Returning to Love: A Call for Genuine Faith

 

Summary

In this message, I shared my personal journey and the pressures that come with being a speaker and leader in the church. I reflected on the expectations placed upon me, both by myself and others, and how these can sometimes lead to a performance-driven mindset rather than a Spirit-led ministry. I emphasized the importance of returning to the simplicity and purity of our faith, where our primary responsibility is to love one another deeply as brothers and sisters in Christ. This love should be the driving force behind our ministry, not the pressure to deliver a "killer message" or to meet human expectations.

I recounted my decision to leave my church and embark on a journey to Asia, driven by a desire to ensure my motives were pure and to seek encouragement from believers in other parts of the world. This journey was not a testament to my godliness but rather a response to my own weaknesses and doubts. I shared stories of believers in India and China who face persecution with unwavering faith, which challenged and inspired me. Their lives made sense in light of the Scriptures, contrasting with the often casual and consumer-driven Christianity I observed in the West.

I also discussed the need for the church to return to being a true family, where every believer is a disciple-maker, and where our gatherings are marked by genuine love and the power of the Holy Spirit. I expressed a longing for a church that is a light to the world, not just a place for services. This involves a commitment to preach the Word faithfully, even when it is unpopular or offensive, and to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel.

Finally, I prayed for a renewed faith and purity in our worship and ministry, asking God to transform His church and make it beautiful. I urged us to hold onto the truths of Scripture and to be willing to be misunderstood and lonely for the sake of speaking God's truth. My hope is that we would experience the real power of God in our lives and churches, moving beyond mere human efforts to a genuine encounter with the Almighty.

Key Takeaways:

- The Pressure of Expectations: It's easy to fall into the trap of trying to meet human expectations in ministry, but true leadership is about loving others deeply and relying on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower us. We must resist the urge to perform and instead focus on being faithful to God's calling. [02:12]

- Purity of Motives: Our journey with God requires constant self-examination to ensure our motives remain pure. It's important to question ourselves and seek encouragement from others who live out their faith authentically, as this helps us stay true to our calling. [06:56]

- The Cost of Discipleship: The stories of persecuted believers remind us that true faith often comes with a cost. Their unwavering commitment challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith and to live in a way that aligns with the teachings of Scripture. [17:11]

- The Church as a Family: The church should be a place of genuine love and community, where every believer is equipped to be a disciple-maker. This requires moving beyond consumer-driven Christianity to a model that reflects the biblical vision of the church as a body and family. [26:49]

- Faithful Preaching: In a world where people seek teachings that suit their desires, we are called to preach the Word faithfully, even when it is difficult or unpopular. This involves enduring suffering and being willing to be misunderstood for the sake of the gospel. [28:44]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - The Pressure of Expectations
- [00:48] - The Burden of Performance
- [02:12] - Loving Others as Our Primary Responsibility
- [04:31] - A New Direction and Journey
- [06:43] - Questioning Motives and Seeking Purity
- [08:06] - The Cost of Ministry
- [10:49] - Rediscovering Passion and Love
- [13:07] - The Reality of Persecution
- [17:11] - Stories of Faith and Sacrifice
- [21:06] - The Contrast with Western Christianity
- [24:27] - Returning to the U.S. with Renewed Vision
- [26:49] - The Church as a Family and Body
- [28:44] - The Call to Faithful Preaching
- [32:46] - A Prayer for Faith and Transformation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
2. Romans 9:1-3
3. 2 Timothy 4:1-5

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Observation Questions:

1. What does 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 say about the purpose of spiritual gifts? How does this relate to the speaker's view on the role of spiritual gifts in ministry? [03:01]

2. In Romans 9:1-3, Paul expresses a deep concern for his fellow Israelites. How does this compare to the speaker's early passion for sharing the gospel with friends? [07:18]

3. According to 2 Timothy 4:1-5, what are the responsibilities of someone who preaches the Word? How does this align with the speaker's call to faithful preaching? [28:04]

4. The speaker mentions feeling pressure to deliver a "killer message." How does this pressure contrast with the biblical call to love and serve others? [02:12]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the concept of spiritual gifts for the common good in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 challenge a performance-driven mindset in ministry? [03:01]

