Description 

Main Point: The life of a follower of Jesus is one of many paradoxes.

Synopsis:

• The greatest paradox that the Creator of the Universe humbled himself to come to earth as a mere infant, set a precedent for believers to live paradoxical lives.
• Texts appear as follows: Paradoxes of a child of God; Serious enough to be weak; Successful enough to fail; Busy enough to take time; Wise enough to say I don’t know; Serious enough to laugh; Rich enough to be poor; Right enough to say I’m wrong; Compassionate enough to discipline; Careful enough to give freely; Mature enough to be childlike; Virtuous enough to be a sinner; Important enough to be last; Courageous enough to fear God; Planned enough to be spontaneous; Controlled enough to be flexible; Free enough to endure captivity; Knowledgeable enough to ask questions; Loving enough to be angry; Great enough to be nameless; Responsible enough to play; Assured enough to be rejected; Stable enough to cry; Victorious enough to lose; Industrious enough to relax; Leading enough to serve
• Beautiful instrumental music plays as fanciful designs appear and fade on a black screen with a series of paradoxes.

Application:

• So much about Jesus and our Christian faith is paradoxical:
• He had no servants but was called Master; He wasn’t a doctor but was a healer: He wasn’t trained by the philosophers of the day but yet was called teacher; He never picked up a sword or had an army yet He was feared by the rulers of the day and yet He changed the world. He never committed a crime but died for the sins of the world. He died yet He lives.
• As followers of Jesus, we are aliens traveling through this life –we are in this world but not of it so we live by a different system than the world.
• When our security is in Christ, we understand the importance of living life in Him. That’s why our world doesn’t fall apart when we’re rejected, or face defeat.
• When our identify is in Jesus, the believer is in for an exciting life.

Suggested Uses:

• Reflection time at prayer group or Bible study

Biblical Reference:

• We are in this world but not of it.