Small Church= Huge Impact!Small Church= Huge Impact!July 29-Aug 2July 29-Aug 2

Culture andCulture and

(Identity)(Identity)

ChristChrist

We live out ofWe live out ofWhat we believe to be trueWhat we believe to be true

She was self-destructiveShe was self-destructive

She was self-destructiveShe was self-destructive

You gotta have an endingYou gotta have an endingIf you want a new beginningIf you want a new beginning

- She is not what they said- She is not what they said

- She is not what she has believed - She is not what she has believed about herselfabout herself

- She is not what she feels- She is not what she feelsat the momentat the moment

- She is loved by God (launched a - She is loved by God (launched a rescue mission because of her)rescue mission because of her)

- Adopted on purpose- Adopted on purpose

- His beloved daughter- His beloved daughter

Changed…Changed…EverythingEverything

Living out of DeathLiving out of DeathProduces DeathProduces Death

Living out of New LifeLiving out of New LifeProduces LifeProduces Life

The cross is not just jewelryThe cross is not just jewelryBut a symbol of your death to selfBut a symbol of your death to self

So that you can experienceSo that you can experienceLife as God intendedLife as God intended

I have come I have come that you may have that you may have life life and have it to the full- Jesusand have it to the full- Jesus

…He must deny himself, …He must deny himself, take up take up his crosshis cross and follow me…- Jesus and follow me…- Jesus

Jesus didn't Suffer, Die andJesus didn't Suffer, Die andRise on the 3Rise on the 3rdrd Day Day

To produce a better versionTo produce a better versionOf youOf you

……all of us who were baptized all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death…into his death…

We were therefore buried We were therefore buried with with him through baptism into death in him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, glory of the Father, we too may we too may live a new lifelive a new life- Rom. 6:3-4- Rom. 6:3-4

Death to self Death to self produces life the wayproduces life the wayGod intendedGod intended

When I stop saying, When I stop saying, "My way!""My way!"I experience his best…I experience his best…

In the same way, In the same way, count count yourselves dead yourselves dead to sin but alive to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesusto God in Christ Jesus- Rom. 6:11- Rom. 6:11

Living out of DeathLiving out of DeathProduces DeathProduces Death

Living out of New LifeLiving out of New LifeProduces LifeProduces Life

You have an identityYou have an identityA primary sense of selfA primary sense of self

Of worth and valueOf worth and valueThat which you live forThat which you live for

- Appearance- Appearance

- Approval of others- Approval of others

- Possessions- Possessions

- Positions- Positions

- Passions- Passions

Not wrong, but not who you areNot wrong, but not who you areCause to Praise GodCause to Praise God

- Temporary- Temporary- Subject to change- Subject to change

Carrying a cross=Carrying a cross=I belong to JesusI belong to Jesus

Living out of Death Produces:Living out of Death Produces:

- Hypocrisy- Hypocrisy- Exhaustion- Exhaustion- Lack of Peace and Joy- Lack of Peace and Joy- Lost Opportunities to Worship- Lost Opportunities to Worship

Paul, Peter Paul, Peter And People-PleasingAnd People-Pleasing

But when I saw that their conduct But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with was not in step with the truth of the truth of the gospel,the gospel, I said to Peter before I said to Peter before them all…them all…

““If you, though a Jew, live like a If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how Gentile and not like a Jew, how

can you force the Gentiles to can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”live like Jews?”

I have been crucified I have been crucified with Christ. It with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but is no longer I who live, but Christ Christ who lives in me. who lives in me. And the life I now And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for meand gave himself for me- Gal. 2:14, 20- Gal. 2:14, 20

Peter= People-PleaserPeter= People-Pleaser

Living out of Death Living out of Death Produces Death:Produces Death:- Hypocrisy- Hypocrisy- Influence- Influence- Perversion of the Truth- Perversion of the Truth

Living out of DeathLiving out of DeathProduces DeathProduces Death

Living out of New LifeLiving out of New LifeProduces LifeProduces Life

Where do you getWhere do you getYour primary sense of selfYour primary sense of self

Of worth and valueOf worth and value

Your identity?Your identity?

That's your limitationThat's your limitationYour slaveryYour slavery

God wants to set you freeGod wants to set you freeTo enjoy being his ChildTo enjoy being his Child

Above all elseAbove all else(Outside of your own efforts)(Outside of your own efforts)

If anyone else thinks he has reason If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, for confidence in the flesh, I have I have more:more: circumcised on the eighth circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; Hebrews;

as to the law, a Pharisee;as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the as to zeal, a persecutor of the

church; as to righteousness under church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.the law, blameless.

But whatever gain I had, I counted But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.my Lord.

For his sake I have suffered the For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them loss of all things and count them

as rubbish, in order that I may as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him…gain Christ and be found in him…

……not having a righteousness of not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—from God that depends on faith—

……that I may know him and the that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and power of his resurrection, and

may share his sufferings, may share his sufferings, becoming like him becoming like him in his death…in his death…

- Phil. 3:4-10- Phil. 3:4-10

a righteousness of my own that a righteousness of my own that comes from the law= comes from the law= exhaustingexhausting

the righteousness from God that the righteousness from God that depends on faith= depends on faith= sets freesets free

Who am I and why am I here?Who am I and why am I here?

