Scripture
Read the following verses:
2 Corinthians 5:18
James 2:15-18
Hebrews 10:24
Isaiah 1:15-17
Open your mind and heart as you read the passage of Scripture aloud and then again quietly to yourself. Listen for God’s word to you. Spend some time in worship.
Observation
Read the verses again and then the observation
2 Corinthians 5:18
In spite of the Fall causing humanity to lose the shalom that God intended to share with them, Paul tells his readers that God is at work doing what He alone can do. No one can earn their salvation or bring about reconciliation between themselves and God through their own efforts. God instigated reconciliation between Himself and people through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. God now expects believers to take up the ministry of reconciliation themselves
James 2:15-18
James was writing to Jewish Christians who knew about doing right according to the law. But these believers had now gone to the other extreme and were discounting the value of works, thinking that what they did was not important in their faith.
So James told them it was grace through faith that saved them. This living faith produces good works which are the result of the love believers have for God and, consequently, for one another. James states that a mere declaration of faith is not enough.
He then gives an example of what he means. It is not enough to tell a naked, hungry person to be warm and filled. If a believer says this, they are recognising the need of the person to whom they are speaking, but their offer of comfort is meaningless to that person. Practical help is needed.
Real faith is not just a spiritual matter. It incorporates a concern for the needs of those around us. Any other kind of faith is dead. The action believers take when living out their faith is the indication of a living, saving faith, and anyone who has the gift of faith will demonstrate it by the works they do. Faith is only made visible by the works a believer does.
Hebrews 10:24
The writer of Hebrews urges believers to gather together to meet with and encourage one another to demonstrate their faith through good works. The phrase ‘stir up’ is strong and suggests acts of intentional encouragement and love. The Greek word for love here is agape – a giving, sacrificial love. Such love is only possible in community. If believers stop meeting together they will often become discouraged, as they lack one another’s support. Not only is the believer encouraged and blessed by community – they in turn encourage and bless others by their presence. Made in the image of God, people were made for community, and so, such community is essential to the survival of the Christ-follower’s faith.
Isaiah 1:15-17
When Isaiah was writing, people would spread out their hands and look up to heaven as they prayed. But the Lord said He would not look at them when they prayed because their prayers were empty and useless. He could see their hands were full of blood. People treated each other badly and their leaders were corrupt. The apostle John later repeated this message in his first letter (1 John 4:20). Whilst people wanted to show they loved God through their religious rituals, God was more concerned about how they treated one another, especially those who were needy like orphans and widows.
Icebreaker:
When have you received agape love – love that goes the extra mile? What happened? How did you feel? If you are not aware of ever having been loved like that, how would you offer such love to someone else? What would it take to do so? Do you have a person in mind who would be blessed by such love, out of the blue, unsolicited?
Application
- What does the phrase ‘Rugged Spirituality’ mean to you? Where do you need restoration most in your life at this point in time? With God, with self, with others, with creation? What do you think is blocking such restoration from taking place?
- Four aspects of Rugged Spirituality were described in the sermon:
- Acts of devotion
- Acts of compassion
- Acts of worship
- Acts of mercy
- Describe what role each of these plays in your life. Which is the strongest, which the weakest? How do you put each one into practice?
- What does the implementation of these acts say about your faith – to God, to yourself, to others and to creation?
- Spend a few minutes in silence. What is the Holy Spirit stirring up within you in relation to each of these quadrants? How do you need Him to help you to strengthen the areas which you feel are the weakest in your spiritual life at this time?
- How can the group help you with the struggles you have mentioned during this session?
Prayer
Pray for one another in regard to the issues that have been raised during your discussion time, and in regard to other needs of the group.
Service
Write the four quadrants of Rugged Spirituality on a card and put them in a place where you can see them often. Be intentional about putting each one into practice during the coming week. How does such action impact your relationship with God and with those around you? Be prepared to share any feedback with the group next week.
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