Extreme Home Makeover Series Extreme Home Makeover is dedicated to renovating homes and remodeling relationships. Remodeling older homes requires that you first clean out the mess. The renovation of our relationships will require a similar strategy. It will mean ridding our homes of aloneness! The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me. Martin Luther THERE S NOTHING LIKE THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another showing us truth... training us to live God s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us (2 Timothy 3:16 MSG). I. Introduction Let us go over to the other side (Mark 4:35). Renovating relationships, a community, or a nation requires a plan. Remodeling a home requires a careful set of instructions or a detailed set of blueprints. Remember: A blueprint is a reproduction of a technical drawing, documenting a specific architecture or building design. The term blueprint has come to be used to refer to any such detailed plan. God s Word is our God-breathed blueprint for returning (resetting) the effective operational foundations for our homes, institutions, communities, and nation. Scripture provides divine instructions for showing us what s needed for extreme makeover of our homes, relationships, and institutions! It s this same blueprint from scripture that can reset our nation as His Spirit is at work to bring a Christ-Awakening. Consider for example, how our homes, communities, and nation would be dramatically reset if there was: A decrease in divorce and renewed commitment to marriage between a man and a woman in covenant relationship as God intended Imparting faith to children and youth as parents are equipped by the church to become primary disciplers of their children Young adults, students, and children embracing the claims and lifestyle of Christ through the witness of peers who live and love as Jesus.com 1
Or imagine how our broken dysfunctional institutions could be reset through: Breakdowns of racial, social, and status barriers as Christ s church celebrates together Jesus! A restoration of morality, ethical foundations, and accountability among leaders of church, government, business, and politics Neighborhood transformation and an accompanying decrease of social ills through increased expressions of loving your neighbor in service, compassion, and unity The above six indicators of spiritual awakening are from a list of twenty identified by the leadership of the Awakening America Alliance and part of The National Prayer Accord, an annual rhythm of prayer for God to Reset America. (Visit awakeningamerica.us) We often hate to admit it, but do-it-yourself projects and at-home renovations succeed more often when we read the instructions. But where can we find an instruction manual for relationships? Or rebuilding our communities? Or resetting a nation? Where do we turn when a marriage is disconnected or siblings can t seem to get along? Where can we find tools to deepen friendships or heal conflicted ones? Where do we find instructions for navigating the emotions of fear, anger, or hurt whether in our homes, communities, or institutions? Rather than looking to the culture, popular media, or politics for our relationship answers, could the Bible be a relevant alternative? During this time together, we ll see how the Bible is our instruction manual for these home renovation challenges and many more. Has not God s Word provided an amazing set of blueprints or instructions? The Master Designer hasn t left us to build or rebuild alone. Our first priority is to read His plans and then live them out! This introduction is our reminder: When in doubt, do the Book! You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). As you prepare for the possibilities of actually doing the Bible in various dimensions of life, consider the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1 13). Pay specific attention to what Christ identifies as the sower, the seed, and the soil. In this sobering declaration, Jesus began to share the true meaning behind the parable of the sower (vv.14 20). Christ hoped the disciples would pay close attention to what He was about to share for if they missed out on the significance of this parable, they could be lost when it came to understanding all other parables (v. 13). In the same way, this parable is fundamental to our lives, a foundational first step! As we explore the message that Jesus taught through the parable of the sower, we may be shocked to learn the primary lesson He was trying to convey. Jesus wanted us (and the disciples) to realize that while hearing truth and understanding truth are essential, they are not sufficient. God s truth must be experienced. 2.com
W-10 Implicit, unwavering trust that His Word will never fail Experience Scripture If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us and we will have the request that we ask (I John 5:14 15). Pause and together with a few others, ask God to first reveal and then fulfill His will claiming the promise of John 8:32 to bring you added freedom in ways you need, through the working and power of His Word. II. Truth Must Be Heard He who has ears, let him hear (Mark 4:9). It s not the wisdom of men that transforms lives, nor is it clever sayings, compelling research, or convincing lessons from history. Rather, it is God s Word that is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). In the parable of the sower, Christ s disciples and the multitudes heard truth that could dramatically impact their lives. These hearers may not have yet realized the importance of Christ s words, but nevertheless they heard truth concerning the sower, the seed, and the soil (vv. 2 9). Jesus closed the parable with these words, He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Mark 4:9). What can we learn? God s truth must be heard. W-4 Humbly and vulnerably sharing of the Spirit s transforming work through the Word Colossians 3:16 Moment: Let the Word of Christ dwell deeply in you... (Col. 3:16). Pastor/Teacher: Take the lead in sharing your personal reflection on a specific Bible verse that has made significant impact in your life. Engage Fellowship Encourage one another in love (Hebrews 10:24 25). Think about a specific Bible verse that you may have heard from the Lord as you read, studied, listened, or meditated. Remember a specific Bible verse that has brought you hope or encouragement, insight, or direction. After