INSIGHT
 

   When an expert of the Law asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment, He replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:37-40) Jesus summarizes the whole teaching of God in one action word: love! How do we love God? By keeping His commands (John 14:15; 15:14; 1 John 5:3). How do we love our neighbor? By being selfless,  kind, generous and compassionate to those around us, whether it be a fellow believer, family member, stranger or enemy. Love requires going beyond the comfort zone. The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit. Galatians 5:17 says, “For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other...” In order to love God and those around us, we must be willing to go beyond that which is convenient. Jesus taught the concept of sacrificial love in His parables and teachings. Is it comfortable to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you and others? (Matt 5:43-48). Is it comfortable to be patient when dealing with difficult people and situations? Is it comfortable to act with  kindness and gentleness when being opposed? (1 Cor. 13:4) Is it comfortable to keep anger under control? Is it comfortable to forget the wrongs of those who hurt you? (1 Cor. 13:5) Is it convenient to go out of your way to help someone who is destitute? (Luke 10:30-37; Matthew 25:34-40) Living the Christian life isn’t always convenient and comfortable! We must meet our challenge to go beyond the comfort zone!
The Life in Christ
Going Beyond the Comfort Zone

Key Text:      1 Corinthians 9:26-27

“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

 

Theme:

We all know that those involved in a race run for a prize. In the Olympics, all the runners in a race run, but only one can receive the gold! This is not so with the child of God. For all true believers who run the spiritual race will receive the gold, the crown of life! But he or she must keep to the path of duty prescribed: to go beyond the comfort zone! Just as those in a race discipline their bodies to endure the hardships of the race, so must the child of God discipline his body. For the body must be kept under submission, beaten black and blue, because the teachings of the Spirit are contrary to the desires of the flesh! (Gal. 5:17) Make sure the Spirit is shining through you! Love beyond the comfort zone! Live beyond the comfort zone! Go beyond the comfort zone!

 

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Get to know the unknown! There

    are people within the church you don’t

    know well. Get to know them.

2. Invite others to your home! Make

    your home a place of fellowship!

3. Seek opportunity to do good! Take a

    look around. Be aware of your

    surroundings! Do what is encouraging!

 

May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

Beyond The Comfort Zone

 

Introduction

 1 Cor. 9:26-27

   --rival: the body

I. The Summary Of God’s Word

    Matthew 22:37-40

 

 1. Love God (1 John 5:3)

     a. Love intensely

     b. Love beyond the comfort zone

         --love with obedience

         --love with dependence (faith)

         --love seeking His will

         --love seeking answers in Him

 

 2. Love you neighbor--fellow human

     a. Love intensely

     b. Love beyond the comfort zone

 

II. Love your neighbor

 

1. Love beyond inner comfort

      a. 1 Cor 13:4-6

          -- easier to be impatient

          -- easier to unkind when provoked

          -- easier to envy and to boast

          -- easier to hold grudges

 

  2. Love beyond the physical comfort

      a. Parables: Matthew 25:14f

          --vs. 14-30: Borrowed talents

             1. What are your talents?

             2. How are you using them?

             3. What will He find?

           --vs. 31-40: Tested service

             1. Whom have you fed?

             2. Whom have you invited?

             3. Whom have you clothed?

             4. Whom have you visited?

 

III. Conclusion

      Jesus--He went beyond comfort zone
Small Group Study

Warm-up:

Were you ever involved in some type of competitive sport? What does it take to be a successful athlete?

 

See To It                  1 Corinthians 9:19-27

 1. What type of freedom was Paul referring

      to when he said, “Though I am free..”?

      What type of slavery was he referring to?

 

 2. What was the purpose of his giving up

     his personal “freedom”?

 

 3. Explain the verse “To the Jews I became

     like a Jew.” Did Paul violate his own

     teachings (Galatians 5:3-4) regarding the law

     of Christ and the law of Moses?

 

 4. Read vs. 21-22. How do you think Paul

     became like those not having the law

     (Gentiles) and those who are weak?

 

 5. Read vs. 23. Paul gave up his freedom so

     he can share in the blessings of the Gospel.

     What kind of blessings does it offer?

 

Seeing It Closer:

 1. How can we apply the concept of becoming

     all things to all men today? Give some

     examples.

 

 2. What does Paul compare Christianity with?

     How is Christianity like an athletic event?

 

 3. What does strict training involve? Is it easy?

     What does it accomplish?

 

 4. What gets in the way of Christian service?

     How do we “beat” our bodies?

 

Getting To It:

 

Encourage each other to become all things to all men. Pray that we will not seek what is comfortable, but that which will promote salvation and edification of souls!

