Reflecting God's Character: The True Essence of Church
Summary
### Summary
Today's message focused on the true essence of the church and the importance of reflecting God's character in our lives. The church is not a building or a set of religious rules but a community of believers who embody Jesus' teachings and love. We often fall into the trap of judgment, alienation, and hypocrisy, which contradicts the very nature of Christ. Jesus associated with those who were different, and we are called to do the same, extending grace and forgiveness rather than harboring resentment and offense.
The story of Isaac in Genesis 26 was used to illustrate the concept of prosperity as a reflection of God's character, not merely financial success. Isaac's journey of digging wells symbolizes our spiritual journey. We must move beyond our initial salvation experience to a life of transformation, continually seeking to reflect God's character. This involves creating space for God's presence, which brings true prosperity—peace, joy, and divine blessing.
We are called to be active in the right ways, focusing on being like Jesus rather than just doing religious activities. This means forgiving those who have hurt us, avoiding trivial disputes, and genuinely loving others. The church should be a place of transformation, growth, and genuine love, where people can find peace and salvation without the burden of religious pretense.
We must also be a space of gratitude, recognizing and expressing our thankfulness for God's blessings. Gratitude keeps us humble and opens the door to further blessings. Finally, we are called to help others, not just in words but through sacrificial actions. This involves being spiritual contributors rather than consumers, using our freedom in Christ to serve one another in love.
### Key Takeaways
1. Reflecting God's Character: The church is a community that should reflect God's character, not a set of religious rules. We must avoid judgment, alienation, and hypocrisy, and instead, embody Jesus' love and grace. This means associating with those who are different and extending forgiveness rather than harboring resentment. [00:55]
2. True Prosperity: Prosperity in God's terms is not about financial success but about reflecting His character. Isaac's story in Genesis 26 teaches us that true prosperity comes from creating space for God's presence, which brings peace, joy, and divine blessing. We must move beyond our initial salvation to a life of ongoing transformation. [08:00]
3. Active in the Right Ways: Being the church means being active in ways that reflect Jesus' teachings. This involves forgiving those who have hurt us, avoiding trivial disputes, and genuinely loving others. Our actions should attract people to Jesus, not repel them. [05:33]
4. Gratitude and Humility: Gratitude is essential for true worship and keeps us humble. Recognizing and expressing thankfulness for God's blessings opens the door to further blessings. We must be grateful for both small and significant blessings, as this attitude transforms our lives and relationships. [40:15]
5. Helping Others: We are called to be spiritual contributors, not consumers. This means using our freedom in Christ to serve one another in love. Helping others involves sacrificial actions, not just words. We must be willing to give our time, resources, and love to those in need, reflecting Jesus' sacrificial love. [45:11]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Reflecting God's Character
[02:09] - Forgiveness and Healing Church Hurt
[03:06] - The Importance of Being, Not Just Doing
[04:38] - Active in the Right Ways
[06:19] - Bible Story: Isaac's Wells
[08:00] - True Prosperity
[09:53] - Jealousy and Offense
[12:33] - Restoring and Digging New Wells
[14:12] - Argument and Hostility
[15:16] - Creating Space for God's Presence
[17:55] - Worship and Reflection
[19:23] - Moving Beyond Salvation to Transformation
[22:11] - Following Jesus vs. Being Like Jesus
[23:30] - Creating a Space of Transformation
[24:57] - Digging Your Own Wells
[26:35] - A Space of Salvation
[31:21] - A Space of Growth
[34:12] - A Space of Revelation
[35:32] - Genuine Love for Others
[37:03] - Getting Rid of Evil Behavior
[40:15] - The Importance of Gratitude
[43:26] - Being the Blessing
[45:11] - Helping Others
[48:05] - Sacrificial Living
[49:32] - Being Graceful and Intentional
[51:06] - Following Through with Genuine Love
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 26:12-25
2. 1 Peter 1:22-23
3. Galatians 5:13
#### Observation Questions
1. What actions did Isaac take when the Philistines filled his wells with dirt? (Genesis 26:12-25)
2. According to the sermon, what are some behaviors that contradict the nature of Christ? [00:55]
3. How does the sermon describe true prosperity in God's terms? [08:00]
4. What does 1 Peter 1:22-23 say about how we should love one another?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for the church to reflect God's character rather than just follow religious rules? [00:55]
2. How does the story of Isaac digging wells relate to our spiritual journey and transformation? [08:00]
3. What does it mean to be active in the right ways as a church, according to the sermon? [05:33]
4. How does gratitude play a role in our worship and relationship with God? [40:15]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the sermon, how can you personally avoid judgment, alienation, and hypocrisy in your daily interactions? [00:55]
2. Think about a time when you harbored resentment or offense. How can you extend forgiveness and grace in that situation now? [02:09]
3. In what ways can you create space for God's presence in your life to experience true prosperity—peace, joy, and divine blessing? [08:00]
4. Identify a trivial dispute you have been involved in recently. How can you resolve it in a way that reflects Jesus' teachings? [05:33]
5. What are some small and significant blessings in your life that you can express gratitude for this week? How will you do it? [40:15]
6. How can you move from being a spiritual consumer to a spiritual contributor in your church community? [45:11]
7. Think of a specific person in your life who is different from you. How can you show them genuine love and grace this week? [00:55]
Devotional
Day 1: Reflecting God's Character
The church is a community that should reflect God's character, not a set of religious rules. We must avoid judgment, alienation, and hypocrisy, and instead, embody Jesus' love and grace. This means associating with those who are different and extending forgiveness rather than harboring resentment. Jesus' life was marked by His willingness to engage with those who were marginalized and different from the religious elite of His time. He showed love and grace to everyone, regardless of their background or status. As followers of Christ, we are called to do the same, creating a community that mirrors His inclusive and loving nature. [00:55]
Romans 15:7 (ESV): "Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is different from you or whom you have judged. How can you extend Jesus' love and grace to them today?
