Transformative Power of Christ in Our Lives

Summary

When Christ is in the house, everything changes. This new series explores the profound impact Christ has on our lives, families, and communities when we truly allow Him to lead us. Many of us have been Christians for years, and it's easy to forget the transformation that occurred when we first invited Christ into our lives. We often take for granted the love, joy, peace, and purpose that He brings. Imagine if there were a prescription for these qualities—everyone would want it. Yet, this is precisely what Christ offers us.

At age 23, I realized that the most important thing in life is to reunite with our Creator, Christ. Nothing else compares to the benefits of knowing Him. The greatest gift we can offer others is to introduce them to Christ, as He exponentially improves the quality of life and offers eternal hope. In Matthew 7, Jesus emphasizes the importance of not just hearing His words but putting them into practice. A life built on His teachings is like a house on a rock, able to withstand life's storms.

When Christ is in our lives, we have opportunities for character improvement and positive impact on others. We all have a circle of influence, and Christ can use us to profoundly affect more people than we might imagine. Matthew, a tax collector considered the worst of sinners, was called by Jesus to follow Him. Despite his past, Matthew left his old life behind and embraced a new one with Christ. This transformation is available to all of us, but it requires leaving behind our old ways and learning to live the new life Christ offers.

Learning from Christ is not just about acquiring knowledge; it's about experiencing a personal relationship with Him. When we learn from Christ, He inspires and empowers us to live out His teachings. This is not merely an intellectual exercise but a transformative journey that awakens our God-given potential. As we live in obedience to Christ, we become pointers to Him, influencing others by sharing the profound changes He has made in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Christ's presence in our lives brings profound transformation, offering love, joy, peace, and purpose. These qualities are not just desirable but essential for a fulfilling life. When we embrace Christ, we experience a new capacity for these virtues, which are often taken for granted. [46:02]

- The most significant thing we can do for others is to introduce them to Christ. This connection exponentially improves their quality of life and offers eternal hope. Our role is to be a bridge, helping others reunite with their Creator. [01:03:00]

- Leaving our old life behind is crucial for experiencing the new life Christ offers. This requires a willingness to let go of past habits and embrace the changes Christ brings. It's a challenging but necessary step for spiritual growth. [01:06:21]

- Learning from Christ is an intensely personal journey that goes beyond intellectual understanding. It involves a relationship where Christ inspires and empowers us to live out His teachings, awakening our God-given potential. [01:16:29]

- Our lives should be a consistent advertisement for Christ, pointing others to Him through our words and actions. By sharing the positive changes Christ has made in our lives, we can influence others and help them experience the same transformation. [01:31:38]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[46:02] - New Series Introduction
[01:03:00] - The Call to Follow Christ
[01:06:21] - Leaving the Old Life
[01:10:14] - Embracing Transformation
[01:14:57] - God's Mercy and Love
[01:16:29] - Learning from Christ
[01:19:37] - Personal Relationship with Christ
[01:31:38] - Living the New Life
[01:33:27] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 7:24-27
- Matthew 9:9-13
- Romans 12:1-2

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 7:24-27, what is the difference between the wise and foolish builders, and how does this relate to hearing and doing the words of Jesus?

2. How does the calling of Matthew in Matthew 9:9-13 illustrate Jesus' approach to those considered "sinners" by society? [01:03:00]

3. According to Romans 12:1-2, what does it mean to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, and how does this relate to transformation?

4. What are some of the qualities that Christ brings into our lives, as mentioned in the sermon? [46:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the metaphor of building a house on rock versus sand in Matthew 7:24-27 help us understand the importance of applying Jesus' teachings in our lives?

2. What does Jesus' interaction with Matthew teach us about God's view of those who are far from Him, and how might this challenge our own perceptions? [01:03:00]

3. Romans 12:1-2 speaks of transformation through the renewing of the mind. What might this process look like in a believer's daily life?

