Embracing Jesus: From Insurance to Transformative Lordship
Summary
Thank you to everyone who has made this community such a blessing in our lives. It’s a privilege to gather together, worship, and pursue the mission of leading people into a transforming relationship with Jesus and a community of faith. At the heart of this mission is the call to move beyond seeing Jesus as mere “fire insurance”—a safety net to avoid punishment or hell—and instead to embrace Him as both Savior and Lord.
A transforming relationship with Jesus is not just about checking a box or securing a “get out of jail free” card. It’s about being changed from the inside out. The image of a “worn out Bible” and a “worn out dinner table” beautifully captures this: we are called to immerse ourselves in Scripture and to live deeply in community, letting both shape us.
Reflecting on my own journey, I grew up in church, surrounded by Christian culture, but for a long time, my faith was more about risk management than relationship. I wanted Jesus as a genie or as insurance against hell, but not as the One who would truly transform my life. Yet, the gospel is clear: we all need saving. Spiritually, we are like the hiker clinging to the edge of a cliff, unable to rescue ourselves. The reality of hell—separation from God, the disintegration of our souls apart from His presence—is not something to take lightly or joke about. As Tim Keller points out, hell is God giving us over to our own choices, letting us have the independence we so often demand, and that is a terrifying prospect.
But the good news is that Jesus has taken the full weight of hell upon Himself so that we can be free, clean, and restored. Salvation is not just about being rescued from punishment; it’s about being given a new identity. The world tells us our worth is based on achievement, but the gospel flips that script: we have significance because we are loved by God, and out of that significance, we are free to live and serve.
Yet, Jesus is not only Savior—He is Lord. In the early church, declaring “Jesus is Lord” was a radical, even dangerous, act. It meant surrendering control, giving up our right to self-determination, and trusting Him with every part of our lives. Lordship is costly, but it is also the path to true security and joy. When we build our lives on His words, we find a foundation that cannot be shaken. The call is to believe in Jesus and to love one another, living out our faith with a well-worn Bible and a well-worn table, embodying the transforming power of the gospel in every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways
- The gospel is not just about avoiding punishment or securing “fire insurance”; it is about entering into a relationship that transforms every part of who we are. When faith is reduced to risk management, we miss the depth and beauty of what Jesus offers—a new heart, a new identity, and a new way of living. [12:46]
- Hell is not merely a place of fire and brimstone, but the ultimate consequence of choosing life apart from God. It is the disintegration of our souls, the fulfillment of our desire to be our own masters. Understanding the seriousness of hell deepens our gratitude for salvation and awakens us to the urgency of the gospel. [18:24]
- The gospel reverses the world’s paradigm: instead of achieving to gain significance, we are given significance by God’s love, and from that place, we are free to achieve and serve. This shift liberates us from the tyranny of performance and the fear of failure, grounding our worth in Christ alone. [24:37]
- Declaring “Jesus is Lord” is not a casual statement; it is a costly act of surrender. In the early church, it meant risking everything, and today it still calls us to give up control, trust Him with our lives, and obey even when it is difficult. True lordship means letting Jesus define our truth, our purpose, and our direction. [26:54]
- Obedience to Jesus as Lord is not about missing out, but about receiving the fullness of life He offers. When we build our lives on His words, we find a foundation that endures through every storm. The call to love one another and to immerse ourselves in Scripture and community is the practical outworking of this lordship, leading us into the abundant life God intends. [33:12]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Gratitude for Community
[02:30] - Hope’s Mission: Transforming Relationship
[04:15] - Worn Out Bible, Worn Out Table
[06:00] - Personal Story: Faith as Fire Insurance
[09:20] - The Need for Salvation
[12:46] - The Reality of Hell
[18:24] - Tim Keller on Hell’s Meaning
[20:04] - The Danger of Self-Justification
[22:46] - The Power of Salvation Stories
[24:37] - The Gospel Flips the Script
[26:54] - Jesus as Lord: Cost and Context
[29:33] - Lordship and Obedience
[31:40] - Jesus as Our Example
[33:12] - Living Out Lordship: Foundation and Community
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Beyond Fire Insurance – Jesus as Savior and Lord
---
### Bible Reading
Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
> If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
> “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
1 John 3:23 (NIV)
> And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 10:9-13, what two things are required for salvation? How does the passage describe the result for those who do these things?
