Understanding Jesus: Belief, Worship, and Daily Living
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into John chapter 9, focusing on the profound encounter between Jesus and the blind man He healed. This passage not only highlights Jesus' miraculous power but also His identity as the Son of Man. The religious leaders were outraged because Jesus performed this miracle on the Sabbath, leading to a confrontation that ultimately resulted in the blind man being expelled from the temple. Jesus sought him out and revealed His divine identity, asking, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" This question is pivotal, as it challenges us to consider how our beliefs about Jesus shape our lives.
We explored the concepts of orthodoxy (correct belief) and orthopraxy (correct practice), emphasizing that our theology should inform our daily living. It's not enough to merely hold correct beliefs; those beliefs must translate into actions that reflect the teachings of Christ. We examined various titles and descriptors of Jesus, such as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Bread of Life, and the Light of the World, each revealing different facets of His divine nature and mission.
Understanding who Jesus is should profoundly impact our worship, mission, and everyday living. Recognizing Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of all things should lead us to worship Him with awe and reverence. It should also give us a clear sense of mission and purpose, driving us to share the gospel and make disciples. Finally, our understanding of Jesus should shape every aspect of our lives, from our daily routines to our interactions with others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy: Correct belief (orthodoxy) and correct practice (orthopraxy) are both essential in the Christian life. Our theology should inform our actions, ensuring that our daily lives reflect the teachings of Christ. It's not enough to know about Jesus; we must live out His teachings in our everyday actions. [45:31]
2. Jesus' Identity: Jesus is not just a historical figure; He is the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Messiah, and much more. Each title and descriptor of Jesus reveals a different aspect of His divine nature and mission. Understanding these can deepen our relationship with Him and transform our lives. [51:28]
3. Impact on Worship: Recognizing who Jesus is should shape our worship. Knowing that the Creator of all things humbled Himself to become a man and made a way for us to stand before a holy God should lead us to worship with awe, reverence, and celebration. [10:00]
4. Mission and Purpose: Understanding Jesus' identity gives us a clear sense of mission and purpose. We are called to share the gospel, make disciples, and live in a way that glorifies God. This understanding provides meaning and direction for our lives. [11:01]
5. Everyday Living: Our understanding of Jesus should shape every aspect of our lives. From our daily routines to our interactions with others, everything should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. This alignment ensures that our lives reflect our faith. [12:33]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[40:23] - Opening Prayer and Scripture Reading
[41:12] - Jesus Heals the Blind Man
[42:16] - Does Your Belief Shape Your Life?
[42:56] - Recap and Engage Service Announcement
[44:48] - Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy
[47:32] - Theological Implications
[50:08] - Jesus' Titles and Descriptors
[53:21] - Jesus as the "I Am"
[56:23] - Jesus as the Alpha and Omega
[59:25] - The Humility of Jesus
[01:02:26] - Jesus' Authority and Glory
[01:05:26] - The Son of Man in Daniel
[01:08:27] - Jesus' Divine Authority
[01:10:00] - Shaping Our Worship
[01:11:01] - Shaping Our Mission and Purpose
[01:12:33] - Shaping Our Everyday Living
[01:13:39] - Closing Prayer and Final Hymn
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 9:35-41
- Daniel 7:13-14
- Colossians 3:17
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the reaction of the religious leaders to Jesus healing the blind man on the Sabbath? ([41:12])
2. How did the blind man respond when Jesus revealed His identity as the Son of Man? ([41:42])
3. What are the two key concepts discussed in the sermon that relate to correct belief and correct practice? ([44:48])
4. List some of the titles and descriptors of Jesus mentioned in the sermon. ([51:28])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to heal the blind man on the Sabbath, knowing it would provoke the religious leaders? ([41:12])
2. How does understanding Jesus as both the Son of Man and the Son of God deepen our relationship with Him? ([51:59])
3. In what ways should recognizing Jesus' identity as the Creator and Sustainer of all things shape our worship? ([10:00])
4. How can the concept of orthodoxy (correct belief) and orthopraxy (correct practice) be balanced in our daily lives? ([45:31])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routines. How can you ensure that your actions reflect your beliefs about Jesus? ([12:33])
2. Think about your worship practices. How can you incorporate a greater sense of awe and reverence for Jesus in your personal and communal worship? ([10:00])
3. Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. What specific steps can you take this week to share the gospel with them? ([11:01])
4. Consider your current understanding of Jesus' various titles and descriptors. How can this understanding transform your approach to challenges and decisions in your life? ([51:28])
5. Examine your interactions with others. How can you better reflect Christ's teachings in your relationships and community involvement? ([12:33])
6. What specific actions can you take to align your life more closely with the mission and purpose Jesus has given us? ([11:01])
7. Reflect on a recent situation where your beliefs were challenged. How did you respond, and how can you better align your response with your faith in the future? ([42:16])
Devotional
Day 1: Living Out Our Beliefs
Orthodoxy and orthopraxy are both essential in the Christian life. Our theology should inform our actions, ensuring that our daily lives reflect the teachings of Christ. It's not enough to know about Jesus; we must live out His teachings in our everyday actions. This means that our correct beliefs (orthodoxy) must translate into correct practices (orthopraxy). When we truly understand and believe in the teachings of Jesus, it should naturally lead to a transformation in how we live our lives. This alignment between belief and practice is crucial for authentic Christian living. [45:31]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Think about one belief you hold about Jesus. How can you put that belief into practice today in a tangible way?
