reflection questions gospel choices meekness april...
TRANSCRIPT
Reflection Questions
1. Summary: the last three weeks we learned the following GOSPEL Choices:
Choice 1 – Admitting NEED – Spiritual Beggar
Choice 2 – Getting HELP – Turn to Jesus
Choice 3 – Letting GO – Yoke to Jesus
What do these three choices involve?
2. Do you struggle with self-righteousness or the cycle of despair? If so, which
of the 4 following steps are you not accepting? How does this contribute to
your struggle?
Accept God’s Son as your Savior
Accept God’s Word as your standard
Accept God’s Will as your purpose
Accept God’s Power as your Strength
3. What do you still have to turn over to God’s care? Which of the following
keep you from yoking to Jesus? [Pride, Guilt, Fear, Worry, Doubt]
Actions Steps: Do NOT skip these steps!
1) PRAY to God about it – “I have burdens and I need refreshment in you. I
want to be yoked to you! I have been a wild stallion and now I want to be
tamed by you. Please, Jesus, release my burdens and yoke me to you!”
2) WRITE about it – reflect on the decision you have made for /or against
yoking together with Christ.
3) SHARE about it – with a spiritual friend, mentor, pastor or spouse.
GOSPEL Choices…meekness April 29,2012
I. People struggle & then resist Jesus – why?
Pride, Guilt, Fear, Worry, Doubt
II. Religion without Jesus leads to:
Self-righteousness
The Cycle of Despair: guilt anger fear depression guilt
How do we avoid these extremes?
III. Develop the “Beatitude Attitude” of the GOSPEL Community:
Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit [spiritual beggars]
, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4
Blessed are those who mourn [long for Messiah’s Reign]
, for they shall be comforted. 5
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
“Blessed are the meek…” – this is expressed in patient submissiveness to
offense, free from malice or desire for revenge. – Cleon Rogers
“…in the ancient Greco-Roman world, such humility was no more valued
than in our world today.” – Dr. Craig Blomberg
“Meek” in Greek = “Strength under control.” – John Baker [Pic of Horse]
“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Peter Parker, AKA… [Pic
of Spiderman]
“…for they shall inherit the earth.” = future blessing “Promised Land”
“The Christian hope does not look forward to inhabiting a particular country but
to ruling with Christ over all the globe and ultimately to enjoying an entirely re-
created earth and heavens (Rev. 20-22).” – Dr. Blomberg
IV. Meekness comes from being “yoked” with Jesus:
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Context – Jesus has authority to reveal or hide truth salvation
V. 28 – “Come to me…and I will give you rest.” = Jesus invites us to experience
spiritual rest from our burdens.
“all who labor and are heavy laden” = signifies those who are tired from
carrying a heavy pack on their back:
Tired workers need refreshment & renewal.
Spiritually tired people need refreshment & renewal. [Video]
V. 29 – “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me…”
Yoke = couple oxen together to make plowing easier. [Pic of Yoke]
Learn = Jesus’ “Yoke” = set of Interpretations of OT Law.
“Jesus equates the Christian life with spiritual rest. In describing his provision of
this rest, Jesus borrows imagery from the plowing of fields. Like the yoke that
couples oxen together, discipleship does not exempt one from work but makes it
manageable. Jews commonly spoke of taking on the yoke of Torah to refer to the
acceptance of the stipulations of the law. But, as the Sermon on the Mount has
made plain, Jesus calls people not to the law but to himself.” ~ Dr. Blomberg
“…for I am gentle and lowly in heart…” = Jesus has “strength under control” to
come alongside you.
“…and you will find rest for your souls.” = spiritual refreshment.
V. 30 – “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” = “comfortable to wear” or
“refreshing & good” presumably because it brings salvation.
“None of this implies that Jesus’ ‘greater righteousness,’ as illustrated in the
Sermon on the Mount, is not extremely challenging or demanding. Jesus’
requirements are not less stringent than those of the Jewish teachers, but they
can be accomplished more readily because of the strength Christ provides
through the Holy Spirit.” – Dr. Blomberg
Being yoked to Jesus – uplifts us in our despair, forgives us of our sin,
takes away our guilt, & encourages us onward to have victory in Jesus.
2 Cor. 4:8
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to
despair; 9
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10
always
carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be
manifested in our bodies.”
V. Why Resist Jesus? Begin Moving Forward Commitment
The 2 Step Process (illustration from WWII – Pacific Theatre):
PHASE 1: Softening Up
PHASE 2: Establishing a Beachhead
Commit yourself to Jesus so He can establish a beachhead.
Result: Jesus will never let go:
- Eph. 1:13 – He “seals” you as His Holy Spirit
- John 10:28-29 – no one can snatch you from His hand.
VI. Commitment Requires stepping across the line:
Accept God’s Son as your Savior
Accept God’s Word as your Standard
Accept God’s Will as your Purpose
Accept God’s Power as your Strength
BI: Gain / Maintain the “Beatitude Attitude” by yoking to Jesus!
April 29, 2012
LOOKING AHEAD
May 11-12 ····· Youth Missions Retreat
May 13 ··········· Mother’s Day
May 16 ··········· Women’s Open House - Faust’s 10am-12 noon
May 25 ··········· Whirlyball
June 3 ············ Youth Servant Auction & Lunch
June 10 ·········· Graduation Sunday
June 24 ·········· Annual Meeting and Lunch
July 6-15 ········ Youth Mission Trip
July 16-19 ······ Community VBS at Lakewood Park
Flamingo Flocking Is Here! Sign up today to give your friends/neighbors the gift
of...pink. This is a fundraiser for the Youth Louisiana
Mission Trip this Summer. Find the Flamingo Table in
the Foyer to place your orders...or even to hire
protection! You’re never safe from being pink’d!