2. Romans 9:1-3 shows Paul's anguish for those who do not know Christ. How can this passage inspire believers to maintain a genuine love and concern for others in their ministry? [07:18]

3. In 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Paul warns about people seeking teachings that suit their desires. How can this passage guide believers in discerning true biblical teaching from popular but misleading messages? [28:04]

4. The speaker shares stories of persecuted believers. How do these stories illustrate the cost of discipleship mentioned in the sermon? [17:11]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt pressured to meet expectations in your faith journey. How can you shift your focus from performance to genuine love and service? [02:12]

2. The speaker embarked on a journey to examine his motives. What steps can you take to ensure your motives in ministry or service remain pure? [06:56]

3. Consider the stories of persecuted believers shared in the sermon. How do these stories challenge your understanding of faith and commitment? What changes might you make in your own life as a result? [17:11]

4. The speaker emphasizes the church as a family. How can you contribute to creating a genuine community of love and support within your church or small group? [26:49]

5. In what ways can you commit to faithful preaching or sharing of the Word, even when it is unpopular or difficult? How can you prepare yourself to endure potential misunderstandings or suffering for the sake of the gospel? [28:44]

6. Identify one area in your life where you might be tempted to conform to consumer-driven Christianity. What practical steps can you take to align more closely with the biblical vision of the church? [26:49]

7. The speaker prays for a renewed faith and purity in worship. What specific actions can you take this week to deepen your worship experience and encounter the real power of God? [32:46]

Devotional

Day 1: Resisting the Pressure to Perform
In ministry, it's easy to become consumed by the pressure to meet human expectations, leading to a performance-driven mindset. True leadership, however, is about loving others deeply and relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance and empowerment. This requires a shift from focusing on delivering impressive messages to being faithful to God's calling. By resisting the urge to perform, we can focus on the simplicity and purity of our faith, where our primary responsibility is to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. [02:12]

"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." (Galatians 1:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel pressured to perform for others' approval, and how can you shift your focus to seeking God's approval instead?


Day 2: Pursuing Purity of Motives
Our journey with God requires constant self-examination to ensure our motives remain pure. It's important to question ourselves and seek encouragement from others who live out their faith authentically. This helps us stay true to our calling and avoid the trap of self-deception. By examining our motives, we can align our actions with God's will and maintain a sincere heart in our ministry and daily lives. [06:56]

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to examine your motives? How can you seek God's guidance to ensure your intentions align with His will?


Day 3: Embracing the Cost of Discipleship
The stories of persecuted believers remind us that true faith often comes with a cost. Their unwavering commitment challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith and to live in a way that aligns with the teachings of Scripture. By embracing the cost of discipleship, we can develop a faith that is resilient and steadfast, even in the face of adversity. This involves a willingness to endure suffering and be misunderstood for the sake of the gospel. [17:11]

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart to embrace the cost of discipleship in your own life? What steps can you take to strengthen your faith in the face of challenges?


Day 4: Building a Church as a True Family
The church should be a place of genuine love and community, where every believer is equipped to be a disciple-maker. This requires moving beyond consumer-driven Christianity to a model that reflects the biblical vision of the church as a body and family. By fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support, we can create a church environment that is a light to the world and a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit. [26:49]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What practical steps can you take to contribute to building a sense of family and community within your church?


Day 5: Committing to Faithful Preaching
In a world where people seek teachings that suit their desires, we are called to preach the Word faithfully, even when it is difficult or unpopular. This involves enduring suffering and being willing to be misunderstood for the sake of the gospel. By committing to faithful preaching, we can uphold the truths of Scripture and experience the real power of God in our lives and churches. [28:44]

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Timothy 4:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you support and encourage faithful preaching in your church community, and what role can you play in upholding the truth of Scripture?

