Genesis

In so many ways, Christianity is offensive. By nature, we don't want to confess that we are a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). Looking at Christ on the cross is extremely offensive, if we know why he's up there bleeding. We see our sin up close and our brokenness becomes a reality. In a weird twist of events, Christ became "broken" for you! So what does this mean for your life? Does Christ's brokenness affend you or empower you (or both)? Does the reality of our sinfulness make us fully dependent of God? Perhaps it should.

When we begin to see just how massive, awesome, powerful and great God is then we can not help but see our own smallness in comparison.

God's way is always better than our way

Too often we stand in awe of the creation and not the creator

Centraility of Faith: My faith is important and is always there when I need it... Supremecy of Christ: I am caught up in the wave of where God is leading and am wholly and completely defined and dependant upon it. Jesus is the supreme ruler.

Peter in Luke 5 had everything he desired, the motherload of fish catching. Most of us at that point would say, look how God has blessed me. The real message of Jesus was leave it all and follow me. And Peter broken, said I am a sinful man and left everything, every single fish, every dollar he could have made, even the boats and followed.

Lord, Send me is one of the most challenging and adventerous things you could pray. Lord, lead, challenge and send us.

Our Go Deeper for this week is...

Bible: Job 38-42; Exodus 19:18-19; Exodus 20:18-19; Revelation 4:1-8; Hebrews 1

Books: The Classic Works of Phillip Keller, Phillip Keller pp. 136-147; Facedown, Louie Giglio and Matt Redman; Your God is too Safe, Mark Buchanan

Listen: Louie Giglio, "Indescribable", www.northpointministries.org/stream.jsp?mediaItemID=566

"It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers tht his Helper is omnipotent." Jeremy Taylor

Feel free to add or comment...

ben

Today we focused on discernment. How do you know what is a spirit or teaching from God and what is not. Some key points are...

you can't know what is fake unless you are familiar with what is for real

despite what culture tell us there is a one sure and certain truth and it must be defended

False teaching comes just as often from within the church world as it does from without. That is why Jesus says so often to be on your guard.

We must know the word not just rely on someone else's rendition.

Any other thoughts please share them.

ben