Is Our Devotion to Jesus or the church?

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Why do a series on the church? To provide insights of its various aspects, functions, and roles within the lives of believers and the world. And to point out false ideas we may have about what the church is and isn't.

Last week we really unpacked about how the church is not simply a building but a body of believers....and how we all have a different part to play in God’s church

Today we are going to talk about how as the church we must be a devoted people! Devoted to God and His ways!

Read Matthew 22:37-40

Matthew 22:37–40 CSB

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”

One of our foundations here at Avert is Worship – We respond to the vast mercies and goodness of Christ

I thinks it is important for us to first understand what those vast mercies and the goodness of christ are before we look at how we respond to them!

These qualities are central to the Christian faith and are based on the teachings, actions, and character of Jesus as described in the Bible and interpreted by Christian tradition. Here are some key aspects of Christ's vast mercies and goodness:

Salvation: Christians believe that Jesus Christ came to Earth to offer salvation to humanity. His death on the cross is seen as a sacrifice that atoned for the sins of humanity, providing the opportunity for forgiveness and eternal life. This is seen as an act of immense mercy and goodness.

Compassion: Throughout the New Testament, Jesus is depicted as a compassionate figure who cared deeply for the suffering and marginalized. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and showed empathy and love to all, including sinners and outcasts. His compassion is a central aspect of his goodness.

Forgiveness: Christ's teaching emphasizes forgiveness, both God's forgiveness of human sins and the importance of forgiving others. He famously forgave those who crucified him, exemplifying a radical form of forgiveness.

Teaching and Guidance: Jesus provided moral and spiritual guidance through his teachings, including the Sermon on the Mount, which promotes values such as humility, peacemaking, and righteousness. His teachings are considered a source of wisdom and a guide for leading a righteous life.

Redemption: Christians believe that through Christ, humanity can be redeemed and reconciled with God. His sacrifice is seen as a means of restoring the broken relationship between humanity and God, demonstrating his immense goodness.

Love: Jesus emphasized love as a central commandment, instructing his followers to love God and their neighbors as themselves. His sacrificial love on the cross is seen as the ultimate expression of divine love and mercy.

Grace: Christians believe that God's grace, made manifest through Christ, is a gift that cannot be earned but is freely given. This concept underscores the idea that Christ's goodness and mercy are extended to all who accept Him.

Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is seen as a demonstration of his power over death and the promise of eternal life for believers. This is seen as a profound act of mercy and goodness.

Intercession: In Christian theology, Jesus is often depicted as interceding on behalf of us believers, acting as our advocate before The Father. This intercession is seen as an expression of Christ's ongoing mercy and goodness.

These are the reasons why we worship Jesus and devote ourselves to HIM ALONE!

‌What is devotion section:

I want to take some time now and focus on the profound and transformative concept of devotion to God.

Devotion is more than a mere duty; it is the heartbeat of our faith. It's the love, commitment, and unwavering loyalty we offer to our Heavenly Father. Let us explore this crucial aspect of our Christian journey together.

I. Understanding Devotion:

A. Devotion Defined:Devotion is the profound love and loyalty we offer to God.It is an unwavering commitment to seek God's will in all aspects of our lives.

B. The Importance of Devotion:Devotion is a demonstration of our love for God (Matthew 22:37).It aligns our hearts with God's purposes and transforms our character.Devotion strengthens our faith and provides inner peace.

II. Devotion in Worship:

A. Worship as a Lifestyle:True worship involves surrendering our whole lives to God (Romans 12:1).It extends beyond Sunday services to our daily actions and attitudes.

B. The Power of Praise and Prayer: Praise and prayer are essential components of devotion (Psalm 100:4).They draw us closer to God and invite His presence into our lives.

III. Devotion in Scripture:

A. Studying God's Word: Regular Bible study deepens our understanding of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).It guides our decisions and helps us discern His will.

B. The Faith of Biblical Examples:We find inspiration in the devotion of biblical figures like Abraham, Moses, and David.Their unwavering faith in God's promises challenges us to deepen our own devotion.

IV. Devotion in Service:

A. Serving Others as an Act of Devotion:Jesus demonstrated devotion through His service to humanity (Mark 10:45).Our devotion to God is reflected in how we love and serve others.

B. Finding Our Calling: Discovering our unique gifts and talents enables us to serve God effectively.Our devotion drives us to make a positive impact on the world.

V. Challenges to Devotion:

A. Distractions and Temptations: The world offers many distractions that can pull us away from God.Temptations can weaken our devotion if we are not vigilant.

B. Persevering in Devotion: Devotion is not always easy, but we must endure (Hebrews 12:1-2).Prayer, fellowship, and accountability can help us stay devoted.

With this in mind i want to lead us into some time at looking at how we are all devoted to something or someone. Often times…its multiple idols we have in our lives.....

We are all devoted to something Section: Sometimes its idols.....

-The definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.” An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. The most prevalent form of idolatry in Bible times was the worship of images that were thought to embody the various pagan deities.

-When we hear the word idol, we often think and laugh of statues and objects reminiscent of those worshiped by pagans in ancient cultures.

-However, the idols of the 21st century often bear no resemblance to the artifacts used thousands of years ago. Today, many have replaced the “golden calf” with an insatiable drive for money or prestige or "success" in the eyes of the world.

-Some pursue the high regard of others as their ultimate goal. Some seek after comfort or a myriad of other passionate, yet empty, pursuits. Sadly, our societies often admire those serving such idols.

-In the end, however, it doesn’t matter what empty pleasure we chase after or what idol or which false god we bow down to; the result is the same—separation from the one true God. AND LETS BE CLEAR HERE WE ALL WORSHIP SOMETHING!

Some modern examples of idolatry......

-All the various forms of modern idolatry have one thing at their core: self. We no longer bow down to idols and images. Instead we worship at the altar of the god of self. This brand of modern idolatry takes various forms.

-First, we worship at the altar of materialism which feeds our need to build our egos through the acquisition of more "stuff." Our homes are filled with all manner of possessions. We build bigger and bigger houses with more closets and storage space in order to house all the things we buy, much of which we haven't even paid for yet. Most of our stuff has "planned expiration" built into it, making it useless in no time, and so we consign it to the garage or other storage space. Then we rush out to buy the newest item, garment or gadget and the whole process starts over. This insatiable desire for more, better, and newer stuff is nothing more than covetousness.

-Second, we worship at the altar of our own pride and ego. This often takes the form of obsession with careers and jobs. Millions of men and woman spend 60-80 hours a week working. Even on the weekends and during vacations, our laptops are humming and our minds are whirling with thoughts of how to make our businesses more successful, how to get that promotion, how to get the next raise, how to close the next deal. In the meantime, our children are starving for attention and love. We fool ourselves into thinking we are doing it for them, to give them a better life. But the truth is we are doing it for ourselves, to increase our self-esteem by appearing more successful in the eyes of the world.

-Understanding contemporary idols can help us to understand why they prove to be such a powerful temptation. An idol can be anything we place ahead of God in our lives, anything that takes God’s place in our hearts, such as possessions, careers, relationships, hobbies, sports, church, ministry entertainment, goals, greed, addictions to alcohol/drugs/gambling/pornography, etc.

-Some of the things we idolize are clearly sinful. But many of the things we idolize can be very good, such as relationships or careers. Yet Scripture tells us that, whatever we do, we are to “do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and that we are to serve God only (Deuteronomy 6:13; Luke 16:13). Unfortunately, God is often shoved out of the way as we zealously pursue our idols. Worse yet, the significant amount of time we often spend in these idolatrous pursuits leaves us with little or no time to spend with the Lord.

-We sometimes also turn to idols seeking solace from the hardships of life and the turmoil present in our world. Addictive behaviors such as drug or alcohol use, or even something like excessive reading or television viewing, may be used as a means of temporarily “escaping” a difficult situation or the rigors of daily life

-we will never find happiness focusing on ourselves and our idols . Our hearts and minds must be centered on God and on others. This is why when asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). When we love the Lord and others with everything that is in us, there will be no room in our hearts for idolatry.

