Bridging the Gap: Being Known for Love
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! It's wonderful to be back with you after our mission trip to Honduras. We had an incredible time helping communities and making a difference in people's lives. Today, I want to talk about something that resonates with all of us, regardless of our faith: the desire to be known for something. Deep down, we all want to be recognized for certain qualities or attributes. For me, I want my kids, wife, friends, and neighbors to think of me as smart, kind, and faithful. But what happens when we don't measure up to what we want to be known for? Often, we pretend and manage our image, but this only makes us imaginary and not real.
There's a gap between what we want to be known for and what we are actually known for. This gap is often evident to those closest to us—our spouses, kids, and friends. To bridge this gap, we need to ask ourselves two questions: "What do I want to be known for?" and "What am I actually known for?" When the answers to these questions align, we become the people we aspire to be and live the life God wants for us.
Jesus' greatest commandment is to love God and love people. I want to be known for being faithful to God and for being for the person standing right in front of me. Jesus was a master at this, giving his undivided attention and love to everyone he met. We should strive to do the same.
The church today faces a significant gap between how non-Christians see us and how we see ourselves. Many view the church as hypocritical, judgmental, and overly political. We need to ask ourselves what we want to be known for and work to bridge that gap. Jesus' message was one of love, humility, and surrender, and we need to reflect that in our lives.
Over the next few weeks, we'll explore how to align what we want to be known for with what we are actually known for. Let's practice loving and serving one another so that we can take that love out into the world. When we play the tune of Jesus' love consistently, the gap between the original and our version will close, and the world will take notice.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Desire to Be Known for Something: Deep within us, there's a universal desire to be recognized for certain qualities. This isn't just a Christian or religious thing; it's a human thing. Reflect on what you want to be known for and strive to align your actions with those attributes. [26:51]
2. The Gap Between Aspiration and Reality: Often, there's a gap between what we want to be known for and what we are actually known for. This gap is evident to those closest to us. Bridging this gap requires honesty and a willingness to ask others how they perceive us. [34:07]
3. Faithfulness to God: One of the most profound ways to be known is for our faithfulness to God. This means being faithful with the responsibilities, roles, and resources God has given us. Strive to hear God say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." [38:04]
4. Being For Others: Jesus was known for being for the person standing right in front of him. We should strive to give our undivided attention and love to those we encounter daily. This reflects Jesus' love and can transform our relationships and communities. [40:04]
5. Closing the Gap in the Church: The church today faces a significant gap between how non-Christians see us and how we see ourselves. We need to reflect Jesus' message of love, humility, and surrender. By doing so, we can bridge the gap and make a positive impact on our communities. [45:52]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[25:25] - Mission Trip to Honduras
[26:51] - The Desire to Be Known for Something
[27:53] - Personal Story: Struggles in School
[29:20] - Middle School Nickname: Turtle
[30:57] - High School: Party Animal
[32:22] - Managing Our Image
[34:07] - The Gap Between Aspiration and Reality
[35:10] - Two Key Questions
[37:03] - Jesus' Greatest Commandment
[38:04] - Faithfulness to God
[39:41] - Being For Others
[43:12] - The Church's Image Problem
[45:52] - How Did This Happen?
[47:19] - Responsibility to Bridge the Gap
[49:19] - Playing Jesus' Tune
[55:00] - Jesus' Sermon on the Mount
[57:13] - Known for Love
[59:24] - Closing the Gap
[01:00:03] - Bach's Cello Suite No. 1
[01:04:06] - Final Thoughts and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
> Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
2. Luke 6:27-31 (NIV)
> “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. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
3. 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)
> “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Matthew 22:37-39, what are the two greatest commandments that Jesus mentions?
2. In Luke 6:27-31, what specific actions does Jesus instruct us to take towards our enemies?
3. What does 1 John 4:7-8 say about the relationship between love and knowing God?
4. In the sermon, what are the two key questions we should ask ourselves to bridge the gap between what we want to be known for and what we are actually known for? ([35:10])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-39) influence your daily actions and decisions?
2. What challenges might arise when trying to love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, as instructed in Luke 6:27-31?
3. According to 1 John 4:7-8, why is love a crucial indicator of knowing God? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on being known for love? ([57:13])
4. The sermon mentions a gap between how non-Christians see the church and how we see ourselves. What are some practical steps we can take to bridge this gap and reflect Jesus' message of love, humility, and surrender? ([45:52])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the two greatest commandments in Matthew 22:37-39. How can you practically show love to God and your neighbor this week?
2. Jesus instructs us to love our enemies in Luke 6:27-31. Think of someone you find difficult to love. What is one specific action you can take to show kindness to them this week?
3. 1 John 4:7-8 emphasizes that love comes from God. Identify one way you can demonstrate God’s love in your community. How can you make this a regular practice?
4. The sermon discusses the desire to be known for certain qualities. What do you want to be known for, and how can you align your actions with these attributes? ([26:51])
5. The pastor shared personal stories about managing his image and the gap between aspiration and reality. Reflect on a time when you managed your image. How can you be more authentic in your relationships? ([32:36])
6. The sermon highlights the importance of being for the person standing right in front of you. Think of a recent interaction where you could have been more present. How can you improve your attentiveness in future interactions? ([40:04])
7. The church faces a significant gap between how non-Christians see us and how we see ourselves. What is one specific way you can help bridge this gap in your church or community? ([45:52])
Devotional
Day 1: The Universal Desire to Be Known
Deep within every human heart is a desire to be recognized for certain qualities. This longing isn't confined to any particular faith or belief system; it's a universal human experience. We all want to be known for something—whether it's our kindness, intelligence, or faithfulness. However, the challenge lies in aligning our actions with the attributes we wish to be recognized for. This alignment requires self-reflection and a commitment to living out these qualities consistently in our daily lives. [26:51]
Bible Passage:
"Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips." (Proverbs 27:2, ESV)
Reflection:
What specific quality do you want to be known for, and what is one practical step you can take today to embody that quality more fully?
