Embracing Jesus' Love and Our True Value
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound love and value that Jesus places on each of us. We began by reminiscing about our favorite childhood toys and how much we cherished them, drawing a parallel to how Jesus cherishes and loves us. This love is so immense that He came to die for us and calls us to share His love with others. We then delved into the concept of value, questioning how we ascribe value to the things we desire and possess. This led us to the central theme of our series, "What Jesus Values."
In Luke 12, Jesus gives three warnings: beware of hypocrisy, revelation, and judgment. These warnings remind us that God knows everything about us and will judge accordingly. This can be a heavy realization, but it is also a loving act from Jesus, giving us a heads-up about the coming judgment day. Despite our brokenness and failures, Jesus values us immensely. He sees us as precious pearls worth everything, even His own life.
Through two parables in Matthew 13, we learned that the kingdom of heaven is of incredible value, worth selling everything to obtain. But more importantly, we are the valuable pearls for which God, the merchant, sold everything, including His kingdom and His life, to have us. This demonstrates the immense love and value Jesus places on each of us.
Finally, we reflected on what we need to "sell" or let go of in our lives to follow Jesus fully. We were invited to lay down our struggles and sins at the foot of the cross, receiving His forgiveness and embracing the value He places on us. We concluded with a prayer, asking God to open our hearts to His grace and to help us follow Him wholeheartedly.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus' Love and Value for Us: Just as we cherished our favorite childhood toys, Jesus cherishes and loves us deeply. His love is so profound that He came to die for us, calling us to share His love with others. This love is not just a feeling but a call to action, to spread the message of His love and sacrifice. [08:20]
2. Warnings of Hypocrisy, Revelation, and Judgment: In Luke 12, Jesus warns us to beware of hypocrisy, revelation, and judgment. These warnings remind us that God knows everything about us and will judge accordingly. This can be a heavy realization, but it is also a loving act from Jesus, giving us a heads-up about the coming judgment day. [19:46]
3. Our Value in God's Eyes: Despite our brokenness and failures, Jesus values us immensely. We are like precious pearls for which God, the merchant, sold everything, including His kingdom and His life, to have us. This demonstrates the immense love and value Jesus places on each of us. [31:37]
4. The Kingdom of Heaven's Value: The kingdom of heaven is of incredible value, worth selling everything to obtain. This teaches us that spiritual treasures far surpass any earthly possessions. We are called to prioritize our spiritual journey and relationship with God above all else. [30:30]
5. Letting Go to Follow Jesus: We are invited to reflect on what we need to "sell" or let go of in our lives to follow Jesus fully. This could be physical possessions, addictions, disbelief, doubt, or any hurt we are holding onto. By laying these down at the foot of the cross, we receive His forgiveness and embrace the value He places on us. [37:26]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[08:20] - Jesus Loves You
[15:14] - Exploring Florida
[16:15] - Ascribing Value
[17:03] - Stella the Cat
[18:23] - What Jesus Values
[19:46] - Beware of Hypocrisy
[20:34] - Beware of Revelation
[21:24] - Beware of Judgment
[23:08] - The Loving Warning
[26:58] - What Jesus Wants
[27:37] - Your Worth to Jesus
[29:21] - Parable of the Hidden Treasure
[30:30] - Parable of the Pearl
[31:37] - You Are the Pearl
[32:55] - Jesus' Sacrifice
[34:05] - God's Judgment and Love
[35:19] - The Path to Eternal Life
[37:26] - What Do You Need to Sell?
[38:52] - Closing Prayer and Lord's Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 12:1-12 - Jesus' warnings about hypocrisy, revelation, and judgment.
