Embracing Selflessness: A Call to Share Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Selflessness in Faith

The early church exemplified selflessness, living for the gospel and the needs of others. Modern Christianity often focuses on personal comfort and preferences, losing sight of the mission to reach the lost. We must return to a selfless faith that prioritizes Jesus and others over ourselves. [08:01]

In the early days of Christianity, believers were known for their selflessness and dedication to the gospel. They prioritized the needs of others and the mission of spreading the good news over their own comfort and preferences. This selfless approach was a powerful testimony to the transformative power of Jesus Christ. However, in modern times, Christianity has often shifted towards a more self-centered approach, focusing on personal blessings, comfort, and preferences. This shift has led to a diluted version of faith that lacks the urgency and passion of the early church.

To return to a selfless faith, we must examine our own hearts and motivations. Are we living for ourselves or for Jesus and others? Are we willing to sacrifice our comfort and preferences for the sake of the gospel? By prioritizing Jesus and the needs of others, we can rediscover the power and urgency of the early church and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Think of one way you can prioritize someone else's needs over your own today. How can you demonstrate selflessness in your daily interactions?

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Day 2: Urgency for the Lost

Many people around us do not know Jesus, and this should stir a sense of urgency in us to share the gospel. We are called to be the incarnational representation of Christ, actively seeking opportunities to share our faith and bring others to Him. [16:47]

The spiritual state of our city and the world is alarming, with many people living without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This reality should stir a deep sense of urgency within us to share the gospel and bring others to Him. As followers of Christ, we are called to be His incarnational representation, living out our faith in a way that draws others to Him. This means actively seeking opportunities to share our faith and being intentional about our interactions with those who do not know Jesus.

Living with this sense of urgency requires a shift in our mindset and priorities. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and engage with people who are different from us or who may not share our beliefs. By doing so, we can be a light in the darkness and bring the hope of Jesus to those who desperately need it.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Reflection: Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. How can you intentionally share the gospel with them this week?

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Day 3: Loving Our Neighbors

We are commanded to love God and love our neighbors, including those who are different from us or even our enemies. This love should be evident in our actions and our willingness to share the gospel with those who do not know Jesus. [27:51]

The command to love our neighbors is central to the Christian faith. This love extends beyond those who are like us or who we find easy to love; it includes those who are different from us and even our enemies. True Christian love is sacrificial and unconditional, reflecting the love that Jesus has for us. This love should be evident in our actions and our willingness to share the gospel with those who do not know Jesus.

Loving our neighbors means being intentional about building relationships and showing kindness and compassion. It means being willing to listen, understand, and serve others, even when it is inconvenient or uncomfortable. By loving our neighbors in this way, we can be a powerful witness to the transformative love of Jesus and draw others to Him.

Luke 6:27-28 (ESV): "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."

Reflection: Think of someone who is different from you or who you find difficult to love. How can you show them the love of Christ today?

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Day 4: Revival of the Soul

Many of us may have grown apathetic or stale in our faith. We need a revival of the soul, a rekindling of our passion for Jesus and His mission. This involves a heartfelt return to the basics of loving God and loving people. [40:02]

Over time, it is easy for our faith to become routine and for our passion for Jesus to wane. We may find ourselves going through the motions without the fervor and zeal that once characterized our walk with Christ. This spiritual apathy can hinder our ability to fulfill the mission of sharing the gospel and loving others. To overcome this, we need a revival of the soul, a rekindling of our passion for Jesus and His mission.

Revival begins with a heartfelt return to the basics of loving God and loving people. It involves spending time in prayer, reading the Word, and seeking God's presence. It also means examining our hearts and repenting of any sin or complacency that has crept in. By doing so, we can experience a renewed sense of purpose and urgency in our faith, allowing us to live out the mission of Christ with passion and conviction.

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual state. What steps can you take to rekindle your passion for Jesus and His mission today?

