Living in Gratitude: Embracing Christ's Example and Mission

 

Summary

In this season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, we are reminded of the profound reasons we have to be thankful, rooted in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Jesus' life exemplifies how to live a godly, Christ-like life, modeling righteousness, grace, and truth. His life teaches us to prioritize merciful engagement over ritual and tradition, and to live in right relationship with God and others. The true measure of a Christian life is not in appearances but in how deeply we embody the command to live as Jesus lived.

The death of Jesus invites us to trust in the goodness of God, even when surrendering our own desires and comforts seems difficult. This surrender is akin to developing spiritual muscle memory, preparing us for the journey of faith. It is a form of worship, as we offer our lives as living sacrifices, trusting in God's plan and purpose.

The resurrection of Jesus offers us new life, transforming us into new creations with new purpose, hope, joy, and peace. This new identity is a testament to the good news that the old is gone and the new has come. As we affirm our faith, we are reminded that this is just the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ.

The ascension of Jesus commissions us with a purpose and mission, transforming us from mere observers to active participants in God's kingdom. We are sent out as ambassadors of Christ, representing His light and love in the world. This mission is not confined to Sundays but extends to every aspect of our lives, as we are called to be a missionary church in our communities.

In response to all that God has done for us, we are called to practice hospitality, creating spaces of grace and acceptance. True hospitality is not about perfection but about presence, offering a glimpse of God's love in simple, everyday interactions. As we open our lives to others, we become conduits of God's grace, pointing to Jesus with our words and actions.

Key Takeaways:

- Jesus' life is a model for living a godly, Christ-like life, emphasizing righteousness, grace, and truth. The true measure of a Christian is not in appearances but in how we embody the command to live as Jesus lived. [02:30]

- Surrendering to God, though challenging, develops spiritual muscle memory and trust in God's goodness. This surrender is a form of worship, as we offer our lives as living sacrifices, trusting in God's plan. [06:39]

- The resurrection of Jesus offers us new life, transforming us into new creations with new purpose, hope, joy, and peace. This new identity is a testament to the good news that the old is gone and the new has come. [10:41]

- The ascension of Jesus commissions us with a purpose and mission, transforming us from observers to active participants in God's kingdom. We are sent out as ambassadors of Christ, representing His light and love in the world. [12:52]

- True hospitality is about presence, not perfection. It is about creating spaces of grace and acceptance, offering a glimpse of God's love in simple, everyday interactions. As we open our lives to others, we become conduits of God's grace. [23:03]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Jesus' Life as a Model
[06:39] - Trusting in God's Goodness
[10:41] - New Life Through Resurrection
[12:52] - Commissioned with Purpose
[16:39] - Embracing Holy Days
[19:56] - Practicing Hospitality
[23:03] - Presence Over Perfection
[26:00] - Communion Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 John 2:3-6
2. Romans 6:4
3. John 20:21-22

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 John 2:3-6, what is the evidence that we have come to know Jesus? How does this relate to the way Jesus lived his life? [02:30]

2. In Romans 6:4, what does it mean to have new life through the resurrection of Jesus? How is this new life described in the sermon? [10:41]

3. What mission does Jesus give to his followers in John 20:21-22, and how does this relate to the concept of being ambassadors of Christ? [12:52]

4. How does the sermon describe the balance between grace and truth in Jesus' life? Why is this balance important for Christians today? [02:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the command to live as Jesus lived challenge the cultural norms and expectations of today’s society? What might this look like in practical terms? [02:30]

2. The sermon mentions that surrendering to God is a form of worship. How does this perspective change the way one might view personal sacrifices and challenges? [06:39]

3. In what ways does the resurrection of Jesus provide believers with a new identity and purpose? How might this new identity influence daily life and decisions? [10:41]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of hospitality. How does the biblical concept of hospitality differ from the common understanding of the term today? [19:56]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily life. In what specific ways can you model your actions and decisions after the life of Jesus, prioritizing righteousness, grace, and truth? [02:30]

