Practice: Server 8.1 - April 4, 2010 - Easter Sunday

Practice #8 – Serve 8.1 –
It’s Just Too Far-Fetched

Philippians 2:3-8 (New International Version)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

We can kill the reality of Jesus’ work on the cross when we try to debate worldview for worldview. The story is pretty crazy if you think about it. Genesis 1:1 (New International Version)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
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.
Luke 1:31-35 (New International Version)
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Hebrews 4:15 (New International Version)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Romans 5:18-19 (New International Version)
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Here is the crux of the story: As a result of this amazing process of events, I am supposed to be different.
John 8:36 (New International Version)
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 8:1 (New International Version)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 8:31-32, 37 (New International Version)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

So, how do we live in response to this?
Philippians 2:3-8 (New International Version)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

As a result of this story, we should be affected to DO certain things.