WordOfGraceChurch: Back to Basics

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Wednesday, August 7, 2024

BACK TO BASICS PART 8 - LOVING ONE ANOTHER

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on August 4th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here.

BACK TO BASICS PART 8

LOVING ONE ANOTHER

Rom 12:9-17

How do we love one another? In Romans, Paul lays a foundation of doctrine in chapters 1 to 11.

Rom 3:20 Through the law, we become conscious of sin, but obeying the law does not make us right with God.

Ch3:21 But now righteousness apart from the law has been made known….but through Jesus to all who believe. Jesus changes us by his Spirit.

Ch1-3 Talks about the sinful state of man.

Ch4-8 Talks about how to get right with God

Ch 9-11 Talks about the role of Israel after Christ

And then comes chapter 12 with the big ‘therefore’.

Romans addresses both Jews and Gentiles who are believers and how they should live as children of God.

There are more than 1000 commands and instructions in the New Testament. Some think there are no commands in the New Testament except to love one another. Yes, the whole law is summed up in the two great commands.

There are over 100 ‘one another’ commands in the New Testament. How do we relate with fellow believers and those in the world? How we treat people is a reference to how we relate to Jesus.

Matt25:35-30

What does love look like?

V9. Love must be sincere –‘agape’ which is unconditional (The same word is used in Rom 5:8, i.e. God demonstrated His agape to us in this that while we were yet sinners…)

Matt 10:37 Anyone who ‘loves’ – Stergeo love which is family love

Jn11:3 the word used is ‘Phileo”, which is for friendship.

And then we have Eros love, which is romantic love.

Rom 12:9-10 Mentions agape, storge and philio

V10a Brotherly love – we should be like family and friends.

V10 Be kindly affectionate. The church is our family, and we should love each other in a manner we bear with each other. All families have squabbles; we must know how to handle them and makeup.

V18 Keep the peace as far as it depends on you

V10b Honour one another (ESV says outdo one another in paying the price). Are we willing to pay the price to honour one another, i.e., everyone? We take the initiative and do not wait for others to honour us.

We can show this in deeds and words.

DEEDS Greeting one another. The command to greet one another are repeated five times. Rom 16:15 with a holy kiss. 2Cor 13:12 ..holy kiss.

Lev19:31 says Rise in the presence of the aged – revere your God. I am the Lord.

Rom 13:7: “If respect then respect..”

How do we do this biblically?

Phil 2:3 Consider others better than yourselves. We are the light of the world – how? We are light by our deeds, behaviour and words. We are called to be thermostats and not thermometers.

WORD – appreciating people. Start in the home between spouses and children.

V12 Share with God’s people in need. Practice hospitality.

V16 We need to honour everyone across ethnicity, language and cultures

Revelation 7:9 People from every tribe, language and tongue are before the throne of God. When we do this, the manifold wisdom of God is on display, and the people will see that the Father sent Jesus.

Rom15:15 Admonish one another i.e. caution or reprove gently

If we care for one another, we need to warn our brothers and sisters in love and gentleness with much humility and grace.

Col 3:16

You can only do this if you have a relationship.

People do not want to know how much you know till they know how much you care.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again), Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

Saturday, August 3, 2024

Back to Basics - Part 7

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 28th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here.

Last week we saw 3 marks of the disciples -

1. Holds onto the teachings of Jesus

2. Love one another just as Jesus loved you

3. Bear fruit

We see snapshots of the Gospel in the lives of the disciples.

Matthew 9:9 NIV - As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

Jesus sees Matthew, a tax collector. His job is not a very good one as he collects tax from the Jews and gives to the Romans. Jesus says only two words, "Follow me." Matthew immediately got up and followed Jesus.

Matthew received the effectual call through the Holy Spirit.

John 6:64 NIV - Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

We see that some people didn't believe in Jesus and didn't follow him. In Matthew's case, he left everything and followed Jesus.

Romans 8:29-30 NIV - [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Here we see that God predestined us and at the right time called us. When we were called, the Holy Spirit worked on our hearts and that's how we put our faith in Jesus and decided to follow him.

Colossians 2:3 NIV - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

As we put our faith in Jesus and follow him, we find treasures of wisdom and knowledge in His Word.

Matthew 9:10-12 NIV - [10] While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. [11] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” [12] On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Jesus never separated himself from the sinners but was with them. The Pharisees wondered how he could do this as they kept themselves away from anything unclean.

Jesus called us not just to meet with the believers but with the ones who are lost and broken.

When we listen to their stories our hearts open for them.

Meet with them, eat with them, listen to them and spend time with them.

Don't jump into sharing the Gospel. Engage with them and listen to them if they share their brokenness and challenges.

You may not have a solution, but Jesus has. Listen to them and pray for them if you are led by the Holy Spirit.

Throughout this chapter of 9, we see Jesus' miracles. Jesus was engaging with people's brokenness.

Matthew 9:35 NIV - Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Here we see that Jesus was going to different places and engaging repeatedly with people's brokenness.

