The Church's loyality to the gospel and to each other is the final defense of the faith.

Sermon Notes - October 25:  The church’s final evidence of the truthfulness of our faith in Messiah Jesus. – John 13:33,34 & John 17:20-21

 

Key Memory Verse:  John 17:20-21 NASB - "20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

 

Application: Unconditional grace filled love proves the gospel to the watching world.

I.  The Church is defined by absolute and passionate loyalty to the true gospel of grace!

Galatians 1:8-9 NASB - "8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"

II.  The Church is defined by an absolute and passionate loving loyalty to each other.

John 13:34-35 NASB - "34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.""

III.  When the Church lives consistently in Truth and Love then the world will acknowledge that the Father has sent the Son!

John 17:20-21 NASB - "20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Notes

Recommended Reading

25 Basic Bible Studies: Including Two Contents, Two Realities Paper by Francis A. Schaeffer  (Author), Lane T. Dennis  (Foreword)

The Mark of the Christian (IVP Classics) by Francis A. Schaeffer  (Author), James W. Sire (Foreword)

Death in the City by Francis A. Schaeffer and Lane T. Dennis

Who Gets to Narrate the World?: Contending for the Christian Story in an Age of Rivals by Robert E. Webber

What is Reformed Theology?: Understanding the Basics by R. C. Sproul  (Author)

Christian Love (Annotated) (Vintage Puritan) by Hugh Binning

Christian Love by John Angell James (Author)

Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am? Insights into Personal Growth by John Powell  (Author)

Why Am I Afraid to Love?: Overcoming Rejection and Indifference by John Powell (Author)