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Day 5: Living Missionally

Our lives should reflect the mission of Christ. We are called to live missionally, being the flesh-and-blood representation of our incarnational God. This means actively sharing the gospel and living out our faith in a way that draws others to Jesus. [21:30]

Living missionally means that every aspect of our lives should reflect the mission of Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be His hands and feet, representing Him in our daily interactions and activities. This involves actively sharing the gospel and living out our faith in a way that draws others to Jesus. It means being intentional about our actions, words, and relationships, ensuring that they align with the teachings and example of Christ.

To live missionally, we must be aware of the opportunities around us to share the love of Jesus. This could be through acts of kindness, sharing our testimony, or simply being present and available to those in need. By living missionally, we can make a significant impact on the world around us and fulfill the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Consider how your daily life reflects the mission of Christ. What changes can you make to live more missionally and draw others to Jesus?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we embarked on a new series titled "It's Not About You," focusing on the essence of selflessness in our Christian walk. We delved into 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, where the Apostle Paul emphasizes becoming "all things to all people" to save some. This passage challenges us to shift our focus from ourselves to others, particularly those who do not know Jesus. The early church lived selflessly, prioritizing the gospel and the needs of others over their own. However, modern Christianity often centers around personal comfort and preferences, losing sight of the mission to reach the lost.

We explored the idea that many of us have made our faith about ourselves—our needs, our blessings, our comfort—rather than about Jesus and the people who need Him. This self-centered approach has led to a diluted version of Christianity that lacks the urgency and passion of the early church. We were reminded that our mission is to love God and love our neighbors, including those who are different from us or even our enemies.

The sermon also highlighted the alarming statistics about the spiritual state of our city, emphasizing that many people around us do not know Jesus. This should stir a sense of urgency in us to share the gospel. We were encouraged to live missionally, to be the incarnational representation of Christ in our daily lives, and to actively seek opportunities to share our faith.

Finally, we were called to examine our own hearts. Have we grown apathetic or stale in our faith? Do we need a revival of the soul? The altar was opened for those who felt the need to rekindle their passion for Jesus and His mission. The challenge was clear: to make it less about us and more about Him and those who need to hear the good news.

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Key Takeaways

1. and-blood representation of our incarnational God. This means actively sharing the gospel and living out our faith in a way that draws others to Jesus. [21:30]
### [21:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - First-Time Guests and Free Book
[01:36] - Next Steps and Crew Conference
[02:45] - Introduction to New Series: It's Not About You
[03:29] - Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
[04:12] - Prayer
[05:31] - The Problem of Self-Centeredness
[08:01] - The Early Church's Selflessness
[09:09] - Modern Christianity's Shift
[12:46] - The Urgency of Evangelism
[16:47] - Spiritual State of Our City
[19:16] - Living with Urgency
[21:30] - The Call to Share Jesus
[27:51] - Loving Our Neighbors and Enemies
[40:02] - Revival of the Soul
[42:11] - Invitation to the Altar

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean when he says he has "made himself a slave to everyone" in 1 Corinthians 9:19?
How did Paul adapt his approach to different groups of people according to 1 Corinthians 9:20-22?
What is the ultimate goal Paul is trying to achieve by becoming "all things to all people" as stated in 1 Corinthians 9:22?
In the sermon, what were some examples given of how modern Christianity has become self-centered? [09:09]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize becoming "all things to all people" in his mission to spread the gospel? How does this approach reflect selflessness? [03:29]
The sermon mentioned that many people around us do not know Jesus. How does this reality create a sense of urgency for sharing the gospel? [16:47]
How does loving our neighbors, including those who are different from us or even our enemies, align with the teachings of Jesus and Paul? [27:51]
What does it mean to live missionally, and how can this be a practical expression of our faith in daily life? [21:30]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own faith journey. Have you ever made your faith more about your own needs and comfort rather than about Jesus and others? How can you shift your focus? [09:09]
Think about the people in your life who do not know Jesus. What specific steps can you take this week to share the gospel with them? [16:47]
How can you demonstrate love to your neighbors, especially those who are different from you or whom you might consider enemies? What practical actions can you take? [27:51]
Have you experienced a time when your faith felt stale or apathetic? What can you do to rekindle your passion for Jesus and His mission? [40:02]
What does living missionally look like in your context? Identify one area of your life where you can be more intentional about representing Christ. [21:30]
The sermon challenged us to examine our hearts for self-centeredness. What are some specific ways you can practice selflessness in your daily interactions? [08:01]
How can you create opportunities in your daily routine to share your faith with others? Think of one specific person you can reach out to this week. [23:42]

