Embracing Our Identity: The Gospel of Strangers
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of the gospel's dual nature, emphasizing both its vertical and horizontal dimensions. The vertical aspect represents our relationship with God, where we receive His love and hope. The horizontal aspect is our call to extend that love and hope to others, embodying the gospel in our actions and relationships. This duality is beautifully symbolized by the cross, with its vertical and horizontal axes, reminding us that the gospel is incomplete if we focus solely on one dimension.
We delved into the identity of the stranger, one of the six gospel identities we're examining in this series. The Bible frequently refers to God's people as strangers, foreigners, and exiles, emphasizing that our true citizenship is in the kingdom of God. This identity challenges us to empathize with those who feel like outsiders, as we have all experienced moments of feeling like strangers in this world.
The message also highlighted the importance of loving our neighbors as ourselves, a commandment that Jesus emphasized as central to the gospel. This love extends to strangers, foreigners, and those who are different from us. We are called to welcome and care for them, just as God has welcomed us into His kingdom.
Through personal stories and biblical examples, we were reminded of the transformative power of recognizing our own identity as strangers and extending God's love to others. This is not a political issue but a deeply personal one, rooted in the heart of the gospel. As we embrace our identity as strangers and citizens of God's kingdom, we are compelled to love and serve others, reflecting the hope and love we have received.
Key Takeaways:
1. The gospel is both vertical and horizontal, symbolized by the cross. The vertical axis represents our relationship with God, while the horizontal axis calls us to extend His love to others. Focusing on only one aspect results in an incomplete understanding of the gospel. [02:49]
2. Our identity as strangers and foreigners in this world is a biblical truth that reminds us of our true citizenship in God's kingdom. This identity should foster empathy and compassion for those who feel like outsiders. [20:23]
3. Loving our neighbors as ourselves is central to the gospel. This love extends to strangers and foreigners, challenging us to welcome and care for them as God has welcomed us. [29:51]
4. The gospel of strangers reveals God's heart for those who feel like outsiders. He loves and watches over them, and through Jesus, He offers us citizenship in His kingdom, transforming us from strangers to beloved children. [25:56]
5. Embracing our identity as strangers compels us to love and serve others, reflecting the hope and love we have received from God. This is not a political issue but a deeply personal call to live out the gospel. [33:35]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:49] - The Dual Nature of the Gospel
[05:32] - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself
[08:40] - Recognizing Our Own Sickness
[10:40] - Fears and Strangers
[14:15] - The Personal Nature of Being a Stranger
[16:10] - Stories from the Border
[20:23] - Our Identity as Strangers
[21:50] - The Instinct for a Better World
[23:06] - The Kingdom of God
[24:52] - Feeling Like an Outsider
[25:56] - God's Love for Strangers
[29:51] - Empathy for Strangers
[31:05] - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
[33:35] - Reflecting on the Gospel's Call
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 22:37-39 - "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment, and a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
2. 1 Peter 2:10-11 - "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your soul."
3. Hebrews 11:13-16 - "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth."
Observation Questions:
1. How does the sermon describe the dual nature of the gospel, and what does each axis of the cross represent? [02:49]
2. What are the six gospel identities mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to our understanding of the gospel? [05:32]
3. According to the sermon, how does the Bible describe the identity of God's people as strangers and foreigners? [20:23]
4. What personal stories were shared in the sermon to illustrate the concept of being a stranger? [16:10]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command to "love your neighbor as yourself" encompass both the vertical and horizontal aspects of the gospel? [05:32]
2. In what ways does recognizing our identity as strangers influence our empathy and compassion towards others? [20:23]
3. How does the sermon suggest that our experiences of feeling like strangers can deepen our understanding of God's love for us? [25:56]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between our earthly citizenship and our citizenship in God's kingdom? [23:06]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like a stranger or outsider. How can that experience help you empathize with others who feel the same way? [14:15]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of both receiving and giving hope. How can you actively extend God's love to someone in your community this week? [33:35]
3. Consider the command to love your neighbor as yourself. Who in your life might be considered a "stranger" that you can reach out to and show love? [29:51]
4. How can you balance the vertical and horizontal aspects of the gospel in your daily life, ensuring that your faith is both alive and active? [02:49]
5. The sermon mentions the transformative power of recognizing our identity as strangers. How can this understanding change the way you view your role in God's kingdom? [25:56]
6. What practical steps can you take to welcome and care for strangers in your church or neighborhood, reflecting the love and hope you have received from God? [31:05]
7. How does the idea of being a citizen of God's kingdom challenge your current priorities and lifestyle choices? [23:06]
Devotional
Day 1: The Cross as a Symbol of Complete Gospel
The gospel is beautifully symbolized by the cross, which has both vertical and horizontal dimensions. The vertical axis represents our relationship with God, where we receive His love, grace, and hope. This is the foundation of our faith, as it connects us directly to the divine. However, the gospel is incomplete if we focus solely on this vertical relationship. The horizontal axis calls us to extend the love and hope we have received from God to others. It challenges us to embody the gospel in our actions and relationships, reaching out to those around us with compassion and kindness. This dual nature of the gospel reminds us that our faith is not just a personal journey but a communal one, where we are called to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. [02:49]
"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively extend God's love to someone in your life today, reflecting the horizontal dimension of the gospel?
