Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God made every effort to restore the relationship that he shared with us in the Garden through his son, Jesus Christ. In doing this, he gave us the ministry of reconciliation in which he works through us to restore that relationship with the rest of his creation.

God is just and that means that he always does what is right. He gave us the law to reveal his righteousness to us. However, when we disobey the law, punishment is required. Because God is just, he has to punish sinners. Once we sin, our relationship is shattered. He is no longer our loving Father, but he must become our executioner.

However, God is not only just, he is also love. Because of his love, he provided a new way. He sent his own Son to take the punishment that we deserved because of our unrighteousness. He became the executioner of Jesus and in doing so, our relationship with him was restored. He once again became our loving Father.

The reality of the situation is that God is both just and love simultaneously. In each individual person’s life, he offers both justice and love, law and grace. He cannot choose to act justly to one sinner, but lovingly toward another. To the one, he is righteous, but unloving and to the other he is loving, but unjust. So he leaves the choice up to us. We have the option to appealing to God for salvation through the law (his justice) or appealing to God through grace (his love). The work of grace has been accomplished, but whether that grace is applied to the individual person is still up in the air.

So if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, and have accepted him as your Savior, grace has been applied to you. Your relationship has been restored. However, you have also been commissioned with a responsibility to work to restore the relationship between God and unbelievers. You have been reconciled to God through Christ and you have been given the ministry of reconciliation to reconcile the world to God.

This week, know that your relationship with God is restored back to the perfect harmonious relationship that man and God shared in the Garden. But also remember that it is your responsibility to work to restore the relationship between God and your unbelieving friends, coworkers, family members, and people you meet everyday. What are some practical steps that you can take today to be a mediator with someone whose relationship with God is shattered?

2. What is one way that you can blur the lines between heaven and earth in the life of a someone within your community?

3. How can you engage your community in discussing intentionally participating in mission?

4. How does missional living further your own personal spiritual journey?

5. What would it look like if our church blurred the lines between heaven and earth on the U of L campus and in the Old Louisville neighborhood?

The show revolves around the lives of seven people from different backgrounds making their way through Community College. In their first year, they all take Spanish and form a study group. In doing so, they form a community. They are all different. Sometimes they do not get along, but they all share one thing in common and that they are all in a crazy Community College. At the end of their year in Spanish, they nearly break up because they lose the thing that brings them together. They will no longer be in the same class. In order to remain a community, they had to find something for them all to share, so they all decide to take Anthropology. If not for this one thing that they share, nothing holds them together as a community.

In Scripture, the Greek word for community is koinonia. It can be translated as fellowship, communion, community, association, or joint participation. It refers to a group of people that are held together by something that they all share. They can be different in hundreds of different ways, but they have one thing in common. This word is used multiple times in Scripture telling us what it is that holds us together as believers.

Things that believers share:

The Holy Spirit (Phil 2:1; 2 Cor 13:14)

Sufferings of Christ (Phil 3:10; Rom 8:17)

Faith in Christ (Phile 6)

The Benefits of Christ’s Death (1 Cor 10:16; Rom 8:17)

Mutual Encouragement (2 Cor 8:4)

The Understanding of the Mystery of Christ (Eph 3:9)

Communion with Christ (1 Cor 1:9)

The Same Mission (Mat 28:19-20)

All these things, all believers share with one another. No matter what ethnicity, nationality, race, occupation, economic background, or sports team loyalty that a Christian has, she shares has these things in common with all other believers. Christians can come together and unite across partisan lines, through racial barriers, in spite of societal prejudices, and in the face of oppression because of these commonalities.

How often do these things that we all share become blurred in the presence of the numerous things that divide us? It is our tendency to seek out differences, to form factions, and to become divided. Community is only birthed out of intention. We must force ourselves to look past the things that divide us and to gaze upon and hold onto the one thing that unites us – Christ. This week, make it your goal to enter into community with someone that is very different than you. Someone that is from a different background, a different culture, a different stage in life. Someone, anyone that is different from you and try to find common ground with them. If they do not share your faith in Christ, use that common ground to introduce them to Christ. If they do share your faith in Christ, use that common ground to worship together.

But actually, that is how we were originally made. Gen 1:26 tells us that God made us in his own image. This is the distinguishing factor between humans and all of the rest of creation. There are two terms that are used to describe this phenomenon. They are “image” (Hebrew, tselem; Greek, eikon) and “likeness” (Hebrew, d’muth; Greek, homoiosis). The term image refers to the idea of a Xerox copy or the representation of an object by a picture or statue. The term likeness refers to sometime that is like or similar to an object. The two terms together tell us that man is a representation of God who is similar to God in certain respects. Therefore, we can best understand the meaning of being made in the likeness of God in the same way that a statue is made in the image of a person or the way that a mirror reflects the image of something.

