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Open Day 12 Messy Hope: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days

Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

Yesterday’s Journey Study connects with today’s!
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The Questions

1) What are the rights Paul is referring to?

2) Who is Paul preaching to and what does it mean to preach?

3) What is the prize at the end of the race?

1 Corinthians 9:15-27

15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

Paul’s Use of His Freedom

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Original Intent

1) What are the rights Paul is referring to?
In the beginning of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul goes into detail about the rights he has given up. Paul, even as an apostle, didn’t walk with Jesus while He was on earth. After Jesus had been crucified and risen and ascended back to Heaven, Jesus appeared to Paul (then Saul) as he actively persecuted Christ followers. After his conversion, Paul stopped at nothing to preach the gospel, even though it meant giving up everything. Paul gave up his freedom in many ways and at times, even gave up food and drink to reach those who were dying without a Savior. He didn’t seek financial support from local churches to supply his monetary needs and he also surrendered his right to be married.  He lived out his days as a servant of the Lord, never reaping the harvest of his efforts, not being paid, but rather, doing it all so others could experience the joy of knowing Jesus. These are the rights Paul is referring to, and he willingly gave them up for the opportunity to see the Gospel advanced. To Paul, sharing the Good News of Jesus was worth giving up every right he had.

2) Who is Paul preaching to and what does it mean to preach?
Paul is literally referring to preaching or sharing the Good News of the Gospel with the words he uses. He is preaching of Jesus and what He did for all of humanity by sacrificing Himself and surrendering His rights for us in our place. We deserved death as just consequence for our sin, but Christ took on our punishment at the cross by dying our death for us. This is the good news of the gospel! Paul realized the call to preach this beautiful truth was not only to those He knew or was like, but to the world. 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 lists who Paul preached to. He preached to Jews, to those under the law, to those not under the law, and to the weak. He also states, “he became all things to all people.” In other words, there is no one Paul was unwilling to share the Gospel with. All are lost without Jesus and all need to hear about the eternal hope and life offered through Christ!

3) What is the prize at the end of the race?
The Corinthians were no stranger to races. They would have been familiar with them due largely to the Isthmian games. Typically, at the end of the race the winning runner was awarded a medal. During the games, the Corinthians would have been familiar with the winner receiving a crown made from plants or trees. This crown would eventually fade and die as the leaves withered. Paul, instead, says his efforts are not for nothing like a crown that shrivels in a few days, rather Paul races for a crown that will last forever. Paul is running a race and he already knows what the end holds, he knows his future. He knows he will eventually be welcomed into the presence of God. Paul is telling his audience he will continue to run the race God has called him to run the best he can regardless of the cost because he knows what the future holds. He rests assured in his salvation and the fact that he will one day be welcomed home.

Everyday Application

1) What are the rights Paul is referring to?
Paul gave up many of his rights in order to see the Gospel furthered, but what does that mean for us? Are we expected to give up our freedom, our food and drink, the opportunity to marry, etc.? God does not call every believer to give up the exact same rights Paul gave up, but He does call us to give up rights. In each believer’s life, the call to follow Jesus will look different. Some of us will literally be called to move away from the comforts of our lives in order to live in another place to share the Gospel. Some of us will give away our time and resources in great capacity, while others may be asked to literally give up their freedom. We turn over or give up the entirety of ourselves to Jesus when we surrender our lives to Him. We give Him full control and follow Him where He leads. I can’t tell you what rights you will give up to follow Jesus, but I promise that if you are following Him there will be sacrifices and you will often be pushed outside your comfort zone in order to share the Good News of Jesus. It won’t always be comfortable, but it will always be worth it!

2) Who is Paul preaching to and what does it mean to preach?
Often, when we hear the word “preach” we think of what the pastor does on Sunday morning at church and we automatically disqualify ourselves because “we are not a preacher”.  However, this is not the preaching Paul is referencing. Paul preached, or shared the Gospel message of Jesus, with anyone and everyone he could in whatever way he was able. He wrote letters to churches, he shared with jailers who were in charge of him, and he spoke of Jesus to countless others who God put in his path.  We are called to do the same. There isn’t a person on earth who is unworthy of hearing the message of Jesus. Jesus came and died for all and we are to share that hope with all those God puts in our path. I challenge you to look around and see who you have the opportunity to share Jesus with. It may be the new student at school, a friend whose been in your life for years, a co-worker, a family member, or someone God puts in your path during a service opportunity or mission trip. The day we accept Jesus as Savior from our sin, we become preachers of the Gospel. Who is it God is calling you to preach to?!

