Men’s Advance 2024 - Outline

Message 1

Message 1 - acknowledgement of thirst

What do you want? What do you need?

Empty cup illustration from (Ed Welch) - fear of Lord last two studies.

we live on a planet that is dry and weariness is normative

wasn’t that way, but it is now.

where are you weary? identify it.

Where are you thirsty?

Where are you depressed?

“convert our suspicions into realities and torture” ourselves with them in our own imaginations.

“It is Christ and not the absence of depression that saves us. So, we declare this truth. Our sense of God’s absence does not mean that He is so. Though our bodily gloom allows us no feeling of His tender touch, He holds on to us still. Our feelings of Him do not save us. He does.”

“But just as a man with asthma or a woman born mute will likely remain this way even though they love Jesus, so our mental disorders and melancholy inclinations often remain with us too. Conversion to Jesus isn’t heaven, but its foretaste. This side of heaven, grace secures us but doesn’t cure us. “There are lines of weakness in the creature which even grace does not efface.” 22 Though substantial healing can come, Charles reminds us that often it waits till heaven to complete its full work.”

Message 2 - 3-4, 5-6

divine art of contentment

Hebrews 13:5–6 ESV

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Message 3 - confident assurance

MIGHTY TO SAVE - willie will

God’s arm is not to short.

He began a good work in you. Don’t call God a liar but doubting Him.

Psalm 63 ESV

A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. 1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. 3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, 6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; 10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.