2. In Luke 6:46-49, what is the difference between the person who builds on the rock and the one who builds without a foundation?
3. The sermon described the phrase “Jesus is Lord” as a dangerous and costly statement in the early church. What made this declaration so radical at that time? [26:54]
4. The sermon used the image of a “worn out Bible” and a “worn out dinner table.” What do these images represent in the context of a transforming relationship with Jesus? [04:15]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon warns against treating faith as “fire insurance”—just a way to avoid punishment. What are the dangers of this mindset for someone’s spiritual life? [06:00]
2. How does understanding the seriousness of hell, as described in the sermon and Tim Keller’s quotes, change the way someone might view salvation? [18:24]
3. The gospel “flips the script” on how the world defines significance and achievement. What does it mean to find your worth in God’s love rather than in your own accomplishments? [24:37]
4. What does it practically look like to live with Jesus as both Savior and Lord, not just one or the other? How does this affect daily decisions and relationships? [33:12]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon asked, “Is your faith fire insurance?” Take a moment to reflect: Have you ever treated your faith as just a safety net or a “get out of jail free” card? What would it look like to move beyond that? [06:00]
2. The image of a “worn out Bible” and a “worn out dinner table” is about immersing yourself in Scripture and community. Which of these comes more naturally to you, and which one is harder? What is one step you could take this week to grow in the area that’s harder? [04:15]
3. The sermon described hell as “God giving us over to our own choices.” Are there areas in your life where you are insisting on your own way instead of surrendering to God? What would it look like to invite God’s leadership into those areas? [20:04]
4. The early church risked everything to declare “Jesus is Lord.” What is one area of your life where declaring Jesus as Lord would be costly or require you to give up control? [26:54]
5. The gospel says our significance comes from being loved by God, not from what we achieve. Where do you most often look for your sense of worth—your job, relationships, achievements, or something else? How can you remind yourself this week that your worth is rooted in God’s love? [24:37]
6. Jesus modeled obedience to the Father, even when it was hard. Is there a specific area where you sense God calling you to obey, but you’re struggling? What’s one practical step you can take to trust Him more in that area? [31:40]
7. The call to love one another is a practical outworking of Jesus’ lordship. Who is one person in your life you can intentionally show love to this week, especially if it’s difficult? [33:12]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to move beyond “fire insurance” faith, to embrace Jesus as both Savior and Lord, and to live out a transforming relationship with Him in Scripture, community, and daily life.
Devotional
Day 1: Salvation Is More Than Fire Insurance
Many people approach faith as a form of “fire insurance”—a way to avoid punishment or secure a place in heaven, while continuing to live life on their own terms. But the message of the gospel is so much deeper and richer than simply checking a box or managing spiritual risk. True faith is not about having a “get out of jail free” card, but about entering into a transforming relationship with Jesus that changes everything about who we are and how we live. The gospel calls us to recognize our desperate need for rescue and to experience the power of salvation that brings real change, not just future security. [13:40]
Romans 10:9-13 (ESV)
"Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'"
Reflection: In what ways have you treated your faith as “fire insurance” rather than a living, transforming relationship with Jesus? What would it look like to move beyond that today?
Day 2: Recognizing Our Need for Rescue
Spiritually, each of us is in a dire predicament—like a hiker clinging to the edge of a cliff, unable to save ourselves. The Bible teaches that we are not just in need of a little help, but in need of total rescue from a situation we cannot escape on our own. This is the reality of our spiritual state: we are lost, broken, and in need of salvation. When we truly see our need, we can begin to understand the depth of God’s grace and the power of Jesus to save us, not just from future punishment, but from the brokenness and darkness within us right now. [17:10]
Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—"
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel like you are just “hanging on by your fingertips”? How can you invite Jesus to rescue you in that area today?
