Embracing Humility: Love, Sacrifice, and Legacy in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Love as a Response to Divine Love

Our love for Jesus is not something we initiate; it is a response to His profound and unconditional love for us. This love is exemplified in Jesus' interactions with those around Him, including Judas, who would betray Him. Jesus' love extends beyond human betrayal and failure, offering a covenant of redemption and grace. This love calls us to respond with our whole hearts, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude and awe for the love we have received. As we reflect on this, we are reminded that our journey of faith begins with recognizing and responding to the love that has been freely given to us. [05:20]

1 John 4:19-21 (ESV): "We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you intentionally show them love today as a response to the love Jesus has shown you?

Day 2: Boldly Proclaiming the Gospel

Preaching the gospel is central to the Christian mission. The message of the Kingdom is not one of comfort or self-help but a proclamation of salvation from the wrath of God for the glory of God. This message carries an urgency and eternal significance that demands boldness and courage. We are called to preach this gospel without compromise, focusing on the eternal truths of heaven, hell, and the need for salvation. As we embrace this call, we must remember that our mission is to be faithful in sharing the truth, regardless of the cost. [09:30]

2 Timothy 4:2-4 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths."

Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to hear the gospel. How can you share the message of salvation with them this week in a way that is both bold and loving?

Day 3: The Call to Die to Self

True discipleship requires a daily dying to self, a crucifixion of our desires, ambitions, and need for recognition. This death is not just physical but a spiritual surrender that allows us to experience resurrection power and truly know Christ. It is a call to humility and surrender, where we lay down our lives for the sake of the Kingdom. As we die to self, we find that our lives bear fruit in ways we could never have imagined, and we come to know the fullness of life in Christ. [14:55]

Galatians 2:20 (ESV): "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 4: Embracing the Power of Being Forgotten

Being forgotten is an ultimate act of humility and discipleship. Our legacy should be one where those we disciple surpass us in their love and knowledge of Christ. The goal is not to be remembered but to ensure that Jesus is glorified through our lives and the lives of those we touch. This act of humility allows us to focus on making disciples who will carry on the mission of Christ, ensuring that His name is remembered above all else. [29:44]

John 3:30 (ESV): "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Reflection: Consider your current efforts in discipleship. How can you focus more on empowering others to grow in their faith, even if it means stepping back and allowing them to take the lead?

Day 5: Finding Joy in Humility

There is profound joy and rest in being forgotten. When we strive for recognition and honor, it is exhausting. But when we focus on making disciples and letting Jesus be remembered, we find true peace and fulfillment. This joy comes from knowing that our lives are part of a greater story, one where Jesus is the central figure. As we embrace humility, we discover the freedom that comes from living for His glory rather than our own. [31:01]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Reflect on your motivations in your daily activities. Are there areas where you seek recognition over service? How can you shift your focus to find joy in serving others and glorifying Jesus?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the life and mission of Nicholas Ludwig Count von Zinzendorf, we are reminded of the profound simplicity and depth of the Christian call: to love Jesus, preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten. Zinzendorf's commissioning of the first Moravian missionaries with the words "preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten" encapsulates a life devoted to Christ's mission. This call is not just for the missionaries of old but for each of us today. Our journey begins with loving Jesus, as 1 John 4:10 reminds us that our love is a response to His love for us. Jesus' love is exemplified in His interactions, even with Judas, offering a kinsman redeemer covenant, a love that extends to the end despite betrayal.

Preaching the gospel is central to our mission. The gospel of the Kingdom, as understood by the Jews of Jesus' time, is the hope of a coming King who will restore all things. This message is not one of comfort or self-help but a proclamation of salvation from the wrath of God for the glory of God. Our preaching should be bold, unashamed, and focused on the eternal truths of heaven, hell, and the need for salvation.

Dying to self is a prerequisite for bearing fruit in God's Kingdom. This death is not just physical but a daily crucifixion of our desires, ambitions, and need for recognition. It is only through this death that we can experience resurrection power and truly know Christ. The story of Adam in Sudan illustrates the power of preaching the gospel even in the most humiliating circumstances, showing that our call is to be faithful, not famous.

