Discovering the Real Jesus in Monroe

• Part of the triune God, who eternally exists in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – coeternal in being, coeternal in nature, coequal in power and glory, all three persons having the same attributes and perfections (Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
• The one who was conceived by the Holy spirit and born of the Virgin mary (Luke 1:26-31)
• He was a Jewish rabbi (John 1:38; “rabbi” = “teacher”) who astonished people with his insight and authoritative teaching (Matthew 7:28-29)
• One whose heart broke with compassion for people (Matthew 9:36)
• One who wept even for people who rejected him (Luke 19:41)
• An advocate for the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19; Matthew 19:16-30; Luke 14:13; Matthew 25:31-46)
• One who stood strong against religious legalism (Luke 20:19-20)
• One who hung out with sinners and ate with them (John 2:1-11)
• One who was tempted and understands temptation yet was sinless (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22)
• One who was sent by God because of his great love for humanity to take on our sin (John 1:1-2, 14, 29; 3:16-21)
• One who accomplished our redemption  through his death on a cross as a substitutionary sacrifice and then was bodily resurrected from the dead (Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 2:24)
• One who appeared to his disciples and said they have a mission not to create an inwardly focused community and to complain about the world but rather to go out and with the power of the Spirit live missional lives, bringing the light of Jesus to others (Acts 1:8)
• One who see the church as his bride, and loves the church even when we disappoint him (Revelation 21:2, 9)
• One who ascended into heaven and is now exalted on the right hand of God where, as our High Priest, intercedes for us and serves as our advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 7:25; 9:24)
• One who will one day come to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5; Romans 14:9; 2 Timothy 4:1)

(Adapted from Dan Kimball, They Like Jesus But Not The Church, pp. 56-57)