Untitled Sermon

Decision & Division: All Disciples Choose (Xian/Not)

Making a decision: Indian Hills vs Barfield Downs

Liked the last house we visited

list pros & cons

stress, PRAYED, visited many times, and MADE A DECISION

Decisions: create stress & tension

what to eat

what school for our kids

which job

which doc

what church

books written on decision making

WHY? Our decisions determine the course of our lives.

The course of your life is a result of decisions that you’ve made

After preparing His disciples, Jesus brought them to a place of decision. (Climax)

Climax

Judas exit = divide

hours from the cross, Jesus this is His final discussion.

Love/ Obey/preparing a place for them/ Abide through the HS

The Disciples were faced with making a DECISION. Would they remain or reject?

Judas made his decision - exit = divide = Division time = Decision Time.

Ever since, Jesus’ disciples have had to make their DECISION. Follow Jesus or Turn Back. (REMAIN OR REJECT)

Like our house, we can’t pick BOTH.

READ

God has revealed Himself & His ways and the world will want to know!!!! WRONG!

God has revealed Himself & His ways and the world will want to know!!!! WRONG!

If you do the above things, you’d expect the world to like you BUT…it results in the opposite.

If you do the above things, you’d expect the world to like you BUT…it results in the opposite.

ALL Disciples of Jesus must decide to REMAIN or REJECT.

If you remain, here’s what to expect.

onl;y a matter of time Christians will be persicuted again according to BIble (in end times)

What to expect?

Followers of Jesus will be hated and persecuted like Jesus

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.

We’d say so what if the world hates us. Why does it matter?

onl;y a matter of time Christians will be persicuted again according to

Trade Guilds: Training, Trade, Community, Fellowship, livelihood, sons followed, when out NOT back.

Ritual ceremony to enter guild, eating meat sacrificed to idols

Rejection had implications....Sons REJECTED, Jobs NOT GIVEN, $ NOT available

Death of the Disciples (Martyred)

NOT desirable. What IF Following Christ RESULTED in:

your family going HUNGRY

being REJECTED by FAMILY & FRIENDS

Kids couldnt attend school

Couldnt vote

went to prision or killed?

CAN’T HAPPEN? (too sophisticated and tolerant)

9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to local courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. 10 And it is necessary that the gospel be preached to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. -- (CSB)

only a matter of time Christians will be persecuted again! READY?

Why does the world hate Jesus & His Followers?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.

23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.

followers will be treated like Jesus

21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.,

2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.

They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 15

21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.,y

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Jews (Judas)

Exposed the world’s guilt

Followers of Jesus, exposed the world’s guilt

Jews (Judas) Romans

Romans

Claims exclusivity

a system of beliefs and conduct

Why will the World hate you? (21-25, 16:2)

They don’t know God. (Refused to know Him)

exclusivity of God, reveled Himself in Bible, Jesus proved, NOT a god of their creation, NOT a puppet,

They don’t like their sin exposed.

Jesus exposed their sin. uncomfortable. liked their sin. SAME TODAY!

If I become a christian, i’ll change?

Try pointing out someone’s obvious sin. (DON’T JUDGE ME)

They have rejected God. (even proofs)

23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.,

God’s own people had rejected HIM.

They’d have to submit & change. Weren’t willing.

Claims exclusivity

Held to their existing system of beliefs and conduct even when PROVEN WRONG.

They are deceived. (enemy/sin)

16: 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.

How to Respond?

Christians should respond to the world’s hate by

By Remembering

Remember the word I spoke to you: -- (CSB)

Remaining

have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. -- (CSB)

4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. -- (CSB)

remind yourself & one another!

What are you remembering?

Preparing a place for YOU!

Will return to get YOU!

Proved my Love through Death

Proved my Power through Resurrection

Remain in ME!

By Testifying

27 You also will testify, because you have been with me -- (CSB)

Even is persecution, christians testify!

revealed their rejection of Jesus (truth/proof)

Application

revealed they don’t know God

Imagine if Christians made a DECISION & embraced being DIFRENT than the WORLD?

Would it make an impact?

What IF we choose to live GOD’s WAY over the WORLDS?

What system or values of the world have you EMBRACED?

Are YOU different then the world?

Would we reach more people IF we stood out?

If you’re NOT persecuted, are you living Christ’s values?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KOBSu_A4LU