Your’e Just a Jerk

Matthew 22:34–40 NLT

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

Introduction:

In an article on the Church Leaders web page, pastor and author Thom Rainer wrote about what non-Christians really think about Christians. One of the top things they think was very eye-opening for me. They said that Christians are against more than they are for.

It seems that celebrity voices, church groups and high profile personalities have dominated the airwaves with hate speech. It seems that the world is very familiar with what we hate.

It is so sad to me that a church is known for burning down a night club because it was solely attended by gay people.

It is sad to me that the church is known more for our hatred of sin that our love for the Savior. There is no question that sin is bad and God hates it.

There are some charismatic voices on social media that are loud and in your face, letting you know where they stand and they urge others to stand up and let their voices be heard. Some of them are even demonizing anyone who votes a particular way.

While some applaud those noisy pulpits, others find them very offensive.

Do you find yourself being offensive?

Today I want to share with you what God has to say about it.

Prayer

What is an offense? (SLIDE) (DO NOT READ)

Last week we talked about the fact that everyone is offended these days. We explained what an offense is?

Defined as :

Strongs: G4624 - skandalizō

Its a stumbling block

Remember, we said that If I am offended, I am being tripped up or caused to stumble

We discussed John Bevere’s statement: “An offended heart is the breeding ground for deception.” and “A believer who is offended has forgotten what God had forgiven them of.”

Last week we talked about forgiveness for those who have offended you.

But today I want to talk about when we do the offending.

If I am offending, I am tripping others up!

Are You Offensive? (SLIDE) (DO NOT READ)

As a follower of Christ, should I be offensive?

Church of God Practical Commitments

We will practice temperance in behavior and will abstain from activities and attitudes which are offensive to our fellowman or which lead to addiction or enslavement.

Now I realize that it may be hard to realize what may or may not be offensive. After all, we are all different and have different filters. Its kind of like some people’s jokes, they are funny to some and not to others.

The Practical Commitments go on to say:

The Bible speaks clearly that we are to be sensitive to the needs and feelings of others as a demonstration of our love for them (Matthew 22:39); Romans 12:9-21; 13:10; Philippians 2:3-5). At times it is necessary for us to control our behavior so as not to bring offense to others (Romans 14:13-21; 1 Corinthians 8:9-13). As we know Christ after the Spirit, we are also to know others in the same manner so we will not judge them after their outward behavior alone (2 Corinthians 5:16). A respect and tolerance for differences in others should characterize our relationships (Romans 14:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 8:8; Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13; 1 Timothy 4:1-5).

I know there were a lot of scriptures referenced here and I think it would do us good to read some of them.

Romans 12:9–21 “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Romans 13:10 “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.”

Philippians 2:3–5 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Romans 14:13 “So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”

It is clear to me in Scripture that we are to truly love people, because God loves people. That does not mean that all people are following Him or living for Him or that we are to be accepting of their behaviors.

But shouldn't the church be a voice? Shouldn't we use the platform to speak against issues? Doesn’t God hate some of the things that He sees?

Yes, indeed!

But here’s the rub…

You have to actually love people.

There is a difference between being bold for Christ and being offensive. And that attitude doesn’t just apply to sharing the gospel. It applies to the character we display day in and day out.

Many of us want to fix people or correct their rebellious or out-of-line behavior. We want compliance to order. Is that really love?

We quote Bible passages to people in the hopes they will conform. We just want people to act right. But quoting Bible passages to rebels is like throwing pearls before swine.

1 Corinthians 1:18 “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”

Its hard to quote Bible passages to someone who doesn’t care about the Bible. It’s foolishness.

The Bible will show someone what is wrong with them but they must discover it rather than have it forcibly pointed out to them.

Sharing the Hope (Slide) (Do not read)

Well then, what am I to do if I really love people and want to see them experience life in Christ?

Be ready!

1 Peter 3:15 “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

Gospel conversations happen all the time if you are ready. People all around are hurting, anxious, suffering loss, suffering pain, suffering separation.

If your life reflects the hope we have in Jesus, people will want to know more.

Be ready to explain it!

Live out your faith!

Don’t just be able to quote passages about God’s hatred of sin. He does hate sin. There’s no doubt of that.

You have been set free from sin, live like it.

Live like you have heaven as your place of residence.

Pray for people!

I would not be here if someone had not prayed for me.

Pray for people that the veil of deception would be removed from their eyes.

Make a list and call them out to the Father.

Be prepared to pray for people who ask you to.

Offer to pray for people who are in need. As I type this, a man came to the church offfice door asking for prayer. Robert Dunsing.

Be Kind and Caring

You can’t fool people. If you are kind and caring, it will be felt by others

You can be kind to anyone, they don’t have to be living for Jesus for you to be kind to them.

You can care for people who are not like you.

Church of God World Missions dug a well in an African village because we care about people. We gave people who are nothing like us an opportunity to have fresh, life-giving water. One person asked the pastor there whose well was this? He said, “You don’t know Him.” But sir, I would like to meet the person who owns this well.” The pastor said, “I would love to introduce you to Him. His name is Jesus.”

Invite People

Invite people to meet Jesus

Invite people to come to church

Don’t place demands on people

People want to be invited

Closing

We were so blessed to be a part of Life Chain 2025. Every first Sunday in October people meet all over the country and hold signs up letting people know about Jesus’s love, forgiveness and healing. They let people be aware of the preciousness of human life and the horrible sin of abortion. Let me read somethings about it.

The Life Chain is a prayer service. Upon arrival, warmly greet your fellow Chainers and then begin to pray. Please do not talk. Let us pray and meditate continually, with eyes closed some of the time (if not watching small children), and let us feel free to kneel and pray (please do not lie down.) Our need for God's divine intervention is critical, and we must not waste this precious hour.

Life Chain "Code of Conduct"

Let us enter the Life Chain in a prayerful spirit. Life Chain is not a rally or celebration. We stand against a holocaust, holding signs that say "Abortion Kills Children," and our spirit and countenance should bear witness to this fact. Let us also express as best we can, the love and forgiveness found in our Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you for standing up for Life, for defending the "weak and the fatherless," and for maintaining a prayerful spirit. Please do not dwell on the traffic. It will take care of itself.

Here are a few things that really got my attention as they truly speak to this issue of being offensive.

Let's be humble yet bold in our obedience to God, recognizing our stand is for the children, their mothers and other relatives, and for our nation's preservation.

Please help others especially mothers with small children and seniors carrying chairs. Please pick up trash nearby before departing.

In the spirit of Christian love, let's commit to be peaceful, prayerful and polite in both word and deed. Any misconduct from passersby should be met with silence and a kind "smile" to express our inner peace and forgiveness.

To acknowledge motorists who support our Life Chain, kindly respond with a friendly facial expression and not with a verbal or animated response. Our sincerity will be a powerful witness, in keeping with our signs. Prayer with eyes closed is the best response.

Please

Give immediate passage to all pedestrians

Stand back from the street, on the sidewalk

Do not extend your sign beyond the curb

Use crosswalks and do not hold up traffic.

We can boldly walk out the Word of God with confidence and have a loving, kind spirit all at the same time. God’s Spirit will draw people, God’s Word will convict people. God’s people, well they will love people.

Altar

God is wanting to use the church to attract people to Him not scare them away. There are some attitudes that we have as the church that He wants to fix in us.

Are you ready to surrender to His leading and His will?

If you haven’t made that decision to surrender to Jesus as Lord, now is the time to do that. Don’t wait! We don’t know when we will draw our last breath.

Come as the Holy Spirit directs you and lets pray