This week, May 18, 2011, we will revisit the rich young ruler from Matthew 19:16-30 and our answers regarding the least we can do.
We will extract two things from our conclusions: core values and everyday practices.
Giving credit where credit is due: the idea for this exercise came from a book called The Forgotten Ways Handbook: A Practical Guide for Developing Missional Churches by Alan Hirsch with Darryn Altclass.
http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Ways-Handbook-Practical-Developing/dp/1587432498/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1305745677&sr=1-1
Our group had an interesting discussion on core values.
ReplyDeleteFirst we tried to figure out what the term core value meant. We decided it is not what you do, but who you are. In line with last week's response, it is a matter of the heart. Everything we say or do filters through our core value(s).
Everything we came up with for a core value seemed to fit under the heading of LOVE. I guess that isn't bad since Jesus summed up the entire new covenant in Matt 22:37-40 as “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
We are saved by grace. Jesus Christ gave the ultimate LOVE sacrifice by paying the price of his own death for the payment to cover our sin. We are to love as he loved. BECAUSE of love, we love. Our core values of obedience to God, devotion to God and daily surrender to God grow out of love.
In everyday practice, we seek to learn how to love in each situation we find ourselves in. Because of being human and the world we live in our everyday practice must also include time set aside to be in the word. In John 17:17 Jesus says he wants us to be santified by the truth and he goes on to say that God's word is truth. We need to be in the word.
The least we can do- from Mt 19
ReplyDelete1.Obey God's commands
2.Surrender all
3.Don't say no to God
Core values
1.Obedience to God
2.Trusting God
3.Compassion for others / love for God and others
4.Repentant
5.And a subset of: Simplicity, Surrender, Sacrifice, Submission, and Loyalty
Every day practices
1.Pray - 2 way communication
2.Read the Word
3.Be an example to others: How?
A.Mow neighbors lawn
B.Say hi
C.Be patient/understanding with customers
D.Do self assessment
E.Don't procrastinate
F.Stewardship
I like the additional note about prayer being 2 way communication. Talking to God is the best thing, but we also need to sit quiet and listen to what he has to say back.
ReplyDeletecheck this video out re: two way communication in prayer!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=7Y77WLNX
The teen group meandered for awhile and stumbled upon a profound set of core values for a Christian.
ReplyDeleteLove. Truth. Self-discipline.
Yes, there are many important virtues: patience, kindness, faithfulness. But, can't these all fall under love? If we have love we will grow in virtue. Truth directs our love into the right direction. Self discipline gives love and truth legs so we can love in word and deed.
As David and I drove home, we listened to a speaker recalling the early Christian practice of rescueing Roman babies. The Romans would leave an unwanted baby out in the elements to die. Christians would find and save those babies taking them as their own.
What values did those Christians need to act that way? Love. Compassion for the child. Truth. They believed that life is a gift from God and not to be tossed aside. Self discipline. They had to go find the child and nuture that child for a life time.