3) What is the prize at the end of the race?
When we think of races today we tend to think of medals to be won. The winner always receives a prize. However, Paul talks about a prize we can all achieve. During our race as believers we are all called to keep running the race before us. Our race is not going to look like another believer’s race because God equips and uses us all in different ways. However, the point of the race is to keep going and striving for the end. Paul encouraged the Corinthians, and us, to keep running “to get a crown that will last forever”. Expositor’s Bible Commentary says, “The brightest jewel in the incorruptible crown is the joy of having become all God made us to become, of perfectly fulfilling the end of our creation, of being able to find happiness in goodness, in closest fellowship with God, in promoting what Christ lived and died to promote.” It’s the day we finally stand before our Father in Heaven and hear the words the master said in The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:23, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy.” That moment when we are finally home and welcomed into His presence for eternity, this is the crown for which we run! Sisters, are you running your race well with the end in sight?!

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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Digging Deeper Community

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Why Dig Deeper?

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

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Sketched V Day 13 Paul, The Renewed Soldier

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Read His Words Before Ours!

I Timothy 6:11-14
2 Timothy 1:4-7
2 Timothy 3:1-5
2 Timothy 4:3-5

Sketched V, Day 13

Well this just might be it. 

The Sovereign hand of our Lord Jesus Christ released me for a time from Roman house arrest.  I did all I could in that brief time to continue visiting the brotherhood throughout Asia, preaching the gospel to all who would listen and teaching the established churches, encouraging young pastors to hold fast to what they’d been taught.

By the time I returned to Rome however, the city was in chaos.
Controversies were being stirred up, and those who followed Jesus were beginning to be hated, threatened and accused of wrong-doing. When I made my defense, there were no co-laborers who stood beside me, in fact all of them deserted me! However, the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it (2 Timothy 4:17).

I was indeed rescued from the lion’s mouth, but here I sit once again bound up, yet this time chained in a Roman dungeon. And this, this just might be it.

As it may be the end, there’s a fire in my bones.
There’s a pouring out of all the things that have been rushing through my mind, my heart, my soul for the sake of the church, and ultimately, for the sake of the glorious appearing of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My body might be guarded night and day, weak as it is, but my heart and soul are set ablaze to send more letters to the brothers and sisters who need them. Why? Because this is a battle – it is a fight for faith to the end, both of myself and for my brotherhood.
I might be the one in chains, but they must know that all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).  For there is no other option for a good soldier but to share in the sufferings of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).

That is what I am doing – bound up in chains for the gospel I have preached.
Yet, the Word of God is not bound!
Do they see it?
Do they see how it’s spreading, taking off, taken in, and setting whole regions ablaze?
This is why we pour ourselves out – this is why we suffer – for the sake of the elect, those chosen by God.  And this cosmic injustice that saves us all is that even if we are faithless, God remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13)

I am thinking of one dear child of mine in the faith, Timothy. His is a sincere faith, which was passed on to him from his mother and grandmother – dear women of faith themselves. I praise God for how Timothy received the gospel message and how, as the elders and I laid hands on him, he took up this charge and commission to serve the church of Christ faithfully.

But oh, I must remind him that just as he followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance, along with the persecutions and sufferings, he must continue in what he has learned and firmly believed (2 Timothy 3:10-11a, 14).

Yes, he must be warned! In these days, it is becoming more and more difficult to discern truth and preach the gospel without distraction. Many are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:4b), and will completely oppose the truth.
I know my dear Timothy understands where truth comes from and how from infancy he has known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give him wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I must remind him to be ready to preach the same gospel he first received is of utmost importance, because the risk for not sharing its fullness grows increasingly larger.
The risks of death and suffering will grow, yes.
But the risk of leading brothers and sisters onto a deceptive path to hell is far worse!
Many will turn away from truth and will beg to hear what their wicked hearts long to hear, rather than the truth from God Himself.  So I must admonish Timothy, my dear son in the faith, to exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, to do the work of an evangelist, and to fulfill his ministry (2 Timothy 4:5).

