The Gospel

 

Galatians 1

We're going to explore the letter to the GALATIANS this Friday at "The Forum".  

We will primarily focus on "THE GOSPEL".  Most of us have an idea what the GOSPEL is and how to share it with others.  It will do us and "them" well to re-visit what the Old and New Testament authors meant by THE GOSPEL.  I think we'll learn some good stuff.

👉 Get the most out of our time together by reading & re-reading the entire letter to the Galatians as many times as you can.  

👉 Especially Read Chapters 1 & 2

👉 I highly encourage you to watch the videos (5-7 mins. ea.) below as well. 

Book of Galatians Summary | Watch an Overview Video

Gospel (Euangelion) Word Study

Gospel of the Kingdom Biblical Theme

How To Read the Gospel

Humans Who "Move the Needle"

👉 What are the influences & efforts that developed the competency you have as a marketplace leader?

👉 Would you say that you have put that same kind of time & effort into becoming a wise, skilled craftsmen of bearing the image of God as a follower of Jesus?

👉 Is THAT really necessary? Isn't following & influencing for Jesus & His Kingdom reign, something that is just a natural overflow of getting to know Him?

👉 If not, why not?  If so, why would you say it is necessary?

👉 Do we have a low estimation of our "agency", our God-given ability, to “move the needle” for the "rescue and restoration mission" to which we’re called & designed?

One of GOD'S ULTIMATE OBJECTIVES is to have one large, multi-ethnic global family relating to Him & ruling with Him by faith. 

👉 What does the follow passage reveal about Paul's understanding and commitment to coaching and shaping followers of Jesus for the task of building "one large, multi-ethnic global family relating to Him & ruling with Him on the basis of faith"?

(Galatians 4.19) “My dear children, for whom

I am again in the pains of childbirth UNTIL CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU...“ 

👉 How might Paul's view and practice of Discipleship differ from ours? 

[The Forum / I-2-I Small Groups]

WHAT’S THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS FORUM SESSION? 

Becoming like Jesus requires intentional cultivation.  A decision to receive Jesus as your Lord & Savior alone will not produce the life God desires for His multi-ethnic global community of His followers.

👉 Have we lost the original vision & purpose of God’s ongoing agenda for humanity…for His followers?  

👉 How would we go about forging Discipleship practices that cultivate "Personal Transformation" that lead to "Cultural Transformation" (think 20 square feet) 

WATCH: Paul's Missionary Journeys: Acts 13-20

What insights do we gain from this short video clip of Paul's approach, vision, strategy & tactics to work towards God's Mission for humans?

Highlights:

👉 The New King overall the Nations

👉 Opposition drove Paul to the Marketplace

👉 Communities of Love

👉 Cultivated in part by the SPIRIT

👉 Cultivated in part by PRUNING. (Discipline)

BREAKOUT GROUPS WORK: 

How can we better become God's Human Image Bearers on Mission with Jesus?

Galatians 2:20–21: 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”

Galatians 5.13-26: "13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."

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Deuteronomy 8:3: He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:47: They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Joshua 1:5‭-‬9: No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

"Can't We All Just Get Along?" (Romans 12)

👉What MOTIVATES you to Change? ..to address the deficits in your life?

👉What role, if any, did a person or persons help?

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The MAJOR CONCERN in the "Romans" letter is that Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians could not get along.  

In Chapter 12, Paul implores the multi-cultural "Jesus Following TEAM" in Rome to STAND at ATTENTION and BOW THEIR HEARTS to GOD for all that He has done for them through Jesus.

He's given them:

 👉 a NEW STATUS ~ they are right with God 

👉 a NEW FAMILY, the covenant people of Abraham

👉 a NEW FUTURE 

The GATHERED & SCATTERED BODY of JESUS FOLLOWERS (the Church) IS GOD'S PREFERRED "VEHICLE " to embody the HOPE and FUTURE OF HUMANITY. 

When people accept their identity as “Jesus-like humans” they are liberated to become the wholehearted humans who can truly love God and their neighbor.