4. The sermon mentioned that learning from Christ is an intensely personal journey. How does this differ from merely acquiring knowledge about Christ? [01:16:29]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you are hearing Jesus' words but not putting them into practice? What steps can you take to build your life on the rock? [01:06:21]

2. Consider the people in your life who might be considered "far from God." How can you be a bridge to Christ for them, as Jesus was for Matthew? [01:03:00]

3. Romans 12:1-2 encourages believers to not conform to the pattern of this world. Identify one area in your life where you feel pressure to conform, and discuss how you can resist this pressure.

4. The sermon emphasized leaving the old life behind. What specific habits or mindsets do you need to let go of to fully embrace the new life Christ offers? [01:06:21]

5. How can you cultivate a more personal relationship with Christ, moving beyond intellectual understanding to a transformative journey? [01:16:29]

6. Think of a recent situation where you had the opportunity to point someone to Christ through your words or actions. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently next time? [01:31:38]

7. The sermon mentioned the importance of being a consistent advertisement for Christ. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure your life points others to Him? [01:31:38]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ's Transformative Presence
When Christ enters our lives, He brings a profound transformation that encompasses love, joy, peace, and purpose. These qualities are not just desirable but essential for a fulfilling life. Often, we take these virtues for granted, forgetting the immense change that occurred when we first invited Christ into our hearts. Embracing Christ means experiencing a new capacity for these virtues, which can significantly alter our perspective and approach to life. Imagine if there were a prescription for these qualities—everyone would want it. Yet, this is precisely what Christ offers us. [46:02]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs Christ's transformative presence today, and how can you invite Him into that space?

Day 2: The Gift of Introducing Others to Christ
The most significant thing we can do for others is to introduce them to Christ. This connection exponentially improves their quality of life and offers eternal hope. Our role is to be a bridge, helping others reunite with their Creator. By sharing the love and hope we have found in Christ, we can profoundly impact the lives of those around us. This is not just about evangelism but about genuinely caring for others and wanting them to experience the same joy and peace we have found. [01:03:00]

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" (Isaiah 52:7, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the hope and joy found in Christ, and what steps can you take this week to share this with them?

Day 3: Embracing the New Life in Christ
Leaving our old life behind is crucial for experiencing the new life Christ offers. This requires a willingness to let go of past habits and embrace the changes Christ brings. It's a challenging but necessary step for spiritual growth. Just as Matthew, the tax collector, left his old life to follow Jesus, we too must be willing to leave behind what holds us back from fully embracing the life Christ has for us. This transformation is available to all of us, but it requires a conscious decision to change. [01:06:21]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one habit or mindset from your old life that you need to let go of to fully embrace the new life Christ offers?

Day 4: The Personal Journey of Learning from Christ
Learning from Christ is an intensely personal journey that goes beyond intellectual understanding. It involves a relationship where Christ inspires and empowers us to live out His teachings, awakening our God-given potential. This journey is not merely about acquiring knowledge but about experiencing a personal relationship with Him. As we live in obedience to Christ, we become pointers to Him, influencing others by sharing the profound changes He has made in our lives. [01:16:29]

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your personal relationship with Christ this week, and what specific steps will you take to learn from Him?

Day 5: Living as an Advertisement for Christ
Our lives should be a consistent advertisement for Christ, pointing others to Him through our words and actions. By sharing the positive changes Christ has made in our lives, we can influence others and help them experience the same transformation. This is not about perfection but about authenticity and allowing Christ's love to shine through us. As we live out our faith, we become living testimonies of His grace and power. [01:31:38]

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can your daily actions and words better reflect Christ's love and grace to those around you?

