What would Jesus say to Asian values?

MAP

Mr X: What would Jesus say to Asian values?

Jesus: “You need to be born again”

Joel:

(1) Don’t let your Asian framework prevent you from believing in Jesus

(2) Live out your Asian values refracted through Jesus

PREAMBLE

INTRODUCTION (Relevance Persuasion | Resonate)

“ASIAN OR NOT!?!?” Quiz

Transition: Our values, how Asian tick - Bargain Hunting, Hard work, familial piety, social cohesion.

Great. And also not great.

"I don’t really care… but useful to have an additional perspective from different century.”

But what would Jesus say?

Caveat: acknowledge anachronism

But this is why it’s helpful to consider

(1) Our lives: Is this really the right way to live? Or most optimal way to live?

(2) Jesus: Do we really understand who Jesus is?

“What if Jesus’ perspective is importnat becaus ehe is important

To make a decision to follow him

To follow the right person

The values I’ll be considering:

Not bargain hunting - next session

Hardwork “Just pia la!”

Familial piety “Don't make us xia suay can or not?”

Social cohesion “Cannot just follow meh?” "Why you so like that?"

These individual values can be a talk in itself, and we’ll only deal in broad brush strokes. Q&A? Consider more.

State my aim up front:

Not just intellectual curiosity.

But to genuinely consider that it is worth following Jesus.

(L) But how? Anachronistic. How to find out. Need a bit of imagination.

(A) searching for the most Asian character in the bible? Anyone?

CONTEXT (Orientate | Situate)

Found someone. Any can guess? Clues:

Jewish confucious. Wise. Learned. Morally upright.

If he had a chinese name? Ni Ke De Mu.

add deliberate anachronisms

Read John 3:1 “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.”

TAKe it from me..,., Let me give one example.… he studies very hard…

(Take out temple)

HARD WORKING - TICK

FAMILY - TICK

#Pharisee - religious teacher. different sects. Top class.

(A) PHD in Hebrew scriptures. Basically studying often. Legal.

I guess… He often needed to pia. Hard work.

Teacher of Israel - Politician. Top job.

Ruler

double pia.

Jewish

Family-centered. Intergenerationally oriented. Honor father and mother.

Blood ties. (A) contrast Samaritan. not pure bloods

“ah boy, made me so proud”

(L) BUT WHAT ABOUT SOCIAL COHENSION>

(L) doing? John 3:2 “This man came to Jesus by night. What made him come to Jesus? Why by night?

(A) Story tell. Passover. Glastonbury… music. food. festives.

Large clunk! Jesus whipping.

Flip table.

read v13-16

Trouble making? no. worse

v19. destroy. complete destruction.

(L) How will people respond? Confused..

but also miracles..

Good also?

Imagine the chaos… Lack of social cohesion. confusion

(L) so what happens?

Nicodemus. By night..

Jesus.. “why you so like that?”

doesn’t say… exactly that but in essence.

HE doesnt really like Jesus. because.… so he comes to Jesus.

But Jesus then responses to him…

Summarise: -> Nicodemus: embodies Asian values

Hard work

Family

Social Cohesion. Works hard Big on familyStrong community vibes

(L) spend so long.. trying to find. but what will Jesus say??

ARGUMENT (Texture | Unity | Coherence | Development)

You need to be born again

John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

Born again

Explain the sense of born again.

Complete change

Death and rebirth

New family

New humanity

Reinforce

Not band aid. for cure.

Not ...

Not ...

But a total transformation.

new life.

New person.

New family.

Reinforce

(A) nicodemus. embodying asian values. come face to face with Jesus.

complete wipe.

born again.

IMPLICATIONS

ANSWER THE QUESTION MORE....

(L) living in the conceptual. But what does this mean in practice?

Asian values DO NOT matter when it comes to entering the Kingdom.

Asian values DO matter as you live out the Kingdom

Two implications:

how we understand Jesus <- word smith

How we should live

Relating to Jesus / entering the kingdom <- word smith

Hardwork - when it comes to getting into the right with Jesus.

It cannot be based on hardwork. <- translate plainly: hardwork will never make you a Christian. Hard work will never get you into heaven.

V - problem. we are raised to think hardwork. embedded. Karma. do. Apply same.

(A) Come to Jesus.

“Look at my accomplishments. Look at my CV. Look at the effort I put in.”

“I deserve to be in your kingdom.

“No, you need to be completely wiped out. And restarted again. You need to be born again.

Family - when it comes to getting into Jesus’ kingdom

It has nothing to do with your family. one sense, family doesn’t matter

Lineage. Ancestory. It doesn’t stop you from getting in.

Also doesn’t get you in.

You may grow up in a Christian family. Your parents may be serving in church. But that alone, doesn’t qualify you.

The is the whole point of the language of “born again.”

About starting a new family.

You need to be part of an entire new family.

(A) Come to Jesus.

“Look at myancestory.com. family tree. All Christians.”

“I deserve to be in your kingdom.”

“No, you don’t. a rebirth in fact. Born again into a new family. You need to be born again.

Society

NICODEMUS HAING ISSUE WITH JESUS..… talk about temple here,.

APPLY / LAND

V - I’ll only come to Jesus if he makes me rich, my parents allow me to, He accepts me on my terms,

LINK

(L) Born again - not reincarnated.

Key difference -

Reincarnation: insect, animal, human. disconnected.

Born again: a new human but still human.

New human have values.

But now, shaped by Jesus.

How we should live

Should I honor family?

Should I work hard?

Should I be an obedient citizen?

REINFORCE

(A) Not about Asian. Any other man-made value. Box.

Jesus in my Box ->