Honoring Others

rwh7june Ep.367 – Run With Horses Podcast –  Honoring others
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https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BCSDDVLB – James Norman Smith
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BMGW51FW – Susan Jane Smith

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At our core, most of us are selfish and really struggle to consider others and their spiritual life. But the call of a disciple of Jesus is a call to place a high value on everyone we meet. God challenges us to lay aside our own wants and desires and to really honor others. That’s the topic, and the challenge, for today.

Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is simple in many ways, but potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to grow, to live intentionally and to join in His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!
Thank you for joining me today! “If you’re new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!”

**(23:00 – 0:00)* *  PART 1
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Honoring Others: The Mark of A Disciple

A good, basic definition of honor—especially in a biblical and discipleship context—is:

Honor is the act of recognizing and treating others with the dignity, value, and respect they deserve as image-bearers of God, regardless of their status or behavior.

To honor someone means to esteem them highly, to give weight to their worth, and to treat them in a way that reflects God’s view of them—not just your personal opinion.

1. The Biblical Command to Honor Others

🧾 Key Verse:
 • Romans 12:10 (NKJV)
“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

Key Points:
 • Honoring others is not optional; it’s a command tied to Christian love.
 • “Giving preference” shows that honor involves humility and intentionality.

2. Honoring Begins with the Heart of Christ

🧾 Key Verses:
 • Philippians 2:3–5 (NKJV)
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”

Key Points:
 • Jesus modeled humility by honoring those beneath Him socially and spiritually.
 • To honor others is to adopt the mindset of Christ.

3. Honoring Others Reflects God’s Character

🧾 Key Verse:
 • 1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV)
“Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”

Key Points:
 • Honor is rooted in the Imago Dei—all people are made in God’s image.
 • Disciples honor others not because of their merit but because of God’s worth.

4. Honoring Authority—Even When It’s Hard

🧾 Key Verse:
 • Romans 13:1–2 (NKJV)
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

Key Points:
 • Honoring others includes honoring civil and church authorities.
 • It’s a test of obedience to God’s sovereignty.

5. Honor in the Home and Church

🧾 Honor in the Family:
 • Ephesians 6:2 (NKJV)
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise…”

🧾 Honor in the Church:
 • 1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)
“Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.”

Key Points:
 • Honor starts in the home and extends to the household of faith.
 • Honoring leaders strengthens unity and gospel witness.

6. Honor and Disciple-Making

🧾 Key Verse:
 • John 13:34–35 (NKJV)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Key Points:
 • Honor is a visible expression of love.
 • Honoring others is a form of discipleship and a witness to the world.

7. Reward for Honoring Others

🧾 Key Verse:
 • Matthew 10:41–42 (NKJV)
“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward… And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water… shall by no means lose his reward.”

Key Points:
 • God sees every act of honor, even the smallest.
 • Honoring others aligns us with God’s economy of grace and reward.

**(00:00) END PART 1**
**(27:00 – 5:00) BEGIN PART 2*

Excellent direction. Focusing on the practical side of honoring others will ground your lecture in real-life application, which is essential for disciple-makers.

Let’s divide the second half of your lecture into two practical sections:

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🏛️ Section 1: Honoring People Within the Church

Honoring fellow believers builds unity, discipleship relationships, and displays Christ’s love within the Body.

✅ 1. Serve One Another Humbly

🧾 Galatians 5:13 (NKJV)

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Application: Honor by taking initiative to serve others, especially when inconvenient.

⸻

✅ 2. Speak with Grace and Encouragement

🧾 Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Application: Honor others by building them up with your words, not tearing them down—even behind their back.

⸻

✅ 3. Celebrate Others’ Gifts and Contributions

🧾 1 Corinthians 12:24–25 (NKJV)

“…But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.”

Application: Value all roles in the church equally—encouraging those who serve behind the scenes.

⸻

✅ 4. Submit to Spiritual Leadership

🧾 Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV)

“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account…”

Application: Show honor by respecting pastors, elders, and those discipling you—even when they challenge you.

⸻

✅ 5. Restore the Fallen with Gentleness

🧾 Galatians 6:1 (NKJV)

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…”

Application: To honor someone is not to shame them when they fall, but to restore them with dignity.

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🌍 Section 2: Honoring Unbelievers

Honoring unbelievers is critical for evangelism and discipleship relationships. It reflects God’s love and opens doors for the gospel.

✅ 1. Show Respect Regardless of Belief

🧾 1 Peter 3:15–16 (NKJV)

“…always be ready to give a defense… with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you… those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.”

