"Do not conform yourselves to be like the people of this world. Instead
be transformedwithin by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you, and you'll know what is good and pleasing to him, and what is his perfect will." Romans 12:2
GOAL: For you to be able to say . . .
"We have conducted ourselves in the world . . . with holiness and sincerity from God. And we've been guided by God's grace, not by the human wisdom of this world." 2 Cor. 1:12
God: "I don't think the way you think! And the way I work is very different from the way you work! For just as the heavens soar high above the earth, so the way that I work far surpasses the way you work, and the things I value are way beyond what you value." Isaiah 55:8-9
"God has shown us that the world's wisdom is foolishness!" 1 Cor. 1:20b
1. The World: Politics is the driving force in everything.
JESUS: MY CHURCH MATTERS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
"God's intent was that THROUGH THE CHURCH his manifold wisdom
will be made known . . ." Eph. 3:10
"God has put everything under the authority of Christ, and he gave Christ this authority FOR THE BENEFIT OF HIS CHURCH!" Eph. 1:22
Jesus promised: "I WILL build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it!" Matt. 16:18b
"Christ LOVES THE CHURCH and gave himself for the CHURCH
to make it belong to God. . . . He died for THE CHURCH so that he could GIVE THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF as a beautiful bride." Eph. 5:25b, 27
"The church is not peripheral to the world; THE WORLD IS PERIPHERAL TO THE CHURCH! The church is Christ's Body, in which he speaks and acts, and by which he fills everything with his presence." Eph. 1:23 (Mes)
ACTION PLAN: How does The Church serve you? How do you serve The Church? Are your answers in balance? If not, what need of yours do you share with your small group this week? What needs can you meet of others in your small group? If you are not connected with a small group, text the word smallgroup to 83000 to get connected.
2. Politicians: We'll solve all your problems & save the world.
JESUS: ONLY I CAN SAVE YOU AND SOLVE YOUR WORST PROBLEMS
"Do not put your trust in princes, who are mortal men. They cannot saveyou." Ps. 146:3 (NCV)
God: "Anyone who turns away from trusting me to put their trust in a human being will be cursed. They'll dry up like a bush in the desert with no hope for their future." Jer. 17:5
ACTION PLAN: What problem in your life do you need to turn over to the trust and care of God? Are you trusting in a political party more than God? If so, take a moment to think about why. Write down what's tempting you to not trust God. Have a trusted friend pray for your unbelief and ask God to strengthen your faith.
3. Politics: Votes & money come by creating division & fear.
JESUS: IN MY CHURCH, UNITY GETS PRIORITY OVER POLITICS
"Make every effort to preserve the unity (in the church) which the Spirit gives us. Bind yourselves together with peace. We are all one Body, wehave the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same gloriousfuture." Eph. 4:3-4 (NLT)
"I beg you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to not argue among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won't be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose." 1 Cor. 1:10 (NLT)
"Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with . . ."Rom. 14:1 (Mes)
"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. . . . By persisting in divisiveness, he cuts himself off from fellowship." Titus 3:10-11 (NIV & Mes)
4. Politics: Results matter more than character in a leader.
JESUS: THE CHARACTER OF A LEADER MATTERS MOST
"A wise person's HEART will lead in the right way. But the HEART ofa fool will always lead in the wrong way." Eccl. 10:2
ACTION PLAN: Read the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) this week. In what ways can you receive and embody what Jesus taught? How might you and others benefit from you receiving and embodying those principles?
"Some day there will be a king who rules with integrity, and national leaders who govern with justice. Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and provide safe covering in storms. They will refresh others like streams flowing in a desert, and the cool shadow of a giant rock in a hot, barren land. Their eyes and ears will be open to the needs of the people. They will NOT be rash and reckless hotheads. Instead they will act with understanding and they will say what they mean. In that day, ungodly fools will no longer be called great and scoundrels won't be given positions of honor. A foolish leader speaks foolishly and thinks up new ways to do mischief. What he does AND what he says are BOTH an insult to the Lord! He never feeds the hungry or gives thirsty people anything to drink. The scoundrel's methods are wicked. He constantly lies, is cruel and unmoved by the pleas of the poor and hurting, and he denies them justice and their rights. But a good leader plans good things to do good, and those good things make him a good leader." Isaiah 32:1-8 (TEV, NCV, NLT)
Weekly Action Steps
We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or email newstart@saddleback.com
We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him. Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give
We meet in small groups online to discuss what we've heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 83000 or email SMALLGROUP@saddleback.com.
Listen to our new Doable Discipleship podcast season, "Politics and the Church" at Saddleback.com/learn