For this is what God has charged of me, and for what I have fought the good fight for.
I have kept the faith in Christ that first came to me, and I will finish this race.
But first, I must pass the torch to the brethren so that they too might fight the good fight in the face of opposition and come through awaiting the crown of righteousness that the Lord will award us in that final day!

So this truly might be it for me.
For in this way I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close (2 Timothy 4:6). But this I know and trust completely: The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)

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A Note About Sketched
In this series, we are stepping into the shoes of various characters throughout history. Some are biblical, some are well-known in modern day times, and some are people our writers know personally. We do our best to research the culture and times surrounding these individuals to give an accurate representation of their first-person perspectives on life and the world, but we can’t be 100% accurate. “Sketched” is our best interpretation of how these characters view(ed) God, themselves, and the world around them. Our hope is that by stepping into their everyday, we will see our own lives a little differently!
Enjoy!
And keep watching for Sketched Themes to pop up throughout the year!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Sketched V Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Here’s a link to all past studies in Sketched V!

Screenshot Day 10 The Outcasts

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 10:25-37
Ezra 4:1-16
Nehemiah 6:1-14
John 4:1-43

Screenshot, Day 10

I have a confession to make.
For many of my growing up years, though I never realized it until recently,
I battled with prejudice.
I wasn’t racist; I didn’t consider myself better based on skin tone.
But there was a part of me that did think that I was better than another.
Nationality aside, if someone else believed differently than I did, I viewed them as inferior.

I took great pride in my country, was very patriotic, and loved America. I still do.
But, I subconsciously thought America was far superior than all other nations.
I felt it was acceptable to look down my nose to those who lived elsewhere.

Even as I write, I am so ashamed of myself for ever thinking that.

Is America a wonderful country? Yes.
Am I thankful for the unique freedoms being an American affords me? Absolutely!
But I am no better than any citizen of another nation; we are all made in the image of God and on equal footing before Him. (Genesis 1:27)

This biblical, wide-spread equality is something the Jews of both Old and New Testament times didn’t understand. They endured an age-long struggle with the Samaritan people, which finally culminated with the Jews being un-willing to speak to anyone of Samaritan descent.

We see trouble beginning to brew in 2 Kings 17:24-28 when people of all different nations and backgrounds were placed in the land of Samaria which had first belonged to the Jews. Before long, these foreigners began to intermarry with the Jewish people and, because they served false gods, raised children who believed in a faith-mixture culture blending Jewish belief and traditions with rampant false religious teachings. Trouble between two cultures escalated as the Samaritans sought to halt the Jews’ project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. (Nehemiah 6:1-14).

The Jews’ continued hatred towards the Samaritans becomes quite evident in the New Testament when we discover that Jews didn’t even speak to Samaritans (John 4:9).

Imagine the surprise (and outrage!) of the Jewish people when Jesus not only spoke to Samaritans, treating them as equal to the Jews, but even went so far as to make a Samaritan the “good guy hero” of one of His stories!
This would have seemed completely outlandish and inappropriate.
But Jesus did it anyway, and I’m glad He did!
He taught us a valuable lesson which is oh-so-relevant to today.

In Luke 10:25-37 we read the parable of the Good Samaritan, a story Jesus told about a man who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Both a priest and a Levite (people who should’ve known better, as people of God!) walked by on the opposite side of the road.
Their agendas were too important.
Their appearance too high of a priority.
And heaven-forbid they break a sacred law by touching blood in order to love a stranger!
A poor, suffering man in the street wasn’t worth sacrificing any of these.

Then came a Samaritan, believed by the Jews to be good for nothing and full of evil (John 8:48).
But, in Jesus’ carefully crafted story, it was a Samaritan who saw the poor man, had compassion on him, treated his injuries, and then set him up in an inn.
The Samaritan displayed intentional compassion, going far out of his way to provide for his needs.
In the end, it was a Samaritan whom the Lord held up as an example for us, saying, “Go, and do likewise”. (Luke 10:37)

I don’t know about you,
but that is convicting to me!

