Our focus today is on how our communication as church leaders should reflect the redeeming nature of our Lord rather than a tone of condemnation. This week, we’re diving into John 3:17, where we see that God didn’t send Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the attitude we should adopt in our ministry—one of hope and love, rather than judgment. We’ll explore the example set by Jesus in his interactions with Nicodemus and discuss how we can emulate that approach when communicating with others. As we go through this week, let’s pray for clarity in our words and strive to embody the welcoming spirit of Christ in all our messages.

Takeaways:

1. This podcast emphasizes that our communication should reflect God's redeeming nature rather than condemnation.
2. The key verse discussed is John 3:17, highlighting that Jesus came to save, not condemn.
3. We are reminded to approach our ministry with love, focusing on hope instead of guilt.
4. It's crucial for communicators to pray for clarity and ensure their tone reflects Jesus' welcoming love.
5. We should avoid piling on guilt and instead offer examples of hope and love to those we serve.
6. The importance of sharing the good news of salvation and fulfillment in Jesus is emphasized throughout the episode.

Week 12 our communication should reflect the redeeming nature of our Lord, not condemnation.

Our verse for this week is for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.That's found in John 3:17.

This verse is a caring challenge to our attitude as communicators. What is the overall tone of our ministry? Is it to condemn or to save?

Look at the ministry of Jesus. This verse is part of his talk with Nicodemus, the Teacher of the Law, who came to Jesus at night asking questions.

I wonder if Nicodemus might not have left more confused than when he arrived. Here was a man people were calling a prophet. But he wasn't like any prophet who went before him. He didn't call down fire from heaven.

He turned water into wine at a wedding, good wine and quite a lot of it. He didn't part the sea or send plagues. He played with children and set out picnics on the beach for his disciples.

When Nicodemus asked Jesus about his message, he didn't retell all the shortcomings of the world he'd come to straighten out. Instead, he told him that God loved the world and that he did not come to condemn, but to save. He didn't demand Nicodemus do penance for his sins.

He invited him to be born again. He didn't even scold Nicodemus for his cowardice in coming to Jesus at night.

He graciously answered questions at a time, and in a way this fearful leader needed do our communication reflect this redeeming nature of our Lord? How easy it is to take pen in hand, or today mouse and keyboard, and to pile on guilt.

Not that there's never a time to point out an error, but for the most part, we do well to remember that it's the Holy Spirit's job to convict of sin, as it tells us in John 16:7 9. It's our job to share the good news of salvation and the joy and fulfillment of living for Jesus. Most people today know they fall short.

They aren't quite sure of what. But a pervasive sense of guilt fills many lives.

Alcohol, drugs, food in excess, unhealthy relationships and overwork are some common attempts to medicate the pain. People don't need more bad news from the followers of Jesus. They need examples of hope and love.

They need accurate directions to events that can change their lives and complete communications on what they need to do to mature in their Christian life. We need to pray for clarity in all we create.

We need to pray that our tone, in ways that we may not even be aware of, always reflects the welcoming, saving love of Jesus. May your communications be filled with the messages of salvation and the grace and love of your Lord.

Let me pray for you as you go into this week, Lord Jesus, we know that so often we want to scold, we want to yell at people, we get frustrated, all of those sorts of things.

But Lord, I pray that in everything that we do as your communicators, as your ministers, that we would put aside our anger, our frustration, and that you would overwhelm us with love for the people that you've given us to serve. Help our words to be kind, help our words to be welcoming. Help our words not to condemn, but to bring people the salvation that's found in you.

In Jesus name, Amen.