This past Sunday in “A New Altruism”, I defined altruism as acting and making decisions for the benefit of others and asked a question:  How we as individual believers and as the body of Christ respond to hurt in the world (something we are vividly reminded of because of the tragic events in Haiti last week)? We then looked at the perfect example of selflessness, Jesus Christ, and our command to have the same mind from Philippians 2:1-11.

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In summary, Jesus came from the glories of heaven…and stooped to become like us, living in our flesh. Then he stooped lower, not just to serve but to be a servant. And then he stooped even lower, to die. And then he stooped yet lower still, dying the most despised death of all time (a Roman cross), to bear the curse of sinners.

That was Christ’s response to a hurting world. And he calls and empowers us to follow his example of selfless living. This is a new altruism because it is not motivated by guilt or driven by personality, but rather by the empowering work of the Gospel within us.

Below are several of the applications I made during the message:

• What truths of the Gospel do you need to be reminded of today:  your union with Christ, experience of fellowship in the Spirit, sonship through Christ’s work with a supremely loving Father?  Thank God for whichever one is speaking to you, and ask that He use it as the basis for your right living in and beyond the body of Christ.
• How much time in a typical week do you spend dedicated to meeting the needs of others?  How much time do you spend in self-love, or meeting your own needs?  Does the ratio between the two need to change if you are to be living selflessly?
• How would God have you to selflessly defend the Sanctity of Human Life?  Some possible examples already being lived out by many at GTBC are serving in volunteer capacities at pregnancy centers, adopting, helping financially as others adopt, etc.
• So how DO we respond to hurt in the world??  Be it hurt across the globe, the plight of impoverished nations without a sufficient drinking supply, or in response to a disaster like a hurricane or earthquake (like this week in Haiti)?  Instead of freezing up (like I do) in response to needs, how can you put action to selfless living as Christ did?

May God continue to empower His Word in our hearts!
~Josh

P.S.  Also, if you’re interested in more reading on Gospel-motivated ministry to others, I highly recommend the book Ministries of Mercy by Tim Keller.

Small Group Discussion questions from the message “The Partial Kingdom” by Mike Hanafee on December 6, 2009.

The Partial Kingdom.
1.  How did the Israelites partially fulfill God’s promise to Abraham? (God’s People/Israel. God’s Place/Canaan, Jerusalem, tabernacle, temple.  God’s rule & blessing/ The law & the king)

2.  Why and how did that kingdom crash & burn?  How can we know the promises will still be fulfilled?

3.  What are some examples of people not trusting God’s promises from Genesis 12 – 2 Chronicles?  What was the outcome? What are some specific examples of the way we do the same & what are the consequences?

4.  How can we know that God’s story ends in victory and so can our story? (2 Sam 7:12-14)  Can you think of any messed up people from this section of Scripture and how God delivered them? (i.e. Jacob…)

Small group discussion questions for the week of November 22, 2009, based on the sermon “Missional Living” from the “What, Why, & How” series.

Theme: Missional living is about spreading the Gospel by adapting to our context, demonstrating real care, and going in community with other believers.

Introduction: When we hear the word “evangelizing” what do we usually think of?  How do those actions/ concepts compare with this definition:

“A missionary is somebody who relationally takes the unchanging gospel into a culture for the cause of Christ, understands people in that culture, learns the questions of that culture, understands the worldview of that culture, and begins a church in that culture that proclaims the unchanging truths of Scripture in the changing cultural context. In the same way, a church that is ‘missional’ views itself as a missionary to its culture, filled with ambassadors for Christ who take the gospel into every sphere of society. We don’t simply need evangelistic churches, but rather ‘missional’ churches.”

~Luke Simmons, article used by permission

Questions:

1. Read 1 Cor 9:19-23. How many times does Paul say “I became”? Why does he say he did this?  In what ways is he adapting to the context being a servant (v. 19)?  Is it our culture’s responsibility to adapt to us or our responsibility to adapt to culture?

2. How does Jesus model and empower this adaption? (Philippians 2:5-8)

3. What are some ways we can adapt to our context without compromising the Gospel? (John 17:11, 15, 18)

4. What does I Thessalonians 2:8 tell us Paul did to demonstrate real care? How does sharing our life open up opportunities to share the Gospel?

5. To what kind of people did Jesus extend care and compassion?

6. Read Luke 15:1-2, 7:34. Why were these things said about Jesus?  Were they true?  Who said them?  Should we be willing to live with similar accusations?

7. 1 Peter was written to Christian communities scattered throughout several regions (1:1). Read 1 Peter 3:15. What would provoke people to ask Christians about the “hope” that is in them?

8. How could living life “in community” with other Christians, in the company of non-Christians be a primary way of spreading the Gospel? What are some ways you might do this?

9. What do you think of the quote, “Every Christian is a paid missionary, we just get our check routed in different ways”? (Luke Simmons)

10. Might holding a party for people on your street be a means of adapting to context? How would it demonstrate care for unbelievers and aid growth in community with other Christians?

11. What kinds of activities could you undertake as a small group to pursue missional life?