How often do I first jump to see the differences between myself and another rather than our common similarity?
Whether it’s a difference of nationality, beliefs, clothing, appearance, or culture, often our first impulse is to hold tight to prideful arrogance, rather than see others as fellow image bearers of God, worthy of my care and compassion.
Just as the priest and Levite did in Jesus’ story.
Countless justifications stop me from radically loving another.

What a timely question for us to ask ourselves with all the turmoil between countries, between people of different backgrounds, among immigrants, and gender wars!
Are we living lives of love, treating others as Jesus would have us to?
As the Good Samaritan did?
Or are we acting as the priest and Levite: too good, too important, and too busy to be bothered?

Our ultimate example of this kind of radical love is Christ.
Jesus boldly shared the story of the Good Samaritan with a crowd of Jews, and then lived His life to match it!

At the end of His life, nailed to a cross for crimes He didn’t commit, the story of the Samaritan was exemplified to the nth degree.
We were the Samaritans; you and I were the outcasts.
We chased after false gods, living contrary to God’s holy standard.
Yet, Jesus, He bled and died for us, showing us ultimate compassion, love, and care.

What about you?
How will you become like the Good Samaritan, like Jesus, today right where you are?
How are you being called to go beyond the borders we tend to erect for ourselves?

Who is different than you, and how can you love them better today?

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Screenshot Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Palette Day 6 All The Colors

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 67:1-6
Matthew 28:16-20
Revelation 22:1-5

“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

This sweet little Sunday School song was something I grew up singing. It’s a beautifully simplistic view of God’s design for His people.
He loves all man-kind.
The end.
No exceptions.
No one unlovable.
We are all deeply and passionately loved by Him.

Similarly, the Psalmist pens these glorious lyrics:
“May God be gracious to us and bless us…that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.”
The Lord desires the free gift of salvation to be received by all.

A natural response to receiving the gift of salvation; praise.
“May the peoples praise you oh God; may all the peoples praise you.”
Not only does God long to be reconciled with everyone,
He longs to hear us praise Him collectively.

As humans, we have plenty of trouble loving people,
particularly those who don’t look quite like us.
This is something I’m guilty of as well.
It’s much more comfortable for me to walk up to someone who looks more similar to myself ethnically than someone that I might have very little in common with outwardly.

My husband is Korean, born in Korea and has lived in the States for 5 years this fall. We have two biracial children, one born in Korea, one born in the States.
For as much as we stay on top of racial issues in our family,
can I be real for a moment too?
Last week, I was returning my cart at Aldi, and I specifically did not offer it to the black lady that was walking towards the carts.
Ouch.
I always offer my cart to the next person and that day, I didn’t offer it.
I got in my car and cried, wishing I could go back and at least make eye contact.
Sadly, I couldn’t.

Having married outside my race, I observe people and situations with a different lens than before. I’ve noticed that when a new person meets my husband Joonseok and I, more often than not, they will not hold eye contact with my hubby. They will look to me as the leader of the conversation and start talking to me first. When Joonseok is out with the kids, they are often ignored. Nobody tries to make unnecessary conversation, nobody looks at them, in fact it’s as though people often look through them not even noticing them at all. Those subtle undertones are taxing for people outside of the ethnic majority to interact with on a daily basis.

Our family’s ethnic design has really pushed me to find ways for my children to use their “white privilege” for someone else’s benefit. In a group of other white children, I want my kids to be prepared to stand up for people teasing another child. We role-play these situations. We read books with girls in hijabs being made fun of, children of color feeling left out, or the Asian kids being mocked for their smelly foods.

Our favorite place to come back to in regard to racial teachings is the Great Commission. The disciples have just witnessed Jesus being crucified, buried, resurrected and walking among them in the flesh.
The emotions, questions and musings must’ve been plentiful!

Moments before Jesus would physically leave them, He declared His authority and then commissioned his disciples,
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
There’s no mistaking that, as believers, we are to share the love of the Father with all people, whether they look like us or not. Having these conversations with our kids isn’t fun or really all that easy.
The cost of not having them, and sweeping the issue under the rug, is just too high.

One of the easiest ways to start being intentional with people outside your ethnicity is to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to move in your heart about making genuine relationships with people you don’t naturally gravitate toward. It’s easy to view this as a project instead of a friendship, but just do normal, everyday life together – go for coffee or share a meal.