Sermon Clips

1. "I think that all of us in this room, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, if you believe that he is the way, the truth, and the life, if you have said yes to him and you have repented from your sins, and you are following him, I guarantee you that you have made it about you, that we have made it about us as it pertains, not to our lives. But in our faith." [08:01] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We feel that attending church makes you a Christian. That's like me thinking because I sit in a car garage that I am a car. My question is, what do you do with Jesus? What are you doing? We made it all about us. God bless me. God, when's my next? God, when's my new season? God, when's my this? God, when's my that? God, when's my this? Let me tell you, it's not about you." [12:03] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You have the greatest gift. The one that has the ability to give life after death. The one that has the ability to forgive us of our sins. The one that has the ability to take our transgressions and separate it as far as the east is from the west. And he makes it no more. And what have you done with it? You've kept it. We've kept it. We keep it. We keep it in our churches. Oh, you want to know Jesus? Come to my church. Dog, you have Jesus. Give him Jesus." [15:01] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Imagine if we all infiltrated this city. That we went into the highways and the byways to the nooks and the crevices of our city and we missionally live this gospel out. We can bring that percentage down and we can bring the percentage of heaven up. You know why Jesus hasn't come yet, right? Because all haven't come to the saving knowledge of who Jesus is." [22:47] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You don't have to reach people for Jesus. You don't have to reach a hundred people, what about one? Let me tell you something, if you don't have this desire, let me tell you, you're going to want to get it. And I'll tell you how but I just think of something. There is this moment when Jesus is trying to call the apostles and he's walking around and he's Ubering and he's going from place to place and he's trying to figure out where he goes and he finds Andrew." [23:42] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "There is nothing more beautiful and profound than when you take somebody from death and you bring them over to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. That is living. That is living. You want purpose in your life? Start living for someone greater than yourself. Get out of your way and follow the King of kings and the Lord of lords and the path that he has for you." [21:30] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "You Christians only want to love people that vote like you. And you guys can't even get that right. You Christians just want to love people that look like you, that talk like you, that dress like you. I know I look like I'm ready to go on a Zoom meeting, but I still love you. Business party. I got it. I just say what you're thinking." [31:48] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Do you know why people should be attracted to you? Not because you're just good looking. Hey girl, I see my wife on the front row. Listen, they should be attracted to the difference in your life. They should be attracted to the salt that you are to bring to the earth that causes thirst that gives back to the Holy Spirit. They should be drawn to you. That's your life difference." [34:46] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Paul was so wrecked. How can a man allow himself to be stoned in the city of Ichnium, get dragged out and left for dead and get up and go right back to another city and preach the same gospel that almost got him murdered? Because he thought about the lost. He thought about those who didn't know Jesus. And his heart was, if I'm going to live, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I'm going to take as many people as I possibly can with me." [35:27] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Maybe you need to be reminded of the goodness of God. Maybe I need to be reminded of the goodness of God because let me confess to you something right here. Do you know how hard it is for me as our church grows to stay on mission? Because the more we grow, the more complex problems I deal with. The more we grow, the more things I have to deal with logistically, administratively, all of these things. All these things, you know what they do? They put a wedge between me and you." [39:03] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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