Transforming Courage: Jesus' Call to Cleanse and Renew

Devotional

Day 1: Courage Rooted in Trust

Description:
Jesus' courage in cleansing the temple and standing up to corrupt leaders came from His unwavering trust in God's ultimate justice. This act of courage was not just a moment of righteous anger but a profound demonstration of faith. Jesus knew the danger He faced, yet He trusted that God would have the final say and support Him in His mission. This teaches us that true courage is not about the absence of fear but about trusting in God's sovereignty and justice, even when standing up for what is right seems daunting.

As followers of Christ, we are called to exhibit this same kind of courage. When we face situations that require us to stand against corruption, injustice, or sin, we can draw strength from our trust in God. Knowing that He is in control and that His justice will prevail gives us the courage to act righteously, even when it is difficult or dangerous. Reflect on how you can cultivate this trust in your own life and let it empower you to stand firm in your convictions. [40:33]

Bible Passage:
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection:
Think of a situation in your life where you need to stand up for what is right. How can you trust in God's ultimate justice to give you the courage to act?

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Day 2: A New Vision for the World

Description:
Jesus' statement about raising the temple in three days offers a transformative vision where the temple is not a physical building but His body and, by extension, the Church. This new vision redefines the concept of God's dwelling place. No longer confined to a structure, God's presence now resides within His followers. As the temple of God, we carry His presence and message to the world, called to be agents of transformation in a corrupt world.

This vision challenges us to see ourselves as bearers of God's presence, tasked with reflecting His mercy and redemption in our daily lives. It calls us to live in a way that honors God and brings His light into dark places. Consider how you can embody this vision in your interactions, decisions, and actions, becoming a living temple that glorifies God. [45:27]

Bible Passage:
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection:
How can you live out the reality of being God's temple in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to reflect His presence more clearly?

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Day 3: Personal Cleansing

Description:
Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we must start by cleansing ourselves. This involves confronting and removing sin from our lives, which requires personal courage and a commitment to living a life that honors God. Cleansing ourselves is not a one-time event but a continuous process of self-examination, repentance, and renewal. It means being honest about our shortcomings and seeking God's help to overcome them.

This personal cleansing is essential for spiritual growth and effective ministry. When we allow sin to remain in our lives, it hinders our relationship with God and our ability to serve Him fully. By addressing our own sin, we become better equipped to help others and to be a true reflection of God's holiness. Reflect on areas in your life that need cleansing and take steps to address them with God's help. [52:05]

Bible Passage:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

Reflection:
What specific sins or habits do you need to confront and remove from your life? How can you seek God's help in this cleansing process?

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Day 4: Responsibility in Our Domains

Description:
We are called to clean our areas of responsibility, whether it's our homes, workplaces, or social media accounts. This means taking a stand against corruption and ensuring that our environments reflect God's holiness and integrity. Our areas of influence are opportunities to demonstrate God's values and to create spaces where His presence is evident.

Taking responsibility in our domains involves more than just avoiding sin; it means actively promoting righteousness and justice. It requires us to be vigilant and proactive in addressing issues that compromise the integrity of our environments. Reflect on how you can take responsibility in your own domains and make them places that honor God. [54:31]

Bible Passage:
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection:
What specific actions can you take to ensure that your home, workplace, or social media accounts reflect God's holiness and integrity?

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Day 5: Being Sent Ones

Description:
As followers of Jesus, we are sent into the world to share the gospel and be a transformative presence. This involves demonstrating moral courage and living out the message of Jesus in our families, neighborhoods, and workplaces. We are called to be ambassadors of God's mercy and redemption, bringing His light into dark places and His hope into hopeless situations.

Being sent ones means embracing our role as representatives of Christ and being intentional about our witness. It requires us to be bold in sharing our faith and to live in a way that draws others to God. Reflect on how you can be a transformative presence in your community and take steps to actively share the gospel and demonstrate God's love. [57:13]

Bible Passage:
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection:
How can you be a transformative presence in your community today? What specific steps can you take to share the gospel and demonstrate God's love to those around you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Happy Father's Day to all the dads who chose to be here today. Today, we continue our series on Jesus' best one-liners, focusing on one of His most powerful statements: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." This statement, found in John 2, is a profound declaration of Jesus' mission and the courage He displayed in the face of opposition.

The context of this statement is Jesus' cleansing of the temple during the Jewish Passover. The temple, a symbol of God's mercy and deliverance, had been turned into a marketplace, reflecting corruption rather than holiness. Jesus' actions and words were a bold rebuke to the temple leaders, who had allowed this desecration. His disciples later recalled Psalm 69, which speaks of zeal for God's house consuming the psalmist, seeing it fulfilled in Jesus' actions.

