Will Witherington uses Revelation 5:1-14 to help us understand The Scope of God's Mission.
2021 Session 4: There's Something in the Water
Paul Poteat began with addressing 3 Huge Questions that we should ask ourselves.
Who is God? (Satan says: He’s not trustworthy, he’s not out for your best)
Who are You? (Satan says: You can be your own God, you can choose to be good/bad)
How do You Live? (Satan says: Do what you want, create truth)
Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes”
Don’t drink the water! Our hearts are conflicted and is often being deceived. How do you set yourself up for these moments? Do you read your bible to be prepared? Jeremiah 2:13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water”. When we get what we want its not satisfying us. Real freedom is to do what is right. We limit our freedom to experience greater joy in various things. (Sports, relationships, school, etc.. )
John 4:13-15 “Jesus said to her, Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” We all need living water and Jesus is that!
2019 Session 4: The World Loves Love
Mack finished his time with us this evening talking about obeying Christ from a passage in John 14, titled “I Am the Way and the Truth, and the Life”:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
He explained where Jesus discusses the importance of obedience and how Jesus links obedience to love. He lists a few ways for why we should obey Christ. In addition to this, he listed some critical things needed to live an obedient life. Obedience of God’s Word and to the Gospel is part of an obedient life. To say the Gospel takes but a minute, to learn it takes a lifetime.
Another passage Mack used was 2 Corinthians 5 to give a little detail on the opportunity given to God’s people. He has allowed us and called us to be ambassadors for Him. Being ambassadors for Christ calls us to be bold with the Gospel. Ambassadors, followers of Christ are called to other things as well. These are surrounded by being a part of a community of believers. We must; be a part of the church, know the church, and love other churches. The church being Christ’s body as a whole, including all its members. On way, Mack explains being a part of the church is to do as Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us, to build up others. Knowing the church means to allow the church to speak into your life and to understand the importance of having people pour into you as a member.
In conclusion, Mack states the kind of church we as Christians ought to want. That being a certain kind of church, not one that is American or African or Asian, but one that teaches Jesus’ Gospel. This Gospel centered community must be a community we live in for our lifetime, for the long haul, not just while in college and while you are a part of Campus Outreach.