Radical Love and Obedience in Kingdom Business
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound impact of investing in kingdom business and the importance of radical love and obedience in our Christian walk. We began by acknowledging the unique gifts of Sylvia and Randen, who have successfully attracted investment into kingdom business from their circles. Their approach serves as a model for us, reminding us that our influence extends beyond our local assembly and that we are placed in people's lives to be a blessing. This is not about charity for the sake of recognition but about genuine love and care for people made in the image of God.
We also discussed the significance of outreach and evangelism, emphasizing that our acts of kindness and support are not manipulative tactics but genuine expressions of love. These actions create natural opportunities for evangelism, as seen in the life of Jesus. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in our community, offering love and support to those in need.
Reflecting on the legacy of Bishop Phillips, we learned that true ministry is about service and impactful moments that leave a lasting impression. His life exemplified radical obedience to God's will, often overturning established systems and norms. This kind of commitment to God's purpose is what we are called to emulate.
We also heard a powerful testimony about the Pharisees, a missionary couple sent to Africa by Brother and Sister Phillips. Despite feeling unsuccessful, their ministry led to the conversion of a family that would later have a profound impact through Bishop Tudor Bismarck. This story underscores the importance of sowing seeds faithfully, regardless of immediate results, trusting that God will bring the increase.
Finally, we were reminded that we cannot please both God and people. Radical obedience to God will often put us at odds with societal expectations and norms. We must choose to follow God's will, even when it is difficult or unpopular. This next season of serving God will require us to love deeply and obey radically, even in the face of fear.
### Key Takeaways
1. Influence Beyond the Local Assembly: Sylvia and Randen's ability to attract investment into kingdom business highlights the importance of recognizing our influence beyond our immediate community. We are placed in people's lives to be a blessing, and we should not hesitate to share opportunities for them to be part of God's work. This approach not only blesses others but also enhances our ability to minister effectively. [10:37]
2. Genuine Love and Outreach: Our acts of kindness and support should stem from genuine love for people made in the image of God, not as manipulative tactics for evangelism. True religion, as described in James, is pure and undefiled, focusing on loving and supporting those in need. This creates natural opportunities for evangelism, as seen in the life of Jesus. [15:46]
3. Legacy of Radical Obedience: Bishop Phillips' life teaches us that true ministry is about service and radical obedience to God's will. This often means overturning established systems and norms. We are called to emulate this kind of commitment, understanding that it will always challenge the status quo but is essential for fulfilling God's purpose. [48:03]
4. Faithful Sowing: The story of the Pharisees in Africa reminds us that our role is to sow seeds faithfully, regardless of immediate results. God is responsible for the increase. This encourages us to remain steadfast in our efforts, trusting that God will use our seemingly small acts of faithfulness to bring about significant change. [33:19]
5. Choosing to Please God: We cannot please both God and people. Radical obedience to God will often put us at odds with societal expectations and norms. We must choose to follow God's will, even when it is difficult or unpopular. This next season of serving God will require us to love deeply and obey radically, even in the face of fear. [52:55]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:37] - Influence Beyond the Local Assembly
[11:53] - The Purpose of Our Outreach
[15:46] - Genuine Love and Outreach
[16:40] - Being the Hands and Feet of Jesus
[19:39] - Legacy of Bishop Phillips
[25:47] - Lessons from Bishop Phillips
[29:29] - The Pharisees' Missionary Journey
[30:55] - Impact of Faithful Sowing
[32:15] - Bishop Tudor Bismarck's Testimony
[33:19] - The Parable of the Sower
[34:39] - Understanding the Parable
[36:09] - Ministry Moments with Bishop Phillips
[38:51] - Radical Obedience and Commitment
[48:03] - Choosing to Please God
[52:55] - Final Reflections and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. James 1:27 (NIV): "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
2. Luke 8:5-8 (NIV): "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown."
### Observation Questions
1. What does James 1:27 describe as "pure and faultless" religion?
2. In the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-8), what are the different types of soil mentioned, and what happens to the seeds in each type?
3. How did Sylvia and Randen use their influence to attract investment into kingdom business? [10:37]
4. What was the significant impact of the Pharisees' missionary work in Africa, despite their feelings of failure? [30:55]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does James 1:27's definition of pure religion align with the sermon’s emphasis on genuine love and outreach? [15:46]
2. What can we learn from the parable of the sower about the importance of faithful sowing, even when immediate results are not visible? [33:19]
3. How does the story of Bishop Phillips illustrate the concept of radical obedience to God's will, and what challenges might this present in our own lives? [48:03]
4. Why is it important to choose to please God rather than people, and what are some practical ways to make this choice in our daily lives? [52:55]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own circle of influence. How can you use your unique gifts to attract others to invest in kingdom business, similar to Sylvia and Randen? [10:37]
2. Think of a recent act of kindness you performed. Was it motivated by genuine love for people made in the image of God, or was there another motive? How can you ensure your future actions are rooted in genuine love? [15:46]
3. Bishop Phillips' life was marked by radical obedience. Can you identify an area in your life where God is calling you to overturn established norms or systems? What steps can you take to obey this call? [48:03]
4. The Pharisees' story in Africa teaches us about faithful sowing. Is there a situation in your life where you feel your efforts are not yielding immediate results? How can you remain steadfast and trust God for the increase? [30:55]
5. Reflect on a time when you had to choose between pleasing God and pleasing people. What was the outcome, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you apply this lesson to future decisions? [52:55]
6. How can you practice radical love and obedience in your community, especially when it involves stepping out of your comfort zone or facing societal opposition? [54:17]
7. Identify a specific fear that is holding you back from fully obeying God. What practical steps can you take to confront and overcome this fear? [54:17]
Devotional
Day 1: Influence Beyond the Local Assembly
Our influence as Christians extends far beyond our immediate community. Sylvia and Randen's ability to attract investment into kingdom business from their circles serves as a powerful reminder that we are placed in people's lives to be a blessing. This is not about seeking recognition but about genuinely caring for others and sharing opportunities for them to be part of God's work. By doing so, we enhance our ability to minister effectively and make a broader impact for the kingdom of God. [10:37]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
Reflection: Think of someone outside your immediate community who could benefit from your unique gifts or resources. How can you reach out to them this week to be a blessing and share God's love?
