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Taste and See that the Lord is good

(Sacred Pathways 1)

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Journey of Life (sometimes)

• Work (even God’s work) can be very tough.

• Life can deal us Major Disappointments.

• Love (relationships) can be painful.

• Our Body can fall ill.

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Plenty of Rest

People of God loved me

Presence of God

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Let us receive our healing from the love of God.

We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love.

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We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love.

1. God has allowed Himself to be known and experienced by us.

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“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.” – John 15:9

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” – Psalms 34:8

“Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8

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“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love.” – John 15:9

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” – Psalms 34:8

“Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” – James 4:8

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” – Ephesians 1:17

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We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love.

2. We are all uniquely made by Him, thus

• We experience His love differently“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.” – Psalms 139:13-14

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We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love.

2. We are all uniquely made by Him, thus

• We experience His love differently• We can love Him in different ways

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30

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At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum

1. Bible SeriesGenesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, …, Ruth, 1

Samuel, …, Psalms, Proverbs, …, Isaiah, Jeremiah, …, Hosea, Joel, …, Nahum, Habakkuk, …, Zechariah, Malachi, …, Mark, Luke, …, Acts, Romans, …, Jude, Revelation.

66 books in total.

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At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum

1. Bible Series2. Lectionary & Christian Calendar

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At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum

1. Bible Series2. Lectionary & Christian Calendar3. Themes / Topics:

a) Fruit of the Holy Spiritb) The Cross of Jesus Christc) The Holy Spiritd) It’s all about Gracee) End Times

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At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum

1. Bible Series2. Lectionary & Christian Calendar3. Themes / Topics:

• “The Different ways where we can receive God’s love and to love Him”.

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Sacred Pathways(Discover your soul’s path to God)

By Gary Thomas

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The 9 Sacred Pathways are observations from the Bible how different people were commanded to love God, or how they had loved God and the Lord approved of it.

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Mystery of Sacramental Rites

Elevation ofthe Pulpit – the Word of God

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The Roman Catholic Church emphasized the sensuous aspects of faith and the mystery of the Gospel, while Martin Luther emphasized intellectual discourse in knowing, understanding and explaining God and His will.

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John Calvin opted instead to express love for God by transforming society.

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John Calvin opted instead to express love for God by transforming society.

The Anabaptists expressed their love for God by stressing the inner reality of the gospel.

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Wesley went beyond a faith based on creeds and discipline to an inner faith that comes about from relating inwardly with God.

John Wesley

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Wesley went beyond a faith based on creeds and discipline to an inner faith that comes about from relating inwardly with God.

John Wesley

Wesley also took up the causes of civil and religious freedom and awakened the conscience of the nation to the evils of exploiting the poor.

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Naturalist – Loving God out of doors

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Naturalist – Loving God out of doors

The “naturalist” would uncover the mystery of the holy, transcendent God

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Sensate– Loving God with the Senses

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SensateThe 5 senses are God’s most effective inroad into their hearts.

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Traditionalist – Loving God through Rituals & Symbols

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Traditionalist

To the traditionalists, the liturgies of the church carried a depth and historicity that added a new aesthetic to the traditionalists’ worship.

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Ascetic – Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity

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Ascetic – Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity

They would appreciate simplicity in architecture and lifestyle.

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Activist – Loving God through Confrontation

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Activist The Christian must consciously act upon the right biblical view of life so as to influence society for the glory of God.

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Caregiver – Loving God through Loving others.

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CaregiverThey see Christ in the poor and needy, and their faith is built up by interacting with other people.

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Enthusiast – Loving God with Mystery and Celebration

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Enthusiast – Loving God with Mystery and Celebration

Inspired by Joyful Worship, but more than that, they expect the supernatural God to act supernaturally in our world today.

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Contemplative – Loving God through Adoration

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ContemplativeThey seek to love God with the purest, deepest and brightest love imaginable.

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Intellectual – Loving God with the Mind

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Intellectual – Loving God with the Mind

They may feel closest to God when they first understand something new about Him.

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1. Show examples from the Bible regarding the pathways, or at least characteristics related to them.

2. The blessings that these Pathways bring.

3. How to love God within a specific pathway?

4. Some cautions / temptations associated with each Pathway.

Examples from the Bible regarding the Naturalist pathway1. Descriptions of God or His angels

appearing to certain people in the wilderness.

• Hagar in the desert [Genesis 16].• Abraham on a mountain [Genesis 22]• Jacob at the river crossing [Genesis 32]• Moses at the burning bush [Exodus 3]

Examples from the Bible regarding the Naturalist pathway1. Descriptions of God or His angels

appearing to certain people in the wilderness.

• Our Lord Jesus moving to Capernaum (by the sea).

• Jesus’ ministry often took place in the countryside.

Examples from the Bible – Naturalist pathway

1. Descriptions of God or His angels appearing to certain people in the wilderness.

2. Many Old Testament and Gospel illustrations are based on nature.

Psalms 23:1-4a“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside still waters;He restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; …”

What is the Blessing of the Naturalist pathway?

1. It helps us to visualize Scriptural truths.

What is the Blessing of the Naturalist pathway?

1. It helps us to visualize Scriptural truths.

Psalms 1331 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard,on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

What is the Blessing of the Naturalist pathway?

1. It helps us to visualize Scriptural truths.

2. Helps us to Learn to rest within the beauty of nature.

Memory verse

Psalms 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”