2. Consider a personal desire or comfort that you find difficult to surrender to God. What steps can you take this week to trust in God’s goodness and plan for your life? [06:39]

3. Identify an area in your life where you feel the need for transformation. How can the resurrection of Jesus inspire you to embrace a new identity and purpose in this area? [10:41]

4. Think about your role as an ambassador of Christ. How can you actively represent Christ’s light and love in your community this week? What specific actions can you take? [12:52]

5. Hospitality is about presence, not perfection. How can you create a space of grace and acceptance in your home or community? What practical steps can you take to show God’s love in simple, everyday interactions? [23:03]

6. Reflect on a recent interaction where you had the opportunity to share your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time to point to Jesus with your words and actions? [16:39]

7. Consider the people in your life who may feel lonely or disconnected. How can you extend hospitality to them in a way that reflects God’s love and grace? [19:56]

Devotional

Day 1: Living a Christ-like Life
Jesus' life serves as a profound model for living a godly, Christ-like life, emphasizing righteousness, grace, and truth. His actions and teachings challenge us to prioritize merciful engagement over mere ritual and tradition, urging us to live in right relationship with God and others. The true measure of a Christian life is not found in outward appearances but in how deeply we embody the command to live as Jesus lived. This involves a daily commitment to reflect His character in our interactions and decisions, allowing His example to guide us in every aspect of life. [02:30]

"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you model Jesus' grace and truth in your interactions with others today?


Day 2: Surrender as Worship
Surrendering to God, though challenging, is a vital aspect of developing spiritual muscle memory and trusting in God's goodness. This surrender is not a one-time event but a continuous act of worship, where we offer our lives as living sacrifices, trusting in God's plan and purpose. It requires letting go of our own desires and comforts, believing that God's ways are higher and better. As we practice this surrender, we grow in our faith and reliance on God, preparing us for the journey of faith that lies ahead. [06:39]

"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 is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?


Day 3: Embracing New Life
The resurrection of Jesus offers us new life, transforming us into new creations with new purpose, hope, joy, and peace. This new identity is a testament to the good news that the old is gone and the new has come. As we affirm our faith, we are reminded that this is just the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ. Embracing this new life means living with the assurance that we are no longer bound by our past but are free to pursue the abundant life that Jesus offers. [10:41]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively embrace your new identity in Christ today, leaving behind old patterns and stepping into the new life He offers?


Day 4: Commissioned for Mission
The ascension of Jesus commissions us with a purpose and mission, transforming us from mere observers to active participants in God's kingdom. We are sent out as ambassadors of Christ, representing His light and love in the world. This mission is not confined to Sundays but extends to every aspect of our lives, as we are called to be a missionary church in our communities. Embracing this mission means being intentional about sharing the love and message of Christ in our everyday interactions. [12:52]

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

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today as an ambassador of Christ, sharing His love and message in a tangible way?


Day 5: Practicing True Hospitality
True hospitality is about presence, not perfection. It is about creating spaces of grace and acceptance, offering a glimpse of God's love in simple, everyday interactions. As we open our lives to others, we become conduits of God's grace, pointing to Jesus with our words and actions. This practice of hospitality invites us to be present with others, offering them a sense of belonging and acceptance that reflects the heart of God. [23:03]

"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you create a space of grace and acceptance for someone in your life today, offering them a glimpse of God's love through your presence?

