Joshua 4:20-24

Most of us have traditions in our lives. It's just the ebb and flow of how we live. But those traditions say a lot about who we are - and, surprisingly, they become guardrails for who your kids become! Family legacies often rest in family traditions. What is yours? (this is a tough question for newlyweds!) Are you doing your family traditions on purpose? Let's explore this some more this morning.

Matthew 12:22-28

We have a world of people that seems to be at war with each other. There is division everywhere you go. Don’t think this isn’t a scheme of the enemy. Keeping us fighting each other will keep us from fighting him. What is worse, others who need to hear the gospel, may never get the chance.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Living a life of godliness can rub people the wrong way. Paul had to deal with many people who wanted to be somebody in the church, but didn’t want to live lives of godliness. It is because they had a “form of godliness” but remained unchanged by the power of God. But Paul did not become discouraged. Instead, he taught us how to draw that proverbial line in the sand.

Acts 10:1-16

The Creator notices godliness. He yearns for it among His people, but he sees it among the nations. The Jews had a hard time accepting this. Nothing less than an intervention of God could have changed this. But it is clear. Do you notice this among non-believing friends and family? Pour fuel on that spark!

2 Chronicles 29:1-11

The author of the books of the Kings and the Chronicles would either begin or end the accounts of the lives of the Kings with a simple summary statement. Of King Ahaz, he wrote, “He did not do what was right in the Lord’s sight like his ancestor, David.” (2 Chronicles 28:1) Of Hezekiah, he says something different. Which would you rather have written about you? What will be written?

1 Timothy 4:1-10

Godliness is the application of God’s plan to the human experience. Before a person become a Christian she or he lives according to their own plan. When Christ’s gift becomes our possession, things change; unless you decide to hold on to ideas of the past.

1 Peter 3:8-18

1 Peter 4:1-6

It is not easy to live in this world when you have the convictions of faith. Culture clamors and shouts to be heard. It distracts and deceives to gain acceptance. We have to dig in or give in. Peter’s message to us is to “Dig in deep!”

2 Corinthian 4:7-12

You and I are living in the middle of a seismic change in our country. For as long as we have been alive (you and I), the country has always believed that the church had the market cornered on morality and virtue. Even people who wouldn't be bothered with all the rules of church typically thought church a good thing, but no more. The Christian faith is moving to the margins. Today, the average American no longer thinks of Christians as moral people. We are backwards, superstitious, malevolent, bigoted, and hateful. This perception is being fueled by the antics of a few truly disturbing groups, but it is working. This morning, we will kick off our series on Perseverance as we talk about faith in the margins.