- The worship of anything or anyone other than Jesus is futile. Idols can never offer the grace, mercy, and salvation that Jesus freely provides.

- When we allow our devotion to be divided among multiple pursuits, we risk diluting the intimacy and commitment we should have for Christ.

- Seeking fulfillment in other sources ultimately leaves us empty and unfulfilled, as nothing compares to the eternal satisfaction found in Christ.

Our Worship & Devotion To Jesus Alone Section:

-I want to talk to you about a vital aspect of our faith: worshiping Jesus, not the local church or religious systems and traditions. It’s very easy to fall into this place where we can be more devoted to the church and traditions over Jesus.

-While the church and traditions play important roles in our spiritual journey, we must always remember that our ultimate focus and devotion should be on Jesus Himself.

I. The Purpose of the Church and Religious Systems

A. The Church as a Community: Acts 2:42 - "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."The local church provides a community of believers for worship, teaching, and support.

B. Religious Systems and Traditions:Matthew 15:3 - "Why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"Traditions can help maintain order and preserve the faith, but they must not overshadow our devotion to Christ.

II. The Dangers of Idolizing the Church

A. Distorted Priorities: Colossians 2:8 - "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."When we prioritize the church or traditions over Christ, we risk losing sight of our true purpose.

B. Division and Legalism:1 Corinthians 1:12-13 - "What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided?"Overemphasis on church or tradition can lead to division and legalistic practices that hinder our unity in Christ.

III. Embracing the Role of the Church and Traditions

A. Supporting Our Faith Journey: Hebrews 10:25 - "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."The church and traditions should support and strengthen our faith, not replace our devotion to Christ.

B. Balancing Tradition and Truth: Mark 7:8 - "You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men."We should carefully evaluate traditions to ensure they align with the teachings of Christ.

-While the local church and religious systems and traditions have their place in our faith journey,

-We must always remember that our primary focus should be on worshiping Jesus Christ. He is the center of our faith, the One who unites us, and the One who offers us salvation and eternal life.

I. The Exclusive Nature of Worship:

A. The First Commandment: God's Word reminds us in Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before me." Our worship must begin and end with God alone, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

B. The Sufficiency of Christ: In Hebrews 7:25, we are assured that Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, for He always lives to intercede for us. No other being can claim such sufficiency.

II. The Call to Wholehearted Devotion:

A. Loving God with All Our Heart: Jesus teaches us in Matthew 22:37 that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind. This requires undivided devotion.

B. Surrendering All to Christ: Romans 12:1 urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. We should give our entire selves to Jesus as an act of worship.

C. Worshiping Jesus Alone

D. Jesus as the Center:Colossians 1:18 - "And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent."Christ should hold the central place in our hearts and in the life of the church.

E. Relationship Over Religion:John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"Our faith should be characterized by a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, not just religious observance. Seeking His Kingdom First: Jesus instructs us in Matthew 6:33 to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. This means that our foremost devotion should be to His lordship.

III. The Beauty of Exclusive Devotion:

A. Deep Intimacy: Devoting ourselves exclusively to Jesus leads to a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, where we experience His love, guidance, and presence.

B. Clarity of Purpose: Singular devotion to Christ provides us with clarity and purpose, guiding us in every aspect of life.

-As we conclude, my dear brothers and sisters, let us remember that our worship and devotion must be exclusively directed towards Jesus Christ.

-He is the Alpha and Omega, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and the only One worthy of our unreserved love and adoration. In a world that constantly vies for our attention and devotion, let us stand firm, giving Jesus Christ His rightful place at the center of our hearts and lives.

- It is a choice we make daily, a commitment to seek God's will above all else, and a love that knows no bounds. Let us remember that our devotion should permeate every aspect of our lives, from worship and prayer to service and study. May our devotion to God be unwavering, bringing us ever closer to Him, and may it serve as a light that draws others to the love and grace of our Heavenly Father.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:20 “for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.”

WEEK 2 Questions:

1.Do you find devotion to Jesus alone can be hard? What other things are you devoted to?

2.Do you believe you love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind?

3.What idols do you have in your life that you need to let go?

4.What does worship and devotion to Jesus look like in your daily life?