Our family partners with a local ministry that loves on international students. This sub-group of college students are ready to experience all that Americans are doing. Since our faith, intentionality and love flow from our family-life, it’s natural to have students along to share in that. The Lord has literally brought the Nations to us in this ministry! It also provides the exposure of “weird foods”, people speaking different languages and unusual customs to our kids. Whatever you choose to do, I’m confident that Lord will bless both you and your new friends for intentionally choosing love over fear!

That situation with the shopping cart in the Aldi parking lot was a great reminder to be on guard for the little places the enemy is whispering lies.
I’m ready to fight those out of my heart, will you join me?

Lord, let my eyes see people as You do, created in Your perfect image. Give us a taste of the River of Life and the healing that will come to all nations. Embolden me to stand on the side of loving people, even when it’s not popular. For Your Glory, Lord.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Palette Day 5 The Father’s Masterpiece

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1: 26-28
Acts 17:26-31
Romans 10:5-13

“Are you changing your little black baby’s diaper?”

My eyes widened in shock and (let’s be real) horror as I heard my two year old’s voice ring out over the din of the church nursery. I spun around in time to see the woman stiffen as she bit her tongue, finish changing her infant and turn to walk away. I wasn’t close enough to hear if, or how, she responded, but he had already moved on and was playing with a toy truck a few feet away. At two, my son was learning his colors and he loved to share his newfound knowledge with everyone he met by assigning a color to anything that caught his eye – blocks, toys, books, cars, houses – and now, apparently, people. He spoke very clearly for his age, and although his question was completely innocent, it brought the racial tension into stark clarity in that moment.

Why in the world is this happening to me, I thought. That boy has never in his life heard anyone describe another person by the color of their skin! My stomach dropped as I fumbled for an apology that wouldn’t sound entirely awkward…while wondering if the apology itself would make an innocent situation awkward. I would rather choose the constant questions of a toddler in every public restroom known to mankind over this, any day of the week, I thought. Her eyes met mine for an instant as she passed by, and I could sense the ocean of distance between us.

My heart ached with conviction. In my worry over what she might think after my son’s (albeit innocent) comment, my thoughts had revolved only around how I might be perceived. I had given no thought to her own feelings. The reality of racial inequality that I so often read and heard about, but had never actually related to, came to life for me in that moment. Granted, the experience was mild compared to what could have been, but my heart ached as I considered her for a moment. I wondered how many other awkward moments she had been forced to push through. Perhaps the question or comment in those instances was innocent, perhaps not. I thought about our beautiful boys. Each created for a unique purpose. Each created in the image of the Father. Each an equally important, equally loved, equally vital part of the Master Storyteller’s intricate tale. The fact that anyone could think anything different made my stomach throb.

Racial inequality is the narrative we are fed by mainstream media and the current culture in America (shockingly more so than other countries), but by using the very title “racial inequality” we only serve to further the divide by reinforcing the belief that there are different races. In reality and by definition, all humans, regardless of creed or color, are of one race. Until Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life in 1859, this was a fact known and accepted by all. However, Darwin’s book asserted that different tribes or groups of people evolved and developed, both mentally and physically, at different rates, thus dividing mankind and re-defining race as unique groups of people with similar characteristics and evolutionary growth, rather than mankind as a whole.

So, where does that leave us as people of the cross? First, we must examine our hearts to discover if we believe truth or if we have bought into the lie that we are not all created in God’s image. If we believe that man was created in God’s image, we must believe that all people, regardless of skin tone or nationality, were created in God’s image.
We are one race.
One people.
One blood.

Throughout the Old and New Testament, it is apparent that God is indiscriminate when it comes to loving people. He loves and wants to save us all. Not “some of us.” Not “those with blond hair or brown eyes or size eight feet.” Not “those with muscles or slender bodies or darker skin tones.”

ALL. HE LOVES US ALL.
Jesus died to save us all.

Can we say that we are truly loving as He leads?
Without borders or reservations?
Are we drawing the people He sends us into life with us?
What would our world look like if we began to emulate His love for others boldly and without reservation?

