Christ Reconciles Us to God 

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.​ 

- Colossians 1:21-23

It was God's Plan from the Beginning

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. ​

-Ephesians 1:4-8.

Christ was Destined to Suffer 

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 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. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. It was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. ​

-Isaiah 53:3-11

Introduction to the Book of Acts - Luke 24: 44-49

Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Key Takeaways: Acts!  NOT re-ACTS.

- "IN" The  Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23.
- "FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST: The Church - Ephesians 4: 11-12.
- "UNDER AUTHORITY" The Commission - I Corinthians 12:27.

Unfortunately, this week's Livestream malfunctioned so video is not available. Please see the audio podcast below to hear the sermon and access Nick's slide deck.

One Life - Our lives will be judged (Part 2).

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ."  1 Cor 3:11

Reward - Salvation is NOT a reward.

Promise:
"Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds." - Revelation 22:12

- Love for God.
- Humility
- Love for enemies.
- Finishing strong.
- Staying ready.

Crowns

"What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" the things God has prepared for those who love him.   1 Corinthians 2:9.  

Never Ending Glory and Honor   1 Peter 5:4.

Righteousness 2 Timothy 4:8.

One Life - Our lives will be judged (Part 1).

"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats."  Matthew 25:31-33

C.T. Studd 

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." 

Live a life that counts. 

One that matters. 

One that Jesus says counts and matters.  

Zack's primary message:

1. Our lives will be judged by Jesus.  

2. We will be held accountable for our lives.

3. It will be eternal.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.​" Matthew 25:34.  

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." 2 Cor 2: 8-9.

C.T. Studd

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."

Pete's journey in generosity:

- Giving is an act of worship. Every time I give, I am declaring that I am not enslaved to money and declare allegiance to Christ alone.

- Generosity is not a question of how much I have to give, but how much I believe God has given me.

- Generosity is a measure of my faith and trust in God. If I'm not regularly giving away my time, money, and resources, it's almost always a lack of my devotion to Christ. I either trust Him with my money or I don't. If I don't, then I don't really believe Him.

One Life - In Christ. With Christ. For Christ.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10.

The Big Idea

Everything I do FOR Christ, must flow from my relationship WITH Christ, based on my standing IN Christ.

Rest for your soul.

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'"

Whose table are you setting? Do you tend to be Mary or Martha?

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Growing in Jesus Christ.

1. BIG IDEA = Living in the Spirit.
2. FOCUS: Gift of the Spirit = Discernment.

John 4:23 But the time is coming- indeed it's here now- when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.

Whose table are you setting?
Confess - What "Table" idol keeps you from Jesus?
Repent - Re-order your priorities with Jesus leading.
Ask - Infilling of the Holty Spirit (Ephesians 5: 15-20)

Do you tend to be Mary or Martha?

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

Mary lived a Christ centered life by worshipping Jesus.

1. Be still: Martha was moving...Mary was still.
2. Be Close... Martha was Jesus adjacent...Mary was Jesus present.
3. Be Humble: Martha bowed up...Mary bowed down.
4. Be Receptive: Martha was doing and demanding...Mary was listening and receiving.
5. Be Teachable: Martha was troubled...Mary was teachable.

This is the Christ centered life - A life in which Jesus is the One Thing Necessary.

- “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19

- “The world and everything that people want in it are passing away, but the person who does what God wants lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 (NCV).

- “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28.

What are your priorities?
- You have one life to live.
- What is your primary God-given purpose for the 70-80 years you have on this earth?
- Our priorities reflect our purpose. What are you focused on?
What is the meaning of it all?​
- One life to live with one purpose: to give God glory and honor.
- We are to give God glory individually as well as in community.
- How do we give God glory in community with our Soma Eastside family?
Strive for unity.
- Live in harmony with one another.
- Recognize our influence. Our actions as a group are a witness to the world around us.

Journey Towards Christ.
Observer -- Believer -- Disciple.

God's path compared to our path.​
- His path is not easily understood.
- Lose yourself to find your true self.
- Give up your desires to find your deepest desires.
Paradox of the Disciple of Christ.
- Draw closer to Him to become aware of your own sin.
- Confess your sin to become free of it.
- Being made pure through suffering.

Is the career, education, house, money, car, and family really enough?

The rich young ruler. Can you relate?
1. He desires eternal life with God.
2. He is a good person.
3. He is seeking to find deeper meaning, purpose and peace in his life.

How can we respond?
1. Be like children and follow Jesus.
2. Recognize Jesus is "Good" and, "No one is good except God alone." (Mark 10:18)
3. Recognize God's grace, through Jesus, who loves you, is the only way to eternal life.