People in this world have a lot of problems and difficulties. They're helpless. They're like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:37-38 NIV - [37] Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. [38] Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

We need to look at people with the eyes of Jesus. The harvest is plentiful. We need army of labourers. So, we must pray to God for labourers.

Matthew 10:1-5 NIV - [1] Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. [2] These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; [3] Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; [4] Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [5] These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.

We see that the disciples prayed and they themselves became the answer to their prayers.

Matthew 10:11-14 NIV - [11] Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. [12] As you enter the home, give it your greeting. [13] If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. [14] If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.

We are called to share the Gospel. Don't worry about the outcome. Some may respond to the Gospel and others may not.

Matthew 10:26-28 NIV - [26] “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known. [27] What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. [28] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Don't be afraid. The worst could be death.

You know ADF supports the lawyers who fight the cases of the innocent Christians who are in prison.

Matthew 10:32-33 NIV - [32] “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. [33] But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.

Are we willing to put our reputation on line for Jesus?

Matthew 10:40 NIV - [40] “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

It is an immense responsibility that we carry. We carry with us the very presence of Jesus. When you are received, the Father is received.

Friday, August 2, 2024

Back to Basics - Part 6

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 21st 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here.

Jesus gave this command to his disciples before his Ascension - "Go and make disciples..."

The home between his ascension and return is when we have a job to do.

There are 3 things that identify a disciple. All those can be found in the book of John. There are many amazing miracles performed by Jesus - fed 5000 people, raised Lazarus to life, the centurion's servant, water into wine and many more.

Jesus also makes these "I am" statements. I am the light, the way, the truth, the life, the resurrection and life, bread of life, true Vine, good shepherd and door.

3 statements that Jesus said:

John 8:31-32 NIV - [31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth will set you free. If you hold onto my teaching.

The Jews believed in Jesus. But Jesus said that was not enough.

James 2:19 NIV - [19] You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

Mere acknowledgement is not enough.

1. We must hold onto Jesus

i. It means, being obedient by abiding in His Word.

Very soon, we will be starting discipleship groups to feed on the Word and get into it.

How are we connected to the Word? Are we reading it daily? How much do you need and how much are you putting into practice?

We need to increase our intake and meditation.

Sometimes, we need to read whole chunks and allow God to speak to us.

Ephesians 4:2 NIV - [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Matthew 4:4 NIV - [4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"

Acts 2:42 NIV - [42] They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

ii. Doing his will is very important

Matthew 12:50 NIV - [50] For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

John 14:15 NIV - [15] “If you love me, keep my commands.

The one who obeys is the one who loves Jesus and the Father reveals himself to you.

2. Love One Another

John 13:34-35 NIV - [34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

What was new? As I have loved you. That sets the bar very high. We love to the point of death.

Romans 5:8 NIV - [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We live Jesus but we also need to love one another.

We need to invest time and resources into loving people. It is a costly love.

How do we love?

Colossians 3:13 NIV - [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

i. Be united, agreeing with one another

ii. Bearing one another's burdens

iii. Forgiveness and compassion

We must start reaching out to the lost.

John 17:21 NIV - [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

3. Bear fruit

John 15:8 NIV - [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Fruit -

* Christlikeness - our behaviour should reflect Jesus

* Impact on society - many people made an impact on society. Jesus has called us to be light

* Seeing souls saved - God has commanded us to do this. This is an important part of fruit bearing that they Gospel will go out to the end of the earth

This happens as you remain in Word.

John 15:7-8 NIV - [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8] This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

The Word is a mirror - we can see where we need to be changed. What are the things you need to change ?

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Back to Basics - Part 5

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 14th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here.

We are continuing our study on discipleship. As a recap let’s look at some of the th8ngs we discussed in the previous weeks:

Matthew 4:19 “ come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” the end result of following Jesus is to become fishers of men.

What fishing for men means is to become and make disciples. In genesis, God commanded Adam and Eve to fill the earth and subdue it. God wanted the world to be filled with image bearers of God who are in a right relationship with him. He still wants the same. It is repeated at the end of the gospels.

Matthew 28-18-20. “And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”

There are different stages in this discipleship process

Unsaved / spiritually dead. Eph 2:1-5. Without a relationship with Christ we are spiritually dead and the wrath of God is coming upon them.
Infants: when we come to Christ we come as spiritual infants who need a lot of love and care. The sad thing is to stay an infant for a very long time. As we feed ourselves on the word of God and fellowship with the people of God, we grow.
Children: 1 John 2:12 “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.” It’s a good stage to be in but they cannot discern between good and bad. They need more mature believers to correct them and guide them. Children can be very self absorbed. And we can be like that as spiritual children. They need teachings about who they are in Christ and need mature believers to be in fellowship with them and model things to grow.
Young Adult: 1 John 2:13-14 “ …I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one….I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Young adults can take care of themselves and can take care of others s well. They are beginning to understand that God has called them to be a part of the body of Christ. They are interested in serving others and putting the needs of others first. We must strive to move people from being children to young adults. Gratitude is a great way to stop focusing on ourselves. In the church young adults have a sense of belonging to the church and they’re looking at how to serve and be a blessing. We can characterise which stage of growth we are in by what they do and say. Young adults are spiritually also caring for themselves. They are able to grapple with spiritual things and have a desire for them.

