Reflecting God's Love Through Virtuous Living
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of reflecting God's love and honoring the work He is doing in the world, even through those who do not know Him. I was encouraged to live a life that is distinctly Christian, collaborating without compromise and critiquing without dualism. I was reminded that as Christians, we are called to shine God's light into the world, not to look down on others, but to illuminate the darkness. We are called to be rulers and priests, living out our faith, hope, and love through the character training and following of Jesus.
The sermon also emphasized the importance of virtues that are often overlooked in the modern world, such as patience, humility, chastity, and charity. I was reminded that these virtues were not widely regarded as virtues until Christians began to practice them. The sermon also stressed the importance of not viewing virtues as a private matter, but as something that should flow out into the world, making us better and wiser citizens.
Key takeaways:
- We are called to be God's people, shining His light into the world and reflecting His love. This is a distinct way of living that sets Christians apart. ([43:54])
- Virtues such as patience, humility, chastity, and charity are not just personal attributes, but should flow out into the world, making us better and wiser citizens. ([41:59])
- The Spirit works in our lives by making us more human, more thoughtful, and more able to see and think through issues. This process requires effort and does not happen automatically. ([26:56])
- The fruit of the Spirit requires cultivation and care, much like a gardener tending to a tree. It is not enough to simply have the blossom of new life in the Spirit; we must also tend to the fruit. ([36:04])
- Joy is not the same as happiness. Joy is the fruit of the settled conviction that Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. It is deeper and richer than happiness and requires effort and thought to truly understand and experience. ([38:11])
Study Guide
Bible Passages:
1. Romans 12:1-2
2. Philippians 4:8-9
3. Matthew 5:14-16
Key Points:
1. The formation of character is a conscious decision and requires consistent effort.
2. As Christians, we are called to be different, to shine God's light into the world.
3. The Christian lifestyle is different and requires faith, hope, and love.
Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 12:1-2 instruct us about conforming to the world?
2. In Philippians 4:8-9, what are we encouraged to think about and practice?
3. What does Matthew 5:14-16 say about our role as Christians in the world?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans 12:1-2 relate to the idea of consciously forming our character?
2. What does Philippians 4:8-9 suggest about the importance of our thoughts and actions in our Christian walk?
3. How does Matthew 5:14-16 illustrate our calling to be different and shine God's light into the world?
Application Questions:
1. How can we apply the teaching of Romans 12:1-2 in our daily lives to resist conforming to the world?
2. In what practical ways can we implement the instructions in Philippians 4:8-9 in our thoughts and actions?
3. How can we live out the calling in Matthew 5:14-16 to be the light of the world in our communities?
Devotional
Day 1: Reflecting God's Love in the World
As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect God's love in the world. This is not always easy, especially when interacting with those who do not share our faith. However, it is in these moments that our actions can speak louder than words, showing the transformative power of God's love.
1 John 4:11-12 - "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent interaction you had with someone who doesn't share your faith. Did you feel you were able to reflect God's love in that interaction? If not, how could you approach a similar situation in the future to better reflect God's love?
Day 2: The Necessity of Spiritual Gardening
Our spiritual life can be likened to a garden. It requires regular tending and pruning to promote growth. Just as a gardener removes weeds and dead plants to allow for new growth, we must also remove the things in our lives that hinder our spiritual growth.
John 15:2 - "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
Reflection: Consider your spiritual life as a garden. What areas need tending or pruning? What steps can you take this week to nurture those areas and promote growth?
Day 3: The Transformation of the Mind
Our faith influences our moral choices, contributing to the transformation of our minds. This transformation is a continuous process, as we strive to align our thoughts and actions with the teachings of Christ.
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: Can you identify a recent situation where you made a moral choice that was influenced by your faith? How did this choice contribute to the transformation of your mind?
Day 4: The Future in Relation to the Present
As we mature in our faith, we put away childish ways of thinking and behaving. This change impacts our present and shapes our future, as we strive to live according to God's will.
1 Corinthians 13:11 - "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me."
Reflection: Reflect on a 'childish' way of thinking or behaving that you've put away as you've matured in your faith. How has this change impacted your present and how do you see it shaping your future?
Day 5: Becoming More Truly Yourself in Christ
Following Jesus allows us to become more truly ourselves. This contrasts with the world's message of self-fulfillment, which often leads to emptiness and dissatisfaction.
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: Can you identify a way in which following Jesus has made you feel more truly yourself? How does this contrast with the world's message of self-fulfillment?
Quotes
1. "I suggest that the path of the Christian virtues, the Christian character strengths, is a path which will result god-willing in appropriate spontaneity and authenticity but which will be a spontaneity and an authenticity which you get if you like as the reward at the end of the process." - 21:34
2. "We are part of that great thing called the human race and God loves it too bit and we are to reflect that love and to honor the fact that God has done so much and is doing so much in the world through people who don't know him because God is good and produces beauty and wisdom of all sorts." - 42:54
3. "We are called to become different people, people who know what the map of the world is where the twists and turns and awkward passages are and know how to get where we need to get through it." - 14:48
4. "When you are seized by Christ and indwelt by the Spirit he will make you more truly yourself. That's part of the paradox we live in a culture which says you've got to be yourself find yourself discover yourself and Jesus says yes that's what you're going to do but the way you do it is by dying and rising again." - 03:41
5. "Aristotle had this vision of what it meant to be genuinely human... he saw just as you might say with an athlete or a musician that if you're going to be that sort of person there are certain muscles you need to train certain habits that need to become second nature these are the strengths not of body but mind of character." - 03:41
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