MSG: Video Call - All In Rim Huggers - Session 3
Dec
18
Details
Opening Reflection
Today you are called to abandon the purposes of your kingdom and give yourself to the will of a greater King. Grace makes it possible.
Today you are called to abandon the purposes of your kingdom and give yourself to the will of a greater King. Grace makes it possible.
It is the view of life between the “already” and the “not yet” that every Christian needs to have. It’s captured powerfully by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10–18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
Why does Paul end his letter to the Ephesians this way? He does so because he understands that on this side of forever, life is war. When he tells his readers to put on gospel armor and get ready for war, Paul is not introducing a new topic; no, he’s summarizing everything he’s said so far. Every directive he has given—that is, every application of what it means to live in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ—must be lived out in the context of a great spiritual battle. What is this war about? It is the great war for the rulership of our hearts. With sin still living inside of us:
We are still torn between our love for the claustrophobic little kingdom of self and the grand and glorious purposes of the kingdom of God.
We still are tempted to want our own way and to write our own rules.
We still tend to value comfort and pleasure more than we love redemption.
We are tempted to have more excitement in the things of this world than we do with the reality that we have become the children of God.
We still complain when sanctifying trials come our way and we still tend to credit God with faithfulness only when things in our lives seem to be working.
We are still torn between our love for the claustrophobic little kingdom of self and the grand and glorious purposes of the kingdom of God.
We still are tempted to want our own way and to write our own rules.
We still tend to value comfort and pleasure more than we love redemption.
We are tempted to have more excitement in the things of this world than we do with the reality that we have become the children of God.
We still complain when sanctifying trials come our way and we still tend to credit God with faithfulness only when things in our lives seem to be working.
This great spiritual war is not the rare, exotic experience of demons dancing on the table that we often think it is. No, it is the constant battle for our hearts that will rage between God and a seductive and deceptive enemy until that enemy is under the foot of Jesus. Ephesians 6:10–18 reminds you that you have been given ample grace for this battle.
For further study and encouragement: 1 John 2:15–17
Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014), 293.
For further study and encouragement: 1 John 2:15–17
Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014), 293.
Introduction
Being all in and living all out for Jesus is about action, taking chances, and following God's will no matter what the cost. It is not enough to simply believe the Bible and have correct information about the Christian faith. We need to do something!
Being all in and living all out for Jesus is about action, taking chances, and following God's will no matter what the cost. It is not enough to simply believe the Bible and have correct information about the Christian faith. We need to do something!
Video Discussion
1. Tell about an epic adventure you engaged in and how you experienced what it felt like to "hike the canyon" instead of "hug the rim." How did this experience make you feel alive and connected to God?
1. Tell about an epic adventure you engaged in and how you experienced what it felt like to "hike the canyon" instead of "hug the rim." How did this experience make you feel alive and connected to God?
2. When Mark was climbing out of the Grand Canyon with his son, exhausted and spent, he saw the people hugging the rim (some of them eating ice cream cones), and this is what ran through his mind: "I felt sorry for myself. Then I felt sorry for them. I realized that they were seeing the Grand Canyon and missing it at the same time." Mark says, "You can't truly see what you have not personally experienced."
a.) What do you think he means by this statement?
b.) What are some of the dangers when a person stands on the rim and views the Christian faith but never really hikes deep into it and personally experiences what it means to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost?
a.) What do you think he means by this statement?
b.) What are some of the dangers when a person stands on the rim and views the Christian faith but never really hikes deep into it and personally experiences what it means to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost?
James 1:22–25
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
3. James says that when we hear God's Word and understand His will but don't have faith to follow Him, we are deceiving ourselves.
a.) Why is inaction and a refusal to be transformed into a form of self-deception?
b.) What keeps you from following what you know God wants in certain areas of your life?
a.) Why is inaction and a refusal to be transformed into a form of self-deception?
b.) What keeps you from following what you know God wants in certain areas of your life?