Jesus' statement, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days," was not understood at the time. The temple leaders saw it as a challenge to their authority, but Jesus was speaking of His body, foretelling His death and resurrection. This one-liner encapsulates multiple levels of meaning. Firstly, it is a personal example of courage. Jesus stood alone against corruption, knowing the danger He faced, yet trusting in God's ultimate justice. This courage comes from trust in God, a theme echoed throughout the Bible by figures like David, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Jesus' own disciples.

Secondly, this statement offers a new vision for the world. The temple, once a physical structure, is now embodied in Jesus and, subsequently, in His followers—the Church. We are the temple of God, carrying His presence and message to the world. This vision calls us to be agents of transformation in a corrupt world, reflecting God's mercy and redemption.

To live out this vision, we must start by cleansing ourselves, as Jesus cleansed the temple. This involves personal courage to confront and remove sin from our lives. Next, we must clean our areas of responsibility, whether it's our homes, workplaces, or social media accounts. Finally, we are called to clean where we are sent, sharing the gospel and being a transformative presence in our communities.

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Key Takeaways

1. Courage Comes from Trust: Jesus' courage in cleansing the temple and standing up to corrupt leaders came from His trust in God's ultimate justice. This teaches us that true courage is rooted in the trust that God will have the final say and will support us when we stand for what is right. [40:33]
2. A New Vision for the World: Jesus' statement about raising the temple in three days offers a new vision where the temple is not a building but His body and, by extension, the Church. We are now the temple of God, carrying His presence and message to the world, called to be agents of transformation in a corrupt world. [45:27]
3. Personal Cleansing: Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we must start by cleansing ourselves. This involves confronting and removing sin from our lives, which requires personal courage and a commitment to living a life that honors God. [52:05]
4. Responsibility in Our Domains: We are called to clean our areas of responsibility, whether it's our homes, workplaces, or social media accounts. This means taking a stand against corruption and ensuring that our environments reflect God's holiness and integrity. [54:31]
5. Being Sent Ones: As followers of Jesus, we are sent into the world to share the gospel and be a transformative presence. This involves demonstrating moral courage and living out the message of Jesus in our families, neighborhoods, and workplaces, reflecting God's mercy and redemption. [57:13]
### [57:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:39] - Introduction and Father's Day Greeting
[28:04] - Famous One-Liners Trivia
[29:11] - Jesus' Fiercest One-Liner
[29:55] - Context of John 2:13-22
[31:04] - Significance of Passover and the Temple
[33:06] - Jesus Cleanses the Temple
[35:05] - Response of the Temple Leaders
[36:24] - Jesus' One-Liner: "Destroy This Temple"
[37:42] - Personal Example of Courage
[40:33] - Courage Comes from Trust
[45:27] - A New Vision for the World
[52:05] - Clean Yourself
[54:31] - Clean Your Area of Responsibility
[57:13] - Clean Where You're Sent
[60:06] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Jesus' reaction to the activities happening in the temple courts during the Passover? ([30:28])
How did the temple leaders respond to Jesus' actions and statement about destroying the temple? ([35:05])
What Old Testament scripture did the disciples recall when witnessing Jesus' actions in the temple? ([33:42])
According to 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, what is the significance of believers being referred to as God's temple?

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus' statement, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days," cause confusion among the temple leaders? ([36:24])
How does Jesus' cleansing of the temple serve as a personal example of courage? ([37:42])
What does it mean for believers to be the temple of God in the context of 1 Corinthians 3:16-17? How does this change the way we view our role in the world?
How does the concept of zeal for God's house, as mentioned in Psalm 69:8-9, apply to our lives today? ([33:42])

