Lighthouse Community Church Lighthouse Community Church

Key idea: We find a persevering and powerful joy when we see life in light of Christ and his gospel Four aspects of true joy to encourage our faith and increase our joy True joy recognizes the world’s counterfeits True joy is rooted in the Gospel True joy sees the bigger story Believe that suffering and joy can coexist Let your suffering lead you to Christ See your suffering with expectant hope True joy aligns our will with Christ through prayer To pray in Jesus’ name recognizes our poverty To pray in Jesus’ name recognizes Christ’s purposes

1. Chapter 1 – The Real Problem: Spiritual Death a. Totally corrupted by sin b. Seduced by the world’s values c. Enslaved to the rule of Satan d. Destined for judgment 2. Chapter 2 – The Divine Solution: the Gospel a. We have a hero who loves us b. We have a hero who forgives us c. We have a hero who shows us grace d. We have a hero who gives us a purpose

Key Idea: Three realities about the Holy Spirit for strength in gospel sharing and gospel life. Three realities about the Holy Spirit: I. The Comforting Presence of the Spirit (v.4b-7) Our Advantageous Position Our Advocate’s Permanence II. The Convicting Power of the Spirit (v.8-11) Convicts people of their unbelief in Jesus Convicts people of their need for Jesus Convicts people of unbelief’s judgment III. The Clarifying Position of the Spirit (v.12-15) Clarifies Truth Clarifies His relationship to Father and Son Clarifies Jesus

Key idea – We live faithfully in politics by living faithfully for Christ I. Live in Truth II. Live out Love III. Live with a Message An ambassador is someone who lives in a foreign land but represents their own king. Three ways to live with a message: A. Gospel priority B. “Convictional kindness” C. Visible love We demonstrate love by living out the good we hope the government promotes. IV. Live by Faith The solution to our anger, frustration, worry, concern, judgementalism, fears, etc., is making sure we are not making politics about the pursuit of false gods, but the worship of the one true God. A. Make this election a demonstration of your pursuit of God, not your pursuit of gods B. Make this election a demonstration of your faith in God not your faith in the government Jonathan Leeman: “How Can I Live Church Members with Different Politics” and “How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age”

Key idea – We live faithfully in politics by living faithfully for Christ I. Live in Truth A. Recognize that the culture offers a faulty version of reality B. Recognize biases in the presentation of facts (both “liberal” and “conservative”) C. Recognize the complexity of the issues at stake D. Recognize the difference between “straight-line” and “jagged-line” issues II. Live out Love A. Think more highly of people, than your opinions B. See others as people to love, not political views to loathe C. See your judgmentalism as a greater sin than others’ political judgments D. Speak the truth in love to win others to Christ, not to win arguments E. Build bridges, don’t burn them