Nov 12 Mon- Mt 7

Nov 13 Tues- John 1

Nov 14 Wed - 1 Peter 1

Nov 15 Thr– John 15

Nov 16 Fri- John 17

Nov 17 Sat – Rom 12

PRAYER: A - Adoration(prayer of centering; focus on God's goodness)

C - Confession(prayer of repentance and asking for God's forgiveness)

T - Thanksgiving(prayer of gratefulness, content, joy, avoiding pessimism)

S - Supplication(prayer for others; then pray for yourself)

S - STOPand listen... give God some time to speak to you--- end with the LORD'S PRAYER

The Point? are you daily walking with Jesus, connecting to Him/the Vine, and bearing His fruit in your daily attitude and behavior? Are you a light to the world? Who have you led to Jesus?

1. Culture - what most people do and think

2. Christ and Culture is incompatible. Why?

- What does culture tell you is the "cure" for your problems?

- What does culture teach us about the source of joy or happiness?

- What does culture say concerning the importance of your soul?

3. Biblical Images of Culture:

- Mt 7:13-14 "The road is WIDE that leads to destruction...

- John 1:1-5, "the light shines in the DARKNESS...

- 1 Peter 1:1, 13-19, "Exiles/strangers living in a FOREIGN LAND...

What do these 3 images concerning culture say to you concerning God's perspective on what is "normal" around you?

4. Comfort and Culture - Christ and Being Uncomfortable?

- John 15:18-20, "If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you."

- Jesus says you will be uncomfortable in culture if you are faithful to Him. How uncomfortable are you because of daily walking with Jesus in the face of a culture that is antagonistic to faith? If you DID walk daily with Him, including talking to people about your faith, carving out time for daily devotionals, tithing 10%, being unyielding regarding Sabbath holiness, etc, would your witness for Christ create some uncomfortable situations with people who know you? Why? Why not?

- Luke 9:23, "To be my disciple, you must take up your cross, and follow Me."

- crosses are not comfortable (Are they?)

- the easy path is "easy"/comfortable for a reason, is it not? why?

5. 10 places/areas in our culture where "everyone" thinks/behaves in normal ways, but their "normal" behavior is toxic? How does "church" challenge culture?

6. Application? Daily Holiness- 1 Peter 1:16, "you are to be holy, as I am holy"

- the Christian answer to toxic culture - holiness

- John 17:14, "They are not of this world (though they are "in" it)"

- Rom 12:2, "Do not be conformed to the "patterns"/culture of this world

- this is narrow path living; the only path that leads to true abundance/life