"Jesus Save us from.."

With the new movie-documentary, "Jesus Save Us From Your Followers: Why is the gospel of love dividing America," in mind, I made the point in today's message that the Gospel of Jesus divides people for two reasons.

1) Because Christians do a lot of stupid things that misrepresent Jesus.

2) Because the message of Jesus is, by it's very nature, divisive.

What's an example you've seen of people claiming to be Christians but misrepresenting Jesus?

What's an example of a stand all Christians must take, regardless of how unpopular or "divisive" it is in the larger culture?


MM

Today's Revolution?

I talked today about the practices of the early Christians, like opposing abortion and infaticide, caring for the sick at great risk to one's personal health, and being unconcerned with ethnic and racial boundaries. These things shook the status quo of the day in a radical way.

What are some good examples of Christian practices today that are seen as equally unusual (and perhaps threatening) by the culture around us?

MM

Holiness

It's often the case that volunteers work harder at a particular job than those who work out of obligation. In much the same way, it's often true that Christians who focus only on the love of God, without a legalistic code of rules, live more pure, morally upright, holy lives than anyone else--and do so with great joy. Why is this? 

MM

God working through tragedy

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts/responses to Mary Duncan's story of how God strengthened her through tragedy, as she shared in our worship time today.

MM

The Real Power of Change

The good works we do in following Jesus' example are not the things that make us right before God, but rather are the things that allow God's Holy Spirit into our lives to make us right. The Holy Spirit is the power that changes us, our work in obedience to Christ is the opening through which He comes. (Like window blinds and light. Opening the blinds only lets the light in, but the light's the important thing)

One glorious fact in all this is that the more the Holy Spirit changes us, the more good deeds we want to do, which enables us to experience more of the Holy Spirit. 

Have you ever experienced God in such a way that it changed the things you did and didn't want to spend your time doing--an experience that transformed your desires? (I'm assuming many of you have)

Please make a post to let us know. 

MM

Jesus' Shocking View of the World

In addition to Jesus' shocking view on death (such that he would tell a woman at her son's funeral not to cry), what are other aspects of his worldview that are radically out of line with the status quo? 

In other words, what are some more examples of things Jesus said that would cause someone to laugh at him (like the women at Jairus' house in Luke 8) or think he was crazy? 

MM

Nothing but the Truth

Two Questions about Truth: 

1. What's the worst thing you've seen happen as a result of someone believing that truth is relative to what each individual wants it to be? 

2. What's the worst example you've seen of Christians conveying the truth without love. 

MM

Bethany Film Project (and sermon question)

For information about the Bethany Film Project.

See the link on the church's homepage at http://www.bethanyredlion.com


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Here's the question stemming from this week's sermon:

Why (and how) are references to Satan overused and abused by some Christians? Why do you think others neglect thinking about Satan at all?

MM

For Sunday School Group on The Nature of The Bible

Here are two links to more detailed information on the topics we discussed in Sunday School today. (For the question on this week's sermon, see the post below) 

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddr5rgsk_41cwsgbm94

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=ddr5rgsk_637xk8cxfj

Points of Friction

In John 14:15-19 Jesus says Christians can see him and see the Holy Spirit when others cannot. What is an example of a controversy or point of friction that can arise when Christians are guided by that which they see but is hidden from other people?

MM

What do you think?

In light of the fact that the disciples were utterly shocked at Jesus' resurrection (See Luke 24:36-49), what do you think was the hardest adjustment they had to make because of the resurrection? (Maybe a hard but joyful adjustment?)

MM

The Invasion of God's Resurrection Force

I said in the message on Easter Sunday that Christ's resurrection was, in many ways, like God's D Day, in which he broke into the world to conquer the dark power of death that had reigned for so long. 

God's expectation is that, from the starting point of Jesus' resurrection, his followers move out across the world to bring the new life made available by the the resurrection and the Holy Spirit to all people, in order to make all things on earth as they are in Heaven. 

What's a specific example of a person or event through which you've seen God's kingdom advancing into the dark areas of the world? 

MM

Everyday Blindness

It's clear from passages like Luke 17:26-36 that many people miss the most important of all things because they are so immersed in the everyday activities of life--"eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building." 

What aspects of our mundane, everyday experiences do you think are most dangerous? What makes us most vulnerable to missing the most important thing(s)?

PS

If you plan on going on the Sierra Leone trip next January, don't forget to post your name and intent to go here. 

MM

"Everybody" Says...

What is a good real-life example of something "Everybody" says, but is nonetheless wrong? 

Also, what do you think is the most dangerous and/or destructive idea that is widely accepted (and practiced) in American culture? Why? 

MM

Fanatically Normal

What's the best example of a fanatic you've seen--not necessarily someone who showed extreme behavior, but someone who was so committed to a certain agenda or set of beliefs that he or she was unwilling to consider anything that might challenge the "normal" way of seeing the world, regardless of whether or not the thing is true. 

MM

Categorizing People

What's one of the worst examples of people being ranked or labeled with categories of job, social class, background, etc.? What were (are) the results of this? 

Have you ever witnessed an example of Christians who refused to categorize people, but rather saw everyone as equally important, and equally in need of God? What were the results of this? 

MM

The Enemy Of The Best Is The Good

What are some examples of people seeking good things that ultimately cause them to miss the best things? 

MM

Chastity

What's the biggest obstacle in teaching and living a life of chastity?  Is the difficulty more inside us, or is it in the culture around us?

MM 

Christians and Homosexuality

Instead of a question from me this week, I'd like to just open up the blog for any comments or questions regarding the sermon topic.  

 

MM

Bad Lessons in Movies

Last summer I saw a popular movie that troubled me because of what I saw as a very distorted understanding of love. I don't want to give the title away right off, but I would like to hear some thoughts from anyone out there who has been struck by a twisted (yet widely accepted) portrayal of love in the movies? 

MM

True Love (1 Corinthians 13)

Paul explains in 1st Corinthians 13 that true love (agape) seeks only the benefit of the beloved, and has no concern for itself--and that this type of love is one of the most substantial, most real things we can know. 

In contrast to this is the popular view of love in our culture which sees love as an arbitrary feeling which we fall into and out of. 

So what are the dangers of the non-Christian view of love? What kind of problems can result if we fail to see that true love is more than a feeling? 

MM

It's Not About Me

Among many other examples in the Bible, Joseph (in Genesis) and Paul in the end of Acts, both show by their attitude after being  released from a two year prison term that the true follower of God can only live a life pleasing to God, and can only fulfill his or her calling in life by recognizing, "It's not about me."

But many segments of our Western culture don't see it that way. In fact, a lot of businesses thrive on convincing their customers that "It's all about you." 

So what are some good examples from popular culture of things or people who seek to convince us (not that it takes much) that our lives really should be oriented around securing our own immediate comfort and security? 

MM

N.T. Wright on a Biblical view of mission

I thought it would be good this week to post a link to a talk by New Testament scholar, N.T. Wright on a Biblical vision for mission. He gives some great ideas, and the talk goes right a long with today's message on mission. (And it's only about 16 minutes long--well worth listening to.)

Tom Wright – A biblical hope for mission

(Right click on the link and "save as" to download, or just click on the link to listen to the talk on the web)

As always, feel free to post a comment or discussion question. 

MM

Hillbillies In The Mansion

So the Beverly Hillbillies were odd because they lived in a new world but still acted as if they lived in the old one--what are some specific examples of ways Christians do this? What are the traits of our old selves and old ways of thinking that are hardest to leave behind? Why? 

MM