Preparing for Pain

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Preparing for Pain
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Preparing for Pain

• 1 Peter 41 Therefore, since Christ has suffered
  in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
  purpose...

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Preparing for Pain

• 1 Peter 41 Therefore, since Christ has suffered
  in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
  purpose...
• Followers of Jesus are to be proactive in this.
  Otherwise, they are caught unaware and its too
  late.

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Preparing for Pain

• 1 Peter 41 Therefore, since Christ has suffered
  in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
  purpose...
• American Christians often fail the test
  because of our unbiblical individualism.

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Preparing for Pain

• 1 Peter 41 Therefore, since Christ has suffered
  in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
  purpose...
• God never intended his people to suffer
  alone

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Preparing for Pain

• 1 Peter 41 Therefore, since Christ has suffered
  in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same
  purpose...
• The mystical union

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Preparing for Pain

• 2 Pet 14 He has granted to us His precious and
  magnificent promises, so that by them you may
  become partakers of the divine nature

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Preparing for Pain

• Eph. 5 31, 32 For this reason a man shall leave
  his father and mother and shall be joined to his
  wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
• 32 This mystery is great but I am speaking with
  reference to Christ and the church.

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Preparing for Pain

• 1 Cor. 1213 For by one Spirit we were all
  baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks,
  whether slaves or free, and we were all made to
  drink of one Spirit.

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Preparing for Pain

• Rom. 124 For just as we have many members in one
  body and all the members do not have the same
  function,
• 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

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Preparing for Pain

• Do American Christians grasp their corporate
  identity in Christ?

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Preparing for Pain

• Do American Christians grasp their corporate
  identity in Christ?
• I have my doubts.

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Preparing for Pain

• Do American Christians grasp their corporate
  identity in Christ?
• I have my doubts.
• Today, church is something you go to on Sunday,
  not something that you are.

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Preparing for Pain

• As I go on with the Lord I soon discover, not
  only that the problem of sin and of my natural
  strength has to be dealt with, but that there is
  also a further problem created by my individual
  life, the life that is sufficient in itself and
  does not recognize its need for and union in the
  Body.

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Preparing for Pain

• I may have got over the problems of sin and the
  flesh, and yet still be a confirmed
  individualist. I want holiness and victory and
  fruitfulness for myself personally and apart,
  albeit from the purest motives. But such an
  attitude ignores the Body, and so cannot provide
  God with satisfaction.

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Preparing for Pain

• That is the great need to see the Body of Christ
  as another great divine fact to have it break in
  upon our spirits by heavenly revelation that we,
  who are many, are one body in Christ.

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Preparing for Pain

• When I see this, I shall at once have done with
  independence and shall seek fellowship. The life
  of Christ in me will gravitate to the life of
  Christ in others. I can no longer take an
  individual line. Jealousy will go.

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Preparing for Pain

• Competition will go. Private work will go. My
  interests, my ambitions, my preferences, all will
  go. All that will matter is that the body grows.

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Romans 12

• 4 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

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Romans 12

• 4 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

Full commitment to Christ includes commitment to
his Body
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Romans 12

• 4 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

Individualism ego broken on the anvil of our
corporate identity
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Romans 12

• 4 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

Lone-ranger Christianity broken!
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Romans 12

• 4 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

Selfish mysticism broken!
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Romans 12

• 4 So we, who are many, are one body in Christ,
  and individually members one of another.

Unaccountable Christianity broken!
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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view
Body life

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view Im not in a church
right now.
Body life

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view Im not in a church
right now.
Body life Yes you are!

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view Im not in a church
right now.
Body life Yes you are! If you are a believer,
you are in the church.

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view Im not in a church
right now.
Body life Yes you are! If you are a believer,
you are in the church. The problem is you arent
in fellowship with the church.

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view I just attend here
when I have time... Im working on a degree right
now...
Body life

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view I just attend here
when I have time... Im working on a degree right
now...
Body life Acts 246 Day by day continuing with
one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from
house to house

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view I just attend here
when I have time... Im working on a degree right
now...
Body life We dont find time for fellowship, we
make time!

• Im not in a church right now. Yes you are! If
  you are a believer, you are in a church really
  in THE church. The problem is you arent in
  fellowship with the church.
• I just attend here when I have time... Im
  working on a degree right now...

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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view Members of a
church, vs. members of one another
Body life
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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view Members of a
church, vs. members of one another
Body life 1 Cor. 1226 And if one member
suffers, all the members suffer with it if one
member is honored, all the members rejoice with
it.
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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view As long as I have God
and my relationship with him, I feel Im alright.
Body life
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Preparing for Pain
Signs of a deficient view As long as I have God
and my relationship with him, I feel Im alright.
Body life 1 Cor. 1221 The eye cannot say to
the hand, I have no need of you.
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• The one-another passages

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Gal. 513 For you were called to freedom,
brethren only do not turn your freedom into an
opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
one another.
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• Gal. 513 For you were called to freedom,
  brethren only do not turn your freedom into an
  opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve
  one another.
• Inconceivable apart from serious personal
  investment

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1 Thess. 511 Therefore encourage one another,
and build up one another, just as you also are
doing.
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• 1 Thess. 511 Therefore encourage one another,
  and build up one another, just as you also are
  doing.
• Must know each others progress to encourage

