Message: “Are You an Active Member in the Army of God” from Joe Summers

Are you an Active Member in the Army of God? Lesson Objective: To discuss the requirements to be an active member of God’s Army and what attributes do we have that will allow us to be great soldiers. Scripture: 2 Timothy 2: 1-4 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer Introduction. Military definitions: Civilian: One who is not nor has ever been a part of the military. Or one who has in the past but is no longer obligated to serve in the military Reservist: One who has been trained in the military but is not active but remains obligated and can be called to action when needed. Active Duty: One who has received training and is currently obligated to serve wherever assigned. Biblical Reference Civilian: One who never accepted Christ and has no training in the spiritual warfare Reservist: One who accepted Christ and received some training but does not use that training in their daily lives. They may be waiting for the time that they are called to action Active Duty: One who has accepted Christ, received the training and actively seeks the opportunity to carry out the orders of the commander In chief. They train daily with the task at hand and eagerly look for more to come. Attributes of active- duty personnel 1. Courageous- a. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” b. 1 Chronicles 28:20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished c. Psalms 31: 24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD • How do we demonstrate courage? • How do we react when we re afraid? 、 2. Obedient- a. Ephesians 6: 1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” b. John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command c. 2 John 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love i. Who are our parents in Ephesians 6: and also in the fifth commandment? ii. How does love reflect obedience? 、 3. Romans 12: 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. a. Encourager- Barnabas i. Acts 13:7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God ii. Acts 13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga iii. Acts 14:1 Acts 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue 1. Why is it important for a good soldier to be an encourager? 2. Is it a natural response by most people? 3. When can it become unnatural? Look at a few other traits necessary for a good soldier and find appropriate scripture to demonstrate the requirement for such. b. Giver c. Leader d. Show mercy Group sharing time and summary

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From Series: "Sunday Service"

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