Matt Nelson - July 17, 2022
Disruptive Discipleship - Part II
Disruptive Discipleship - Part II 7.17.22 Two reasons we experience pain, disruptions, and disappointments: Because of the brokenness of the world we live in Because of our commitment to Christ, to being healthy, to living on mission 2 Corinthians 11:21-30 Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. If comfort is our idol then we will reject anything that hinders our pursuit of pleasure. Your DELAY is now the space where your faith is tested and becomes genuine Your PAIN is now the space where God can meet you in your weakness Your DISCOMFORT is now the space where God can reorder the desires of your heart Your DISRUPTION is now the space where you learn contentment Practices that break the cycles that I get stuck in: Fasting - breaks the cycle of my desires Serving - breaks the cycle of self-centeredness Prayer - breaks the cycle of self-reliance Retreat - breaks the cycle of routine and normalcy Sabbath - breaks the cycle of productivity Community - breaks the cycle of isolation Faith - breaks the cycle of comfort