Learning to Listen
For Their Sake: Deeper With God • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsBeing a disciple involves putting ourselves in the position for Christ to be formed in us for the glory of God. The abundance Christ brings to our lives overflows for the benefit of others. The life that Christ brings is not just for us but so that we can join him in helping our neighbors experience his love.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
New Series leading us into Easter.
For Their Sake: Deeper With God
Putting ourselves in the position to become more like Jesus for the sake of others.
Stepping Stones To Walk On Difficult Ground
Stepping Stones To Walk On Difficult Ground
Instructions to Timothy - a young man (under 40) assigned to continue Paul’s work in Ephesus by leading the church there.
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Authority Comes With Character
Authority Comes With Character
Young People are not always welcome into Leadership roles despite their readiness.
He was under 40 and not yet received as teacher material culturally.
He would face obstacles - he knew that.
Wouldn’t be taken seriously
Questioned
Other older elders would be jealous
Yet had the authority to teach. Why?
Authority in the community of faith is contingent on character, not age.
Positive Response To Doubters
Positive Response To Doubters
Attack it by teaching with your life, make sure your words and life match, by your:
Character
Speech
Love, faith, integrity.
Cultivate the inner life because it will be on display.
Avoid Bad Teaching by Pursuing Good Teaching
Avoid Bad Teaching by Pursuing Good Teaching
7-8 - Other bodies of teaching (spiritual, faith) - lack substance. Not sacred. Not valuable for Christ followers.
Refuse them/don't receive them
Refuse them/don't receive them
Creating an enemy. Stay away from the enemy/evil. Avoid. Run from.
The negative response doesn’t help.
Don’t get caught up in debating, etc.
Not saying: refuse or don't receive those who follow them.
Saying: don't adopt those things into the body of teaching you have received from me.
Positively: pursue and offer The good teaching You have followed
Positively: pursue and offer The good teaching You have followed
Don’t stop there
God's historic revelation affirmed in the Scripture (OT) and fulfilled in Christ.
Came from the apostles
The best correction of a life lived according to some other body of teaching is a positive presentation of Kingdom truth.
Be Fit
Be Fit
Paul urged Timothy to keep his spirit fit by constant exercise.
gymnasia (training) and asceticism - training/exercise to attain a goal.
Whole People: exercise our whole being including physical - life as God intended.
Physical well being impacts spiritual well being.
We view the physical training through the lens of spiritual training.
Ascetic: a person who practices the virtues.
Here: Training for/the practice of godliness - Discipline
Holds promise for the present life...
This life - experiencing, living the kingdom now regardless of our circumstances.
As well as the one to come.
A disciplined life makes you fit today and forever. Whole life.
Put these things before the family
Put these things before the family
The church carried on the synagogue practice of reading and made it a basic element in Christian worship. Followed by teaching/instruction in the truths of the Christian faith.
Only a few would have access to the text or be able to read it. Referring to the OT.
Train Them for Godliness
Train Them for Godliness
Here: a manner of life: conduct related to self, others, God.
It is not moralistic - the way we honor God in our everyday conduct.
Godliness is for usefulness, being beneficial, profiting the kingdom.
Rehearse it
Rehearse it
Cultivate, nurture your gift
Cultivate, nurture your gift
The gift to not neglect: spiritual equipping the Spirit brought (charismatic gift). Cultivate, nurture, hone them.
BE WITH JESUS; LISTEN TO HIM
Learning to Listen
Learning to Listen
Devotion: Private Preparation/Spiritual Disciplines or Practices
Devotion: Private Preparation/Spiritual Disciplines or Practices
Purpose of SD’s: tool to work out sin.
Puts us in the position to offer ourselves to God for him to do his work in us.
A means of grace God works through and moves to transform that dead part of us into life in the image of Christ.
God does it through the disciplines we offer.
Diligence, reflection
Diligence, reflection
Pondering, careful reflection
Immersed in the practices
Immersed in the practices
A Life With God Posture
All day every day
Solitude/prayer
Silence
meletao - practice, cultivate, meditate on, consider, plot a course of action
Give yourself wholly to them. Be in them; immersed in them.
Practice, immerse yourselves in these things so that others will too (emulate).
Work out not only his salvation (Phil 2:12) but will help others do the same.
You are a model, a sketch; a mold that will serve as the norm.
Goal: Growth and development of your character - what the church needs to see in him.
How
How
Different for everyone.
We are to personalize the SD’s that bring us into life, wholeness and forms us in the image of Christ.
Me, for example
It puts me in the position to deal with my sin so that we act on what we hear and are taught.
Ex: Listening to God is the necessary prelude to intercession. We must hear, know and obey the will of God before we pray it into the lives of others.
The outflow - the kingdom character that is developed in us, our words will help others see and experience the kingdom and work out their relationship with Jesus.
We teach what we know but we reproduce what we are. Dhati Lewis
Learning to Listen together
Each week, we’ll talk about a helpful listening practice/spiritual discipline
Bible reading and prayer guide
Weekly virtual guided experiences
What effect we might be having on others.