The Vision of Hillside Men

BEFORE WE BEGIN • Singles, not homers. • I will speak to not-yet-believers. • The Bible is about Jesus. • The Bible interprets itself. • Scriptures > Opinion • Transformation > Information

BEFORE WE BEGIN Acting Like Men

!Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you and you

make it known to me. Job 38:2-3

1 TIMOTHY 1:1-3

Who is Paul?

Paul’s life is one of the best pieces of evidence

for the Resurrection.

From Church Terrorist to Church Planter

Who is Timothy?

Paul’s Child in the Faith

This letter is to a person, not to a church.

This letter is to a pastor, not just a random dude.

Charge certain persons.

Any different doctrine.

Different than what?

ACTS 19:1-20

We have not even heard there was a Holy Spirit.

The church in Ephesus began with incomplete teaching.

!

This becomes a theme.

Incomplete teaching. Attempted false miracles.

Demonic powers. !

You & I would not call this a solid church start.

But then there is verse 17.

Incomplete teaching. Attempted false miracles.

Demonic powers. !

And still people come to Jesus.

How?

Grace.

Grace is not something that we conjure up, nor is it something we know to ask for.

Grace is the result of the work of God.

But grace is not only a result, it’s also a cause.

These new believers forsake their old lives.

And the Gospel continues to reign.

But we’ve yet to figure out what Paul’s true teaching is.

EPHESIANS 2:1-10

You were dead.

You can’t resurrect yourself.

But God.

By grace we have been saved.

And it is out of that grace that we do good works.

Dear Ephesus: It is not your repentance, your burning of our idols,

or even my teaching that brings you to new life.

Dear Ephesus: It is out of the grace

of God that you live out the works of God.

Dear Men of Hillside: It is not your repentance, your burning of our idols,

or even our teaching that brings you to new life.

Dear Men of Hillside: It is out of the grace

of God that you live out the works of God.

Godly men build their lives on the grace of God.

We know how this story ends.

REVELATION 2:1-5

You can’t bear teaching that isn’t of grace.

You haven’t grown weary of the Gospel and its effects.

But.

You have abandoned your first love.

Do the works you did at first.

Get rid of your idols. Center your life on grace.

Godly men center their lives on grace, burning their

idols in their white-hot affections for Christ.