NINE ILLUSTRATIONS (continued)

5. Temple of God ... continued from previous page. Sacrifice #3 is our good works ... as a response to our salvation, Hebrews 13:16. Sacrifice #4 is our koinonia ... a Greek word meaning our full participation in shared resources and in fellowship with other believers, Hebrews 13:16. Sacrifice #5 is our broken and contrite hearts ... lowly, bruised, and crushed, Psalm 51:17. Sacrifice #6 is our new believers ... those that we help come to faith in Christ, Romans 15:16.

6. Light. God is light ... and in Him there is no darkness, 1 John 1:5, Revelation 21:23. We are sons of light, 1 Thessalonians 5:5. John stated that Jesus was the true light, John 1:4-5, 9. Jesus described Himself as the light of the world, John 8:12, 12:46. He said, "While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5. At His ascension, we became the light of the world. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14. We must walk in the light, Ephesians 5:8, 1 John 1:7. We are lights shining to a world living in darkness, Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 2:15.

7. Nation. Israel is a special nation to God ... the apple of His eye, Zechariah 2:8. The Church is also referred to as a holy nation, 1 Peter 2:9. That does not mean that Israel and the Church are the same ... they are not. As believers, our citizenship is in heaven, Philippians 3:20. We are fellow-citizens with the saints, Ephesians 2:19. Moreover, we are aliens and strangers in this world. We are in the world ... but not of the world, John 17:14-16. We are on assignment in this foreign land as ambassadors of the King, 2 Corinthians 5:20. As ambassadors, we have both the ministry and message of reconciliation, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

8. Vine. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, John 15:1,5. This illustrates our dependency on Him. It also points to our responsibility to bear fruit, John 15:1-16. We glorify the Father by bearing more fruit, John 15:2 ... much fruit, John 15:8 ... and fruit that remains, John 15:16. Our Father is the vinedresser, John 15:1. He prunes us to bear more fruit, John 15:1-2. Bearing fruit enhances our prayers, John 15:16.

9. Flock. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, 1 Peter 5:4, Hebrews 13:20. He is the Good Shepherd, John 10:14-16. He is the door of the sheep, John 10:7. We are His sheep ... and we should follow His voice, John 10:3-4, 27-28. The Shepherd protects His sheep. He gave His life to protect us from the eternal danger of sin, John 10:11. God's wonderful care for His sheep is explained in Psalm 23, Ezekiel 34:1-31, and John 10:1-30. God said, "As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God.” Ezekiel 34:31. God is our shepherd ... that is a great comfort. One day we will become one flock with Israel, John 10:6.

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Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.