Embracing True Faith: Surrender and Sacrifice

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound nature of Jesus' ministry and how it contrasts with our often superficial understanding of faith. Jesus walked into situations and embraced those who were different, offering hope and life without judgment or ridicule. This stands in stark contrast to our tendency to become frustrated when our message is rejected. Jesus' frustration was not with those who disagreed with Him but with those who claimed to follow Him yet missed the essence of His mission. We are reminded to humble ourselves, recognizing that it is not us but Christ in us who accomplishes anything.

The sermon challenges us to examine our motivations and actions, urging us to be about our Father's business, just as Jesus was. It is easy to become distracted by personal ambitions and societal pressures, building our own castles instead of God's kingdom. The tradition of using ashes from Palm Sunday as a reminder of our frailty and need for grace serves as a powerful metaphor. Our misplaced expectations can become the fertile ground for true surrender, as God refines us through trials, not to destroy but to purify us.

Pain and suffering are inevitable, but they can lead to transformation if we allow them to. Change often comes through pain, but it doesn't have to be that way. We are encouraged to seek transformation through a deep relationship with Jesus, not just in times of trouble but consistently. Our faith should not be surface-level, driven by routine or obligation, but rooted in genuine love and surrender to God.

The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a poignant reminder that true victory is not in earthly accolades but in the path of the cross. Many celebrate Jesus without understanding the cost of following Him. True worship is not just about celebration but about surrender, taking up our cross daily and following Him. This is a call to move beyond mere words and rituals to a life of genuine sacrifice and devotion.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus' ministry was marked by embracing those who were different, offering hope and life without judgment. We are called to reflect this attitude, recognizing that it is Christ in us who accomplishes anything, not our own efforts. [49:17]

- Our misplaced expectations and personal ambitions can hinder our spiritual growth. By surrendering these to God, we allow Him to refine us, turning our trials into opportunities for purification and transformation. [53:11]

- Pain and suffering are inevitable, but they can lead to transformation if we allow them to. We are encouraged to seek change through a deep relationship with Jesus, not just in times of trouble but consistently. [56:06]

- True worship is not about emotional praise or routine rituals but about genuine surrender and sacrifice. We are called to take up our cross daily, moving beyond surface-level faith to a life of devotion. [01:01:24]

- The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem reminds us that true victory is found in the path of the cross. Many celebrate Jesus without understanding the cost of following Him, but true discipleship requires a life of genuine sacrifice and devotion. [01:00:42]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:31] - Embracing Differences
[49:17] - Humility and Christ in Us
[50:07] - Being About the Father's Business
[50:48] - Level Playing Field of Grace
[51:31] - Building God's Kingdom
[52:20] - Ashes and Surrender
[53:11] - Refining Through Trials
[54:01] - Pain and Transformation
[55:25] - Running to God in All Times
[56:52] - Surface-Level Faith
[57:37] - Genuine Worship and Giving
[58:26] - Missing the Point
[59:14] - Following Jesus to the Cross
[01:00:42] - Cost of Discipleship
[01:01:24] - True Worship and Surrender

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 19:41-44
- Romans 12:1
- Luke 9:23

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 19:41-44, why does Jesus weep over Jerusalem, and what does this reveal about His understanding of the people's faith? [56:52]

2. How does Romans 12:1 describe true worship, and how does this contrast with the crowd's celebration during Jesus' triumphal entry? [01:00:42]

3. What does Jesus mean when He calls His followers to "take up their cross daily" in Luke 9:23, and how does this relate to the concept of genuine discipleship discussed in the sermon? [01:01:24]

4. According to the sermon, how does Jesus' approach to those who are different from Him challenge our own attitudes and actions? [48:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41-44 suggest about the importance of understanding the true cost of discipleship? How might this apply to modern believers? [56:52]

2. Romans 12:1 calls believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice. How does this idea of sacrifice challenge the way we typically view worship and service in the church? [01:00:42]

3. The sermon mentions that pain and suffering can lead to transformation. How does this perspective align with the biblical concept of refining through trials, as mentioned in Malachi 3:2-3? [53:11]

