Imitating Christ: Love, Influence, and Community Engagement
Summary
In the third week of our series "No One Needs Jesus More Than Me," we delve into the profound truth that Jesus is our ultimate example. We are called to be imitators of Christ, as Ephesians 5:1-2 instructs us to watch what God does and then do it ourselves. This passage emphasizes that God's primary action towards us is love, and it is this love that we are to emulate. Jesus demonstrated a love that was not cautious but extravagant, not to receive but to give everything of Himself to us. We are to love in this same manner.
As we consider our spiritual growth, it is essential to identify who our spiritual parents are—those individuals in our lives who inspire us to pursue God. These are not people who are perfect, but those who pursue God with humility and openness. By surrounding ourselves with such individuals, we begin to adopt their godly attributes. This is not to say that they replace God in our lives, but they serve as models for us to follow.
Reflecting on the influence of the five people we spend the most time with, as Jim Rohn's quote suggests, we recognize the importance of choosing companions who will help us grow in our faith. Jesus Himself walked the earth, fully human, yet constantly looking to the Father and imitating Him. This example challenges us to consider the impact we have on those closest to us, especially our children, who learn from our actions and behaviors.
Our church is actively engaged in loving our neighbors through practical and tangible expressions of Christ's love. We are excited about the development of a park on our property, which will serve as a safe space for community members to build relationships. This project is a testament to our commitment to serve our local community before we extend our reach globally.
In summary, we are called to be imitators of Christ, learning from those who exemplify godly characteristics and impacting those around us with the love of Jesus. Our actions and the company we keep shape our spiritual journey, and through our community initiatives, we demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways.
Key Takeaways:
- Being an imitator of Christ means actively observing and emulating God's love in our daily lives. This love is selfless, sacrificial, and serves without seeking anything in return. As we embody this love, we become beacons of hope and transformation in a world that desperately needs the light of Christ. [49:33]
- Our spiritual growth is significantly influenced by those we choose to surround ourselves with. It is vital to have spiritual mentors—our 'spiritual parents'—who can guide us, not by their perfection, but by their pursuit of God with humility and authenticity. These relationships are instrumental in shaping our character and faith.
- The concept that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with challenges us to be intentional about our relationships. We must seek out and invest in friendships that encourage our spiritual development and align with our commitment to follow Jesus.
- Our responsibility as parents and role models is profound. The behaviors and values we exhibit are often mirrored by our children. Recognizing this, we must strive to live out our faith authentically, providing a godly example for the next generation to follow.
- Community engagement is not just about proclaiming our faith but demonstrating it through actions that meet the needs of those around us. Initiatives like building a park are expressions of God's love, creating spaces for connection and fellowship that reflect the kingdom of God on earth.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV): "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 5:1-2, what are we instructed to do as dearly loved children of God?
2. How did Jesus demonstrate His love for us, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:2?
3. In the sermon, Pastor Nate mentioned a quote by Jim Rohn about the influence of the five people we spend the most time with. How does this relate to our spiritual growth? [01:14:31]
4. What practical example did Pastor Nate give about the church's community engagement through the development of a park? [58:53]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be an imitator of Christ in our daily lives, according to Ephesians 5:1-2?
2. How can the love that Jesus demonstrated be described as "extravagant" and "selfless"? [01:08:58]
3. Why is it important to identify and surround ourselves with 'spiritual parents' or mentors in our faith journey? [01:18:10]
4. How does the church's initiative to build a park reflect the love of Christ in a practical way? [58:53]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily actions. How can you actively observe and emulate God's love in your interactions this week? [01:08:58]
2. Identify one person in your life who serves as a spiritual mentor. How can you spend more intentional time with them to grow in your faith?
3. Think about the five people you spend the most time with. Do these relationships encourage your spiritual development? If not, what changes can you make?
