We are Responsive | Sean Finch | 27th November 2022

Family Church Portsmouth

Today Ps Sean continues the series on Family Church values with the title ‘We are Responsive’. Being responsive means we are fast to respond or react appropriately, or sympathetically. The converse of this is being static and showing no interest, concern or emotion. We need to be people who are in the same place physically, emotionally and spiritually. Football fans are often more responsive than many in church! How much more responsive should we be to the supernatural things of God than the natural things of a football match!

In Matthew 22:34 onwards, the Pharisees try to test Jesus by asking (NIV) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments''. Jesus was immediately responsive with words about loving God and loving people – an active love. We are likewise called to have this active love and responsiveness to God and people around us – both those we love and those we don’t!

All of this begins with us submitting ourselves to God. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Jesus responded to His disciples by saying ‘follow me and I will make you fishers of men’…. Interestingly, their response recorded in the Gospels was “and immediately they left the boat….”.

So we begin our responsiveness by being responsive to God, initially in prayer which develops our spiritual relationship with Him, then we are in a position to be able to be responsive to others as well. An overflow of our internal responsiveness to God will cause an external responsiveness to others around us. This includes situations, the use of our time, money, gifts and talents. The lady with an issue of blood pressed past the crowd and reached out to Jesus by faith. Sometimes we need to press in and press through the crowd and noise. On the other side of this is a miracle - a touch of His Garment and a release of His power. Often when there is lack or need we must press into God with faith and submission to Him.

As a church, the body of Christ, let us be responsive to the call of lost people in a lost generation. People may look like they've got it together, but they often haven't. When they go home, they see brokenness within themselves. We are the people Jesus calls the light of the world. Let us be responsive to God and to people. God has responded to us, He gave us life through His Son.