Embracing Offense: Growth Through God's Challenging Teachings
Summary
### Summary
Today, we concluded our series "Offended" by addressing a profound and often overlooked topic: being offended by God. Throughout this series, we've explored how to handle personal offenses, how to respond when we are the offenders, and how to confront offenses with grace and prayer. However, today's focus was on the unique and challenging experience of feeling offended by God Himself.
We began by acknowledging that Jesus, despite His perfection, often said and did things that could be perceived as offensive. From overturning tables in the temple to commanding us to forgive our enemies and turn the other cheek, Jesus' teachings can be challenging and even offensive to our natural inclinations. This offense often stems from our perception of His words and actions, which can feel like a personal affront when they don't align with our expectations or desires.
We delved into John 6, where Jesus fed the 5,000 and then taught about the true bread of life. The crowd, initially drawn by the miracle of free food, struggled to accept Jesus' deeper message about believing in Him for eternal sustenance. When Jesus declared that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood, many were deeply offended and stopped following Him. This reaction highlights how our expectations and desires can clash with God's higher purposes, leading to feelings of offense.
The key takeaway is that our offenses create opportunities for growth. When we encounter challenging or offensive teachings in Scripture, it's a sign that God is working on us, calling us to a higher level of discipleship. We must remember God's heart, which is always for our good, and lean into the challenges rather than retreating from them. By doing so, we allow His transformative power to work in us, leading to true spiritual growth and deeper unity with Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. Perception and Offense: Our perception of Jesus' words and actions can lead to feelings of offense, especially when they challenge our expectations or desires. Understanding that Jesus' teachings are meant for our ultimate good can help us navigate these feelings and grow spiritually. [09:21]
2. Seeking Eternal Sustenance: Jesus wants to provide more than just temporary fixes to our immediate needs; He offers eternal sustenance that transforms us from the inside out. This deeper nourishment requires patience and a willingness to accept challenging truths. [13:37]
3. Offense as a Growth Opportunity: Feeling offended by God's word is not a sign of failure but an opportunity for growth. When we encounter challenging teachings, it's a sign that God is calling us to a higher level of discipleship and transformation. [27:30]
4. Remembering God's Heart: God's heart is always for our good, even when His words seem offensive or challenging. By digging deeper into Scripture, we can see that His commands are meant to protect, love, and elevate us to a higher standard of living. [29:38]
5. Leaning into Challenges: Instead of avoiding difficult teachings, we should lean into them, allowing them to transform us. This requires patience and a willingness to be uncomfortable, but it leads to true spiritual growth and deeper unity with Christ. [36:50]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[06:10] - Introduction to Offended by God
[06:47] - Offensive Teachings of Jesus
[07:24] - Examples of Offensive Teachings
[09:21] - Perception and Offense
[10:21] - John 6: The Bread of Life
[12:02] - Seeking Temporary Needs
[13:37] - Eternal Sustenance
[14:13] - Believing in Jesus
[16:03] - Offense and Perceived Insults
[16:51] - Jesus as the Bread of Life
[18:28] - The Cost of True Bread
[20:01] - Jesus' Controversial Statements
[22:10] - Eating His Flesh and Drinking His Blood
[23:33] - The Crowd's Reaction
[25:07] - Drawing the Line
[27:30] - Offense as Growth Opportunity
[29:38] - Remembering God's Heart
[36:50] - Leaning into Challenges
[38:42] - Will You Continue to Follow?