4. As a parent or role model, what specific behaviors and values do you want to exhibit for the next generation to follow? [01:15:53]
5. How can you contribute to your community in a tangible way that demonstrates the love of Christ, similar to the church's park project? [58:53]
6. What steps can you take to ensure that your actions and behaviors positively impact those around you, especially your children? [01:15:53]
7. How can you be more intentional about building relationships within your community that reflect the kingdom of God on earth? [58:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Emulating God's Extravagant Love
Love is not merely an emotion; it is an action that reflects the very nature of God. To emulate God's love means to love others not with caution, but with the same extravagance that Jesus showed. This love is not about receiving; it is about giving selflessly and sacrificially. It is a love that goes beyond the surface, seeking to serve and uplift others without expecting anything in return. As believers, this kind of love should be the hallmark of our daily interactions, challenging us to give of ourselves in ways that may stretch us beyond our comfort zones. By doing so, we become living testimonies of God's love in a world that often equates love with transactional relationships. [49:33]
"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 ESV
Reflection: How can you demonstrate God's extravagant love to someone in your life today without expecting anything in return?
Day 2: The Influence of Spiritual Mentors
Spiritual growth is a journey that is often navigated with the help of others. Spiritual mentors, or 'spiritual parents,' play a crucial role in this process. They are not perfect individuals, but they are those who pursue God with humility and authenticity. Their lives serve as a blueprint for our own spiritual development. By observing their pursuit of God, their humility in acknowledging their imperfections, and their openness to God's leading, we can learn valuable lessons that shape our own walk with God. These relationships are not about idolizing the individual but about recognizing the godly characteristics they exhibit and striving to incorporate those into our own lives. [49:33]
"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." - Hebrews 13:7 ESV
Reflection: Who are your spiritual mentors, and what godly characteristics can you learn from them to enhance your spiritual growth?
Day 3: Intentionality in Relationships
The company we keep has a profound impact on our spiritual lives. The idea that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with challenges us to be intentional about our relationships. It is important to seek out and invest in friendships that not only encourage us but also push us towards spiritual maturity. These relationships should align with our commitment to follow Jesus and should inspire us to grow in our faith. By choosing our companions wisely, we set ourselves up for a life that is enriched with godly wisdom, support, and accountability. [49:33]
"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." - Proverbs 13:20 ESV
Reflection: Are the five people you spend the most time with encouraging your spiritual growth? If not, how can you seek out more godly companions?
Day 4: Role Modeling for the Next Generation
As parents and role models, the impact we have on the younger generation is profound. Our actions and behaviors are closely observed and often emulated by our children. It is our responsibility to live out our faith authentically, providing a godly example for them to follow. This means being intentional about how we demonstrate love, make decisions, and prioritize our time. By doing so, we lay a foundation for them to build their own relationship with God, one that is based on genuine faith and not just religious routine. [49:33]
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6 ESV
Reflection: What is one way you can model godly behavior to the children or young people in your life this week?
Day 5: Engaging Community with Christ's Love
Community engagement is a practical expression of our faith. It is not enough to simply talk about God's love; we must show it through our actions. By initiating projects like building a park, we create spaces for connection and fellowship that reflect the kingdom of God on earth. These initiatives meet the needs of those around us and provide opportunities for building relationships. Through these acts of service, we demonstrate the tangible love of Christ to our neighbors, inviting them to experience the warmth and welcome of the Christian community. [49:33]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve your local community this week to demonstrate the love of Christ?
Quotes
1) "Jesus walked on this planet, he didn't float around with some aura about him. He walked with his feet on the ground just like you and me, but he looked back to the father and imitated his father even to the point where he gave up everything." [01:15:16](Download | Download)
2) "Our kids see pretty up close what we are and what we do and what we're about, how we live our life every single day. Can I ask you this, if in our homes we see pretty up close, how much more does Jesus?" [01:17:30](Download | Download)
3) "Who in your life are you watching to inspire the things that God wants out of your life? When we are around the five most important people in our life, we begin to act like them." [01:18:46](Download | Download)
4) "We have an opportunity to share the love of Christ even through very practical tangible things, like building a park that's a safe place where young and old can come and be a part and build relationships right here in this neighborhood." [59:35](Download | Download)
5) "We shouldn't probably worry about all the things that we're going to do around the world until we first start with our neighbors right here." [58:20](Download | Download)
6) "Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us, his love was not cautious but extravagant." [01:08:58](Download | Download)
7) "If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me. I'm an imitator of Jesus." [01:09:39](Download | Download)
8) "We're going to develop something that then we'll be able to raise the funds and to move forward with the actual building of that and one day we're going to be out in the back enjoying that Park together." [01:00:58](Download | Download)
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