There are several ways that man is made in the image of God. There are several characteristics that both man and God share. These are:

1. Personal consciousness

Human beings are able to recognize their selves as a person. They are also able to recognize other persons as persons. Because of this humans are able to relate to one another interpersonally and with emotions (e.g. love, hate). This is the capacity for humans’ ability to maintain relationships between one another and with God.

2. Intellectual capacity

This is the ability to think abstractly, to reason, and to use logic. We are able to use this capacity to know and understand God as a person. We are able to think about who he is and what he wants for our lives. We are also able to utilize this ability to know one another and formulate strategies to interact with one another whether in a good way or in an evil way.

3. Linguistic capacity

This is the ability to communicate verbally, not simply with sounds, but with language. We are able to us this capacity to communicate to one another and to communicate with God. Once again we have the ability to utilize this capability for good or for evil.

4. Volitional capacity

This is the capacity for self-determination (free-will). Humans have the ability to make decisions, to deliberate, and to choose. This is in contrast to animals that only act based on instinct. Humans have the ability to make informed decisions and to act with premeditation. We are able to think about what we are going to do before we do it. We are able to use this ability to respond to God positively (choose to love and obey him) or negatively (choose not to love and obey him).

5. Moral or ethical capacity

This is our sense of right and wrong, the sense of guilt or shame and our understanding of our responsibility to choose to be righteous. We sometimes call this quality as our conscience. This allows us to know that we are responsible to God for our choices and actions.

6. Creative capacity

This refers to our ability to invent. This often fulfills a utilitarian purpose, but sometimes only fulfills an aesthetic purpose. We are able to create things out of necessity, but also to create things of beauty whose very existence gives pleasure. We are able to use this ability to create things that bring glory to God.

7. Emotional capacity

This refers to our ability to feel emotions such as happiness, joy, sorrow, anguish, and hatred. With this ability we are able to experience joy while serving him and sorrow after disappointing him.

8. Religious capacity

This is our capacity for worship and spirituality. This is our ability to be conscious of the existence of God and depend on him as our creator. Our worship of him encompasses all of the above characteristics of mankind as made in the image of God.

All of these characteristics of mankind are perfectly representative of God until sin gets in the way. Man’s linguistic capacity is in the image of God until sin causes man to utilize this ability for evil or immoral acts. Man’s creative capacity is in the image of God until sin causes man to utilize this ability for sinful purposes. Discipleship is realigning our lives back into the image of God in all of these categories. Discipleship is the processing of becoming holy in the exact same way that God is holy.

This week Ben talked about how Jesus invites us into relationship with him and then challenges us to take a step closer to becoming more like him. What area is Christ challenging you to become more in line with his image? How is Christ inviting you to relate to him this week? This week be thinking about Christ’s invitation for relationship and also his challenge to realign your life back into his image.

As a community of faith we are talking through the road to following Christ.  We are studying what Jesus said, then how the early church lived out that teaching & then asking ourselves are we on the same road?  Are we traveling the same direction?  Are we moving on the same path?

Last week, we talked about Covenant Gospel Partnership, we looked at the life of Jesus with his disciples in John 15:15-17 then we looked at Paul’s relationships in Phillipi in Phil 1 & with Timothy, Luke and John Mark in 2Tim 4.

After the service over 30 people joined the Avenue not as members but as Covenant partners.  It was a very exciting day!

Here’s why we do covenant partnership & not membership.

Membership sounds entitled, in our culture it denotes receiving benefits, as the American Express commercial says, membership “has its privileges.”  It leads people to say that’s my seat on Sunday, that’s my ministry to run, and don’t you dare disrupt my world!

Covenant has always defined relationship.  From Abraham to God, from Jonathan and David to every marriage I perform as a pastor, even now as we are in relationship with a covenant God.  Covenants define relationship!

First, we are people of Covenant. Covenant represents a commitment to do whatever it takes to see a relationship work. It represents a willingness to commit to responsibilities, duties, or obligations in exchange for specific relational connectedness. Covenant people are loyal people. Dedicated people. Responsible people.  As Christians, our covenant faithfulness is a reflection of the nature and character of God – the same faithful God who keeps covenant – in our lives!

Second, we are Partners. Partners with Christ in the cause of the Gospel; and, subsequently, partners with one another. Partnership implies active participation and involvement. Partnership means sharing together common goals, common challenges, common experiences, common resources and common achievements. Partnership reminds us of the significance of our “togetherness” with one another in a world that is dominated by individuality.