Day 2: True Prosperity
Prosperity in God's terms is not about financial success but about reflecting His character. Isaac's story in Genesis 26 teaches us that true prosperity comes from creating space for God's presence, which brings peace, joy, and divine blessing. We must move beyond our initial salvation to a life of ongoing transformation. Isaac's journey of digging wells symbolizes our spiritual journey. Each well represents a step in our spiritual growth, moving from initial salvation to deeper levels of faith and transformation. True prosperity is found in the peace, joy, and blessings that come from living a life that reflects God's character. [08:00]
3 John 1:2 (ESV): "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to create more space for God's presence in your life, allowing His peace and joy to fill you?
Day 3: Active in the Right Ways
Being the church means being active in ways that reflect Jesus' teachings. This involves forgiving those who have hurt us, avoiding trivial disputes, and genuinely loving others. Our actions should attract people to Jesus, not repel them. It's easy to get caught up in religious activities and miss the heart of what it means to follow Jesus. True discipleship is about embodying His love and grace in our daily interactions. By focusing on forgiveness, avoiding unnecessary conflicts, and showing genuine love, we can create a community that draws people to Christ. [05:33]
Colossians 3:12-13 (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."
Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive or a conflict you need to resolve? How can you take a step towards reconciliation today?
Day 4: Gratitude and Humility
Gratitude is essential for true worship and keeps us humble. Recognizing and expressing thankfulness for God's blessings opens the door to further blessings. We must be grateful for both small and significant blessings, as this attitude transforms our lives and relationships. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have, fostering a spirit of humility and contentment. By regularly expressing thankfulness, we acknowledge God's provision and grace in our lives, which in turn deepens our relationship with Him and others. [40:15]
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV): "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: Take a moment to list three things you are grateful for today. How can you express your gratitude to God and others?
Day 5: Helping Others
We are called to be spiritual contributors, not consumers. This means using our freedom in Christ to serve one another in love. Helping others involves sacrificial actions, not just words. We must be willing to give our time, resources, and love to those in need, reflecting Jesus' sacrificial love. True service requires us to go beyond mere words and take tangible actions to meet the needs of others. By doing so, we reflect the love and sacrifice of Jesus, who gave His life for us. [45:11]
Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Reflection: Identify one person or group in need that you can help this week. What specific action can you take to serve them in love?
Quotes
1. "Praise the Lord that Jesus isn't waking up every day pointing out your failures in worshiping Him and serving Him and getting on with life. And we're supposed to reflect Jesus, we're the church, we're the reflection of Jesus, we're the chosen people to be able to reflect who Jesus is, and yet sometimes as a collective church we reflect nothing of what Jesus is." [00:55] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We don't do to be the church. We be to be the church. Can I say that again? We don't do to be the church. We be who Jesus is. We be who God is to be the church. So when I hear of stories of this church member attacking that church member, and this church member speaking out against that church leader across the road, I don't care about the history. I just care about, am I being like Jesus?" [04:38] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If we're truly actively trying to be the church, we are supposed to be actively maximizing how much people see of God. Oh, please just act, not an act spiritual, so I feel like I'm preaching okay. And when, you're very quiet today. Must be something I said about the cowboys, I think, yeah. I just spoke about not carrying a fence, and then you walk straight into it. Actively creating a space for God's presence to be reflected." [07:05] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You see, there's no benefit in harboring offense and hurt in the church. While we harbor offense and hurt in the church, we're not getting divine blessing, we're getting animosity. And how many of you know that animosity eats away at you? It gives you tweezer lips. You get the best news of the world, and you go, hmm, that's okay. How are you feeling? Hmm, fine. Where's the joy gone? Well, the joy is gone because you're not working or operating in this space called the church, which is here to maximize the reflection of God's character." [08:00] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "There's no such thing as inherited faith. There's You can't inherit your faith. Your grandmother can't leave her faith to you in her will. Just because your grandfather was a Baptist, and your father was a Baptist, and you're kind of a Baptist, just because your grandfather was a Methodist, and your father was a Methodist, and you're a Methodist, it doesn't make a difference. You cannot inherit faith. You have to strike out and tell your own story. Leveraging what has happened before, you have to strike out and tell your own story." [13:10] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We need to be able to get away from those things so that we can be more open to God. can create space for not us to operate, not for us to dig wells, but for the Father to operate and be reflected. And where the Father operates and there is reflection, that is where there's room for all. I want you to, for a moment, just remember how much space you felt when you first gave your life to the Lord. There was a freedom." [15:16] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We have to understand that we live in a world where less offense, less hurt, less accusation is the most powerful tool that we have. So he built an altar there. He built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. And then have a look, have a look. And then he got active. The church got active. He set up his camp at that place and his servant dug another well." [19:23] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We are spiritual contributors, not spiritual consumers. We are spiritual contributors, not spiritual consumers. We're going to stop only short of sin to see people come to Jesus Christ. Nothing will stand in my way of hunting down the hurting and bringing them the peace of Jesus Christ. And that's going to be a war cry around here." [43:26] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "We are the body of Christ. Right now, we have already been given that mantle. We have already been called free. We are already walking in freedom. We are not called to find it. We are called to be it. The task alone of being the church, the activity of being the church, that's what we're called to. Not doing the church." [46:33] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "If we're going to have the space of loving others genuinely, if we're going to have the space of growth, if we're going to have the space of genuinely helping others, if we're going to have this kind of space where there's room for all, then we need to understand that as a church, we will be sacrificial. If you want the bathrooms fixed, it costs. If you want to see our church grow, it's going to cost." [48:05] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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