2. Matthew 13:44-46 - Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value.
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three warnings Jesus gives in Luke 12:1-12? ([19:46])
2. In the parable of the hidden treasure (Matthew 13:44), what does the man do after finding the treasure? ([29:21])
3. According to Matthew 13:45-46, what does the merchant do when he finds the pearl of great value? ([30:30])
4. How does Jesus describe the value of sparrows and how does this relate to our value in God's eyes? ([27:37])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus warn against hypocrisy, revelation, and judgment in Luke 12? How do these warnings reflect God's knowledge and judgment? ([19:46])
2. What does the parable of the hidden treasure teach us about the value of the kingdom of heaven? How should this influence our priorities? ([29:21])
3. In the parable of the pearl, why is it significant that the merchant sells everything to obtain the pearl? What does this say about our value to God? ([31:37])
4. How does understanding our immense value to God, as described in the sermon, impact our view of ourselves and our relationship with Him? ([32:13])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the things you cherish most in your life. How do these compare to the value Jesus places on you? What changes might you need to make to align your values with His? ([08:20])
2. Jesus warns us to beware of hypocrisy. Are there areas in your life where you might be acting hypocritically? How can you address these areas to live more authentically? ([19:46])
3. The sermon mentioned that everything hidden will be revealed. How does this truth affect the way you live your daily life? Are there things you need to bring into the light? ([20:34])
4. Considering the parable of the hidden treasure, what are some "treasures" in your life that you might need to let go of to fully pursue the kingdom of heaven? ([29:21])
5. The merchant sold everything to obtain the pearl of great value. What are some specific things (habits, possessions, attitudes) you need to "sell" or let go of to follow Jesus more fully? ([31:37])
6. How can you remind yourself daily of your immense value to God, especially during times of self-doubt or failure? ([32:13])
7. The sermon concluded with a call to lay down our struggles and sins at the foot of the cross. What specific struggles or sins do you need to lay down today, and how can you seek God's forgiveness and embrace His grace? ([37:26])
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus' Cherishing Love for Us
Jesus' love for us is profound and personal, akin to how we cherished our favorite childhood toys. This love is not just a feeling but a call to action. Jesus' love is so immense that He came to die for us, and He calls us to share His love with others. This love is a reflection of our value in His eyes, and it compels us to spread the message of His love and sacrifice to those around us. Understanding this love helps us to see ourselves and others through the lens of Jesus' immense affection and worth. [08:20]
Isaiah 43:4 (ESV): "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life."
Reflection: Think of a person in your life who may not feel loved or valued. How can you show them the love of Jesus today in a tangible way?
Day 2: Heeding Jesus' Warnings
In Luke 12, Jesus warns us to beware of hypocrisy, revelation, and judgment. These warnings serve as a reminder that God knows everything about us and will judge accordingly. While this realization can be heavy, it is also a loving act from Jesus, giving us a heads-up about the coming judgment day. This awareness should lead us to live lives of integrity and transparency, knowing that nothing is hidden from God. It also calls us to examine our hearts and actions, ensuring they align with the teachings of Jesus. [19:46]
Luke 12:2-3 (ESV): "Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you might be living in hypocrisy. What steps can you take today to bring that area into the light and live more authentically?
Day 3: Our Immense Value to God
Despite our brokenness and failures, Jesus values us immensely. We are like precious pearls for which God, the merchant, sold everything, including His kingdom and His life, to have us. This demonstrates the immense love and value Jesus places on each of us. Understanding our worth in God's eyes can transform how we see ourselves and others, leading us to live with a sense of purpose and dignity. It also encourages us to treat others with the same value and respect that God has for them. [31:37]
1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."
Reflection: How does knowing that you are immensely valued by God change the way you view yourself and your daily actions? What is one way you can remind yourself of this truth today?
Day 4: The Incomparable Value of the Kingdom of Heaven
The kingdom of heaven is of incredible value, worth selling everything to obtain. This teaches us that spiritual treasures far surpass any earthly possessions. We are called to prioritize our spiritual journey and relationship with God above all else. This perspective helps us to focus on what truly matters and to invest our time, energy, and resources in things that have eternal significance. It challenges us to evaluate our priorities and make necessary adjustments to align with God's kingdom values. [30:30]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What is one earthly possession or pursuit that you have been prioritizing over your relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus towards the kingdom of heaven today?