Day 2: Genuine Love and Outreach
Our acts of kindness and support should stem from genuine love for people made in the image of God, not as manipulative tactics for evangelism. True religion, as described in James, is pure and undefiled, focusing on loving and supporting those in need. This creates natural opportunities for evangelism, as seen in the life of Jesus. When we serve others with a pure heart, we reflect the love of Christ and open doors for meaningful conversations about faith. [15:46]
James 1:27 (ESV): "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Reflection: Identify a specific act of kindness you can perform this week for someone in need. How can you ensure that your motivation is genuine love and not seeking recognition or personal gain?
Day 3: Legacy of Radical Obedience
True ministry is about service and radical obedience to God's will, often overturning established systems and norms. Bishop Phillips' life exemplified this kind of commitment, challenging the status quo to fulfill God's purpose. We are called to emulate this radical obedience, understanding that it may put us at odds with societal expectations but is essential for advancing God's kingdom. [48:03]
Acts 5:29 (ESV): "But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a situation where you felt called to obey God but faced opposition or discomfort. How can you prepare yourself to respond with radical obedience in future situations, even when it challenges societal norms?
Day 4: Faithful Sowing
The story of the Pharisees in Africa reminds us that our role is to sow seeds faithfully, regardless of immediate results. God is responsible for the increase. This encourages us to remain steadfast in our efforts, trusting that God will use our seemingly small acts of faithfulness to bring about significant change. Our faithfulness in sowing seeds can have a profound impact, even if we do not see the results immediately. [33:19]
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (ESV): "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."
Reflection: Think of a recent effort or ministry where you felt discouraged by the lack of immediate results. How can you renew your commitment to faithfully sow seeds, trusting that God will bring the increase in His timing?
Day 5: Choosing to Please God
We cannot please both God and people. Radical obedience to God will often put us at odds with societal expectations and norms. We must choose to follow God's will, even when it is difficult or unpopular. This next season of serving God will require us to love deeply and obey radically, even in the face of fear. Our ultimate goal should be to please God, not people, and to trust Him with the outcomes. [52:55]
Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are tempted to seek the approval of others over God's approval. What steps can you take this week to prioritize pleasing God in that area, even if it means facing opposition or discomfort?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "These are people made in the image of God. For that reason and that reason alone, they deserve our love, our care, our attention, our support, our honor. And so there's a real sense in which it's actually just an opportunity to come alongside humans made in the image of God. That are in need. I think the outreach in that sense is just ‑‑ that is true religion, pure and undefiled, as James said." [15:46] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So if you want to be prayed over, if you want to be blessed, you want your kids to hear a message. That will encourage them going into this year. So I just think that those are ‑‑ those are amazing opportunities for being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. If we'll do that, he'll ‑‑ opportunity to love people, Pastor Randon said." [16:40] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God told us to sow the seed, not to analyze the soil. I had it marked in my Bible. Coming into this session, I had Luke 8 marked. A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the wayside. And it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. Some fell on rock, and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture." [33:19] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The greatest opportunities in life rarely come with a second chance. And I mean, I didn't let him like the bubble, the bubble went away. And I type back, if you'll still have us, we'll be there. Whatever Wednesday you say. And the reason was because I instantly understood something. And basically the next seven years. And the years were a process of repeatedly kind of coming to understand things like this." [48:03] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Feeling fear is a part of the human experience. You can feel fear. There's nothing wrong with that. It's not OK to do fear. To obey fear. And it is not OK to entertain fear. We can feel it, but we can't entertain it because we've got to keep perfecting love and walking in obedience." [54:17] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Most all of us have at least a little circle of influence that is not entirely limited to this local assembly. And I think a lot of times we don't stop and think of the fact that we're in those people's lives, yes, because they bless us, but also because we're a blessing to them. And for the most part, those people probably know that and probably have gratitude for it." [11:53] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What I noticed for the first time ever this afternoon as I read that, thinking about Brother Phillips and the legacy that we're carrying on, the mantle that we have a share in, what I thought today that I've never really taken note of is where the and and where the but are in that story. In that story. Because he didn't say a sower went out to sow his seed, but as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, birds of the air devoured it, some fell on the rock." [34:39] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "There is a certain kind of unconditional commitment to the will of God that will always overturn an apple cart. It will always flip the system on its head at inconvenient moments. And if you find somebody that's sold out to that, forgive any other shortcoming or flaw that you perceive. I'm not talking about sin. I'm just talking about humanity. Because so few people understand that there is nothing attainable in this world, even inside of religious systems and church, that is worth losing who God made you to be." [49:37] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What will make the, in this world, what will make more people angry is if you refuse to bow down when the harp and the lyre and the sack. But when they play the cue, you got to do the thing. And if you won't do that, that will upset the Pope. That will upset everybody. Nobody likes it when you won't play by the rules because that threatens the Bible. You're going to shatter the illusion. And we're comfortable in the illusion. And we're benefiting from it." [51:57] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "This is not about glorifying a human being. This is about honoring. A style of life that we're called to transfer on to those around us and a radical form of love and obedience that we're called to this next season of serving God is going to look different than any other season we've ever been engaged in. And the thing that is going to define it is going to be radical love and radical obedience. Unlike anything. Anything we've ever lived in before." [54:17] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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