We live in an increasingly complicated, fast-paced, and frenzied world. Technology brings the world to us and makes us available 24/7 – cell phones, text messages, e-mails – which is generally a good thing. But this is not always in our soul’s best interest. By being available 24/7, we’re always “on.” As a consequence, we can feel “trapped” into becoming something we don’t really wish to be. And we can get pulled in so many directions that we lose touch with any core sense of meaning and direction in life. Is there a way, we wonder, to cut through the complexities and turbulence of our modern lives and put our feet on some bedrock?

As United Methodists, we have a life-enhancing treasure from our Wesleyan heritage: 3 simple rules that have dramatically changed the world and which, when applied to our lives, can dramatically change us. These 3 simple rules are ... 1) Do no harm, 2) Do good, and 3) Stay in love with God.

SUMMARY AND QUESTIONS
Sermon #2: Do No Harm

Summary:

Series summary
We live in an increasingly complicated, fast-paced, and frenzied world. Technology brings the world to us and makes us available 24/7 – cell phones, text messages, e-mails – which is generally a good thing. But this is not always in our soul’s best interest. By being available 24/7, we’re always “on.” As a consequence, we can feel “trapped” into becoming something we don’t really wish to be. And we can get pulled in so many directions that we lose touch with any core sense of meaning and direction in life. Is there a way, we wonder, to cut through the complexities and turbulence of our modern lives and put our feet on some bedrock?

As United Methodists, we have a life-enhancing treasure from our Wesleyan heritage: 3 simple rules that have dramatically changed the world and which, when applied to our lives, can dramatically change us. These 3 simple rules are ... 1) Do no harm, 2) Do good, and 3) Stay in love with God.

Sermon summary
We live in an increasingly complicated, fast-paced, and frenzied world. We need to know, is there a way to live that overcomes the divisiveness that separates, disparages, disrespects, and diminishes us? God says, “Yes, there is! As you choose to live out the 3 simple rules and obey my commands to ‘Take your evil, harm-doing deeds out of my sight!’ and ‘Stop doing wrong,’ by My sanctifying grace acting through the power of My Spirit, I will give you a bedrock on which to live. I will work within you to restore the image of Christ in which you were created.” Our goal in this sermon is to help people choose to live by the 3 simple rules.

Questions:

  1. What is your first memory of there being a God? When was your first memory of having done something that was outside God’s desire for you?
  2. Bob says, “Any knowledge we have of God’s existence, any desire we have to please God, that first dawning of light about God’s will, the first conviction we have of having sinned against God are themselves gifts of God’s grace. We can’t do that. So God does it in us... Even the ability to see our sinfulness and our choosing to trust in Christ is itself a gift of God’s grace.” Do you agree that even our decision to turn toward God in repentance and trust is a gift of God’s grace? How can it be both our decision and God’s doing?
  3. Fill in these blanks, and then discuss: Through God’s justifying grace, God saves us from the g______ (guilt) of sin and brings about a r________ change (relative). Through God’s sanctifying grace, God saves us from the p________ (power) of sin and brings about a r______ (real) change within us. How do you now understand the difference between “justification” and “sanctification?”
  4. What is the problem with a concept of salvation that stops with justification, with our being declared “not guilty” before God? Why is a healthy understanding of sanctification helpful, even necessary? (Sanctification is “the rest of the story,” without it, we can become content to live in renewed fellowship with God while still living unchanged in our sin; salvation can be seen as just a ticket to heaven or a fire insurance policy, too heaven-focused to do any earthly good.)
  5. Bob keeps pointing to Philippians 2:12-13 and saying that while salvation is by God’s grace through faith, we have a role to play. In justification, our role is to repent and choose to trust Christ. What is our role in sanctification? (Co-operating with God’s Spirit through practicing spiritual disciplines – i.e., works of piety and works of mercy)
  6. What are some examples of “works of piety?” (Prayer, scripture study, worship, Holy Communion, fasting, etc.) What are some examples of “works of mercy?” (Visiting the sick, feeding the poor, working for justice, caring for the oppressed and powerless, etc.) Where do they fit in the Methodist view of the process of salvation? How are they not “salvation by works?”
  7. Discuss the meaning of Bob’s quote: “(Sanctification) is where the 3 simple rules come in. Not before. The 3 simple rules ... summarize the works of mercy and the works of piety. As we do OUR part, as we seek to do no harm, to do good, and to stay in love with God (Wesley called this “attending upon the ordinances of God”), God’s does His part of bringing about REAL change in us, freeing us from the POWER of sin, changing us inside out.”
  8. The first simple rule is, “Do no harm.” What 3 areas of life does Bob apply this to? (1. Others; 2. Creation; and 3. Ourselves)
  9. So the 3 areas this applies to are: 1) others, 2) Creation, and 3) self. What are some ways you consciously or unconsciously harm others, e.g., gossip, backstabbing, jokes, etc.?
  10. Bob suggests that doing no harm to God’s Creation may lead us to focus on adjusting our lifestyles.  What are some of the things that prevent us from making lifestyle changes we know we probably ought to make? Describe the obstacles in your way. What can help us around them?
  11. When we feel as through the world’s problems are too big for us to tackle, we often overlook the decisions we can make to build a better world. What can you do to shrink the seemingly overwhelming nature of doing no harm to the Creation? What three actions could you take this week to do no harm to the Creation, to make you part of the cure rather than the problem? Will you commit to doing these?
  12. What are some ways you consciously or unconsciously do harm to yourself?
  13. Bishop Rueben P. Job, the author of the little study guide we’re using, says, “When I am determined to do you no harm, I lose my fear of you.” What does he mean by that?
  14. Bob says, “In this complicated, 24/7 technological world we live in, living by this simple rule – do no harm – can offer some real advantages.” What advantages might be gained by living the 3 simple rules, especially “do no harm?”
  15. What the two reasons does Bob give for why we would choose NOT to live by the 3 simple rules? (1. We actually do NOT trust that God will empower and lead us; 2. We’re afraid of the CONSEQUENCES of following them.) Do you agree or disagree? What reasons would you add?
  16. Listen again to Bishop Job: “As did John Wesley and those of the early Methodist movement before me, I too will determine every day that my life will always be invested in the effort to bring healing instead of hurt; wholeness instead of division; and harmony with the ways of Jesus rather than with the ways of the world.” Are you willing to commit to living out simple rule #1 – do no harm, avoid evil of every kind? What are you going to do?

Follow my experiment of living the 3 simple rules in July. Read my blog at brobob53.wordpress.com!