Obedience and Holiness in a Compromising Culture

Summary

It’s easy to want to do things our own way, to resist being told “no,” and to bend the rules to fit our preferences. From an early age, we’re wired to push back against authority, and that tendency doesn’t just disappear as we grow older. I shared a story from my own life about learning the hard way that talent and ability don’t matter much if we refuse to listen and submit to the rules set before us. In the same way, God has given us clear instructions in His Word—not to restrict us, but to equip us for every good work and to shape us into people who reflect His character.

Scripture is not a buffet where we pick and choose what suits us. All of it is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, correction, and training in righteousness. Yet, our culture constantly pressures us to compromise, to blend in, and to redefine truth according to what feels good or is socially acceptable. Even within the church, there’s a temptation to soften the edges of God’s commands to avoid conflict or to be more “relevant.” But Jesus was clear: if we love Him, we will keep His commands. This isn’t a suggestion or a plea for our best effort—it’s a call to obedience rooted in love.

God’s people have always been called to be different, to be set apart, to be holy. Holiness isn’t about perfection, but about being distinct from the world, living for God, and refusing to let culture dictate our values. The world will not always understand or appreciate this; in fact, Jesus warned that following Him would often put us at odds with the prevailing culture. But our identity is not found in the approval of others or in cultural trends—it’s found in loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind.

Loving God first is the foundation of everything. It means daily choosing Him above all else, letting our identity, desires, and thoughts be shaped by Him. Only then can we truly love our neighbors as ourselves—not by affirming everything they do, but by desiring their good, just as we desire to grow and be transformed ourselves. True love doesn’t compromise truth; it seeks the best for others, even when that means standing apart from the crowd. We are called to love without conforming, to be gracious without surrendering the truth, and to reflect God’s character in a confused and shifting world.

Key Takeaways

- Obedience to God’s Word is not optional or selective. All Scripture is God-breathed and meant to shape every aspect of our lives, not just the parts we find comfortable or convenient. When we try to bend God’s commands to fit our preferences, we lose the very foundation that makes us distinct as His people. [38:35]

- Being countercultural is a mark of a healthy church and a faithful Christian. God’s people have always been called to live differently from the surrounding culture, not out of pride or superiority, but out of loyalty to God’s ways. Holiness means being set apart, refusing to let the world’s values define us, even when it costs us popularity or acceptance. [44:08]

- True love for God is comprehensive and demands our whole being—heart, soul, and mind. It’s not a fleeting emotion or a Sunday ritual, but a daily, deliberate choice to put God first in every area of life. This kind of love is the foundation for holiness and the antidote to cultural compromise. [58:58]

- Loving our neighbor as ourselves does not mean affirming every lifestyle or belief. Just as we desire to grow and leave behind destructive habits, we should desire the same for others. Real love seeks the true good of our neighbor, which sometimes means standing firm in truth even when it’s misunderstood or rejected. [01:05:59]

- It’s okay—and even necessary—not to be liked by everyone. Jesus Himself was rejected by the world, and He warned that His followers would experience the same. Our calling is not to win the approval of culture, but to remain faithful to God, loving others without compromising the truth He has entrusted to us. [01:07:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:15] - Waking Up and Weather in Oregon
[35:41] - Learning Obedience the Hard Way
[36:24] - Lessons from Baseball and Authority
[37:42] - The Authority of All Scripture
[38:35] - God’s Word: Our Standard
[40:58] - The Church and Counterculture
[42:45] - Jesus’ Command: If You Love Me, Obey
[44:08] - Called to Be Holy and Set Apart
[45:24] - Warnings from Jeremiah and 1 John
[46:32] - How to Be Different: Practical Steps
[48:32] - Do Not Be Conformed to the World
[49:50] - The Church as Pillar of Truth
[50:40] - Holiness and Identity
[51:38] - Friendship with the World
[52:41] - The Danger of Compromising with Culture
[53:54] - Shepherds for Sale and Cultural Deception
[55:40] - The Tragedy of Being Deceived
[58:04] - The Greatest Commandment: Love God
[58:58] - Loving God with Heart, Soul, and Mind
[01:03:39] - Loving Your Neighbor as Yourself
[01:05:59] - Real Love and Refusing to Conform
[01:07:35] - Standing Firm When Not Liked
[01:09:13] - Jesus’ Example: Love Without Compromise
[01:09:54] - Invitation and Closing Prayer
[01:13:25] - Announcements and VBS Week

