like we can return back to our <b>mother’s womb</b>? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus is surprised that Nicodemus is not
getting this. He explains,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You cannot enter the kingdom of God unless
you are born of <b>water </b>and the <b>Spirit!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The <b>water</b>
symbolizes our <b>natural, physical birth</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The <b>spirit</b>
symbolizes our <b>SPIRITUAL birth</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Nicodemus is still <b>confused</b> as to how one becomes born again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But Jesus <b>foreshadows</b> what is to come in order to make this happen. Jesus
says,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Son of Man must be <b>lifted up</b>, that everyone who <b>believes</b>
in him may have <b>eternal life!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus knew the <b>ultimate sacrifice</b> he would have to make so that we would receive our spiritual birth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But <b>why</b>
would Jesus do this? What was the <b>motivation</b>
behind all this talk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus announces the <b>driving force</b> behind this great scheme to rescue the lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is <b>God’s
LOVE</b> for <b>ALL</b> the world that
compels him to give up his one and only Son,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">so that <b>anyone</b>
who believes in Him will <b>not perish</b>
but instead have <b>eternal life!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus recognizes that there are <b>two paths</b> that a person can chose<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One leads to darkness, <b>separation from God</b>, a lifestyle of <b>evil deeds</b>, a person who
stands <b>condemned</b> under the <b>justice of God</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Another leads to living into the <b>light</b>, being <b>reconciled</b>, <b>restored</b> and
put into a <b>right relationship</b> with to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A life that is lived in full view of <b>God’s light</b> is one that demonstrates
that what a person makes of this one
small life has been <b>done through God</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God <b>loves</b>,
God <b>restores</b>, God <b>reconciles</b>, and God <b>empowers</b> us to live for him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the good news that Jesus brings to
Nicodemus, the gospel of <b>God’s grace!</b>
His <b>riches</b> given to us through Christ’s work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our 3<sup>rd</sup> story takes us to a <b>well.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Instead of a highly respected teacher, now
Jesus confronts a person with <b>many bad strikes</b> against her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus is at a well in the <b>middle</b> of the day by himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When all of a sudden a lone <b>Samaritan woman</b> comes to the well to
get some water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most women go in the cool of the morning as a
<b>group</b> to look out for each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This woman knew that for her, that would be a
<b>bad idea.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For her <b>reputation</b>
has destroyed enough relationships that she <b>feared</b> some of these women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was better to go <b>alone</b> when she would be least likely to run into anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As she approached the well she noticed that
there was a <b>person</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: Oh great!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> A man. As if I
haven’t gotten myself in <b>enough trouble</b>
with men already. I hope this guy
doesn’t give me any trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh no! It looks like he is a <b>Jew</b> also. So not only does he think he
is <b>superior</b> to me because I am a woman but now he will <b>despise</b> me because I am a <b>Samaritan.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, at least he will choose to just <b>ignore</b> me if he knows what is best for
him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> But Jesus asked,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hey, can you give me a <b>drink</b> of water?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: Why </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">would this guy ask me for a favor? A
Jewish man <b>never speaks</b> to a
Samaritan woman let alone ask for a
favor. And why are you talking to me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus said,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you knew the <b>gift of God</b> and <b>who</b> it
is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked
him for <b>living water</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh great. A <b>salesman.</b> So there’s bottled
water, purified water, flavored water and now
this guy wants to con me into buying his <b>“living”</b>
water. Yeah, whatever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But this living water will make it so that
you are <b>never thirsty again</b> and it
will become like a spring within
yourself welling up to <b>eternal life!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Okay, I will play his game. Alright sir, you got me! I would <b>love</b> to have some of this </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">water so I </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">never</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> have to come down here every day to get this water.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But Jesus said, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Go get your <b>husband</b> and then come back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh great, he had to go there. Well let’s see. Who should I go get. Well <b>technically</b>
I am not actually married at the
moment so let’s just get this over with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I <b>don’t</b>
have a husband.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus replied, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well thanks for being <b>honest</b>. At the moment you do not have a husband because you have already gone through <b>5 husbands</b>, and now, the guy you are
with, you are <b>not</b> even married to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: Busted.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I did not see that coming. A Jewish
prophet. Just what I need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">You know, the problem with you guys is that
you tell us Samaritans that the only <b>true
place</b> to worship God is in <b>Jerusalem</b>. So how am I supposed to do
that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, the time has now come that true
worshippers will worship God in <b>spirit</b>
and <b>truth</b>!
It is not about the <b>external location</b>
more than it is about the <b>heart</b> and <b>mind</b>
of a person <b>transformed by God!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Well mister.
That sounds good and all. I
suppose one day the long-awaited <b>Messiah </b>will explain all of this to us.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Excuse me ma’am. But that is <b>exactly</b> <b>who I am.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The <b>darkness</b>
is <b>shattered,</b> the proverbial light
bulb <b>turns on</b>! Jesus reveals who he is to this Samaritan woman with a <b>bad</b> reputation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Her immediate reaction was to <b>NOT </b>isolate herself from people, but
instead to run back to her
community and <b>share the good news of
Jesus!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the <b>good news</b> that Jesus brings to the Samaritan woman, the gospel of <b>God’s grace</b>!
Spiritual water that always <b>satisfies</b>
and that is <b>sustaining</b> us for <b>eternal
life!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Jesus’ ultimate mission was yet to come. But it is through his work where <b>God’s grace
and love</b> are poured out on all people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Have you received the <b>good news</b>, the gospel of Jesus for <b>yourself</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do you know that you have been <b>born again</b> through Christ’s work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Are you <b>living
in darkness</b>, always hiding your sins?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Or are you <b>living in the light</b>, proud of the fact that God is working <b>in </b>and <b>through</b> you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Do your appetites for this world get you into
<b>trouble</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Or is your appetite for life <b>fully satisfied</b> in God’s work of <b>empowering</b> you to live for Him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For if you <b>confess</b> with your mouth <b>“Jesus
is Lord”,</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">1: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">and <b>believe</b>
in your heart that God <b>raised</b> him
from the dead, then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">2: YOU <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">3: WILL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">4: BE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">5: SAVED!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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