Living in Harmony: Embracing Love and Forgiveness
Summary
The sermon focuses on the theme of living in harmony with others, emphasizing the importance of not condemning others and instead choosing to live peacefully alongside them. The speaker draws from Romans 12:15, which encourages believers to share in the emotions of others, whether joy or sorrow, and to avoid pride and judgment. The concept of harmony is further explained as not requiring complete agreement or perfection but rather a humble approach to relationships.
The pastor shares personal anecdotes, including a humorous story about returning items to Amazon and a frustrating experience at a crowded register during the holiday season. These stories illustrate the challenges of maintaining peace in everyday situations. The speaker also expresses gratitude for the worship and celebration of Jesus' birth and for answered prayers within the congregation.
The sermon includes a study of Proverbs 19:11, which highlights the virtues of wisdom, patience, and the ability to overlook offenses. The Hebrew word "avar," meaning to let go, is introduced to encourage the congregation to release grudges and misunderstandings. The speaker also references Ephesians 4:2, which calls for humility, gentleness, and patience in love, reminding the audience that their capacity to love is derived from God.
The speaker discusses the Greek word "an echo," which means to endure suffering and make allowances for others' faults. This concept is tied to the idea of offering oneself as a living sacrifice to God, as described in Romans 12:1. Worship is thus defined as a life of love and action, not just singing songs. The inevitability of being offended is acknowledged, but the speaker urges the congregation to choose not to live in offense.
The sermon concludes with a call to action, encouraging the congregation to pray blessings over those who have hurt them and to release any negative power their behavior may have over their lives. The speaker emphasizes the importance of finding peace in God's presence, rather than in the absence of problems, and to be peace-giving and peace-living as followers of the Prince of Peace.
Key Takeaways:
- Harmony with others is not predicated on uniformity of thought or flawless interactions but on a humble approach that values relationships over being right. This perspective allows for diversity within the community and fosters a peaceful coexistence. [54:51]
- Wisdom and patience are crucial virtues in dealing with offenses. The ability to overlook and let go of grievances, as taught in Proverbs 19:11, is a mark of maturity and can prevent the distortion of reality that comes from dwelling on past hurts. This practice should extend to all relationships, including those within families. [42:15]
- True worship involves living a life characterized by love and action, not just participating in religious rituals. Offering ourselves as living sacrifices means actively choosing to love and bless others, even in the face of inevitable offenses. [47:41]
- Praying for difficult people and blessing them can transform our internal peace and positively impact our relationships. This practice of intercession can lead to a peace that remains unshaken by the actions of others, as it is rooted in the peace that comes from Christ. [52:45]
- The command to bless others extends to even the most challenging individuals in our lives. Speaking good words and praying for God's blessings upon others is a powerful way to counteract negativity and maintain peace, demonstrating the transformative power of love in action. [48:36]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 12:15 - "Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all."
2. Proverbs 19:11 - "A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense."
3. Ephesians 4:2 - "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 12:15 instruct believers to do in their relationships with others? How does this relate to living in harmony? [54:24]
2. According to Proverbs 19:11, what are the virtues that help in dealing with offenses? How does this verse define wisdom? [42:31]
3. In Ephesians 4:2, what qualities are believers encouraged to exhibit? How do these qualities contribute to maintaining peace in relationships? [44:29]
4. What personal anecdotes did the pastor share to illustrate the challenges of maintaining peace in everyday situations? [33:39]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "overlooking an offense" in Proverbs 19:11 contribute to personal peace and harmony in relationships? [42:31]
2. What does it mean to "make allowance for each other’s faults" as described in Ephesians 4:2? How can this be practically applied in daily interactions? [44:29]
3. The pastor mentioned the Greek word "an echo," which means to endure suffering. How does this concept relate to the idea of offering oneself as a living sacrifice to God? [45:30]
4. How does praying for and blessing those who have hurt us transform our internal peace and impact our relationships, according to the sermon? [52:26]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt offended. How could you have applied the principle of "overlooking an offense" to maintain peace? [42:31]
2. Think of a person in your life who tests your patience. What specific actions can you take to "make allowance for their faults" this week? [44:29]
3. The pastor shared a story about a woman at the UPS store who disrupted the peace. How can you prepare yourself to respond with patience and humility in similar situations? [35:31]
4. Identify someone who has hurt you. What specific prayers of blessing can you offer for them to release any negative power their behavior may have over your life? [52:26]
5. How can you practice living in harmony with others, especially those with whom you disagree? What steps can you take to value relationships over being right? [54:24]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of finding peace in God's presence. What daily practices can you incorporate to ensure you are seeking peace from God rather than from the absence of problems? [38:54]
7. How can you actively demonstrate love and action in your worship, beyond just participating in religious rituals? What specific acts of love can you commit to this week? [46:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Humble Harmony
Harmony with others is achieved through humility and valuing relationships over personal righteousness. It's about embracing differences and fostering peace without insisting on uniformity. This approach nurtures a community where diversity is not just tolerated but celebrated. [54:51]
Romans 14:19 - "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
Reflection: How can you practice humility today to strengthen a relationship where you have disagreed with someone?