Quotes

1. "The idea of the series is that Christ makes a significant difference in our lives, in our world, in our families, in our communities when he really is in us and he is leading us, guiding us, directing us. Now some of us that have been Christians for decades, we have a tendency to lose track of what our life was like before Christ, what our life is like now. I'm just curious how many of you have been a Christian, you've made your decision to put your trust in Christ and follow him, you've been a follower of Christ for three years or more." [00:47:43] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When Christ is in the house, meaning in our life, we put our trust, we made the decision to put our trust in him and become his follower. Opportunities for first of all improvement of character and quality of life, and those two always go together. When we put our trust in Christ and he starts to now have ongoing influence in us, he will absolutely change our character, he will change our conduct, he will change our character, and that will change the quality of our life." [01:00:36] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "God-given opportunities are realized when we are willing, only when we are willing to do what? Leave the old life. Matthew gets up in the middle of the day, evidently quits his job, but he does leave the job, walks away. He doesn't have any sense of security. He doesn't know what the future holds. He only knows that this one called Jesus, who he obviously knew about, knew about his miracles, knew about his teaching, knew about the beauty of his personality, knew about his kindness, knew about how respectful he was to every human being, how interested he was in every human being, no matter what their station in life." [01:06:12] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your true, and proper, what is the word? Worship. Worship is a way of living. It is not just a thing that happens on a Sunday. Do not conform. Do not conform anymore to the pattern of this world. Don't go along to get along. Don't blend in, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, meaning I'm going to learn God's will through God's word, and I'm going to live according to its values, its standards, its practices, and so forth." [01:07:49] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you're willing to endure the little bit of discomfort I want to take you through now, it will serve you well for the rest of your life. It will provide you protection and comfort for your ongoing days because there's a cycle that tends to repeat itself in our lives as time goes on. So, here's what I want you to consider. Jesus came to Matthew, okay, when he was at the maximum place of doing evil. You have to understand, collecting taxes from his own people, being a traitor to the people of God, was the practice of the highest kind of evil, or at least they considered it so in that day that you could do." [01:09:02] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "I want you to picture Jesus, just like he did with Matthew, coming to you at your most disgraceful worst, and he's saying, I want you to follow me. I would have loved to have been able to see the look in Jesus' eye. I would have loved to have been able to hear the tone of his voice. I can tell you this. Matthew heard in Jesus' voice, and Matthew saw in Jesus' eyes what he had never seen in any of the other religious leaders' eyes. Jesus was God, and Matthew, for the first time, is allowed to see, this is the way God really thinks about me." [01:11:33] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "God given opportunities to realize when we're willing to learn the new life. Leaving the old life is the heart. We can't learn the new life until we leave the old life. But learning the new life is critically important because God wants us to learn to live like he lives, to love like he loves. Matthew had lots and lots to learn. You and I have lots and lots to learn. Age 23, I had lots and lots to learn. I'm still, after all these years, I'm still learning." [01:15:28] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Learning from Christ is very different, because when Christ instructs, he inspires. When I'm receiving God's word as it's coming straight from Christ, I'm receiving God's word as it's coming straight from Christ, and this is a matter of mental, emotional, spiritual adjustment of mine. When I'm sitting in conscious contact, the desire for conscious contact with God, and I'm saying, Lord, teach me your ways, and I'm going to his word, but I'm seeking for him to speak to me. He not only instructs me through his word, but he inspires me." [01:19:37] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "God-given opportunities to realize when we're willing to live the new life so it's one thing to leave the old life it's another thing to learn about the new life but the learning about the new life is not sufficient unless I start actually living in accord with what I've learned remember how Jesus talked again in Matthew 7 we'll look at that he said everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice so I'm not just learning it what it says I'm doing what it says it is it is now molding and shaping my life my value systems my decision making my conduct my morals." [01:28:57] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Matthew looks like the least likely candidate he was he was a disgusting human being and everybody's sight he had nobody no credibility whatsoever and God used him because Matthew just kept learning and living in accord with God's will and he just kept pointing he just spent his life pointing in now two thousand years later he's still reaching people for Christ I want you to be that person I want to be that person I don't want you to waste one second of of your life. I don't want to waste one second of my life." [01:31:37] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?