Community: Different

In our study of Jesus’s new Kingdom Community, Jesus is laying out the foundational principal for his disciples, primarily to love one another.

Last week Michelle shared about how we come about this love. It comes as a result of our connection with God. As Jesus called himself the living vine. As we are connected to Him, Jesus promised our lives would produce fruit.

Because we are a branch of the true vine, we get to experience love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control… our lives are marked by these because we are connected.

Different: Things are different in Africa

Farming

Teaching - 300 ES kids in a school with 5 classrooms and 8 teachers… 260 MS kids in a school with 5 classrooms and 8 teachers

Recess

Mom-ing - care for family, make the produce, sell the product, care for family

Driving - horn pattern

Life - 51yrs… Average $2,200/yr… Median $250/yr

Same: for Christians

Same connection… to the true vine

Same fruit - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control

Same Desire for life

Happy - Comfortable - Path of least resistance

The trap: Seek Comfort > Avoid opposition > Faith Weakens > Empty Life

Same Promise

We also have the Same Promise in our lives

John 15:18 NLT

“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

If the world hates you...

In our world there isn’t much cause for opposition for many Christians… at least not spiritual opposition.

When we develop a game plan, we watch film to identify their game changers, we look to see how we can defend them… or attack them.

That’s what satan does… is you are in the game, you can expect opposition… whether you are the strongest or the weakest…

there is one that we don’t worry about though, there is one player that we never try to come up with anything to take advantage… the one who isn’t in th egame… he has the uniform but it’s never dirty.

the one who can expect to be left alone is the one who isn’t in the game.

If you are in the game, expect conflict.... We aren’t greater than Jesus… we won’t be left alone, just like he wasn’t… as long as we stay in the game.

We all want to be accepted, but the reality is, as a follower of Jesus.... as a XIAN, a real XIAN, that’s not going to be the case. Jesus wanted his people to know that when this happens, it’s not because of you.... it’s because of me.

John wrote this remember “so we would believe”… and there is nothing that will cause you to doubt faster than when someone tells you that what you are doing is crazy.

Why are you giving your money to the church when you have those credit card debts… Do you have to go to church every Sunday??? let’s sleep in this week…

Xns know that the presence of Resistance is not NECESSARILY a sign of God’s opposition

When we are doing what God asks of us that is....

But even doing it all right we will face opposition because of sin… just like the people in Africa

Same Opposition

Part of our opposition… what makes life hard is the fall…curse on the ground… but more is the curse of sin

Jesus opposed at every turn…

John 15:20 NIV

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

If we are seeking the same life as Jesus, we can expect the same opposition.

The problem with conflict isn’t that it makes life hard....life is hard even vor people without conflict.

The problem with conflict is that

Conflict makes us lean away.... doesn’t matter who it’s with.

Love makes you lean in.... you can lean in with people you know well or you first met. Love draws you in.

Africa or America.... Christians do this because we have the same calling

Same Calling

John 15:19 NIV

If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Jesus chose us out of the world to be different

1 Peter tells to “live respectfully among the unbelieving”

IF they are to hate… let it be because of Jesus… not because of anything you say or do.

Show off the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.... that’s what they are for, so others to enjoy

Don’t waste time trying to convince or argue the truth of Jesus into someone when you can spend that time showing them his love.

Let his love become the thing that convicts them… and it probably will.

John 15:24

“But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father.”

yet Jesus didn’t give up… he kept loving.

Persecution wouldn’t stop them because “that’s what happens to you on team Jesus.”

Our Response to opposition in life: Live Boldly > Face Opposition > Faith Builds > Live nearer to Jesus

1 Peter 4:12–16 NIV

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Christians are Different

Christians seek to be faithful, not comfortable because that’s what our Lord taught us

We find joy in accomplishing hard things because we do them for the Lord

We seek to sacrifice for others because Jesus sacrificed for us… giving up his life in heaven… taking on flesh… being punished… being tortured… murdered… for us

We seek to serve one another because Jesus served us… … a servant… a friend… a healer…

We seek to help others find new life because Jesus brought a new life to us.

We do this because of who we are… we are little Christ’s

We have been called out

In school I was a trouble maker, but one teacher knew what to do with me, make me responsible and I would focus on that.

Our calling is to not live as the world lives....

We encourage not tear down

We speak hope… not gossip

We show love… not division

We are different