LORDship Part 1 - The Mind of Christ

We continue our Montco Midweek Series

• Based on the greatest commandment (Mk 12:30–32)

Again, the purpose for the series:

• A reminder of our discipleship

• All of us may be in different places in our discipleship

• These lessons may hit you differently than the next person

Spiritual Circle of Life

• Loving God: LORDship

• Understanding that loving God is about making Him LORD of our daily life

• Loving Each Other: Oikos

• Understanding that God has strategically and supernaturally placed us in each other's lives to strengthen one another in Christ

• Loving the Lost: Disciple-Making

• Understanding that disciples of Jesus make disciples of Jesus

The first quarter is devoted to studying Lordship.

LORDSHIP

• Loving God is about making Him LORD of our daily life

• First Quarter Focus: January through April

Last week we looked at Philippians 2:5–8 NIV

Example of Lordship Living:

• Same mindset as Jesus (v5)

• Striving for the mind of Christ

• Giving up positional authority (v6)

• Adam and Eve wanted to be like God

• Serving instead of being served (v7)

• King of the universe washing dirty feet

• I love Undercover Boss

• Obeying despite challenges (v8)

• He didn't put limits on His obedience

• Even if it led to His death

Tonight I want to focus on this aspect of Lordship: The Mind of Christ

• We are going to look at the mindset of Jesus in our three areas:

• Lordship

• Oikos

• Disciple-Making

Matthew 26:36–46 NIV

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." [37] He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." [39] Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." [40] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. [41] "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." [42] He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." [43] When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. [44] So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. [45] Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. [46] Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Group Discussion:

How does Jesus display LORDship in His prayer to God?

This is an incredible display of LORDship. I love the way the CEV translates this:

Matthew 26:39 CEV

Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, don't make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want."

• LORDship with God was more about what He wants versus what Jesus wanted

• And His desire wasn't evil at face value, but it would have resulted in disobeying God

• Many times we give in to our desires or need for control, thinking it seems innocent at face value, but in actuality, we are disobeying God

Jesus returned to the same prayer three times, each time recommitting to the Father's will.

• This teaches that surrender is a process rather than a one-time decision

Where in your life right now are you holding something tightly?

• When was the last time you honestly laid something before God and said, "Not my will but yours"?

When you pray about difficult situations, are you more likely to tell God what you want Him to do, or are you determined to see God's will no matter the cost?

• Are you prepared to be directed to a path that brings you more pain?

Principles in Practice:

• Read Psalm 13, 22, 42, 43

• These are Psalms that exhibit raw emotion but show faithfulness in the end

• Gethsemane Journal

• Write down your honest desires about a current situation—don't hide them

• And at the bottom of each write down: “Not my will but yours"

• Surrender Fast

• Identify something you're gripping tightly and fast from it for a defined period (a comfort, a habit, checking on a situation obsessively)

• Let the discomfort remind you to practice surrender

Ephesians 5:25–30 NIV

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, [27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. [28] In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—[30] for we are members of his body.

Group Discussion:

How does Jesus value God's church?

If someone insulted your spouse publicly, most of us would respond with immediate, visceral defense. Yet when people criticize, mock, or dismiss the church, many Christians shrug or even join in. What does this disconnect reveal about how deeply we've internalized the reality that the church is the bride of Christ?

Christ didn't love an ideal church—He gave Himself for a church full of flawed, frustrating, sinful people. How should this shape how we love the actual congregation we're part of, rather than the church we wish existed?

What would need to change in your attitude, your words, or your level of commitment if you treated your church family the way you'd want someone to treat your spouse—with loyalty, protection, investment, and the refusal to abandon when things get difficult?

Principles in Practice:

• Bride Imagery Study

• Study out scriptures where the Bible uses Israel as God’s wife

• Marriage Interview

• Interview yourself or someone else who has been married for over 25 years

• What does protection look like when others criticize them? 

• What does long-term investment require?

• Brother’s Keeper

• Identify the people that could use someone pulling them into the group

The Mind of Christ: Disciple-Making

Luke 19:9–10 NIV

Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Group Discussion:

What was the mindset of Christ when it came to evangelism?

Jesus said He came "to seek and to save the lost"—not to wait for the lost to come to Him.

• What's the difference between a church that welcomes people who show up versus a church that seeks people who haven't? Which one reflects Christ's mindset?

If someone looked at your calendar, your conversations, and where you spend discretionary time over the past month, would they conclude that "seeking the lost" is a central focus of your life—or an occasional afterthought?

Principles in Practice:

• Seeking vs Welcoming

• Seeking after people instead of waiting to welcome

• Journal the difference between a "welcoming" church and a "seeking" church. What would change in your congregation

• Challenge yourself to a sharing goal to meet someone new

• Relationship Inventory

• Make a list of people you spend the most of your time with

• How many of them are in church vs outside the church

• Zacchaeus List

• Identify three people in your community who might be overlooked, dismissed, or considered unlikely to respond to Jesus (different background, lifestyle, reputation)

• Make a point to build a relationship with them

• Set Some Goals

• Some type of sharing goal

• Intentional Celebration

• Make a point to celebrate when you see God move in your evangelism

Conclusion

• As we conclude…

• I'm excited for our series this year

Any questions or lasting thoughts before we pray?

Let's pray.