Father, we love You. We believe that You made each of us in Your perfect image. Forgive us for our weakness. Help us to recognize when our heart posture encourages anything but love for one another. Help us to see the unique and valuable traits you placed in every one of us. Give us Your eyes, Your heart. Soften our hearts as we Journey through Palette and the real heart issues behind what we call racial injustice. Holy Spirit, convict us where we need to be convicted. We are Yours.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 3 Image Bearers

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Genesis 1:26-31
James 3:1-12
Psalm 139:13-16
1 John 4:14-16  

A couple of years ago, our community group was challenged to go beyond our comfort zone and engage with those who lived on the streets of Kansas City. Those who made their dwelling places under bridges, behind abandoned warehouses, and in the hidden corners of forgotten parks. As children usually are known for doing, our kids went “all in”. We prepared meals together as a group and piled into the car, eager to find a lonely friend who needed a hot meal. From the backseat, the kids begged to be “next” to pass a bag of food, new gloves, or a warm blanket through the car window.

We coached our kids to not label those we would meet as “homeless”, but rather to see them as people, just like us, who needed love. We practiced looking into a person’s eyes when we talked to them and encouraged our kids to ask the other person’s name.
The experience was profound for each of us.
Our children led the way in their excitement and the way they had conversations in reaching out to these people who looked and lived nothing like them.
They were each thrilled to hold out their hand to another.

The impact was so far-reaching that even now, 2 years removed, they will still randomly ask to buy extra “day old bread” at a local sandwich shop so we can trek downtown and give someone lunch. They do the same with water bottles, extra blankets they find, cookies they bake, or even portions of their meals. The transformation was more than I’d hoped for and was deeply convicting for me and my own view of people.

Superiority is ugly.
But it shows up, slithering in, when we least expect it.
And it’s rooted in our hearts when we choose to ignore the truth that
we are each created in the image of God.
That solid truth levels the playing field when it comes to how we see people.

I remember sitting on a counselor’s couch painfully recounting how I couldn’t bear to see myself on the same playing field as my father, at whose hands I had suffered so much emotional damage. She responded with words I’ll never forget,
“I would put to you that, before the Lord God, we are all on the same playing field.”
She was so right.

The girl dying in Zambia for lack of clean water.
We are equal.

The man who has lived his entire life on the streets.
We are equal.

The aging woman who still holds the scars in her heart of the child she aborted.
We are equal.

The white mama raising bi-racial children in a society that doesn’t favor them.
We are equal.

The grown boy whose mental deficiencies make most turn their heads away.
We are equal.

These are the ones, we are the ones, created in the image of God.
And we mirror Him best when we love others
Just As We Are Loved!

I’m reminded of James’ words in James 3:10-11.
Can both fresh and salt water flow from the same spring?
He was speaking of our tongue.
How we cannot, with integrity, curse our brother and worship our Savior with the same mouth.
With the same heart that loves Jesus and the same lips that teaches salvation, we cannot only use those arms to reach out in friendship to those whose skin color matches our own.
Equality and Inequality cannot both reside in the heart of the believer!
A Greater and Lesser view when it comes to how we see people cannot co-exist!
It short-changes the God who sent His only Son to be the Savior of the world.

When we choose to stay quiet about racism, ignore other races, or be engaged only with those who act like, look like, and live like us,
we intentionally step out of sync with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When we choose fear of others over compassion for their souls, we’ve placed our judgement of ourselves higher than the Lord’s.
We’ve superseded another human being who was crafted from the same God who knit us together by His own hands.

See the color, my friends.
See the diversity.
See the Korean, the Japanese, the African, the Latino, the Indian, the Caucasian….
and link arms in praise to a creative God who has crafted each of us in His own image!

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week One! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Palette!

Palette Day 2 Fighting The Fear Tactic: Digging Deeper

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Digging Deeper Days...are a pretty big deal at GT!

We search God's Word together, ask questions as we read, dig around to find the original intentions at the time of writing, and then make some applications to our everyday lives.
Along the way, we hope you'll pick up some new tools to study Scripture and you'll see truth in a new and accessible way!
Dig In!

The Passage

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Ephesians 5:1-2, 6-16 English Standard Version (ESV)

1  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7  Therefore do not be partakers with them;
8  for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9  (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10  trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11  Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
12  for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13  But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14  For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
15  Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16  making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

The Questions

1) What does it mean to be an imitator of God where race is concerned?

