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Starting out
- Jesus is Lord

From the very beginning, Christians have said that Jesus is Lord. What does that mean for us?

This thread (Starting out):
  1. Jesus is Saviour
  2. Baptism
  3. Jesus is Lord
  4. Knowing God better
  5. Knowing other Christians better

Lord?

Think about what 'Lord' means. Jot down any words which might mean the same thing.

Look at a familiar Psalm - Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

How does it begin?
Here, the title 'Lord' simply means 'God'. It is the way the writers of the Old Testament usually referred to God.

Acts 2:36 - Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ
Who is being called Lord here?

1 Corinthians 8:5-6 - For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
How many Lords are there?
How many as far as a Christian is concerned?

Since there is just the one Lord, Jesus, it follows that He is in charge and is the one who we should listen to.

 

Obedience

John 14:15 - If you love me, you will obey what I command.
and John 14:23-24 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
Why does Jesus say we should obey Him?

So, we obey Jesus, not because we are forced to but because we love Him.

Think about, and jot down, areas in life where we need to obey Jesus. (For example, Jesus says we should control our temper [Matthew 5:21-22])

 

A solid foundation

Matthew 7:24-27 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

What is this little story really about? (verse 24)
If our Christian life is to be built on a solid foundation, how important do you think it is to do as Jesus says?

 

Easy or difficult?

Look at Matthew 19:16-22 - Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

(Jesus does not ask everyone to do what he asked this young man.) Why do you think this man found it difficult to do as Jesus said? What might we find difficult in obeying Jesus?

 

Any questions?

If you have any queries, or comments, then e-mail us and we'll get back to you

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