This week Pastor Mason continues the series on deconstructing faith by asking, is God a jerk?

1) FOUNDATION (PERSPECTIVE)

Scriptures referenced: Psalm 73,

• Truth
• Humilty
• Perspective

2) WALLS (UNDERSTANDING)

• Result of Sin (Gen 3:14-20; Rom 3:23; 6:23)

• Natural Outcome (Deut 28:1-2,15)

• Protection and Purity (Deut 20:16-18)

• Justice and Mercy (Exod 34:6-7; Psa 145:8-9)

3) ROOF (PERMISSION TO DOUBT)

Scriptures referenced: Matt 11:2-6; Mark 4:35-41; Rev 6:9-11

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We are loved and have value, we have proud and rebellious hearts, are humans special or sinful?

1) WE ARE loved AND HAVE value

Scriptures referenced: Genesis ; 2:7; 5:1-2; Psalm 139:13-14; Psalm 8; Luke 12:6

Genesis 1:26-28 (NIV)

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 8 (NIV)

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Luke 12:6 (NIV)

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

2) WE ARE Proud AND rebellious

Scriptures referenced: Genesis 3:1-13; Psalm 10:4; Matthew 19:16-22,

Genesis 3:1-13 (VER)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Psalm 10:4 (NIV)

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Matthew 19:16-22 (NIV)

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

“Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

3) WE ARE OFFERED A LIFE OF sacrifice AND reward

Scriptures referenced: Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

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This week Pastor Mason Peters begins the series of "Reconstructing Faith: Unmasking Your Doubts". Pastor Mason will walk us through a systematic overview of faith, what it means, how to answer tough questions, and how to built faith that lasts.

Main Scripture Reference(s): Jude 20-23

Jude 20-23 (VER)

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

1) BE Honest

Scriptures referenced: Jeremiah 17:9,

Jeremiah 17:9 (NIV)

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

2) ** BE Diligent**

Scriptures referenced: Jude 20-21,

Jude 20-21 (NIV)

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Build

Acts 17:11-12 (NIV)

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Pray

Ephesians 6:18-19 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

Walk

3) BE Merciful

Scriptures referenced: Jude 22-23, Ephesians 6:12

Jude 22-23 (VER)

Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

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Listen along as Pastor Paul Knight, Pastor Patrick Severson, and Pastor Mason Peters, randomly draw your questions and answer them unfiltered.

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The Most Popular Book… Can You Trust It?

Main Scripture Reference(s): 2 Timothy 3:16, Psalm 119:105, Jeremiah 15:16, Proverbs 2:1-10

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Nun Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Jeremiah 15:16 (NIV)

When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty.

Proverbs 2:1-10 (NLT)

My child,* listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

1. The Bible is no ordinary book.

Scriptures referenced: 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:19-21

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV)

And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

1 Peter 1:19-21 (NIV)

but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

2. Convinced?

Scriptures referenced: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 2 Timothy 3:6-7, Acts 17:11-12, 2 Peter 1:16

2 Timothy 3:14-17 (NIV)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God* may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:6-7 (NIV)

They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Acts 17:11-12 (NIV)

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

2 Peter 1:16 (NIV)

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

3. The Bible’s dangerously beautiful power.

Scriptures referenced: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:1-14, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:11, 1 Peter 3:15-16

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God* may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:1-14 (NIV)

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

Because We Need More . . .

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS and THINGS TO PONDER

For your personal discipleship, discussion with family, your Life-Group, or your watch party

Quick Review:

Ask yourself: Was there a particular point or passage of Scripture that inspired, encourage, challenged, confused, or caught your attention?

• Review the main idea behind each of the points.

The Bible is not an ordinary book.

1. In what ways do you personally find the bible unique?

2. How do the claims of the bible invite you or ghallenge you?

3. Do you treat the bible in a way that is consistent with it's uniqueness?

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