Alternate Routes:
A Traitor and a Tree
Notes from this message, given by Pastor Steve at Five Mile Church of the Nazarene on January 26, 2025.
Seek proximity with God
Psalm 73:28 "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge."
Hebrews 10:22 "Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings."
James 4:8 "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Psalm 145:18 "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."
Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Isaiah 55:6-7 "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts."
Deuteronomy 4:29 "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Psalm 27:8 "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek."
Zephaniah 3:2 "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
Matthew 6:6 "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen."
Psalm 119:10 "I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands."
2 Chronicles 15:2 "The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you."
Psalm 63:1 "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you."
Isaiah 58:2 "For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways."
Lamentations 3:25 "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."
1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!"
Psalm 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?"
Matthew 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
Seek proximity with each other
John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
1 Peter 4:8-10 "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others."
Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Galatians 6:2 "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Colossians 3:13-14 "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."
1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another."
James 5:16 "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
Romans 15:7 "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
1 Peter 3:8 "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."
Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."
1 Corinthians 12:25-26 "So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
Galatians 5:13 "Serve one another humbly in love."
1 John 3:16 "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."
Romans 15:14 "Instruct one another."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom."
1 Thessalonians 4:18 "Therefore encourage one another with these words."
James 4:11 "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers."
Seek proximity "outsiders"
Colossians 4:5-6 "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
1 Thessalonians 4:12 "So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
1 Peter 2:12 "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside."
Matthew 5:43-47 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?"
Luke 6:27-28 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
1 Timothy 3:7 "He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap."
Titus 3:1-2 "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone."
Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Romans 12:17-18 "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
1 Peter 3:15-16 "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
2 Timothy 2:24-26 "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth."