Day 1: The Glory of Jesus as the Essence of the Gospel
The light of Jesus is not merely about his teachings or stories; it is about the profound glory that sets him apart from all others. This glory is the essence of the gospel and should be the focus of our lives. It is essential to continually ask ourselves if Jesus remains special to us, ensuring that our relationship with him does not become stale or routine. The glory of Jesus should be a personal and ever-growing relationship, where he becomes increasingly precious to us. This relationship is not about accumulating knowledge or adhering to doctrines but about experiencing the personal and transformative presence of Jesus in our lives. [02:10]
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to experience the glory of Jesus in your daily life, beyond just learning about his teachings?
Day 2: A Personal and Ever-Growing Relationship with Jesus
Our relationship with Jesus should be personal and ever-growing, not just based on knowledge or doctrine. It is crucial to ensure that Jesus becomes increasingly precious to us, reflecting his glory in our daily lives. This involves moving beyond a routine or superficial connection and engaging in a dynamic, living relationship with him. As we grow in our understanding and love for Jesus, we are called to embody his glory and let it transform our lives. This transformation is not about external adherence to rules but about an internal change that reflects the light of Jesus to the world. [05:51]
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth." (Ephesians 3:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus today, allowing his presence to transform your heart and actions?
Day 3: Guarding Against Spiritual Blindness
We must guard against spiritual blindness, which can prevent us from seeing the true glory of Jesus. This blindness can lead us to treat others as objects rather than souls created in God's image. It is essential to remain vigilant and aware of the ways in which the god of this world can impose blindness, even on believers. By recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every person, we can appreciate the multicolored wisdom of God and the diverse gifts and personalities within the body of Christ. This perspective helps us to see people as souls deserving of love and respect, reflecting the glory of Jesus in our interactions with others. [10:05]
"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4, ESV)
Reflection: Is there someone in your life whom you have been viewing as an object rather than a soul created in God's image? How can you change your perspective and actions towards them today?
Day 4: Embracing the Multicolored Wisdom of God
The multicolored wisdom of God is reflected in the diversity of gifts and personalities within the body of Christ. We should appreciate and embrace this diversity, recognizing it as part of God's glorious design. By valuing the unique contributions of each individual, we can foster unity and strength within the community of believers. This diversity is not a challenge to be overcome but a beautiful tapestry that reflects the creativity and wisdom of God. As we embrace this diversity, we can better reflect the glory of Jesus and demonstrate his love to the world. [19:14]
"So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 3:10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively appreciate and embrace the diversity of gifts and personalities within your community, seeing them as a reflection of God's wisdom?
Day 5: The Lamp of a Clear Conscience
A clear conscience is the lamp that holds the light of Jesus. Our lives must reflect the preciousness of Jesus through a conscience that is sensitive to sin and committed to righteousness. This clear conscience is the foundation upon which the light of Jesus shines brightly, demonstrating his preciousness to the world. As we grow in humility and gentleness, we hold up the light of Jesus on the lamp of a good conscience, ensuring that our lives are a true reflection of his glory. By maintaining a clear conscience, we can effectively shine the light of Jesus in a dark world, drawing others to his transformative presence. [25:41]
"Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame." (1 Peter 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where your conscience is not clear? What steps can you take today to address these areas and ensure that your life reflects the light of Jesus?
Sermon Summary
In reflecting on the light of Jesus, it's essential to understand that the light is not merely Jesus himself, but the glory of Jesus. This glory is what makes Jesus distinct and special, and it is this glory that we are called to embody and reflect in our lives. The light of Jesus is not just about his teachings or stories; it is about the profound glory that sets him apart from all others. This glory is the good news, the essence of the gospel, and it is what we must hold dear in our hearts.
The challenge for us is to continually ask ourselves if Jesus remains special to us. Just as children outgrow their toys, we must ensure that our relationship with Jesus does not become stale or routine. The glory of Jesus should be a personal and ever-growing relationship, where he becomes increasingly precious to us. This relationship is not about accumulating knowledge or adhering to doctrines but about experiencing the personal and transformative presence of Jesus in our lives.
Moreover, we must be vigilant against the blindness that the god of this world can impose, even on believers. This blindness can prevent us from seeing the true glory of Jesus and can lead us to treat others as mere objects for our benefit. We must strive to see people as souls created in the image of God, deserving of dignity and love. This perspective helps us to appreciate the multicolored wisdom of God, recognizing the diverse gifts and personalities within the body of Christ.
The lamp that holds the light of Jesus is a clear conscience. It is not enough to proclaim Jesus as precious; our lives must reflect this through a conscience that is sensitive to sin and committed to righteousness. This clear conscience is the foundation upon which the light of Jesus shines brightly, demonstrating his preciousness to the world. As we grow in humility and gentleness, we hold up the light of Jesus on the lamp of a good conscience, ensuring that our lives are a true reflection of his glory.
Key Takeaways
1. The light of Jesus is the glory of Jesus, which is the essence of the gospel. It is not just about his teachings or stories but about what makes him uniquely special. This glory should be the focus of our lives, continually asking if Jesus remains special to us. [02:10]
2. Our relationship with Jesus should be personal and ever-growing, not just based on knowledge or doctrine. We must ensure that Jesus becomes increasingly precious to us, reflecting his glory in our daily lives. [05:51]
3. We must guard against spiritual blindness, which can prevent us from seeing the true glory of Jesus. This blindness can lead us to treat others as objects rather than souls created in God's image. [10:05]
4. The multicolored wisdom of God is reflected in the diversity of gifts and personalities within the body of Christ. We should appreciate and embrace this diversity, recognizing it as part of God's glorious design. [19:14]
5. A clear conscience is the lamp that holds the light of Jesus. Our lives must reflect the preciousness of Jesus through a conscience that is sensitive to sin and committed to righteousness. This is the foundation for shining the light of Jesus to the world. [25:41] ** [25:41]
According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, what is the role of the "god of this world" in relation to the light of the Gospel? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on spiritual blindness? [01:29]
In Matthew 13:44, what does the parable of the hidden treasure suggest about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on the glory of Jesus being precious to us? [12:06]
Luke 11:33-36 talks about the lamp and the light. How does the sermon describe the relationship between a clear conscience and the light of Jesus? [25:41]
What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of seeing people as souls created in the image of God rather than as objects? [15:48]
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Interpretation Questions:
How does the sermon interpret the "glory of Jesus" as being distinct from merely knowing about Jesus' teachings or stories? Why is this distinction important for believers? [02:10]
The sermon mentions the danger of spiritual blindness even among believers. What are some ways this blindness can manifest, and how can it affect one's relationship with Jesus? [10:05]
How does the sermon explain the concept of the "multicolored wisdom of God" in relation to the diversity within the body of Christ? What implications does this have for how we view and interact with others? [19:14]
What does the sermon suggest is the role of a clear conscience in holding up the light of Jesus? How does this relate to living a life that reflects Jesus' glory? [25:41]
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Application Questions:
Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. Is He becoming more precious to you over time, or has your relationship become routine? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [05:51]
Consider areas in your life where you might be experiencing spiritual blindness. What practical steps can you take to remove these blindfolds and see the glory of Jesus more clearly? [10:05]
How do you currently view and treat the people around you? Are there ways you might be seeing them as objects rather than souls created in God's image? What changes can you make to align your perspective with the sermon’s teaching? [15:48]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of a clear conscience. Are there areas in your life where your conscience is not clear? What actions can you take to address these areas and maintain a good conscience? [25:41]
How can you embrace and appreciate the diversity of gifts and personalities within your church community? What specific actions can you take to foster unity and celebrate this diversity? [19:14]
Reflect on the parable of the hidden treasure in Matthew 13:44. What are you willing to "sell" or give up in your life to gain a deeper relationship with Jesus? [12:06]
The sermon discusses the importance of humility and gentleness. Identify a situation where you can practice these qualities this week. How will you approach it differently based on what you’ve learned? [27:39]
Sermon Clips
The light is not just Jesus and the reason I say it's not Jesus is because it's not the teachings of Jesus, it's not the doctrine of Jesus, it's not the stories of Jesus. We can teach all of that to children, we can teach all of that and learn it as adults. [00:02:10]
The glory of Jesus is what is the light, and it is what makes Jesus different from all other human beings. That is what we must lift up when we say we have the light within us. And another word for Glory is this: what makes Jesus so special. [00:03:10]
The gospel is that we can have a light and the light is not that Jesus comes and lives with us, it is that the glory of Jesus becomes our light. And again, the glory of Jesus, even for children to understand, is that Jesus is special to us. [00:04:33]
If Jesus is really special to me, I have the light in me. If Jesus is not special to me anymore, I don't have the light like I used to have in me. And that is something that has to be a personal question that I answered 20 years ago, 30 years ago, 2 years ago. [00:05:39]
We must guard against spiritual blindness, which can prevent us from seeing the true glory of Jesus. This blindness can lead us to treat others as objects rather than souls created in God's image. We must strive to see people as souls created in the image of God. [00:10:05]
The multicolored wisdom of God is reflected in the diversity of gifts and personalities within the body of Christ. We should appreciate and embrace this diversity, recognizing it as part of God's glorious design. The wisdom of God is like a rainbow of all the different colors. [00:19:14]
The lamp that holds the light of Jesus is a clear conscience. Our lives must reflect the preciousness of Jesus through a conscience that is sensitive to sin and committed to righteousness. This is the foundation for shining the light of Jesus to the world. [00:25:41]
If we want to hold up this beautiful Jesus to other people, it must be held up by the lamp of a clear conscience. That's the lamp with which I say, "Lord Jesus, you be the light on this lamp." We must throw away all other lamps. [00:27:39]
Humility and gentleness become super exciting things for me to run after, and I look forward to ways in which I can say, "Lord, show me more of your humility, show me ways in which I am proud, help me to keep investigating where I'm not gentle like I should be." [00:28:02]
The light that must shine is not that someone doesn't lust anymore or doesn't get angry anymore. No, the light should be that Jesus is more precious to them. Of course, they don't lust as they used to, and they don't get angry as they used to. [00:25:17]
The glory of Jesus is the glory of Jesus that said, "Lord, that we may be one." We can read that in John chapter 17. The glory of Jesus is that we, the church, may become more and more one, that that rainbow color can coexist with each other. [00:20:19]
The proof that Jesus is becoming more precious to us is that we are willing to sell all to receive Jesus, to gain Jesus again. It's a very personal relationship that my wife is seeing, it's a very personal relationship that my children are seeing. [00:12:06]