WWJD - Cognitive Awareness
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 11 viewsNotes
Transcript
Cognitive Awareness
Cognitive Awareness
Last week! The three step process was a blessing to me 1) Love God 2) Love yourself 3) Love your neighbor
Compassion
Conversation
Consideration (let’s just take a moment and think)
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
“When he saw the crowds” - In order to see the crowds you must have some type of interaction with the crowds. Community engagement (Your Hood)
He had compassion
They were harassed: to be harassed’ [BAGD, BNTC, CC, LN, NICNT, NIGTC, PNTC, WBC; ESV, NIV, NRSV, REB], ‘to be distressed’ [BECNT; NASB], ‘to be confused’ [CEV, NLT], ‘to be fatigued’ [NTC], ‘to be troubled’ [LN; GW], ‘to be hurting’ [NCV], ‘to faint’ [KJV], ‘to be bewildered’ [NET], ‘to be wearied’ [BAGD], ‘to be worried
“Helpless” - Like sheep without a shepherd.
They lacked good leadership [BNTC, ICC, Lns, NAC, NICNT, NIGTC, TRT], and were helpless [EBC, NIBC] and lost [ICC]. They were defenseless against being bullied and oppressed by bad leaders [EBC]. He was concerned not only for their obvious needs, but also for their sense of distress, which was made worse by the lack of real leadership from their religious leaders, who were not faithful shepherds [BECNT]
Abernathy, D. (2013). An Exegetical Summary of Matthew 1–16 (p. 342). Dallas, TX: SIL International.
Jesus makes a powerful statement - “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts,
no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Anchor text
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Behold “I” am sending
1. The Lord of the harvest.
2. “I,” who prize you.
3. “I,” who have gone on the same mission Myself.
4. “I,” who overcame in the very character in which I send you.” “The Lamb shall overcome them.”
“I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves”
That is, I send you, inoffensive and harmless, into a cold, unfriendly, and cruel world
This means that Jesus is sending his disciples out among people who will attack them like a wolf will attack harmless and defenseless sheep [TH]. They will be defenseless in themselves and yet they are being sent into a dangerous environment [EBC]. There will be serious trouble ahead
the subtle with the gentle
heir permanent instructions.
So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves
1. Be prudent and wise as a serpent.
2. The innocence of the dove.
The serpent
The serpent is a very sharp sighted, cunning creature and is so far to be imitated by the followers of Christ.
We should make use of all proper methods to preserve ourselves from the insults and rage of men, and not expose ourselves to unnecessary dangers: and, as much as in them lies, we should be careful to give no just occasion of offence, or irritate, and provoke others to use ill will, and to avoid all snares and traps that are laid for us.
The serpent hath a subtlety in his eye, a singular sharpness of sight. Get the serpent’s eye, have a quick insight
2. The serpent hath a prudence and subtlety in his ear: will not be deluded by the voice of the charmer.
3. The serpent hath a chief care to defend his head; so we our head from error,
We should be as doves
We should maintain the innocence and harmlessness of the dove, being free from all wicked cunning and craftiness, without malice and wrath; not meditating and seeking revenge, but meek and humble in our deportment, leading inoffensive lives, and proceeding in the course of our calling, though liable to many insults, and much oppression.
1. In respect of meekness.
2. In respect of innocency.
3. In respect of purity
Wonderful combination this! Alone, the wisdom of the serpent is mere cunning, and the harmlessness of the dove little better than weakness: but in combination, the wisdom of the serpent would save them from unnecessary exposure to danger; the harmlessness of the dove, from sinful expedients to escape it. I
Wherein does the Christian join these two together
Our assignment is to be an ambassador for Christ…
During this season we must cognitively aware through the instructions of Christ… Cognitive - means relating to the mental process involved in knowing, learning, and understanding things.
I can’t be involved in every moment
I can’t engage in every social media conversations
There are times when I need to be quick to listen and slow to speak
Remember i’m being sent out into His harvest…
Recap
Compassion
Conversation
Consideration
Cognitive Awareness