4. How does the call to "take up your cross daily" in Luke 9:23 challenge the notion of surface-level faith, and what does it mean for a believer's daily life? [01:01:24]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt frustrated because your message of hope was rejected. How can you adopt Jesus' approach of embracing differences without judgment in similar situations? [48:31]

2. Consider your personal ambitions and expectations. Are there areas where these might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you surrender these to God for refinement and transformation? [53:11]

3. Pain and suffering are inevitable. How can you cultivate a consistent relationship with Jesus that prepares you to handle these challenges with faith and resilience? [56:06]

4. True worship involves genuine surrender and sacrifice. What practical steps can you take to move beyond routine rituals and develop a deeper devotion to God? [01:01:24]

5. The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem highlights the cost of discipleship. How can you better understand and embrace this cost in your own journey of faith? [01:00:42]

6. Identify one area in your life where you might be building your own "castle" instead of God's kingdom. What changes can you make to align your actions with God's mission? [51:31]

7. How can you ensure that your faith is not just surface-level but deeply rooted in love and surrender to God? What specific practices can help you grow in this area? [56:52]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Differences with Christ's Love
Jesus' ministry was characterized by His willingness to embrace those who were different, offering hope and life without judgment. This stands in stark contrast to our human tendency to become frustrated when our message is rejected or when we encounter those who disagree with us. Jesus' frustration was not with those who disagreed with Him but with those who claimed to follow Him yet missed the essence of His mission. We are called to reflect this attitude, recognizing that it is not our own efforts but Christ in us who accomplishes anything. By humbling ourselves and embracing others with love, we can truly reflect the heart of Jesus. [49:17]

"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?" (Matthew 5:46-47, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is different from you or whom you find difficult to love. How can you intentionally show them Christ's love today?


Day 2: Surrendering Ambitions for Spiritual Growth
Our misplaced expectations and personal ambitions can hinder our spiritual growth. It is easy to become distracted by personal goals and societal pressures, building our own castles instead of God's kingdom. By surrendering these ambitions to God, we allow Him to refine us, turning our trials into opportunities for purification and transformation. The tradition of using ashes from Palm Sunday as a reminder of our frailty and need for grace serves as a powerful metaphor for this process. When we let go of our own plans and allow God to work in us, we find true growth and transformation. [53:11]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What personal ambition or expectation are you holding onto that might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you surrender this to God today?


Day 3: Transformation Through Consistent Relationship with Jesus
Pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life, but they can lead to transformation if we allow them to. Change often comes through pain, but it doesn't have to be that way. We are encouraged to seek transformation through a deep relationship with Jesus, not just in times of trouble but consistently. Our faith should not be surface-level, driven by routine or obligation, but rooted in genuine love and surrender to God. By cultivating a consistent relationship with Jesus, we can experience true transformation and growth. [56:06]

"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." (James 1:2-4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus today, not just in times of trouble but consistently? What specific steps can you take to make this a daily practice?


Day 4: Genuine Worship Through Surrender and Sacrifice
True worship is not about emotional praise or routine rituals but about genuine surrender and sacrifice. Many celebrate Jesus without understanding the cost of following Him. True worship involves taking up our cross daily and following Him, moving beyond mere words and rituals to a life of genuine sacrifice and devotion. This is a call to examine our motivations and actions, ensuring that our worship is rooted in a deep love for God and a willingness to surrender all to Him. [01:01:24]

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV)

Reflection: What does genuine worship look like for you today? How can you move beyond routine rituals to a life of true surrender and sacrifice?


Day 5: Understanding the Cost of Discipleship
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is a poignant reminder that true victory is not in earthly accolades but in the path of the cross. Many celebrate Jesus without understanding the cost of following Him. True discipleship requires a life of genuine sacrifice and devotion, moving beyond surface-level faith to a deep commitment to following Jesus. This involves recognizing the cost of discipleship and being willing to take up our cross daily, following Him with our whole heart. [01:00:42]

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:38-39, ESV)

Reflection: What does taking up your cross daily look like in your life? Are there areas where you need to count the cost of discipleship and make a deeper commitment to following Jesus?

