Embracing Inconvenience: The Call to True Discipleship
Summary
In today's message, I explored the tension between the Gospel's call to a life of surrender and the human inclination towards convenience. I drew parallels between the biblical accounts of Felix and the rich man from Luke's Gospel, both of whom struggled with the inconvenient truths of the Gospel.
Felix, a man of power and wealth, found himself confronted by Paul with the realities of righteousness, self-control, and judgment. Despite being terrified by the truth, Felix dismissed the opportunity for transformation, citing inconvenience. Similarly, the rich man in Luke's Gospel was challenged by Jesus to sell all he had and give to the poor to truly follow Him. The man's wealth, which he was unwilling to part with, became a barrier to his spiritual journey.
I confessed that even as a pastor, I am not immune to the allure of convenience. The Holy Spirit convicted me of areas in my life where I have allowed convenience to become an idol. I urged us all to examine our lives for the ways in which we might be resisting the Gospel's call due to the idol of convenience.
The Gospel is not a path to a comfortable life; it is a call to sacrificial living. It challenges us to confront the parts of our lives that hinder true worship and discipleship. It is about surrendering to Jesus, even when it means facing the inconvenient truths about ourselves and our lifestyles.
I called on the congregation to respond to the Holy Spirit's prompting, to step towards Jesus and follow Him, regardless of the cost. I emphasized that now is the time to take a step of faith, to break down the idols in our lives, and to embrace the life that Jesus offers—a life that is truly abundant and free from the bondage of sin and convenience.
Key Takeaways:
- The Gospel demands a response that transcends our comfort zones. Like Felix and the rich man, we are often faced with the choice to embrace the truth of Jesus or to cling to our conveniences. The decision to follow Christ is not one to be postponed for a more opportune moment; it is a call to immediate action and surrender. [54:41]
- True discipleship requires the willingness to be inconvenienced. The idols of comfort and ease must be dismantled if we are to live lives that reflect the transformative power of the Gospel. This may involve making difficult decisions and sacrifices, but it is through these acts of obedience that we experience the fullness of life in Christ. [01:06:10]
- The Holy Spirit is actively working to reveal areas in our lives that need change. As we listen and respond to the Spirit's guidance, we must be prepared to make the necessary sacrifices. This process is not about self-deprivation but about aligning our lives with the purposes and desires of God, who seeks our ultimate good. [01:08:05]
- The pursuit of convenience can easily become an idol that competes with our devotion to God. We must be vigilant in identifying and addressing the ways in which our desire for ease and comfort may be hindering our spiritual growth and obedience to Christ's commands. [01:02:01]
- The Gospel is not merely a message to be heard but a call to be lived out. It is not enough to acknowledge the truths of Christianity; we must allow these truths to penetrate our hearts and transform our lives. This transformation often begins with the inconvenient process of letting go of our own agendas and submitting to God's will. [01:10:36]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Acts 24:1-27
- Luke 18:18-23
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the main accusations brought against Paul by Tertullus in Acts 24? How did Paul respond to these accusations? [39:00]
2. How did Felix react when Paul spoke about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment? What did Felix say to Paul? [49:11]
3. In Luke 18:18-23, what did Jesus ask the rich man to do, and how did the man respond?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Felix was frightened by Paul's message about righteousness, self-control, and judgment? What does this reveal about Felix's character? [49:11]
2. How does the story of the rich man in Luke 18:18-23 illustrate the challenge of surrendering to Jesus? What was the "one thing" that held the man back?
3. The sermon mentioned that convenience can become an idol in our lives. How does the pursuit of convenience conflict with the call to follow Jesus? [01:02:01]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you postponed a spiritual decision because it was inconvenient. What was the outcome, and how might you handle a similar situation differently now? [01:00:39]
2. Identify an area in your life where convenience has become an idol. What steps can you take to dismantle this idol and prioritize your relationship with Jesus? [01:02:01]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of immediate action and surrender in response to the Gospel. What is one specific step of faith you can take this week to break down an idol of convenience in your life? [01:08:42]
4. How can you cultivate a willingness to be inconvenienced for the sake of true discipleship? Share a practical example of a sacrifice you can make to follow Jesus more closely. [01:06:10]
5. The Holy Spirit is actively working to reveal areas in our lives that need change. What is one area the Holy Spirit is convicting you about right now, and how will you respond? [01:08:05]
6. Discuss how you can support each other in the small group to confront and overcome the idols of convenience in your lives. What practical steps can you take as a community to encourage sacrificial living? [01:11:53]
7. Reflect on the story of Felix and the rich man. How can their responses to the Gospel serve as a cautionary tale for your own spiritual journey? What lessons can you apply to avoid their mistakes? [01:02:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Gospel Beyond Comfort
The Gospel calls for a response that often pushes us beyond our comfort zones. This challenge is not unique to any one individual; it is a universal experience for those who choose to follow Christ. The biblical examples of Felix and the rich man illustrate the difficulty of choosing Jesus over personal convenience. Felix was confronted with the truths of righteousness and judgment, and the rich man was asked to give up his wealth to follow Jesus. Both found the Gospel's demands inconvenient and chose their comfort over transformation. This is a reminder that the decision to follow Christ is urgent and requires immediate action, not to be delayed for a more convenient time. [54:41]
"But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich." - Luke 18:23
Reflection: What comforts are you holding onto that might be preventing you from fully embracing the Gospel's call to immediate action and surrender?
