Transformative Teachings: Embracing Jesus as Savior and Friend

Devotional

Day 1: The Importance of Friendship with Jesus

In our journey of faith, it is crucial to understand that Jesus is not just our Savior, but also our friend. This friendship is not like any other; it is a bond that transcends time and space, a relationship that offers unconditional love, guidance, and support.

John 15:15 - "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with Jesus. Do you consider Him as a friend? How does this friendship manifest in your daily life?

Day 2: The Evidence of Being with Jesus

Being with Jesus changes us. It transforms our hearts, our minds, and our actions. The evidence of our relationship with Jesus should be visible in our daily lives, reflecting His love, grace, and truth to the world around us.

Acts 4:13 - "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Reflection: How do you think people perceive your relationship with Jesus based on your actions, words, and values? Can you identify any areas where you could better reflect Jesus in your daily life?

Day 3: Jesus as a Teacher

Jesus is the greatest teacher of all time. His teachings are timeless, transformative, and applicable to our daily lives. They challenge us, inspire us, and guide us towards a life of love, humility, and service.

Matthew 5:1-2 - "Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them."

Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you applied a teaching of Jesus. How did it transform your character, habit, or thinking?

Day 4: The Practice of Discipleship

Discipleship is not just about learning from Jesus; it's about living like Jesus. It's about taking His teachings and applying them in our daily lives, serving others, and sharing His love and truth with the world.

James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

Reflection: Reflect on your week. How have you practiced discipleship outside of worship? What steps can you take to become a more active doer of the word?

Day 5: The Acceptance of Jesus' Friendship

Jesus offers us a friendship like no other. He loves us unconditionally, forgives us endlessly, and guides us patiently. Accepting His friendship means opening our hearts to His love, grace, and truth.

Revelation 3:20 - "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

Reflection: How have you experienced the friendship of Jesus in your life? How have you reciprocated this friendship? Are there ways you can deepen this friendship?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, I learned about the transformative teachings of Jesus and how he uses these teachings to shape our character and thinking. Jesus paints a compelling picture of God's preferred future for our lives, teaching in various settings and always practicing what he preaches. He never asks his followers to do something he hasn't already done or modeled for them. This is a crucial point as it emphasizes the importance of embodying the teachings and not just preaching them. Jesus also teaches through parables and by asking and answering questions, always encouraging his followers to own what they're asking.

The sermon also emphasized the importance of recognizing Jesus as our savior, lord, teacher, and friend. This recognition not only affects our present but also our eternity. Jesus offers us a new way of life where we are forgiven and guided every day. He models for us the best way to live a life of love, joy, contentness, and peace. We are encouraged to take seriously what Jesus takes seriously and to let the joy that's in Jesus be evident in our lives.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "Friendship is one of the greatest gifts in life. Part of being a friend of Jesus is we're going to take seriously what Jesus takes seriously, which he says are his commands. Friendship is vital to life and all of us, even people who commit serious crimes, we all make mistakes, we all do things we regret, we all do things we're ashamed of, everyone needs friends." 23:55

2. "Jesus teaches to bring about transformation in character and habit and in thinking. Jesus teaches people to help them become more like himself. That's what he's trying to do. And Jesus teaches by painting a picture, if you will, of God's preferred future for your life." 15:36

3. "Jesus never asked his students to do something that he hasn't already done and that he hasn't already modeled for them. This is how you do it. And he criticized those who taught others to do stuff and didn't do it themselves." 16:13

4. "Christianity is the acceptance of the gift of the Friendship of Jesus. Jesus is our friend. He stands by us, he supports us, he encourages us, he comforts us. When necessary, he confronts us and holds us accountable. But like in all true friendships, it needs to go both ways." 22:38

5. "God did not send the son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world may be saved through him. That's God's goal, that we'd be saved through our relationship with Jesus." 27:30

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