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• 1 Thess. 511 Therefore encourage one another,
  and build up one another, just as you also are
  doing.
• Must know each others progress to encourage
• The transforming power of love and truth
  dont work at arms length

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Col. 316 Let the word of Christ richly dwell
within you, with all wisdom teaching and
admonishing one another
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• Col. 316 Let the word of Christ richly dwell
  within you, with all wisdom teaching and
  admonishing one another
• Suggests extensive learning

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• Col. 316 Let the word of Christ richly dwell
  within you, with all wisdom teaching and
  admonishing one another
• Suggests extensive learning
• Admonisha term similar to our concept of
  counseling

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James 516 Therefore, confess your sins to one
another, and pray for one another, so that you
may be healed.
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• James 516 Therefore, confess your sins to one
  another, and pray for one another, so that you
  may be healed.
• Requires an atmosphere of substantial trust

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• James 516 Therefore, confess your sins to one
  another, and pray for one another, so that you
  may be healed.
• Requires an atmosphere of substantial trust
• Would you admit your problems to someone you
  dont trust?

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Eph. 432 And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God
in Christ also has forgiven you.
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Eph. 42 with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, showing forbearance to one another in
love
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• Eph. 42 with all humility and gentleness, with
  patience, showing forbearance to one another in
  love
• Sounds great, but not that easy!

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• Eph. 42 with all humility and gentleness, with
  patience, showing forbearance to one another in
  love
• Sounds great, but not that easy!
• Close-in modeling, training, and admonition
  needed

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Rom. 157 Therefore, accept each other just as
Christ has accepted you so that God will be given
glory.
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Rom. 1216 Be of the same mind toward one
another do not be haughty in mind, but associate
with the lowly.
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• Rom. 1216 Be of the same mind toward one
  another do not be haughty in mind, but associate
  with the lowly.
• Not referring to people we find attractive

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• Rom. 1216 Be of the same mind toward one
  another do not be haughty in mind, but associate
  with the lowly.
• Not referring to people we find attractive
• Accepting and caring for difficult people is
  difficult

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Gal. 62 Bear one anothers burdens, and thus
fulfill the law of Christ.
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• Gal. 62 Bear one anothers burdens, and thus
  fulfill the law of Christ.
• Have to know what those burdens are and how
  to help

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• Gal. 62 Bear one anothers burdens, and thus
  fulfill the law of Christ.
• Have to know what those burdens are and how
  to help
• Neither will happen in relationally
  disengaged groups

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1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
the brethren, fervently love one another from the
heart.
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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Not describing simply a friendly demeanor
  toward others we see at church

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

Before deciding what you think these passages
mean today, remember
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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• Before deciding what you think these passages
  mean today, remember
• These are all moral imperatives directly
  from God to us, and are not optional for
  serious Christians.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• These commands are not linked to any
  particular cultural setting, like first the
  century Greco-roman world. They apply
  directly to twenty- first century America.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• The content of these imperatives apply to
  all Christians without exceptions or excuses.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• The content of these imperatives apply to
  all Christians without exceptions or excuses.
• One another language not for leaders
  or an elite, but for all ordinary
  Christians.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• These passages, in context, are not
  describing how we should treat our
  families, but the more difficult setting of
  the church.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• Disregarding any of these instructions
  would be sinjust as serious, and even
  more serious than stealing, swearing,
  getting drunk, or watching porno.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• Jesus put loving others at the very top
  level of importance, second only to loving
  God.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• Jesus put loving others at the very top
  level of importance, second only to loving
  God.
• Remember, it is sin to know what you
  ought to do and then not do it (Jam. 417)

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

• While following these instructions from
  God may be difficult, and may be different
  from what we are used to, we must accept
  that this is biblical Christianity.

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• 1 Pet. 122 Since you have in obedience to the
  truth purified your souls for a sincere love of
  the brethren, fervently love one another from the
  heart.
• Will take time
• Will mean sacrifice

But our people are really busy
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To those who take God seriously on these verses,
amazing discoveries
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• To those who take God seriously on these verses,
  amazing discoveries
• This is a blast!

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• To those who take God seriously on these verses,
  amazing discoveries
• This is a blast!
• Never miss the worldly things given up

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• To those who take God seriously on these verses,
  amazing discoveries
• This is a blast!
• Never miss the worldly things given up
• Real joy and fulfillment comes from the
  relational and spiritual side of life

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• To those who take God seriously on these verses,
  amazing discoveries
• This is a blast!
• Never miss the worldly things given up
• Real joy and fulfillment comes from the
  relational and spiritual side of life
• Healthy families

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• To those who take God seriously on these verses,
  amazing discoveries
• This is a blast!
• Never miss the worldly things given up
• Real joy and fulfillment comes from the
  relational and spiritual side of life
• Healthy families

• Direct connection between spirituality of
  the church and simple living

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• To those who take God seriously on these verses,
  amazing discoveries
• This is a blast!
• Never miss the worldly things given up
• Real joy and fulfillment comes from the
  relational and spiritual side of life
• Healthy families

• Direct connection between spirituality of
  the church and simple living
• Something has to give!

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The point for us
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• The point for us
• Withstanding pain and suffering
  something God never intended us to do
  alone or alienated