Pre-Kingdom of God Bible Seminars Sermon

How Christ Related to Others

By Bob Fahey

I.Kingdom of God Bible Seminars begin next Sabbath! A bit scary! We are all new at this and everyone wants the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars to go well.

  1. Become more clearly aware of 1 Corinthians 3:5-7.
  1. Following the format sent out by the home office.
  • Opening prayer
  • Seminar 1
  • 10-minute break for coffee and tea
  • Seminar 2
  • Closing prayer
  • Complimentary snacks, drinks and appetizers
  1. Change order of service? Mr. Kubik has suggested this format for the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars.
  2. Will try it, and report to home office how it worked for us. Input welcome!

II.Big question may be “How will we do?” Or “How will I do?” Or “How will you do?”

A.Or “I hope no one asks me any questions—I’m staying in the rest room!”

B. We don’t want our guests entering an empty hall! Or to see us all looking tense!

C. Ideally, we want our guests who attend the Bible Seminars to meet Jesus Christ—in us!

III.Jesus Christ is called ‘Teacher.” Also “the Master.” And “the Head of the Church.” We can learn about how to conduct ourselves, in all situations, from Him.

A. Christ knows only the Father can call people to the Kingdom.

  • John 6:44

B. And He also knows those called will come to him.

  • John 6:45
  • John 6:35-40—and Christ intends to raise them up at the last day. Not cast any away!

C.Let’s examine the Master’s method of relating to the new people that He came into contact with. People the Father brought to Him.

1. John 1:3538—two disciples of John the Baptist heard Jesus speak and began to follow him.

  • Jesus turned and asked: “What do you want?”
  • He didn’t start with His agenda, but with theirs.
  • He began where they were and gradually led them to himself.

2. John 2:311—Wedding Feast at Cana.

  • During the celebration, the host ran out of wine. This a social disaster, humiliating for the host. Jesus’ mother learned of it and told her son. He turned the water into wine, the best of the feast.
  • Christ was willing to care for people’s needseven ones that seem unspiritual.
  • He saved the host from humiliation—quietly, tactfully. Jesus met the need of the present moment. With discretion.

3. John 3—The Visit by Nicodemus.

  • A Rabbi recognized Jesus as a teacher from God. Not the teacher, but a teacher.
  • The Jews were expecting the Kingdom of God to be set up. Nicodemus knew that, and wondered about it. Perhaps there were other questions on his mind that night.
  • Jesus explained to him exactly what he was looking for and how to participate in His Kingdom:
  • “You must be born from above!” Of water and the Spirit. Belonging to physical Israel is not enough!
  • This Rabbi’s questions involved spiritual understanding and direction. So Jesus Christ responded to him on that level.

4. John 4:7—The Woman at the Well.

  • She was after water, and was surprised that a Jew would talk with her, a Samaritan woman.
  • She sought to quarrel with him about where to worship God. Christ avoided the quarrel—by rising above it and offering her water that ensures she would never thirst again.
  • He carefully led her from where she was, focused on getting water from a deep well, to an understanding of Himself as the Giver of eternal life.

5. John 5:29—Healing by the Pool of Bethesda. Again Jesus was meeting a human being precisely at the point of his greatest need.

  • Jesus asked the poor paralytic, who’d been lying in despair for 38 years: “Do you want to be made well?”
  • Responding to Jesus’ command, he rose to his feet, his wasted body suddenly made whole again.
  • Jesus, moved by compassion, initiated the contact to meet his physical need!

6. Notice how Jesus worked.

  • He didn’t tell the humiliated host at Cana he had to be born again. That would have been inappropriate.
  • He didn’t tell the paralytic about living water; that’s not where his mind was focused. The Messiah helped him get up and walk.

7. But that got him into trouble with the Jews!

  • John 5:918—Persecution, criticism, division.
  • There may be exceptions, but generally the ministry would handle those situations.

8. John 6:115—Feeding the Multitudes.

  • Thousands of hungry people on a hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee had a definite need. The disciples wanted to send them to neighboring villages to buy food.
  • Jesus insisted that they as disciples meet the need with their meager provisions.
  • The Teacher prayed, the bread and fish were broken, and thousands ate their fill!

9. Jesus is the One who can meet every human need. His method of evangelism is simply this: to reach people where they are, touch them at the point of their need. Give them a glimpse of His magnificent love and way of life.

  • Every day, we rub shoulders with all kinds people.
  • They have all kinds of needs: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
  • Christ in us will help us recognize those needs. People’s loneliness, sorrow and heartache.
  • We need to meet people where they are, reaching out with God’s love to meet physical, mental and emotional needs as we are able.
  • But remember, the ultimate need for everyone is RECONCILIATION WITH GOD. And that is only possible through Jesus Christ.

D. Christ discerned Perceived Needs from the Unperceived Need.

1. “Perceived Needs” are those in which an individual SENSES the need.

  • Severe trial, marriage, health, death, finances. (The ones many of us are facing!)
  • Harried businessman or housewife, feeling the need to alleviate stress.
  • Smoker trying to kick the habit. Drug addict. Severe loneliness.

2. But the “Ultimate Need” is what humans need most: reconciliation with God.

  • Most don’t sense such a need as yet. Only focused on their “Felt Needs.”
  • “Felt needs” can become avenues through which a person becomes aware of their ultimate need.
  • Christ began where they were focused—on their “Felt Needs.”
  • That helps break down barriers between people. Relationship built!
  • God, who promised to teach everyone (John 6:45) can bring their attention around to the “Ultimate Need.”

IV. How do we apply all this? The answer is to glorify God.

A. I Peter 2:912

  • To glorify God, we must orient people to God, not ourselves.
  • Self-focus sets up the wrong mind-set, e.g., “UCG people are the best!”“Our brand is the best!”
  • Our focus must be on Christ, not UCG. To God, not us.
  • Ancient Israel focused on herself as “God’s people.”
  • Assumed they were better. Pride entered. God left!
  • We as a royal priesthood are a conduit to helping people be reconciled to God!

B. People often come to a new church because they are dissatisfied with a former church—they’re not turned off by God/Christ, but by their former church.

  • Christ said: John 6:35-40 (NIV)

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.’”

  • We must have the same focus as Christ Himself. God calls people to come to HIM!
  • He will teach us all everything we need to know!
  • If someone follows you to Christ, they’re sure to follow you to church! God calls people to Christ! Let’s not get in the way!
  • 1 Peter 4:11

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.”

Bob Fahey

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Pre Kingdom of God Bible Seminars Sermon