Day 2: Understanding Jesus' Identity
Jesus is not just a historical figure; He is the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Messiah, and much more. Each title and descriptor of Jesus reveals a different aspect of His divine nature and mission. Understanding these can deepen our relationship with Him and transform our lives. Recognizing Jesus as the Creator and Sustainer of all things should lead us to worship Him with awe and reverence. It should also give us a clear sense of mission and purpose, driving us to share the gospel and make disciples. [51:28]
Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
Reflection: Which title of Jesus resonates most with you today? How does this understanding of Jesus' identity impact your relationship with Him?
Day 3: Worship with Awe and Reverence
Recognizing who Jesus is should shape our worship. Knowing that the Creator of all things humbled Himself to become a man and made a way for us to stand before a holy God should lead us to worship with awe, reverence, and celebration. Our worship should be a response to the greatness and humility of Jesus, acknowledging His sacrifice and lordship. This understanding should transform our worship from a routine activity to a profound encounter with the divine. [10:00]
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 incorporate a sense of awe and reverence into your worship today? What specific actions can you take to deepen your worship experience?
Day 4: Embracing Our Mission and Purpose
Understanding Jesus' identity gives us a clear sense of mission and purpose. We are called to share the gospel, make disciples, and live in a way that glorifies God. This understanding provides meaning and direction for our lives. When we grasp the significance of Jesus' mission, it compels us to participate in His work, spreading His message of love and redemption to others. Our lives should reflect this mission, demonstrating the transformative power of the gospel in our actions and interactions. [11:01]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can share the gospel or make disciples this week? How can you align your daily activities with this mission?
Day 5: Shaping Our Everyday Living
Our understanding of Jesus should shape every aspect of our lives. From our daily routines to our interactions with others, everything should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. This alignment ensures that our lives reflect our faith. When we live with the awareness of Jesus' presence and lordship, it transforms our attitudes, behaviors, and relationships. Every action, no matter how small, becomes an opportunity to honor and glorify God. [12:33]
Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate your faith into your daily routines today? What specific changes can you make to ensure your actions reflect your belief in Jesus?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Does what you believe about Jesus shape the way that you live? In other words, what you know about Jesus, does that change anything about you, who you are, and how you live out your life? And that's what we're going to talk about with Jesus today." [42:16] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we talk about scripture though, when we talk about what God's word says, we need to be a people who are very orthodox in our theology, but we also need to be very diligent about living out the scriptures. That is the way that a Bible believing person, the way that the scripture teaches us, the way that Christ instructs us, that's the way we're supposed to live." [48:28] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we recognize that the one who created all things humbled himself in the form of a man and made a way for an unholy people like myself and like each one of you to stand before the holy God, we should worship in a sense of awe and reverence and celebration and glory knowing that even in the midst of my unworthiness he still loves me and he still cares for me and he still draws me into his family." [01:10:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus is the one that says, I am the way. There is no other way. I am that way. Then he also tells us in John 15, he says, I am the true vine. So there's a lot of descriptors about who Jesus is. He's more than just the son of man. There's a lot of things that are going on about Jesus. He's trying to teach us who he is." [55:47] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When Jesus is talking to the blind man, he's saying, I am the son of man. I am the one that's being prophesied in Daniel. It's not by accident that I'm able to heal your blindness. Because I have all authority, all power, and all dominion at my fingertips. When I say something, it happens. I spoke the world into existence. He's a powerful and mighty God. He is more than just a man. But he is the humble man. He is God in human form." [01:08:58] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When we talk about orthodoxy, we're talking about correct beliefs. And when we're talking about correct beliefs, we're talking about correct beliefs about God, about who he is. It's correct beliefs about doctrine and theology and the things that we learn when we read Scripture. What we're learning is we're learning orthodoxy. But when we talk about orthopraxy, what we're talking about is correct. Remember the ortho, correct. But praxy is practice. In other words, correct practice." [45:31] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When we talk about scripture though, when we talk about what God's word says, we need to be a people who are very orthodox in our theology, but we also need to be very diligent about living out the scriptures. That is the way that a Bible believing person, the way that the scripture teaches us, the way that Christ instructs us, that's the way we're supposed to live. We're supposed to look at the life of Christ. We're supposed to look at the word of God. And as we read that, we begin to line up our lives according to what the scriptures have to say." [48:28] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we understand who Jesus is, it should shape our mission and our purpose. We know now why we have a reason to live. Jesus in understanding who he is tells us why we are here. It gives us meaning. It gives us purpose. It gives us community. It gives us a reason. We see in Matthew 28, it says, Jesus came to them and said all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything that I've commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very ends of the age." [01:11:01] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Does your orthodoxy affect your orthopraxy? Does your view of Jesus shape the way you live? I want to challenge you to examine your heart and ask, where is your heart turned? Where are your affections pointed to? If your affections are taken over by other things in this world, you are misaligned. But if Christ is the center focus by which you change and shift and point everything, you are on the right track." [01:13:03] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When Jesus tells the blind man that he is the Son of Man, it's coming from somewhere. When the religious leaders hear Jesus talking in terms saying that he is the Son of Man, that triggers something. It comes from somewhere. Jesus didn't just make that up. He didn't make up this idea that he was the Son of Man. But to the people who studied scripture, to those who studied the Old Testament, when he said that, they knew exactly where he was coming from." [01:02:56] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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