Reverence Over Familiarity: Embracing Jesus' True Identity
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound theme of familiarity breeding contempt, particularly in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We delved into Mark 6:1-6, where Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth and is met with skepticism and unbelief. Despite His wisdom and miraculous works, the people of Nazareth could not see beyond their familiarity with Him as the carpenter's son. This familiarity led to a lack of faith, which in turn hindered Jesus from performing many miracles there.
We discussed how this same familiarity can affect our spiritual lives today. When we become too familiar with Jesus, we risk losing our reverence for Him. This can manifest in several ways: we may stop praying with the belief that God will work, we may read the Bible without expecting God to speak to us, and we may hesitate to follow God's leading because we doubt His presence and guidance.
The sermon emphasized the importance of maintaining a fresh, reverent relationship with Jesus. We must approach Him with awe and wonder, recognizing Him not just as a carpenter who can fix our problems, but as the King who holds the universe in His hands. By doing so, we can avoid the pitfalls of familiarity and instead cultivate a vibrant, faith-filled relationship with our Savior.
### Key Takeaways
1. Familiarity Breeds Contempt: Just as the people of Nazareth could not see beyond Jesus' earthly identity, we too can become overly familiar with Jesus, leading to a lack of reverence and faith. This familiarity can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of His power and presence in our lives. [09:06]
2. Prayer with Expectation: One sign of familiarity is when we stop praying with the belief that God will work. True prayer involves not just asking for things but growing in a relationship with God, trusting that He hears and responds to our needs. [24:29]
3. Scripture as a Living Word: When we read the Bible, we should do so with the expectation that God will speak to us. The Word of God is living and active, meant to read us and transform us, not just to be dissected for knowledge. [30:47]
4. Following God's Lead: We must go where God leads us, believing that He has already prepared the way. This involves trusting in His promises and not being afraid, knowing that He is always with us. [36:50]
5. Reverence in Relationship: Maintaining reverence in our relationship with Jesus is crucial. We should approach Him with awe, recognizing His sacrifice and love for us. This reverence keeps our faith vibrant and prevents us from falling into spiritual complacency. [41:13]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:23] - Reading of God's Word
[03:57] - Jesus in Nazareth
[05:32] - Jesus' Identity and Rejection
[07:27] - Unbelief and Familiarity
[09:06] - Familiarity Breeds Contempt
[10:59] - Logic of Familiarity
[12:30] - Stiff-Arming Jesus
[14:01] - Knowing vs. Being Used to Jesus
[15:31] - Familiarity Blocks Reverence
[17:07] - Check Engine Light Analogy
[20:07] - Spiritual Limp Mode
[21:30] - Signs of Familiarity
[23:02] - Prayer and Belief
[24:29] - Trusting God in Prayer
[26:13] - Reading Scripture with Expectation
[27:51] - Should Do vs. Get To
[29:23] - Living and Active Word
[30:47] - Scripture Reads Us
[32:56] - Glimpse into God's Glory
[34:59] - Going with God's Lead
[36:50] - God Prepares the Way
[37:19] - Reconciliation and Peace
[38:10] - Faithful vs. Familiar
[38:56] - Carpenter vs. King
[39:53] - Taking Jesus' Hand
[41:13] - Reverence and the Cross
[42:03] - Michelangelo's Transformation
[43:22] - Loving Jesus for Himself
[44:04] - Invitation to Follow Christ
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Mark 6:1-6
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the people of Nazareth to Jesus' teachings and miracles? ([02:23])
2. How did Jesus describe the reception of a prophet in his hometown? ([05:32])
3. What was the result of the unbelief of the people in Nazareth on Jesus' ability to perform miracles? ([07:27])
4. What does the term "familiarity breeds contempt" mean in the context of this sermon? ([09:06])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the people of Nazareth were unable to see beyond Jesus' earthly identity as a carpenter? ([05:32])
2. How can becoming too familiar with Jesus lead to a lack of reverence and faith in our own lives? ([09:06])
3. What does it mean to pray with expectation, and how does this reflect our relationship with God? ([24:29])
4. How does reading the Bible with the expectation that God will speak to us change our approach to Scripture? ([30:47])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt too familiar with Jesus and it affected your faith. How did you overcome it, or how can you work on overcoming it now? ([09:06])
2. In what ways can you cultivate a fresh and reverent relationship with Jesus in your daily life? ([41:13])
3. How can you ensure that your prayers are filled with expectation and trust in God's ability to work? ([24:29])
4. What practical steps can you take to read the Bible with the expectation that God will speak to you? ([30:47])
5. Think of a situation where you hesitated to follow God's leading. What can you do differently next time to trust in His guidance? ([36:50])
6. How can you maintain a sense of awe and wonder in your relationship with Jesus, recognizing Him as both the carpenter and the King? ([38:56])
7. Identify one area in your life where you have become spiritually complacent. What specific actions can you take this week to reignite your faith and reverence for Jesus? ([21:30])
Devotional
Day 1: Familiarity Breeds Contempt
When we become overly familiar with Jesus, we risk losing our reverence and faith in Him. This familiarity can prevent us from experiencing the fullness of His power and presence in our lives. Just as the people of Nazareth could not see beyond Jesus' earthly identity, we too can fall into the trap of seeing Jesus merely as a historical figure or a distant deity. This mindset can lead to spiritual complacency, where we no longer expect God to work in our lives or speak to us through His Word. To avoid this, we must continually remind ourselves of who Jesus truly is—the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who holds the universe in His hands.