[41:21] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 6:25-66
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the people seeking from Jesus when they found Him on the other side of the lake? (John 6:25-26)
2. How did Jesus respond to the crowd's request for more bread? (John 6:35)
3. What was the crowd's reaction to Jesus' teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood? (John 6:60-66)
4. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what are the purposes of all Scripture?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Jesus emphasize believing in Him over providing more physical bread to the crowd? (John 6:29, [14:13])
2. How does Jesus' statement "I am the bread of life" challenge the crowd's expectations and desires? (John 6:35, [16:51])
3. What does it mean for Scripture to be useful for "teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness"? How might this relate to feeling offended by God's word? (2 Timothy 3:16-17, [28:26])
4. How can feeling offended by Jesus' teachings be an opportunity for spiritual growth? ([27:30])
#### Application Questions
1. Have you ever felt offended by something you read in the Bible or heard in a sermon? How did you respond to that feeling? ([27:30])
2. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." What are some ways you can seek eternal sustenance from Jesus rather than temporary fixes? ([13:37])
3. Think about a time when you were seeking something specific from God, but His response was different from what you expected. How did that experience affect your faith? ([15:25])
4. Are there any teachings of Jesus that you find particularly challenging or offensive? How can you lean into these challenges to grow spiritually? ([36:50])
5. Reflect on the idea that God's heart is always for our good, even when His words seem offensive or challenging. How can this perspective help you navigate difficult teachings in Scripture? ([29:38])
6. What steps can you take to remember God's heart and lean into challenging teachings this week? ([29:38])
7. Identify one area in your life where you have stopped following Jesus because His teachings were too challenging. What can you do to take a step forward in that area today? ([26:29])
Devotional
Day 1: Perception and Offense
Our perception of Jesus' words and actions can lead to feelings of offense, especially when they challenge our expectations or desires. Understanding that Jesus' teachings are meant for our ultimate good can help us navigate these feelings and grow spiritually. When Jesus overturned tables in the temple or commanded us to forgive our enemies, these actions and teachings can feel like a personal affront. This is because they often clash with our natural inclinations and expectations. However, these moments of offense are opportunities for us to re-evaluate our perceptions and align them with God's higher purposes.
In John 6, Jesus fed the 5,000 and then taught about the true bread of life. The crowd, initially drawn by the miracle of free food, struggled to accept Jesus' deeper message about believing in Him for eternal sustenance. When Jesus declared that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood, many were deeply offended and stopped following Him. This reaction highlights how our expectations and desires can clash with God's higher purposes, leading to feelings of offense. [09:21]
John 6:60-61 (ESV): "When many of his disciples heard it, they said, 'This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?' But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this?'"
Reflection: Think of a teaching of Jesus that you find challenging or offensive. How can you reframe your perception to see it as an opportunity for spiritual growth?
Day 2: Seeking Eternal Sustenance
Jesus wants to provide more than just temporary fixes to our immediate needs; He offers eternal sustenance that transforms us from the inside out. This deeper nourishment requires patience and a willingness to accept challenging truths. Often, we seek quick solutions to our problems, but Jesus calls us to look beyond the immediate and focus on the eternal. His teachings, though sometimes difficult to accept, are designed to lead us to a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him.
In John 6, after feeding the 5,000, Jesus taught about the true bread of life, emphasizing that believing in Him is essential for eternal sustenance. The crowd, however, was more interested in the temporary miracle of free food. Jesus' declaration that they must eat His flesh and drink His blood was a hard teaching for many to accept, leading them to turn away. This highlights the importance of seeking Jesus for who He is, rather than just what He can do for us. [13:37]
John 6:35 (ESV): "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are seeking temporary fixes instead of eternal sustenance? How can you shift your focus to seek Jesus for who He is?
Day 3: Offense as a Growth Opportunity
Feeling offended by God's word is not a sign of failure but an opportunity for growth. When we encounter challenging teachings, it's a sign that God is calling us to a higher level of discipleship and transformation. These moments of offense are invitations to deepen our faith and trust in God's wisdom and love. Instead of retreating from these challenges, we should lean into them, allowing them to shape and refine us.
In John 6, many of Jesus' followers were offended by His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. This difficult teaching was a test of their faith and commitment. Those who stayed and accepted the challenge experienced a deeper understanding of Jesus' mission and a closer relationship with Him. This illustrates that offense can be a catalyst for spiritual growth and transformation. [27:30]
Hebrews 12:11 (ESV): "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt offended by a teaching in Scripture. How can you view this offense as an opportunity for growth and deeper discipleship?
Day 4: Remembering God's Heart
God's heart is always for our good, even when His words seem offensive or challenging. By digging deeper into Scripture, we can see that His commands are meant to protect, love, and elevate us to a higher standard of living. It's important to remember that God's intentions are always rooted in His love for us. When we encounter difficult teachings, we should trust that they are for our ultimate benefit and growth.
In John 6, Jesus' teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood was difficult for many to accept. However, those who trusted in His heart and intentions were able to see the deeper meaning behind His words. They understood that Jesus was offering them eternal life and a closer relationship with Him. This teaches us that trusting in God's heart can help us navigate challenging teachings and grow in our faith. [29:38]
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Reflection: When you encounter a challenging teaching in Scripture, how can you remind yourself of God's heart and intentions for your good?
