FOR THE CITY

This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon:

“Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce.

Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.

Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”

For this is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you, and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them,
for they are prophesying falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them.” This is the LORD’s declaration. —Jeremiah 29:4–9

2020 VISION:

“We envision God using us to … bless the city with acts of generosity and the mobilization of 80% of our small groups in local mission projects…”

QUESTION: If Broadview ceased to exist tomorrow would anybody in the city of Abilene take notice?

TWO WAYS NOT TO LIVE IN THE CITY:

When Babylon conquered a people,

was their preferred method of keeping them in their place.

The Lord tells the Israelites

to assimilate. “Multiply there; do not decrease…” (Jeremiah 29:6)

Not only were they to avoid assimilation, they were also to avoid

. (Jeremiah 29:8-9)

Assimilation is too

of the culture, isolation is too

Reveal Answer

of the culture.

THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE IN THE CITY:

God’s way for God’s people to live in their city is to bless the city by pursuing it’s

. (total well-being)

In order to seek the well-being of the city you must see yourself as a city

the city.
(not like the city but FOR the city)

There are really two cities: the csity of man & the city of God. The city of man says, “Your life to benefit

.” (taking)
The city of God says, “My life to serve

Reveal Answer

.” (giving)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden.

No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:13–16

BLESSING THE CITY: THEN AND NOW

The willingness of the early Christians to love their city was the reason they turned the world upside down. Even in the face of plagues and certain death, they remained steadfast.

Where did they get the power to live that way?

We are able to give and serve the city today because in Christ we’ve been given something so much

.