Christ and The World

John 7:1-9 (NIV84) After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” For even his own brothers did not believe in him. Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil. You go to the feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.” Having said this, he stayed in Galilee.

Matthew 5:7-12 (NIV) “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Jesus was against the world for the world.

What does “the world” mean?

John 12:47 (GW) “… I didn’t come to condemn the world but to save the world.”

John 3:16 (KJ21) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son …”

1 John 2:15 (KJ21) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…

“The world” can mean the material human universe.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (NTE) Every creation of God, you see, is good; nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for then it is made holy by God’s word and prayer.

“The world” can mean “spirit of the world.”

System of thinking in which the material world and the human world are ends in themselves.

A worldly mindset – “The here and now is all that matters.”

A Christian mindset – “The here and now is only part of what matters.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJ21) …we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.

Genesis 25:32 (ESV) Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”

How will our church be different?

1. We will be different in our attitude toward material things.

2. We will be different in our attitude toward uncertainty.

3. We will be different in our attitude toward “glitz and glam.”

Romans 13:11 (CSB) Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

What will happen if we are?

The world won’t understand us.

Timothy 3:12 (ESV) …all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

What do we look forward to?

Persecution now brings great reward in eternity.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (CSB) But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him.

Talk It Over

• How would you explain the “controversy” that Pastor Shane talks about in his first bullet point to someone who doesn’t believe as you do?
• Contrast a worldly mindset and a Christian mindset. What are some examples you see of this? Discuss this in your small group.
• Shane listed three ways our church should be different. Which of these makes the most sense to you? Is the easiest to address? Is the most challenging? How would you explain the “why” behind each of these?
• The idea of persecution of Christians in America is very different from other parts of the world. How do you see persecution? How do you stand up to it or push back against it? What do you think the perspective of Christians in other parts of the world would be?
• Parents: In this message, Shane used one of the best known verses in the Bible – John 3:16. Work with your children to memorize it this week and talk about: 1. How much God loved. 2. Who God loved. 3. What he did with that love. And 4. What that love means for us. Great dinner time discussion!