Day 2: Wisdom in Overlooking Offenses
True wisdom manifests in the patience to overlook offenses, recognizing that holding onto grievances can distort reality and hinder personal growth. This maturity allows for healthier relationships and a clearer perspective on life's challenges. [42:15]
James 1:19-20 - "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Reflection: Recall a recent offense you've experienced. How can you apply wisdom and patience to let go of this grievance?
Day 3: Worship as Love in Action
Worship transcends singing and rituals; it is a life of love and action. Offering oneself as a living sacrifice involves actively choosing to love and bless others, reflecting the love of God even amidst offenses. [47:41]
Hebrews 13:16 - "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
Reflection: What is one way you can show love through action in your community this week?
Day 4: Blessing Those Who Hurt Us
Interceding for those who have caused us pain can lead to profound internal peace. This act of blessing transforms our perspective and enables us to find peace in Christ, regardless of external circumstances. [52:45]
Luke 6:27-28 - "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."
Reflection: Is there someone who has hurt you that you can pray for and bless today?
Day 5: Transformative Power of Blessing
Speaking blessings over even the most challenging individuals in our lives can counteract negativity and maintain peace. This practice demonstrates the transformative power of love in action and aligns us with the heart of God. [48:36]
1 Peter 3:9 - "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
Reflection: Think of a difficult person in your life. How can you speak blessings over them this week?
Quotes
"Peace with people comes when we get along. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all." [54:51] (Download)
"Don't condemn. The devil wants to divide. The devil wants us to get partial information and make a complete judgment... We need to overlook faults. We need to bless people." [56:48] (Download)
"A person's wisdom yields patience. It is to one's glory to overlook an offense. Letting it go means not allowing it, not letting it replay over and over in your head." [43:21] (Download)
"We should be the most peace-giving and peace-living people on the planet because we follow the Prince of Peace. And if that Prince of Peace has any impact or transformational power over you at all, then everywhere you go, peace should go with you." [41:04] (Download)
"The greatest command is not to prove that we are right. The greatest command is to be love. To love God and love others. Humbly getting along means that we value people over proving that we're right." [58:29] (Download)
"We must be willing to get along even with hurt people. Create healthy boundaries. Stand up for justice and truth. And then humbly live in harmony. Overlook failures, bless people. Get along. Then you will have peace with people." [59:59] (Download)
"Because praying good things for difficult people means we have to forgive. We have to release. So right now I invite you to pray at your seat. Jesus, I overlook their failures. I don't overlook the fact that they hurt me. But I'm going to do what your word says and bless them who hurt me." [01:01:39] (Download)
"The love that you can love people with faults is love that maybe goes beyond your own resources and dips into God's." [45:21] (Download)
"So worship cannot just be a song that we sing, but a life that we live. Love cannot just be something we talk about. It has to be something that we act upon." [46:41] (Download)
"Being offended is inevitable, but living offended is completely avoidable. You do not need to live in that offense." [47:41] (Download)
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