Day 2: Dismantling Idols of Convenience
True discipleship is marked by a willingness to accept inconvenience. The idols of comfort and ease that we often hold dear must be torn down if we are to live lives that truly reflect the Gospel's transformative power. This may mean making tough decisions and sacrifices, but it is through these acts of obedience that we find the fullness of life in Christ. The journey of faith is not about seeking the path of least resistance but about embracing the challenges that come with following Jesus. [01:06:10]
"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" - Mark 8:36
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed comfort to become an idol in your life, and what steps can you take to dismantle it?
Day 3: Heeding the Spirit's Conviction
The Holy Spirit is constantly at work within us, revealing areas that require change and growth. Listening and responding to the Spirit's guidance is essential for our spiritual development. This process often involves sacrifice, but it is not about self-deprivation. Instead, it is about aligning our lives with God's purposes and desires, which are always for our ultimate good. The Spirit's conviction is a gift that leads us to a deeper relationship with God and a more authentic expression of our faith. [01:08:05]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26
Reflection: What is the Holy Spirit convicting you about lately, and how can you respond to His prompting to make a necessary sacrifice?
Day 4: Vigilance Against Comfort's Idolatry
The pursuit of convenience can subtly become an idol, competing with our devotion to God. It is crucial to be vigilant and proactive in identifying how our desire for ease may be impeding our spiritual growth and obedience to Christ's commands. This requires honest self-examination and a commitment to prioritizing our relationship with God over the allure of comfort. By doing so, we can prevent our spiritual journey from being hindered by the idolatry of convenience. [01:02:01]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." - Proverbs 4:23
Reflection: How can you be more vigilant in recognizing and addressing the ways in which your desire for convenience may be affecting your spiritual growth?
Day 5: Living Out the Gospel's Call
The Gospel is not just a message to be heard but a call to be lived. Acknowledging Christian truths is not sufficient; these truths must transform our lives. This transformation often starts with the uncomfortable process of relinquishing our agendas and submitting to God's will. It is in this surrender that we find the true freedom and abundance that Jesus offers, free from the bondage of sin and the idolatry of convenience. [01:10:36]
"And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." - 1 John 2:3
Reflection: What does living out the Gospel's call look like in your daily life, and what is one step you can take today to move towards that reality?
Quotes
"In pursuit of comfort and convenience in our life, it becomes elevated, not as something that exists in our world, but as something that is ultimate in our world. And as soon as Jesus challenges that and he convicts us of that, how many of us say to Jesus, hey, you know what? Get back to me. I'm just not quite ready to be that sacrificial in my life." [01:03:08]
"Unchecked, convenience can become the idol we place in our hearts above anything else. But if that's how you want to live your life, I warned against that. But if that's how you want to learn, live your life, don't read the Bible. Because the gospel confronts the idol of convenience every step of the way." [01:04:25]
"You have got to be willing to be inconvenienced in your life. The gospel will confront whatever inconvenience you have set up as an idol in your life every single time. Following Jesus is not about making our lives convenient and comfortable. It's about addressing the parts of our lives that are getting in the way of truly worshipping and living for the one true God." [01:06:10]
"Right now, the Holy Spirit is at work in this room. Jesus is addressing those things in your life that are going to be inconvenient for you to deal with. I get it. You know it. You hear it. I know you hear it. It will mean sacrifice. It might mean getting brutally honest with yourself and others. It could mean making some drastic decisions about how you will choose to live your life from this moment forward." [01:08:05]
"Today is a new day. God's mercies are new every morning. And it is finally a day to bring your life into the light and allow Jesus to transform and heal you into a new creation. And listen, I want to just talk to you those of you who might have been or have been hesitant in deciding to simply become a follower of Jesus because it seems really inconvenient to you." [01:09:27]
"Are there things that you keep telling Jesus, I'll deal with the Jesus when it's a little more convenient. I'll deal with the addiction when things just, when I don't have so much stress in my life. I'll deal with all of my financial problems when somehow the stars align and I feel like I'm ready to finally do something about it." [01:00:30]
"Felix's response to Paul is, this is not a good time. I don't really want to deal with this right now. Tell you what, when things settle down a little bit, when I just sort of run out of runway with this whole thing, then I'll give you a call. It's just a little bit more convenient. Then we can have this conversation." [54:41]
"But Paul, unafraid to tell him what he really needs to hear, tells Felix what no one else is willing to. He tells him the truth of the Gospel and how it has the power and will confront the darkest corners of our lives with truth and redemption. He calls out Felix's sin and confronts the things that are getting in the way of him ever experiencing forgiveness and new life." [55:35]
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