What do young adults need? They need a coach - a spiritual mentor to grow their gifts and sharpen their skills. Training is necessary for great potential to be able to get stuck in a seed form. The coaches will make them do things they might not feel like doing so they can become what they want. They also need deeper relationships and accountability.

Parents: 1 John 2:13-14 “I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning... I write to you, fathers because you know him who is from the beginning.” Paul became a spiritual parent to Timothy. You become a parent by giving b

Solid understanding of the word of God
Good relationship with God
Have great desire to have spiritual children

“And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” - ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭25‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

You cannot be a parent spiritually without spiritual children. When you want spiritual children you need to pray desperately!

Rachel told Isaac “give me children or I’ll die” “When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I shall die!"” ‭‭- Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Parents are not perfect. But parents sacrifice. But as we sacrifice, there is a huge spiritual reward. We all need to have spiritual children we are investing in. Spiritual parents are connected to a family. They are using their God-given abilities to serve people and advance the kingdom.

“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” - 2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

This is a parental model. Our job is completed when we can see 4 generations.

How can we put this into practice:

Parents of young children have the primary responsibility of teaching and discipling their children. discipling is modelling. So read the word of god with them. Make sure you’re doing it consistently.
If you don’t have spiritual children, make a list of people you have interactions in hand and consistently pray for them. Pray that God would open a door for the message.
Discipleship does not happen alone. It happens when you have strong and deep relationships.

Our names are written in the lamb's book of Life. Nothing is more important than investing in someone’s soul. Let’s pray.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Back to Basics - Part 4

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on July 7th 2024 by Colin. For the audio & video please click here. For the worship please click here.

Stages of Discipleship

How does transformation take place? You see some ads that promise change if you use their products.

If you have put your faith in Jesus, there is a transformation that takes place in you.

We have a B.C life and an A.C life - Before Christ and After Christ

Discipleship is the method Jesus used.

He invested 3 years in the lives of His disciples and then those 12 transformed the world. The end goal of discipleship is to fish for men and women. After the resurrection, Jesus told them to go to all nations.

The 2 bookends of the gospel are "Come, follow me" and "Go, make disciples".

There are 5 stages in the journey of a disciple.

1. Unsaved

2. Infant

3. Child

4. Young Adults

5. Parent

Every believer can go through all 5 stages but not everyone does which is very sad.

Today we're going to look at the first 3 stages.

1. Unsaved:

These are the people without Christ. They are spiritually dead.

Ephesians 2:5 - made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

People may come from Christian background but they could be spiritually dead

They are not immature, weak or rich but dead. They are heading towards God's wrath.

Ephesians 2:4 - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Only Christ can make them alive.

We can identify people at this stage by the words they speak and deeds they do.

Ex: I don't believe there's a God. All gods are one. I don't believe in heaven.

The spiritually dead people hurt others. They need to hear the gospel. This requires a relationship - someone needs to share the gospel with them. God uses humans as his ambassadors.

Luke 15:7 - I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Romans 10:15 - And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

Are we investing in the people who are not saved? They need to see the life of Jesus in us. They need answers to questions and a clear explanation of the gospel when the time comes.

2. Infant:

The moment a person comes to faith he reaches this stage. People at this stage repent of their sins, believe that Jesus is the Lord and Saviour.

1 Corinthians 3:1 - Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ.

John 3:5 - Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again

There's a great rejoicing when a baby is born.

There's a great rejoicing in heaven when there's born born-again Christian.

Just as babies need milk and care, spiritual babies need spiritual food and care. They don't know anything.

We know people at this stage when they are -

* New Born Again Christian

* Born Again but even after many years, there's no spiritual growth

Heb 5:12-14 - 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Eph 4:14 - Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

* They can't discern what spiritual food to eat. They may get misled if there's no guidance.

Signs:

Mixed up philosophies, demanding, all about themselves, only consumers.

They may say things like - I didn't know the Bible said this. Tithing? What's that?

I don't need anyone. It's just Jesus and me.

I thought Jesus would fix everything for me.

They need someone to care for and feed them so that they survive and grow. They need protection and guidance.

There's no shame in whatever stage we're in but we must move to the next stage.

Christian faith is to be taught and modelled for them

They must develop new habits and develop right patterns

3. Child:

Children are more advanced than the infants.

1 John 2:12 - I am writing to you, dear children,

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

John refers to children, young men and fathers.

1 Thessalonians 2:10 - 12 - 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 - 8 - 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

They need encouragement, comfort, urging.

Spiritual children may attend church and also serve, but they are self-centred.

They need a relationship and identity in Christ. They need to learn to feed themselves. They also need a parent to teach and guide them.

Ex: maybe I should try another Church for my needs, didn't like the music, nobody says hi, nobody calls me, the pastor doesn't care for me, nobody appreciates me and so I quit.

Young Adults and Parents have seen God's plan and are willing to invest in others, help grow and advance God's Kingdom. We all need discipleship because we want to get better.