A Simple Faith

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A Simple Faith

• The Shepherds

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A Simple Theology
Simpl
And Simplicity in Faith is the choice of plainly
embracing (Faith Response) the things of God,
plainly shown (Fact Revealed).

• Simplicity is the gift of a clear and uncluttered
  life

Simplicity
A Simple Theology
Simpl
Faith
Response
Fact
Revealed
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A Simple Theology

• (Luke 28-9) And there were shepherds living out
  in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
  flocks at night...

A Simple Theology
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A Simple Theology

• (Luke 28-9) An angel of the Lord appeared to
  them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
  them, and they were terrified

(Luke 210-12) But the angel said to them, "Do
not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people
(Romans 121-23) For although they knew God,
they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks
to Him
(Romans 121-23) but their thinking became
futile and their foolish hearts were darkened
(Romans 121-23) Although they claimed to be
wise, they became fools
(Romans 121-23) and exchanged the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal
man and birds and animals and reptiles.
The Fact Revealed is that God is glorious in all
His ways
(John 114) The Word became flesh and made His
dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the
glory of the One and Only, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth.
The Faith Response is that we fear and honour Him
in all we do.
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A Simple Theology

• (Luke 210-12) Today in the town of David a
  Savior has been born to you He is Christ the
  Lord

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A Simple Theology

• (Luke 210-12) This will be a sign to you You
  will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a
  manger."

Would you respond in faith with Total Abandonment
to the God of glory?
A Simple Test
Far too many people seek a sign only to stimulate
their need to be entertained.
Yet miracles and signs must be taken as they are
the Fact Revealed that God speaks and is
involved in our lives
And thus our Faith Response to the Ever-present
God is to involve our lives in Him in a response
of Total Abandonment.
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A Simple Test

• (Luke 213-20) Suddenly a great company of the
  heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising
  God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and
  on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."

A Simple Test
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A Simple Test

• (Luke 213-20) When the angels had left them
  and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one
  another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this
  thing that has happened, which the Lord has told
  us about."

(Luke 213-20)
Let's
go
and
see
Time and again, God invites us to test the
evidence (Fact Testing) in order to strengthen
our faith (Faith Building)
Fact
Testing
Building
Faith
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A Simple Test

• (Luke 213-20) So they hurried off and found
  Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in
  the manger...

Time and again, God invites us to test the
evidence (Fact Testing) in order to strengthen
our faith (Faith Building)
Fact
Testing
Building
Faith
But hurry do it swiftly Find do it with
certainty seen do it with clarity
But hurry do it swiftly Find do it with
certainty seen do it with clarity
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A Simple Test
What are you doing with your faith?

• (Luke 213-20) When they had seen Him, they
  spread the word concerning what had been told
  them.

(Luke 213-20) and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds said to them
(Luke 213-20) The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all the things
they had heard and seen, which were just as they
had been told.
Time and again, God invites us to test the
evidence (Fact Testing) in order to strengthen
our faith (Faith Building)
do it swiftly
do it
with certainty
do it with clarity
And Spread Never keep it to yourself (the
principle of missionality!)
Never keep it to yourself
But hurry do it swiftly Find do it with
certainty seen do it with clarity
But hurry do it swiftly Find do it with
certainty seen do it with clarity