- A beloved son or daughter- A beloved son or daughter- Accepted…and- Accepted…and wanted wanted- New creation- New creation- "To the praise of his glory"- "To the praise of his glory"

The cross is not just jewelryThe cross is not just jewelryBut a symbol of your death to selfBut a symbol of your death to self

So that you can experienceSo that you can experienceLife as God intendedLife as God intended

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all male and female, for you are all one one in Christ Jesusin Christ Jesus- Gal. 3:28- Gal. 3:28

Identity ChangeIdentity Change

Jesus said, “There was a man who Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.property between them.

- Not satisfied with his identity- Not satisfied with his identity

- Insults his father- Insults his father

Not many days later, the younger Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a son gathered all he had and took a

journey into a far country, and journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in there he squandered his property in

reckless living.reckless living.

And when he had spent everything, And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.to feed pigs.

And he was longing to be fed with And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave and no one gave him anything. him anything.

““But But when he came to himself,when he came to himself, he he said, ‘How many of my father's said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than hired servants have more than

enough bread, but I perish here enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before sinned against heaven and before you. you. I am no longer worthy to be I am no longer worthy to be called your son.called your son. Treat me as one of Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’your hired servants.”’

And he arose and came to his And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long father. But while he was still a long way off, way off, his fatherhis father saw him and felt saw him and felt compassion, and compassion, and ran and embraced ran and embraced

him and kissed him.him and kissed him.

And the son said to him, ‘Father, I And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’to be called your son.’

I've lost my right to my identityI've lost my right to my identity

Eight Words Eight Words The Father won't hear:The Father won't hear:

"Treat me as one of your "Treat me as one of your hired servants"hired servants"

In Christ, you are who you areIn Christ, you are who you are

The only question is whetherThe only question is whetherOr not you'll live from itOr not you'll live from itAnd experience LifeAnd experience Life

But the father saidBut the father said to his servants, to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and

put it on him, and put a ring on his put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.hand, and shoes on his feet.

God is never worried aboutGod is never worried aboutWhere you've beenWhere you've beenOr where you areOr where you are

He's concerned aboutHe's concerned aboutWhere you go from hereWhere you go from here

"Neither do I condemn you."Neither do I condemn you.Go and sin no more…"- JesusGo and sin no more…"- Jesus

And bring the fattened calf and kill And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.And they began to celebrate.

““Now his older son was in the field, Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to and as he came and drew near to

the house, he heard music and the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the dancing. And he called one of the

servants and asked what these servants and asked what these things meant.things meant.

And he said to him, ‘Your brother And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and sound.’ But he was angry and refused refused to go in.to go in.

His father came out and entreated His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.celebrate with my friends.

But when this son of yours came, But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property who has devoured your property

with prostitutes, you killed the with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’fattened calf for him!’

Religion can't celebrate the grace Religion can't celebrate the grace of God in the presentof God in the presentBecause it's too busyBecause it's too busy

Pointing to the pastPointing to the pastAnd comparing itself to othersAnd comparing itself to others

And he said to him, ‘Son, you are And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that always with me, and all that is mine is yours.is mine is yours.

It was fitting to celebrate and be It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was glad, for this your brother was

dead, and is alive; he was lost, dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’”and is found’”

- Luke 11:15-32- Luke 11:15-32

Until I know who I am in ChristUntil I know who I am in ChristI'll never be able to fully celebrateI'll never be able to fully celebrate

What God is doing in youWhat God is doing in you

Living out of DeathLiving out of DeathProduces DeathProduces Death

Living out of New LifeLiving out of New LifeProduces LifeProduces Life

- You are not what they said- You are not what they said

- You are not what you have - You are not what you have believed about yourselfbelieved about yourself

- You are not what you feel- You are not what you feelat the momentat the moment

- You are loved by God - You are loved by God

- Adopted on purpose- Adopted on purpose

- His beloved son/daughter- His beloved son/daughter

Leads to:Leads to:

- Clarity- I know who I am- Clarity- I know who I am

Leads to:Leads to:

- Purpose- I know why I'm here- Purpose- I know why I'm here

Leads to:Leads to:

- Joy- I celebrate who - Joy- I celebrate who God made me to beGod made me to be

Leads to:Leads to:

- Peace- I don't have to be - Peace- I don't have to be anything other than who I amanything other than who I am

I have come I have come that you may have that you may have life life and have it to the full- Jesusand have it to the full- Jesus

He must deny himself, He must deny himself, take up his take up his crosscross and follow me…- Jesus and follow me…- Jesus

What won't I trust God with?What won't I trust God with?That's my limitation…That's my limitation…

What will I give over to Him?What will I give over to Him?That's my freedom and joy…That's my freedom and joy…