you ve identified this verse, share it with your partner or small group and celebrate together that God s Word fuels hope!... through the encouragement of Scripture we might have hope (Romans 15:4). One of the important Bible verses for me has been because For example: One of the important Bible verses for me has been Romans 5:8 because of how God demonstrates His love that never fails. That gives me reassurance and hope. III. Truth Must Be Understood The disciples (and a few others) wanted more than just to hear the truth that Jesus shared; they wanted to understand it. The disciples not only heard the Word, but they received it and sought to understand and embrace its significance. Later, they came to the Master in private and were given this interpretation and insight into the parable of the sower (Mark 4: 10-20): The seed is the Word of God. The soil is the hearts of men. Some seed is stolen by Satan. Some seed is received, but dies when affliction and tribulation arise. Some seed is received but choked out by caring for other things..com 3
Some seed is sown on good soil, where the heart: hears the Word, and accepts the Word, and bears fruit from the Word. As we will see, the Sower is actually Jesus, the Son of Man. When a farmer sows a seed, his goal is to bear fruit. Seed is sown to bear fruit. The multitudes heard the Word and the disciples understood the Word that day, but that wasn t the same as producing fruit. The disciples received the truth, were challenged to live it, but had yet to experience it. If the disciples had stopped at this point in the parable story, they would have undoubtedly been tempted to brag about their new-found knowledge: We know what the parable of the sower means, do you? Truth could have become knowledge that puffed up rather than love that edifies (See 1 Corinthians 8:1). By knowing more and more biblical truth, we, too, can be deceived into thinking that we are somehow more mature in our faith than those around us. As a nation, simply having In God we trust on our money or closing many gatherings with the cry may God Bless America could lull us into a false sense of security that somehow we were favored in some way or protected from Satan s attacks. Experience Scripture If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know what he ought to know ( I Corinthians 8:2). W-7 A life explained as one of experiencing scripture Take a moment to remember a time when you were sure that you knew a Bible verse, only to discover that there was more to know! Share about this time with a partner or your small group. I remember knowing that the Bible says only to discover that Colossians 3:16 Moment: Let the Word of Christ dwell deeply in you... (Col. 3:16). Pastor/Teacher: Humbly express an example of your coming to know a specific Biblical truth in fresh, transforming ways. For example: I remember knowing that the Bible says confessing my faults is good for relationships (James 5:16), only to realize that it had been many months since I had actually experienced it by acknowledging any wrongs or regrets to my spouse. Just like the disciples, we often hear the Word and even receive it, but we stop short of the life-changing, liberating power of experiencing it. IV. Truth Must Be Experienced On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, Let us cross over to the other side (Mark 4:35). On the same day... It was now time for the disciples to experience the parable of the sower. Immediately after Christ s teaching on the parables, it was time for the disciples to actually do the parable. The Sower (Jesus) sowed the seed, which is the Word of God, ( Let us go over to the other side. ) on to the soil of the disciples hearts. With these few words from the Savior, the readiness of the disciples hearts was about to be revealed. Jesus had sown the seed upon the disciples hearts how would they respond? Would the Word bear fruit? Or would the Word be stolen or choked out? 4.com
Watch out for the birds of the air and other hindrances: During the parable of the sower, Jesus warned against the birds of the air. He cautioned against the tribulations of life and how they can hinder God s Word from bearing fruit. The disciples were faced with tribulation; they were in danger of letting the cares of the world choke out their experience of God s truth. Satan comes to destroy the Word: A great wind storm arose, He arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea (v. 37, 39). The use of the word rebuke in this scripture implies that the evil one was behind the storm. (See also Jude 9.) Pastors and church leaders visit warroomthemovie.com to learn more about this powerful movie which challenges and champions this much needed calling into deepend intimacy with Christ. Click here to watch the trailer. Tribulation comes to destroy the Word: And the waves beat into the boat so that it was already filling (v. 37). In a world of tribulation, the stress of life can come from most any source family, friends, children, jobs, health, church, ministry, etc. If our hearts are not guarded, the Word can be strangled out. Life in a fallen world tends to choke out faith in His Word and good things become enemies of the best. We can become so consumed with bailing out water from the downstream symptoms of brokenness that we forget the upstream power and solutions that come from simply embracing His truth as my truth! One of Satan s most common attacks is to distract us from embracing the Word. In a world of much evil and in a nation of much wickedness, our real battle is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual forces of darkness. Realizing this informs our priority of prayer and fasting, repentance, and worship. A significant movie project from the Kendrick brothers (creators of Fireproof and Courageous), entitled War Room explores the power that prayer can have on marriages, parenting, careers, friendships, and every other area of our lives. Caring for other things chokes out the Word: Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing (v. 38)? The cares of this life can cause us to selfishly focus on our own interests plus other people s success, popularity, material things, hobbies, etc. If our hearts are not guarded, the Word will be choked out. As the wind died down and the sea became perfectly calm, the Lord announced the disciples failure concerning the parable of the sower: Do you still have no faith (v. 40). The sowing of the seed, ( Let us go over to the other side. ) had brought forth no fruit. They had not persevered through Satan s attack, storms, and self-interests. What was the Master hoping? How would the Word have produced fruit? What could the disciples have done with the Word? They could have, in faith, kept rowing the boat! In order to experience the Word and let it bear fruit in their lives, the disciples could have kept rowing with confidence because the King of kings and Lord of lords had said to them, Let us go over to the other side. Since the Creator had said let us they were going to the other side! God was not going to drown. The disciples could have done the Word by acting on the truth that they were going to the other side! The disciples encountered the critical importance of hearing, receiving, and experiencing truth on the Sea of Galilee that day..com 5