Application Questions

Jesus demonstrated courage by standing up against corruption in the temple. Is there an area in your life where you need to show similar courage? What steps can you take to address it? ([37:42])
Reflect on the idea that believers are now the temple of God. How does this understanding impact the way you live your daily life and interact with others? ([45:27])
Jesus cleansed the temple to restore its holiness. What personal "temple cleansing" do you need to undertake in your own life? Are there specific sins or habits you need to confront and remove? ([52:05])
We are called to clean our areas of responsibility, such as our homes, workplaces, and social media accounts. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure these areas reflect God's holiness and integrity? ([54:31])
As followers of Jesus, we are sent into the world to share the gospel and be a transformative presence. How can you be a transformative presence in your community this week? Identify one specific action you can take. ([57:13])
Jesus' courage came from His trust in God's ultimate justice. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God to help you stand firm in the face of opposition or challenges? ([40:33])
Think about a time when you felt like a "foreigner" in your own family or community because of your faith. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Jesus' example of standing alone for what is right? ([34:19])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Courage comes from trust. Courage comes from the trust that God is the one who in the end, will have the final say. And he is supporting me. You see, when you stand on the path of truth, when you stand on the path of what's right and what's trust, you're standing on God's path. And trust is the knowledge that God will be there to defend you. You destroy this temple, guess what? I will rise again on the third day. In the end, God's justice will prevail. And I trust that. Yes, there's opposition out there, but I trust that God is true." (38 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The wicked flee, though no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. You see, courage is part of who we are. It's our identity as believers in Christ. It's our identity. The world has an opposite, right? The world has an opposite. The world, doing what's right, people will quickly step aside from doing what's right for fear of some harm coming to themselves. But yet, sin, the things that are wrong, the things that are evil, the things that are corrupting, they'll hold onto and refuse to turn from that. That's the opposite side." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus taught his followers this same principle, Matthew 10, 28. Here's what he shared with them. He says, What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Trust breeds courage, and Jesus' followers are trusting and courageous people." (30 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus was, rose from the dead on the third day, and he triumphed, and he demonstrated that doing the courageous thing, God will honor. So, so that's the first level of awesomeness from this one-liner. Here's the second level of awesomeness. He gives us in this one-liner a new vision for the world. A new vision for the world. And here's the temple. He said, destroy this temple, right? And they didn't get it. Like, what are you talking about? This, this, building this temple? No, he's like, no, destroy this temple, speaking of his body, and I'll raise it up the third day." (34 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The church is the body of Christ who is the temple of God. We're the temple. And we're the temple who is planted all over planet Earth because we are the ones who have the presence of God and this message of Jesus. We are the temple. And so 1 Corinthians chapter three, let's read that. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit dwells in you, your midst. If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person for God's temple is sacred and you together are that temple. We're the temple of God." (43 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Jesus' charge was that they turn his father's house into a flea market. The symbol of God's mercy, God's deliverance was turned on its head, mutated. So he turned his house into a flea market. He didn't even represent it, understand it anymore. And so this place that was supposed to represent God's dwelling, thieves had occupied it. Making a profit, pilfering from the people and the masses and the tourism and the market. And so Jesus rebuked them. He rebuked the people in the temple because it had reflected a corrupt world, not a holy God. The temple had lost its identity, its meaning and its power. And Jesus said, I'll have none of it. And he cleansed it." (49 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus stood alone in the temple, a foreigner among his family. All of Jerusalem was celebrating what was going on. He was the lone man. To stand up and said, I'll have none of it. I rebuke all that is happening here. And he stood alone, a stranger in his own family, but zeal for that house consumed him. And so he threw himself out there and he turned the tables and he cast them out. So how did the Jews respond? Verse 18. The Jews responded. He said, what sign can you show us to prove that you have the authority to do this? See, they were challenging him. The Jews were calling. They were calling him out. They didn't believe he had the authority and they weren't willing to concede to this rebuke." (49 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus stood up to these unrighteous stewards. He didn't bow before them. He didn't cower. He stood up alone and he challenged them and rebuked them. He said, Kill me and I'll rise again. Do your worst and I will triumph. And he'll do it without even raising a finger against them. And this statement, actually, when you look at Jesus's trial in other gospels, they would use this, they would use this statement against him in trial and they would turn it and they would contort it. But that statement is what helped put him to death. But yet he spoke it anyway, because it was the truth." (36 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus comes to the temple. All going wrong. And he says, I'm the temple. Hacks number two. I'm the fulfillment of all this imagery and story that this building represented. All of that is really me. Not it, me. All the pilgrims who come all from around to go to the temple. Now, people from all over the planet will come to me. I'm the temple. And in me, I teach a wayward people to discover their sin, the solution in me and a relationship with God, God's presence dwelling with you. That's act number two. But it goes even further. Act number three. The church is the body of Christ who is the temple of God. We're the temple." (53 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So what's our application? What do we apply to ourselves? What do we apply to our lives? Proverbs 28, 1. The wicked flee, though no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. You see, courage is part of who we are. It's our identity as believers in Christ. It's our identity. The world has an opposite, right? The world has an opposite. The world, doing what's right, people will quickly step aside from doing what's right for fear of some harm coming to themselves. But yet, sin, the things that are wrong, the things that are evil, the things that are corrupting, they'll hold onto and refuse to turn from that. That's the opposite side. Believers of Christ are the exact other way. We are quick to admit when we're wrong. We are quick to abandon sin, but we refuse to budge from what is right. Why? Because we trust, and therefore we have courage, and we're as bold as a lion." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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