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Leap of-faith-flexibility group
1. LEAP OF FAITH: FLEXIBILITY, FOR JESUS’ SAKE Scripture: I Corinthians 9: 19-23 and Philippians 2:5-11
2. 1 Cor. 9:19-23 (NLT) This means I am not bound to obey people just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ. [20] When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. [21] When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. [22] When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. [23] I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.
3. Philip. 2:5-11 (NLT) Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. [7] He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. [8] And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. [9] Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
4. TAKE HOME • Bolstering our own identity can be a destructive preoccupation…and it won’t help the Kingdom! • We could all take some lessons from Paul and Jesus on giving up the focus on ‘ME!’ and concentrating on others instead. • It takes a leap of faith to let go of a quest for ‘reputation’ and move forward to ‘service’.
5. Lord, Jesus, You gave it all up to be my savior. May I learn from you as I try to love people even I must flex and surrender my image. Commitment:
8. PROPOSITION: IN KINGDOM BUSINESS CULTURE AND REPUTATION ARE NEGOTIABLE…COMPASSION IS NOT! • JESUS CAME TO EARTH FOR REASON…TO REDEEM US. • IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE VENTURE FOR HIM. • YET HE ALWAYS KEPT HIS EYE ON THE OUTCOME. • I NEED TO LEARN POWERFUL LESSONS FROM HIM. • SINCE THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS A HUMAN, LIKE ME, I NEED TO OBSERVE HOW ‘ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN’ WAS LIVED OUT IN HIS LIFE.
9. IT IS A MIGHTY LEAP OF FAITH TO JETTISON MY COMFORT ZONE AND IDENTITY…ALL IN THE NAME OF LOVE. PAUL’S STORY • A highly educated man. • A greatly respected leader. • A man of the upper crust.
10. WHEN HE WAS SAVED BY JESUS HIS OLD (AND GLORIOUS) IDENTITY WAS SET ASIDE…NO EASY TASK FOR A MAN LIKE THAT • Circumcised on the eighth day • Of the people of Israel • Of the Tribe of Benjamin • A Hebrew of Hebrews • A Pharisee • Zealous…persecuting the church • Legalistic righteous…Faultless!!
11. JESUS CALLED HIM TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND AND JUMP (LEAP!) TO BECOME A DIFFERENT PERSON • “ If any one is in Christ he has become a new creation” --II Corinthians 5:17 • The old identity is worthless…ready for the manure pile. --Philippians 3:8
15. PAUL’S IDENTITY BECAME FUNCTIONAL…IT HAD A DESIRED OUTCOME • Underlying Principle: “I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” --I Corinthians 9: 19
16. AS A KINGDOM PERSON PAUL’S CULTURE AND IDENTITY BECAME NEGOTIABLE • To Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the Law I became like one under the Law, Ditto. To those not having the Law… To the weak… --I Corinthians 9:19-23
17. RESTATEMENT: I HAVE BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE SO THAT BY ALL POSSIBLE MEANS I MIGHT SAVE SOME. •
18. PAUL GOT HIS INSPIRATION AND MODEL FROM JESUS • He was in very nature God. • He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. • He made himself nothing. • He volunteered to be made in human form. • Jesus took the form of a servant. • He humbled himself and become obedient…to the point of death!
19. WHY? WHAT WAS THE DESIRED OUTCOME? … That every knew would bow And every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord To the glory of God the Father!
20. BOTH JESUS AND PAUL HELP US SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MISSIONARY! • A satisfactory evaluation of our own identity. (We are children of God with Heaven as our eternal home) • A commitment to the salvation of others. (To save some…every knee bowing and every tongue confessing)
21. BOTH JESUS AND PAUL HELP US SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MISSIONARY! • A decision to let go of our worldly, fleshly identity for the sake of others. (All things to all people …Emptied himself and took the form of a servant) • Consider our commitment to others so great that only a few words explain our new role. (Though I am free and belong to no man I make myself a SLAVE to everyone…Taking the very nature of a servant!)
22. ALL OF THIS IS A DESCRIPTION OF A MISSIONARY • Leaving home • Adapting to a different culture • Learning a new language • Identifying with the ones we seek to serve • Total commitment
23. IT IS THE LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE…AND IT TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH! •
24. HOW WOULD IT LOOK IN OUR LIVES? • Flexibility in how we see ourselves • A willingness to meet and interact with people outside of our Comfort Zone • Learning the ‘language’ of others…those younger, older, other ethnics, different economic strata, etc. • Moving to places and spaces where there are people ‘unlike’ us • A willingness to look and listen along with others…music and such that is not ‘our thing’
25. COULD THIS BE PART OF WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS, DENY OURSELVES AND FOLLOW THE MASTER? • WHAT KIND OF PRAYER COULD A ‘STUCK IN A RUT’ OR AN ‘OLD WINE SKIN’ PERSON OFFER?
26. Lord, help me understand how precious I am to you so that I don’t have to spend my days shaping or reinforcing my image. Father, help me to remember what Jesus said about ‘gaining the whole world’ and yet losing my soul. Jesus, may I live my life in such a way that others can hear your voice rather than my taste and preferences. I want to be a “Jesus” person.
31. TAKE HOME • I will not boast of my own position, status or capabilities. I will focus on the Kingdom and His righteousness! • Like Paul and Jesus I give up the focus on ‘ME!’ and I will concentrate on others instead. • I take the leap of faith as I let go of a quest for ‘reputation’ and move forward to ‘service’.
32. Lord, Jesus, You gave it all up to be my savior. May I learn from you as I try to love people even I must flex and surrender my image. Commitment:
![1 Cor. 9:19-23 (NLT) This means I am not bound to obey people just because they pay me, yet I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ. [20] When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. [21] When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. [22] When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. [23] I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)