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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### Bible Reading

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

- John 14:15
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

- Matthew 22:36-40
“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’”

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### Observation Questions

1. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, what is the purpose of all Scripture? What does it mean that it is “breathed out by God”?
2. In John 14:15, what does Jesus say is the evidence of loving Him?
3. In the sermon, what story did the pastor share about learning the importance of following rules, and what lesson did he draw from it? [[36:24]]
4. According to Matthew 22:36-40, what are the two greatest commandments, and how are they connected?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that “Scripture is not a buffet where we pick and choose what suits us.” Why is it dangerous to treat God’s Word this way? [[38:35]]
2. The pastor mentioned that being “set apart” or “holy” doesn’t mean being perfect, but being different from the world. What does it look like for a Christian to be “set apart” in everyday life? [[44:08]]
3. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” How does obedience to God’s Word show our love for Him, and why is this more than just a feeling? [[42:45]]
4. The sermon warns that loving our neighbor doesn’t mean affirming every lifestyle or belief. How can Christians love others well without compromising biblical truth? [[01:05:59]]

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### Application Questions

1. The pastor shared about wanting to do things his own way and learning the hard way that talent doesn’t matter if you don’t listen to authority. Can you think of a time when you resisted God’s direction or a rule, and what was the result? [[36:24]]
2. Are there areas of Scripture that you tend to ignore, soften, or “bend” to fit your preferences or comfort? What would it look like to submit to God’s Word in those areas this week? [[38:35]]
3. The sermon says that being countercultural is a mark of a healthy church and a faithful Christian. Where do you feel pressure to blend in with culture, and how can you stand firm in your faith without being harsh or prideful? [[44:08]]
4. Loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind is described as a daily, deliberate choice. What is one practical step you can take this week to put God first in your thoughts, desires, or decisions? [[58:58]]
5. When it comes to loving your neighbor as yourself, the pastor said real love seeks the true good of others, even if it means standing apart from the crowd. Is there a relationship in your life where you need to speak truth in love, or set a boundary, even if it’s misunderstood? [[01:05:59]]
6. The sermon reminds us that it’s okay—not just possible, but necessary—not to be liked by everyone. How do you handle it when your faith or convictions make you unpopular? What helps you stay faithful in those moments? [[01:07:35]]
7. The pastor said, “We are called to love without conforming, to be gracious without surrendering the truth.” What’s one way you can show both grace and truth in a difficult situation this week? [[01:09:13]]

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Devotional

Day 1: All Scripture is God-breathed and authoritative for life
The Bible is not just a collection of ancient writings or suggestions for living; it is the very Word of God, breathed out for our benefit, instruction, and correction. Every part of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, is given to equip us for every good work and to shape us into the people God desires us to be. We cannot pick and choose which parts to follow or try to bend its teachings to fit our preferences or the culture around us. Instead, we are called to submit to its authority, trusting that God’s wisdom is greater than our own and that His Word is the foundation for a healthy, vibrant Christian life. [38:35]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Reflection: Is there a part of Scripture you tend to ignore or rationalize away because it feels uncomfortable or counter to your preferences? What would it look like to submit that area of your life to God’s Word today?



Day 2: Loving God means obeying His commands wholeheartedly
Jesus makes it clear that love for Him is not just a feeling or a statement—it is demonstrated by our obedience to His commands. This obedience is not optional or based on convenience, but is the true mark of our devotion and commitment to Him. To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind means making Him our first priority every day, choosing Him above all else, and letting our actions reflect our loyalty to Him. This kind of love is self-sacrificing and rooted in daily decisions to put God above our own desires and the pressures of the world. [42:45]

John 14:15 (ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Reflection: What is one specific command of Jesus that you find difficult to obey? How can you take a concrete step today to show your love for Him through obedience in that area?



