the encounter

We had a great time this morning during with our encounter living room group. Lots of good conversation and application in what Jesus means in Matthew 5:38-42

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.”

Here’s the video we watched to spur some of the conversation…

It’s easy to talk in generalities about how we should react to strangers or the homeless or customers, etc. But the real application comes when we talk about those closest to us.

How does this change the way we relate to our spouse? Or our kids? Or our neighbor?

Reminds me of Paul’s instructions in his letter to the Philippians…

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. – Philippians 2:1-4

So what did you learn during your morning discussions? Or what stands out to you now?

Share your thoughts :: Comments: 0

Imagine living in a house with 20 people when you don’t enjoy entertaining people. Yikes!

The Generous Husband writes…

A few months ago my bride and I attended a meeting on “new monasticism” – living in intentional, multi-family groups. Yeah, that can be a commune in all the ugly ways, but it can also be something good. But I only mention it here because of something said to me by the man who owned the house in which we met. This fellow, a bit older than I, said he did not like entertaining – and I commented on how odd that was given that he regularly had a group of 20 or more in his home. He then said “I am learning to die to my preferences.”

I think that’s a lot of what we as followers of Christ are called to do.

It would be my preference to hoard all my money and say, “I worked for it. I’m not giving you a dime. You go out and earn your own.”

It would be my preference to say, “I’ve had a hard day – I don’t want to fix a meal for another family.”

It would be my preference to say, “You’ve wronged me too many times – so I’m off the hook – I don’t have to love you anymore.”

It would be my preference to say, “Honey, I don’t care what you want anymore – it’s all about me and what I want.”

But I think Jesus asks more of his followers… even when things aren’t going the way we’d prefer.

If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. - Matthew 5:39:42

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. – Phil 2:1-4

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. – Romans 12:9-10

or the New King Jimmy puts it this way:

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.

What preferences do you have trouble dying to?

Share your thoughts :: Comments: 0

From Central Christian Church…

Reminds me somewhat of this video we did a couple years back…

So here’s the question(s) for you. Why do you attend church? Why do you attend where you do? Or why don’t you?

Share your thoughts :: Comments: 0