God's renewal of human beings is the first step of His larger mission to rescue and renew all of creation making it a place where HIS LOVE GETS THE FINAL WORD.

This unity will come from a commitment to LOVE and FORGIVE each other.

LOVE will look like everybody using their diverse gifts and talents to serve one another in these “Jesus-Like Human” Communities demonstrated through humility and forgiveness. When these multi-ethnic communities come together in Jesus conflict is inevitable ~ AND it can only be overcome through the hard work of forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

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READ: 

Romans 12

 

SURRENDER:

12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 

SELF-AWARENESS / OTHER-CENTEREDNESS: 

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:

 if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 

7 if service, in his serving; 

or he who teaches, in his teaching; 

8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; 

he who gives, with liberality; 

he who leads, with diligence; 

he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

SACRIFICIAL LOVE: 

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 

SERVE YOUR OPPONENTS: 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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DISCUSSION:  

👉 What QUESTIONS, COMMENTS or INSIGHTS do you have as you read Paul's Prescription for community building?  

👉 Where are you AFFIRMED by Paul's Prescription for being as asset to building the Jesus-like community?

👉 Where are you CHALLENGED? 

👉 How does this inform your BUSINESS PRACTICES?

👉 What might need to be addressed to help shape your business, marriage, family into a community that reflects what Paul prescribes to foster the experience of heaven invading earth?

 

---------------------------------------Comments, Insights, Thoughts-------------------------------------------

ROMANS 12.1,2:
All believers become living sacrifices by offering their TIME, TALENT, and ENERGY in work that benefits other people and/or God’s entire creation.


We can offer a living sacrifice to God every waking moment of our lives. 

For Example:

1.) We do it when we forgive someone who transgresses against us in our workplace.

2.) We are a living sacrifice when we take the risk to help heal a dispute between others.

3.) We offer a living sacrifice when we forego unsustainable use of the earth’s resources in pursuit of our own comfort.

4.) We offer a living sacrifice when we take on less-than-satisfying work because supporting our family matters more to us than finding the perfect job.

5.) We become a living sacrifice when we leave a rewarding position so our spouse can accept a dream job in another city.

6.) We become a living sacrifice when, as a boss, we take the blame for a mistake a subordinate makes in his or her work.

Can you think of ways you have been or need to be a "living sacrifice" in your "20 square feet" at work, home, marriage?

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Practicing GENUINE LOVE at WORK:

We show genuine love when we honor the people with whom we work, calling everyone by name regardless of their status, and respecting their families, cultures, languages, aspirations, and the work they do.

We show genuine love when we are patient with a subordinate who makes a mistake, a student who learns slowly, a co-worker whose disability makes us uncomfortable.

We show genuine love through hospitality to the new employee, the late-night arrival, the disoriented patient, the stranded passenger, the just-promoted boss.

Every day we face the possibility someone will do us some evil, small or great. But our response is not to do evil to others in self-defense, nor to be worn down into despair, but to “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). We cannot do this by our own power, but only by living in the Spirit of Christ.

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Romans Video Overview Part 1

Romans Video Overview Part 2

Serving "Shrwisely"

 

“Why should the devil have all the good music?” Back in the 60’s and 70’s Larry Norman wrote a song by this title, expressing, among other things, that it seems that the “enemy” is always out in front taking good & beautiful things and using it for evil.

Today’s MI3 Forum was essentially bringing our attention to the absolute, non-negotiable, necessity of being shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Mt.10.16) when subduing, ruling & reigning in our 20 square ft. We need heavenly wisdom & skill to navigate and take dominion in our spheres of influence to sacrificially recreate God’s Kingdom economy here on earth as it is in heaven (Mt 6.10).

We explored (Luke 16.1-13) as our primary focus, where it seems like God is applauding the unscrupulous ways of an employee who is looking out for his own good. While we instinctively know that just cannot be the case, there IS something about his shrewdness (or is it wisdom?) that is to be heeded.

Read this passage, even the chapter and maybe even the chapter preceding this and the chapter following it. Take some time to think / meditate on this.

Can you think of where the first expression of shrewdness is mentioned in the Bible? (Genesis 3).

