Embracing Honor: A Call to Respect and Value

Devotional

Day 1: Reverence for God's Holiness and Majesty

Description: Fearing God is about having a deep reverence for His holiness and majesty. It’s easy to fall into a routine and forget that we worship a holy and magnificent God who deserves our utmost respect and honor. This reverence should transform our daily lives and worship, reminding us that God is not just a figure on our dashboard but the Creator of heaven and earth. When we truly fear God, it changes how we live, how we worship, and how we interact with others. It’s a call to recognize His greatness and to live in a way that reflects His glory. [49:37]

Bible passage: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence for God in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of His holiness and majesty today?

Day 2: Respecting and Submitting to Authorities

Description: Honoring governmental leaders and authorities, even when we disagree with them, is a biblical mandate. This doesn't mean we can't voice our concerns, but it should be done respectfully and without causing dissension. By honoring those in authority, we reflect God's order and wisdom, navigating tense topics with grace and respect. This practice not only shows our obedience to God but also sets an example for others in how to handle disagreements with dignity and honor. [52:53]

Bible passage: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you disagreed with a leader or authority figure. How can you express your concerns respectfully while still honoring their position?

Day 3: Valuing and Respecting Our Church Family

Description: Loving and honoring our church family can be challenging, especially when misunderstandings and offenses arise. Familiarity can breed contempt, but we are called to see each other through God's eyes, valuing and respecting one another. This love and honor should extend beyond Sunday services into our daily interactions. By doing so, we create a supportive and loving community that reflects the heart of God. [56:04]

Bible passage: "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:10, ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone in your church family you find difficult to honor? How can you begin to see them through God's eyes and show them respect and love today?

Day 4: Treating Everyone with Respect and Love

Description: Honoring all people, including those who have hurt us, is a powerful testimony of God's love. This involves practical acts of kindness and forgiveness, reflecting Jesus' sacrifice and love for us. By honoring others, we create opportunities for reconciliation and demonstrate the transformative power of God's love. This practice challenges us to rise above our hurts and to extend grace, just as Jesus did for us. [01:00:53]

Bible passage: "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone who has hurt you. How can you show them honor and kindness today, reflecting Jesus' love and forgiveness?

Day 5: Simple Daily Acts of Honor

Description: Simple daily actions like responding to texts promptly, holding doors open, making eye contact, and putting phones away during conversations can significantly impact how we honor others. These small acts show that we value and respect those around us, creating a culture of honor in our communities. By being intentional in these small ways, we can make a big difference in how others feel valued and respected. [41:27]

Bible passage: "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small act of honor you can commit to doing today to show someone that you value and respect them? How can you make this a daily habit?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, church family! Today, we gathered not just to sing songs or hear a message, but to connect with one another and with God. We began with a time of worship, lifting our hands and voices to honor God. I shared my excitement about what God is doing in our church and took a moment to honor our lead pastors, Pastor Brandon and Pastor Megan, who are currently on a well-deserved break. I also expressed my gratitude for our creative team and my family, who support me in my ministry.

We kicked off a new series called "Summer Remix," focusing on practical ways to live out our faith. Today’s topic was honor, a core value that is often the missing piece in our lives, much like a jigsaw puzzle missing a crucial piece. Honor is not just a thought but an action that shows value to others. We explored what honor means biblically, which is high respect and great esteem, and how it contrasts with the world's view of honor.

I shared practical ways to honor others daily, such as responding to text messages promptly, holding doors open, putting phones away during conversations, making eye contact, and cheering others on. We also discussed biblical ways to show honor, like showing compassion, being quick to listen and slow to speak, lifting our hands in worship, bowing in reverence, and keeping our word.

We delved into four specific areas where honor is crucial: fearing God, honoring the king (government and leaders), loving the brotherhood (church family), and honoring all people. Fearing God involves a deep reverence for His holiness and majesty. Honoring the king means respecting and submitting to governmental authorities, even when we disagree with them. Loving the brotherhood involves honoring and valuing our church family, even when it's challenging. Finally, honoring all people means treating everyone with respect and love, regardless of how they treat us.

