23 Jul Jesus Encounter | Part 3 “Get Over Them and Get To Him

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5 LOCATION SCAVENGER HUNT!!  THE RACE IS ON!  BE THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS AND WIN PRIZES!!! DON’T MISS OUT!

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LEADERS: WE HAVE CHANGED UP THE DISCOVER CLASS WHICH USED TO BE GROWTH TRACK AND ARE ASKING ALL LEADERS TO RE-TAKE THIS A SOME POINT.  BELOW IS THE CLASS SCHEDULE:

FIRST WEEKEND: DISCOVER

SECONE WEEKEND: NO CLASSES

THIRD WEEKEND: CONNECT

FOURTH WEEKEND: BAPTISM

ALL CLASSES ARE AFTER FIRST SERVICE ON SUNDAYS

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ALL CLASSES ARE AFTER FIRST SERVICE ON SUNDAYS

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KEY VERSE: MATTHEW 19

Ice-breaker

Q: If you could create the ultimate summer vacation destination, what would it be like, and what activities or attractions would you include?

A Jesus encounter can change our lives.  As Christians, Jesus is and should be the main thing in our lives.  Many of us allow other things to occupy our minds and forget about Jesus. 

The Devil tries to get us busy with so many other things.  We need to go after Jesus no matter what others say about Him.

Jesus is worth WHATEVER you have to get over.

Jesus is worth WHOEVER you have to get over.

We need to get over whoever or whatever is between us and Jesus.  Jesus is worth it.  There is nothing better than following and knowing Him.

There is always someone hindering us from what He wants to do in our lives.

Who is my “THEY”?

These are people who keep us away from Jesus.  They always have something to say.  They get in the way and push us out of the way of what God wants for us.

An encounter with Jesus HAPPENS when we get over what THEY THINK and PURSUE what HE offers.

We need to be okay with people criticizing us and not liking us.   As Christians, we should expect pushback because not everyone is on board with what God wants to do in us and through us.

Q. As the text suggests, being a Christian may lead to pushback and criticism from others. How do you handle criticism or disapproval related to your faith? What strategies can you adopt to remain steadfast in your commitment to God’s plan, even in the face of opposition?

Matthew 9:14-19 (ESV)

The John referred to in this passage is John the Baptist.  He was a wild man, but he was a mighty man and a powerful preacher. 

The people asking John these questions in the passage represent the people who always complain about what the Church is doing.  These people make excuses for why they are not engaged in the life of the Church.  They criticize what is going on in the life of the Church.

Many people in the Church today are so connected to what the Church has done in the past, it hinders them from what God is doing now in them and in the Church.  They are so stuck in the ‘old ways’ that anything different is unacceptable to them. 

Christianity is a feast, not a funeral.  We are not mourning, we are rejoicing! It is a party to be in the presence of God!

Q. The text mentions people being stuck in the “old ways” and resistant to change. Share a personal experience when you had to embrace something new and different in your faith journey. How did it impact your relationship with God and the Church?

Who might be keeping you from pursuing Jesus?

1. They can be the people who EMBRACE you.

People who like us and love us and think we are wonderful are also hindrances in our walk with Christ.

Matthew 9:18 (ESV)

This Synagogue ruler was a successful man and was loved by his community.  He was elected to the board of the local Synagogue.  He had been elected to be the leader of all. He was significant in his community and throughout the world.

Synagogue Rulers were like the MAYORS of the COMMUNITY.

This ruler was tied to the old ways of doing things but he comes to Jesus and gets on his knees before this Carpenter Rabbi.

Had the ruler’s daughter not died, he may have never had anything to do with Jesus.  Sometimes God allows earthshaking moments in our lives to bring us to Him.

Worse than being afraid of what others think is to be loved by our community.  The Church in America is trying to be liked by our country but we are prophetically appointed to speak to our country!

We are called to be different because Jesus is that much worth it.  We need to let Jesus be Jesus and break free from the embrace of our culture.

Q. The passage highlights how the synagogue ruler’s encounter with Jesus was triggered by an earthshaking moment in his life. Can you share a personal experience when a challenging or life-altering event brought you closer to Jesus? How can we remain open to God’s work even in difficult circumstances and allow such moments to draw us closer to Him?

Who might be keeping you from pursuing Jesus?

2. They can be the people who EXCLUDE you.

We can be kept off the path by people who reject us.

Matthew 9:20 (ESV)

In this passage, we meet a woman, who was in those days, was a second-class citizen.  This woman has been struggling with her menstrual cycle for 12 years, and because of this condition, she was completely isolated and secluded.  She was not allowed to marry;  she was alone with no opportunity to have any children.  She was unmarried, unloved, unable to have a family, and untouched for 12 years.

The woman presses through her rejection and exclusion to get to Jesus. 

This was the first time she could touch someone who does not become unclean but made her clean. 

This is what Jesus had done for us.  He loves us because of who He is, not because of what we do.  He has enough love to love the unlovable.

Q. The woman’s determination to reach out to Jesus despite her social status and condition is a powerful example of faith. How can we learn from her persistence and apply it to our own lives? In what ways can we overcome obstacles or societal pressures that may hinder us from pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus?

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Bible Study Pro Tip 3: Pay attention to EXTREME CONTRASTS.

(See the previous guide for the first 2 pro tips)

When the Bible presents extreme contrasts, there is a reason for it.  Extreme opposites are intended to include everything in between. 

Somewhere in between the extreme-embraced ruler and the extreme-rejected woman is us.  We may be aiming toward the extreme-embraced person who is chasing the good life instead of the God-life, or we may be aiming toward the extreme-rejected person shoved in a corner and excluded, and if we are not careful, we will fall into despondency thinking God can’t love us.

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Who might be keeping you from pursuing Jesus?

3. They can be the people who EMBRACE and EXCLUDE you at the SAME TIME.

These are the most dangerous people.  These people are in our lives just to put us down.  They never let us go but never stop criticizing us.  They are life-sucking leaches.  They stick to us,  not because they love us, but because they want to suck the life out of us.  They question everything we do and put us down.

We need to get free from those people.  We cannot fix them or be their savior.  We cannot change these people, we can pray for God to change them, but it is not our job to change them.

Beware of the UNAPPEASABLE person.

No matter what we do, they are never happy.  No matter how much we give them, they want more and they will keep us away from Jesus.

Jesus is a giver, not a taker, He is not a criticizer, He is a life changer!

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV)

Q. The text warns about unappeasable individuals who are never satisfied and keep us away from Jesus. How can we identify such people in our lives, and what strategies can we employ to set healthy boundaries with them while still showing Christ-like love and compassion?

Sermon in a Sentence:

An encounter with Jesus happens when I PURSUE Him and CEASE trying to PLEASE them.

Challenge: 

This week take time to recognize and let go of people-pleasing habits in your life. This may involve setting boundaries, learning to say “no” when necessary, and focusing more on aligning your actions with what God desires for you rather than seeking validation from others.

For  the story behind the song ‘I Have Decided to Follow Jesus’  Click Here