Collective YA

While on this journey of following Jesus, we often can fall into a trap and repetition of feeling like we need to “add” to our relationship to Jesus. What if, Jesus isn’t looking for his followers to “add” anything, but instead give everything?

If relationship is central to living life, then it is inevitable that you will come into conflict and disagreement with the people you are in relationship with. Friends, Family, Significant Others… If you are ACTUALLY getting to know other people, at some point: there is going to be butting of heads. If we are not careful, when we have these moments of disconnect - we can develop a heart and character of being an unforgiving person. That any time someone offends you, breaks your trust, upsets you, annoys you, posts the wrong thing, doesn’t react to your BeReal, doesn’t text you on your birthday… more and more your heart becomes calloused and shut off to the people on the outside.

(This is a re-upload, only 17 minutes was available of the original sermon, here is the full sermon!)

Nobody wants to be known as a fake person, we all desire to be seen as true + authentic. At this moment in time, we must ask ourselves: am I being fake, or authentic to who Jesus crafted me to be?

“Heart, soul and mind are not different ‘parts’ of man, but different ways of thinking of the whole man in his relation to God; no clear distinction can be drawn between them” - How do we fully live into the vision of what it means to be human as followers of Jesus?

Culture at large has lied to you and I about what it means to be complete as a human. You and I have been told by media and our environments that the highest version of fulfilment & completion is being in a relationship. Secular culture has preached and philosophized this ideology so much that is has leaked into the church. There seems to be a persistent heart posture within the church, that if you are single, you are perceived as sub-human. We need to learn how to re-align our views of Romantic Relationships in the view of the Kingdom of God and not culture alone.

Culture at large has lied to you and I about what it means to be complete as a human. You and I have been told by media and our environments that the highest version of fulfilment & completion is being in a relationship. Secular culture has preached and philosophized this ideology so much that is has leaked into the church. There seems to be a persistent heart posture within the church, that if you are single, you are perceived as sub-human. We need to learn how to re-align our views of Romantic Relationships in the view of the Kingdom of God and not culture alone.

In a culture of "true to you" - how do we remain faithful to who Jesus   has made us to be? 

Lie of Culture: Virtual connection is the same as or can be supplemented for in person connection. Church can happen not in person, and there is no need for in person community. 

Way of Jesus: To live out the way of Jesus  , is to take part and be in his Church. Spiritual immaturity thrives in isolation, while Spiritual maturity is nurtured in community.

Lie of Culture: Unless someone has status or image to offer, they are not worth dedicating time or energy towards - if there is nothing to be monetized or gained from them, the relationship is not worth investing in.

Way of Jesus: Despite someones appearance, status, or lack thereof, we are to treat them with the same level of respect, dignity, honor, and admiration as if we are interacting with Jesus himself.

The premise of the series is that as humans we are shaped by everything we do. while the world desires to shape us by their lies, we can work tangibly against these lies by living out methods and practices implemented by the lifestyle of Jesus. Intentionally forming ourselves in his rhythm, in contrast to being passively shaped by the world?