Here is a recap of our message from this weekend...

One & Done: Challenge Accepted

In Part 3 of the One & Done series, Pastor Jared explores the profound questions of existence and purpose, focusing on the challenges that life presents. Drawing from 2 John, he emphasizes the importance of meeting life's challenges with truth, love, and discernment. Through personal experiences and scriptural insights, he encourages believers to deepen their faith by living out God's truth, showing sacrificial love, and discerning between truth and deception.

Challenges and Questions

Pastor Jared begins by reflecting on the common questions we all face, especially during difficult times. He recounts his personal experiences, including his brother Nate's battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which led him to ask God "why"? He then continues into the study of 2 John where he uses John's passage to teach us how to tackle the challenges in our lives.

Weekly Bible Study List

1. 2 John 1:1-3 (NIV) - "The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth—because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love."
2. 2 John 1:4-6 (NIV) - "It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love."
3. 2 John 1:7-9 (NIV) - "I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."
4. John 3:16 (NIV) - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

3 Ways We Tackle The Challenges of Life

1. Meeting Challenges with Truth - Referencing 2 John 1:1-3, Pastor Jared explains the foundational role of truth in our faith. He emphasizes that knowing and living the truth of God's word is crucial for spiritual stability. The truth of God is constant and unchanging, providing a firm foundation amidst life's storms.
2. Meeting Challenges with Love - Continuing with 2 John 1:4-6, he discusses the command to love one another. Pastor Jared clarifies that love is not merely a feeling but an intentional choice to act in the best interest of others. True love is shown through obedience to God's commands, reflecting the sacrificial love of Christ.
3. Meeting Challenges with Discernment - Finally, Pastor Jared examines 2 John 1:7-13, focusing on the need for discernment. He warns against deceivers and stresses the importance of knowing God deeply to discern truth from falsehood. Discernment, empowered by the Holy Spirit, helps believers navigate the challenges and deceptions of the world.

From Sermon to Action

Pastor Jared concludes by challenging the congregation to live out their faith actively. He encourages them to embrace God's truth, love sacrificially, and practice discernment in all aspects of life.

Worship Setlist

1. Go So Loved
2. Heart of the Father
3. The Worship Medley (Reckless Love/O Come to the Altar/Great Are You Lord)

Notable Sermon Quotes to Repost on Social Media

1. "Sometimes, if you're not careful, you'll spend more time trying to answer the question why you're here, instead of experiencing the reason why you're here."
2. "Truth is not just a component of our faith, but the very foundation upon which our faith is built."
3. "If you’re looking to people more than you’re looking to the word of God, you don’t have truth in your life—you have opinions."
4. "Loving God is to be obedient to God. And so to go one step further, loving other people is to be obedient to God‘s word on how I am to love those people."
5. "The greatest weapon you have to face the challenges in your life is obedience to the word of God."
6. "Discernment is the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehoods—a spiritual gift we receive through the guidance of the Holy Spirit."
7. "If I don't know God better than I know people, I will trust people more than I trust God."
8. "Faith in God is not just something we talk about, it's something we live out."

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