Living Intentionally: Embracing Love, Grace, and Truth
Summary
Living life on purpose is a desire shared by many, yet often people find themselves drifting without clear direction. This message emphasizes the importance of living intentionally, particularly in the context of faith. The world is adept at spreading falsehoods, while the church struggles to communicate truth effectively. This has led to a loss of influence, as the church is often known more for what it opposes than for what it supports. The call is to shift this narrative by embodying love, as instructed in John 13:34-35 and John 15:17, where Jesus commands us to love one another. This love should be the hallmark of a Christian's life, yet often, policies and doctrines overshadow it.
The challenge is to balance grace and truth, as exemplified by Jesus and Paul. Jesus embodied both grace and truth, and Paul consistently opened his letters with grace before addressing truth. This pattern suggests that people must experience grace before they can accept truth. The analogy of a favorite restaurant illustrates that it's not just the content (the meat) that matters, but the preparation and presentation. Similarly, the gospel must be presented in a way that is palatable and engaging.
The message also highlights the importance of repentance and preparation. Repentance involves a change of mind that leads to a change of action, particularly in how we present the gospel. The call is to present the gospel on a plate of love, grace, peace, and mercy, rather than arguments and judgment. This involves practical steps like inviting others to church and sharing the message of Jesus in a compelling way.
Ultimately, the goal is to live life on purpose by actively engaging in the Great Commission, sharing the transformative message of Jesus with the world. This requires a commitment to love, grace, and truth, ensuring that the gospel is presented in a way that honors God and draws people to Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living Intentionally: Living life on purpose requires intentionality and direction, especially in faith. It's easy to drift without purpose, but God calls us to live with intention, focusing on His purpose for our lives. This involves understanding and embracing the "more" that God has for us, which is rooted in His love and truth. [00:45]
2. Balancing Grace and Truth: Jesus exemplified the perfect balance of grace and truth, and as His followers, we are called to do the same. Grace must precede truth, as people are more receptive to truth when they have experienced grace. This balance is crucial in effectively sharing the gospel and influencing the world. [30:00]
3. The Power of Presentation: The way we present the gospel matters. Just as a favorite restaurant is known for its preparation and presentation, the gospel must be presented in a way that is engaging and relatable. This involves understanding the language and culture of those we are trying to reach. [45:00]
4. Repentance and Preparation: Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action. We must repent for presenting the gospel poorly and commit to preparing and presenting it in a way that reflects God's love and grace. This involves practical steps like inviting others to church and sharing the message of Jesus effectively. [01:03:42]
5. Living the Great Commission: Living life on purpose means actively engaging in the Great Commission. This involves sharing the transformative message of Jesus with the world, ensuring that it is presented in a way that honors God and draws people to Him. Every effort to share the gospel is a step towards fulfilling our purpose in Christ. [01:13:47]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Living Life on Purpose
- [05:30] - The Church's Struggle with Truth
- [12:00] - Known for Love
- [18:15] - Grace and Truth in Balance
- [25:00] - The Importance of Presentation
- [30:00] - Grace Before Truth
- [35:45] - The Power of Effective Communication
- [45:00] - Presentation Matters
- [50:30] - Repentance and Change
- [58:35] - The Gospel on a Garbage Can Lid
- [01:03:42] - Preparing and Presenting the Gospel
- [01:10:00] - Practical Steps for Sharing the Gospel
- [01:13:47] - Engaging in the Great Commission
- [01:18:00] - Closing and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 13:34-35 - "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
2. John 15:17 - "This is my command: Love each other."
3. Colossians 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to John 13:34-35, what is the new commandment Jesus gives, and how will people recognize His disciples?
2. In the sermon, what was identified as a major issue with how the church is perceived by the world? [00:45]
3. How does the analogy of a favorite restaurant relate to the way we present the gospel? [49:33]
4. What pattern do we see in Paul's letters regarding grace and truth, and why is this significant? [01:03:42]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command to love one another in John 13:34-35 challenge the current perception of the church as being known for what it opposes rather than what it supports? [00:45]
2. What does it mean to balance grace and truth in the context of sharing the gospel, and why is this balance important? [01:03:42]
3. How can the church's loss of influence be connected to its failure to effectively communicate truth with love and grace? [00:45]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that repentance involves a change in how we present the gospel? [01:03:42]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel you are drifting without clear purpose? How can you begin to live more intentionally, especially in your faith journey? [00:45]
2. Think of a recent interaction where you had the opportunity to share your faith. How did you balance grace and truth in that situation? What might you do differently next time? [01:03:42]
3. Consider the analogy of the favorite restaurant. How can you improve the "presentation" of the gospel in your daily interactions? What practical steps can you take to make your message more engaging and relatable? [49:33]
4. Repentance involves a change of mind leading to a change of action. What specific actions can you take this week to present the gospel with love, grace, peace, and mercy? [01:03:42]
5. How can you actively engage in the Great Commission in your community? Identify one person you can invite to church or share the message of Jesus with this week. [01:13:47]
6. Reflect on Colossians 4:6. How can you ensure that your conversations are full of grace and seasoned with salt? What changes might you need to make in your communication style?
7. The sermon mentioned the importance of being known for what we are for, rather than what we are against. What are some positive aspects of your faith that you can emphasize in your interactions with others? [00:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Living with Intentionality in Faith
Living life on purpose requires intentionality and direction, especially in faith. It's easy to drift without purpose, but God calls us to live with intention, focusing on His purpose for our lives. This involves understanding and embracing the "more" that God has for us, which is rooted in His love and truth. Living intentionally means aligning our daily actions with God's will, seeking His guidance, and being open to His plans. It is about making conscious choices that reflect our faith and commitment to God's calling. [00:45]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you feel you are drifting? How can you begin to seek God's purpose and direction in that area today?
