Seeing Like Jesus!
The Forge: Prelude • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Handout
If I could sit down and have a conversation with my younger self, I would want to make sure that he or she knew ___________.
If I could sit down and have a conversation with my younger self, I would want to make sure that he or she knew ___________.
How we answer that question can teach us a lot about ourselves. Hindsight is certainly 20/20. At times, we all wish we could go back and tell ourselves what we know now—share words of warning and instruction, or perhaps even encouragement and hope. In some ways, the mentors in our lives are messages from the future. What they share with and speak over us are lessons they’ve learned and things they likely would have wanted to know and hear when they were in our shoes.
Knowing people further along in life’s journey who will share the wisdom of their experience matters. As you continue in this study, you’ll be asked to note those people and types of relationships in your life and recall those who have mentored you. You’ll be asked to lean into those who are or could be currently mentoring you and asked to consider who you might be able to mentor. Investing in others is like having life-giving conversations with your younger self, as you offer help to someone who is now where you once were.
WATCH VIDEO
Reluctantly and irresponsibly looking for a job, Isaiah ventured into Moore Fitness to complete an application. When a chance encounter put him face-to-face with the president of the company, he assumed that his attitude and demeanor had closed the door, only to have the hand of friendship extended instead. Over lunch, Moore asked the young man where he would like to be in five years, followed by three key questions. Mr. Moore offered Isaiah the chance to think about his answers and come back when he was ready to talk again. Isaiah returned with modest answers and encountered another surprise from Mr. Moore.
Briefly describe Isaiah and his approach to life.
Briefly describe Isaiah and his approach to life.
What differences do you notice between Isaiah and Mr. Moore?
What differences do you notice between Isaiah and Mr. Moore?
Why might Mr. Moore, a successful and busy corporate leader, spend his time on a young man like Isaiah, whom he’d never met?
Why might Mr. Moore, a successful and busy corporate leader, spend his time on a young man like Isaiah, whom he’d never met?
Matthew and Jesus were an unlikely pair. Tax collectors were hated in the first century. Jesus’s kindness and invitation to Matthew would’ve been totally unexpected.
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Why is it so significant that Jesus would interact with Matthew and call him to be His disciple?
Why is it so significant that Jesus would interact with Matthew and call him to be His disciple?
One of the incredible things Matthew did post Jesus calling
Matthew invites his friends and coworkers
to meet Jesus
What a beautiful picture of how the Christian should live their lives.
What notes can we take about the company that Jesus’ disciples had invited to spend time with Him?
What notes can we take about the company that Jesus’ disciples had invited to spend time with Him?
Share about a moment when someone saw past your sin or your circumstance and still valued and invested in you.
Share about a moment when someone saw past your sin or your circumstance and still valued and invested in you.
Consider Mr. Moore’s three questions from the perspective of your younger self. How would you answer those questions from your vantage point today?
Consider Mr. Moore’s three questions from the perspective of your younger self. How would you answer those questions from your vantage point today?
Consider Mr. Moore’s three questions from the perspective of your younger self. How would you answer those questions from your vantage point today?
In what ways do you want to grow in this next year?
In what ways do you want to grow in this next year?
What kind of person do you want to be right now?
What kind of person do you want to be right now?
What do you want people to think when they see you?
What do you want people to think when they see you?
Perhaps the answers to those forward-thinking questions are the same today as when you were young. Maybe they are different. Perhaps you see the way those young adult answers came to fruition in your life or how they needed to change over time so you could develop into who you are today.
This week, in your personal study, you will be invited to see people the way that Jesus does, looking past sin toward possibility. As you move forward, ask God to help the members of your group truly see Him and to help you see and respond to others the way Jesus does.