When in doubt, perhaps they should have let Jesus sleep and just kept rowing the boat! We need this same truth: When in doubt, do the Book! Renovation Encounter: Reset My Life and Relationships Prayerfully reflect on the Bible verses below. Which one of these might you need to experience more often in your own life and relationships? A gentle answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you (Romans 15:7). Confess your sins to each other (James 5:16). Forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). Speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Let no unwholesome words come out of your mouth but only such words that edify/buildup (Ephesians 4:29). W-1 Frequently being led by the Spirit into deeper love for the One who wrote the Word Encounter Jesus: And the sheep hear his voice (John 10:3). Mediate quietly on Jesus as the great shepherd sowing the truth on your heart. Lord Jesus, what truth from your Word might you desire for me to more often experience? Speak, Lord; I am listening. Meditate on the six scriptures above and listen for the Spirit s leadership. I sense it would be important for me to more often experience (which scripture) from above, (or other scripture). Take time to reflect on this one verse. Pray together with a partner or small group. Ask Jesus to make this verse more true of who you are and empower you to do the Bible. Lord Jesus, lead me beyond merely knowing the truth. Please lead me into a genuine experience of truth. Replace knowledge with Your love that builds up as Your truth is lived out. I sense that Your Spirit might want this verse to be particularly true of me in my relationship with. Out the door: Faithfully experiencing the Word makes us an effective, living epistle as others take note that we had been with Jesus! It s this foundation of experienced truth that empowers our effective witness for Jesus. Start a conversation with a simple, friendly question: What are you going to do or what did you do this weekend? Then plan to experience Romans 12:15, Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. As you listen carefully to the person s answer, be ready to celebrate or give care. A clerk in the grocery store might respond: I attended our grandson s baseball tournament this weekend. It was hot, but really fun! Your celebration response might be: Wow! You must be so proud of him. What a terrific memory for you and your family! 6.com
Your friend at work might respond: I spent the weekend moving my mom into the nursing home. Your caring/mourning response might be: I m so sorry. That must have been very difficult for all of you. Thank you for letting me know. Families on Mission Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us (2 Corinthians 5:20). Think about some of your friends and other families who might benefit from knowing about God s Word and how it has helped your family. Could you and your kids carry out one of these ideas? Take a devotional Bible to a couple who is newly married. Bring a Bible to the parents and/or grandparents of a newborn baby. Give one of your family resources to a friend or family in your neighborhood and be sure to mark any of the activities that your family particularly enjoyed. Give a Bible to anyone who is new to the neighborhood or building. When you present your gift, you might offer words of encouragement like: This is our family s gift to you. We ve been really grateful for how the Bible has made a difference in our family and wanted to share this gift with you. We hope it will be a blueprint for your family, just like it has been for us. Giving First Freely you have received, therefore freely give (Matthew10:8). Send a note to a teacher, church leader, pastor, parent, or mentor expressing gratitude for how this person has encouraged you to read and live God s Word. Thank them for teaching God s Word, living the Bible themselves, and impressing you with the priority of making the Bible the blueprint for your life. Plan your words of appreciation here. I am especially grateful for (name a specific person) because she/he has helped me see the great impact of God s Word on our lives by Spiritual Conversations I was well pleased to impart to you not only the Gospel but my very life (1 Thessalonians 2:8). Begin a spiritual conversation about your renewed gratitude for God s Word. Your conversations might sound like: I have a new appreciation for how God s Word can work in our lives. I ve recently seen how the Bible can... I ve never really understood how the Bible can make a difference in things today, but I can now see... I am so glad God gave us the Bible. It s been like a blueprint a set of plans or instructions for how to do life. I m grateful for those plans because they ve helped me....com 7
W-10 Implicit, unwavering trust that His Word will never fail Experiencing Scripture So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Prayerfully reflect on the verses below as part of God s hope to Reset America. Gather in small groups, praying through each verse, believing that God s Spirit at work through the Word will not return void.... and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God (1 Thessalonians 4:3 5). He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8). The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me (Matthew 25:40). He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse (Malachi 4:6). And He said to him, YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37 40). Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19 20). 8.com