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The Joy of Making Much of His Name

Christian Spirituality, Foot-washing and Missional Living

 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matt. 5:14-16

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

Missional Living

• Proclaimed by our words• Demonstrated by our deeds

Comprehensive Gospel

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That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

1 John 1:1-4

Proclamation

Testimony

A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact.

Webster, 1913

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Eph. 2:10

Demonstration

SIN

Society

Family

Body

Sociologist

Family Therapist

Psychiatrist JESUS

Origin of the problem?

Jesus’ intervention

Luke 17:11-19

Using our riches for kingdom purposes

Luke 16:1-13

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but

to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.“

Mark 10:45

Foot-Washing

Luke 17:7-10

The overflow of God’s love as the Spirit collides in creative expression into the world around us.

Christian Spirituality

 

Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Traditional Step 12:

 

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matt. 28:18-20

 

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and

respect”1 Peter 3:15

Apologetics

 

 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but

in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and

respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:13-17

 

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”

2 Tim. 2:24-26

 

 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Heb. 6:5-6

Spiritual experiences without being saved?

 

 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

1 John 4:1-3

 

… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Eph.2:9

 

“knowledge puffs up but love builds up”

1 Corinthians 8:1b

 

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith,

so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1 Cor. 13:2

Before the foundations of the earth, God chose us, the Church, having been touched by His immeasurable grace to live as ministers of reconciliation to this lost and dying world - bearing witness to His wisdom and power through the gospel of Jesus Christ. As the Spirit of God collides powerfully with the human heart it spills over in love to the world around it. In making much of His name, we are to bring a comprehensive gospel that is demonstrated by our deeds and proclaimed by our words.

Redeemed Truth of Step 12:

Recovery at The Village

Acts 17

• The church engaging the culture with the truth of the gospel

• God sovereignty places us in the world to be salt and light

“Freely you have received, freely give.”

• Serving• Discipleship (sponsoring)• Sharing Testimony• Facilitating/Leading Small Groups

Opportunities to Give Back