More Than Conquerors w/Simon Guillebaud, Ep. 2 "Aroma" | 13 INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILMS

Summary

The speaker in the video script contrasts the allure of instant coffee with the depth and richness of freshly roasted coffee, using this metaphor to discuss the state of modern society and its desire for instant gratification. They critique the 'consumer Christians' who seek a relationship with God on their own terms and the distorted gospel that promises blessings without cost. The speaker calls for authenticity in faith, following the teachings of Jesus, which include self-denial and carrying one's cross, rather than expecting a trouble-free life. They advocate for a genuine relationship with Jesus, laying down one's life for others, and being the authentic 'aroma of Christ' in a world that may not always appreciate it.

Takeaways

• ☕️ The aroma and taste of high-quality coffee is far superior to cheap instant coffee, symbolizing the depth and richness of genuine experiences over instant gratification.
• 📚 The pursuit of a meaningful life, like brewing a great cup of coffee, requires patience and time, reflecting on the value of substance over style.
• 🤔 A critical question posed is whether we are following Jesus or expecting Him to conform to our convenience, challenging the notion of a relationship with God on our own terms.
• 🙏 The message that God has a plan for our lives and wants to bless us is contrasted with the reality of suffering and persecution faced by many followers of Christ.
• 😔 A distorted gospel is identified as one that promises blessings without cost and prioritizes happiness over holiness, which is seen as incomplete and disconnected from reality.
• 😠 The preacher's promise of a 'bed of roses' for believers is criticized as unrealistic and potentially harmful, especially when believers face hardships.
• 🙏 A call to authenticity is made, urging followers to embrace the real Jesus who calls for self-sacrifice and service to others, not just personal blessings.
• ✝️ The script emphasizes that following Jesus involves taking up one's cross daily, as indicated by biblical references, which includes suffering and denying self.
• 😔 The disillusionment and bitterness that can result from buying into a 'twisted gospel' are highlighted, noting the impact on individuals who no longer attend church due to such false promises.
• 🌿 The metaphor of being the aroma of Christ is used to illustrate the dual perception of Christians - as a scent of life to some and death to others, based on personal beliefs and experiences.
• 💪 The final takeaway is an encouragement to be the 'sweetest, most tested, textured, rich aroma possible,' reflecting the authenticity and depth of a Christ-like life, even if it's not universally liked.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's discourse on coffee?

The speaker compares the experience of drinking high-grade coffee to the depth and richness of genuine experiences in life, contrasting it with the instant and cheap alternatives that lack the same quality.

What does the speaker criticize about the modern culture and society?

The speaker criticizes the modern culture and society for valuing instant satisfaction and gratification, where style is prioritized over substance and image over character.

What is the term used to describe Christians who live according to the consumer culture?

The term used is 'consumer Christians', implying those who want a relationship with God on their own terms and for their convenience.

What is the distorted gospel message that the speaker refers to?

The distorted gospel message referred to promises blessings at no cost and emphasizes happiness above holiness, which the speaker argues is a misleading and incomplete representation of faith.

What question does the speaker pose to the audience regarding their relationship with Jesus?

The speaker asks whether the audience is following Jesus or expecting Him to follow them, challenging them to reflect on their motivations and commitment.

What does the speaker suggest is the problem with the message that 'God wants to bless you'?

The speaker suggests that this message is incomplete and disconnected from reality, as it overlooks the hardships and sacrifices that true faith may entail.

What examples does the speaker provide to illustrate the disconnect between the distorted gospel message and the reality faced by some Christians?

The speaker provides examples from Sudan, where Christians are forced to convert to Islam to receive food, and from Iraq, where believers have had to flee due to wars, and a horrifying incident involving a child, to show the stark contrast between the message of blessings and the reality of persecution.

What does the speaker say about the preacher's promise of a 'bed of roses' for those who come to Christ?

The speaker argues that the preacher's promise is wrong and makes them angry because it does not align with the teachings of Jesus and the reality of suffering that believers may face.

What are the biblical references mentioned by the speaker to support their argument?

