BIG IDEA

 Obedience beyond desire

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT:

Tribe: any collection of people united by ties of descent from a common ancestor, community of customs and traditions, allegiance to the same leaders.

In the case of God’s tribe, no surprise God is the leader.  So what does it mean to have allegiance to God and why should I listen to Him?

Abraham trusts the goal of God’s tribe.  Remember God’s goal or the tribe’s is: “to make sure other people know God, so that those people would experience the love of God and the fullness of life with Him”.  

SO WHAT:

Jesus chose obedience over His own desires of the flesh (not to die). He was loyal to His leader, and trusted in the goal, He was brought back to life.

And think of this: being a part of this tribe does not just mean you are always sacrificing for others; it means others and God are sacrificing for you too.  Being in a tribe means you are not alone, it is not a one way street.  

NOW WHAT:

If you trust in the Lord you will not be disappointed you can dust yourself off and keep going, expecting to experience God’s love and the fullness of life with Him. 

Our tribe needs all its members to thrive.  We need you and we want you here.  And if you are not sure that’s true listen to this last bit of scripture. 

1 Corinthians 12:14 -27  For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.  If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

 You are the tribe of God.  You are needed.  You are wanted.  And you belong.  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q1: Who are some leaders in your life that you subscribe to or have allegiance to?

Q2: Why should you listen to God? 

Q3: Are you willing to put your trust in the Lord, no matter what He asks of you?

Q4: Can you think of a time being in a tribe helped you?