Pastor Mel Fehr Are you a hypocrite Are

Pastor Mel Fehr

• Are you a hypocrite?

• Are you a hypocrite? • Are you ready for Easter?

• Are you a hypocrite? • Are you ready for Easter? • What is the one core “spiritual practice? ”

Dying to Live? Gospel of John, ch. 12

Dying to Live? 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” John 12

Dying to Live? 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it. . . John 12

Dying to Live? 14 Jesus 16 At found a young donkey and sat upon it. . . first, his disciples did not understand. . . John 12

Dying to Live? 19 So the Pharisees said to one another “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him. ” John 12

Dying to Live? 14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written, 15 “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt. ” 16 At first, his disciples did not understand. . . John 12

Dying to Live? 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir, ” they said, “we would like to see Jesus. ” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. John 12

Dying to Live? 16 The disciples John 12

Dying to Live? 16 The disciples 17 The crowd John 12

Dying to Live? 16 The disciples 17 The crowd 19 The Pharisees John 12

X 16 The disciples 17 The crowd 19 The Pharisees Dying to Live? 20 Some Greeks. . . ! John 12

Dying to Live? 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir, ” they said, “we would like to see Jesus. ” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. John 12

Dying to Live? 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ” John 12

Dying to Live? 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ” Flashback: John 2 • “My time has not yet come” John 12

Dying to Live? 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ” Flashback: John 2 • “My time has not yet come” • This [was] the first of his miraculous signs. . . [by which] he revealed his glory. John 12

Dying to Live? 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. . . John 12

Dying to Live? 23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. . . 24 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12

Dying to Live? “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ” - Mark 10: 45

Dying to Live? How the Cross is Central to Christianity: 1. It is the clearest revelation of God himself John 12

Dying to Live? How the Cross is Central to Christianity: 1. It is the clearest revelation of God himself 2. It personalizes God’s love John 12

Dying to Live? How the Cross is Central to Christianity: 1. It is the clearest revelation of God himself 2. It personalizes God’s love 3. It is the means by which God makes us his John 12

Dying to Live? 24 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12

Dying to Live? How the Cross is Central to Christianity: 1. 2. 3. 4. It is the clearest revelation of God himself It personalizes God’s love It is the means by which God makes us his It establishes the pattern for how those who claim they are under it are to live. John 12

Dying to Live? 24 “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12

Dying to Live? The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me. . . 25 John 12

Dying to Live? “The Son of Man must suffer many things. . . and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ” Luke 9

Dying to Live? Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good will it do for someone to gain the whole world, and you lose or forfeit their very self? ” Luke 9

Dying to Live? Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone does not hate father &mother, wife & children, brothers & sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot by my disciple. . . Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. ” Luke 14

Dying to Live? Jesus’ requirements: • “Deny yourself. . . ” • “Put yourself to death”

Dying to Live? The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me. . . 25 John 12

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” John 12

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” Let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their [lives] to their faithful Creator and continue to do good - 1 Peter 4: 19

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” 3 primary spheres of “life” in which we are to “die: ” 1. SELF 2. SINFUL PRACTICES 3. SERVING RELATIONSHIPS

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” 3 primary spheres of “life” in which we are to “die: ” 1. SELF 2. SINFUL PRACTICES 3. SERVING RELATIONSHIPS

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” “People with high self-esteem pose a greater threat to those around them with low self-esteem, and feeling bad about yourself is not the source of our country’s biggest, most expensive social problems. ” - Lauren Slater, NY Times

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” “I hate myself”

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” “I hate myself” “I need to love myself”

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” “I hate myself” “I need to be able to forget about myself” “I need to love myself”

Dying to Live? The core spiritual practice is Cross Training – “dying to myself” “. . . It’s not [about] thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less” - Tim Keller

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this?

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? • What I’m doing now isn’t working

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? • What I’m doing now isn’t working • Because we have come to see Jesus is worthy to be trusted & obeyed

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? • Because we are longing for “authenticity. ”

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? • Because we are longing for “authenticity. ” In Jesus, we have already “died” (check out Colossians 3; Romans 6)

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. ” John 12

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? I will only say ‘no’ to something readily and joyfully when I see a bigger ‘yes’ John 12

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? • Because what I’m dying into is way bigger and better than what I am dying to. John 12

Dying to Live? Why would I even want to do this? “The norm in our culture is to sacrifice whatever we have to get what we want. The way of [true life] is to sacrifice everything we want because of what we already have in Christ” - Will Walker, “Journey to the Cross”

Dying to Live? In what way might God be inviting me to die. . . to myself. . . in order to live in him?

Dying to Live? We’re all dying! The question is, “Am I dying to life; or am I dying to live? ”