Day 2: Bridging the Gap Between Aspiration and Reality
Often, there's a noticeable gap between what we aspire to be known for and what we are actually known for. This gap is most evident to those who are closest to us—our family and friends. Bridging this gap requires honesty and a willingness to ask others how they perceive us. It involves a commitment to self-improvement and a genuine desire to align our actions with our aspirations. By doing so, we can become more authentic and real, rather than merely managing our image. [34:07]
Bible Passage:
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection:
Who can you ask for honest feedback about how they perceive you, and how will you use that feedback to bridge the gap between your aspirations and reality?
Day 3: Faithfulness to God
One of the most profound ways to be known is for our faithfulness to God. This means being faithful with the responsibilities, roles, and resources God has given us. It involves a commitment to living out our faith in every aspect of our lives, striving to hear God say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Faithfulness to God is not just about grand gestures but also about the small, everyday acts of obedience and devotion. [38:04]
Bible Passage:
"Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." (1 Corinthians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you can demonstrate greater faithfulness to God today, and what specific action will you take to do so?
Day 4: Being For Others
Jesus was known for being for the person standing right in front of him. He gave his undivided attention and love to everyone he met. We are called to do the same, reflecting Jesus' love in our interactions with others. This means being present, listening actively, and showing genuine care and compassion. By doing so, we can transform our relationships and communities, making a tangible difference in the lives of those around us. [40:04]
Bible Passage:
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection:
Who is one person you can give your undivided attention and love to today, and how will you show them that you are truly for them?
Day 5: Closing the Gap in the Church
The church today faces a significant gap between how non-Christians see us and how we see ourselves. Many view the church as hypocritical, judgmental, and overly political. To bridge this gap, we need to reflect Jesus' message of love, humility, and surrender in our lives. By doing so, we can make a positive impact on our communities and change the perception of the church. This involves a commitment to living out our faith authentically and consistently, both individually and collectively. [45:52]
Bible Passage:
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection:
What is one specific way you can reflect Jesus' love, humility, and surrender in your interactions with others this week, and how will you put it into practice?
Quotes
1. "So here is something That we all have in common All of us I believe This isn't a Christian thing This isn't a churchy thing This isn't a religious thing This is a human thing That I'm talking about And that is this Is that we all Deep down inside our hearts Want to be known for something We want to be known For something." [26:31] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What do you do When you realize That you're not really Measuring up To what you want To be known for What do you do When you realize You're not measuring up To who You want to be And aspire to be Right What do you do When you're like I'm not living up To what I want To be known for Well I don't have to tell you What you should do Because I do the same thing That you do What I do Is I pretend." [32:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Here's the problem With managing your image Manage your image Often just makes you imaginary You're no longer real You're no longer real You're no longer real To people that are around you And you and I We've all met people like this You meet someone for the first time And you're like wow They are amazing And then you get to know them a little bit And eventually you're like wow Right The closer you get The more you realize That what you originally saw Wasn't real." [33:03] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes there is a gap There's a gap Between what I want to be known for And what I'm actually known for Right There's this gap between that And I may think That I'm being a good father Or a good husband Or a good friend A good Christian But the truth is Is it's the people in my life That are the ones That know the truth That know what I actually am And how they see that." [34:07] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What do I want to be known for? I want you to think about that What do I want to be known for? Not just when you're gone But while you're here on earth And number two The second question I want you to consider is What am I actually known for? What am I actually known for? Now the cool thing is That that first question We get to answer that We get to fill in the blank on that That's ours to answer But the second question Is for others Other people get to answer that Our spouse, our kids The people who are around us." [35:10] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When the answers To these two questions Match up When they line up When what we want to be known for Is actually what we are known for Guess what happens? We actually kind of become The people that we want to become We become the people that God Wants us to become And we begin to live the life That we kind of always Want Wanted to live And hope that we would live." [36:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "I want to be known This is my dream I don't know if you can say this about me But my dream is Is that I would be known As someone who is faithful to God That I've been faithful to God With the responsibilities And the roles that He's given me That I'm faithful to God With the resources And the time that He has given me On this planet That I've been faithful to God And so when I stand before God One day At the end of my life I want to hear God Say those words Well done My good and faithful servant Enter into your rest." [38:04] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I want to be known For being for the person Who is standing right in front of me I want to be known For being for Whoever is standing in front of me Whoever is currently Standing in front of me I want to be for That person I want them to know That I am for them And right now That for example is you And my hope and prayer Is that you Would experience that Whenever you're near me Whenever you're around me Whenever we're talking Or meeting or hanging out That you would get the sense That I am for you." [40:04] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "When you and I Begin to play that tune Consistently in our life And through our life And when it begins to sound Like the original There's a practice And this is why We have church by the way We practice loving one another Our brothers and sisters So that we can be good Loving those like our enemies Or those who seem to not care So much about us So we come here And we practice loving And serving one another So that we can take that Out And we don't leave it here We take it with us." [58:43] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When you and I Play that tune consistently And it begins to sound Like the original And it sounds like What Jesus intended The gap That exists Between what we want To be known for And what we're actually Known for Begins to close And the world Takes notice of that And so over the next Couple weeks We're going to talk about What it looks like To be known For what we are for And Rather than what We are against." [59:04] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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