We believe the church is a FAMILY on MISSION together.

“The heart of true fellowship is self-sacrificing conformity to a shared vision.”

The way this fleshes out is this simple equation -

Common Mission + Shared Sacrifice + Gospel Partnership = Brotherhood (Community)

Alan Hirsch calls this COMMUNITAS.

He would say that we don’t find community in proximity, or in common interests or goals.  Community doesn’t just happen because we hang out together & watch football, listen to the same bands or like the same activities.

Community happens when we have……….

a common mission (for us that’s to be a Community living like Jesus, Changed by Him & Changing the city for His glory)

A shared sacrifice towards that mission – Sacrificing time, treasures & our hearts for the mission & for each other

A gospel partnership in the midst of that mission (living like a family is supposed to live) – Phil 1 – “I have you in my heart”

Are you involved in real gospel partnership?

Are you sharing in a common mission?

Are you sacrificing with others to make that mission happen?

If not why?  If not you are missing out on the most life giving relationships we can have on this earth!

If you are interested in any way in joining us on our mission & being a part of a covenant gospel partnership with us email us @ info@avechurch.com & we would love to grab coffee or lunch & talk through the specifics.  Also we will be having a partnership class on Jan 22nd following both services just comment below if you would like to come!

That is what we’re about at the Avenue. It is our desire to walk with college students and young adults and see them become what God is making them. And we don’t mean just learning more about the Bible, although that is part of it. Most of all, it is guiding you in ways which will see every one of your days given over to God for His service, His glory and the benefit of the people with whom you come into contact.

One way we go about this is through discipleship classes. Two of these classes are starting this coming Monday and Tuesday, January 9^th and 10^th. The Monday class will focus on Gospel Life. We’ll work though what the Gospel looks like and what it looks like being lived out in your daily life, as a blessing to those around you. The Tuesday class is called Missional Living. During our time together we’ll find out how to live out daily what it means to be a part of God’s mission to show the people of the world that he loves them and how they can become like Jesus too!

If you feel like you or anyone you know should be a part of one of these classes, please take the time to go to http://avechurch.com/church/multiplicity-project/ and find out more info. Then, email me, Karl, at karl@avechurch.com to sign up for one of them. If you have any other questions, please email me or text me at 502-436-6612 and I’ll do my best to find answers for you.

Thanks and I hope to see you Monday or Tuesday!

God is moving. He wants our response to be active faith. He transforms us as we move with Him by faith. He never meant, though, for His work to end with or in us. He meant for us to give Him praise and for us to give the message of Christ to others. He meant for His work in us to multiply in others’ lives. He wants His work in us to really happen in as many people’s lives as possible.

Jesus’ words to His first disciples show this.  He promises to make them “fishers of people.” And He wasn’t just talking about people who threw in one hook for one fish at a time. No, these were guys who had always known fishing to be a matter of multiplication. They threw in one net and many multiples of fish would come out of the water with it (or at least that was always the hope they had).

This is still true today, even though it’s not what we often see. God wants to take you, Christ’s follower, and multiply in as many other people as possible. His dream for you is that, at the end of your life, you might look back and say, “Look Father, you gave me 20 people to guide and now I give to you 1000’s on 1000’s more.” And your dream is to hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant! Come and live with me in the greatness of my eternal generosity.”

The Multiplicity Project might be a beginning in this journey for you. As a part of this real life learning experience, you will be moved further on the path of being used by God to multiply the people who believe in and follow Christ’s example of life.

So, if you are:

• Thinking about following Christ
• A New Christian
• A Christian seeking to be solidly grounded for a lifetime of service to God

Or, if you are asking:

• How is it that God is working to change the world through and around me?
• What does God’s work in the world look like?
• What does it mean to live guided by the Holy Spirit?

Then God is calling you and the Multiplicity Project is a great place to move further on your journey with Him.

Classes start January 9^th or 10^th.  Contact Karl for more information– karl@avechurch.org

Go to the Multiplicity Project webpage to see more information about it-

http://avechurch.com/church/multiplicity-project/

What is the 50? Good question. We are looking for 50 people to form the core group of launching a Sunday night service in January. We are looking for 50 people who want to be a part of something from the very beginning. 50 people who want to give voice and direction to a service geared toward changing a campus. If you are the kind of person that gets excited about dreaming and thinking about the future, you need to be part of the 50. To be a part of the 50 or to find out more, email kelsi@avechurch.com or sign up at the weekend service.