4. Mark makes this interesting statement: "Most of us are educated way beyond the level of our obedience.
a.) We don't need to know more; we need to do more with what we know." What is he getting at?
b.) What is one area of your life where this is true, and what steps of obedience do you need to take? How can your group members pray for you and help you take steps forward in this area of your life ?
a.) We don't need to know more; we need to do more with what we know." What is he getting at?
b.) What is one area of your life where this is true, and what steps of obedience do you need to take? How can your group members pray for you and help you take steps forward in this area of your life ?
Deuteronomy 6:4–9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Luke 10:27
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Luke 10:27
He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
5a.) What does it look like when you love God entirely, completely, and passionately with your:
- Heart
- Soul
- Strength
- Mind
Tell about a time you gave God your maximum effort and really invested yourself in loving Him with all you have.
b.) What did God do in you and through you as you loved Him passionately?
- Heart
- Soul
- Strength
- Mind
Tell about a time you gave God your maximum effort and really invested yourself in loving Him with all you have.
b.) What did God do in you and through you as you loved Him passionately?
6. The mission field is on the other side of the world, that's true. But it is also right where you live and work. Take a moment to write down some of the people God has placed in the various mission fields you might serve:
In your home and extended family
At your school or workplace
In your neighborhood
In your social circles
Tell your group members about one of these people and how God has moved your heart to love and serve this individual in a way that will reveal the presence and grace of Jesus.
How can your group members pray for you and cheer you on in this relationship?
In your home and extended family
At your school or workplace
In your neighborhood
In your social circles
Tell your group members about one of these people and how God has moved your heart to love and serve this individual in a way that will reveal the presence and grace of Jesus.
How can your group members pray for you and cheer you on in this relationship?
1 Samuel 14:1–23
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba. Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” Jonathan said, “Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.” So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there. Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.) While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. So the Lord rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba. Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” Jonathan said, “Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.” So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. Saul’s lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. Then Saul said to the men who were with him, “Muster the forces and see who has left us.” When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there. Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (At that time it was with the Israelites.) While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. So the Lord rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
7a.) What do you learn from Saul's example and from Jonathan's example in this story?
b.) How does fear keep us on the sideline of God's adventure, and how does faith move us to the front line of God's will?
b.) How does fear keep us on the sideline of God's adventure, and how does faith move us to the front line of God's will?
8. Tell about an area of your life where fear is keeping you on the sideline. How could a new infusion of faith help move you forward onto the front line of God's will?
How can your group members support you and pray for you as you seek to take a bold step forward and follow God's will for this area of your life?
How can your group members support you and pray for you as you seek to take a bold step forward and follow God's will for this area of your life?
9. As we follow God's call into difficult and seemingly impossible situations, we encounter "God moments" times when God shows up and does something we could never have pulled off on our own, so that only He can get the glory. Describe a time you followed God's call (even though it scared you); God showed up; and He got the praise, credit, and glory.
10. Jonathan boldly followed God, propelled forward by the thought, "Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf' (1 Samuel 14:6). How could your life change if you entered situations and took chances for God, spurred on by that same thought?
Closing Prayer
Take time as a group to pray in any of the following directions:
• Ask God to make you a canyon hiker and spare you from living as a rim hugger. Pray that you will not miss the adventure of really following Jesus that He has planned for you.
• Invite God to convict and challenge you in areas where you have become a hearer of the Word but need to move into action and become a doer.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with power and boldness to give a maximum effort as you love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
• Pray that every day of your life will feel like a mission trip because you are learning to see each person as someone loved by God and in need of the grace of Jesus.
• Invite God to lead and teach you to be holy crazy for His glory and for your good.
Take time as a group to pray in any of the following directions:
• Ask God to make you a canyon hiker and spare you from living as a rim hugger. Pray that you will not miss the adventure of really following Jesus that He has planned for you.
• Invite God to convict and challenge you in areas where you have become a hearer of the Word but need to move into action and become a doer.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with power and boldness to give a maximum effort as you love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
• Pray that every day of your life will feel like a mission trip because you are learning to see each person as someone loved by God and in need of the grace of Jesus.
• Invite God to lead and teach you to be holy crazy for His glory and for your good.
"Eternity won’t be long enough to discover all that He is or praise Him for all that He's done. "
A. W. Tozer
A. W. Tozer
Location
Online