Day 5: Letting Go to Follow Jesus Fully
We are invited to reflect on what we need to "sell" or let go of in our lives to follow Jesus fully. This could be physical possessions, addictions, disbelief, doubt, or any hurt we are holding onto. By laying these down at the foot of the cross, we receive His forgiveness and embrace the value He places on us. This act of surrender allows us to experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers and to walk in greater freedom and purpose. It also opens our hearts to receive His grace and to follow Him wholeheartedly. [37:26]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one thing you need to let go of to follow Jesus more fully? How can you take a practical step today to lay it down at the foot of the cross?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "And just like I love Bunny, or you love your favorite toys, Jesus loves you guys, and he wants you, and he wants you to believe in him, and he came and died for you on a cross, and he calls you to tell other people about him, because he wants other people in the room to know about who Jesus is, who he is. And how much he loves them." [08:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You are what Jesus wants. Despite all the brokenness, despite all of your failures, despite all of your mistakes, you are what Jesus wants. In the midst of all of these warnings, all of the doom and gloom of judgment day that is going to come, Jesus says this little line. He slips in this little line. Comes in verse 12 through 6. So we're in Luke 12, 6 through 7." [26:58] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are so valuable that God sold everything to have you. Everything. And that kingdom of heaven, that special, that special treasure that we should sell everything to have, God sold even that for you. That's incredible love. That's amazing. He stepped down from his throne to enter into our world. And then not only does he give up his kingdom, but he gives up his own life by going to the cross and dying for you." [32:13] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Your soul is so valuable that Satan relentlessly pursues it and Jesus laid down his life. You are so valuable that there is literally a cosmic balance and a cosmic war being fought over you. God created you and he had you and Satan stole you away because he wanted to steal you from your God. And then Jesus comes down and he does what it takes to steal you back." [33:31] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Your God loves you. And he values you so much. And so you are forgiven. You are valued. You are loved. And he wants you to want him and receive his forgiveness. And so I want to end with one final question. What do you need to sell? What do you need to sell in your life to follow Jesus? What are those things that keep you separated from your God?" [37:26] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "God knows everything about all people and will judge accordingly. God knows everything about all people and he will judge accordingly. I want to ask you, how do those words, make you feel? Not great. I read this and I hear all of the warnings that Jesus is giving and it weighs heavy. It weighs heavy. And many people in this world will hear these warnings and will hear about this judgment day to come." [22:16] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "But more than that, you're going to be judged by who you believe in too. Because the reality is, is you have already messed up. I've already messed up. We've made mistakes. We have failures. We disobey God and how he wants us to live because we're all broken people. That's a reality. We are all broken people who have made mistakes. And there's nothing, you can't go back in time and fix it. You can't." [23:47] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Heaven is so valuable that we should sell everything to get it. The first lesson. Heaven is so valuable that we should sell everything to get it. But then Jesus flips the script on the second one. The first parable, kingdom of heaven is compared to the treasure. In the second parable, the kingdom of heaven, is compared to a merchant who is searching for fine pearls." [30:30] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And if I'm being honest, I don't understand it all the time. I don't always understand it because when I do look in that mirror, I see my flaws and I know my mistakes and I know my failures and I do not see a life that is worth the life of my God. I don't see it. But praise God that I don't give value to myself. That only comes from my creator. My value comes from God and he told me that I'm worth it." [34:05] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And so if you confess and believe that Jesus is your Lord and he is your Savior, then you're saved. You're in. You're in the family. And all of those things that are on that list, they're gone. They're forgiven. They're washed away, wiped clean. And when you stand in front of the judgment throne, this is point F, when that day comes and you stand before the judgment throne and you are before God, God sees Jesus. And he declares to you, child, you are innocent." [36:09] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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