In a culture that constantly pushes us toward more—more success, more possessions, more recognition—what if the “more” we truly need comes from God? Not a gluttonous desire for excess, but a deep yearning for more of His presence in our families, our churches, our nation, and in our own hearts. We long for more change, more healing, and more growth that only God can bring.
As we partner with God to grow His kingdom, we realize that the brokenness in the world isn’t something we can fix alone. But with His help, we can start by working on ourselves. Imagine drawing a circle around yourself and putting “you” in the middle. Let God begin His transformative work within that circle. Once we allow Him to shape our hearts, we become part of the solution for our families, communities, and even our nation.
The goal of this conversation isn't to feed fear or division but to equip us for maturity in spirit. The challenge is to remain unified, with a Kingdom-first mindset. While we may disagree politically, we are called to love unconditionally. We are Kingdom people first and political people second. This unity is essential in today’s divided world.
Yes, it’s important to vote. It’s a right and a privilege to care about public life and politics. God calls people to serve in these arenas, but Jesus didn’t side with a particular political party in His time, and neither should we. The Gospels show that everyone wanted Jesus on their side, just like today. Both sides of the political spectrum often claim Jesus aligns with their values.
But when we interpret Scripture through a political lens, we end up molding Jesus to fit our views. Instead, we need to allow our faith to shape our political views—not the other way around. Our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not a political party. Are we willing to prioritize our faith over our politics?
A Faith Filter for Political Life
Like water filters that remove harmful substances, we need a "faith filter" to sift through the noise of the political world. The Apostle Paul offers biblical guidance to guard our hearts and minds against fear-mongering and division. Our faith filter should help us discern what aligns with Christ-like truths.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 remind us that even though we are free, we are called to serve others to bring them to Christ. Our political stances should reflect the “Law of Christ”—His command to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34).
Listen
Learn
Love
Three simple words:
1. Listen: Be quick to hear and slow to speak, as James 1:19 reminds us. Listening is an act of humility and a sign of respect, which opens doors for meaningful dialogue.
2. Learn: Proverbs 1:5 tells us that the wise continue to learn. Being curious about others’ perspectives doesn’t mean compromising your beliefs—it means building bridges for conversation.
3. Love: Ultimately, love is the uniting ethic for all Christians. As Paul says in Galatians 6:2-3, we fulfill the Law of Christ by sharing each other’s burdens. When we show concern for others, we naturally listen better, learn more, and act in ways that reflect God’s love.
In a world full of political division, let’s commit to using our faith filter. Let’s listen to each other, learn from one another, and most importantly, love unconditionally. The person next to you—whether in church or in your community—is more valuable to God than any political opinion.
Kingdoms will rise and fall, but the Law of Christ endures. It is possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally. That’s what the world desperately needs right now.
What does the Law of Christ require of us?
Listen. Learn. Love.
As we partner with God to grow His kingdom, we realize that the brokenness in the world isn’t something we can fix alone. But with His help, we can start by working on ourselves. Imagine drawing a circle around yourself and putting “you” in the middle. Let God begin His transformative work within that circle. Once we allow Him to shape our hearts, we become part of the solution for our families, communities, and even our nation.
The goal of this conversation isn't to feed fear or division but to equip us for maturity in spirit. The challenge is to remain unified, with a Kingdom-first mindset. While we may disagree politically, we are called to love unconditionally. We are Kingdom people first and political people second. This unity is essential in today’s divided world.
Yes, it’s important to vote. It’s a right and a privilege to care about public life and politics. God calls people to serve in these arenas, but Jesus didn’t side with a particular political party in His time, and neither should we. The Gospels show that everyone wanted Jesus on their side, just like today. Both sides of the political spectrum often claim Jesus aligns with their values.
But when we interpret Scripture through a political lens, we end up molding Jesus to fit our views. Instead, we need to allow our faith to shape our political views—not the other way around. Our ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not a political party. Are we willing to prioritize our faith over our politics?
A Faith Filter for Political Life
Like water filters that remove harmful substances, we need a "faith filter" to sift through the noise of the political world. The Apostle Paul offers biblical guidance to guard our hearts and minds against fear-mongering and division. Our faith filter should help us discern what aligns with Christ-like truths.
Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9:19-21 remind us that even though we are free, we are called to serve others to bring them to Christ. Our political stances should reflect the “Law of Christ”—His command to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34).
Listen
Learn
Love
Three simple words:
1. Listen: Be quick to hear and slow to speak, as James 1:19 reminds us. Listening is an act of humility and a sign of respect, which opens doors for meaningful dialogue.
2. Learn: Proverbs 1:5 tells us that the wise continue to learn. Being curious about others’ perspectives doesn’t mean compromising your beliefs—it means building bridges for conversation.
3. Love: Ultimately, love is the uniting ethic for all Christians. As Paul says in Galatians 6:2-3, we fulfill the Law of Christ by sharing each other’s burdens. When we show concern for others, we naturally listen better, learn more, and act in ways that reflect God’s love.
In a world full of political division, let’s commit to using our faith filter. Let’s listen to each other, learn from one another, and most importantly, love unconditionally. The person next to you—whether in church or in your community—is more valuable to God than any political opinion.
Kingdoms will rise and fall, but the Law of Christ endures. It is possible to disagree politically and love unconditionally. That’s what the world desperately needs right now.
What does the Law of Christ require of us?
Listen. Learn. Love.
CONNECT GROUP QUESTIONS:
1. In what ways have you personally experienced the tension between your faith and your political views? How can we allow our faith to shape our politics instead of the other way around?
2. The blog emphasizes starting with personal transformation by drawing a circle around ourselves. What does it mean for you to "let God work on the inside" before addressing the world's problems?
3. Paul writes about becoming a servant to others for the sake of the Kingdom. How does this call to humility challenge our typical approach to political or social issues today?
4. The post outlines three steps: Listen, Learn, Love. Which of these do you find the most challenging, and how might you take practical steps to live out this faith filter in your interactions with others?
5. The idea that "Kingdom people come first, political people come second" can be difficult to live out. How can we maintain this mindset in the face of increasing political polarization?
6. How do we ensure that love for others—especially those with whom we disagree—remains central in our public and political lives, as commanded by Jesus in John 13:34?
2. The blog emphasizes starting with personal transformation by drawing a circle around ourselves. What does it mean for you to "let God work on the inside" before addressing the world's problems?
3. Paul writes about becoming a servant to others for the sake of the Kingdom. How does this call to humility challenge our typical approach to political or social issues today?
4. The post outlines three steps: Listen, Learn, Love. Which of these do you find the most challenging, and how might you take practical steps to live out this faith filter in your interactions with others?
5. The idea that "Kingdom people come first, political people come second" can be difficult to live out. How can we maintain this mindset in the face of increasing political polarization?
6. How do we ensure that love for others—especially those with whom we disagree—remains central in our public and political lives, as commanded by Jesus in John 13:34?
Posted in Sermon Outline
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