Technology

Big Idea of the Message: Our use of technology can be a witness to our faith.

Questions

People are full of questions - what are we eating, when are we going to be done, do I have to go, why do you do that every time and the list could continue endlessly;

The through a two year old into the mix and you get another unlimited list of “why” questions and saying because is not good enough;

How many of us, if we are brave enough to admit it, have questioned God, even privately which really isn’t private because He is always present;

Here we find a scribe asking a question, but first who is a scribe;

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 12

The scribes were allies of the chief priests and elders (see note at 11:27).

This scribe, who unusually approached Jesus alone, wanted to know what was the most important commandment;

Why would a scribe not know the answer to this question already;

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 12

The rabbis had counted 613 commandments in the books of Moses. They classified 365 as prohibitions and 248 as commands. They further divided the commandments into weightier and lesser (“least” in Mt 5:19).

Response

Now the scribe ask for one commandment that excelled above all the others;

However Jesus responded with two, because one in rooted in the other and gives, in my opinion ultimate direction;

First Jesus quotes the Shema, located in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, in His response which is something that pious Jews would have quoted twice a day;

What is the Shema - it is the centralized confession of Israel’s faith;

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 12

The words affirmed monotheistic orthodoxy (the Lord is one), identified the primary affection with which people were to relate to God (love), and emphasized the necessity to do so with one’s total being: heart (affections); soul (spirit); mind (intelligence); and strength (the will).

Second He quotes Leviticus 19:18, 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

The New King James Version. (1982). (Le 19:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Note this prior to this point no one had ever put theses to verse together in this context - Jesus was the first yet it became the standard for His disciples;

So how are you doing at loving God and you neighbor?

Social Media

Now I know there are some here that do not use social media, which is impressive;

However let’s look at some statistics about social media;

WORLDWIDE SOCIAL MEDIA USERS 4.14 Billion

UNIQUE MOBILE PHONE USERS 5.20 Billion

ACTIVE MOBILE SOCIAL MEDIA USERS 4.08 Billion

WEB TRAFFIC BY MOBILE DEVICES 52% Share

The point is that social media is here to stay the question is how is it used by the Christian community and the church;

When see you a post, and I am guilty, do you consider the truth of the post before you share it;

Remember if we are to love God and our neighbors would not that include perpetuating a lie;

What about the slightly off meme, guilty, what does say about our Christ likeness to entire world;

I think Jesus would use social media if He was here physically because the potential reach to a dying world;

The thing is when we, individuals and the church, use social media is it positive towards a dying world.

Application Point: Does your use of technology help people learn about Jesus—or alienate them from him?