Lett ing GO
The Mission of the White Center Food Bank is to
minimize hunger, while nourishing community, nur-
turing self-reliance and embracing our rich cultural
diversity. WCFB provides weekly food distribution, a
baby pantry, a mobile food bank program and a
home delivery for homebound clients, as well as a
community garden. If you are a gardener, you may
volunteer to donate produce to the food bank.
Grace Church donates to WCFB through our food
collection barrel in the foyer and benevolence fund.
Contact Chris Bemis (206) 763-8671 for further
information on how you, or your Home Community
group, can help the White Center Food Bank.
IMMEDIATE NEEDS Peanut Butter
Hamburger Helper
Instant Oatmeal
Cereal
Canned Fruit
Canned Fish & Meat
Jam
Cake Mix
Broth & Soup
DAILY BREAD DAILY DEVOTIONAL Looking for a daily devotional booklet? ‘Our
Daily Bread’ is a favorite devotional used by
millions of people around the world. Spend
time in God’s Word and find meaning in
each day’s Scripture reading. Pick up the
current issue at the Welcome Center.
Let us LOVE GOD & PEOPLE BY
PRAYING FOR: Gaye Turner (mother of
Bill Turner - pancreatic cancer), Chuck
Schukar (aortic valve replacement surgery,
May 25), Michael Davis (high blood
pressure), Sean McMonigle (surgery
recovery), Wilma Palmateer (health
issues), Cole Sonsteng (gastro paresis),
Kathy Setzer (lymphoma treatment), and
those with ongoing health needs:
Kimberly Smith (seizures), Martha Miller &
those unemployed. Please also pray for
our Elder Board: Larry Watson, Ron Sasaki,
Paul Lang, Josh Hanson, Ryan Faust, Kevin
Anway and Drayton Lemert.
ENGLEHART’S NEW ADVENTURE Please join us in saying goodbye to Daniel
and Stephanie as they start their new
adventures with Crossroads Baptist
Church in Vinton, LA. Their last Sunday
with us is May 6th. Join us right after
service for sandwiches and cake at the
Englehart's 6759 12th Ave SW 98106.
Nearest cross street is Myrtle SW (near
South Seattle Community College)
YOUTH WHIRLYBALL OUTING! On Friday, May 25, the youth group will be
going up to Edmonds to play Whirlyball, a
crazy game that combines bumper cars,
track ball, and basketball backboards.
Deadline to sign up to go on this event is
Wed. May 9, so make sure and talk to
Nathan Schlaud (206) 937-8400 ASAP if
you want to join.
PRESERVE MARRIAGE If you would like to sign R74, it will be in
the church office Monday-Thursday from
9-4pm, or Sundays in the South foyer.
Please note that you must be a registered
voter for your signature to count and you
can only sign the petition one time. Over
90 people from Grace church have signed
the petitions. If you wish to gather
signatures yourself and need a green
petition form, please see Pastor Jerry.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD is the ideal, but sadly not reality. Please
join with others in prayer for our our
nation on May 3, 6:30pm on Alki Beach -
61st and Alki Ave. at the Statue of Liberty
for National Day of Prayer.
BAPTISM & MEMBERSHIP
For anyone who would like to become a
member of Grace Church or be baptized,
please contact Pastor Ryan Faust at the church
office or Paul Lang (206)240-8528.
Visiting Grace? If this is your first time of worshiping with us, we joyfully welcome and thank you for coming! Please visit the Welcome Center
in the foyer to learn a bit more about life at Grace. 10323 28th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98146-1202
Phone: (206) 937-8400 Fax: (206) 937-0881 [email protected] www.gracechurchseattle.org
THIS WEEK AT GRACE SUNDAY, APRIL 29
9:00 am Sunday School for Infants through Jr. High
9:00 am School of Theology - various classrooms downstairs
10:00 am Coffee & Fellowship
10:30 am WORSHIP CELEBRATION - sanctuary
Kids dismissed to Children’s Church - 1st-3rd grades - room 122
Kid’s bulletins are available for 4th and up at the Welcome Center
6:30 pm Youth Small Groups - various
MONDAY, APRIL 30
Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm
TUESDAY, MAY 1
Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm
6:30 pm Heads Meeting - conference room
6:30-9:00 pm Celebrate Recovery - foyer, rooms 128 & 129
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm
7:00-8:30 pm Youth Group - the Shack
THURSDAY, MAY 3 - NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Church Office open 9 am to 4 pm
9:30-11:30 am Women’s Interdenominational Bible Study Brunch - foyer
6:30 pm National Day of Prayer - Alki Beach
8:30 pm College Group - Nathan & Megan Schlaud’s
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Church Office closed
SATURDAY, MAY 5
Church Office closed
10:00 am GriefShare - room 124
Pastor Ryan Faust, Senior Pastor [email protected] Pastor Jerry Buell, Children’s Ed & Family Ministry [email protected]
Pastor Nathan Schlaud, Youth & College Ministry [email protected] Janis Lemert, Director of Body Life [email protected] Kathie Varney, Executive Assistant [email protected] Sherry Croom, Bookkeeper [email protected]