Jumpstarter 9 of 10

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Question 9

In the “three bricklayers” and volunteer?orchestra illustrations, Bercot contrasts big?picture love?obedience with contract?level servant obedience (“not one iota more than their contract required”); where do you notice “union?contract Christianity” in your own habits—doing the minimum—and what would “building a cathedral” obedience look like in the same area?

Another way to ask: Where do you notice yourself doing the bare minimum in following Jesus, like “contract” Christianity? What would it look like to obey with a bigger, love-driven purpose in that same area?

Direct Answer “Union?contract Christianity” is obeying like a hired worker—doing only what’s required—whereas “building a cathedral” obedience is joyful, big?picture obedience that welcomes God’s commands as part of his larger purpose of shaping us into his image.

Support from Transcript:

First two bricklayers answer only, “I’m laying bricks,” but the third says, “I’m building a cathedral,” showing the difference between task-level and big-picture purpose.
Bercot applies this to commands: kingdom?life Christians “look at the bigger picture and the purpose of God’s various commandments.”
The hired union musicians stop at 10 because “they weren’t going to do one iota more than their contract required.”
Volunteer musicians stayed late because of “their love of music” and care for “how the final concert was going to sound.”
He concludes that big?picture obedience leads to joy and makes commands “not grievous or burdensome.”

Discussion Follow-ups Where do you treat obedience like a contract—aiming to meet a minimum? What “bigger picture” (being molded into God’s character) would help you obey with the joy of the volunteer musicians?

Jumpstarter 9 of 10

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Jumpstarter 9 of 10