Summary
The central message is that believers must actively work to keep their hearts enlarged, contrasting this with the narrow hearts of the Corinthians. Paul suggests that faith in God's perfect love, despite knowing everything about us, and love for all saints are the two things that enlarge the heart. A narrow heart, particularly due to wrong attitudes or grudges against others, hinders spiritual life and prayer.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Why the Corinthian Christians were carnal and narrowPaul writes to the carnal Corinthians that his mouth is open wide and his heart is enlarged, but they are restrained in their own affections and need to open wide their hearts.2 Corinthians 6:11
Faith and love as the foundations of a large heartLooking at the Ephesian church, Paul commended their faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints, which are the two things that make a person's heart large.
Believing God's love despite our flawsReal faith is trusting that God knows everything about our future failures and still loves and chooses us, which prevents discouragement and enlarges our hearts.
Comprehending Christ's love together with all the saintsPaul explains in Ephesians that we cannot know the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ's love by ourselves; we must know it along with all the saints.Ephesians 3:17–18
The silent damage of a wrong attitudeJust as smoking ruins lungs and alcohol ruins livers, having a wrong attitude toward another believer narrows your heart like rust clogging a water pipe.
Loving those who do not love usJesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that there is nothing great about only loving those who love us or greeting only our own brothers.Matthew 5:46
Mind faith versus heart faithMany believers have head knowledge and mind faith that does not change their lives, but when faith and truth enter the heart, it transforms them completely.
Tunnel vision and the critical spirit of the PhariseesLike the Pharisees who had vast scripture knowledge yet narrow hearts, believers can develop tunnel vision, constantly searching for faults in others.
Jealousy as a hidden trap among believersJealousy toward those who are more spiritual, wealthier, or more capable is one of the greatest sins that keeps a believer's heart narrow.
Job's self-righteousness and his preacher friendsJob was the most righteous man on earth, but his pride and self-consciousness made his heart narrow until God used extreme trials to humble him.
Prejudices regarding wealth, education, and cultureBelievers often harbor unacknowledged prejudices against the rich, the highly educated, or people of different cultures, forgetting that God looks at the heart.
The largeness of Jesus' heart toward broken peopleWhile religious people quickly condemn those with messy lives, Jesus went out of His way to meet and restore broken individuals like the Samaritan woman.
Starting with self-interest in the kindergarten of faithEven if someone starts with the selfish motivation that a large heart blesses them personally, it is a starting point from which God calls them to mature.
Why Jesus appealed to consequences in the Sermon on the MountRecognizing that most believers are not fully spiritual, Jesus often warned people about the consequences of sin like hell to turn them away from evil.
Cleansing ourselves to be useful vesselsBelievers should cleanse themselves from petty criticisms and jealousies so they can be useful vessels for the Master, ultimately seeking to honor Him.2 Timothy 2:22
Stepping into the Blessing of Abraham with a large heartBy abandoning jealousy and criticism and enlarging our hearts, we can receive the Blessing of Abraham and become a channel of rivers of blessing to the world.
