End of an Era Pt.2
Speaker: Pastor Pierre du Plessis
Speaker: Pastor Pierre
Scripture References : Matt 26: 41 MSG, 2 Pet 1:3-4 Voice, Philp 2:13 AMP, Eph 2:10 message, Col 1:27 NIV
Diving Deeper Questions:
Read the referenced scriptures. What stands out, challenges or provokes you?
Read John 12:23-26. How does this passage relate to the metaphor of a seed? What does it mean to you?
As believers we are like a seed that has the potential to work in partnership with God to reproduce His love and be a blessing to others. In what ways do we over-protect and limit our ability to reproduce?
It was said that we view satisfaction as continually getting what we want and that that as humans, the desire for more is built into our nature to survive. How does this statement resonate with you? How have you responded in times where you weren’t getting what you wanted?
It was said that moeney, power, pleasure and fame can easily become idols in our lives. Has there ever been a time that that was true for you?
Read Matthew 26:41. What can we do to keep from falling into temptation and the
worldly path of pursuit of substitutes for God?
It was said that it is easy for us to being protecting the idols in our lives and justify it. How do we surrender our fear of not having enough and allow ourselves to have generous spirits?
At the end of the message, Pierre read the “Litany of Humility.” What strikes you as you re-read it?
From putting my career before the people in my life, deliver me.
From distracting myself from life with work, deliver me.
From my drive to be superior to others, deliver me.
From the allure of the world’s empty promises, deliver me.
From my feelings of professional superiority, deliver me.
From allowing my pride to supplant my love, deliver me.
From the pains of withdrawing from my addiction, deliver me.
From the dread of falling into decline and being forgotten, deliver me.
Pastor challenged us to create an intentional moment where we can be an encouragement to someone else. How will you meet this challenge? What, if anything, will keep you from completing it? What in you may need to die?
Sermon Recap
The acorn is the fruit of an oak tree and consists of an outer shell in which a seed is enclosed that carries the potential of 1000 forests. When it falls to the ground and dies its protective covering is released and reproduction occurs. But if for some reason the protective covering over-protects, it cancels out its potential and stifles reproduction. Only when what protects becomes generous in its nature does it allow what is on the inside to become effective on the outside. This metaphor of a seed helps us understand how God transports His dream of redemption for the world and how we as believers are to work in partnership with God to accomplish His mission. Man has two parts – one that is born again of God and is eager and ready for anything in God; and another part that has a fallen human nature that tends to protect or imprison our internal potential. One who follows his fallen nature seeks to find happiness in a worldly path and often in things that are substitutes for God. God’s desire is that we build upon our new shared divine nature such that we can release ourselves from the treadmill of a life seeking after satisfaction and achievement, and recognize that He has given us everything we need to experience life, to reflect His true nature and to escape the corruption of worldly desires (2 Peter 1:3-4). By laying aside our striving for advantage, security and pleasure, we can die to our selfish desires, let go of our over-protectiveness, and become fruitful in becoming conduits of His blessings that can flow through us to others.
