Nolan Larson – Born to Dan and Andrea on Tuesday

What is Core to Real Life?

Authentic

What is Core to Real Life?

AuthenticAccepting

What is Core to Real Life?

AuthenticAcceptingActivating

• “This too shall pass.” • “God will never give

you more than you can handle.”

• “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”

• “God moves in mysterious ways.”

• “God helps those who help themselves.”

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one…

…They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

(John 17:14-18; NIV)

Sometimes “the world” refers to this planet that God created

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish…”

Sometimes “the world” refers to a dimension of life or arena in which God is defied and sin reigns

Jesus’ plan was not that his followers practice world avoidance

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world…”

(John 17:15; NIV)

Three Kinds of Animals: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

(Matthew 10:16; NIV)

Three Kinds of Animals: Like sheep among wolves

Three Kinds of Animals: • Like sheep among wolves

The way to penetrate cynical hearts is to go not like wolves go but like sheep go

“Be on your guard…they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. […] But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say […] Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me…” (Matthew 10:17-22; NIV)

“Let us then be ashamed, who do the contrary, who set like wolves upon our enemies. For so long as we are sheep, we conquer… But if we become wolves, we are worsted, for the help of our Shepherd departs from us: for he feeds not wolves, but sheep…”

Three Kinds of Animals: • Like sheep among wolves• Wise as serpents

Finding our place of missional service: • Passion

Finding our place of missional service: • Passion• Gifts

Finding our place of missional service: • Passion• Gifts• Scars

Finding our place of missional service: • Passion• Gifts• Scars• Partners

Finding our place of missional service: • Passion• Gifts• Scars• Partners• The world’s need

Three Kinds of Animals: • Like sheep among wolves• Wise as serpents • Be innocent as doves

Find a need and meet it…