Day 2: Embracing Our Identity as Strangers
The Bible frequently refers to God's people as strangers, foreigners, and exiles, emphasizing that our true citizenship is in the kingdom of God. This identity challenges us to empathize with those who feel like outsiders, as we have all experienced moments of feeling like strangers in this world. Recognizing our identity as strangers helps us to understand the transient nature of our earthly existence and the eternal significance of our heavenly citizenship. It calls us to live with a sense of purpose and mission, knowing that our ultimate home is with God. This perspective should foster empathy and compassion for those who feel marginalized or excluded, as we are reminded of our own experiences of alienation. [20:23]
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate empathy for someone who feels like an outsider in your community, reflecting on your own experiences of feeling like a stranger?
Day 3: Loving Strangers as Ourselves
Loving our neighbors as ourselves is central to the gospel, and this love extends to strangers, foreigners, and those who are different from us. Jesus emphasized this commandment as a reflection of God's heart for humanity. We are called to welcome and care for others, just as God has welcomed us into His kingdom. This love is not limited to those who are familiar or similar to us but extends to all people, regardless of their background or circumstances. By loving strangers as ourselves, we demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel and reflect the inclusive nature of God's love. This call to love challenges us to break down barriers and build bridges of understanding and compassion. [29:51]
"You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:34, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one practical way you can show love and hospitality to a stranger or someone different from you this week.
Day 4: God's Heart for the Outsider
The gospel reveals God's heart for those who feel like outsiders. He loves and watches over them, offering us citizenship in His kingdom through Jesus. This transformative message reminds us that we are no longer strangers but beloved children of God. As we embrace our identity as citizens of God's kingdom, we are compelled to love and serve others, reflecting the hope and love we have received. This is not a political issue but a deeply personal call to live out the gospel in our daily lives. By recognizing God's love for the outsider, we are inspired to reach out to those who feel marginalized or excluded, offering them the same love and acceptance we have received from God. [25:56]
"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing." (Deuteronomy 10:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: How can you reflect God's heart for the outsider in your interactions with others today?
Day 5: Living Out the Gospel's Call
Embracing our identity as strangers compels us to love and serve others, reflecting the hope and love we have received from God. This is not merely a political issue but a deeply personal call to live out the gospel in our everyday lives. As citizens of God's kingdom, we are called to be ambassadors of His love, reaching out to those who feel marginalized or excluded. This call challenges us to examine our own lives and consider how we can better reflect the gospel's message of hope and love in our interactions with others. By living out the gospel's call, we become agents of transformation in the world, embodying the love and grace of Christ in all that we do. [33:35]
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to live out the gospel's call to love and serve others in your community?
Quotes
"Now, see, each of the gospel identities has these two parts because the gospel has two parts. I don't know if you've ever considered this before. You know, the gospel has two axes. It has like a vertical axis, and it has a horizontal axis." [00:01:46] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"On the other side, though, you can look at just the horizontal piece, just doing the good works, just helping people. I just love serving people. I just love helping people. But maybe I leave out the faith part. That's what the Bible calls dead works." [00:03:17] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"If you want to understand the gospel, you have to understand that at all times, at all times, the gospel story is both horizontal and vertical. The hope that I get from God and the hope that I give in His name to other people." [00:05:13] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God says you're a stranger. It's no shock then that just 15 verses after God says in Leviticus 19, 18, love your neighbor as yourself, he says this, if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him." [00:30:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Let me pray for you. God, thank you for your gospel. Thank you for clear pictures that even I can understand. God, thank you for your gospel. Thank you for your gospel. Thank you for the invitation to become a citizen of your kingdom." [00:34:30] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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