2) What does it mean to walk in love?

3) What do deceptive words look like in verse 6?

4) How can we expose the deeds of darkness to the Light?

The Findings for Intention

1) What does it mean to be an imitator of God where race is concerned?
To be an imitator of God is to be an imitator of Jesus. In His time on earth, Jews did not talk to Samaritans. Samaritans were considered half-breeds. They were the offspring of the descendants from the Northern tribe of Israel and the Canaanites that inhabited their lands. Monotheistic Jews did not like Samaritans because they often worshipped God alongside all their pagan gods. However, we see Jesus on multiple occasions associating with or encouraging others to associate with Samaritans. A few examples are when He talked to the woman at the well (John 4:4-26) and when He told the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In both cases, Jesus treats the Samaritan just as He would treat a fellow Jew. He makes no distinction between race.

2) What does it mean to walk in love?
The Greek word for “walk” is paripateo, and it means to live or behave in a specified manner. The Greek word for “love” is agape, and it means a strong affection and regard for a person and their good. It is especially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or privileges on another person’s behalf. This is the kind of love that Christ displayed on the cross. He gave up His own rights to do what as best on our behalf. So, to walk in love means to care more about another than you care about yourself, to live in such a way that you are doing what is best for the other person, not what is always best for yourself.

3) What do deceptive words look like in verse 6?
In this passage, Paul just got done telling them what sins to stay away from-immorality, impurity, greed, filthiness and silly talk, or course jesting. The deception was coming from men who were telling them that these things really wouldn’t hurt them. “Everyone is doing it!”, they would say. Gnosticism was running rampant at the time, and Gnostics believed that sin could only touch the body, but couldn’t harm the soul. Paul is warning the Ephesians that these men are wrong and that the wrath of God will come on them.

4) How can we expose the deeds of darkness to the Light?
In verse 7, Paul says, “Therefore do not be partakers with them.” The first step he gave the Ephesians was to not participate in these acts of sin. He reminds them that they’ve been saved from the darkness and are now children of Light. In verse 11, he says again, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.” The word expose actually means to reprove with conviction upon the offender. In other words, they were to correct the sinner, make them aware of their sinful patterns, not just ignore them!

The Everyday Application

1) What does it mean to be an imitator of God where race is concerned?
In our world today, the best way to imitate Jesus is to treat everyone as equals- red, yellow, black, and white, rich, poor, EVERYONE!! God doesn’t show partiality (Romans 2:11), and He doesn’t want us to either. Ask yourself what thoughts or attitudes or words or actions in your life need to change to truly see every single person as an image bearer of God.

2) What does it mean to walk in love?
I think to walk in love in our culture today means to look fear square in the face and tell it to leave in Jesus name!! We have been sent so many messages about people that are different than us. They’re dangerous. They don’t like you. They don’t care about anyone but themselves. They’re lazy. They’re thieves. On and on and on, but here’s the deal, until you get to know each person individually, you can’t know any of those things about them. Is it scary to walk in love? YES!!! Do you think Jesus really wanted to die on the cross? He did that, knowing every single thing He was about to endure, because He loves us. We must conquer our fears and walk in love when it comes to people that don’t look like us or talk like us or act like us. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

3) What do deceptive words look like in verse 6?
Today, deceptive words look like racial jokes and racial slurs. They can even be attitudes that are deceptive. Ideas that we believe about other races that have been taught to us over the years or that we have perceived all on our own. I think it’s easy to let a bad encounter taint our view of a whole race. We need to be aware of where our prejudices come from and ask ourselves if we’re stereotyping a whole race of people off of an encounter that we saw on the news, or that someone told us about, or even one that we experienced for ourselves.

4) How can we expose the deeds of darkness to the Light?
For me, this means getting into God’s Word and allowing it to cut out the parts of me that are dark, the parts that don’t glorify God, the thoughts and attitudes I’ve acquired over my lifetime that don’t line up with who Jesus is. It also means that, once I know truth, I must stand up for truth. I must point out to others the darkness I see when I hear their deceptive words, their racial overtones. I must sympathize with others in their suffering. When something is going on in our world that effects those of other races, I need to let them know I care, I see, and that they’re not alone. I must walk in faith and truth and not in fear and lies.

