Embracing Relationship Over Rules in Following Jesus
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of truth in our lives as we strive to be the people God wants us to be. Following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily commitment to walk in His way, speak like Him, and rest as He rests. The pastor acknowledges that we often forget to follow Jesus in certain aspects of our lives, leading to exhaustion. However, Jesus invites us to experience His presence in a way that transforms us and forms us. It is an invitation to follow Him, not just follow the rules.
The pastor then delves into the story in Mark chapter 2, where Jesus is having dinner at Levi's house with tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees question why Jesus would eat with such people. Jesus responds by saying that He has come not for the righteous, but for the sinners. The pastor highlights the contrast between Jesus, who invites people to follow Him, and the Pharisees, who are indignant and angry about Jesus' ministry. The Pharisees' frustration stems from the threat Jesus poses to their comfortable lives and their understanding of how to follow God.
The pastor shares a personal experience from their time as an intern at a church. They recall being publicly reprimanded in front of a group of volunteers, which left a lasting scar on their life. Years later, they approach the lead pastor, Jeremy King, with their own narrative of shame and regret. However, instead of judgment or condemnation, Jeremy responds with an invitation to have coffee and build a relationship. Through this relationship, the pastor learns that they don't need to hide their mistakes and blunders, but can come to the table and be honest about them. They emphasize the importance of belonging in relationships and how it allows for growth and moving forward.
The pastor reflects on the moments in our Christian journey where we mistakenly believe we have hit the bullseye, only to realize that we were shooting at the wrong target. The pastor emphasizes that Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to inaugurate the kingdom of God and bring heaven to earth. However, throughout history, there have been instances where the church has veered off course and mistakenly believed that expanding its own power and control equated to expanding the kingdom of God. The pastor encourages the congregation to counter this misconception and resist the idea that religion is solely about rules and control.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of focusing on relationship rather than behavior in our relationship with the Lord and with others. The pastor encourages the congregation to recognize moments of frustration, anxiety, and resistance to the words of Jesus, as these can reveal our tendency to try to control our relationships. Instead of starting with behavior, the pastor urges the congregation to start with belonging and to release the need for control. The pastor reminds the congregation that Jesus gave up control and laid down his life for us, so we should let go and allow Him to lead, love, and provide for us.
Key Takeaways:
- Following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily commitment to walk in His way, speak like Him, and rest as He rests. It is an invitation to follow Him, not just follow the rules. [12:45]
- Jesus came not for the righteous, but for the sinners. This contrasts with the Pharisees, who were indignant and angry about Jesus' ministry because it threatened their comfortable lives and their understanding of how to follow God. [22:30]
- The pastor's personal experience with public reprimand and subsequent relationship with lead pastor Jeremy King emphasizes the importance of belonging in relationships and how it allows for growth and moving forward. [34:15]
- Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to inaugurate the kingdom of God and bring heaven to earth. The church has often veered off course, mistakenly believing that expanding its own power and control equated to expanding the kingdom of God. [45:50]
- The pastor encourages the congregation to focus on relationship rather than behavior in our relationship with the Lord and with others. Instead of starting with behavior, we should start with belonging and release the need for control. [57:20]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 2:13-17: "Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
2. John 14:23: "Jesus replied, 'Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.'"
3. Matthew 6:9-13: "'This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What was the reaction of the Pharisees when they saw Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners in Mark 2:13-17?
2. In John 14:23, what does Jesus say about those who love Him and obey His teachings?
3. What does the prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 tell us about the kingdom of God and our daily needs?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' response to the Pharisees in Mark 2:13-17 reveal about His mission and the people He came to save?
2. How does Jesus' statement in John 14:23 about making a home with those who love Him and obey His teachings relate to the concept of belonging?
3. How does the prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 reflect the idea of God's kingdom coming to earth and His will being done?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you felt judged or excluded, like the tax collectors and sinners in Mark 2:13-17? How did that experience affect your sense of belonging?
2. In what ways can you demonstrate your love for Jesus and obedience to His teachings in your daily interactions this week, as suggested in John 14:23?
3. How can you incorporate the principles of the prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 into your daily life, specifically in terms of seeking God's kingdom and relying on Him for your needs?
4. Can you identify a relationship in your life where you need to focus more on belonging and less on behavior? What is one step you can take towards this shift?