Quotes


The Jesus I accept and know walks into situations, walks into cultural issues and wraps his arms around people who don't look like us. Wraps his arms around people who don't live like us. Doesn't demoralize them or degrade them. Doesn't make fun of them or laugh at them but speaks hope and life into them. We, on the other hand, have this position that while we're speaking hope in life, if they reject us, then we get mad and we get upset and we get frustrated. But I don't remember Jesus getting mad, getting frustrated, and upset with those who were not like him and didn't agree with him. [00:47:45]

Humble yourselves. We are not anything. It is an I that does anything. It is Jesus Christ formed in me who accomplishes anything through me. It is never me. It is never you. It has always been him. And we must die out so much so that our attitudes, our speech, everything that we do reflects Jesus Christ. Even as a child, as he wanders away from his parents and his parents find him in the temple, what does Jesus respond with them? Well, you should have known I would have been about my father's business. [00:49:07]

The sad part is when we in the church start wondering, "We're not about the father's business." It'd be great if you wondered a few weeks from church so that you were out ministering to the world and to those around you, but we wander into everything else, a despair, a depression. We wonder in, uh, God's not meeting my need, so why go to church? What I hear that more than anything, what's the point in going? What do you mean what's the point in going? God didn't answer my prayers. [00:50:00]

The point is that it doesn't matter if he ever answers your prayers again. The point is he already answered the greatest prayer you could have ever prayed: save me, deliver me. And he does that for every one of us. Let me tell you, if you don't know Jesus Christ this morning and you're questioning your salvation and in any place, understand that none of us deserved it and none of us are any better or none of us are in a place where we have obtained some holiness or some betterment than anybody else. [00:50:34]

Every single one of us from the top to the bottom, all on a level playing field, we are all saved by grace. Sinners. Get us a bunch of name tags next Sunday. You know, they put no names on it. Just simply says sinner. That's what we are. We try to perfect ourselves. We try to build our own castles because of what we need. We do this in our own agendas every day, every week. We're trying to get somewhere in our careers and in society that we can be somebody that we can obtain something. [00:51:00]

In the early church, it was a tradition to burn the palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday and use the ashes for Ash Wednesday. And some of you may recognize that you have seen people in public who have taken the ashes of those palm branches and you have seen how they have most likely marked their foreheads with a cross as a reminder. A tradition we don't follow, an Ash Wednesday tradition, but it's a powerful reversal of what was once praise becomes a reminder of our frailty and a need for grace. [00:52:00]

The ashes of our misplaced expectations can become the soil where true surrender takes root. Malachi 3:2-3 tells us that God is like a refiner's fire and he doesn't burn us to destroy us. He burns us to purify us. But who can endure the day of his coming? He is like a refiner's fire and like a fuller soap. The fire is not about judgment but about formation. So that we are formed in fire, not in comfort. [00:52:54]

Change only comes when there is pain and great pain to force change. And so oftentimes in our churches, we don't see change in our churches until there is a pain that forces us to change. We don't change our ways and our actions until we're forced to change. We can look at it on the financial side of things. You know, we don't create budgets and change our financial ways until we have experienced great pain. [00:54:09]

We don't change our health and our condition until we experience great pain. And I, for myself, great pain last January was enough to force that something had to be done, something had to change. So great pain forces us. I don't want to deal with that again. You see what I'm saying? You go through heart procedure and oftentimes we go through great pain and we tell ourselves that we're not going to go back that way. [00:54:45]

There will be great pain you will endure in this life. There will be pain. There will be suffering. But my, how that pain and suffering so much easier to deal with when we know Jesus Christ. He helps us. He undergirds us. He comforts us. We run to him in good times and bad times. And boy, if we're running to him in the good times, we'll know who to run to in the bad times. [00:56:17]

At what point do we as Christians decide that I'm not just here because I have to be here or this is just the thing that we have to do? At what point does our prayers quit being a monotonous routine and it just becomes the thing that we do because we're in love with the one we're talking to? When does our worship just quit being because brother Darl or Lindy decided they were going to lead us in these three songs? [00:56:48]

When does our worship change that it doesn't require them to lead us into worship? When does our giving change that we don't have to be coaxed or persuaded to give in offerings but we do because we're in love with God and we know that he is the one who has given? And so we give because we know that he is worthy of our offerings, not just monetary. There has to be a change in our relationship because you're missing everything. [00:57:48]

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Transcript
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