Jonathan Herron

What Would Jesus Say to Donald Trump and Joe Biden?

• Revelation 2 -- "Return to your first love"
  
  
• The Gospel is not the ABCs of Christianity; it's the A to Z of Christianity!
  
  
• Social Media pushes an 'Us vs Them' mindset
  
  
• Jesus always walked TOWARD people, not AWAY!
  
  
• Acts 19 contains 4 marks of a healthy church
  
  
• 1. Don't lose focus!
  
  
• Acts 19 -- Church People stubbornly criticized Paul (!)
  
  
• Paul remained laser-focused
  
  
• Paul reached all of Asia in just 2 years!
  
  
• Paul wasn't trying to make church insiders happy.
  
  
• 2. Acts 19:11-12 -- There has to be a clear Quarterback
  
  
• Are you trying to make a point or make a difference?
  
  
• Avoid Flying Monkeys!
  
  
• The enemy knows he doesn't need to DESTROY you, he just needs to DISTRACT you!
  
  
• Check your heart during this political season.
  
  
• Flying Monkeys will try to distract you!
  
  
• 3.  7 Sons of Sceva -- Every quarterback plays hurt!
  
  
• Politicians that trade insults are not leaders...They're disappointing.
  
  
• The only people who throw rocks are Pharisees.
  
  
• Taking shots at people is not the Way of Jesus.
  
  
• 4. Acts 19:18-20 --- The local church was a safe place to confess sin without fear of being rejected.
  
  
• If you want to change the world, there WILL be a personal cost!
  
  
• The local church in Acts 19 was committed to loving one another.
  
  
• They publicly confessed their sins and secrets -- that is what the local church can be and should be!
  
  
• Life Church is committed to No Gossip.
  
  
• Got a beef? Don't go to a backyard barbecue and build a posse...Go to the person! Go immediately, personally, privately, and humbly.
  
  
• Gossip is not a Fruit of the Spirit.
  
  
• Bearing false witness is not a Fruit of the Spirit.
  
  
• Passive-aggressiveness is not a Fruit of the Spirit.
  
  
• Nobody is perfect. If you're perfect, you must be Jesus!
  
  
• Life Church is a hospital for sinners!
  
  
• Instead of throwing rocks, throw grace!
  
  
• "A lot of people are saying..." NOPE! That is not validation for your argument... that is sin.
  
  
• "His kindness leads to repentance"
  
  
• John 13:34-35
  
  
• Love one another. Period.
  
  
• True followers of Christ are known by how they love one another.
  
  
• Produce good fruit!
  
  
• We will value conversation over condemnation.
  
  
• We will value maintaining the relationship over winning the argument.

'Sometimes the best wisdom is to not speak much at all.

There are situations such that nearly any words will make conditions worse.'  (Tim Keller)

• John 17:20-23
  
  
• Jesus prayed that we would be marked by radical unity and grace!
  
  
• Choose to build bridges, not burn them!
  
  
• We will choose honesty over hypocrisy.
  
  
• Every one of us has a ministry, and it doesn't come with a paycheck or a pat on the back. Jesus said to pick up your cross!

Love One Another in a Cancel Culture

Cancel Culture Hurts.

Today everything is hyper-politicized.

Anyone can 'Block' on social media or treat relationships as disposable...

...which makes me thankful that Jesus did not 'Block' or cancel me!

 

• If anyone had the right to throw the first stone, it was Jesus (see John 8!).
  
  
• If anyone was in a position to judge me or condemn me, it was Jesus (see John 3:17!).

 

Instead, Jesus taught us not to treat people as disposable:

• Jesus always walked TOWARD people, not AWAY.
  
  
• Jesus created a safe place ('church') to share our heartaches, hang-ups, and hiccups.

 

 

The local church should be a safe place where you can confess sin, repent, and reconcile.

 

Sadly, in a hyper-polarized political season, some who claim the Name of Christ treat others poorly:

 

But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.  (Acts 19:9)

 

I know that on the Last Day, I will have to give an account for all my actions and words... including what I post on social media.

 

Passive-Aggressiveness is not a Fruit of the Spirit.

 

That's why I choose to use my platform to lift people up, to speak vision and hope and life over others.

 

Instead of trying to get the last word, I try to follow the advice of Dr. Tim Keller:

 

'Sometimes the best wisdom is to not speak much at all.  There are situations such that nearly any words will make conditions worse.'

 

 

What if we all turned the page and embraced loving one another?

 

Instead of assuming the worst about people, what if we chose to believe the best?

 

Imagine how together, we could become the change we wish to see...

 

'I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you.  For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.'  (Jesus in John 13:34-35, TPT)