Hanging out with Dave Rolph
Favor With Men
Introduction-
Church as a body, Eph. 4:14-21, Jn. 17
I. Jesus attracted people, and still does
A. Multitudes everywhere He went
B. He has attracted people ever since. (2.2 billion Christians in the world today. (third of world population) Around five billion in history) (Even non-Christians respect)
II. How He treated people
A. Not ambitious
1. Didn’t try to build a following (Luke 8:38-39- demoniac sent home)
2. Told people not to tell what He did, and who He was.
3. Not competitive- Mk. 9:38-41 (Not against us, on our side)
B. Not engaging in debate
1. Usual theological and political arena in their culture
2. Deflected debate- Mt. 21:23-27 (answered question with a question)
C. Treated people with respect
1. John 3- Jewish ruler (cf. Mk. 3:1-6)
2. John 4- Samaritan divorcee
3. John 8- woman caught in adultery
D. Cared about people
1. Looked on lost with compassion Mt. 9:35-36- sheep without shepherd
2. Touched people, including lepers and dead people
3. Needs of people more important than His own. Mark 6:30-44
E. Had a heart to save and forgive
1. Wanted to save, not destroy, Samaritan village. Lk. 9:51-56
2. Spent time with notorious sinners. Lk. 5:27-32
3. Sinful woman who anointed Him. Lk. 7:36-50
F. Patient
1. Doubting Thomas- Jn. 20:24-29
2. Restoration of Peter- Jn. 21:15-23
3. Parables explained privately- Mk. 4:33-34
G. Kept His cool- Lk. 8:22-25 (asleep in the boat)
H. He was all about love
1. New commandment- Jn. 13:31-35
2. Loved those who rejected Him. Mk. 10:17-22
III. Ultimately about grace.
“Favor with men” means “Grace with men”
IV. Self Assessment Questions
A. Are your arguments worth what they cost you?
B. Do people who encounter you know you care?
C. How many friends do you have, not counting relatives?
D. Do you have any non-Christian friends who aren’t your relatives?
E. Do you care about people getting saved? (Jesus never met a Christian)
F. Are you known for your love?
Conclusion- Summary on balance
Jesus grew in an amazing integration of mental, physical, spiritual and social health, balanced in each area, and between the four areas. If we are growing to be more like Him, His Word will bring the same balanced health into our lives and our church.
Balance hinges on choices.
(Lk. 5:15-16- Multitudes followed SO He often withdrew to wilderness)
Dave Rolph is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Pacific Hills in Aliso Viejo, California, and is the Bible teacher for the radio program The Balanced Word. He has been at CC Pacific Hills for seven years, and prior to that he was an assistant pastor at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa for 25 years.
Thank you for your faithfulness. Our family has recently started to attend Pacific Hills after Revive Christian Fellowship closed it’s doors. We have been attending Sunday services all together and it’s been great.
You talked about fathers a couple of services ago and I have to say that trying to understand God’s love for me by comparing it to my relationship to my dad only causes confusion for me. I couldn’t even begin to get my mind around His love until my boys were born. One is a teenager and I am watching him becoming more independent and the other is not far behind. What I feel for them, the desire to protect them, to be connected to them, wanting not to be pushed out of their daily lives but have them freely include me in, all that I want for them, THAT is when I could finely get a glimpse of God’s love. I don’t think my kids can understand how much God loves them based on looking at me as a parent (I will never be perfect and they will always have their own opinion on what perfect should be).
Anyway, I have been studying and enjoying each Sunday and felt moved to comment on this. I’m sure you have received many comments on this one since it can be so personal.
Hi Diane. I’m glad these studies have been helpful for you. The idea of God as Father resonated with a lot of people, and it is hard for those of us with bad upbringings to grasp. But you are correct. When you have your own kids, and you know how much you love them, it starts to dawn on us the significance of God as our parent. Thanks for writing.
Just wanting to comment on another interesting point about Jesus’ ministry. He apparently practiced giving away money to those in need, a popular jewish custom among the pious. Though this is not surprising in itself, it is still surprising in light of the fact that He slept mostly out in the open, probably at the mt of Olives. So he (and his disciples) seem to have practiced homelessness. Probably sleeping in sukka, booths made of tree branches.
This challenges my understanding of selflessless to an entire different level.
I can definitely say that it is a lot more effective to give in scarcity, than in abundance. The recipient is deeply touched and affected.
Once a homeless person gave me his cherries, to satisfy my whim. He was not a sophisticated person. His expression childlike full of love and simplicity.
I was immediately ashamed, and tried to refuse, but his insistence and joy in his face made it impossible for me to keep refusing. This was an unforgettable experience.
Perhaps this is just why Jesus, and later Peter and Paul’s ministry were so successful. There were no reservations by the demonstration and evidence of sacrificial giving. It is hard to argue the sincerity of someone’s action when they are giving you all they have, not only by word but also deed. This act, i believe, raises not simply fans, but devout and wholehearted followers, who would give their actual lives. And how interesting that the greek word for witness became synonymous with dying while holding to one’s testimony and cause, or better known as “martyr”.
Hi Dave,
I have been troubled by the comment made a few Sundays ago where you stated that someone was leaving our church to attend another “because you don’t have a Pastor’s heart”.Let me encourage you.
As I was reading ‘My utmost for His Highest’ (Oct. 26th)I was reminded that a ‘Pastors heart’ is to preach the Gospel!
He goes on to state that it it is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ–”go and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19). Of course he was speaking to his missionary students, but I believe this ‘charge’ is the same for Pastors.
I believe that you DO love the word and have a passion for people to be saved. You present the Gospel in a very humble, relatable and practical way.
If these folks want more intimacy, then they are probably right in moving on to a smaller body– that is what they need to do. In a growing church it is not always possible for a Pastor(try as they may)to be intimate with every person.
Dave, you DO have a ‘pastors heart’. Keep on ‘digging in’, feeding your flock and proclaiming the GOOD NEWS.
Inspired by John 17 reference at the beginning of Pastor Dave’s post.Jesus…He has my back/your back.He is my Lord,My Savior…If that weren’t enough…He is also my ABBA. My kids are too old now to call me “daddy”, but even still, to this day, whenever I here other kids say “DADDY”, I turn my attention that way. There are days when my prayer life will consist mostly of that one word…”Abba!”