Series: All!
Scripture: Matthew 13:53-14:36
Title: “How to Live the Normal Christian Life” (Darien Gabriel)
Outline inspired by David Platt
Bottom line: The normal Christian life is built on the belief that God cares and is able to do something about it through his people as they suffer.
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
Reflect and Discuss
1. How can the rejection of Jesus by His own hometown serve as a warning for you?
2. Why is costly faith better than convenient unbelief? What means of grace does God use to strengthen our faith?
3. Explain the difference in merely being amazed at Jesus' miracles and responding in faith.
4. Why did John the Baptist lose his head?
5. What was John’s character like?
6. How does what John experience discourage you? Encourage you?
7. How do you view suffering in the Christian life? Cf. Matt 16:24
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
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Q. What do I want you to know?
A. That true, genuine belief in the power and person of Jesus Christ leads to worship and evangelism.
Q. Why?
A. Because the American church is largely missing these fruit of belief indicating there are a lot of people deceiving themselves thinking that they are trusting in Jesus Christ alone.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Evaluate your life.
Do you believe that Jesus is who he says he is and that he’ll do all he’s promised to do?
Do you worship him with a sense of awe and wonder at what he can do and does?
Does your faith lead you to worship and then overflow into sharing good news with those around you?
Q. Why?
A. Because if you are not walking out true, genuine faith, you want to know so you can repent and believe.
Intro
Headline on the AP app stated:
“AP’s top 2022 photos capture a planet bursting at the seams”
“Amidst the turmoil in this world, we sometimes find ourselves longing for good news—good news on the economic front, good news in the political world, good news in the educational realm, good news in our personal lives. These looming issues can tend to overshadow that which is the most important, the most essential, the most eternal good news—the “good news of great joy” for all people (Luke 2:10).
In our longing for things to change in this temporal world, let us not lose sight that the greatest news has already been announced.” —Truth78 (book)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
This naturally could lead us to ask God, "What are you going to do about this? Where are you?"
We just celebrated Christmas—the first Christmas where the world felt like it was bursting at the seams too. And they were asking the same question then too.
God answers the question when are you going to do something with I have, am, and I will.
The real question for me is how do we live in the meantime?
The answer is found in the normal Christian life.
The answer is not found in a baptized version of the American dream (life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, house, spouse, 2.5 kids, cat and dog).
I love this tweet by Ian Harbor:
“At the end of the day, I’m just convinced that there was a guy who was killed by the state and religious leader of his time and three days later he wasn’t dead anymore. Everything else is just trying to figure out what to do with that.” @IanHarber
What does this look like?
In a nutshell, it looks like someone who’s compassionately helping people through life as they themselves suffer believing that the one who died yet lives is worth living for and even dying for.
Let’s see how Matthew tells us over the next half hour.
Context
If someone were to ask you, what does the normal Christian life look like, how would you respond? What would be your answer to the question, what does the normal Christian look like? What does biblical Christian faith look like? That’s our question today.
First a little context. Back in 13:53-58 we see an example of what a hard heart looks like. We mention this because Matthew just wrote 8 parables of Jesus the first of which was the parable of the sower. And the 4 different soil types represent 4 different spiritual heart conditions. The first being hard, like the Pharisees giving Jesus such a hard time. (No pun intended)
But here in 13:53-58 we see another group of people giving Jesus a hard time—his hometown. Sad but true. The home crowd is the hardest to reach. Why? They remember you when you were young.
I remember reconnecting with a high school classmate (I went to SHS) online after about 35 years. When I told him I was a pastor, he said, “You are a pastor?!” We didn’t know each other that well. But I was a practicing Christian at that time. I went to church nearly every Sunday. Now, did I live like one? No. Was I truly one? No. That came later. Apparently he’d seen enough to respond that way 35 years later. Just reminds us that God is in the miracle business.
So as we head into this chapter on what does biblical Christianity look like, let us remember our hearts drift towards hardness. Let’s invite God to search our hearts for unbelief so that we can repent and believe anew.
I. Two pictures of unbelief. (13:53-58)—
A. Here we see it’s not just the Pharisees who have hard hearts unwilling to believe. It’s Jesus’ earthly family that’s not there yet.
B. Here we see the hard heart of Herod Antipas and his family and his court.
II. Two pictures of belief. (14:1-32)—
A. Belief is by the crowd. Disciples, not so much.
B. Belief is by Peter, then the Disciples.
III. A picture of genuine worship with words. (14:33) They see and recognize Jesus and are moved to believe on the heals of the feeding of the 5,000.
IV. A picture of genuine worship as life.
It feels like this is just tacked on. But it adds an important evidence of true, genuine belief that springs from worship—evangelism.
Evangelism comes from Greek word evangelion = good news. (Aka Gospel) It can be used in many settings.
Ex. When I talk about how awesome my new Smart Wool socks are, and I can’t stop talking about how amazing they feel and where has then been all my life, I’m sharing what I perceive to be good news. That’s me being a Smart Wool sock evangelist.
Do we talk about Jesus and his kingdom this way? Ever? This is an important question. Because, as Ken talked about last week, if we believe something is truly good news, we can’t help but tell others about it. Even if our motives tend to be a bit selfish, we still do it. (Not that we want that but we’re not perfect)
“Normal Christianity”
Chinese pastor Christian Watchman Nee wrote a book called Normal Christianity. He wrote,
“(It’s) not so much about suffering as it is about living the so-called ‘victorious Christian life.’
Yet, to borrow his title, I will say this about how the apostles defined the normal Christian life.”
What’s a normal Christianity look like? Let’s see what Peter and Paul said:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (suffering is the normal Christian life). But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings (cf. Roman’s 8:17), that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed (at his return). If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:12-14
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12
I would wager in America it looks more like a baptized version of the American Dream:
Good career arc that is up and to the right.
Good marriage or relationship heading towards, “And they lived happily ever-after”
2.5 kids (boy and girl, of course), dog, cat (that get along and do great reels on insta).
Family and friends around during the holidays at just the right time and place.
A life that reflects our instagram pics (we wish)
Healthy mind and body. Maybe lost a few pounds this year.
Feeling some relief or easing of stresses of life. Maybe a vacation or weekend trip to remember.
These things are fine in and of themselves. But are they what the early church would have recognized as normal, biblical Christianity? After all, they lived in a day when their government was at times aggressively persecuting Christians.
Conclusion:
Bottom line: The normal Christian life is built on the belief that God cares and is able to do something about it through his people as they suffer.
As we head into this new year, will you courageously, purposefully evaluate your life through this lense?
Will you assess your belief?
Will you assess your worship of the power and person of Jesus Christ?
Will you assess your enthusiasm for sharing the good news?
What is God saying to you? What are you going to do about it?
Pray
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
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