"Be a Line-Cutter"
TEXT: Rom. 1:16-17; Matt. 10:5-6; Matt. 15:21-28; Luke 10: 1 Pet. 1:4-5
TRUTHS:
1. The individual nations of earth don’t solely represent ethnicities, but rather reveal different human and cultural ideologies. The nations reveal the various (and often sinful) human views concerning the world, God, self, and how to conduct yourself in relation to other people (your neighbor). Furthermore, God chose Israel to act as an example, to show the nations of earth what it looks like to have a righteous worldview. This is why Scripture records that salvation is first to the Jews (first in line) and then to the Gentiles (second in line).
2. The Canaanite woman “skipped the line” and received a miracle from Christ. Her faith, rooted in knowing who Jesus truthfully was, revealed that she understood the distinction between Jew and Gentile. But her conversation with Jesus shows that she somehow understood that He had come to bring the truth to all who desire it (Gentiles).
3. The geographical locations mentioned in the account of the Canaanite woman are significant. They are part of a 'thread' that runs throughout the entirety of the Bible. The Canaanite people's lineage included Noah’s son Ham, who was cursed for improperly handling his father’s nakedness and shame. That 'thread' also includes Jezebel and Moloch, who the Bible presents in an extremely negative light. This woman—who belonged to a people full of sexual perversion and evil—would have not been considered a likely candidate to recognize and honor Jesus in the manner that she did. This is why Jesus honors her faith and lets her “skip the line.” She humbly recognized the truth and seemingly separated herself from the wickedness and perversion that permeated the Canaanite culture.
4. It is not compassionate to affirm truth claims that the Bible clearly presents as lies. We will not be granted the opportunity to ‘skip the line’ if we refuse to stand up for and proclaim the truth. When thinking of this reality in light of God's verdict concerning the Canaanites, it is easy to see that God calls His children to stand against the slaughter of children (Moloch) and sexual deviancy (Jezebel and Ham). Remember, God gave His people the land of Canaan (referred to as the Promise Land). God chose Israel to 'skip the line' in the OT and calls His Church to resist the lies that are represented biblically by the Canaanite culture. In other words, the people of God must stand against sexual perversion and the destruction of children (however it may be represented in their day and context).
5. According to the Bible, who does your body “belong” to as a child of God? (1) God, (2) your spouse, and finally (3) yourself.
6. Jesus is poking the Jews in the eye when telling the story of the Good Samaritan. The Jews considered Samaritans to be even lower than the Canaanites, so when Jesus uses a Samaritan as the hero of His story, He intends to shock Jewish people and teach us an important lesson. Any person can ‘skip the line’ if they are willing to stand up for truth and love their neighbor.
TALK TO EACH OTHER:
1. In what ways do the nations of the world represent various ideologies? Why would God arrange the earth in this way? What is He trying to accomplish and/or reveal?
2. Describe the faith of the Canaanite woman. What makes her faith noteworthy? In what ways does it differ from our modern Americanized understanding of great faith?
3. In what ways do you discern the American church refusing "to come out of Canaan?" In other words, where have we compromised? Also, where/how will be tempted to compromise in the future (just speculate for a second)?
4. Who is your neighbor and what does it mean to love them? What does the story of the Good Samaritan reveal that our Creator is paying attention to?
5. In what ways does your body belong to God? What are the practical implications of this truth?
TALK TO GOD:
Pray into the following areas:
To love our neighbors in word and deed
To boldly stand up for truth (full of grace, truth, and love)
To come out of "Canaan"
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