Day 3: God’s people are called to be set apart from the world
From the Old Testament to the New, God’s desire has always been for His people to be different from the surrounding culture—to be holy, set apart, and distinct in their values and actions. This means not adopting the ways, priorities, or beliefs of the world, but instead living in a way that reflects God’s character and purpose. Being set apart is not about isolation or superiority, but about living in such a way that others see the difference Christ makes in us, even if it means being misunderstood or disliked by the world. [45:24]

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV)
“You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel most tempted to blend in with the culture rather than stand out for Christ? What is one way you can choose to be set apart this week?



Day 4: True love for neighbor means desiring their transformation, not just affirmation
Loving our neighbor as ourselves is not about affirming every choice or lifestyle, but about caring enough to desire their best—just as we desire to grow and change for the better ourselves. This love is not passive or permissive; it is active, seeking the true good of others, even when it means having hard conversations or standing firm in biblical truth. We are called to love people deeply, but not to compromise God’s standards or redefine love according to cultural expectations. [01:05:59]

Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
“And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Reflection: Who in your life needs you to love them enough to encourage them toward God’s best, rather than simply agreeing with them? How can you show that kind of love today?



Day 5: Refusing to compromise with culture while loving like Jesus
Jesus modeled a life that was radically countercultural—He loved everyone, including outcasts and sinners, but never compromised the truth or affirmed sin. As His followers, we are called to do the same: to stand firm in God’s truth, refusing to let culture shape our beliefs or actions, while still extending genuine love and compassion to all. This balance requires courage, humility, and a deep reliance on God’s Spirit, knowing that being faithful to Christ may sometimes mean being misunderstood or even rejected by others. [01:09:54]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reflection: Where are you feeling pressure to compromise your faith in order to fit in or be accepted? What would it look like to respond as Jesus did—loving people deeply, but standing firm in God’s truth?

Quotes

We can't allow our church to be bought by the culture. We can't allow Westside to be bought by the culture. We can't allow the culture to change what we do as Christians inside of Westside. We can't change God's word. So we can't change God's word to fit in with the culture. [00:41:18] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip

Romans 12, 2, we've heard this a lot. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of the mind. And again, Paul's not saying, please, if you have time, or if you can think about it, just be... different. He's not like saying, this is a polite suggestion for us. Maybe you should just be a little bit different than the world. That's not what he's saying. He's saying that he's commanding us not to fit into the world, not to fit into the culture. [00:48:58] (00:00:34 seconds) Edit Clip

But we can't be holy and blend in with the world at the same time. James 4 .4 calls us out. He calls out the Christians and says, you adulterous people, do you not know that friendship with the world is enemy with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [00:51:32] (00:00:23 seconds) Edit Clip

If the church cozies up to the world's values, if we choose to go along with the sexual ethics and the greed and self -obsession, then we're drifting away. It's betraying the Lord. [00:52:19] (00:00:20 seconds) Edit Clip

This is the great and first commandment. This is the supreme commandment. This is the, this is the how you do it. This is how you separate yourself from the culture is by loving God number one. This is the foundation of our faith. This is the foundation of holiness. This is our mission. This is our worship. And it must be built on this first and greatest commandment. There's no compromise here to this. [01:02:58] (00:00:32 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus loved everyone. Jesus showed up, and he loved everyone, but he didn't compromise with the culture. Jesus dined with the sinners. Jesus hung out with the people that were bad. He touched lepers. He showed mercy on adulterers. But what did he say? Go sin no more. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. I am the way. I am the truth. No one comes to the Father except through me. [01:08:58] (00:00:45 seconds) Edit Clip

So we can love people without affirming their lifestyle. But we have to love them enough to tell them that that's not the right way. That's not the right way to live. That's not the right way to be a Christian. [01:09:43] (00:00:17 seconds) Edit Clip