Application: Engage unbelievers respectfully, not arrogantly. Win them with truth and character.

⸻

✅ 2. Do Good Without Expecting in Return

🧾 Luke 6:35 (NKJV)

“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great…”

Application: Honor by being generous, especially to those who cannot repay or may even reject you.

⸻

✅ 3. Be a Peacemaker in a Hostile Culture

🧾 Romans 12:18 (NKJV)

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”

Application: Don’t retaliate or argue over non-essentials. Model peace and humility in tense conversations.

⸻

✅ 4. Acknowledge Their God-Given Worth

🧾 Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him…”

Application: Even if they’re far from God, they still bear His image. Treat them accordingly—with compassion, not contempt.

⸻

✅ 5. Practice Hospitality

🧾 Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV)

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

Application: Invite unbelievers into your home, your life, and your story—model Christ before preaching Him.

⸻

🧩 Summary Application Statement:

“To honor others is to see them through God’s eyes and treat them with intentional dignity—whether they are your brother in Christ or a stranger far from Him.”

**(5:00 – 1:00)** 
Doctrine Today
Jesus and His Present Ministry
The Holy Spirit’s Role in Disciple Making.
Dispensational Baptist view of the End Times
Understanding Theology is Important
The Gospel and Ongoing Disciple Making
Church Role in Discerning God’s Will
Barriers to Disciple Making
Spiritual Warfare
Jesus – Incarnation
God’s Sovereignty
Sin and the Call to Make Disciples

REPENTANCE AND THE DISCIPLE MAKER

1. Repentance Is Central to the Gospel Message
 • Acts 2:38 (NKJV) – “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
 • Mark 1:14–15 (NKJV) – “Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”

📌 Point: The call to repentance is not optional—it’s the first response to the Gospel. As disciple-makers, we cannot proclaim Christ faithfully without calling people to repentance.

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2. Repentance Is Ongoing in the Life of the Disciple
 • 1 John 1:8–9 (NKJV) – “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us…”
 • Revelation 3:19 (NKJV) – “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”

📌 Point: Repentance is not a one-time act but a continual attitude of the heart. Disciple-makers must model and teach ongoing repentance as part of spiritual growth and sanctification.

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3. True Repentance Bears Fruit
 • Matthew 3:8 (NKJV) – “Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance…”
 • Acts 26:20 (NKJV) – “…that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”

📌 Point: A changed life is evidence of genuine repentance. Disciple-makers must help others identify and pursue the fruit of repentance (e.g., humility, obedience, love, reconciliation).

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4. Repentance Is a Work of God, But Requires a Human Response
 • 2 Timothy 2:25 (NKJV) – “…if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth…”
 • Romans 2:4 (NKJV) – “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance.”

📌 Point: While repentance is a gift from God, it calls for a real and willing response. Disciple-makers must depend on the Spirit while calling people to take real steps.

⸻

5. A Disciple Maker Must First Live a Life of Repentance
 • Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV) – “Search me, O God, and know my heart… and lead me in the way everlasting.”
 • Matthew 7:3–5 (NKJV) – “First remove the plank from your own eye…”

📌 Point: Integrity matters. A disciple-maker’s power comes from walking authentically with Jesus. Ongoing self-examination and repentance are prerequisites for discipling others.

⸻

6. Repentance Prepares the Heart for Discipleship
 • Luke 9:23 (NKJV) – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
 • Acts 3:19 (NKJV) – “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come…”

📌 Point: Discipleship requires a surrendered heart. Repentance clears the ground for following Jesus wholeheartedly and being made into His likeness.

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7. Disciple-Makers Must Call Others to Repentance Boldly and Lovingly
 • Luke 24:46–47 (NKJV) – “…that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations…”
 • 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) – “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…”

📌 Point: Our call is not to shame, but to invite. We call people to repentance out of love and hope, trusting that it will lead to joy and transformation.

**(1:00)** 

How are you doing at really seeing and hearing the people around you? The message of Salvation is best given when our attitudes and actions make the love of Jesus as clear as the message of the Gospel. Let’s agree to slow down and really see the people God has placed in our lives. Seeing them, let’s honor them as image bearers of a Holy God and serve them as those Jesus loved enough to go to the cross for.

– “Thank you for listening today! 
-If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page.
Don’t be discouraged by the challenges you face. Keep your eyes on Jesus and embrace the opportunity to grow through the trial. Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus and never stop running."
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