Paul

Eternal God (Unchanging)
Everlasting God
Blessed Be Your Name
Jesus Lord Of Heaven (Your Love Knows No Bounds)
All I Need Is You

Jon

Prayer for Jeami’s Uganda trip

English Standard Version (ESV)
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so(C) that they may see your good works and(D) give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Called to be an alternate city within a city
When you become a Christian it’s more than a ticket to heaven
You’re invited into the kingdom – a way of living in Jesus Christ
Born again, a 2nd time
Entering into this community
Jesus is coming to His disciples
Not gonna work if it’s just Captain You
Jesus doesn’t need individual cities on a hill – be a city within a city
Unified through the Messiah
Faith and belief in who Jesus said He was
We cannot live the sermon individually – but we can corporately
Read it as an alternate city
Where do our priorities match up?
We as a community are called together
Does our city, The Rock, look like Matthew 5-7?
–Peter
Exodus language
You alone cannot be a nation
We can be a city, a culture, a holy nation
You are a holy ethnic
A culture within a ultra
Holy means set apart, distinct
Going to church is boring – BEING the church is exciting
Doesn’t mean you lose your genetic culture – Christianity doesn’t replace your culture
Jesus calls to us over the years
Missionaries miss it – they bring the Gospel to a nation and enforce white America on them
Becoming a Christian in old age, take offense at being called a baby
You haven’t just escaped into something else
I am not a Christian American – I’m a Christian who happens to be a white American
70’s classic rock white American
ALSO part of a new holy ethnic
–Romans
Paul is calling us to present our united bodies as ONE SINGLE SACRIFICE UNTO GOD
Peter said we’re a new holy ethnic
Jesus brought us out of life and we need to invite others out of the darkness and into the light
Paul constantly reminds us that we need to renew our thinking
Pouring through the scriptures together – what does this stuff mean to us today? What does it look like in 2010 in Los Angeles?
Stepping into, being adopted into Christianity
Don’t say “I have to go to my small group, it’s just another thing to do”
Temptation to assimilate into culture
We aren’t called to separate ourselves either
Shine your light for others
Assimilation is easy – but so is separation
Not dress or hairdo’s – mindset
Don’t conform to the [thinking] patterns of the world
How we do life and business and art
Don’t wait for the government to do something about the poor – that’s the job of the church
Let your light shine to others so that they can bring glory to God
Think about how this affects our mission and outreach
What does Jesus mean by great works?
We can’t individually do greater things than Jesus
There are millions of us (Christians) around the world
There are superstars that can explain the Gospel amazingly
I believe communities have a bigger impact than superstars
We start to think, ” Just let that person do it”
When we learn to love one another with passion
People will see it and say,” I don’t know how that’s happening, but the Gospel works! I want that!”
A lot of us do that – go to church like an educational environment, listen to the paid professional and say “that’s awesome”
Just a bunch of ear candy
Difference between going to and being the church
A lot of us approach it intellectually
Approach bible study individually, not community
We have to consult one another
You can protect yourself from wacky revelations by bringing it to the community
Somebody up front who we call God’s anointed and that we can’t touch – that’s how cults start
Do NOT take what I say for granted
I believe what I’m saying, I’m just a man who’s trying to understand God
If the Bible comes to us and tells us how to live – it’s not individually
Impossible to remain sexually pure as an individual
You’re my brother/sister in Christ – I’m going to help you through this
Can’t remain …
What do we do with issues of divorce
Before you move and say, “I’m going to Colorado Springs because that’s where Jesus lives”
We’re just trying to help you make the right decision with wisdom
John and Gina Mullen had an opportunity to move to San Luis Opisbo
They brought it to the community and they’re still here
Love the story in the scripture – Judas’ replacement
Seemed right to the holy spirit – to throw some dice
The dice have spoken
Sometimes in the kingdom – we’re dealing with God – hard to do individually – easier to do together
A lot of time community is just an add-on, something we do
Is the Gospel real? Has it changed your life?
A lot of people church hop because they’re not a part of the community – I’m not getting anything out of it
If you get your feelings hurt – try to work it out instead of sneaking out the backdoor
All those pastors don’t wanna pew shift
Work it out, strengthen one other, exhort one another
You know I want for my kids? I want them to be around people who love Jesus with all their hearts
200 people there? Mile wide and an inch deep
If my kids see people passionate for Jesus Christ
We may be small but we always fight above our weight class
Help young girls get their lives back
Welcome to the kingdom of heaven – now get to work