Radical Community: Embracing Kingdom Values in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Promise of a New Community

In Luke 6:12-36, Jesus' selection of the twelve apostles is a profound act that signifies the formation of a new community, echoing the twelve tribes of Israel. This community is not merely about individual salvation but about being woven into a collective that reflects God's kingdom on earth. It is a promise of restored relationships through a restored relationship with God. This new community is characterized by unity and a shared mission to embody the values of God's kingdom, offering a glimpse of heaven on earth. The promise of community is a call to live in harmony, supporting one another in faith and love, and working together to fulfill God's purposes. [06:54]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to building a community that reflects God's kingdom in your daily interactions and relationships?

Day 2: Embracing Kingdom Values

Jesus presents a radical reversal of worldly values, emphasizing weakness, sacrifice, grief, and exclusion over power, comfort, success, and recognition. This reversal is not about seeking suffering but about finding freedom from the control of worldly desires. In Jesus' kingdom, blessedness is not dependent on circumstances; it is a deep satisfaction that persists even in weeping and loss. Embracing these kingdom values requires a shift in perspective, where true fulfillment is found not in external achievements but in aligning one's life with the principles of God's kingdom. This transformation leads to a life of purpose and peace, grounded in the eternal rather than the temporal. [16:01]

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Reflection: In what ways can you begin to prioritize kingdom values over worldly values in your daily decisions and actions?

Day 3: Practicing Radical Tolerance

Jesus calls for a unique relationship with those outside the community, including enemies. He emphasizes love, prayer, and doing good to those who oppose us, advocating for a radical form of tolerance that transcends mere acceptance. This approach is rooted in a profound understanding of sin and grace, recognizing that all are sinners yet beloved by God. Practicing radical tolerance involves extending grace and compassion to others, even when it is challenging, and seeking to understand rather than judge. It is a call to love unconditionally, reflecting the heart of God in every interaction. [28:21]

Romans 12:20-21 (ESV): "To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Reflection: Who in your life do you find difficult to love? How can you begin to show them radical tolerance and love today?

Day 4: Understanding Sin and Grace

Recognizing that all are sinners yet beloved by God fosters humility and compassion. This dual identity enables believers to engage with others without superiority, transforming relationships and forming a community that reflects the love and grace of Jesus. Understanding sin and grace is about acknowledging one's own shortcomings while embracing the transformative power of God's love. It is a journey of humility, where one learns to extend the same grace received from God to others, creating an environment of acceptance and growth. [39:12]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of sin and grace in your life, and how might this understanding change the way you interact with others?

Day 5: The Power for Community

The power to live out Jesus' vision comes from understanding our identity as both sinners and beloved children of God. This realization transforms our relationships, enabling us to form a community that reflects the transformative power of the gospel. The power for community is found in the unity and love that comes from being rooted in Christ, where differences are embraced and past hurts are healed. It is a call to live out the gospel in tangible ways, demonstrating the love and grace of Jesus to the world. [34:25]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: What steps can you take to strengthen your identity in Christ and contribute to a community that embodies the transformative power of the gospel?

Sermon Summary

In Luke 6:12-36, we find Jesus retreating to a mountain to pray, choosing twelve apostles, and delivering a profound teaching on the nature of true community. This passage reveals the promise, components, and power of a genuine human community as envisioned by Jesus. The selection of twelve apostles is symbolic, echoing the twelve tribes of Israel, and signifies the formation of a new community under God's guidance. This community is not just about individual salvation but about being woven into a collective that reflects God's kingdom on earth.

Jesus' teachings challenge conventional values, presenting a radical reversal of what the world holds dear. He contrasts worldly values like power, comfort, success, and recognition with kingdom values of weakness, sacrifice, grief, and exclusion. This reversal is not about seeking suffering but about finding freedom from the control of worldly desires. In Jesus' kingdom, blessedness is not dependent on circumstances; it is a deep satisfaction that persists even in weeping and loss.

Moreover, Jesus calls for a unique relationship with those outside the community, including enemies. He emphasizes love, prayer, and doing good to those who oppose us, advocating for a radical form of tolerance that transcends mere acceptance. This approach is rooted in a profound understanding of sin and grace, recognizing that all are sinners yet beloved by God. This dual identity fosters humility and compassion, enabling believers to engage with others without superiority.

The power to live out this vision comes from understanding our identity as both sinners and beloved children of God. This realization transforms our relationships, enabling us to form a community that reflects the love and grace of Jesus. As we partake in the Lord's table, we are reminded of our unity in Christ and the call to be patient and loving, even amidst differences and past hurts. This community, bound not by natural affinities but by allegiance to Christ, is a testament to the transformative power of the gospel.

Key Takeaways

1. The Promise of Community: Jesus' selection of twelve apostles signifies the formation of a new community, echoing the twelve tribes of Israel. This community is not just about individual salvation but about being woven into a collective that reflects God's kingdom on earth. It is a promise of restored relationships through a restored relationship with God. [06:54]
2. Reversal of Values: Jesus presents a radical reversal of worldly values, emphasizing weakness, sacrifice, grief, and exclusion over power, comfort, success, and recognition. This reversal is not about seeking suffering but about finding freedom from the control of worldly desires. In Jesus' kingdom, blessedness is not dependent on circumstances. [16:01]
3. Radical Tolerance: Jesus calls for a unique relationship with those outside the community, including enemies. He emphasizes love, prayer, and doing good to those who oppose us, advocating for a radical form of tolerance that transcends mere acceptance. This approach is rooted in a profound understanding of sin and grace. [28:21]
4. Understanding Sin and Grace: Recognizing that all are sinners yet beloved by God fosters humility and compassion. This dual identity enables believers to engage with others without superiority, transforming relationships and forming a community that reflects the love and grace of Jesus. [39:12]
5. Power for Community: The power to live out Jesus' vision comes from understanding our identity as both sinners and beloved children of God. This realization transforms our relationships, enabling us to form a community that reflects the transformative power of the gospel. [34:25]
** [34:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Choosing the Apostles
[00:47] - Healing and Teaching
[01:17] - Blessings and Woes
[02:08] - Love Your Enemies
[03:28] - The Promise of Community
[04:52] - The Significance of Twelve
[06:28] - Restoring Relationships
[07:48] - Creating a New Society
[09:05] - The Importance of Community
[12:00] - Components of True Community
[13:11] - Kingdom Values
[16:01] - Radical Freedom
[23:25] - Relationship with Outsiders
[34:25] - Power for Community

