Reflecting Jesus Through Generosity and Political Engagement

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound responsibility we have as followers of Jesus to engage with our communities and political systems in a way that reflects His teachings and love. As we prepare for the upcoming Be Rich series, we are reminded of the importance of generosity and service, not just within our church but extending to our local communities and beyond. This initiative is a tangible expression of our commitment to love and serve others, reflecting the heart of Jesus in practical ways.

We also delved into the complexities of political engagement, especially during election seasons. It's easy to become disillusioned with the candidates and the political process, but we must remember that our leaders are a reflection of who we are as a people. This realization should prompt us to look inward and strive to become better individuals, aligning ourselves more closely with the values of Jesus. Our political engagement should not be about pursuing power but about pursuing people, embodying the love and humility that Jesus demonstrated.

Jesus' approach to politics was revolutionary. He formed a movement, the Ekklesia, which was not about building a religious institution but about creating a community that would influence culture and society. His teachings challenge us to rethink our values, our sense of justice, and our social obligations. As His followers, we are called to be fishers of men, not fighters for political causes. Our allegiance is to Jesus, and our actions should reflect His love and grace.

The Apostle Paul exemplified this approach by becoming all things to all people, crossing cultural and social boundaries to share the message of Jesus. He understood that the law of Christ, which is to love one another as Jesus loved us, is the guiding principle for our lives. This love is not passive; it actively seeks to carry the burdens of others, regardless of their political or social standing. By doing so, we fulfill the law of Christ and become a true reflection of His love to the world.

As we partake in communion, we are reminded of Jesus' ultimate act of love—carrying our burdens and offering us forgiveness. Let us not distort the gospel by wrapping it around our political agendas. Instead, let us be a people who prioritize love, service, and unity, reflecting the true nature of Jesus to a world in need.

Key Takeaways:

- Generosity and Service: Our Be Rich series is a call to action, encouraging us to give and serve generously. This initiative is a reflection of Jesus' love, reminding us that our resources are meant to bless others and make a tangible impact in our communities. [28:11]

- Political Engagement: Our political leaders are a reflection of who we are as a people. Instead of focusing on the flaws of candidates, we should strive to become better individuals, aligning ourselves with the values of Jesus and engaging in politics with humility and love. [33:44]

- Jesus' Revolutionary Movement: Jesus formed the Ekklesia, a movement that transcended religious institutions and aimed to influence culture and society. His teachings challenge us to rethink our values and social obligations, calling us to be fishers of men, not fighters for political causes. [38:24]

- The Law of Christ: The guiding principle for our lives is the law of Christ, which is to love one another as Jesus loved us. This love is active and seeks to carry the burdens of others, fulfilling the law of Christ and reflecting His love to the world. [58:40]

- Communion and Reflection: As we partake in communion, we remember Jesus' ultimate act of love—carrying our burdens and offering forgiveness. Let us not distort the gospel with political agendas but prioritize love, service, and unity, reflecting the true nature of Jesus. [01:18:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [28:11] - Be Rich Series Introduction
- [30:04] - The Big Give and Community Impact
- [30:31] - Reflecting Jesus in Politics
- [31:34] - Abraham Lincoln's Vision
- [32:27] - Of the People, By the People, For the People
- [33:44] - Candidates as a Reflection of Us
- [35:33] - Voting and Personal Economy
- [36:17] - A Nation Under God
- [37:22] - Selfish People and Selfless Leaders
- [38:24] - Jesus' Political Movement
- [39:44] - Jesus as King and Lord
- [41:10] - Challenging Our Values
- [42:35] - Distorting the Gospel
- [01:18:57] - Communion and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 - Paul's approach to becoming all things to all people to win them for Christ.
2. Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
3. John 13:34-35 - Jesus' command to love one another as He has loved us.

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Observation Questions:

1. What is the significance of the "Be Rich" series mentioned in the sermon, and how does it reflect Jesus' teachings on generosity and service? [28:11]

2. How does the sermon describe Jesus' approach to political engagement, and what was the purpose of the Ekklesia He formed? [38:24]

3. According to the sermon, how did the Apostle Paul exemplify the law of Christ in his ministry? [58:40]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between our political leaders and the reflection of our society? [33:44]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Paul's strategy of becoming "all things to all people" challenge our current approach to engaging with those who are different from us? [52:11]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that political engagement should be about pursuing people rather than power? [37:55]

3. How does the concept of carrying each other's burdens fulfill the law of Christ, and what implications does this have for our daily interactions? [01:07:22]

4. What does the sermon imply about the potential dangers of aligning the gospel with political agendas? [43:06]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current level of generosity and service. How can you participate in the "Be Rich" initiative to make a tangible impact in your community? [28:11]

2. Consider your political engagement. How can you ensure that your actions and attitudes reflect the love and humility of Jesus, especially during election seasons? [37:55]

3. Identify a person or group whose burdens you can help carry this week. What specific steps can you take to support them in a way that fulfills the law of Christ? [01:07:22]

4. Think about a political or social issue that you are passionate about. How can you approach this issue with the mindset of being a "fisher of men" rather than a "fighter for political causes"? [42:35]

5. Reflect on your interactions with people from different political or social backgrounds. How can you become "all things to all people" to build bridges and share the love of Christ? [52:11]

6. How can you ensure that your political views do not distort the gospel message? What steps can you take to prioritize your allegiance to Jesus over any political party? [43:06]

7. As you partake in communion, how can you use this time to reflect on Jesus' ultimate act of love and forgiveness, and how can this reflection influence your actions and attitudes in the coming week? [01:18:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Generosity as a Reflection of Jesus' Love
In the Be Rich series, the call to action is clear: generosity and service are not just acts of kindness but reflections of Jesus' love. This initiative encourages individuals to give and serve generously, reminding them that their resources are meant to bless others and make a tangible impact in their communities. By participating in this series, believers are not only following Jesus' teachings but also embodying His love in practical ways. The act of giving becomes a powerful testament to the transformative power of love and service, extending beyond the church to touch the lives of many. [28:11]

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can use your resources to bless someone in your community this week. How can you make this act of generosity a reflection of Jesus' love?

