1. Proper Conduct
* Good works are anything you do—acts of love, service, obedience, generosity—that flows out of gratitude for what Christ has done and is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
2. Powerful Foundations
* When we downplay sin, and we downplay just how miserable a state the natural man is. We downplay just how truly glorious is what comes next
* Mercy means getting compassion or forgiveness when you deserve punishment. We all deserved punishment and instead we received forgiveness
* The Father planned salvation and sent the Son. The son accomplishes salvation by his coming and blood sacrifice for sin, and the Spirit applies it and raises us to new life and joins us making us one with our Lord, Jesus.
Why should we do good works?
* so that with our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God for his benefits,
* so that he may be praised through us,
* so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and
* so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ.
3. Profitless Quarrels
* Unity in the church is our strongest witness, especially today, the world cannot do unity, and the more it tries, the more it segregates in the name of peace and unity.
* Ministry takes a partnership. The missionary enterprise requires relationships.
So now what?
* Let your past fuel your compassion instead of your contempt
* Turn every ordinary day into a “before and after” commercial for the gospel
* Stop waiting to “feel” saved—start looking at the fruit
* Live in such a way that unbelievers run out of explanations