2023.06.16 MI3 Executive Forum Google Slides Presentation

W. Jay Moon | Economics and Mission: The Connected Complexity of Cultures

Just after the the "MI3" forum this morning Jay Curatti added:

"...while thinking about this morning’s conversation regarding the shrewd decisions and parable from Jesus in Luke 16, a note suggested looking at Romans 16:17-18 to shed some light on the parable. Whereas Jesus is talking with Pharisees and giving a foundation of this business dealing for them (and us!) to ponder, maybe Paul gives us some ‘marching orders’ in how to apply it. He exhorts the readers (and us!) to be careful of the smooth talk and flattery of the social agendas and conversations of today so our hearts aren’t deceived, but rather be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. Maybe Jesus was providing the knowledge and Paul followed up with the wisdom, which is application of knowledge. We need both wisdom and discernment so we can confidently draw a line in the sand and stand for what is right by being shrewd in our dealings. Just some random thoughts..."

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND ADD YOUR REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS

Kuch

Gifted by Grace, but ‘Get’ to Work

HTTPS://MI3FORUM.BLOGSPOT.COM

 Entering into and having a certainty of a relationship with God is a GIFT from HIM.  Simply and profoundly, by personal admission of our desperate need of His forgiveness through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we can begin our journey with God.

This relationship with God is inseparately embedded in a Cosmic Covenant Partnership with Him to rule and reign over the heavens and the earth with Him. In other words, we are created for a RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD as well as to WORK WITH GOD.  God has a job for us to do.  Made in His likeness, we are to work 6/7th’s of our time on earth as modeled by Him.

Pause for a moment and think, even meditate, on the meaning and purpose of your life in light of this reality.  You are co-partners with God, helping to bring about a world that is shaped in the image and nature of who God is.  You are privileged and employed by Jesus to bring the economy of God’s Kingdom realm here on earth as it is in heaven. 

Our relationship with God is a GIFT, BUT to become more like Jesus we must cultivate our relationship with Him by working the work which He has designed and delegated to us in our everyday lives.

Let’s begin to explore this incredible human reality that God shares with us in His Story, the Bible, written for us.

READ: 

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2.8-10)

WORK in this passage is both good and bad.  Paul (the author) intentionally juxtaposes this word play that often causes confusion and tension.

❓ How are we supposed to understand the reality of WORK which God both opposes and requires?

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READ: 

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 

14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 

15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3.10-15)

Paul (the author) further expounds on the value of WORK in this passage and raises the bar on WORK’S eternal worth.

Our life is referred to as “Building a House”.  The word “Work” is used 4 times.  “Work” is the Greek word ‘Ergon’ which means business, employment, enterprise, undertaking, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind, an act, or deed. 

❓ How do you think Paul envisions “Work” adding value to life?

❓ What kind of WORK does God value?

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READ: 

1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1.1,2)

❓ What can we learn about God, humanity, life & work from the very first two verses of the Bible?

❓ What image or images do you picture in your mind when you read these verses?

What is being communicated from the first sentences of the Bible is that EXISTENCE is NOT the creation of substance (something from nothing), but BRINGING INTO EXISTENCE ORDER FROM CHAOS TO ORGANIZE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRODUCING AND DEVELOPING POTENTIAL.

In other words,  in the ancient world, something came into existence when it was SEPARATED out as a distinct entity and given a FUNCTION and given a NAME. In order for something to EXIST it must be ORDERED, FUNCTIONAL and PRODUCTIVE. This is a FUNCTION-ORIENTED ONTOLOGY. 

❓ WHAT IMPLIED OVERTONES DOES THAT HAVE FOR HUMANITY?

❓ What constitutes GOOD HUMAN PRODUCTIVENESS?

❓ How does this inform us of God’s value of WORK for His Human Image Bearers?

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ASSIGNMENT: 

Watch: 

Genesis Video (7.43 mins) 

The Covenants Video (5.46 mins)

Read throughout the week: 

👉 Genesis 1-3

👉 Genesis 1 - 2.4

👉 Genesis 1.1-2

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