CHRIST-CENTERED POLITICS

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, July 2, 2023

ONLY JESUS SOLVES AND SAVES THE WORLD’S DILEMMA

(Matthew 27:46, NLT) “At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

JESUS CALLS US TO A ZEALOUS CIVILITY

(1 Peter 3:13, ESV) “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?”

(2 Corinthians 1:12, NLT) “We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.”

JESUS DEMONSTRATES THE CHURCH MATTERS

(Ephesians 3:10, Message) “Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!”

(Acts 2:42, ESV) “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

(Ephesians 1:23, Message) “The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”

GROWTHWORK

1. SHARE BIBLICAL TRUTH

(Zechariah 7:9–10, NLT) “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.”

2. WALK, TALK, AND LIVE WITH HUMILITY

(Daniel 5:20, CEV) “But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him.”

(James 4:10, NLT) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

3. MAKE A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO MAKING DISCIPLES

(1 Corinthians 9:22–23, NLT) “When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”

4. PRAY

(1 Timothy 2:1–2, NLT) “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.”

5. ACT IN LOVE

(1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV) “Let all that you do be done in love.”