We The People of God - West Houston Church of Christ

Our Citizenship

September 8, 2024 • Brian Offutt • Philippians 3:17–21, Exodus 37:1–4

As believers we are called to live “in the world, but not of the world.” This message is intended to remind us of our ultimate citizenship and our ultimate calling as the people of God.

The Political Currency of Our Day

September 1, 2024 • Brian Offutt • John 3:16–18, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 4:7–21, 1 John 5:1–5, John 1:12–13

“The Church is not to be found at the “center” of a left/right political world. The church is to be a species of its own kind, confounding left, right, and middle, and finding its identity from the “center” of who God is.” “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 4:7-5:5 Special thanks to Redeeming Babel for the use of their video.

Is Christ Divided?

August 25, 2024 • Brian Offutt • 1 Corinthians 1:31, 1 Corinthians 1:10–17, Philippians 2:1–11, John 18:36

1. What does it mean to be faithful to Jesus and the gospel in a world captive to political hostility? 2. What does it mean to be faithful to one another in a world captive to political hostility? 3. What does it mean to be faithful to the surrounding world in a time of political hostility? “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:1-11