How to Make Pure Decisions | Uncommon Unity | Greg Ford

ICEBREAKER:

What's a hobby you have always wanted to pick up, but never did?

MESSAGE NOTES:

[Matthew 15:10–11]

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “Listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

You want the right thing at the right time for the right reason.

[John 7:2-6]

But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, 3 and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! 4 You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” 5 For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. 6 Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime.

[Acts 15:19-21]

…we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21 For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

[I Corinthians 10:23-33]

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”

27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

[Romans 14:14]

I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.

[Hebrews 10:22]

let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

QUESTION 1: What is your biggest takeaway from the paradigm shift of impurity consisting of being “unclean” vs. being “out of order”?

QUESTION 2: Is there a situation or decision that you are currently facing, where it would be beneficial for you to apply the right thing / right time / right reason filter? What does that look like?

QUESTION 3: What practical action steps can you plan to put in place, to apply this scripture / content to your everyday world?

GUIDED PRAYER:

God, I thank you that you love you me unconditionally, even in the times I may feel out of order. Please guide me by your spirit to know what is the right thing, when is the right time, and what are the right reasons. Help me to be the best version of myself that you have created me to be today and this week - amen.

One ChurchMarch 28, 2023