5. Think of a situation where you tried to control the outcome. How can you release the need for control and trust in God's provision and guidance instead?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Daily Walk with Jesus
Following Jesus is not a one-time decision, but a daily commitment to walk in His way, speak like Him, and rest as He rests. It is an invitation to follow Him, not just follow the rules. [12:45] This is a call to a lifestyle of continuous surrender and obedience, not just a set of religious practices.
Luke 9:23 - "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"
Reflection: What does it mean for you to take up your cross daily and follow Jesus? Can you identify one area in your life where you need to surrender control and follow Him more closely?
Day 2: Jesus, the Friend of Sinners
Jesus came not for the righteous, but for the sinners. This contrasts with the Pharisees, who were indignant and angry about Jesus' ministry because it threatened their comfortable lives and their understanding of how to follow God. [22:30] This is a reminder that Jesus' mission was to reach out to those who are lost and broken, not those who think they have it all together.
Matthew 9:13 - "But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Reflection: How can you show mercy and grace to those around you who are lost and broken? Can you think of one person in your life who needs to experience the love of Jesus?
Day 3: The Power of Belonging
The pastor's personal experience with public reprimand and subsequent relationship with lead pastor Jeremy King emphasizes the importance of belonging in relationships and how it allows for growth and moving forward. [34:15] This is a call to create a culture of acceptance and belonging, where people can be honest about their mistakes and find healing and growth.
Romans 15:7 - "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
Reflection: How can you foster a sense of belonging in your relationships? Can you think of one person in your life who needs to feel accepted and loved?
Day 4: The Kingdom of God, Not Religion
Jesus did not come to establish a new religion, but to inaugurate the kingdom of God and bring heaven to earth. The church has often veered off course, mistakenly believing that expanding its own power and control equated to expanding the kingdom of God. [45:50] This is a call to focus on the kingdom of God, not the structures and systems of religion.
Luke 17:21 - "Nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst."
Reflection: How can you live in a way that reflects the kingdom of God, not just religious practices? Can you think of one way you can bring heaven to earth in your daily life?
Day 5: Relationship Over Behavior
The pastor encourages the congregation to focus on relationship rather than behavior in our relationship with the Lord and with others. Instead of starting with behavior, we should start with belonging and release the need for control. [57:20] This is a call to prioritize relationship over rules, and to let go of our need for control.
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Reflection: How can you prioritize relationship over behavior in your walk with God and with others? Can you think of one relationship in your life where you need to let go of control and focus on love and acceptance?
Quotes
1. "It's so crucial that first we start with the truth for ourselves. This is the consistent invitation by Jesus. Not a one time kind of thing." [25:15]
2. "He invites us forward to experience him and his experience his presence in such a way that literally changes us. He forms us. It's an invitation to follow not follow the rules." [26:44]
3. "Change is hard for them. Change is hard for anybody else in here. And their knee jerk reaction is to control. You see control driven kind of motive looks like this. The Pharisees step on the scene and they say, 'You must change your behavior first.'" [28:08]
4. "The Pharisees are trying to control the scenario by leading with behave, believe and belong. And Jesus comes on the scene to reverse the order of things. You see Jesus wants to grow a relationship with us not gain control." [31:05]
5. "This kind of thinking about releasing to belong, believe, behave instead of the opposite begins to then flow out in our relationships this way. I'm telling you, think about the relationships in your life that have made you frustrated or angry or upset kind of the same thing. Anxious." [33:33]
6. "Rather than starting with behavior, we start with belonging." This quote reminds us to prioritize our relationship with God and others over focusing solely on behavior. It encourages us to recognize the importance of belonging and connection. [41:05]
7. "If we want to dare, I say, get a grip on control, we've got to let it go." This quote challenges us to let go of our need for control and trust in God's plan for our lives. It reminds us that true freedom comes from surrendering control to God. [42:56]
8. "Something that I want us to notice is that Jesus' consistent message is not 'follow the rules.' It's 'follow me.' It's an invitation closer in relationship." [24:08]
9. "We take a shot and we think we hit the bullseye, all to realize we were shooting at the wrong target." [17:43]
10. "From people on the outside looking in they might consider that religion is about the do's and the don'ts. This finds its way into our thinking today. And so people are resistant to step into the church why? Because this is another entity where someone just wants to control what I do and say and believe." [20:15]
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