Quotes

Thomas Merton, an American monk who lived in the early 21st century, said this, to be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything that he has given us, and he has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of his love, and every moment of existence is a grace from God. [00:01:37] (19 seconds)


Jesus showed us how to live the fully righteous life. And we talked about righteousness before, and it's right relationship with God, and it's right relationship with the people around us, living that righteous life. And Jesus showed us how to do this. He modeled for us a life of full dependence on the Father rather than being served. He modeled a life that refused to pay back evil for evil, refused to pay back bad for bad, sin for sin, instead responded with good and love and grace. [00:03:17] (34 seconds)


and that's a really hard thing to do right too much truth not not so good too much grace we need we need that balance of grace and truth and jesus showed us how to do that and and we we strive for that and we get it better sometimes than others jesus showed us a life of prioritizing merciful engagement over and above ritual and tradition and we could go on and on about what jesus showed us and how he lived his life but i want to point out today that the truest measure of the christian life the truest measure of a sincere authentic christian is not how well we look the part because we can be really good at looking the part it's not how well we look the part but it's it's how to what extent we take to heart that simple command to live as jesus lived the authentification of christianity Christian way of life is radically different than the world around us, radically different than the culture we live in, even sometimes the church culture that we have become accustomed to. [00:04:05] (67 seconds)


You know, in Gethsemane, you might remember the prayer. Jesus is praying before his crucifixion, and he asked God, Lord, if there's any other way, let's go that way. But in the end, not my will, Lord, but yours. Now, let's be honest. This is a hard one. This idea of surrendering ourselves to the Lord doesn't automatically lead us to be thankful, necessarily, does it? It seems hard, and we wonder why sometimes we need to do that. I mean, surrendering our life means... It means that we have to give up personal comforts sometime for others' goods, the good of others. It means sometimes we have to surrender even our rights for the sake of the gospel. [00:05:53] (45 seconds)


But when we learn to surrender, we learn to trust. And that kind of surrender is the truest form of worship. In Romans, Paul says this, sacrifice yourselves or give yourselves as a living offering to the Lord. God doesn't need just an hour or two from us on Sunday, as if we made some heroic sacrifice. We should gather on Sunday. It's good to fellowship. We need it. But he actually wants our whole lives, not just that hour or two that we give today. Because surrendered lives, change the world. [00:08:41] (37 seconds)


Romans 6 .4 says that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father that we may have new life. That we may have new life. When we put our hope and trust in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. And we begin this journey with Jesus Christ, a journey with a new identity. We're new people. We're different kinds of people. We're new creations living with new purpose and new hope and filled with new joy and new peace. It's newness in all the different ways and all the different aspects of our lives. And like I said last week, that's really good news, isn't it? The old is gone. The new has come. Exactly right. Absolutely. Thank you, Shan. [00:09:47] (51 seconds)


Hospitality is not about the perfect home or the perfect meal. It's about creating a space and a place where you can be yourself. And I want to encourage you to do that. A place where people are safe to be themselves. A place of grace. And when we create those spaces, people can feel genuinely welcomed and accepted, no strings attached. And we're offering something rare and precious in this world when we do that. Because everywhere you go, somebody wants something from you, right? [00:21:52] (29 seconds)


I hope that we will all begin to look at this world and see the opportunities for hospitality when ordinary moments become holy ground. Not fancy. In fact, it should not be fancy. Relieve yourselves from the pressure to be fancy and perfect. Not fancy, but it's real. It's real life, and that's exactly what makes it powerful in your life. In people's lives. John Piper writes that don't ever underestimate the power of your living room as a launching pad for new life and hope and ministry and mission. And I would add to that, living rooms are great, probably the best place, but it could also be a gym. It could be a break room at work. It could be wherever you find yourself going, wherever you find yourself interacting with people. [00:23:20] (55 seconds)


True hospitality isn't performance. It's presence. Showing up. Being available. Because Jesus showed us how to live. And for that, I'm thankful. Jesus asks us to surrender ourselves and trust in him. And promising that he will never leave us. And for that, I am thankful. In Jesus, we have forgiveness and new life. And for that, I am thankful. And Jesus, our Lord, has sent us out with a purpose and a mission. And for that, I am thankful. The mission we can carry out because God is faithful, because Jesus is Lord, and because the Holy Spirit is faithful. And the Holy Spirit is with us. So in thankful response for all that he has done, we practice hospitality. [00:24:42] (56 seconds)


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Transcript
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