Living Beyond Materialism: Embracing God's Transformative Love
Summary
In today's sermon, I explored the profound nature of God's love and how it prompts us to live lives that transcend the trappings of this world. I began by acknowledging the pain that Jesus endured for us, emphasizing that His sacrifice teaches us that there is something greater than the material wealth, power, and cultural influences that often distract us. I urged us to stand for the kingdom of Christ—a kingdom characterized by servanthood, love, and mercy—and to trust God with our whole hearts.
I shared the story of Millard Fuller, who realized that his pursuit of material success had cost him his relationship with his wife. This realization led him to reinvest his energy into giving back and loving beyond the material, mirroring the love of Jesus. I also discussed Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees, highlighting how Jesus challenged their superficial religious practices and instead called for a life invested in the brokenhearted, a life of forgiveness and mercy.
Drawing from the story of Dante's "Divine Comedy," I likened God's love to the love that prompted Beatrice to send Virgil to guide Dante. In the same way, God's love prompted Him to send Jesus to guide us through life. I emphasized that God's love is the reason for our existence and the foundation of our relationship with Him.
I reflected on the pain Jesus experienced and how His love for us was greater than His suffering. I shared the touching story of Dick Hoyt, who, motivated by love for his paralyzed son, Rick, participated in marathons and triathlons to give his son the experience of movement and competition.
I also addressed the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, where He resisted the devil's offer of material wealth, demonstrating that our needs are met not by material possessions but by the Word of God. I highlighted Jesus' resistance to the devil's temptations as an example of prioritizing spiritual sustenance over physical needs.
Finally, I called on us to consider how love prompts us to respond to God's call in our lives. Whether it's accepting Christ for the first time, deepening our walk with Him, or stepping into a calling He has placed on our lives, I encouraged us to be open to the Holy Spirit's stirring in our hearts.
Key Takeaways:
- The love of Christ compels us to look beyond our pain and suffering, trusting that His sacrifice was made out of a love so profound that it overcomes all adversity. As we face our own trials, we can draw strength from the knowledge that Jesus' love for us led Him to endure the cross, and that same love can sustain us through our challenges. [48:41]
- Material wealth and possessions can never fulfill the longing of the human heart for true purpose and connection. The story of Millard Fuller serves as a reminder that the most valuable things in life are not things at all, but relationships and the impact we have on others through acts of love and service. [55:00]
- Authentic Christian living requires a non-conformist stance to the patterns of this world. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer exemplified, our faith must not be molded by cultural pressures but should stand firm on the teachings of Christ, even when it means facing opposition or persecution. [59:03]
- Leadership in the kingdom of God is not about power or spectacle but about servanthood and humility. Jesus washing the disciples' feet is a powerful image of what true greatness looks like in God's eyes, and it challenges us to embrace a life of serving others as the path to influence and legacy. [01:01:12]
- The resurrection story invites us to become storytellers of the greatest love ever known. Just as the women at the tomb were initially silent, we are now called to proclaim the risen Christ and share the hope of the resurrection with a world in need of this transformative love. [01:05:33]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
2. Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."
3. Mark 16:1-8 - The Resurrection of Jesus.
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John 3:16 tell us about the motivation behind God's actions towards humanity?
2. How does Isaiah 53:5 describe the purpose and effect of Jesus' suffering?
3. In Mark 16:1-8, what was the reaction of the women when they found the empty tomb, and what were they instructed to do?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Millard Fuller illustrate the idea that material wealth cannot fulfill the longing of the human heart? [55:00]
2. What does Jesus' resistance to the devil's temptations in the wilderness teach us about prioritizing spiritual sustenance over physical needs? [46:00]
3. How does the story of Dick Hoyt and his son Rick reflect the sacrificial love that Jesus has for us? [49:00]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge. How did the knowledge of Jesus' love and sacrifice help you endure that challenge? [48:41]
2. Are there any material possessions or pursuits in your life that might be distracting you from deeper relationships and acts of service? How can you refocus your energy on what truly matters? [55:00]
3. In what ways can you stand firm in your faith and resist cultural pressures, as exemplified by Dietrich Bonhoeffer? [59:03]
4. How can you incorporate servanthood and humility into your daily life, following Jesus' example of washing the disciples' feet? [01:01:12]
5. The resurrection story calls us to be storytellers of Jesus' love. Who in your life needs to hear about the hope and love of Christ, and how can you share it with them this week? [01:05:33]
6. Consider a specific area in your life where you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to respond to God's call. What steps can you take to be obedient to that calling? [01:07:00]
7. How can you show love and mercy to someone who has wronged you, reflecting Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees and His call for forgiveness? [57:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Enduring Love Overcomes Adversity
In the face of life's challenges, it is the profound love of Christ that sustains and empowers individuals to persevere. This love, demonstrated through Jesus' willingness to endure the cross, is a testament to the fact that no amount of pain or suffering can overshadow the victory that His sacrifice has secured. Believers are called to trust in this love, allowing it to be the source of strength as they navigate their own trials. The love of Christ is not a passive emotion but an active force that compels one to face adversity with courage and hope, knowing that they are never alone in their struggles.
