0417 Allegiance1
4-17-16: Jamie George
APPETIZER: The Questions • What if you cannot support the current leader of the country? • How involved should we be in our current political process? • Should we pledge allegiance to a man-‐made political system?
DINE-IN: The Systems
Romans 13:1-5 • The power structure of human government is maintained primarily by threat of punishment. As effective as a raised sword is in producing conformity, it cannot bring about an internal change… - Greg Boyd, The Myth of a Christian Nation Political systems maintain order through fear of consequences. AND Religious systems can do the same. o How much of your life is motivated by fear? o How much is your political stance motivated by fear? o How much of your faith is motivated by fear?
REMEMBER: Fear is not a fruit of the Spirit. While in man-‐made political & religious systems one party is typically fighting for control, the God of the universe flipped the power equation on its head by making Himself vulnerable to all of Creation.
The aroma of the Kingdom is HUMILITY. How do we engage others regarding our human political systems? We must lead with humility. Top 5 signs the political system has become an idol: 5. You give more attention to Shawn Hannity than Jesus Christ 4. You read the Huffington Post more than the Word of God. 3. You recently made a dramatic statement regarding this election implying its outcome is beyond redemption. 2. You are more dedicated to a dominant religious version of America than you are in bringing the restorative Kingdom of God. 1. Your heart is filled more with passion for being right than compassion for those who have been wronged. Ask yourself, what does passion look like alongside humility?
TAKE-OUT: The Resolutions
1. How much of your life is driven by fear? Take time this week to be honest with yourself. What is the root cause of your motivations? 2. Where do you get your nourishment? Your soul is feeding on what it sees, hears, & experiences. Look for Jesus moments this week. Listen for His Spirit. Make time to experience His presence. 3. South Nashville Refugee Outreach FOOD DROP (APRIL 23rd). Can you help? a. KITCHEN: trash bags, can openers, baking sheets, aluminum foil, Ziploc bags, measuring cups, etc… b. HOUSEWARES: lightbulbs, lamps, Kleenex, toilet paper, dish soap, sponges, dish detergent c. PERSONAL: bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, feminine products, bandaids For more details go to www.journeyfranklin.com/serve/
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Re-‐read the 5 signs of political idolatry (above). Can you identify with any of them? Would you add any?
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture) 2. Read Luke 18:9-17 aloud. 3. Take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to meditate on the words. 4. Now re-read the same scripture together. a. What stands out to you? What did you notice? b. Who is the audience for the parable? c. Why does the Pharisee go home unjustified? d. To whom is the tax collector comparing himself in his prayer? e. Who does Jesus exalt in the passage? f. The Kingdom of God belongs to children. Why is that significant? How can we model the child in our faith?
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together)
5. When was the last time you just spent time with God? 6. Have you properly rested in the last week? 7. Pray for one another.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE… Romans 13:1-5 (NIV) The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. - Proverbs 4:18 (NIV) 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. 3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. - Ecclesiastes 9:2-3a (NIV) 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen
and understand.” 24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. - Mark 4:22-24 (NLT) Spiritually speaking, it does not help to give people quick conclusions before they have made any inner journeys. They will always misunderstand them or misuse them, and it will separate them from astonishment. If you read searching for certain conclusions, to quickly reassure your "false self, " as if each line in the bible was a full dogmatic statement, all spiritual growth will not just stop, but you will become a rather toxic person for yourself and others. - Richard Rohr, Things Hidden Most of us start out on our spiritual journeys attempting to pass some kind of cosmic test. The assumption being that if you get the right answers, God will like you. - Richard Rohr, Things Hidden 43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. - Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV) 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” - Luke 18:9-17 (NIV)
APPETIZER: The Questions • What if you cannot support the current leader of the country? • How involved should we be in our current political process? • Should we pledge allegiance to a man-‐made political system?
DINE-IN: The Systems
Romans 13:1-5 • The power structure of human government is maintained primarily by threat of punishment. As effective as a raised sword is in producing conformity, it cannot bring about an internal change… - Greg Boyd, The Myth of a Christian Nation Political systems maintain order through fear of consequences. AND Religious systems can do the same. o How much of your life is motivated by fear? o How much is your political stance motivated by fear? o How much of your faith is motivated by fear?
REMEMBER: Fear is not a fruit of the Spirit. While in man-‐made political & religious systems one party is typically fighting for control, the God of the universe flipped the power equation on its head by making Himself vulnerable to all of Creation.
The aroma of the Kingdom is HUMILITY. How do we engage others regarding our human political systems? We must lead with humility. Top 5 signs the political system has become an idol: 5. You give more attention to Shawn Hannity than Jesus Christ 4. You read the Huffington Post more than the Word of God. 3. You recently made a dramatic statement regarding this election implying its outcome is beyond redemption. 2. You are more dedicated to a dominant religious version of America than you are in bringing the restorative Kingdom of God. 1. Your heart is filled more with passion for being right than compassion for those who have been wronged. Ask yourself, what does passion look like alongside humility?
TAKE-OUT: The Resolutions
1. How much of your life is driven by fear? Take time this week to be honest with yourself. What is the root cause of your motivations? 2. Where do you get your nourishment? Your soul is feeding on what it sees, hears, & experiences. Look for Jesus moments this week. Listen for His Spirit. Make time to experience His presence. 3. South Nashville Refugee Outreach FOOD DROP (APRIL 23rd). Can you help? a. KITCHEN: trash bags, can openers, baking sheets, aluminum foil, Ziploc bags, measuring cups, etc… b. HOUSEWARES: lightbulbs, lamps, Kleenex, toilet paper, dish soap, sponges, dish detergent c. PERSONAL: bar soap, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothbrush/toothpaste, feminine products, bandaids For more details go to www.journeyfranklin.com/serve/
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Re-‐read the 5 signs of political idolatry (above). Can you identify with any of them? Would you add any?
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture) 2. Read Luke 18:9-17 aloud. 3. Take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to meditate on the words. 4. Now re-read the same scripture together. a. What stands out to you? What did you notice? b. Who is the audience for the parable? c. Why does the Pharisee go home unjustified? d. To whom is the tax collector comparing himself in his prayer? e. Who does Jesus exalt in the passage? f. The Kingdom of God belongs to children. Why is that significant? How can we model the child in our faith?
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together)
5. When was the last time you just spent time with God? 6. Have you properly rested in the last week? 7. Pray for one another.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE… Romans 13:1-5 (NIV) The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. - Proverbs 4:18 (NIV) 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. 3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. - Ecclesiastes 9:2-3a (NIV) 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. 23 Anyone with ears to hear should listen
and understand.” 24 Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. - Mark 4:22-24 (NLT) Spiritually speaking, it does not help to give people quick conclusions before they have made any inner journeys. They will always misunderstand them or misuse them, and it will separate them from astonishment. If you read searching for certain conclusions, to quickly reassure your "false self, " as if each line in the bible was a full dogmatic statement, all spiritual growth will not just stop, but you will become a rather toxic person for yourself and others. - Richard Rohr, Things Hidden Most of us start out on our spiritual journeys attempting to pass some kind of cosmic test. The assumption being that if you get the right answers, God will like you. - Richard Rohr, Things Hidden 43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. - Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV) 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” - Luke 18:9-17 (NIV)
