CLICK HERE FOR THE LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE CONTAINING DISCUSSION QUESTION

1. Introduction

• Topic of the morning - Living Truth/Loving God at the center
  • One needs to love God in order to do anything else
• What is truth, what does it mean to live something out, by what power do we live truth, what prevents us from doing this?

2.  Christ as our truth

• Knowing your bibles not just to recite knowledge; it shifts our worldview
• Turn with me to John 14
  • Read John 14:5-7
  • Preparing a place Matthew sermon series on him coming back
  • Knowing the bible to know a person
• Read John 8:30-36
  • Jews who had believed him
  • Hold to my teaching = to abide, remain, stay in his word
  • The truth is about Jesus (v.36)
• "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it but because by it, I see everything else." -Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis
• Why Jesus can claim to be truth
  • Christ displays perfectly what God intended for humanity: Relationship with the Father (Knowing him, being satisfied in him, and obeying him)

3. To live something

• To live something out is to continually act and display it (Examples: love, mercy)
• When we live something, it comes from the depths of our hearts
  • We cannot live something continually and deeply like a life in Christ without there being heart level change and impact
  • To live a life of love example furthered

4. Disciples live truth

• Living truth - to act and live in a manner that God intended for humanity which has been revealed to us through Jesus
  • Living truth is for God's glory and our satisfacting
• The gospel - the intent to redeem and restore
• The 10 commandments are not abandoned; they were the standard and intent for humanity, the gospel simply redeems the possibility of us living like that
• The gospel redeems the heart, which is where Jesus argues our actions flow out of (You have heard it said... Matthew 5:17-48)
• The Gospel makes living truth possible

5. By what power do we seek to live out truth?

• Many of us acknowledge our helplessness and our need for a savior, but we deny that power to help us live
  • Happens knowingly and unknowlingly
• Read Galatians 5:13-18
  • Called to be free - identifies the freedom they are thinking is wrong
    • Licensed to do whatever we want
  • Walk by the Spirit + Led by the Spirit
  • Not free of any master, just free from a harmful and oppressive one
  • We are to live a life submitting to and being led by the spirit
• The very power that has saved you is the same power that sanctifies you to live a holy life
  • What does this look like: Regularly crying out

6. Roadblocks that keep us from living truth by our own power?

• Image/identity - Our desire to be seen as someone who lives truth causes us to rely upon our own power
• Culture - Our culture around us propels us to do so
  • American narrative is independence: to achieve anything by the power within
  • Low Standards - Our desire to fulfill the task leads us to lower the bar (couple with pride)
  • Control - Our desire and need for control leads us into the driver's seat
  • Pride - Our high view of ourselves leads us into the position of God in our lives
  • Ignorance - We don't know how to rely upon his power (hold to teaching)
  • Which one are you?
  • Crying out for help and submit - hope that God hears and responds
    • The very power that has saved you is the same power that sanctifies you to live a holy life
  • Close in prayer

7. Benediction

• Read John 16:13; Rely and surrender upon the Holy Spirit who will lead you into all truth and lead you to live truth