The Way of Vulnerabilty - Pt 3

The Way of Vulnerability

• Why is vulnerability important?

• It hinders or heals our relationships horizontally 

• It hinders or heals our relationships vertically

Bearing One Another’s Burdens

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 5:19-21

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

Examples in the 1st Century

• To “bear one another’s burdens” stood out as radically countercultural because of the culture of self-sufficiency. 

Emotional Support

• In the first century, followers of The Way formed tight-knit communities defined by mutual love and support. 

  • These believers saw themselves as a family in Christ, calling each other “brother” and “sister,” and they took seriously Jesus’ command to love one another. 

Physical Support

• Many first-century believers were poor, and some faced poverty due to persecution or social ostracism.

Spiritual Support

• Believers would openly acknowledge sins and bear one another’s spiritual burdens by extending forgiveness and prayer.

• People who followed The Way understood that sharing these spiritual burdens brought freedom and “healing through relationship”, knitting the community even closer together

Example of Bearing Burdens

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Galatians 6:2, 6-10

• If you go to a church, are planted there, and are going to fulfill the command to fulfill the law of Christ, one of the ways you do this is to make sure the pastor who leads the church is supported.

• He continues to exhort us to not become weary in doing good

  • A promise is attached to that in that, if we do not give up in doing good, we will reap the goodness of that

  • As we have opportunity, let’s do good, especially to those we call a church community

Opportunities

• It’s easy to disqualify ourselves in the ability to help one another and bear the burden of each other

• We usually to go physical provision, one that costs us something financially

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” - Acts 20:35

If you truly can’t provide physically for someone, provide emotional and spiritual support, which costs you nothing.

Reflection of Christ

• What is the reflection of Christ in you when it comes to how you support people around you?

  • Would people say that they see Christ in you?

  • Would people say this is definitely a follower of The Way

  • Or would someone who knows you say they know non-Christians who are better at this than you?

Selfish to Sacrifice

• Our long term goal is for the city and community around us to know us as a people who care for each other

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

• Before we can get out there, it must be in us and our family

Self

• Again, is the Way of bearing one another’s burdens in you?

• Is it reflected in your bank account?

• Is it reflected in your words, your actions, your heart?

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:4

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. - Hebrews 13:16

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? - I John 3:17

Household

• Husbands and wives, are you bearing the burden of each other?

• Parents, are you teaching your children about The Way and how to bear each other’s burdens?

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

Community

• If practiced in self, practiced between spouses, if trained up in a way for children… now when we get into church and our community, it’s just a natural thing to do.

Saltiness

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. - Matthew 5:13

• Salt doesn’t lose it’s flavor

• The phrase lost it’ taste is better translated as “defiled because of mixture”

• In today’s teaching context - bearing each other’s burdens - when we mix our “salt” with selfishness, ego, and greed, it becomes worthless

• Have you lost your saltiness? 

• Is it defiled by other mixtures?

• How can it be restored?

• By following The Way

• By bearing the burdens of one another

• Moving from selfish to sacrifice.

Reflection Questions

• Am I looking more towards self preservation or sacrifice for others?

• What are tangile fruits of my sacrifice for others?

• How would my family be differnt if I focused on sacrificing for them?

For all of Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes, click here.