Church | Outsiders Like Jesus, it’s His Followers They Can’t Stand: We Are the Church - Part 4

Send us Fan MailOutsiders Like Jesus, it’s His Followers They Can’t StandWe Are the Church - Part 4Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith StewartSunday, May 29, 2022Ask people what they think of Jesus and for the most part, their eyes will light up as they say things like, “Jesus is awesome” or “He was a very wise and loving man.” Even the most irreligious people you meet seem to have nothing but respect and admiration for Jesus. But if you ask them, “What do you think about the church?” You will notice a dramatic shift in tone. You’ll hear things like, “The Church is messed up” or “The Church is nothing like Jesus.” This message will speak frankly as to why that is and point us in a new direction as we seek to engage outsiders. It’s a message you won’t want to miss.SERIES: WE ARE THE CHURCHThe Church today is suffering from memory loss, not amnesia, more like Alzheimer’s. When a person has amnesia, they lose short-term memory but maintain a basic knowledge of their identity and are able to function. But Alzheimer’s slowly takes away the memory of how to function and identity. Unlike the amnesia victim, someone with Alzheimer’s may not even realize something is wrong. Without periodic reminders, we all too soon forget who we are called to be and what we are called to do as Christ-followers – members of His Church. This series is to remind us of those bedrock principles.DISCUSSION QUESTIONSIn your conversations with others or in what you have seen on social media, what are some of the other more common criticisms of the church in America? Do you think there is merit in the criticism? How would you approach a conversation with a person raising such a critique?The criticisms laid at the feet of the church don’t often resemble the criticisms aimed at Jesus. In what ways are they different? Why do you think that is?The outsider was made to feel included by Jesus in both His teaching and behavior. Can you think of any specific examples of this? How might we as a church and you as a Christ-follower do a better job of this?In the last half of the message, Pastor Keith pointed out the fundamental flaw in our thinking that leads to judgmental attitudes and behavior. It all boils down to the difference between bounded versus centered sets. So many want to define Christianity in terms of being a bounded set. When we do this, we invariably focus on externals that define us as Christians. That thinking is not just the basis of all legalistic Christianity, it’s also the way many Christians think who would never consider themselves to be a legalistic. Can you give any examples of where you have seen this or had personal experience with it?Jesus rejected the boundary-oriented approach to spirituality. In fact, this was His most common criticism of the Pharisees. Jesus instead used a centered approach to spirituality that focused on the movement of people either toward or away from God. Why is this a better approach? In your own walk with God, is your thinking more like the Pharisees or Jesus? In what ways would our relationship with those outside the faith improve by simply watching for signs of movement toward God?-----https://www.springcreekchurch.org/#realspringcreekchurch #wearethechurch #itsjesuschurch #reminder #backtobasics #church #fundamentals #churchisnotabuilding #culturalbaggage #baggage #traditionalism #areweworshippingworship #worship #outsiders #followers