Quotes

"There's an expectation and uh, and and and you you start giving in to some of that, and then you just start making stuff up, right you know if you're known as the guy that comes up with these you know obscure facts well then the next year you come back with another one and go oh okay I've been studying a little bit more you know and pretty soon if you give in to that pretty much you have to come up with something dynamic every time and uh sooner or later you'll say something like there is no hell." [00:01:16]

"I do feel the weight sometimes a bad weight of okay you better get up there and you better have a killer message and um that's not a burden that the lord puts on me you know it's a burden that I put on myself that's a burden that people put on me and I really look at scripture and go god what is what what do you put upon me I mean what is that you say your burden it's supposed to be it's supposed to be light it's supposed to be easy." [00:02:10]

"My responsibility is to love you I mean really love you really care about you and look at you as my brothers and sisters in Christ and and my responsibility and I was praying for this I said you know according to first Corinthians 12 through 14 you've given me a spiritual gift god and that spiritual gift is supposed to be for the common good." [00:02:49]

"I wanted to make sure I was still for real and that may sound weird to you but sometimes I question myself I really do sometimes I question my motives I do believe I've changed and I've grown in the lord and in good ways but I also know that there have been bad changes in my life and that happens in ministry I mean we grow in some ways but but come on let's face it there's certain things in our lives that get worse." [00:06:43]

"Remember when you first got paid to do something in ministry and and it didn't feel right at first and and it was like I guess I don't know but then I'll take it because I kind of need some money anyways and then you start getting into this this weird world I mean honestly things start happening to your own soul where there's expectations and more and more expectations well now we're paying you and now you're called a pastor and now you're this and that oh now you're you're speaking at a conference oh now you oh you wrote this you did so there's these expectations of you and they really mess with you." [00:08:08]

"I was sitting here questioning myself going man I don't know if I have the guts to say everything I think god wants me to say anymore I'm starting to wonder if I'm going crazy I'm starting to wonder if everyone else is right you start getting questioned and criticized and critiqued and everyone questions every move you make every word you say and you start questioning yourself and that's what's happening to me I was like man I don't even know anymore maybe you're right yeah maybe I should do that okay maybe I'll do that." [00:12:17]

"I see in America we have these buildings in our cities called churches and we just do services on them and you know in them and so people just they go and attend a service and uh just like an hour maybe hour and a half a week and and if another church has a better speaker they'll switch you know and I said or if the music's better or child cares better and this is this was the weirdest part of it they started laughing hysterically." [00:21:48]

"I believe the lord will use you if you're willing to be lonely if you're willing to be misunderstood and he says because the moment you're not willing to be lonely and you're not willing to be misunderstood you will have nothing to say and I believe the lord has asked me to say that to you you say whatever you need to say the sheep will hear it the rest of people will misunderstand it and you will feel very alone at times." [00:34:29]

"I want to pray that something happens right now because when I read in the scriptures it's like it wasn't so carefully planned out right you know we're talking about all these things and how do we start these movements and everything else but if someone who's been crippled from birth starts walking again the movement just happens you know what I mean and and and uh and I'm not I'm saying no let's work hard let's keep pursuing these things let's think hard let's figure out trends or whatever else but at the end of the day I'm one of those guys that's just like god I could try all this stuff or you could heal that blind guy sitting there." [00:36:56]

"I want to pray in faith would you join me right now god give me faith right now give me faith like I had when I was a kid when I would hear those bible stories and just really believe I could slay a giant or get swallowed by a fish or god I believed it all even as a kid there was just this faith I just god and we lose it we lose it we I don't god I want to believe I want to believe everything about you can we please experience you father can we please just experience anything of you just all you that we just leaving all of you." [00:38:38]

"God please give us the real thing lord please transform your church make her beautiful make it so that that that the people I gather with would love me like their own family like themselves get rid of all of our greed because sometimes I look at people and I think about what I can get from them god is just stupid lord there's nothing of what Jesus did god help us to change that help us forget about our reputation and I just want to see the real thing I want people to just know it's you god and we really do want to fade away it's not the cliche but it's only if we see you otherwise we'll just keep playing these games." [00:40:49]

"God give us the purity back and more so a childlike faith burning us the stuff we know is true in your word don't let people talk us out of it and god as people go and to where their itching ears want to take them I pray for the men and women in this room that they would preach your word that is very offensive at times and ridiculous sounding at times but god I believe it I believe you flooded the earth I believe you're coming back with all your angels I believe you're going to separate the sheep from the goats I believe the book of revelation but all those things you're going to say are going to happen will happen because you're almighty god." [00:41:49]

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Transcript
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