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What significant action did Jesus take before choosing the twelve apostles, and why might this be important? [00:16]
How does Jesus describe the blessed and the woes in His teaching, and what contrasts can be observed between them? [01:17]
What instructions does Jesus give regarding how to treat enemies, and what might be the purpose of these instructions? [02:08]
How does the sermon describe the significance of Jesus choosing twelve apostles in relation to the twelve tribes of Israel? [04:24]

Interpretation Questions

What does the selection of the twelve apostles symbolize in the context of forming a new community, and how does this relate to the twelve tribes of Israel? [04:24]
How does Jesus' teaching on the reversal of values challenge the conventional values of power, comfort, success, and recognition? [16:01]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding our identity as both sinners and beloved children of God can transform our relationships? [39:12]
How does the concept of radical tolerance, as described in the sermon, differ from the common understanding of tolerance in today's society? [28:21]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt excluded or marginalized. How can Jesus' teaching on blessedness in weakness and exclusion provide comfort or perspective in such situations? [16:01]
Consider your current relationships. Are there any where you struggle with feelings of superiority? How can the understanding of sin and grace help you approach these relationships with humility and compassion? [39:12]
Identify a person or group you find difficult to love. What practical steps can you take to show love and do good to them, as Jesus instructs? [28:21]
Think about the values you prioritize in your life. How do they align with the kingdom values of weakness, sacrifice, grief, and exclusion? What changes might you need to make? [16:01]
How can you actively participate in forming a community that reflects the love and grace of Jesus, especially in areas where natural affinities do not exist? [42:46]
Reflect on a past hurt within a church community. How can the call to be patient and loving, even amidst differences, guide your healing and involvement in the community? [42:21]
As you partake in the Lord's table, how can you remind yourself of your unity in Christ and the transformative power of the gospel in your life and community? [41:46]

Sermon Clips

Jesus says there are two things that will be characteristic of this new community that I'm creating the values of the people inside and your relationships to the people outside the values held in common with by people inside and the relationship and the regard you have for people outside. [12:06]

Jesus shows up and says I bring the kingdom notice the word in verse 20 I bring the kingdom I have brought a new kingdom now what does that mean well it means more than this but at least this a kingdom is an Administration and uh if you're in a department and a new head comes in to your department over you you'll find it suddenly everything's getting done differently. [13:11]

Jesus says if you enter into my Administration if you leave the kingdom of this world and you enter into my kingdom the things the world values are unimportant to me and the things that the world despises are important to me here are the things that I don't value at All In My Kingdom power Comfort recogn uh success and recognition. [16:01]

Jesus says when you enter into relationship with me I give you a radical Freedom so that you're free from the control by power and comfort and recognition and status and once you get that radical inner Freedom that creates a new community with all other people that have that same Freedom. [17:56]

Jesus says when you enter into a relationship with me I create in your inner being a radical Freedom so that power Comfort success and recognition have no control over you and once you get that radical Freedom psychologically it also changes all of your Social relationships. [17:44]

Jesus says I want two things in your relationship to them first verse 28 pray for those who mistreat you that's an inner thing he says when you see someone not only who disagrees with you but someone who's actually out to hurt you I want you to engage in an inner discipline by which you drain yourself of any ill will toward that person. [28:21]

Jesus says this is the where my community is different than other tight-knit communities why well this brings up this whole issue of Tolerance doesn't it and is that a hot issue in a place like New York in fact it's one of the big the first questions that when you start talking with people in New York about Christianity about the gospel one of the very first things that comes up is the whole issue of Tolerance. [24:25]

Jesus says I will give you the resources I will give you the power so that you look even at enemies not as inferiors you look even at enemies as people that you want to will their flourishing now can you imagine a human Community that's tightly knit through belief in the lordship of Jesus Christ and whose attitude toward people who don't share those beliefs is like that. [33:25]

Jesus says the most high makes you Sons even though you're ungrateful and you're evil and you say now aren't you stretching it no because just six chapters later here's what Jesus says in Luke 11 he's talking about prayer but here's what he says he says to his disciples if you who are evil evil he's calling his disciples evil casually off hand you know you know you're evil you know we all know that. [39:12]

Jesus says I can turn you into this kind of community I can I will listen friends as we go to the Lord's table what we're actually doing is reminding ourselves that we're one family but some of you say I I I know that I'm supposed to be part of a Christian Community like this but I have to admit to you one of the reasons why I have trouble joining or coming into a church really all that is I've been burned in the past. [42:25]

Jesus says the reason there are so many exhortations in the New Testament for Christians to love other Christians is because the church is not made up of natural friends it's made up of natural enemies what binds us together is not what binds together any other human Community every other human Community is bound together by Common education common race common income levels common politics common nationality common accents common jobs or things like that. [43:12]

Jesus says the church is a band of natural enemies who love one another for jesus' sake so be patient it'll take time but your heart needs it and Jesus has the power for it let us pray father help us as we take your bread and your cup to remember that we have been made one body through the Brokenness of Jesus body make us that one Comm Community we ask in Jesus name amen. [43:52]

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