Day 3: The Gospel Flips the Script on Significance
The world tells us that our worth is based on what we achieve—our jobs, our accomplishments, our status. But the gospel turns this upside down: in Christ, we are given significance first, and our actions flow out of gratitude for what God has already done. This shift changes everything. Instead of striving to prove ourselves, we can rest in God’s unconditional love and let our achievements become acts of worship, not sources of identity. When we live from a place of significance, we are freed from pride, fear, and shame, and empowered to serve God and others with joy. [24:37]
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: In what ways have you been seeking your significance through achievement? How can you remind yourself today that your worth is found in Christ alone?
Day 4: Jesus as Lord—A Costly Confession
To declare “Jesus is Lord” is not just a phrase, but a radical, costly confession. In the early church, saying these words could mean risking everything, because it meant rejecting all other claims to authority—including the culture’s most powerful rulers. Even today, making Jesus Lord means surrendering control, letting go of our own agendas, and allowing Him to direct every part of our lives. It is not always easy, but it is the path to true freedom and purpose. Jesus as Lord is not just about belief, but about obedience and trust, even when it costs us something. [29:33]
Luke 6:46 (ESV)
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are holding back from letting Jesus be Lord? What step can you take today to surrender that area to Him?
Day 5: Living Out Lordship—Building on a Firm Foundation
Following Jesus as Lord is not about perfection, but about building your life on His words and example. When we hear His teaching and put it into practice, we are like those who build their house on a solid foundation—able to withstand the storms of life. Obedience to Jesus is not a burden, but a gift that leads to stability, joy, and deep relationship with God and others. As we love one another and trust in Jesus, we become the kind of community that reflects His transforming power to the world. [33:12]
1 John 3:23 (ESV)
"And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us."
Reflection: How can you put Jesus’ words into practice today—especially in the way you love others in your community?
Quotes
Is your faith fire insurance? You know, like we, you know, a lot of people I know in New York work in finance or work in companies and all the time we're talking about like risk mitigation, risk management—a given thing happens, how do we de-risk the situation? And you buy medical insurance and life insurance and home insurance and renter insurance and car insurance, you know, and all of that is to try to kind of just make sure we've mitigated the risk. And I'm not saying there's anything wrong about buying any insurance, but my question to us today is, is our faith primarily a way to manage this risk? [00:09:05] (46 seconds)
What is hell then? It is God actively giving us to what we have freely chosen—to go on our own way, to be our own master of our faith, captain of our soul, to get away from him and his control. It is God banishing us to regions we have desperately tried to get into all our lives. [00:19:45] (19 seconds)
Hell may be fire and brimstone, but hell is also God letting you accept, you know, what is it that you want? God will give it to you. You don't want that control from God. You want to live your life of cursing, of self-indulgence, of selfishness. God will give that to you forever and ever and ever, right? And if I think of that, if that's what hell is, man, that actually is scary to me because I know inside my heart how terrible things can be. The idea that God turns away and allows me to get to, you know, where I've desperately tried to justify myself, that is a frightening concept of hell. [00:21:15] (49 seconds)
Once we understand the depths of hell, we understand the heights of salvation. All right, we understand that because of what Jesus did, what he experienced, what he brought onto himself was hell himself. And because of his sacrifice, we can be free. We can be clean. We can be spotless and blameless. You know, those things that bind us can be broken. And that's the message, the power and the message of salvation and transformation. [00:22:17] (40 seconds)
What have I been saved from? I think we, we live in a world, I live in a world where we are defined by what we do. We are defined by what we do. And this is the paradigm of the world. You achieve and you have significance, right? Show me what you did, especially in New York. Show me what did you do. And I will judge to assess, like, are you worthy or not? That's the paradigm. [00:24:37] (29 seconds)
This is his command, to believe in the name of his son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. This is his command. You know, when I looked at this, I was like, man, this is really interesting because if you go to the next slide, this is exactly what our church mission statement is. It says, to believe in Jesus and to love one another, how can we be a church, right, that exists to lead people into a transforming relationship with Jesus and a community of faith? [00:34:37] (42 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jun 02, 2025. Do you have any questions about it?