{"id":240,"date":"2022-10-10T15:08:29","date_gmt":"2022-10-10T15:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lovingcultureministries.com\/?p=240"},"modified":"2022-10-10T15:08:29","modified_gmt":"2022-10-10T15:08:29","slug":"listen-generously-always-encourage-and-celebrate-sermon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovingcultureministries.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/10\/listen-generously-always-encourage-and-celebrate-sermon\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen Generously- Always Encourage and Celebrate – Sermon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LISTEN GENEROUSLY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me the New Testament is a blueprint on how we should be church.\u00a0 Other than the Gospels and Revelation, the rest are instructions to the early church.\u00a0 How to serve one another. How to treat one another, how to serve the community.\u00a0 What did the early church look like?\u00a0 A very potentially polarized group of people.\u00a0 Multiple races, cultures, traditions, cultural laws, everyone who had been fighting each other for a thousand years!\u00a0 Egyptians, Sumerians, Jews, Gentiles, Samaritans, Romans, all mixed together in someone\u2019s living room forming the first Christian Church in history.\u00a0 James instructs these people on how to listen to one another.\u00a0 Who thinks our country is polarized today?\u00a0 Well we have instructions in James on how to go about fixing this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need to be quick to listen and do so with your undivided attention. Minimize the distractions and let go of the need to agree or disagree. Suspend your judgment and be curious to know more rather than jumping to conclusions. Above all, listen to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James 1:19-27<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My dear brothers and sisters,\u00a0take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak\u00a0and slow to become angry,\u00a020\u00a0<\/sup>because human anger\u00a0does not produce the righteousness that God desires.\u00a021\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, get rid of\u00a0all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,\u00a0which can save you.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

22\u00a0<\/sup><\/em><\/strong>Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.\u00a023\u00a0<\/sup>Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror\u00a024\u00a0<\/sup>and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.\u00a025\u00a0<\/sup>But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it\u2014not forgetting what they have heard but doing it\u2014they will be blessed in what they do. 26\u00a0<\/sup>Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues\u00a0deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.\u00a027\u00a0<\/sup>Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after\u00a0orphans and widows\u00a0in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not a new problem.\u00a0 It is not a social media problem; it is not an American problem.\u00a0 Over 3000 years ago in the Old Testament:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>\u201cSpouting<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Proverbs 18: 13)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c<\/em>Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>(Proverbs 12: 15)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many times have you been having a conversation with someone, and you see the gears turning in their head, you know that as soon as you take a breath, they will jump in and tell you their idea, why you are wrong and why they are right!! Has this happened to you?\u00a0 Put a comment in the chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did that make you feel?\u00a0 Where you actually being heard?\u00a0 Did the other person value your opinion?\u00a0 Did they respect your perspective?\u00a0 To be clear this is not about listening to agree, but instead to listen to understand.\u00a0 James did not suggest that we all must agree with each other, other than celebrating and worshiping Jesus the son of God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does it mean to listen to understand?<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What or who would James want you to listen to?<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do you think James has such a strong emphasis on your tongue?<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who remembers the Rhyme: Sticks and Stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were told a lie.\u00a0 Words are the most powerful thing, much more hurtful and destructive than any sticks or stones.\u00a0 They can last a lifetime!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ideas for Action: <\/strong>Put aside phones and laptops. Turn off the TV or computer and face someone you love. Focus on what the other is saying; not on what you want to say. Be careful that you\u2019re not interrupting because you\u2019re not listening to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALWAYS ENCOURAGE AND CELEBRATE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of this year, I had my second knee replaced. I am very grateful for the surgeons, nurses, aids, and physical therapists that took care of me.\u00a0 For this reason, I want to spend a little time talking about gratitude.\u00a0 Gratitude is a demonstrated biblical behavior highly recommended to the readers both at the time of writing and for today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are called to show gratitude and appreciation by regularly acknowledging the good works you see everywhere. Look for signs of spiritual growth and maturity among our members and staff. When you see it, point it out and rejoice. Pass on good reports that you hear about others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A song<\/em>\u00a0of David. Psalm 138<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\u00a0<\/sup>To You,\u00a0Lord,<\/em>\u00a0I give my whole heart,\u00a0a heart filled<\/em>\u00a0with praise,\u00a0for I am grateful;<\/em>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0before the gods, my heart sings praises to You\u00a0and You alone<\/em>.
2\u00a0<\/sup>I bow\u00a0before You,<\/em>\u00a0looking to Your holy temple,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and praise Your name, for Your unfailing love and Your truth;
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0for You have placed Your name and Your word over all things\u00a0and all times.<\/em>
3\u00a0<\/sup>On the day\u00a0I needed You,<\/em>\u00a0I called, and You responded
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and infused my soul with strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\u00a0<\/sup>May all the kings of the earth praise You, O Eternal One,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0because they have heard the words You have spoken.
5\u00a0<\/sup>They will marvel<\/em>\u00a0at the Eternal\u2019s ways, and they will sing,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0for great is the glory of the Eternal.
6\u00a0<\/sup>Although He is greatest of all, He is attentive to the needy
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and keeps His distance from the proud\u00a0and pompous<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7\u00a0<\/sup>Whenever I walk into trouble,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You are there to bring me out.
You hold out Your hand
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to protect me against the wrath of my enemies,
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and hold me safely in Your right hand.
8\u00a0<\/sup>The Eternal will finish what He started in me.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Your faithful love, O Eternal One, lasts forever;
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0do not give up on what Your hands have made.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ. <\/em><\/strong>(1 Thessalonians 1: 3, 4)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul models encouragement and gratitude for us in a very specific way.\u00a0 He writes a letter to the church expressing his feelings. We read this and gloss over this lesson. Remember the New Testament is an instruction guide a Standard Operating Procedure guide for Christians!\u00a0 It is filled with instructions for the early church specifically and also for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God\u2019s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. <\/em><\/strong>(Acts 11: 22, 23)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are other examples of Jesus showing gratitude during his ministry as well.\u00a0 The early church was reminded by Paul how important this behavior is to the Christian Church throughout his writings.\u00a0 In the summer I get the privilege to be a leader for my church youth group.\u00a0 My kids have grown, and my daughter has a family of her own, yet I still choose to go each year.\u00a0 The reason I continue to go, is to be a part of the transformation of these kids.\u00a0 We take them completely out of their comfort zone with projects.\u00a0 Roofing, Drywall, window replacement, exterior painting on tall ladders you name it.\u00a0 Some kids have never even used a hammer before.\u00a0 We tell them to get on a high roof and replace the shingles.\u00a0 By the end of the week, their self-confidence is literally through the roof!\u00a0 The are transformed that week physically, emotionally, and spiritually.\u00a0 I make it a point to express my gratitude and acknowledge to each one, their hard work and facing their challenges to provide a family a better place to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern Day science has done a lot of research on the physical and emotional benefits of demonstrated gratitude!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits are split into six groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n