Against the Grain // Au Contraire

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Against the Grain // Au Contraire

November 3, 2024 • Romans 12:2, Romans 12:9–21, Matthew 5:43–48, Acts 4:29–31

Au Contraire

Living a Life of Love In a Revenge Culture

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:9-21 (ESV)

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV)

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

1. Be Perfect

2. Love your “enemies”

3. Pray for those who persecute you

4. Do not be overcome by evil

Against The Grain // It’s Not About You, It’s All About Jesus

November 17, 2024 • 1 John 2:1, Romans 8:1, Isaiah 53, Romans 8:32, Revelation 12:10

Against The Grain // It’s Not About You, It’s All About Jesus Romans 8:31-39 (NIV) “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:32 (NIV) “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” 2. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” Revelation 12:10 (NIV) “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.’” 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT) “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” 3. “Who then is the one who condemns?” Romans 8:1 (NIV) “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” 1 Peter 3:18 (NIV) ”For Christ died once for all the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit." Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” John 3:18 (NIV) "Whoever believes in him is not condemned" 4. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35 (NIV) "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Against The Grain // Living By Faith

November 10, 2024 • Genesis 12:2, Genesis 17:17–18, Genesis 22:11–18, Genesis 16:1, Romans 4:20–21

Living By Faith Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” John 3:8 (NIV) “The wind [Spirit] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going.” Galatians 5:25 (ESV) “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Romans 4:17-22 (NIV) “As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Stages of living by faith: 1. A word from God. Genesis 12:2 (NIV) “I will make you into a great nation…” 2. A decision to align your actions to what God has said. Genesis 12:4 (NIV) “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him” 3. Waiting period. Genesis 16:1 (NIV) “Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children…” 4. Circumstances start to affirm your doubts about what God said. Genesis 17:17-18 (NIV) “Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” 5. God will ask you to surrender the promise you now hold. Genesis 22:2 (NIV) "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac— and…Sacrifice him" 6. God will prove himself as the provider and protector of his promise. Genesis 22:11-18 (NIV) “But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’” Romans 4:20-21 (NIV) “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

Against the Grain // Restless

October 27, 2024 • 1 Peter 5:5–11, Matthew 11:28–30, Matthew 23:2–4, Matthew 6:31–34, Acts 15:5–11

RESTLESS Matthew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiyrlnsz03u&t=688s-30 (ESV) “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” How Jesus Entered Rest Jesus left the crowds to get quiet Jesus read and thought about the scriptures Jesus spoke to his father and his friends Matthew 23:2-4 (ESV) “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.” Matthew https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiyrlnsz03u&t=391s-34 (ESV) “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Acts 15:5-11 (ESV) In the book of Acts chapter 15, the counsel in Jerusalem discusses and even argues about whether or not the believing gentiles should be obligated to follow the law, or not. 1 Peter 5:5-11 (ESV) “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen!”