Stronger

September 17th & 18th

Pastor Sarah Blount

Conviction

God is calling his people to resist the division, impotency, and compromise rampant within the western church via faithful discipleship. Those who will rise to the occasion and live with devotion and conviction no matter the cost. Join us this fall as we purpose to reclaim Jesus’ vision for his church.

Bonhoeffer
You have to be stronger than these tormentors that you find everywhere today.

Conviction must be stronger than Compromise.

Hebrews 10:32-39
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Hebrews 11:24-27
It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

Hebrews 11:26
His eyes looked with wonder not on the immediate, but on the ultimate—faith’s great reward!

Ultimate must be stronger than Immediate.

How important is status to you?

Better to lean into daily moments of suffering with Christ by choosing ultimate over immediate than to stuff suffering into a closet until it’s so full it comes spilling out all over your life and the lives of those closest to you.

1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our momentary, light distress [this passing trouble] is producing for us an eternal weight of glory [a fullness] beyond all measure [surpassing all comparisons, a transcendent splendor and an endless blessedness]! So we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are visible are temporal [just brief and fleeting], but the things which are invisible are everlasting and imperishable.

Momentary Sinful Pleasure leads to shame, emptiness, darkness, and destruction. Momentary Suffering leads to weight of glory beyond all measure, transcendent splendor, and endless blessedness.

Momentary Suffering > Momentary Sinful Pleasure

Ultimate must be stronger than Immediate.

Bonhoeffer
This is the end—for me, the beginning of life.

Romans 15:5-6
May God, who gives us patience and encouragement, help us live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then we can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God.