Red Meat will change your life!
I’ve said that on Sunday mornings, my job is not to provide the steak, but the sauce. The Steak is the WORD of GOD… I just spice it up a little bit to hopefully whet your appetite for more!
If you’re ready for more, (you are) our Deeper Classes offer pure red meat that will change your life. SINK YOUR TEETH in to the deep, juicy steak that God has provided for you!
Romans Begins!
Finally!
I have been looking forward to this for a long time. In earlier years of The Orchard, most of our teaching was expositional in nature… We would just work through books of the Bible, mining them for truth as we go.
First, we spent a year in Mark, then a year in Genesis 12-50 (the story of Abraham and his family). Later, we spent a year and a half working our way through Ephesians. We’ve also done some lighter work through Esther, Nehemiah, and 1 John.
I like topical teaching… Picking an idea and fleshing it out Biblically over several weeks… That’s what I’ve been doing the last few years. (That’s the way Jesus taught) But I really love exposition. It will allow us to dive deep, and I am ready. Are you?
If you haven’t already taken advantage of some of the great resources out there to prepare for this study, take a minute and familiarize yourself. I just really want you to cultivate your mind and heart around this, so that your soil is ready to receive the seeds of the Word, and that they will take good root and grow into something absolutely beautiful in you.
My High Horse
“Paulos duolos Christou Iesou”
Those are the first four words of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Literally translated, “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus.”
But, before Paul was a slave to Jesus, he was Saul on his high horse. He couldn’t be who God wanted him to be until he was knocked off his high horse. How is that like us?
How do you know if you’re on your own high horse?
Here’s a hint… What do you think of when you think of the word “mine?” What things in life are “mine?” Why don’t you have someone in your group write down the things that are “mine?” (In about 20 seconds, I jotted down 9 things that aren’t only “mine,” but that feel critically important in my life.)
How much of our life involves us investing into and building “mine?”
When someone wants to take something of “mine,” or when something of “mine” is threatened, how do I react?
How does Jesus use the word “mine?” Is his idea of “mine” different from ours? Here are a few examples:
- When Jesus is baptized at the beginning of his ministry, a loud voice of approval booms from heaven. Jesus’ response: “The voice was for your benefit, not mine.”
- Jesus, praying to His Father (for us) says, “All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.” (John 17:10)
- Again, we find Jesus praying… This time just before his capture, trial, beating, and crucifixion. He prays: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42)
- Jesus, describing us, says: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
Okay, so go back to what comes to my mind when I think of “mine.” Contrast my “mine” with Jesus’ “mine.” what differences do you see?
I find it really fascinating that Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords never claims ownership of status, possessions, wealth, or any earthly anything.
Isn’t it interesting who does claim to have a lot of “mine…?”
Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”
Luke 4:5-7 NLT
How does the devil use what he sees as his? What does he hope the result will be?
The devil really seems to think he is the king of almost everything. And he attempts to leverage what he believes he has to take over everything else.
That is pretty “high horse.”
After being knocked off his own high horse, Paul introduces himself as a “slave” of Christ Jesus. What does a slave have that he can call “mine?”
How does Jesus show us this in:
- The Parable of the Master and the Servants (Matthew 25:14-30)
- The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
- The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-40)
Jesus is pretty clear that a slave has the opposite of the “mine” mentality… A slave knows that everything he or she touches is really “His.” This is the heart condition of the slave.
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Matthew 16:24-25 NLT
Jesus set the template for us. He gave up his own way, took up his cross, and obeyed His Father. Paul gave up his own way, and became a slave, following Jesus’ example.
If I were to follow these examples, acknowledging that I am a slave, how would “mine” change?
- What would that mean for my home?
- What would that mean for my time?
- What would that mean for my bank account?
- What would that mean for my vehicle?
How can I begin the process of climbing down off my high horse? What are specific “mine” changes that need to be made in my life so that I can become an obedient servant?