 

This week's Quiet Times:

Living Beyond the Comfort Zone

 

MONDAY

This week’s Quiet Times will touch again on an attitude necessary for maturity and growth. Read the incidence in Matthew 12:1-8.  What did the Pharisees accuse Jesus’ disciples of?  Here’s some background on the matter: People were not supposed to do work on the Sabbath. It was intended for men to rest from their work and turn their minds to the Lord and what He provides. (Exodus 20:10; Deut. 23:25) Some, however, got carried away by their hearts and turned God’s grace into something they had to earn by following the law. What two instances did Jesus call their attention to? Background for David’s situation: Twelve cakes, made of fine flour, were placed in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle each day on the table that stood opposite the lampstand. The old bread was eaten by the priests. It was this bread that David requested of Ahimelech, the priest, for himself and his men. The priests who worked on the Sabbath were not blamed for breaking the Law for they had to take care of the Temple, which is the second example Jesus uses.  Now look at verses 6 & 7 of Matthew 12.  Jesus is calling the Pharisees to something higher.  What is it? Write 1 Samuel 15:22 on an index card and memorize it.

 

TUESDAY

In Micah 6:6-8 the prophet arrives at the nature and purpose of sacrifice.  What is it that truly pleases God? Actions without heart? A heart without actions? “Teaching people to obey the Bible’s rules in order to find deliverance and peace is exactly backward to the biblical method. The Gospel message begins with the declaration of what God has done to set us free. Then, as we respond, God matures us into worship, understanding of the will of God, and fruitful obedience.” ¾Dr. Rubel Shelly  Today’s memory verse, Psalm 51:16-17, shows us David’s mindset.  He knew what it took to please God. A trusting, obedient heart. A moldable heart that understands compassion. Sacrificing can become a meaningless ritual. Compassion is a daily exercise of obedience to God’s will. Write that verse on an index card and memorize it. Has your weekly contribution become a ritual by which you measure your righteousness or justification?

               

WEDNESDAY

It is possible that you can become comfortable with your life before God. Comfortable with your actions, attitude and productivity. As we learned last week, however, all such comfort that could come from this is deceitful. The devil wants you to believe that you are OK with yourself all the time.  Instead of measuring your status before God by what you are doing or not doing, be assured of your position by what God has already done for you------> Salvation!  Read carefully Hebrews 10:5-18. To what is Jesus referring to in verses 5 and 6? How does Jesus respond to His own question? How does this response fulfill the requirements of the Law and please God at the same time? Explain Paul’s interpretation of Jesus’ statement at the end of verse 9. What is the result of a willing and obedient heart (verse 10)? Now let’s look closely at the rest, especially verses 16-18. How is it that God’s Laws are transferred from the tablets of stone into our minds and hearts? Notice that this second covenant brings us into a deeper, more personal relationship with God.  It is still very much a covenant of faith and trust, only now we have been delivered from sin and its consequence--eternal damnation--instead of being delivered from our earthly struggles.  The earthly struggles remain to strengthen our faith; to help us lean on the everlasting arms! Write Isaiah 66:2 on an index card and memorize it.

 

THURSDAY

Here we are. Back in Romans 12:1-2.  Notice!  In view of what does Paul urge you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices? Why is it so important to keep that view? Does it make sense to be sacrificial without having been delivered? Deliverance by the grace of God is what gives us the bearing to offer up ourselves as living sacrifices--> removing ourselves from the comfort zone of laziness and ignorance. Deliverance always precedes obedience as a reminder of the holy life that we are called to live. “Be holy as I am Holy” declares the Lord. Our comfort in Christ needs to come from the fruitfulness of our actions done in faith. Write Jeremiah 7:22-23 on an index card and memorize it.

 

FRIDAY

Read Philipians 2:1-4. Notice the challenge! If you truly can see what you have been saved from, then you will be moved to act out of compassion, not just to be considered righteous! You will not be selfish, or vain, or concerned about your material wealth or possessions, because you will realize that they are God’s anyway! Notice Paul’s attitude about his worldly gain; materially or socially, in Phillipians 3:7-11. In verses 7 and 8 Paul describes his view on worldly gain. The result? Peace of mind through the knowledge of righteousness gained by faith, the desire to know the sufferings of Christ, and the hope of the resurrection. Instead of being focused on the comforts of the world, you will be focused on the comfort in Heaven and willing to suffer to secure your salvation in Christ. Isn’t suffering necessary to have a contrite and broken heart? Write Proverbs 21:3 on an index card and memorize it.