The Fallen Tent Amos 5.8-27; 9.9-15

The two texts we chose from Amos are typical of the Hebrew prophets – picturesque appeals to the heart of a spiritually-minded people who'd stopped trusting God and had gotten lost. The first text is an "oracle of woe" and the second, a "promise of restoration".

Let's look at 3 symptoms of Religion in Decay – synthetic, fruitless, false spirituality. AND 3 qualities of vital spirituality, 3 aspects of that inner work God brings about in people who actually know Him

2nd Kings 14.8-14; 2nd Chronicles 26.16-21

by TJ Campo

Let's get some help here on the way spirituality really is. Three scenes and three big ideas from bottom to top:

1. Covenant
2. Resurrection
3. Foolishness

The World is, in many ways, the same as it ever was and this Letter… basically IS Christianity… the Good News presented, explained, applied, defended, celebrated. AS it changed the Ancient World, it can change and IS changing the modern world.

Let's look at:

1. Life in a Hostile World and
2. How the Big Themes of Christianity Speak

What happens when believers in Jesus differ on what the rules are? Following the rules NEVER worked to make us right with God (all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard – the egg is smashed on the sidewalk) but NOW that believers in the same church ARE excepted because of Jesus Christ's obeying the rules… Are there NO rules? If so What ARE they? What if we disagree on the rules?

Let's jump in and see:

1. Words to Weak and Strong
2. Reasons for Action
3. Walking According to Love

All other regimes and administrations are invalid and of no effect – they're rivals… "BUT WAIT!" says Paul, "Not so fast". The Way of Jesus and the plan of the ages actually has a place for these authorities. This passage both explains that plan and shows believers how to live AS:

1. Children of Light
2. Living at Night
3. With One Eye on the Clock

Today, we want to look at the connective tissue that holds us in the Body…"Slaves Freed to Love". What does it mean to love other people in the Church – to love others as God loves US, without expectations of getting a return on our investment. Let's look at:

1. The Mechanics of True LOVE
2. An Excursus on Gracious Revenge
3. The Power to Love Truly

Here, the essential paradox of the NT Church (now a catholic or international church) is the paradox of "One but Many".

The Apostle sort of plays with these two apparently incongruous ideas and the image that illustrates the whole thing is that of a Body – ONE body with MANY parts or organs or limbs. So, what does that mean, practically speaking, to be so vitally connected to other people that we can be described as a body (same DNA) AND that we're both connected to one another and, at the same time, so different that one part seems to have no resemblance to another (as different as an eye and a toe!)? That's the question!

Let's look at: #1 Why We Need the Body Metaphor #2 How It All Works Out (a THREE-Part Answer)