Finally, being forgotten is the ultimate act of humility and discipleship. Like Hugh Latimer and Thomas Bilney, our legacy should be one where those we disciple surpass us in their love and knowledge of Christ. Our aim is not to be remembered but to ensure that Jesus is glorified through our lives and the lives of those we touch.

Key Takeaways

1. Love as a Response: Our love for Jesus is a response to His love for us. It is not something we originate or sustain on our own. Jesus' love is unconditional and extends even to those who betray Him, as seen in His interaction with Judas. This love calls us to love Him back with all our hearts. [05:20]
2. Preaching the Gospel: The gospel of the Kingdom is a message of salvation from the wrath of God for the glory of God. It is not a message of comfort but one of urgency and eternal significance. We are called to preach this gospel boldly and without compromise. [09:30]
3. Dying to Self: True discipleship requires dying to self, a daily crucifixion of our desires and ambitions. This death is necessary to experience resurrection power and to truly know Christ. It is a call to humility and surrender. [14:55]
4. The Power of Being Forgotten: Our legacy as disciples should be one where those we disciple surpass us in their love and knowledge of Christ. Being forgotten is an act of humility that ensures Jesus is glorified through our lives. [29:44]
5. Joy in Humility: There is joy and rest in being forgotten. When we strive for recognition and honor, it is exhausting. But when we focus on making disciples and letting Jesus be remembered, we find true peace and fulfillment. [31:01]
** [31:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:17] - Zinzendorf's Missionary Call
[01:06] - The Lamb's Reward
[01:42] - Framework for Discipleship
[02:17] - Love as the First Call
[03:09] - Judas and the Kinsman Redeemer
[04:58] - Jesus' Unconditional Love
[06:00] - Preaching the Gospel
[07:10] - Understanding the Kingdom
[08:34] - The Hope of the King
[09:30] - The Gospel's Urgency
[11:13] - Adam's Testimony in Sudan
[12:27] - Our Primary Commission
[13:03] - Dying to Self
[14:55] - The Call to Crucifixion
[18:31] - Resurrection Power
[22:36] - The Joy of Dying Well
[29:44] - The Power of Being Forgotten
[31:01] - Joy in Humility

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1 John 4:10
John 13:3
Matthew 24:14

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Observation Questions:

According to 1 John 4:10, how is love defined in the context of our relationship with Jesus? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on loving Jesus as a response to His love for us? [02:17]
In John 13:3, what does Jesus' interaction with Judas reveal about His love and forgiveness, even towards those who betray Him? How does this example challenge our understanding of unconditional love? [03:49]
How does Matthew 24:14 describe the scope and urgency of preaching the gospel? What does this imply about the mission of the church today? [06:21]
The sermon mentions the story of Adam in Sudan. What does this story illustrate about the power and impact of preaching the gospel in difficult circumstances? [11:13]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of "dying to self" as described in the sermon relate to the biblical call to discipleship? What does it mean to experience "resurrection power" through this process? [14:55]
The sermon suggests that being forgotten is an ultimate act of humility and discipleship. How does this perspective align with the biblical teaching on humility and legacy? [29:44]
In what ways does the sermon challenge the common perception of success and recognition in ministry? How does this relate to the biblical call to glorify Jesus rather than ourselves? [31:01]
How does the sermon’s portrayal of the gospel as a message of salvation from the wrath of God for the glory of God differ from more comfortable or self-help-oriented messages? [09:30]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal response to Jesus' love. How can you cultivate a deeper love for Him in your daily life, especially in challenging situations? [05:20]
Consider the urgency of preaching the gospel as described in the sermon. What practical steps can you take to share the message of salvation with those around you this week? [09:30]
The sermon emphasizes dying to self as a prerequisite for knowing Christ. Identify one area of your life where you need to surrender your desires or ambitions. How can you begin this process of surrender? [14:55]
Think about the idea of being forgotten for the sake of Christ. How does this challenge your current understanding of success and recognition? What changes might you need to make in your approach to serving others? [29:44]
The sermon highlights the joy and rest found in humility. How can you practice humility in your relationships and ministry, ensuring that Jesus is glorified through your actions? [31:01]
Reflect on the story of Adam in Sudan. How can you be bold in sharing your faith, even in situations where it might be uncomfortable or risky? [11:13]
Identify one person in your life who may not know Jesus. What specific action can you take this week to engage them in a spiritual conversation or show them Christ’s love? [12:27]