In Mark 6:1-6, we see how the people of Nazareth's familiarity with Jesus led to their unbelief, which in turn hindered Him from performing many miracles there. This serves as a powerful reminder that our perception of Jesus can significantly impact our faith and the extent to which we experience His power. By maintaining a fresh, reverent relationship with Jesus, we can avoid the pitfalls of familiarity and cultivate a vibrant, faith-filled relationship with our Savior. [09:06]
Mark 6:1-6 (ESV): "He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, 'Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.' And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching."
Reflection: In what ways have you become overly familiar with Jesus, and how can you renew your reverence for Him today?
Day 2: Prayer with Expectation
One sign of familiarity with Jesus is when we stop praying with the belief that God will work. True prayer involves not just asking for things but growing in a relationship with God, trusting that He hears and responds to our needs. When we approach prayer with a sense of routine or obligation, we miss out on the dynamic and transformative power of communicating with our Creator. Prayer should be an act of faith, where we come before God with our requests, believing that He is both willing and able to intervene in our lives.
In our spiritual journey, it's essential to cultivate a habit of praying with expectation. This means approaching God with a heart full of faith, trusting that He will answer according to His perfect will. When we pray with expectation, we open ourselves up to experiencing God's power and presence in profound ways. By doing so, we can deepen our relationship with Him and witness His miraculous works in our lives. [24:29]
James 1:6-7 (ESV): "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."
Reflection: How can you approach your prayer time with a renewed sense of expectation and faith today?
Day 3: Scripture as a Living Word
When we read the Bible, we should do so with the expectation that God will speak to us. The Word of God is living and active, meant to read us and transform us, not just to be dissected for knowledge. It's easy to fall into the habit of reading Scripture as a mere academic exercise, but this approach robs us of the life-changing power of God's Word. Instead, we should approach the Bible with a heart open to hearing from God, allowing His Spirit to illuminate the text and apply it to our lives.
The Bible is not just a historical document; it is the living Word of God that has the power to transform us from the inside out. When we read Scripture with the expectation that God will speak to us, we position ourselves to receive divine guidance, wisdom, and encouragement. This mindset allows us to experience the fullness of God's Word and its transformative impact on our lives. [30:47]
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Reflection: How can you approach your Bible reading with a fresh expectation that God will speak to you today?
Day 4: Following God's Lead
We must go where God leads us, believing that He has already prepared the way. This involves trusting in His promises and not being afraid, knowing that He is always with us. Following God's lead requires a willingness to step out in faith, even when the path ahead is uncertain. It means surrendering our plans and desires to God's greater purpose and trusting that He will guide us every step of the way.
In our spiritual journey, it's crucial to cultivate a heart of obedience and trust. When we follow God's lead, we align ourselves with His will and open ourselves up to experiencing His provision and guidance. By trusting in God's promises and stepping out in faith, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that He is always with us. [36:50]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God's leading more fully, and how can you take a step of faith in that area today?
Day 5: Reverence in Relationship
Maintaining reverence in our relationship with Jesus is crucial. We should approach Him with awe, recognizing His sacrifice and love for us. This reverence keeps our faith vibrant and prevents us from falling into spiritual complacency. When we lose our sense of awe and wonder for Jesus, we risk reducing our relationship with Him to a mere routine or obligation. Instead, we should continually remind ourselves of the magnitude of His love and the depth of His sacrifice.
