CrossLife Church- Pflugerville, TX

Be More Like Your Sinful Neighbor

Today I’m suggesting that you can become a better neighbor, friend, coworker, classmate and family member. How? Be more like the other person who is your sinful neighbor, friend, coworker, classmate and family member. 

No, don’t sin more. This tip will actually help you sin less, and love more, share your faith more, and help others more. It comes from someone I follow, Paul Tripp. I’m referring you to his blog from this week. Check it out.

Rather than serving others from a superior position, followers of Jesus serve others from a submissive position. Just like Jesus did to serve and save sinners. He came down from heaven. He subjected his divine nature to a human body, mind and feelings that made things really messy. He suffered and died. All so that he could save and forgive you. 

Jesus says it clearly, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).

The apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christian witnesses and missionaries of all time, taught about that. Read this blog of a modern-day Christian named Paul about the Christian leader and Bible writer in the 1st century named Paul.

It’s called, “Like Your Sinful Neighbor.”

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, you became a submissive servant to save me, a miracle that means your kingdom sees success differently than the operating system of this world. Even differently than my own sinful assumptions. Help me to be more humble, and feel less superior, when serving others and sharing the gospel. Amen.

 

GROW DEEPER: Consider these reflection and discussion questions based on the questions from Paul Tripp. If you have time for all of them, great! If not, then just pick one. Ponder and pray. 

  1. What kinds of patterns or behaviors are in your non-believing neighbor friends that make you feel better or more morally upright than them? In what specific ways are you looking down on them?
  2. Why do you think Paul calls himself the “foremost of sinners” in his letter to Timothy? Is he exaggerating or being honest about his self-opinion? Why does his self-statement matter?
  3. Do you have a proper understanding of your need for mercy from God? Can you confess it clearly? How does that proper understanding fuel humility in your life, and in turn fuel effective evangelism in your neighborhood?