News Archive
2009: The year of the apprentice
IntroductionThe goal for every Christian, every year, should be to become more like Jesus in character and deed. “The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. (Rom 8:29-30 msg)”. So becoming more Christ-like or being more holy (1 Pet 1:16), is a command for us all.
This year at HBC, our main focus in our teaching and discipleship will be all about taking personal responsibility to become more like Jesus; or to engage in the process of spiritual maturity. In order for us to make progress in this area, we will need the help of:
i. The Bible
ii. One Another
iii. The Holy Spirit
Starter for Ten
On a sliding scale of 1-10, 1 being totally pagan and unchristian and 10 being an amalgamation of Mother Teresa and Billy Graham, discuss with the group where you think you are (you are allowed to have a bit of fun during this exercise!)
Session One: Mature Christians ….. choose to embrace the Father’s love.
The starting point for any Christian in wanting to become more like Christ is the absolute necessity of embracing the Father’s love.
Read together Luke 15:11-32
(v20) “… while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
Whilst the Father’s love is not confined to the limitations of this text, this verse does epitomise it. His love is:
1. Patient
The Greek word makrothumia means long-suffering. 2 Peter 3:9 says “God is patient (long-suffering) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Discuss how you feel the parable of Prodigal Son reveals the Father’s ‘patient love’. What must it have been like for the father keeping vigil at the village gates?
2. Compassionate
When the father sees his boy coming home he has good reason to be angry. After all, the son wanted him dead when he asked for his share of the inheritance. Compassion (splachna) is to be moved in the guts to redemptive action.
If you have time, you might want to consider examples when Jesus was moved by compassion (Matt. 9:36, 14:14, 20:34 and Mark 1:42 etc).
3. Demonstrated
This is not an image of a cold and distant father, but one who can’t help but show his feelings, who treasures intimacy with his children, and who showers his boy with affection.
Consider how uninhibited, undignified, lavish, unsparing … yet beautiful and transformative a moment this was. Discuss how your lives have been impacted by unconditional love and acceptance.
Ministry and Prayer
A good starting point may be to give space for personal repentance for keeping the Father’s love at arms length. Remind one another of the intimacy of His love (John 3:16, 1 John 3:1, etc). Pray that God’s love will be poured out amongst you by His Spirit. Recognise that the outcome of embracing the Father’s love is to go on a journey from slavery to sonship; orphans become heirs, duty turns into discipleship, rejected children become adopted sons, the remote God becomes the intimate ‘daddy’, rejection turns to acceptance, bitterness to warmth, hard hearts become soft hearts, and timid people become bravehearts. All of this can only be precipitated by the love of the Father.