Sermon Clips

Nicholas Ludwig count van Zinzendorf was a wealthy Austrian Noble who was born in Germany in 1731 he was visiting Denmark and met there a converted slave from the West Indies this former slave was looking for someone to go back to his homeland to preach the gospel to black slaves Zinzendorf was moved returned to his estate where he had allowed a Moravian Community from the Czech Republic to settle and he recruited two volunteers from the moravians to go to the West Indies they became the first Moravian missionaries the first Protestant missionaries of the modern era and as Zinzendorf commissioned them to go he famously gave them these instructions preach the gospel die and be forgotten. [00:00:06]

1 John 4:10 This is Love not that we loved him but that he loved us and gave himself as a propitiation for our sin the First Missionary call is to love Jesus back and to Revel in The Wonder of Jesus loving us in John 13:3 we are told having loved his own he love them to the end. [00:02:01]

Jesus loves Judas yes indeed he does he loves all of us who betray him and will'll do so so again shortly Jesus knows our sin Jesus knows our shame he knows how we will betray him next and he loves us to the end and he offers to us that Kinsmen Redeemer covering and he extends to us unmar favor and Grace His Banner Over Us his love we do not originate nor do we sustain love for Jesus. [00:04:53]

Preaching is Central to the Great Commission Matthew 24:14 version is prophetic and this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world to all the nations Mark 13:10 version is a command and the gospel must be preached to all the nations Paul will add in 1 Corinthians 9 woe to me if I don't preach the gospel. [00:06:16]

The gospel must be preached and that it's the gospel of the Kingdom and The Gospel of the king kingom must be preached to all the nations second temple Jews had a very clear understanding of what the gospel of the Kingdom meant in the time of Jesus the Jews who lived in that era they knew what the kingdom meant when Jesus referred to it. [00:06:53]

God Saves us God Saves us from God God Saves us from God for God the love of God Saves us from the wrath of God for the glory of God let's preach that gospel amongst the Nations we are not to preach sugar we are not to preach medicine we're not to preach self-help psychology we're not to preach cutesy comedic courteous little ear tickling TED Talks. [00:09:24]

Adam he was put in prison he was locked up in a toilet one meter by one meter with the hole in the middle he had to sleep there curled around that vial hole to add shame to injury all the prisoners had had to use that toilet and he wasn't allowed to leave so he had a choice and every prisoner that went to the toilet had the gospel of the Kingdom preached to him by Adam. [00:10:56]

All of us are going to physically die but there is an antecedent death required of every Minister every missionary and every follower of Jesus and that is dying to self John 12 24 unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains alone but if it dies it Bears much fruit Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ lives in me. [00:14:14]

Until I can trust you you with my glory I will not trust you with my power and then I got really sad how many go unraised because we want the glory how many stay blind because we want the credit how many stay lame or unsaved because we want to be recognized it is not enough for us to physically die oh yes to be with Christ on that day along with Tim Keller is great gain. [00:18:01]

We don't get resurrection power unless we're 100% dead dead to popularity dead to Glory hunting dead to position dead to status dead to reputation and honor and the Applause of men dead to all of this by the means of Cru crucifixion I am saying that what Jesus wants of us is to love him preach the gospel and be crucified. [00:18:41]

The greatest Mark of the greatest disciplers is that they are forgotten no one remembers them because those that they disciple love Jesus more than they did radiate The Father's Love greater than they did understand the scriptures deeper than they did if we are to disciple well those that follow us will advance further into the knowledge of God than where we stood and we will rejoice in that. [00:29:14]

There is joy and rest in being forgotten when we strive to be remembered to be known to be praised to be respected to be honored to lead to to have status or position or power it is so fatiguing and there is so much rest in being forgotten let's just be little billes let's just make disciples that make disciples in all the nations and Let Jesus be remembered. [00:31:01]

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