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:14-19
Reflection: How can the knowledge of Christ's enduring love for you give you strength in a current struggle you are facing? [48:41]
Day 2: True Wealth in Relationships and Service
The pursuit of material success often leads to an empty existence, devoid of true purpose and fulfillment. The story of Millard Fuller serves as a powerful reminder that the most significant treasures in life are found not in possessions but in the richness of relationships and the joy of serving others. This realization calls for a reevaluation of priorities, encouraging a shift from self-centered ambitions to a life marked by acts of love and service. By investing in people and contributing to their well-being, one discovers the heart of true wealth, which is the impact made on the lives of others and the legacy of kindness left behind.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
Reflection: What is one way you can invest in a relationship or serve someone in your community this week to reflect the true wealth of Christ's love? [55:00]
Day 3: Non-Conformity to Worldly Patterns
Authentic Christian living demands a bold departure from the norms and expectations of society. It requires a steadfast commitment to the teachings of Christ, even in the face of cultural pressures or potential persecution. This non-conformist stance is not about rebellion for its own sake but about aligning one's life with the transformative principles of the gospel. As believers, the call is to embody the values of the kingdom of God, which often run counter to the patterns of this world, and to do so with integrity and courage.
"I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." John 17:14-16
Reflection: In what ways might you be conforming to the patterns of this world, and how can you begin to live out the radical teachings of Christ in those areas? [59:03]
Day 4: Servanthood as True Greatness
In the kingdom of God, greatness is redefined by the humble act of serving others. Jesus' example of washing the disciples' feet is a profound demonstration of leadership that is grounded in servanthood and humility. This model challenges the conventional notions of power and influence, calling believers to embrace a life of service as the true path to making a lasting impact. The call to servanthood is not one of weakness but of strength, as it reflects the heart of God and His desire for His children to love and care for one another in tangible ways.
"But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:43-45
Reflection: Who can you serve today in a way that reflects Jesus' example of humility and servanthood? [01:01:12]
Day 5: Proclaiming the Transformative Love of the Resurrection
The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, and it is a story that demands to be shared. Believers are entrusted with the mission to proclaim the risen Christ, to spread the hope and love that the resurrection signifies. This transformative love is not just a historical event but a present reality that has the power to change lives. As the women at the tomb were initially silent, Christians today are called to break their silence and become storytellers of the greatest love ever known, offering the world the hope that is found in Christ alone.
"And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.'" Matthew 28:8-10
Reflection: How can you actively share the story of the resurrection and its impact on your life with someone who needs to hear it this week? [01:05:33]
Quotes
1) "If you want to be great in the kingdom, he says, don't look to be spectacular. Don't look to be idolized. Don't look to be the one that has the answers for everything. In fact, bend over, get your knees in the dirt, wash your brother's feet and your sister's feet. Be someone that is willing to invest in others' lives. That's what true leadership looks like and true influence looks like." [01:01:12]
2) "Millard Fuller who is a lawyer. Who is totally invested in his career. Has been ascending the ladders and becoming partner. And been able to accumulate so much in this life. So much of what he thought he wanted. At the realization that the very thing that he has left behind. Is the relationship with his wife." [55:49]
3) "Jesus' love is greater than just the conformity that we see in our world. That Jesus has the opportunity. The Pharisees will come to him. And Jesus and the Pharisees are always at odds with one another. And Jesus is seeing the religion that these Pharisees are postulating. And offering. As an easy way out." [56:34]
4) "Jesus' love also extends beyond just the material. The western world where we suffer because of just the abundance of materials that are at our fingertips. So many things that we have choices over. How heartbreaking it can be to be wrapped up where we have created gods of possessions." [53:14]
5) "What we see is the kingdom of God is non-conformist to the influences of the world. When we stand on Jesus Christ, we stand for the kingdom of God." [59:35]
6) "is greater than the pain that Jesus was able to say no to the pain, you're not going to win the day, I will go through the pain. The love has prompted me to suffer on your account, on my account, that Jesus was a man acquainted with suffering, Isaiah writes, and by his wounds, we are healed." [48:41]
7) "For some of us, it means that God is calling us into a deeper walk with Him. That love is prompting us to respond to Him and recalibrate our relationship with God. That we have wandered off and become so focused on other pieces of our life's journey and have neglected Christ." [01:07:53]
8) "Because the reader, us, we have the news of the resurrection. And if the women aren't going to tell the story, who's left to tell the story? The reader. So, assuming what it's going to say because Mark's story is a little bit different." [01:05:33]
9) "But love prompted me to send, Beatrice says, God's love prompted him to send Jesus Christ as our shepherd and our guide for our lives at this moment in time. That God's love for us was so great that he looked out at his creation, that each of us with our personality quirks and our fingerprints that are unique." [43:41]
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