The speaker references John 16:33, which says that in this world, believers will have trouble, Luke 9:23, which speaks about denying oneself and taking up the cross to follow Jesus, and 2 Timothy 3:12, which states that anyone who seeks to live a godly life in Christ will suffer.

What does the speaker desire in terms of their faith and relationship with Jesus?

The speaker desires to follow the authentic Jesus, who laid down His life and calls them to do the same for others, seeking a life of significance and true holiness rather than superficial blessings.

What metaphor does the speaker use to describe the authentic message of Christ?

The speaker uses the metaphor of great coffee, preferring the authentic and rich aroma of Christ over the cheap and instant alternatives, and referencing 2 Corinthians to describe the aroma of Christ as either life or death to different people.

Outlines

00:00

😕 The Distorted Gospel of Convenience

The first paragraph discusses the allure of freshly roasted coffee and how it symbolizes the depth and richness that true experiences offer, contrasting with the superficiality of instant coffee. It metaphorically extends this to the modern culture's desire for instant satisfaction and the misguided notion of a 'consumer Christianity' where believers want a relationship with God on their own terms. The speaker challenges the listener to consider if they are truly following Jesus or expect Him to conform to their convenience, highlighting a 'distorted gospel' that promises blessings without cost and prioritizes happiness over holiness.

05:02

😔 The Incomplete Message of God's Blessings

The second paragraph begins with the speaker's personal reflection on the incomplete and misleading message that God's plan is solely about blessings and happiness. It critiques the idea that coming to Jesus will automatically result in an abundant life, devoid of suffering or hardship. The speaker uses examples from countries where Christians face persecution, such as Sudan and Iraq, to illustrate the disconnect between this message and the reality that believers often face. The paragraph also addresses the inconsistency of preachers who promise a life of ease while current followers of Christ endure suffering, ultimately arguing that the 'twisted gospel' can lead to disillusionment and anger when faced with life's inevitable challenges.

10:03

😌 The Authentic Aroma of Christ

The third paragraph emphasizes the importance of following the authentic Jesus, who calls for self-sacrifice and service to others. It uses the analogy of coffee to describe the different perceptions people may have towards the message of Christ; to some, the believers may represent the aroma of death, while to others, they are the aroma of life. The speaker asserts the desire for a life that reflects the genuine character of Christ, rather than a counterfeit version that promises ease and happiness without cost. The paragraph concludes with a reference to 2 Corinthians, suggesting that the true believers should be the sweetest aroma of Christ, regardless of whether they are met with acceptance or rejection.

Keywords

💡Freshly Roasted Coffee

Freshly roasted coffee refers to coffee beans that have been recently roasted, which enhances their flavor and aroma. In the video's theme, it symbolizes the depth and richness of a genuine experience, contrasting with the shallowness of instant coffee. The script uses the analogy of freshly roasted coffee to describe the authentic and profound nature of a relationship with God, as opposed to a superficial or instant-gratification approach to faith.

💡Instant Gratification

Instant gratification is the desire to experience substantial rewards with little to no delay or effort. The video criticizes a culture that seeks immediate satisfaction and applies this concept to a distorted view of faith, where people expect a relationship with God on their terms and for their convenience. The script contrasts this with the idea that a meaningful relationship with God requires patience and commitment, much like the process of enjoying a great cup of coffee.

💡Consumer Christians

Consumer Christians is a term used in the script to describe individuals who treat their faith like a consumer product, expecting it to cater to their desires and provide instant happiness and blessings. This concept ties into the broader critique of consumer culture and its influence on religious beliefs, suggesting that such an approach to faith is misguided and incomplete.

💡Distorted Gospel

A distorted gospel, as mentioned in the script, refers to a misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the Christian message, often emphasizing personal blessings and happiness without cost. The video argues against this view, suggesting that it leads to disillusionment when life does not align with these expectations. The script contrasts the distorted gospel with the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, which include suffering and sacrifice.

💡Authentic Jesus

Authentic Jesus represents the true teachings and example of Jesus Christ, as opposed to the watered-down or distorted versions that promise easy blessings and happiness. The video encourages viewers to follow the teachings of Jesus, which include self-denial, carrying one's cross, and serving others, rather than seeking a faith that caters to personal desires and convenience.

