Incredible You - Part 5

God’s Call for All:

• To LOVE each other - even though we’re all FLAWED
• To ACCEPT each other - even though we’re all DIFFERENT
• To EMBRACE each other - even though we’re all DISTINCTLY UNIQUE

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.” ~Acts 10:34,35

INFLUENCES SURROUNDING THE UNIQUE YOU

• Humanity - All PEOPLE
• Race - Same COLOUR
• Culture - Same NATIONAL Upbringing
• Heritage - Your FAMILY
• You

EACH OF THESE FACTORS INFLUENCE YOUR LIFE AND THINKING TO VARYING DEGREES

Do NOT stereotype or limit a person by one of these factors

You are a NEW CREATION ~2 Corinthians 5:17

SOME OLD THOUGHTS NEED TO CHANGE

CHANGE OUR MIND ~Ephesians 5:26

Your past has IMPACTED you; Your present has EMPOWERED you.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ~2 Corinthians 5:16-18

REGARD means 'to view or see others'

WORDLY POINT OF VIEW means 'according to their natural or physical origin'

TWO THINGS GOD EXPECTS FROM YOU:

JESUS REPLIED: "You must LOVE THE LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the FIRST and greatest commandment. A second is EQUALLY IMPORTANT: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself." ~Matthew 22:37-39

1. You Love God;
2. You Love Others.

BARRIERS that BLOCK Obedience:

• Don’t KNOW - Ignorance
• Don’t CARE - Self-centred
• Don’t VALUE: Pride

You may be “right”... by yourself!

BRIDGE to Obedience

LOVING OTHERS REQUIRES:

• Sacrifice
• Sensitivity

Ways We Can Show Sensitivity:

• Food
• Language or Accent
• Clothing

Crossing The Bridge Of Obedience

1. BE DELIBERATE

DELIBERATE means 'to be intentional, to carefully consider an action'

We Need to SACRIFICE:

• a little of our comfort zone
• how we grew up to make others feel important and valued

PRACTICAL Ways to be Deliberate:

• INVITE
• INVEST
• INSPECT

2. MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ~Matthew 28:19

You are not limited by the colour of your skin
or the culture you grew up in!