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Published: Dec. 1, 2015, 8:01 p.m.

Tension: sense of conflict, or a pulling force

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The Tension Between CHURCH and CULTURE

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Jesus came and told his disciples,\xa0\u201cI have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.\xa0Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

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Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,\xa0baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.\xa0Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

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Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.\u201d Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

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Jesus doesn\u2019t just offer eternal life\u2026 He offers eternal purpose.

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\u2026upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell\xa0will not conquer it. Matthew 16:18 (NLT)

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The local church is the hope of the world.

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Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God\u2019s will is\u2014his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)

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When we get comfortable in our faith, we begin to see the great commission not as a rescue mission\u2026 but a correction mission.

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Don\u2019t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?\xa02 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)

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What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God\u2019s temple and idols? 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)\xa0

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For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: \u201cI will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)

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Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the\xa0Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)

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Don\u2019t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters says the\xa0Lord\xa0Almighty.\u201d 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NLT)

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This is what the\xa0Lord\xa0Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: \u201cBuild\xa0houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.\xa0Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.\xa0Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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Also, seek\xa0the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the\xa0Lord\xa0for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.\u201d\xa0Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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Yes, this is what the\xa0Lord\xa0Almighty, the God of Israel, says: \u201cDo not let the prophets\xa0and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies\xa0to you in my name. I have not sent\xa0them,\u201d declares the\xa0Lord. Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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This is what the\xa0Lord\xa0says: \u201cWhen seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back\xa0to this place.\xa0Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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For I know the plans I have for you,\u201d declares the\xa0Lord, \u201cplans to prosper\xa0you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.\xa0Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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Then you will call on me and come and pray\xa0to me, and I will listen\xa0to you. You will seek\xa0me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,\u201d declares the\xa0Lord, \u201cand will bring you back\xa0from captivity\u2026 Jeremiah 29:4-14 (NIV)

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Keep Jesus the Main Thing

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\u2026Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 (NIV)

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We have to be willing to sacrifice preferences in the name of effectiveness.

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The Spirit of the Sovereign\xa0Lord\xa0is on me,\xa0because the\xa0Lord\xa0has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up\xa0the brokenhearted, Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)\xa0 \xa0\xa0

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to proclaim freedom\xa0for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the\xa0Lord\u2019s favor and the day of vengeance\xa0of our God, Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)

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to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion\u2014to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil\xa0of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)

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They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the\xa0Lord for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)

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They will rebuild the ancient ruins\xa0and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)

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Fight the right battles

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A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God\u2019s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)

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For we\xa0are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)

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\u201cThere is no competition between lighthouses.\u201d \u2013 Roy Stockstill

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When don\u2019t win when we win arguments\u2026 we win when people see Jesus.

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Shine

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You are the light of the world\u2014like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.\xa0Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

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No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.\xa0Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

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In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

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Lost people were drawn to Jesus\u2026 they should be drawn to us.

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Influence comes from association.\xa0\xa0

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\u201cInstead of cursing the darkness; try lighting a candle.\u201d \u2013 Rich Wilkerson Jr.