In our last series, we talked about loving our neighbours, and stepped through six shifts. From stranger to neighbour to acquaintance to partner to friend to becoming “like family”.
It’s possible to become like family with a focused group of people, where you practice loving your neighbours within that small group, and see that spill over to others outside.
This series looks specifically at this stage of being “like family” with other followers of Jesus. It’s called the church, believe it or not. Important that explore what church means as we prepare to launch a new church in Ajax in 2014.
You probably have all sorts of preconceived notions of what that word means. Attached you’ll find a video of some people on the street who were asked about what they think of when they hear “church”.
You can find the video here:
Question: When you hear the word “church” what do you immediately see, or think? Make a list, there may be several. What experiences have informed you?
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CloseRyan Sim - May 8, 2013
Wednesday - Change It - Self Denial
Jesus talked about fasting, or intentionally denying ourselves for a greater good. The Pharisees were advertising their supposed humility to the world. So Jesus’ challenge is this: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV) Jesus wants his followers to fast for God alone. This is different from a hunger strike, like the one Theresa Spence engaged in. She put herself in the most conspicuous place possible – an island - and had staff dealing with her media relations. All about advertising her fasting, to make a political message. Jesus doesn’t want his followers fasting to make a point, force change, or advertise their religiosity. He wants them to fast privately, for God. If his followers can fast, and look and act ordinarily, God will see their humility, and no one else needs to know. And that was meant to be the point, right? What about today – why would anyone fast? We see three reasons people fast in the Bible, same today: 1. Prayer – Particularly for making special decisions. To turn to God for direction, we turn away from something else that might try to direct us. 2. Self-discipline – Our bodies can cause us to sin, they are broken versions of what God created them to be. We want not just our wills to align with God’s will, but all of us, including our bodies. 3. Care for the Poor – I have a friend who intentionally lived on Ontario Works level of income. She decided to live more simply than necessary, to give that money to others, or in the case of fasting, food. These are all reasons to fast for God: prayer, to be self-disciplined in avoiding sin, and to care for others. These are great reasons for self-denial – all ways to turn away from sin in our world, and towards God. John Stott: We have to become so conscious of God we cease to be self-conscious. Question: What are you self-conscious about? When do you pay the most attention to what others will think?
Related Topics: Humility, Self-Denial | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Friday - Reflect - Structured Rest | September 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Structured Rest | September 10, 2015 | Interview | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Structured Rest | September 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Structured Rest | September 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Structured Rest | September 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Inner Rest | September 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Inner Rest | September 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Inner Rest | September 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Inner Rest | September 1, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Inner Rest | August 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Finding Rest | August 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Finding Rest | August 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Finding Rest | August 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Finding Rest | August 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Finding Rest | August 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Rest | August 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Rest | August 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Rest | August 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Rest | August 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Rest | August 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Well | August 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Well | August 13, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Working Well | August 12, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Working Well | August 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Well | August 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Badly | August 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Badly | August 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Working Badly | August 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Working Badly | August 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Badly | August 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Work | July 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Work | July 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Work | July 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Work | July 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Work | July 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Friday | July 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Thursday | July 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Wednesday | July 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Tuesday | July 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Monday | July 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Friday | July 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Thursday | July 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Wednesday | July 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Tuesday | July 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Monday | July 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Friday | July 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Thursday | July 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Wednesday | July 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Tuesday | July 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Monday | July 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Friday | July 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Thursday | July 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Wednesday | July 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Tuesday | June 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Monday | June 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Friday | June 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Thursday | June 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Wednesday | June 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Tuesday | June 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Monday | June 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Friday | June 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Thursday | June 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Wednesday | June 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Tuesday | June 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Monday | June 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Friday | June 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Thursday | June 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Wednesday | June 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Tuesday | June 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Monday | June 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Friday | June 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Thursday | June 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Wednesday | June 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Tuesday | June 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Monday | June 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Friday | May 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Thursday | May 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Wednesday | May 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Tuesday | May 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Monday | May 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Friday | May 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Thursday | May 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Wednesday | May 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Tuesday | May 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Monday | May 18, 2015 | Gladwell | Watch | Listen | |
EPIC: David Anointed King - Friday | May 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Thursday | May 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Wednesday | May 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Tuesday | May 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Monday | May 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Friday | May 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Thursday | May 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Wednesday | May 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Tuesday | May 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Monday | May 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Friday | May 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Thursday | April 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Wednesday | April 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Tuesday | April 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Monday | April 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Friday | April 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Thursday | April 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Wednesday | April 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Tuesday | April 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Monday | April 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Friday | April 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Thursday | April 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Wednesday | April 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Monday | April 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Friday | April 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Thursday | April 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Wednesday | April 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Tuesday | April 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Monday | April 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Friday | April 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Thursday | April 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Wednesday | April 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Tuesday | March 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Monday | March 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen |