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Review: ● Only people whose lives are being “informed” and “formed” by the message will be anxious to share it with others. “Informed”- exposed to truth from God’s perspective; the way things really are (reality; truth). “Formed”- God’s truth becomes the shaping influence of our lives. ● So, the decision itself is only a starting point, not the goal. ● “What are we really asking people to do? How do we want them to respond?” Are we asking for some ‘mental assent’ to the truths presented? Will they be required to do anything? Our Premise: Let’s say that you are hearing this message of Jesus and the “kingdom” and you decide that you would like to live God’s dream for your own life; to discover and realize such a life where you can find “peace” (wholeness; Romans 5); a life where you can interact with God and others in ways which are restorative: what do you do?... where do you start? * Although not comprehensive, even though listed numerically, here are some thoughts on movements toward the kingdom; toward living God’s dream for your own life: 1. Think. Stop. Reflect. Consider the conclusions that they have reached about life and God and the consequences of such conclusions (what type of life that has produced). ● What is being challenged is your “worldview”… a set of assumptions that you have made which provide the lens through which you see all of life. It affects every decision you make. 2. Think again. ● One of the favorite sayings of Jesus was, “If anyone has ears, let him hear”. An odd challenge, and one not related at all to one’s anatomy. Parable… (In teaching, Jesus most often used a literary genre known as ‘parable’). “If what Jesus was trying to say was so important, why not make it easier to understand? Why not just come right out and say it as plainly as possible?” Matthew 13:34-36 (read) - It seems that Jesus used parables when addressing the masses, but spoke more clearly when surrounded by his disciples. His message was ultimately not aimed at their ears, but at their hearts! - Parables are not meant to merely convey information, but to reshape the heart. - Jesus seemed to indicate that there is a way of hearing and understanding that penetrates beyond the obvious; an approach that requires deep introspection and thought; one that will not bypass logic, but will require something more of us. - Parables require of us a sense of intrigue; a sense that Jesus means what he says, but he means more than what he says! - Parables foster (1) of (2) responses: 1) invite further investigation; cause you to engage in conversation (which is at the heart of relationship: we have to further investigate our spouse, our friends, etc.),… which requires humility, or 2) they cause you to walk away frustrated and a bit perturbed (“I don’t need this!”). Remember, Christianity has nothing to say to the person who thinks they can do live without God! The only time that God cannot continue to teach you is when you think you already know it all! ● It means that although Jesus’ invitation appeared simple, it was risky. The one hearing the message would be required to re-think life from God’s perspective as declared (made known) and embodied in the person of Jesus. ● In a word, people are being asked to “repent”. The implications of the word are enormous! This “repenting” won’t be easy. With your worldview so firmly in place, it becomes difficult to image how life might look through another set of lenses. Matthew 13:14-15 “This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'” ● Although the decision might be defined as a “moment”, it will be worked out over a lifetime! It will require stringing together a lifetime of “moments” (one is ‘faith’, the other ‘faithfulness’). It means that everything will not change at once, but it doesn’t have to! To “think again” involves the unsettling feeling that you may be wrong, accompanied by a sincere desire to reorder your life around what is right. ● The process involves “humility”… the realization that if you’ve been wrong before, it may happen again! 3. Trust. In “trusting” (believing), you not only become open to the possibility that you may be wrong, but you become open to new direction; to a new “way”…God’s way. ● Once you are sincerely willing to doubt yourself (i.e. have your worldview challenged), you become open to trusting someone else. ● It starts with a tiny amount of belief (mustard seed: Matthew 17:20) and a hefty dose of doubt; but, it prompts you to act on what you already know. It involves not just believing things ABOUT God, but believing IN God. Your faith does not really consist of the things you profess to believe, but the action that your faith produces. ● So, the “leap of faith” (so to speak) is the result of a certain level of trust and confidence we already possess. It is not about having ALL the answers that you need (I don’t demand that of anything in life!), just enough to trust what you already knew. 4. Accept. Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives; everyone who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened”. ● Life with God involves the relational dynamic of receiving life from him and giving our life to him. Matthew 7:9-11 “You parents- if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Of if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Luke’s rendering in 11:13… “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”). To receive is to admit that the life you need is beyond your best efforts, but within your reach! ● When you are receiving, there is only so much you can do; but, you must do something… receive! 5. Follow. Learning and practicing the new life of Christ. The movement of becoming the person that you were created to be by embracing reality (truth) from God’s point of view. * I have discovered that there is a progressive nature to “eternal life”; it’s unfolding; it’s about discovery (i.e. like taking “Life Skills” in High School; it was not the definitive work). Matthew 28:18-20 “…teach these new disciples to obey all that I have commanded”. John 16:12 “I have so much more I want to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes (Jesus’ lingering presence), he will guide you into all truth”. “I have so much more to teach you if you’re willing to learn!” Jesus.
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