John 1:1-14

The survival of Christianity as a religion is quite incredible.  But is has thrived against the odds because of conviction. 2 Cor 4:5 Paul says that we believe therefore we speak.

As we enter a new year 2012,any of us make new years resolutions.

2 Peter 1 outlines the certain truthfulness of the Christian work. His eye witness account shows a certainty of events that and an urgency

Pray that you will make 2012 a year of godly growth.

What is the cross?
- is it just the means God chose to save sinners?
- no, God chose the cross because it teaches something and provides a ’culture’

In Pauls day, boasting was common practise. Worldly boasting stemmed from outwouldly appearances. Clothes, CV, power of speech etc.  Paul responds to this by ‘boasting as a fool’ to demonstrate the difference between the culture of the cross and the culture of the world.

Culture of the Cross

- Gentleness not Arrogance
- Suffering and Humiliation (Paul’s body bore the marks of suffering)
- Weakness not Power (Paul came to Damascus thinking he was a hero and left in a basket, lowered from the wall). Knowledge of our weakness comes with Christian maturity. We are all broken and need to avoid the illusion of worldly power.

We are not called to be powerful, but rather God wants people who are fearful and weak, people who are despite suffering and weakness can put their trust and reliance on the cross!

Pray that you might continue to grasp the ‘cross culture’.

Todays society is very different to the one that existed 50 years ago.  The Post modern society thinks its wrong to ever judge people.

The Corinthians were making judgements to follow the teachings of the Super Apostles (who were impressive in a worldly sense). Paul acknowledges the Corinthians view of him as timid in person, bold in letters and then challenges them nnot to judge on superficial ways. In fact the frame of reference that we use affects greatly the judgements we make.

Paul was greatly concerned for the Corinthians and passionately warns them that our thoughts, arguments, inside the human heart that are opposed to God.  See 1 Cor 1:18-24 which compares worldly wisdom with spiritually wisdom.

Jesus the all powerful son of God, came to this world in poverty and appeared weak by worldly standards, and yet through his resurrection demonstrated true power. Pray that you can see things through spiritual wisdom and to guard against worldly thoughts.

Have you ever asked God for sorrow?

Paul acknowledges that there would have been sorrow for the Corinth church from his previous letter – a sorrow that God intended as a positive thing.  In contrast Paul describes a worldly sorrow which leads to spiritual death.

Godly sorrow - focused  on God

Leads to repentance and a desire to come to God for forgiveness, helping us to marvel at the cross.

2 Cor 7:11 describes many action words convincing Paul that the Corinth church had experienced Godly sorrow.

Worldly sorrow – focused on self

Leads to one of 3 reactions. Ignore, relieve, despair.

How to get Godly sorrow?

• pray for it
• pursue it

Pray for Godly sorrow that leads to repentance and a greater understanding of grace.

Corinth was a trading city influenced by promiscuous values. Paul previously been to Corinth and although the church was growing many in the church were struggling to shake off worldly influences. Paul wrote at least 4 letters to the Corinthians.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul wants the church in Corinth to know that despite hardship, his comfort comfort comes from God. When you understand the gospel, you understand that greatness doesnt come from your house, or car, but greatness comes from God’s willingness to use our brokenness to demonstrate his  power.

Pray for the cause of mission, such that the gospel might change hearts and minds.

Eph 5 tells us of the relationship between a man and a woman and compares it with the relationship between the Christ and the church. Song of Songs 5 talks about an intimate relationship which suffers a set back before being restored.

Marriage is more than ‘feeling in love’, it is to be modeled on Christ’s love for a church and built on covenant and commitment. Marriage is meant to show the world of Gods love of the church.

1. Lift our view of marriage – invest is marriage to put God and his goodness on display

2. Takes the pressure off – if you are a Christian, gathered into church (bride) for an unbreakable marriage with Christ. (see Rev 21). The intimacy of the best marriage is just a glimpse of the eternal marriage that we have in Christ.

Thank God for the gift of marriage

Song of Songs - means the ultimate song and is poetry describing the emotions between a woman and a man. It contains wise insights about human love that is deep, physical and erotic.

- As humans we are physical and we ought not be ashamed of our physical appearance.

- sex is good and to be delighted in within loving marriage.

Sex isn’t the big thing, (see Mark 12:24) , and neither is marriage. Jesus is and we need to be careful not to make an idol of relationships.

Proverbs 31:10-31 is a Hebrew poem where each verse starts with a sequential letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The poem describes an inspirational woman, someone to aspire to be. This woman is a potrayal of Wisdom, a wisdom that brings good, works hard, has good humour and grows from a foundation of the fear of the Lord.

Relationships impact us, because we were created for relationship.

• A friend is someone who is around when times are tough. Prov 18:24 See also Prov 25:19
• Friends rebuke in love. Prov 27:5,6
• Friends are gracious Prov 17:9
• Friends we have influence us. Chose your Friends wisely. Prov 13:20

What does Jesus say about friendship? John 15, Luke 14

• extreme friendship, he laid down his life for us
• to be a friend of Jesus, our love for him should be so great that our love for our closest earthly friends should appear like hate in comparison.
• loving Jesus above all gives us the security to love others in a way that brings glory to God.

The best thing we can do for our relationships is to love Jesus more.

Father’s day video

Creation
God himself is a worker, unlike the pagan gods. When God created humans, work was part of the blessing of life.

Fall
Lazy people lack discernment. The sluggard thinks that the small surrenders e.g ‘just a little more sleep’, won’t make any difference. Prov 26 tells us that laziness brings a whole family of other sins such as pride. Lack of discernment is a lack of spiritual discernment.

Restoration
1 Cor 15 – Jesus is the beginning of the restoration and his reserection the proof that Gods promises are true.
Who you are working for matters. Work to bring honour to God in your work.

It matters the way we work.
Whilst we often ask what does God want me to do? Instead we should first ask with what work character does God want me to exhibit.
There is a kind of work that always matters – 1 Cor 58 “Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because this work is never in vain”

James tells us that whoever wants wisdom can ask for it ? God gives wisdom by increasing your ability to think and exercise good judgement using the context of the Bible.
Wisdom is shaped by the following elements.

• Context
  • Created
  • Ordered
    Prov 8:22 The world is ordered, and what you see is perfection broken, rather than a random unordered collection of events.
    Life can be like a dislocated joint, and when you find true wisdom, you find God and this brings freedom, contentment.
    Col 1:28-29 Proclaim Jesus and perfect you through Jesus – through wisdom !
  • Fallen
    
    We live in a fallen world, and so this means
    Prov 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
    1 Kings 3:9 Solomon asks for wisdom because he recognizes he needs it.
  • Cross / Resurrection
    We live this side of the cross, and those that follow Jesus follow a suffering servant, things won’t always be prosperous.  Through suffering our faith is refined so we can enjoy glimpses of the new world to come and gain a solid hope in eternal life.
• Choices in the light of
• Discipline to enact