In the crowd of people you pass every day, is it even possible to tell who is a Christian? Neither clothing nor haircut nor even churchgoing settles the matter, and this sermon turns to Paul’s answer in 2 Cor 3, where the real mark is God’s law written by the Holy Spirit on the human heart. Along the way we meet Moses coming down the mountain with a shining face, and the Salieri of the film who, for all his knowledge, cannot produce what comes to Mozart effortlessly. Listen if you want to test what truly identifies a follower of Christ.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Paul tells the Corinthians they are his letter of recommendation, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God on human hearts. Why was this image so important to Paul when people questioned his authority?
- How do you understand the difference between the law carved on stone tablets and the law written on the heart that the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah spoke about? What do the words "the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" mean?
- The speaker compared two attitudes to Salieri and Mozart in the film "Amadeus." When do you catch yourself trying to please God through your own effort instead of letting the Holy Spirit change your heart?
- The first Christians were seen as a sect and a superstition, yet Paul writes that they share in glory. How does it change the way you see yourself that your worth comes from the work of the Holy Spirit rather than your own efforts?
- The speaker described how children grow to look more and more like their parents. Which traits of Jesus do you want to become more visible in your life, and what do you think might stand in the way?
- If a Christian is recognized not by clothing or hairstyle but by love, humility and self-giving, who around you can you show these qualities to in a concrete way this week?