We concluded with a practical exercise, writing down ways we’ve been dishonored and how we can honor those who have hurt us. This act of forgiveness and honor reflects Jesus' love and sacrifice for us. We also offered a moment for anyone who wanted to give their life to Jesus, emphasizing the importance of honoring God first.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Fearing God: Fearing God is about having a deep reverence for His holiness and majesty. It’s easy to fall into a routine and forget that we worship a holy and magnificent God who deserves our utmost respect and honor. This reverence should transform our daily lives and worship, reminding us that God is not just a figure on our dashboard but the Creator of heaven and earth. [49:37]
2. Honoring the King: Honoring governmental leaders and authorities, even when we disagree with them, is a biblical mandate. This doesn't mean we can't voice our concerns, but it should be done respectfully and without causing dissension. By honoring those in authority, we reflect God's order and wisdom, navigating tense topics with grace and respect. [52:53]
3. Loving the Brotherhood: Loving and honoring our church family can be challenging, especially when misunderstandings and offenses arise. Familiarity can breed contempt, but we are called to see each other through God's eyes, valuing and respecting one another. This love and honor should extend beyond Sunday services into our daily interactions. [56:04]
4. Honoring All People: Honoring all people, including those who have hurt us, is a powerful testimony of God's love. This involves practical acts of kindness and forgiveness, reflecting Jesus' sacrifice and love for us. By honoring others, we create opportunities for reconciliation and demonstrate the transformative power of God's love. [60:53]
5. Practical Acts of Honor: Simple daily actions like responding to texts promptly, holding doors open, making eye contact, and putting phones away during conversations can significantly impact how we honor others. These small acts show that we value and respect those around us, creating a culture of honor in our communities. [41:27]
### [41:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:15] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[32:53] - Witnessing God's Faithfulness
[33:39] - Honoring Our Lead Pastors
[34:20] - Gratitude for the Creative Team
[34:52] - Introducing My Family
[35:23] - New Series: Summer Remix
[36:10] - The Topic of Honor
[36:41] - Jigsaw Puzzle Analogy
[38:16] - The Missing Piece: Honor
[39:06] - What is Honor?
[39:56] - Cultural vs. Biblical Honor
[40:45] - Practical Ways to Honor Daily
[45:18] - Biblical Ways to Show Honor
[48:11] - Four Areas to Honor
[49:37] - Fear God
[52:53] - Honor the King
[56:04] - Love the Brotherhood
[60:53] - Honor All People
[66:26] - Practical Exercise: Honoring Those Who Hurt Us
[72:10] - Closing Prayer and Invitation to Accept Jesus
[74:10] - Announcements and Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Peter 2:13-17 (ESV) — > "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."

2. Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)
> "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

3. Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)
> "Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."

Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 2:13-17, what are the four specific areas where honor is crucial? ([48:11])
How does Proverbs 9:10 describe the beginning of wisdom? ([52:02])
In Romans 12:9-10, what are the two main actions believers are encouraged to take towards one another? ([01:02:54])
What practical ways to honor others were mentioned in the sermon? ([41:27])

