Embracing Our Identity: A Call to Authentic Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Divine Identity

The church is not merely a collection of individuals; it is a divinely chosen community with a profound mission. As members of this royal priesthood, we are called to proclaim the excellencies of Christ to a world shrouded in darkness. This identity is not just a title but a call to action, influencing every aspect of our church life and personal conduct. By understanding and embracing our role as part of this chosen race, we can transform our interactions and ensure that our lives reflect the light of Christ in all we do. This transformation is essential for the church to truly be a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel. [25:41]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Reflection: How can you more actively proclaim the excellencies of Christ in your everyday interactions?

Day 2: The Seriousness of Sin

Jesus uses vivid and hyperbolic language to emphasize the severity of sin and the lengths we should go to avoid it. By discussing the metaphorical act of cutting off parts of our body that cause us to sin, He underscores the importance of purity and holiness in our lives. This teaching is not just about personal morality; it's about protecting those around us—especially the vulnerable—from the consequences of our actions. As followers of Christ, we must take drastic measures to avoid sin and its ripple effects in our community, ensuring that our actions do not lead others astray. [30:41]

Matthew 18:6-7 (ESV): "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!"

Reflection: What measures can you take today to guard against sin in your life, especially those that might affect others?

Day 3: Cultivating Authentic Community

A beautiful church is marked by its authenticity and the genuine reflection of Christ's love, even amidst our imperfections. This authenticity attracts others not because of our perfection but because it resonates with the reality of human experience—flawed yet forgiven. By acknowledging our flaws and striving towards holiness and love, we create a community that truly reflects the heart of God. This environment allows us to grow spiritually and invites others to experience the transformative power of the Gospel authentically. [27:54]

James 3:17 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."

Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to fostering a more authentic and transparent community within your church?

Day 4: Prioritizing Mission Over Attraction

While maintaining an attractive place of worship is important, our primary focus should be on fulfilling our missional calling—actively going out into the world to spread the Gospel. This focus shifts from merely drawing people into our services to equipping each member to carry out the Great Commission. By prioritizing discipleship and genuine worship, we ensure that our church does not just grow in numbers but also in spiritual depth and impact. [33:54]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to move from being merely a participant in church services to being an active participant in the mission of the church?

Day 5: Protection and Care for the Vulnerable

One of the core aspects of living out the Gospel is protecting and caring for the vulnerable within our community. This includes creating safe environments for children, the elderly, and anyone susceptible to harm. By taking proactive steps to safeguard those within our care, we demonstrate the protective love of Christ and uphold the dignity and value of every individual. This commitment to protection and care is a powerful testimony to the surrounding community of the love and security found in Christ. [57:32]

Psalm 82:3-4 (ESV): "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

Reflection: How can you be more involved in creating a safe and caring environment for the vulnerable in your community?

Sermon Summary

In today's sermon, I explored the profound characteristics of a beautiful church, drawing from the Gospel of Mark and other scriptural references to illustrate our call as believers. We began by acknowledging the importance of being a church that not only gathers but also sends forth its members as emissaries of the Gospel, emphasizing our identity as a chosen race and a royal priesthood, meant to proclaim the excellencies of Christ.

We delved into the challenging teachings of Jesus in Mark 9, where He instructs us on the severe measures to avoid sin, symbolically cutting off parts of our body that cause us to sin. This hyperbolic language stresses the seriousness with which we must avoid sin and protect the vulnerable among us, especially the little ones in faith. The metaphor of salt losing its saltiness was used to underline the necessity of maintaining our distinctiveness as Christians, preserving our faith and witness in a world that desperately needs Christ.

Throughout the sermon, I emphasized the messy reality of our lives and how, despite this, we are loved by God and called to live out the Gospel authentically. This authenticity involves being a community that welcomes everyone, protects the vulnerable, and lives out the transformative power of the Gospel.

We also discussed the practical aspects of church life, including the need for proper church maintenance and the importance of being mission-focused rather than attraction-focused. This means prioritizing discipleship and genuine worship over merely drawing people through appealing services.

As we wrapped up, I encouraged the congregation to embrace their identity in Christ and to live out the implications of the Gospel in their daily lives, ensuring that our church remains a beacon of hope and a testament to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The Identity of the Church: The church is not just a gathering of individuals; it is a divinely chosen community, tasked with the high calling of proclaiming the Gospel. As we embrace our identity as a royal priesthood, we must focus on declaring God's excellencies to a world in darkness. This identity should shape every aspect of our church life and individual actions. [25:41]
2. The Seriousness of Sin: Jesus' vivid language about cutting off body parts that cause sin serves as a stark reminder of the seriousness with which we must regard sin. It's not just about avoiding wrongdoing; it's about actively pursuing a life that reflects the holiness and purity of Christ, ensuring that our actions do not lead others astray, especially the vulnerable. [30:41]
3. Authentic Community: A beautiful church is an authentic community that acknowledges its imperfections yet strives towards the holiness and love that God calls us to embody. This authenticity attracts others not because of our perfection but because of our genuine reflection of Christ's love and grace amidst our flaws. [27:54]
4. Mission over Attraction: While maintaining an attractive place of worship is important, our primary focus should be on being missional—actively going out into the world to spread the Gospel. This involves equipping each member to carry out the Great Commission, rather than merely drawing people into our services. [33:54]
5. Protection and Care for the Vulnerable: Protecting the vulnerable is a critical aspect of living out the Gospel. This includes creating safe environments for children, the elderly, and anyone who might be susceptible to harm. By safeguarding those within our care, we demonstrate the protective love of Christ to our community.

