SERIES: Marked
TITLE: Relationship Matters
TEXT: 2 Cor.5:14-21 (p.966)
I. OUR MOTIVATION
“The world can do almost anything as well as or better than the church. You need not be a Christian to build houses, feed the hungry, or heal the sick. There is one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.” Gordon MacDonald
“Our culture diets on the candy of tolerance, but what it really needs is the meat of grace. Tolerance does not value people but simply puts up with their behavior or beliefs. Tolerance alone cannot accommodate justice and mercy-it can only look the other way. Tolerance might deal with differences, but it can’t embrace us in full knowledge of sin and remove the guilt.” John Burke in No Perfect People Allowed.
God’s unconditional love and grace is a (game-changer).
Paul never lost his sense of (wonder) at Christ’s love. See Romans 8:35-39.
II. OUR APPROACH
“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry they are always watching you.”
Robert Fulghum
What should our approach to people be?
- There should be no prerequisites needed.
- There should be a strong desire to rid ourselves of the (“Us vs. them”) mentality.
- Understand (acceptance) does not mean (agreement) with people about their choices, beliefs, or behaviors.
NEXT WEEK: Service Matters- Phil.2:5-21
