LIVING FOR THE TRUTH

3 John
The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.

I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, each by name.

Our mission is based on the truth of the manger.

• Truth is the good news of Jesus Christ coming in the flesh with the

purpose of giving himself as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 1:1-3, 1 John 4:2, 2 John 7).

• Key to living for the truth is to imitate others who are walking in the truth.

Imitate John’s example of loving in the truth.

• Care humbly for those you lead. (1)

• Comprehensively pray for their prosperity. (2)

• Consider your joy in their faithfulness. (3-4)

• Commend those who are walking in the truth. (5-8)

• Confront those who are walking in sin. (9-10)

• Constantly point to others who have a good testimony. (11-12)

• Confidently trust that peace can prevail even in conflict. (13-15)

Imitate Gaius’ example of laboring in the Truth.

• Show hospitality to strangers who are sent out for the truth. (5)

• Send them on as brothers to advance the truth. (6)

• Share generously with them in a way that honors the truth. (6)

• Select carefully those you support based on their purpose for going out. (7)

• Spend your life as a fellow worker for the truth. (8)

Senders and goers are both essential in the advance of the truth to the nations.

Loving others in the truth and laboring together for the truth are essential to living for the truth, but this is only possible when our ultimate passion is for the glory of Christ.

Thanks Jonathan B!

COMMUNITY BY THE BOOK

Nehemiah 8:1-12

1 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.

2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.

6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.

8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

1. We value the Bible together. (Nehemiah 8:1) • Rally around it.

• Require it of your leaders. • Receive it as God’s voice.

2. We study the Bible together. (Nehemiah 8:2-8) • Expound its truth.

• Understand its meaning. • Worship its God.

3. We obey the Bible together. (Nehemiah 8:9-12) • Let it convict you.

• Let it strengthen you. • Let it change you.

• Let it mobilize you.

Thanks Pastor Jim!!

A MODEL OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

Nehemiah 1-6, 13

Humility Turns Us to God (1:4-11)

• The primary theme of Nehemiah is the Lord’s protection of His people, and prayer is a means through which God accomplishes that end.

• What kills self-reliance more effectively than prayer? What makes a louder statement of God-reliance than prayer?

Love Drives Us to People (2:1-5)

• Spiritual leadership is unavoidably personal in nature.

• Love isn’t content to send notes or a check. Love goes.

Task Brings Us Together (3:1-6:16)

• We have a shared and soul-thrilling assignment from God.

Faith Sends Us to Bed (13:1-30)

• The work, which began with an open hand of trust in the grace and goodness of God, ends the same way.

• Nothing and no one – not even Nehemiah – but Jesus Christ can ensure the preservation of our faith.

Thanks Matt!

Born To Be Hope

Matthew 2:13-23

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."

14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt

15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son."

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more." 

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

20 saying, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead."

21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Jesus is the fulfillment of...

• God’s care for us.

(Matthew 2:13-15; cf. Exodus 4:22; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 6:25-33; John 10:11-15; 1 Peter 5:6-7)

• God’s faithfulness to us.

(Matthew 2:16-18; cf. Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 1:11-12, 17; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; Revelation 19:11)

• God’s identification with us.

(Matthew 2:19-23; cf. Psalm 22:6-7, 13; 69:9, 19-20; Isaiah 49:7; 50:6; 53:3; Daniel 9:26; John 1:14, 46; Philippians 2:5-8; Hebrews 4:14-16)

Thanks Jim!

LIVING WITHOUT A BACK-UP PLAN

Ezra 8:21-23

21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.

22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."

23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

What does it look like?

• Taking risks that make us

completely dependent upon God (Ezra 8:21)

• Being jealous for God’s honor by trusting Him to be faithful (Ezra 8:22)

• Humbling ourselves before God through prayer and fasting (Ezra 8:21, 23)

How can we do it in 2015?

1. Take one risk for the sake of the gospel that will leave you hanging if God doesn’t show up.

2. Participate in all four Brook Hills quarterly Days of Prayer and Fasting, including the corresponding Prayer Gatherings.

m February 4 m June 3

m September 2 m November 4

3. Find a creative way to have a monthly prayer gathering with some members of your small group at a time other than your regular meeting.

4. Pray for our Senior Pastor Search Team by following the 30-Day Prayer Guide.

Thanks Pastor Jim!

Finding God's Will

Acts 1:15-26

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,

16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."

18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.

19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it'; and "'Let another take his office.' 

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."

23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen

25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

1. Make every decision in life in view of God’s plan of redemption. (Acts 1:15-26)

• What are the immediate ramifications for the gospel? (Mark 3:13-15; Acts 10:39-42; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:11-16)

• What are the eternal ramifications for the gospel? (Matthew 19:28; Revelation 21:12-14)

2. Distinguish between God’s revealed will and God’s concealed will.

• God’s revealed will = stuff that IS in the Bible

• God’s concealed will = stuff that is NOT in the Bible

3. Always start with God’s revealed will.

• Trust the Bible as your authority. (Acts 1:16;

cf. John 17:12; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21)

• Let the Bible interpret your life. (Acts 1:16-20; cf. Psalm 69:25)

• Do what the Bible says. (Acts 1:20-22)

4. Look for God’s concealed will through the lens of God’s revealed will.

• Gather all the information. (Acts 1:23)

• Seek God in prayer. (Acts 1:24)

• Make sure your heart is right. (Acts 1:24)

• Trust in God’s sovereignty. (Acts 1:24-25; cf. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12)

• Make a decision and go with it! (Acts 1:26; cf. Psalm 37:3-5; Proverbs 16:33; 18:18)

Thanks Pastor Jim!

Born To Be Worshipped

3 responses to Jesus...

Matthew 2:1-12
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" 
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11 And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

1. Rebellion against Jesus
• We become threatened by him. (Matthew 2:1-3)
• We become hostile toward him. (Matthew 2:7-8,12; cf. 2:13-18)
2. Religion without Jesus
• We know the scripture but not the Savior. (Matthew 2:4-6)
• We have the answers but not the action. (Matthew 2:4-6)
3. Reverence for Jesus
• We diligently seek after him. (Matthew 2:1-2,9)
• We gladly rejoice in him. (Matthew 2:10)
• We humbly submit to him. (Matthew 2:11)
• We sacrificially give to him. (Matthew 2:11)
Thanks Jim!