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Church Street, Princeton
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It would be just like him

The God of the Bible looks like Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being. It would be just like him to go to the cross.

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Practicing Our Scales

Imagine if our walk with Christ, representing his kingdom in the world, were as practiced and pure as Hania Rani’s fingers on the piano keys.

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Rescue

I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.

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Your Roots Are Showing

The life that I bring to the world can only be found in my attachment to Christ. His presence with me is essential.

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Connection

I live in a U.S. county with traffic problems. It's a peninsula, and what's not swamp land has been developed. Building new roads is difficult and expensive. Making things worse, roads that could connect don't.

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Forming Rick Shafer Forming Rick Shafer

The First Story

The Old Testament also shows us how God dwells with his people.

Long before ‘God With Us’ (Immanuel), God dwelt with his people. But differently. If our pursuit is intimacy with God, then the Old Testament has great value. It’s a record—the first story—of God dwelling with his people.

In Christ, Gentiles have been counted with his Chosen. The early Scriptures reveal our Father and point to a Deliverer who came to bring us home.

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Knowing Rick Shafer Knowing Rick Shafer

Surprise Ending

If you are embarking on a journey, it’s wise to first know your destination.

The life of a Jesus follower is described as a journey.

Journeys have destinations. What is ours?

Common answers: Heaven or Christ-likeness.

Better answer: Intimacy with God.

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Forming Rick Shafer Forming Rick Shafer

From Grace to Grace

We live from faith to faith AND from grace to grace.

To live from faith to faith (Romans 1:17) is also to live from grace to grace. Everything that’s holy originates with God. By God’s grace, we are gifted the desire and ability to participate with him in his work (Luke 2:49). Then by faith, we take hold of that grace—to be good stewards of it (1 Peter 4:10). From grace + faith to grace + faith.

Aware of God’s grace, we see that we have nothing to boast about (Ephesians 2:8-9). And receiving God’s grace by faith, our works become participation; they are not left undone (James 2:17), nor are they done in vain (Psalm 127:1).

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