Red Letter Blueprint: Jesus’ 52 Rules for Joy

Don't Lust for People: Command #16

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” - Matthew‬ ‭5:27-30
 
In this episode, I interviewed a wise friend named Charlie Powers about the problem of lust. Almost everyone is tempted by lust, so it’s easy to think that that particular sin is not a big deal to God. Maybe the command not to lust is more of a warning or a suggestion. Well, it is a warning, but it’s not a suggestion. And it’s the only commandment about which Jesus said it would be better if you were to lose body parts than participate in that sin.
 
A person is the culmination of their habits. And we get better at what we do regularly, whether that’s playing piano, shooting hoops, or finding the kind of porn you like. The problem a lot of people have with their lust habit is that they may say they hate it, but part of them secretly loves it.
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nJnUF8yR4PU

Don't Hold Grudges; Reconcile: Command #15

Some people think that being a pacemaker means avoiding conflict. It’s exactly the opposite. Peacemakers go right into the conflict and make peace.
Yes, the person who is angry with me is wrong, and no, I don’t deserve their wrath. That was absolutely true of Jesus and the accusation people leveled against him. He took it. In fact, he built them up anyway. That’s the model he demonstrated for us.
Jesus said, “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” - ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬-‭24‬
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z2Ce0qWwhTA

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself: Command #14

When Jesus walked the earth, love was his recurring theme. He couldn't shut up about it! So why are Christians more likely to be known as people who don’t swear or drink than people who are known for outrageous love?
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 neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:37-40
I work at Frederick Rescue Mission. We try to rescue people from hunger, poverty, and chemical addiction. You’re going to meet the person who oversees outreach at the Mission. Her name is Teri Kwiatek, and she knows how to love the unlovable.
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OGvR7MmIlY8

Love God Without Reserve: Command #13

You might say, “Of course I love God. Why else would I watch a video like this one?” But some of us love God when life is good. But if we go through a hard season or experience trauma, we turn away from God.
We humans were created to love—it’s how God made us. Specifically, we were created to love Him and to fellowship with Him. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 
This episode concludes the last command of the first group about our relationship with God. The next video begins 13 commands about our relationships with people.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8d8JPOmQAzc

Listen to the Holy Spirit: Command #12

YouTube: https://youtu.be/LR9J4HTcrVk 
 
In Revelation 2:7, Jesus said, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” - Revelation 2:7
 
How do we develop ears to hear? What keeps us from hearing the Holy Spirit?
 
Gresom Grace first heard the Holy Spirit at age 12, when he lived in Nepal. Gresom’s home country has written its opposition to Christianity into its constitution. Less than one percent of Nepalese call themselves Christian, and they are frequently persecuted. We had a great conversation about listening to the Holy Spirit!

Truly Worship God: Command #11

There are two components of worship. I’m going to call them “liturgy” and “lifestyle.” Liturgy includes expressions of worship in church, small groups or by yourself, like singing, praying, kneeling, etc. Lifestyle is how you live when you’re not doing the liturgy. If you’re not leading a lifestyle of worship, the liturgy is just noise.
One of Jesus’ commands was to truly worship God. He said, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:23-24
So worship is a heart posture that puts Christ in the center, both in liturgy and in lifestyle. We worship Him because he’s worthy of worship, but also because it’s what we were created to do.
Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7suGafVM4j8

Remember Jesus in Communion: Command #10

Communion is a strange Christian ritual. It sounds uncomfortably like cannibalism. We practice Communion because Jesus told us to, but why did he give us this particular, peculiar instruction? 
 
Communion is not just consuming bread and wine, or juice and a cracker. If you approach it right, it’s a holy experience. 
 
Martin Luther said, “To our eyes Baptism appears to be nothing more than ordinary water, and the Sacrament of Christ's body and blood simple bread and wine, like other bread and wine, and the sermon, hot air from a man's mouth. But we must not trust what our eyes see.”

Be Faithful and Watch for Jesus' Return: Command #9

Jesus said, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” - Matthew 25:13
 
Was there value in all the previous generations being alert for Jesus’ return, even though he did not return in their lifetimes? I interviewed Howard Cary about keeping watch and gained a whole new perspective!

Ask the Lord to Send Out Evangelists: Command #8

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” - Matthew 9:37-38 
What was God’s strategy to spread his word at the beginning of the Church? He could have rained down gospel tracts from heaven. He could have projected angelic TV shows onto the clouds. Instead, he trusted this precious treasure known as the gospel to a few men and women to tell people. Has his strategy changed?
Jeremy Isom is a lifelong friend of mine. He’s an inspiration to me because he leads a lifestyle of evangelism. He is the co-founder of LEAP International, an excellent ministry that practices relational evangelism with young people all over the world. So I interviewed Jeremy on this topic.
LEAP International: https://www.leap-intl.org/

Keep Your Fasting Secret: Command #7

Let’s be clear: Jesus never explicitly commanded us to fast in the Bible. But he did assume that fasting would be part of our lives.
“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” - Matthew 6:16-18
I’ve heard a number of people say that fasting could be abstaining for a period of time from anything you enjoy–not just food, but music, or TV, or social media; you get the idea. Is there a biblical precedent for this definition of fasting?