** [57:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:37] - Opening Scripture Reading
[18:52] - Introduction to Sermon Topic
[25:41] - The Identity of the Church
[30:06] - The Seriousness of Sin
[33:54] - Mission over Attraction
[42:59] - Community and Cooperation
[57:32] - Protection and Care for the Vulnerable
[71:18] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus mean when He says, "For the one who is not against us is for us"? ([30:06])
How does Jesus describe the consequences of causing "little ones" to sin? ([30:41])
What is the significance of Jesus' hyperbolic language about cutting off body parts that cause sin? ([31:13])
According to 1 Peter 2:9, what is the identity and purpose of the church?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus use such strong language about cutting off body parts to avoid sin? What does this teach us about the seriousness of sin? ([31:13])
How does the concept of being "salted with fire" relate to the idea of living a distinctively Christian life? ([31:13])
In what ways does the identity of the church as a "royal priesthood" and "holy nation" shape our mission and actions as believers? (1 Peter 2:9)
How can the church balance being mission-focused with maintaining an attractive place of worship? ([33:54])

Application Questions

Jesus emphasizes the importance of protecting the vulnerable, especially children. How can our church create a safer environment for the vulnerable among us? ([57:32])
Reflect on the metaphor of salt losing its saltiness. Are there areas in your life where you feel you have lost your distinctiveness as a Christian? How can you regain it? ([31:13])
The sermon mentioned the messy reality of our lives and how we are still loved by God. How can we embrace and show authenticity in our community? ([27:54])
What practical steps can you take to ensure that your actions do not lead others astray, especially the vulnerable? ([30:41])
How can you personally contribute to making our church more mission-focused rather than attraction-focused? ([33:54])
Think of a specific way you can live out the Gospel authentically in your daily life this week. What will you do, and how will you hold yourself accountable?
How can you help safeguard your soul from sin, as Jesus described, in your daily walk with Christ? ([31:13])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We're going to finish up our series on Here Comes the Bride on the church with just a clear name that God had given me this week as I was studying this, and it's a beautiful church, a beautiful church. Let me give you, by the way, great singing today. Amen? Great singing. You all, I had to stop, and I had to just hear you all singing. You're singing to yourselves, you're singing to the Lord, you're singing. Praise God." [19:33]( | | )

2. "I'd rather have a noisy, messy church that's alive than a neat, quiet church that's dead. Amen? Amen. So praise God for that. that." [18:52]( | | )

3. "We want to worship from the heart. We want to be a welcoming church for guests. Some of you got a phone call to be part of our welcome team. We've got a welcome ministry that we are doing. We're taking it to the next level. It's going to be our welcome team that we thought about in the past on steroids." [36:34]( | | )

4. "We understand that attractional ministry is part of a church. We need to do our very best for the Lord. We want to have a nice upkeep of our building. We want to be sure that we do a good job and upkeep our building and our ground so that we have a great place, not for now, but for generations to come." [38:47]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "A beautiful church is humbly devoted to the gospel. Humbly devoted to the gospel. See, John is one of the sons of thunder. You know who the sons of thunder are? You've got James and John. These are the guys who wanted to pray for fire from having to come down in the towns that didn't want to receive them and all this. And Jesus is like, what are you talking about? Stop it." [32:02]( | | )

2. "Our method is not attractional, but missional. Now you say, I don't know what those words mean. Let me define what an attractional church is. And let me say up front, I am not criticizing churches that do an attractional ministry. Did you hear that? Let me say it again so I don't get misquoted. I am not criticizing churches that do an attractional ministry." [33:54]( | | )

3. "The saints are to do the work of ministry. That's your job. You're on mission to do the work of ministry. What does that mean? It means you build up people. You help one another. You're kind to one another. You make phone calls. You help us to care for people. You take care of needs. You are a family. You're just in love with one another. You're just one big, seriously happy family." [40:38]( | | )

4. "We partner based on our thinking on triaging where people are and being sure that we are not compromising our principles and yet we are being open to reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Humbly, we need to be devoted to the gospel. Keeping the main thing, the main thing. And as a church, we are missional as we reach people." [52:19](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

5. "Jesus is basically using this tool to get your attention. Hyperbole is used to get your attention. And Jesus is saying, listen, hear this. If various parts cause you to sin, cut them off. And here's what he means by this. Hear this. If your hand sins, cut it off. Cut it off, gouge it out, whatever." [01:01:42](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | Download vertical captioned clip)

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