Elements City Church
The Rooted Life wk2 - Rhythms of Reconciliation
Many believers live in the state of "being a Christian" without ever being deeply formed by Christ. Our pace is too frenetic to be in union with God, and we don't know how to quiet our hearts and minds to be present. Our emotions are unhealthy and compartmentalized. We feel unable to love well or live differently from the rest of the world - to live as people of the good news. The Rooted Life is a road map to live in the richly rooted place we all yearn for: a place of communion with God, a place where we find our purpose. In this series we want to help us discover some transformational practices and habits that can root your life in the way of Jesus!
Locations & Times
Elements City Church
1825 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA
Sunday 5:00 PM
Thanks for joining us...
Whether you're on-site or online, we are praying that tonight will be an encouragement to your soul. May God whisper to you and help you in taking your next steps in a journey with Him. If you're new, we'd love to have you fill out our connection card here...
https://connect-card.com/yr4Y0g8VLBSqzKXeubjbBig Idea:
Against the ‘cancel culture’ mindset that is so pervasive in our society - the way of Jesus commands us to a practice of reconciliation. We have been forgiven and reconciled to God himself and now we’ve been entrusted to echo that invitation to reconciliation to Him and to embody that message in our relationships. We each are to remember what God has done and now emulate that. Today, we look at how we can foster and build rhythms of reconciliation into our lives.
Against the ‘cancel culture’ mindset that is so pervasive in our society - the way of Jesus commands us to a practice of reconciliation. We have been forgiven and reconciled to God himself and now we’ve been entrusted to echo that invitation to reconciliation to Him and to embody that message in our relationships. We each are to remember what God has done and now emulate that. Today, we look at how we can foster and build rhythms of reconciliation into our lives.
Quote:
“Jesus is a God of reconciliation and peace, not a God of hate or division or us-against-them. He is the God of the gentle answer.”
—Scott Sauls, A Gentle Answer
*also see Ephesians 2:14-21
“Jesus is a God of reconciliation and peace, not a God of hate or division or us-against-them. He is the God of the gentle answer.”
—Scott Sauls, A Gentle Answer
*also see Ephesians 2:14-21
Quote:
The Gospel must not only offer personal salvation in the future life to those who believe; it must also transform all of the relationships of life here and now and thus cause the Kingdom of God to prevail in all the world.
-George Eldon Ladd
At the core of the gospel — is the ‘making right’ of all things through Jesus.
The Gospel must not only offer personal salvation in the future life to those who believe; it must also transform all of the relationships of life here and now and thus cause the Kingdom of God to prevail in all the world.
-George Eldon Ladd
At the core of the gospel — is the ‘making right’ of all things through Jesus.
Ephesians 4:1-6
… I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 times - he highlights the ONENESS of God’s work that knits us together - despite our diversity and differences…
The WHO that unites us, is stronger than anything that separates us…
… I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 times - he highlights the ONENESS of God’s work that knits us together - despite our diversity and differences…
The WHO that unites us, is stronger than anything that separates us…
Reconciliation is costly, but worth our investment.
Reconciliation is messy - but it is our mandate from Jesus
Dr. Brenda Salter McNeal captures the multifaceted nature of biblical reconciliation:
“Reconciliation is an ongoing spiritual process involving forgiveness, repentance, and justice that restores broken relationships and systems to reflect God’s original intention for all creation to flourish.”
Reconciliation is messy - but it is our mandate from Jesus
Dr. Brenda Salter McNeal captures the multifaceted nature of biblical reconciliation:
“Reconciliation is an ongoing spiritual process involving forgiveness, repentance, and justice that restores broken relationships and systems to reflect God’s original intention for all creation to flourish.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We are to practice and have rhythms of reconciliation within our relationships - as a constant reminder of God reconciling us and to live in the way of Jesus.
**SIDE NOTE: now, this is a reminder that reconciliation ultimately takes 2. And we are to do our best with reconciliation and forgiveness.
Romans 12:18
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
*it’s ok to forgive and permanently close the chapter on a relationship.
We are NOT called to be best friends with ALL people.
We ARE CALLED to LOVE ALL PEOPLE!
We can exercise love without having to have a deeply formed or overly active friendship.
We may not be friends with everyone, but we must carry no grudges or bitterness with anyone - we must root it out.
**SIDE NOTE: now, this is a reminder that reconciliation ultimately takes 2. And we are to do our best with reconciliation and forgiveness.
Romans 12:18
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
*it’s ok to forgive and permanently close the chapter on a relationship.
We are NOT called to be best friends with ALL people.
We ARE CALLED to LOVE ALL PEOPLE!
We can exercise love without having to have a deeply formed or overly active friendship.
We may not be friends with everyone, but we must carry no grudges or bitterness with anyone - we must root it out.
REMIND OURSELVES CONSTANTLY:
WE ARE TO SEEK RECONCILIATION & FORGIVENESS BECAUSE WE’VE RECEIVED RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS…
We’re recipients, so we’re called to be participants.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
The apostle John asks us in Scripture,
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen" (1 John 4:20).
WE ARE TO SEEK RECONCILIATION & FORGIVENESS BECAUSE WE’VE RECEIVED RECONCILIATION AND FORGIVENESS…
We’re recipients, so we’re called to be participants.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
The apostle John asks us in Scripture,
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen" (1 John 4:20).
Build the habit of listening deeply - reconciliation requires us to listen deeply to one another. Avoid being quick to label and dismiss. Engage in Empathetic listening.
Habit of radical examination. We must ask: are there things in me that foster or cultivate division, prejudice, or a dismissal of others?
Habit of regular confession, repentance and forgiveness
Be quick to say “I’m sorry”. Those that are able to do that and mean it; are in tune with their own brokenness and the sanctifying work that Jesus is still at work fixing within them.
He who began a good work, will be faithful to complete it. — Philippians 1:9
*which means = we are all still a work in progress as a follower of Jesus.
Habit of radical examination. We must ask: are there things in me that foster or cultivate division, prejudice, or a dismissal of others?
Habit of regular confession, repentance and forgiveness
Be quick to say “I’m sorry”. Those that are able to do that and mean it; are in tune with their own brokenness and the sanctifying work that Jesus is still at work fixing within them.
He who began a good work, will be faithful to complete it. — Philippians 1:9
*which means = we are all still a work in progress as a follower of Jesus.
Reconciliation must be a rhythm of our lives - forgiveness MUST FLOW from within us. Because it flows into us THROUGH CHRIST!!
Quote:
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” -C.S. Lewis
*MEMORIZATION challenge:
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. -Ephesians 4:32
Quote:
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” -C.S. Lewis
*MEMORIZATION challenge:
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. -Ephesians 4:32
Thanks for partnering with us...
Elements family, thank you for enabling us to be the Church in our city! Your gifts help fuel the mission, as well as our capacity to share His love with as many as we can. You help us bring the HOPE and LIGHT of Jesus to our city! You can give here, online, or through the Elements app.
http://elementscitychurch.org/giveWe hope you have been blessed by your time worshipping with us -- through song and through the Word!
We'll see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we continue our series: The Rooted Life...transformational values that help us walk in the way of Jesus.
We'll see you back at Elements next weekend -- on-site or online -- as we continue our series: The Rooted Life...transformational values that help us walk in the way of Jesus.