A Place To Find Acceptance!
Pastor G continues his 8-part message series called “A Place To Belong” this week and He tells us the local church is a place to find love, acceptance, forgiveness and purpose. When you belong to a church it is an opportunity to connect with God in an intimate relationship of worship and spiritual growth. So we invite you to come belong at our church and see that it is an opportunity for you to actively serve other people and change their lives for the better. Our church is a place of Aloha and a place of ‘Ohana. This is A PLACE TO BELONG! This week, Pastor G wants you to know that this is A Place to Find Acceptance!
MESSAGE NOTES ON “A PLACE TO FIND ACCEPTANCE”
“It is not good for the [human] to be alone…” ~ Genesis 2:18
FIND ACCEPTANCE POINT #1: WE ARE COMMANDED TO ACCEPT IN THE WAY WE WERE ACCEPTED!
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. ~ Romans 15:5-7
Proslambánō (GREEK) ~ Accept (ENGLISH) ~~ “To be drawing to yourself”
Pros means “Toward” and Lambano means “To lay hold of with initiative. Therefore, when we put them together you have the concept of “to aggressively receive with strong personal interest.” We can also understand this as to take to oneself and to take as one’s companion. Another way to think of this is to take by the hand to lead, to receive into one’s home with kindness and to provide shelter. Most noteworthy is it carries with it the desire to grant access to one’s heart and to take as a friend. This is a pretty accurate description of acceptance. Now, there is another point we need to make and it is very important.
FIND ACCEPTANCE POINT #2: ACCEPTING IS NOT ENABLING!
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and he chastens everyone He accepts as His son. ~ Hebrews 12:5-6
Elegchó (GREEK) ~ Rebukes (ENGLISH) ~~ to convince with solid, compelling evidence, especially to expose, prove wrong, or correct.
Paideuó (GREEK) ~ Disciplines (ENGLISH) ~~ To educate or instruct by training.
I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. ~ Jeremiah 31:3
GO DEEPER
ALOHA GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ON ACCEPTANCE
READ: Genesis 2:18
1) Why do you think God said this? Why did the first human need another human? Is it also true that “It is not good for God to be alone?” Why or why not? So, is it possible for God to be alone?
2) As a result, do you think our need for community stems from being made in God’s image? Why or why not?
READ: Romans 15:5-7
1) So, what does it mean to “be of the same mind with one another?” Does that therefore mean we have to agree 100% about everything? Why or why not? Are there boundaries or is everything maybe fair game?
2) Who was the first friend that you remember and do you maybe remember how the friendship started? Did you ask them to become your friend or did they as you? What was it about them that made them feel like a friend? Did you agree on everything? When you had disagreements how did you settle them?
3) So, how do you know when someone has “accepted” you?” Therefore, how do you show someone else that they have been “accepted” by you?
READ: Hebrews 12:5-6
1) This is especially relevant, Pastor Greg shared how rebuking and disciplining are not the same thing as judging. Do you agree or disagree?
2) Perhaps you can share an example of how you would rebuke a Christian brother or sister without passing judgment on them at the same time? Is that easy or difficult to do? Why? What does your motivation need to be to do it right?
READ: Jeremiah 31:3
1) So, what does it mean to be “drawn by lovingkindness?” Have you already come to faith in Jesus? How did that happen? Finally, did you feel like you were pushed into it or drawn toward it?
2) Maybe, if you are not yet a follower of Christ, which method would be most effective in convincing you to follow Jesus? Being pushed toward Him or being drawn toward Him? What would draw you in this way and, conversely, what would repel you?
Did you miss week one of this series “A Place To Find Love” and you would like to see it? Click the link.