Reverence in our relationship with Jesus involves recognizing Him not just as a carpenter who can fix our problems, but as the King who holds the universe in His hands. By approaching Jesus with a heart full of awe and gratitude, we can keep our faith alive and vibrant. This mindset allows us to experience the fullness of His love and power in our lives, preventing us from falling into spiritual complacency. [41:13]
Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe in your relationship with Jesus today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you've realized in your spiritual life that you have been stuck, if you cannot accelerate past a certain speed, if you get hung up on little details, frustrated when you're praying, if you are not praying because you're so frustrated and you feel like God is up there and he's silent, if church is a chore and God is just not speaking to you, you are due for a system update. It is time. There is a flashing check engine light in your life, and the code will read familiarity." [20:07] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We might have heard that Christianity is not a religion, it's a relationship. It means that we're not under the law. We don't have all these rules that we have to follow, and if we break those rules, we're out of the club. It's not how Christianity works. It's not how the Christian life works. It's a relationship. It's a developing. It's a growing in grace, in love, and in faith. He wants you. He loves you. He wants the best for you, and the best for you is his very self, his presence, his power in your life." [14:01] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Do not be afraid. There is no better companion than Jesus. There is no one more constant, no one more beautiful, no one more loving, no one more loyal than Jesus Christ in your walk through this life. There is no one better, no one higher, no one more powerful and more awesome. And the thing is that if he is calling you somewhere, he's already prepared a way in advance." [36:03] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If you're here today and you have never made a decision to follow Christ, to take his hand and follow him wherever he would lead you. To lay your life down because he laid his down for you. I want to invite you today to make that decision to follow Jesus where he would have you go. He wants you with him forever. It never ends y'all. The glory, the power, the joy, the love. We will never get tired. We will never get used to him once we see him face to face." [44:04] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The glorious thing about this is that God wants you. He wants you with him. He loves you. He loves you. And he proved it to us on the cross and he did not stay dead. He rose again three days later and now he reigns for all eternity. The risen Lord with the nail prints in his hands as to say, I bled and died for you. I want it for you. My blood was shed for you. I want you with me forever. Forever. That is the good news." [44:48] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The main theme we're going to grapple with today is that they became familiar with Jesus. They became familiar. With Jesus. The title of my message today is that familiarity breeds contempt. Who's heard of that old proverb? Familiarity breeds contempt. If you've never heard that before, what that means is that the people that you're closest to are oftentimes the people you dishonor the most. Think about your family situation, your home life, how you talk to your parents when you grew up, or as you're growing up. The way that we talk to them, the way we speak to our wife or our husband, it's not such kind words some of the time. It's because we get used to them. It's because we know them all too well." [09:06] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The English word familiar comes from the Latin word familia, which is family. As I've said, we have a tendency to dishonor those in our own house. We're used to being around them. Familiarity. It prevents us from seeing the potential in our brother, or our sister, or our parents, or, Lord help us, our kids. It prevents us from seeing their potential. More so, it even prevents us from seeing the promise of God in their life, because God has promised to give them, if they're in Christ, a hope and a future. He has a plan for them, a good plan for them. He wants them to be saved. He wants to draw close to him. He wants them to be saved. He wants them to be close to them, and he wants them to draw close to him." [15:31] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When I come to the word, I do not just read the word. It reads me. I find that if I'm in a proper right relationship, right mindset with Jesus Christ, that he knows me, that he is speaking to me, that I am being parsed out, put in my right place, examined, tested, sorted through so that I can put to death. The old flesh and all of its evil ways, and I can walk, run the race that is set for me in Jesus Christ, and strive for more, and I am hungry, and I am thirsty for righteousness, and I will seek, and I will ask, and I will knock, and he will respond, and he will reply, and he will come through for me." [30:47] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Nazareth saw a carpenter, and in the same room, in the same town, his disciples saw the king. Nazareth said, how are such mighty works done by his hands? Is this not the carpenter? But a disciple writes, he could do no mighty work there except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And so we read in this. We read in this passage, this short text, the hands of a carpenter, and we read about the hands of the king. And I want to ask you today, how do you treat him? How do you treat him?" [38:56] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "These are the hands that as we teach in the kids' ministry, and I firmly believe, these are the hands that hold the whole world. And if we might just take his hand in devotion to him, in reverence to him, I think we would feel the nail marks in those hands. We would know where he's been for us. We could feel very tangibly the passion of our Christ. The beauty of everything that he's done for us. We would feel his hands and know, oh my he loves me. And why would I not follow wherever he leads? Every time you spend time with Jesus, I hope that you are brought back to the cross, on your knees, in reverence." [41:13] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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