Day 2: Humility in Political Engagement
Political engagement can often lead to disillusionment, especially during election seasons. However, it's important to remember that political leaders are a reflection of the people they represent. Instead of focusing on the flaws of candidates, individuals are encouraged to strive to become better versions of themselves, aligning more closely with the values of Jesus. Political engagement should not be about pursuing power but about pursuing people, embodying the love and humility that Jesus demonstrated. By doing so, believers can engage in politics with a spirit of humility and love, reflecting the heart of Jesus in their actions. [33:44]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a political issue that frustrates you. How can you approach it with humility and love, focusing on the people affected rather than the power dynamics involved?

Day 3: The Ekklesia as a Cultural Influence
Jesus' approach to politics was revolutionary, forming the Ekklesia—a movement that transcended religious institutions and aimed to influence culture and society. His teachings challenge individuals to rethink their values, sense of justice, and social obligations. As followers of Jesus, the call is to be fishers of men, not fighters for political causes. This means prioritizing the mission of spreading love and grace over political agendas. By doing so, believers can create a community that influences culture and society in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus. [38:24]

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Matthew 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you be a light in your community, influencing culture and society in a way that reflects Jesus' teachings?

Day 4: The Active Love of Christ
The Apostle Paul exemplified the law of Christ, which is to love one another as Jesus loved us. This love is not passive; it actively seeks to carry the burdens of others, regardless of their political or social standing. By doing so, believers fulfill the law of Christ and become a true reflection of His love to the world. This active love challenges individuals to step out of their comfort zones and engage with others in meaningful ways, carrying their burdens and offering support. [58:40]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone in your life who is carrying a heavy burden. How can you actively support them this week, fulfilling the law of Christ through your actions?

Day 5: Communion as a Reminder of Jesus' Love
As believers partake in communion, they are reminded of Jesus' ultimate act of love—carrying their burdens and offering forgiveness. This sacred act serves as a powerful reminder to not distort the gospel with political agendas but to prioritize love, service, and unity. By doing so, individuals can reflect the true nature of Jesus to a world in need, embodying His love and grace in their daily lives. Communion becomes a moment of reflection and recommitment to living out the teachings of Jesus in practical ways. [01:18:57]

"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" (Luke 22:19, ESV)

Reflection: As you reflect on communion, consider how you can prioritize love, service, and unity in your life. What steps can you take to ensure that your actions reflect the true nature of Jesus?

Quotes

1) "Selfish people do not produce selfless leaders. I'll say that again. Selfish people don't produce selfless leaders. Selfish parents don't produce selfless children. And what we see is a reflection of who we are. So I've been saying over the last couple of weeks, and I'll say it again today, Jesus gives us a better way to be politically engaged. Not by pursuing power, but by pursuing people. But Jesus gives us a better way to be politically engaged by becoming better people. Rather than just hoping for better candidates." [37:22] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "When he started his party, it challenged everyone, including his followers. It challenged their worldview. It challenged their values and their value system. It challenged how they saw government and the role of government and how government was supposed to operate. It challenged their sense of justice and how they defined it and how they applied it. It challenged their social services and social obligations to one another. It challenged their view of liberty and freedom and security and economy and duty, civic duty. It challenged how they thought of citizenship and who's in and who's out and their foreign relations." [40:09] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "We distort the gospel and we do the world a disservice when we attempt to blend or defend our party's platform or our party's person or our party's strategy with Jesus' way. When we just try to hold on to that party platform, when we try to hold on to our position, or when we try to lift up one of the candidates and then wrap it around like Jesus, as if we can kind of just mask it with Jesus and his teachings, we do the world a disservice and we end up distorting the gospel." [43:06] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Jesus called the church and he called people to leave their party and join his. And for those who did stay or tried to stay, they then started to sway their party in the direction of Jesus. But in almost every case, in fact, I can't find an exception, but maybe there is one, almost in every case when they tried to stay with their party and sway it towards Jesus, the party kicked them out. The party dismissed them. In fact, in some cases, the party tried to kill them." [46:07] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "When we choose to carry someone's burden, what divides us diminishes and what unites us surfaces. And it doesn't mean you'll fully agree. Doesn't mean you'll necessarily change your political position, but it will mean that you change your posture towards them. You see, because we'll all have a better understanding, even if we still remain divided. We'll be driven by love more than fear. And we'll behave with civility, not hostility." [01:11:20] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "We can disagree politically, but still love unconditionally as we pray and work towards unity. And when we do that, we can do this. We'll be more reflective of Jesus and we will be far more attractive to the world. So Paul ends it like this. He says, I've become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. And that's what I said. The party of Jesus are the salvationists, not the legalist, right? The salvationists. Jesus did not establish his movement, the ecclesia, to win elections, but to win politics. And when we make this about an election, we distort the gospel." [01:12:44] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "You choose your candidate, or you can abstain from choosing any candidate. Some of you right there, the wind just got knocked out of your lungs. You can choose your candidate and you can abstain from choosing any candidate, but do so according to your faith, trust in Jesus and do it from a conscience that is informed by your trust in Jesus, right? Because Paul, when he was writing Timothy, he was telling Timothy, who was dealing with a lot of division in the church, he said, I just want you to remember what God's done for you. And then listen, I want you to do what is best for you. And I want you to do what is best according to your faith and your conscience." [01:14:26] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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