Next, Part 4 “We Are Love in Action”

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S.O.A.P. – “Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer”

Describe your reaction when someone you just met says, “I know your parents!”

Scripture:

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:1–14 NLT

Sermon Insights:

NEXT is building kingdom legacy in Eastern Iowa and around the world!

Consider personalizing this Scripture by speaking out loud to yourself. For example, you might start with, “I need to imitate God in everything I do because I am his dear child…”

Imagine five years from now when we have built towards “kingdom legacy” in Eastern Iowa and around the world. Who has heard the good news of Jesus by then? Who has experienced life transformation? How are the communities impacted by Jesus through Antioch in all campuses?

Lord, help me focus on your love for me. Help me be careful to live a life that pleases you. Thank you for your power and presence in my life!

Are you typically a saver or a spender? In Dave Ramsey terms, are you the “nerd” or the “free spirit”?

Scripture: Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD! Hail to the King of Israel!”

Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!” John 12:1–19 NLT

Sermon Insights: What does NEXT kind of love look like?

Are you surprised at how many different reactions people had to Jesus? Has your reaction changed to Jesus?

What “perfume” are you compelled to spend to make Jesus famous?

When do you carefully save and when do you freely spend?

Lord, thank you for being truthful and doing what is right—always! Thank you for not wavering in speaking truth or showing love no matter the consequences. Help me be filled with your spirit!

What was the one thing that, as a child, you treasured most?

Scripture:

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head.

Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume?” they asked. “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.

But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” Mark 14:3–9 NLT

Sermon Insights:

Jesus commanded us to love and commissioned us to go.

Simon, a man who “previously had leprosy”…WHAT?! In that day, you did not recover…if you were found to have leprosy, you were exiled to live in a banished community with other lepers for the rest of your difficult days. Jesus had healed Simon, though Simon later died like everyone else. Why do you think Jesus healed Simon?

The woman’s act of pouring the perfume on Jesus was an extreme act of sacrifice and generosity. Jesus indicated that she somehow knew his time on earth was short, and she knew her time with him was short. Even though the disciples missed Jesus’ explicit warnings, it appears she was listening. A choice that seemed absurd to others was her way of worship. And Jesus not only appreciated it, he promised that she would be remembered and discussed around the world. It’s a powerful thought that you are fulfilling Jesus’ promise right now! Take a moment to consider your reaction to her choice.

What would have been your reaction to the woman if you had been in the room?

What would it look like for you to be that generous and sacrificial?

Do you love Jesus so much that it doesn’t make sense to the people watching?

Lord, thank you for preserving the historical account of the woman and her incredible sacrificial generosity. Thank you that I have the privilege today of fulfilling Jesus’ promise—that we would talk about this woman and her incredible sacrifice. I’m humbled by her surrender and ask that you help me be filled with so much love for you and confidence in you that I am able to have an open hand towards you and others, not a clenched, fearful fist clinging to what I cannot keep anyway.

What are you tempted to fix, manage and control?

Scripture: Teach these things, Timothy, and encourage everyone to obey them. Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. And I charge you before God, who gives life to all, and before Christ Jesus, who gave a good testimony before Pontius Pilate, that you obey this command without wavering. Then no one can find fault with you from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:2–19 NLT

Sermon Insights: Where does our hope lie?

From this passage, what do you learn about God? What do you learn about people?

Does money present any temptation to you now? Why or why not?

Lord, money is a tricky thing, because it offers a little bit of power and control, and I can get distracted from your priorities very easily. Teach me to lift my eyes to you—my protector and provider! Help me use “my” resources to be wise and generous like you!

Do you live life from a sense of poverty or plenty?

Scripture:

No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:13–21 NLT

Sermon Insights:

Where does our hope lie?

When John writes the “Son of Man must be lifted up,” he is talking about Jesus being hung on the cross. Enduring the ultimate execution of shame and torture, Jesus took the punishment for all sin for all time—every sin—for those who would choose to believe in him. This allowed God, the righteous judge, to declare Jesus guilty and repentant sinners forgiven. It was the ultimate act of substitution, of bravery, of sacrifice. Do you believe Jesus died and was resurrected—for God to be able to forgive you AND give you a new life through the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in you? And do you believe that God wants you to enjoy living forgiven? Not moping around with a guilty conscience but celebrating coming into the light where you past no longer intimidates or defines you? God wants you to live in the love, power, and freedom that Jesus exhibited while he was on earth. Are you living in that?

Lord, thank you for your extraordinary gift of love and your commitment to bringing the dead to life, the broken to a place of healing, from darkness into light. Fill me with the fruit of your Holy Spirit!

Next, Part 4 “We Are Love in Action”

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