I Want to Know You Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard Sunday, January 5, 2014

New Challenge... So often (in my experience) conservative Christians seem strong at maintaining core intimacy with God So often (in my experience) more liberal Christians seem strong at maintaining a significant focus on justice issues in society There must be a way to blend these strengths!

Jeremiah 9: This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.

24 But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!

At SCV... We’ve worked pretty hard at understanding God’s ways over the past year At the start of this new year it seems appropriate to focus on knowing God

Great passages: Jeremiah And the Lord says, “What sorrow awaits Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. He builds injustice into its walls, for he makes his neighbors work for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor. 14 He says, ‘I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows. I will panel it throughout with fragrant cedar and paint it a lovely red.’

Jeremiah But a beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king! Your father, Josiah, also had plenty to eat and drink. But he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him. 16 He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” says the Lord.

Jeremiah “But you! You have eyes only for greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly.”

Great passages: John 17 1 After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

Great passages: Philippians 3 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

Philippians 3 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

Philippians 3 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Philippians 3 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

What has helped you?

What would pressing on look like for you this week?

I Want to Know You (Andy Park) In the secret, in the quiet place In the stillness you are there In the secret, in the quiet hour I wait only for you Cause I want to know you more

I Want to Know You (Andy Park) I want to know you I want to hear your voice I want to know you more I want to touch you I want to see your face I want to know you more

I Want to Know You (Andy Park) I am reaching for the highest goal That I might receive the prize Pressing onward, pushing every hindrance aside Out of my way Cause I want to know you more