Day 2: Embracing Grace Before Truth
Jesus exemplified the perfect balance of grace and truth, and as His followers, we are called to do the same. Grace must precede truth, as people are more receptive to truth when they have experienced grace. This balance is crucial in effectively sharing the gospel and influencing the world. By leading with grace, we create an environment where truth can be received with open hearts. This approach mirrors the way Jesus interacted with others, offering compassion and understanding before addressing deeper truths. [30:00]
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where you shared your faith. How can you ensure that grace leads the way in your future interactions?
Day 3: The Art of Gospel Presentation
The way we present the gospel matters. Just as a favorite restaurant is known for its preparation and presentation, the gospel must be presented in a way that is engaging and relatable. This involves understanding the language and culture of those we are trying to reach. By being mindful of how we communicate, we can ensure that the message of Jesus is accessible and appealing, drawing people closer to Him. [45:00]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: Consider your current approach to sharing the gospel. What changes can you make to ensure it is presented in a way that resonates with those you are trying to reach?
Day 4: Repentance and Gospel Preparation
Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of action. We must repent for presenting the gospel poorly and commit to preparing and presenting it in a way that reflects God's love and grace. This involves practical steps like inviting others to church and sharing the message of Jesus effectively. By focusing on love, grace, peace, and mercy, we can transform how others perceive the gospel and its impact on their lives. [01:03:42]
"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you may have presented the gospel in a way that was not reflective of God's love. How can you prepare to share it differently in the future?
Day 5: Engaging in the Great Commission
Living life on purpose means actively engaging in the Great Commission. This involves sharing the transformative message of Jesus with the world, ensuring that it is presented in a way that honors God and draws people to Him. Every effort to share the gospel is a step towards fulfilling our purpose in Christ. By committing to this mission, we align ourselves with God's plan and contribute to the growth of His kingdom. [01:13:47]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to actively engage in the Great Commission? How can you ensure that your efforts honor God and draw others to Him?
Quotes
"On purpose if I were to walk around and look at each one of you and go hey man do you want to would you like to live your life on purpose or do you just want to kind of flounder around I think everybody in the building would be like I'd rather live life on purpose I don't want to just flounder around but what we see all too often is folks who live their life just kind of going from one thing to another and never truly having purpose." [00:39:43] (29 seconds)
"If you go outside of the church and begin to ask what do you know about the church most folks many folks many unbelievers will look and they'll go well they're against this and they're against that and they're against the other but you can't really tell me what you're for. John Maxwell once said this he said leadership is influence and because we've been known become known as an organization that is against so many things and not really known for what we're for we have lost our influence in the world." [00:41:47] (41 seconds)
"In John chapter 13 verses 30 through 35 the Bible says this it says a new commandment I give you that you love one another as I have loved you that you also love one another by this all will know that you are my disciples if you love one another now if we are known for what we are against and not necessarily for what we are for and I were to look and go do they know us by our love I don't think we could truthfully say yes." [00:42:30] (42 seconds)
"John said it this way in John 1 14 he said this he said John said that when the word became flesh he dwelt among us and he was full of grace and truth everybody say grace and truth let's say that again grace and truth okay he didn't have to sacrifice both he was the fulfillment of both he didn't show up in grace and kind of gave them a little truth he didn't show up in all truth and then every now and then displayed some grace he said he was the manifestation of it all." [00:44:42] (52 seconds)
"I think that the issue the problem that we face isn't so much with the information that we present as it is with our presentation of that information. Think about it like this now if I were to walk around the room and I were to ask you what's your favorite restaurant everybody everybody would have their own opinions but my guess is that if I were to ask you that your favorite restaurant probably serves chicken beef or fish or a combination of all three." [00:49:13] (32 seconds)
"What makes your restaurant your favorite restaurant your favorite restaurant is not the meat that they serve but it's the way that they prepare and present that food their preparation and their presentation is what keeps you coming back for more now I can hear you now well pastor you're talking about the Bible I've heard preachers I've heard preachers stand out and they go it doesn't matter how I give it as long as I give them the word of God the word of God should be enough amen." [00:50:10] (41 seconds)
"And I'm afraid that with the greatest message on the planet that that's exactly how we've presented him to the world on a garbage can lid. Y'all realize that the message that we carry has the power to change the world as a matter of fact if you read the New Testament you'll find out that when they were discussing the men who carried this message one of the things they said about them is that they had turned the world upside down." [00:58:35] (56 seconds)
"Here's the thing we've served the gospel on a plate of arguments and disputes of legalism and judgmentalism of dissension of dissension and disunity but I want Harvest Church to be known for what it's for. I want to serve the gospel on a plate of love and of grace and of peace and of mercy and of mercy of unity of kindness and of truth but our truth must be bathed in love." [01:00:53] (53 seconds)
"So here's what as our worship team comes back here's what I'm asking us to do number one is I'm asking us to repent now we talked about repentance last week that means a change of mind that leads to a change of life a change of mind that leads to a change of action we talked about it during the the offering message this morning it is a a mindset shift that leads to a change in our behavior come on and so I'm praying that today we can repent." [01:01:58] (48 seconds)
"Colossians 4 and 6 says it like this it says let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer each one so today we want to walk out of here with some ways that you can let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt some ways that you can hopefully effectively get the invite out for Easter at harvest here's a few ways that we're going to do number one is we've got some social media invite video that we're going to be posting." [01:10:40] (42 seconds)
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