Obedience, Compassion, and Community in Christ
Summary
In this sermon, I discussed the importance of the church being an expression, reflection, and extension of Jesus Christ. I emphasized that sharing the gospel isn't about giftedness, but about obedience. I also highlighted the importance of staying true to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, regardless of what other churches might think. I also touched on the importance of grace, mercy, and patience, and how we should extend these to others just as God has extended them to us.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved into the story of Jesus healing a man with a deformed hand on the Sabbath. I pointed out that Jesus cared more about the man than about the religious institution, and that he was angered by the religious leaders' hard hearts and lack of compassion. I also discussed the importance of staying close to the fire of the local New Testament Church, serving, giving, and doing life with each other.
Key takeaways:
- Sharing the gospel is about obedience, not giftedness. It's not about whether we feel comfortable or equipped to share the gospel, but about obeying God's command to be a witness. #!!06:39!!#
- We should extend grace, mercy, and patience to others just as God has extended them to us. This is a key part of living out the Christian life and reflecting Christ to others. #!!07:17!!#
- It's important to stay close to the fire of the local New Testament Church, serving, giving, and doing life with each other. This helps to keep our hearts warm and soft, rather than becoming cold and hard. #!!22:07!!#
- Jesus cared more about the man with the deformed hand than about the religious institution. This shows that Jesus prioritizes people and their needs over religious rules and institutions. #!!20:34!!#
- We should be comfortable with being uncomfortable in the church, as the mission remains the same even though methods may change. This is a reminder to be flexible and adaptable in our approach to ministry. #!!21:22!!#
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The importance of staying close to the fire, the local New Testament Church, is emphasized. As one drifts away from the fire, the heart becomes colder and harder. It is crucial to be a servant, to give, and to do life with each other. [22:07]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of giving and tithing. It encourages starting somewhere, even if it's not the full ten percent of your income, and working your way up through biblical and fiscal discipline. [23:27]
3. The sermon highlights the importance of the church being an expression, reflection, and extension of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the importance of sharing the gospel and extending grace to others. [05:59]
4. The sermon encourages the congregation to be a blessing to others, particularly through giving to causes such as Convoy of Hope. It challenges the congregation to make a sacrificial Christmas offering. [26:11]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of noticing hurting people and praying for those in need. It encourages the congregation to pray for healing, provision, and breakthrough in their lives and the lives of others. [27:31]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Mark Chapter 3
2. Genesis Chapter 1
3. Revelation Chapter 22
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "stay close to the fire" in the context of the church community?
2. How does the sermon describe the process and importance of tithing?
3. What does it mean for the church to be an expression, reflection, and extension of Jesus Christ?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Mark Chapter 3 relate to the sermon's emphasis on staying close to the church community?
2. How does the sermon's discussion of tithing relate to biblical teachings on giving?
3. How does the sermon's emphasis on noticing hurting people and praying for those in need relate to Jesus' teachings in the Gospels?
Application Questions:
1. How can you apply the sermon's teachings on staying close to the church community in your own life?
2. What steps can you take to increase your giving or tithing, as encouraged in the sermon?
3. How can you apply the sermon's teachings on noticing hurting people and praying for those in need in your own life?
Devotional
Day 1: Stay Close to the Fire
In our spiritual journey, it's crucial to stay close to the fire - the fire of God's love, His word, and His community. The Bible warns us about the dangers of drifting away from the faith and becoming lukewarm. We are called to be active participants in our faith, serving and giving in our local church, and continually seeking God's presence in our lives.
Hebrews 10:25 - "Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: Reflect on your current involvement in your local church. Are there areas where you feel you could serve or give more? How can you ensure that you are not drifting away from the spiritual fire and becoming indifferent?
Day 2: The Importance of Giving
Giving is a fundamental aspect of our Christian faith. It's not just about financial contributions, but also about giving our time, talents, and resources to serve others. The Bible encourages us to give generously and cheerfully, knowing that our offerings are a sweet aroma to God.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: How do you currently practice giving in your life? Are there areas where you could give more, not just financially, but also with your time and talents? Have you considered praying about your offerings before making purchases?
Day 3: The Gospel and Grace
The gospel is the good news of God's grace - His unmerited favor towards us. We are called to share this good news with others, extending the same grace we have received from God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: How often do you share the gospel with others? Is there someone in your life right now who needs to hear about God's grace? How can you extend grace to others in the same way God has extended grace to you?
Day 4: The Importance of Noticing
As followers of Christ, we are called to notice those in need and respond with compassion and action. Jesus set the example for us, always noticing the needs of the people around Him and responding with love and care.
Matthew 25:40 - "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"
Reflection: Can you recall a recent instance where you noticed someone in need? How did you respond? How can you be more intentional about noticing and helping those in need in your daily life?
Day 5: Avoiding a Hard Heart
A hard heart can hinder our relationship with God and others. We are called to keep our hearts soft and open, ready to receive God's word and extend love and kindness to others.
Ezekiel 36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Reflection: Reflect on your recent interactions with others. Have you been open and honest in your communication, or have you noticed any signs of hardening in your heart? How can you ensure that you are keeping your heart soft and open to godly conversation?
Quotes
1. "The further you get away from the fire, the colder your heart gets. The colder something gets, the harder it gets. You got to stay close to the fire, the local New Testament Church. You got to be serving, you got to be giving, got to be doing life with each other or you can keep drifting and you don't even realize the frog and the kettle's taking place." - 22:07
2. "If you're not given, if you're not given, listen, start somewhere. The tithe is the Lord's and I know you may not be able to start right out of the gate with ten percent of your income dedicated to God because he says holy is a tithe that is mine saith the Lord, but you can start somewhere and start working your way through biblical discipline and through fiscal discipline and get to a place where you can totally honor God with what he claims is it is time." - 23:27
3. "We draw attention to ourselves but it's always about bringing glory to God. The first one is the gospel. It's always going to be about the gospel. Sharing the gospel isn't about giftedness, it's about obedience. We're all commanded to be a witness." - 06:39
4. "The second G at Granite we talked about family value is Gospel and Grace. If it weren't but for the grace of God there go I and we're just going to freely extend to others what God has extended to us grace, mercy, long-suffering, patience, that he would meet us right where we are and refuse to leave us there." - 07:17
5. "God always has a gathering place where he gathers together with his children. We're to pay attention. Not only do We Gather but Jesus noticed. A lot of times if we're not careful we'll miss what God is doing because we're not paying attention." - 09:18
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