💡Persecution

Persecution in the script refers to the suffering and hardship faced by Christians in various parts of the world due to their faith. The video uses examples from Sudan and Iraq to illustrate that the reality for many believers is far from the promised blessings and happiness of a distorted gospel. This keyword highlights the contrast between the expectations set by a consumerist approach to faith and the actual experiences of believers.

💡Denial of Self

Denial of self is a concept from the teachings of Jesus, as cited in Luke 9:23, which involves putting aside one's own desires and needs for the sake of following Him. The script uses this concept to emphasize that a genuine Christian life involves sacrifice and may not always lead to personal happiness or comfort, challenging the idea of a faith that promises instant gratification.

💡Taking Up the Cross

Taking up the cross is a metaphorical phrase used in the script to describe the willingness to endure suffering and hardship as part of one's commitment to following Jesus. It is a call to embrace the reality of a Christian life that may involve difficulties and challenges, rather than seeking an easy path or expecting constant blessings.

💡Aroma of Christ

The 'aroma of Christ' is a metaphor used in the script, drawing from 2 Corinthians, to describe the influence and example of Christian believers. It suggests that the way Christians live their lives can either attract or repel others, much like the scent of coffee. The script uses this metaphor to argue for living a genuine Christian life that is rich and authentic, rather than one that is shallow and insincere.

💡Holiness

Holiness, in the context of the script, refers to the pursuit of a life dedicated to God and His purposes, rather than personal happiness or material blessings. The video critiques a culture that prioritizes happiness over holiness and calls for a return to a deeper, more committed form of faith that values spiritual growth and obedience to God above all else.

Highlights

The soothing and comforting aroma of freshly roasted coffee is a metaphor for the depth and richness of genuine experiences over instant gratification.

Cheap instant coffee is compared to a distorted gospel that promises blessings without cost, emphasizing happiness over holiness.

The culture of instant satisfaction has influenced the way people approach faith, expecting a relationship with God on their own terms.

A challenging question posed: Are you following Jesus, or do you expect Him to follow you?

The message that Jesus has a plan for your life and wants to bless you is critiqued as incomplete and disconnected from reality.

Examples of persecution faced by Christians in countries like Sudan and Iraq highlight the disconnect between the message of blessings and the reality of suffering.

The preacher's promise of a bed of roses for those who come to Christ is contrasted with the painful experiences of those already in Christ.

The importance of acknowledging that following Christ involves suffering, as stated in scriptures such as John 16:33 and Luke 9:23.

The critique of a twisted gospel that leads to disillusionment when faced with life's inevitable hardships.

The call to follow the authentic Jesus, who calls for self-denial and daily cross-bearing, as opposed to a distorted message of easy blessings.

The desire for an authentic faith that is tested and textured, like the aroma of high-quality coffee.

The acknowledgment that some people may not like the 'great coffee' of a tested faith, as per 2 Corinthians, where believers are the aroma of Christ.

The speaker's personal reflection on the wrong reasons for coming to Jesus and the need for a more authentic understanding of faith.

The plea for believers to be the sweetest, most tested, and rich aroma of Christ, rather than a shallow or crass representation.

The speaker's challenge to the congregation to reassess their faith and ensure it is based on the teachings of Jesus, not a distorted gospel.

Transcripts

[Music]

oh

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[Applause]

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do

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there's something so soothing and

comforting about freshly roasted coffee

once you've smelled the aroma and then

tasted high grade coffee you can detect

cheap instant coffee a mile away

cheap coffee is a travesty

the aroma the fragrance just isn't the

same

and it may be quicker and easier to make

but it falls far short of the depth and

richness of the real thing

[Music]

this great cup of coffee took time

[Music]

do

[Music]

so

[Music]

so

[Music]

foreign

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it takes patience and time

but the end product is worth it

see our problem nowadays is that we live

in a culture and society that wants

instant satisfaction instant

gratification

style has triumphed over substance image

is more important than character

and in the domain of faith having been

made in god's image we've decided to go

and return the favor

[Music]