Interpretation Questions

Why does 1 Peter 2:13-17 emphasize the importance of honoring governmental leaders, even when we disagree with them? How does this reflect God's order and wisdom? ([52:53])
How does the fear of the Lord, as described in Proverbs 9:10, influence our daily lives and worship? ([49:37])
What does it mean to "outdo one another in showing honor" as stated in Romans 12:9-10? How can this be practically applied in our church community? ([01:02:54])
The sermon mentioned several practical ways to honor others daily. Why are these small acts of honor significant in creating a culture of respect and value? ([41:27])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily interactions. How can you incorporate the practical acts of honor mentioned in the sermon, such as responding to texts promptly or making eye contact during conversations? ([41:27])
Think about a time when you disagreed with a governmental leader or authority. How did you handle it? How can you show respect and honor in similar situations in the future? ([52:53])
Consider your relationship with your church family. Are there any misunderstandings or offenses that need to be addressed? How can you show love and honor to your church family beyond Sunday services? ([56:04])
Identify someone in your life who has hurt you. What practical steps can you take to honor and forgive them, reflecting Jesus' love and sacrifice? ([01:06:26])
How can you cultivate a deeper reverence for God in your daily life? What changes can you make in your worship and routine to honor His holiness and majesty? ([49:37])
Think of a person who tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to help you honor them? ([01:00:53])
How can you actively seek to "outdo one another in showing honor" within your family, workplace, and community this week? ([01:02:54])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "I've witnessed the faithfulness of God. I know that he's come through. Sometimes he comes through in ways I didn't expect him to come through. Sometimes he comes through in ways I don't even like the way it comes. But he comes and he's faithful. And he always changes our situations for the good because we love him." [32:53] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Honor is literally where I show value. I show value to them. And I let them know that God loves them and he's for them. And so, I'm going to be talking about honor. And so, we're going to talk about that today." [36:10] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The kingdom says, what can I give to honor someone? What can I give to lift them up? What can I give to encourage them and show them that they have value, that I can put weight on who they are? That they're not missed and they're not unseen, but they are seen. Honor happens like that in the kingdom." [39:56] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "It's hard to hate someone that you pray for. It's hard to disrespect someone that you're asking God to bless. And you're speaking life upon them. And you're asking God to move in their life. And Lord, bless them. If you have to hold off on my blessings. And to bless them. Things like that. Celebrate them. Cheer them on. God honors that." [44:54] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We can't fight fire with fire but we can fight fire with generosity and honor and love and empathy right. And so as we honor people and as we honor God we make room for God to fight for us because there's times where we need him to fight for us." [01:06:26] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Sometimes, out of the chaos of putting everything together, a piece may get pushed to the side, may fall under the table and get lost. And it's like, it makes you want to go just throw away the whole puzzle. Back up from it, it's hard to see that missing piece, right? It's hard to see it. It's the context. But if we get closer and we begin to examine that puzzle, we see that there's a little blank space. And so, I'm here to submit to you that as we live our lives for God, our lives is like a big puzzle piece, a big puzzle. And sometimes, there is a piece that goes missing." [37:18] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The way we perceive people, the way we perceive certain situations is what we're going to see. If you have a dirty lens that you're looking through at a certain person because of what they've done, what they've been through if you look through that lens you will receive what you see. If we see them though for the way that God sees them right, sees them as his children, sees them as the ones that he came to die for when we see through that lens it can change our hearts and see the way we see them and respond to them." [01:00:23] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The will of God is that all would know him. The will of God is that all would come to experience his goodness. The will of God is that everyone would experience what you've experienced here at Radiate Church. And the way we do that is how to honor them and love them. We can't be conformed to the patterns of this world because the world says if someone crosses you you cross their name out and you have nothing to do with them." [01:01:23] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When we lay the word out to them and say hey man I love you but this is what the word says. This is the way. This is the measure right here. No longer is it in your hands. It's mad at God right? But we can deliver it in such a way like Peter did. We can take that sword which is the bible and cut someone's ear off right? We can slice someone. We can beat someone over the head with the bible but there is a way to use that sword." [01:04:25] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Wait until God instructs you to serve someone who has hurt you. Bless someone who has betrayed you and minister to the very people who have salted your name. Are you humble enough? When I read that man it was so convicting because so many times there's so many times there's been instances where you go there's that person again and you know I need to speak to them but I don't want to make it awkward and you know you go through these feelings and you don't want to put yourself in a situation where you look like a fool." [01:06:56] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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