Curt Grice
July 2, 2023
Summer Series… “Eternity: Why Does It Matter?”
Jesus’ teaching is all based on the assumption of eternity.
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’” Matthew
4:17
Heaven has come to earth in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is our way to God and God’s way to us. We are followers of The Jesus Way.
What are you afraid of?
2021 American Fear Index
#5. Terrorism
#4. Not having enough money for retirement
#3. Mass shootings
#2. Loved ones becoming seriously ill
#1. Loved ones dying
There’s a difference between fear and phobia.
What are some words you’ve heard “phobic” attached to.
Does that “phobia” reflect:
- irrational fear?
- healthy concern or caution?
- deep moral conviction?
There are lots of fears and phobias in the world. Unfortunately, there is not enough Holy Fear of Almighty God!
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs
9:10
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to thoseom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’”
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (JESUS!), that whosoever believes in him, should not perish (SHOULD NOT PERISH!), but have eternal life (BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE !).”
Psalm 1
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”
Holy Fear of Almighty God is captivating, astounding, and magnetic. It draws us in. It challenges our assumptions. It informs our perspective. It reveals truth.
“The church faces her biggest challenge not when new errors start to win but when old truths no longer wow. J.R.R. Tolkien once said that the most regrettable feature of human nature is how quickly we become unsatisfied with the good. We receive good gifts from God and then grow bored with blessings. Spiritual dullness. Blurry vision. Hardness of heart. This is the challenge for the church.”
Trevin Wax, The Thrill of Orthodoxy
The greatest enemy of Christianity may be people who say they believe in Jesus but who are no longer astonished and amazed by him. I don’t see much terror today among followers of Christ. In fact, when I say that, people look at me as if I’m crazy. Well, I want to know what happened to the bone-chilling, earth-shattering, gut-wrenching, knee-knocking, heart-stopping, life-altering fear that leaves us speechless, paralyzed, helpless, and glad. The terror I am speaking of is a mix of wonder, awe, fear, and worship, all happening at the same time.”
Michael Yaconelli, Dangerous Wonder
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”
Greek: sophia kai phronesis (wisdom and understanding)
- transcendent wisdom
- practical wisdom
As followers of Jesus, we realize that our righteousness and salvation are from God.
But do we realize that our wisdom and understanding are also from God?
To put it another way… apart from God, there is no true righteous or wisdom!
Be thoughtful and careful about what you take pride in.
“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
“but let him who speaks with pride speak about this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who shows loving-kindness and does what is fair and right and good on earth. For I find joy in these things,” says the LORD.”
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.”
From a human perspective, the Gospel has always been scandalous and moronic. In every age, the things of God have been ignored and mocked. There’s nothing clever, cool, or trendy about it. It’s not designed to titillate, distract, or entertain. The Gospel is the opposite of proud self-promotion. It’s humble self-denial.
“Jesus said, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?’” Matthew
16:24-26
- Holy Fear of Almighty God is the beginning of true wisdom.
- Followers of Jesus must have an eternal perspective.
- Our righteousness and our wisdom come from God.
- We’ll never fully embrace The Jesus Way if we don’t take God seriously.
Fall missional Table Groups to help us more actively embrace the FBCA lifestyle…
- Feed yourself spiritually.
- Bless others generously.
- Connect with others intentionally.
- Advance God’s kingdom faithfully.