Why Christianity Fails Us (Part 2)Wanting A Good Life, Or God’s Life? Accepting a backwards adoption: 1 John 4:7-21, John 20:31, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 6:23, 10:9-13, James 2:19, 2 Corinthians 5:17 An amazing father has offered an for , but it is a choice to surrender an and start a . Being means being born into a new with a new , for a whole new . If I want to keep my and just get the family , then I am headed for great . Accepting a new family with new rules: 1 John 5:1-5, 3:1, 4:4 Our shared by grace must come with a shared and for all who have been with us. Dad’s new rules are simply to and for us everything that this has for us. Accepting a new outcome: 1 John 5:1-5, John 10:10, 16:33, Romans 8:38-39, 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Living by in this new family not only gives us over , but over this as well. The best way to connect with us is the Connection Card in the bulletin. For the Digital Bulletin, visit myncc.info. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Our Ministry If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Food for Thought for the Week of March 10, 2024 If you have ever seen baptisms at North Coast Church, you’ve seen those getting baptized wearing a t-shirt that says, “Made New.” When we reflect on Chris' message from this weekend, we’re reminded that being made new means we have a new life with a new family, for a whole new purpose. One of the traits of having a new life is being able to overcome the world which John wrote about in 1 John 5:4-5. Being an “overcomer” carries with it an assurance of victory when we live by faith in Christ. As you reflect on Romans 8:31-37, when in your journey with Christ have you felt like an overcomer? Romans 8:31-37 New International Version (NIV) 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. In Romans 8:38-39, Paul tells us what he is convinced of. Complete this sentence with your own reminders of what you have victory over as a Christ follower: “I am convinced that…” Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Can you think of an area in your life where these verses are especially meaningful? In his message, Chris talked about accepting a new family with new rules. In 1 John 5:2-3, John refers to these new rules as commands and insists that they are not burdensome. One of the reasons John gives for this is because of one’s love for God. As you read John 14:23-24, can you think of a command in the Bible that tests your love for God? John 14:23-24 New International Version (NIV) 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. How can the promise found in Romans 8:26-27 help you love God and keep His commands? Romans 8:26-27 New International Version (NIV) 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Spend some time thanking God for the love He has shown you and ask Him to give you the faith to live as an overcomer in your walk with Him this week.