Day 5: Leaning into Challenges
Instead of avoiding difficult teachings, we should lean into them, allowing them to transform us. This requires patience and a willingness to be uncomfortable, but it leads to true spiritual growth and deeper unity with Christ. Embracing these challenges can help us develop a more mature and resilient faith. It's through these difficult moments that we can experience the transformative power of God's word in our lives.
In John 6, many of Jesus' followers were offended by His teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Those who chose to lean into this challenging teaching and stay with Jesus experienced a deeper understanding of His mission and a closer relationship with Him. This illustrates that embracing difficult teachings can lead to significant spiritual growth and transformation. [36:50]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What is one challenging teaching in Scripture that you have been avoiding? How can you lean into this challenge and allow it to transform you?
Quotes
1. "Our goal in this whole entire series is to help us discover how to respond to offenses God's way. And we started off the series talking about how do we personally respond to moments when we are offended by others? Then we talked about how do we respond to moments when we actually are the offender? We dealt with how to confront offenses and we learned about tools like how to pause and pray and search our own heart and how to extend grace and assess the situation around us." [06:10] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Although Jesus is not out to harm us, he's not out to injure us, right? What it is, is our perception of what Jesus is saying or what Jesus is doing can make it feel very offensive to us. Understand that? Our perception of Jesus can make us be offended by what he says and what he does. And it's also our perception of what Jesus aims to do in our lives that can determine if we feel offended, right?" [09:21] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus just doesn't want to give us a quick fix. But he wants to give us eternal peace, right? Jesus wants to transform us from the inside out and feed us what we truly need to be fed. Again, he is our father. He is our provider. So, of course, one hundred percent. He loves to bless us in those ways. But more importantly. He cares about us holistically. And so he wants to he wants to give us more." [13:37] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When Jesus offers his bread, guess what? It's specifically made for you. It may cost time. It may cost your attention. Right. It's so worth it though. And it's so much sweeter, but you got to have the patience for it. Sometimes it takes patience to come out to always give you the quick fix that we need. Sometimes it takes patience to deal with what's happening. Sometimes it takes patience to unpack what Jesus is saying." [19:21] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When the word of God comes forth. It should challenge. It should shake our mortal logic. It should shake our view of ourselves. It should shake our view of the world and challenge us. That's what his word comes to do. This is what Timothy says his word comes to do. In second Timothy 316. It says, All scriptures God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and teaching. Correcting and training in righteousness that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." [28:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When we consume him, we will be changed on a molecular level. That's the whole idea behind communion. That's the symbolism of consuming Jesus in such a way that it's changing us from the inside out. It's transformation. Right. And this is the thing that they didn't understand that we should understand. When Jesus calls us to become one with him, to consume him, to consume his word, to consume him in prayer by spending time. He's looking to transform us from the inside out through his heavenly bread that brings us life." [32:31] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We have to stop chasing the Bible verses that just affirm us in a way we want to be affirmed and start seeking God for his heavenly bread. Don't just read the Bible verses you like. Read the verses that make you squirm a little bit. All right? Read the ones that make you ask questions. The ones that offend you a little bit. Right? Read the ones that you've got to have conversations about. Because when we chase just only what we want to hear, we can miss what he's really trying to say." [34:24] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Will you continue to follow Jesus when it gets hard? Will you? Will you continue to follow him when his word is not agreeing with what you want to hear? Will you continue to follow him when he's encouraged you to forgive the person that has offended you? When he's encouraged you to love the person who is hurting you? Will you continue to follow Jesus even then?" [38:42] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Our offenses create opportunities to grow. If you've ever felt offended by a Bible verse. If you've ever felt offended by Jesus. If you've ever felt uncomfortable by a teaching or a preaching and challenge. Then guess what? That means you're doing it right. You're doing it right. Right? Because as we read God's word. As we discuss it. As we preach. We should all one way or another have our hearts pierced in something. You understand? There should be something that jumps out once in a while that says, Oh, I don't like how that feels. Oh, that's challenging the way that I think about things." [27:30] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "It's never too late to continue to follow Jesus. Because he's always there and ready to take our hand. Amen. I just want to pray that over you. Father, we just thank you so much, God, because your word is true. God, even when it's hurtful a little bit, even when it's challenging, even when we perceive it to be offensive, God, we know that it is life to us. So I ask that right now for each of us, you help us to take another step forward in those areas that maybe we've stopped following you, God, so that we can become more like you." [41:21] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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