so it's consumer christians living in a

consumer culture

we want a relationship with god on our

own terms

at our convenience with jesus and our

beck and call whenever we need him

and so we've subtly imbibed and

assimilated a different message a

distorted gospel that promises all

blessings at no cost that emphasizes

happiness above holiness

so here's a tricky question

are you following jesus

or are you expecting him to follow you

go on be honest

you see

maybe like me you came to jesus for the

wrong reasons

this is the kind of message i bought

into

jesus

has a plan for your life

god wants to work in your life god wants

to use you but more importantly god

wants to bless you

god wants to to to give to you

god wants to pour out what he has in

store for you

don't take my word for it

the apostle paul said in romans 8 28

that all things work for our good

all things not these are not my words

he said all things work

for your good

jesus said

i didn't come that you just have life

no he said i come that you might have

life abundantly to the full

and so i'm asking you today to come come

to jesus

let jesus make your life significant let

jesus give you the happiness that you

seek

wherever you are

man woman boy girl

i'm calling you

come

he's here

come to jesus today yes you in the back

you down here come to jesus

won't you come

come to jesus yes yes more i see more

coming

yes

amen

i mean there's some truth in that

message but it's totally incomplete

and in any case can't you notice the

disconnect with reality

i mean we could look at other countries

where followers of christ are facing

persecution let's take the sudan so you

and your family you're in a food

distribution queue you get to the front

as a refugee and they say

you can have this food if you convert to

islam

what do you do well how about iraq

two-thirds of the believers have had to

flee from iraq because of the wars that

have gone on there

so there was this lady the sister was in

baghdad

and her two-year-old boy was kidnapped a

couple of days later knock at the door

she opens the door

and looks down and finds her

two-year-old boy cooked

on a plate of boiled rice

hey brothers and sisters in iraq and

sagan jesus got a wonderful plan for

your life she wants to bless you make

you happy wants to take away your

problems

i mean it's a sick message it's crass

it's shallow

and in any case going back that preacher

he carries on like this

someone just gave me a note we've had

some situations this week i want you to

pray for

dan scott he was just diagnosed with uh

cancer

um

i see here we had someone else in the

church in an accident this week we pray

for them

those of you that know lucy stephen she

fell three four days ago broke her hip

and it was actually several days before

someone discovered her uh pray for her

her husband died

about six months ago and so she's alone

but we've got more people here

i'm sure that have had tragedies and

some of you here today

are sick you're discouraged you're

depressed won't you come

i see but

actually there's so many here

i think maybe perhaps if you would stay

in your seat we could pray for you

together corporately at the end of the

service

see it makes no sense as ray comfort

observes

the preacher promises a bed of roses for

those who come to christ but for those

already in christ they're experiencing a

painful bed of thoughts so try

spouting's about god having a wonderful

plan for your life is just wrong it

makes me angry i mean i've got a friend

here who runs a street kids project and

he's meant or discipled these street

kids for years 10 years

and then recently one of those street

kids that he's lived with for 10 years

goes and rapes his two-year-old son

i mean let's just listen to the words of

jesus

in john 16 33 he says in this world you

will have trouble

it's as clear as can be in luke 9 23 he

says if anyone would come after me he or

she must deny self take up cross daily

and follow me paul says in 2 timothy 3

12 in fact anyone who seeks to live a

godly life in christ jesus will suffer

so what message did we buy into because

you see

if you bought into that twisted gospel

when things get tough and they will get

tough then you're going to end up angry

bitter disillusioned and let's face it

there are plenty of people who no longer

come to church anymore because they did

believe in that lie

[Music]

so just as i want great coffee not the

cheap and nasty variety so i want to

follow the authentic jesus the one who

laid down his life for me and calls me

to do the same to lay down my life for

others

and as paul says in two corinthians if

we are the aroma of christ may it be

the sweetest

most tested textured rich aroma possible

you know the truth is some people won't

like it like some people don't like

great coffee

the verse says to some we are the aroma

of death but to others

we are the aroma of life

and that is a great smell

[Music]

you