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I Can Do That!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read through it (always more than a verse or two).
3) Write down your questions as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God in your everyday!

The Community!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Palette Week One!
Don’t miss out on the discussion – we’d love to hear your thoughts!

The Tools!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

The Why!

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Palette!

Justice Day 15 Leading With Love

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Read His Words Before Ours!

Romans 13:8-10
Mark 12:28-34
1Peter 4:7-11
Deuteronomy 10:12-19 

“Trust me, I’m not going to hurt you,” I coaxed my little sister. “This is going to be so cool!”

I must have only been around 9 years old, but I remember the conversation well. A boy from my Sunday school class had shown me how to “fake punch” someone, and I was determined to show my sister Annah how it worked. It seemed easy enough, and he and I had “fake punched” each other a bunch of times earlier that day with no problem. “The real trick,” he said, “is to make it look really real. Really put some force behind it.” I nodded; it made perfect sense.

What could go wrong? After all, we had practiced.

I will never forget the look on her face. Trusting…but a little worried. I reeled back, made a fist and thrust my arm forward with exquisite perfection while calculating the exact spot at which to halt my arm’s motion. The grin breaking over my face turned from excitement to abject horror as my fist collided forcefully with her innocent, trusting eye.

The wail that burst from her mouth mirrored how I felt inside; I never meant to hurt her! I couldn’t tell you the punishment I (rightly) received, but I will never forget the sickening feeling that came over me when I realized my mistake had caused her such pain.

All of us can pinpoint a time when we have felt the same at one point or another.
Regret over our actions. Remorse that we have caused another pain. That unforgettable instant when all our good intentions collide with the harsh reality that we were wrong. Loves, there is something else we are getting wrong, too.

As we conclude our Journey through Justice, we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the pressing social injustice of racial inequality. Depending on each individual’s circle of influence, the picture being painted regarding this social injustice typically appears very different from one social media newsfeed to the next. Regardless of the news and opinion articles, demonstrations and heartfelt conversations which may or may not cross our field of vision on a daily basis, racial inequality is real and it is happening on our watch.
Those of us in minority groups are hurting.
For real reasons.
People are being abused, ignored and made to feel that their feelings and very selves are not enough.
This isn’t something we can feign ignorance to and brush aside with little or no thought.

How much damage are we doing to the Body of Christ when we pretend these things aren’t happening? Our brothers and sisters are facing turmoil, uncertainty and pain, and most importantly injustice.
In the face of these truths, can each of us claim that we are supporting and reaching out to bridge the gap for those battling the reality of racial inequality every day?
Are we seeing our people and using our gifts to provide a platform for the forgotten and ignored?
Or are we turning our eyes away because we aren’t sure how we can make a difference or we just don’t know where to start?
Thankfully, so thankfully, we follow the One Who knows exactly where to begin – and He tells us to lead with love.

Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no harm to anyone.
Love covers a multitude of sins.

Take a moment to peruse any current news headlines, and you will be left with little doubt that our world is charged with racial tension and injustice. Hurting people respond to other hurting people…with sharp words, actions and attitudes.
Frightened, comfortable people respond to racial injustice
by choosing to ignore truth.
When we face those ugliest parts of humanity, our questions mustn’t revolve around how such things could happen – we already know that answer – sin.
It seeps silently into our good intentions and misconceptions.

Instead, we must decide how we will respond in love.
Will we, in our fear, brush aside the reality we uncover?
Or will we choose to come alongside our hurting brothers and sisters,
pull them in close beside us with words of encouragement and belonging?
Will we acknowledge that we don’t know what to say or what to do or how to do it,
but we will try anyway?

Join us on Monday as we Journey into Palette,
tackle racial injustice, and how we can make a difference!
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Ready for more? Dig Deeper!
Join us for every Journey Study by signing up!
Looking for yesterday’s Journey Study?
Share your thoughts from today’s Study!

Don’t miss today’s Digging Deeper!     And we’d love to hear your thoughts from today’s Journey!    Comment Here!

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Justice Week Three! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!
Click the above image for today’s Digging Deeper!

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
Here’s a link to all past studies in Justice!