Advance: A Call to Generational Faithfulness and Action

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Self-Denial for Christ

In a culture that often promotes self-fulfillment and personal comfort, the call to self-denial stands in stark contrast. This journey is not about achieving one's own desires but about laying them down for the sake of following Jesus. It is a transformative process that requires believers to take up their cross daily, sacrificing personal ambitions to serve others and advance the Gospel. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a continuous posture of the heart that aligns with the sacrificial love demonstrated by Christ. It is in this self-denial that one finds true purpose and the ability to impact the world for the Kingdom of God. [59:02]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26 ESV)

Reflection: What personal comfort or ambition is God calling you to surrender today in order to follow Him more closely?

Day 2: Building a Legacy of Faith and Generosity

The legacy of a church is built upon the faith and generosity of its members, past and present. Reflecting on the church's history of mission work and community engagement, it becomes clear that collective action and faith have the power to transform lives and spread the Gospel. The future calls for a continuation of this legacy, with a focus on financial stewardship that honors God. By remaining debt-free and fully funding missions and ministry efforts, the church can ensure that its resources are used strategically for the Kingdom. This commitment to stewardship is an act of worship that extends beyond mere transactions; it is a reflection of the heart's alignment with God's purposes. [42:11]

"Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." (1 Samuel 12:24 ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to the church's legacy of faith and generosity in a way that reflects your commitment to God's Kingdom?

Day 3: Aligning Hearts with God's Will

The Advance initiative is not about meeting financial targets but about seeking and aligning with God's will. It is a call to trust in God's provision and to be obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. This spiritual alignment requires believers to listen attentively to God's direction and to offer their resources, talents, and time as acts of worship. It is in this obedience and trust that the church can move forward, confident that God will use their collective offerings for His glory, regardless of the size. [01:12:46]

"And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.'" (Mark 12:41-43 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you align your heart with God's will today, trusting that He will use your unique contributions for His purposes?

Day 4: Prioritizing the Great Commission

The unwavering commitment to missions is a defining characteristic of the church's identity. By prioritizing the funding of missions through the Advance initiative, the church makes a bold statement that fulfilling the Great Commission is its top priority. This commitment reflects the church's DNA and its desire to see the Gospel reach every nation. It is a call to action for every member to consider how they can support the spread of the Gospel, both locally and globally, as an integral part of their faith. [41:27]

"And he said to them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Luke 10:2 ESV)

Reflection: What specific action can you take this week to support the mission of spreading the Gospel in your community or around the world?

Day 5: Creating Spaces for Ministry and Community

The renovation and updating of church facilities are not merely for aesthetic purposes but are strategic efforts to create spaces that facilitate ministry and community. These physical changes are tools that serve the mission of making disciples and serving the city. The building itself is a vessel for worship, fellowship, and outreach, enabling the church to be a beacon of hope and a place where people can encounter the love of Christ. [49:42]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)

Reflection: How can you use the physical spaces of your church to foster community and further the mission of making disciples in your own context?

Sermon Summary

Beloved congregation, as we gather in the spirit of worship and reflection, I want to share with you the essence of our recent sermon series, "Advance: Generation to Generation." This series is a call to action, a summons to deepen our commitment to the Lord and to the mission He has entrusted to us. It's a season not only of prayer but of communal discernment, where we listen and speak into one another's lives, guided by the Holy Spirit.

We stand at a pivotal moment in our church's history, a time to envision our future and the legacy we wish to leave for the generations to come. This is a time for us to consider our role in the Great Commission, to ponder how we might support the spread of the Gospel both locally and globally. It's a time to reflect on our resources, our talents, and our time, and how we might steward them for the Kingdom of God.

Our church has a rich history of mission work, of reaching out to college students, and of planting seeds that have grown into fruitful ministries across the world. We've seen lives transformed and disciples made, and we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us, who have set a precedent of faithfulness and generosity.

As we embark on this journey of Advance, we are not seeking to engineer results or dictate the amount you should give. Instead, we trust in God's provision and the prompting of the Holy Spirit in your hearts. Our hope is to see a sustainable Prayer Ministry emerge, missionaries rise up from our congregation, and an abundance mindset take root in every domain of our church life.

We dream of church renewal, church planting, and launching new campus ministries. We envision college students exploring ministry as a vocation and members giving their working years to church work. We long to retire our facilities debt, so that every dollar given can go directly to helping people live out the priorities of Jesus.

This is a personal journey for me, as I shared my own story of how God led me to this church, aligning my life plan with the needs and vision of this congregation. It's a testament to how God orchestrates our paths for His purposes.

As we consider what it means to follow Jesus, we are reminded of the call to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. This is not a path of self-fulfillment but one of self-denial, obedience, and service to others. It's a call to live lives that count for Christ, to point others to the truth of the Gospel while we still have breath in our lungs.

In closing, I invite you to join us in a season of prayer and discernment. We ask that you seek the Lord's guidance on how you can participate in Advance, using the resources He has placed in your hands to further His Kingdom. We covet your prayers, your questions, and your engagement as we step forward in faith, trusting that God will provide exactly what we need.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Mark 8:22-38 —
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Observation Questions

In Mark 8:22-26, why did Jesus touch the blind man twice to restore his sight? What was the significance of the two-step healing process?
What were the different responses given by the disciples when Jesus asked, "Who do people say I am?" (Mark 8:27-28)
How did Peter respond to Jesus' question, "Who do you say I am?" and what was Jesus' reaction to Peter's declaration? (Mark 8:29-30)
What did Jesus teach about the cost of discipleship in Mark 8:34-38? How does this relate to the concept of self-denial and cross-carrying mentioned in the sermon? [57:36]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal His identity and the cost of discipleship only after Peter's declaration? How does this timing affect the understanding of His mission? (Mark 8:29-31)
How does Peter's initial understanding of Jesus as the Messiah contrast with Jesus' explanation of His mission involving suffering and death? What does this reveal about human versus divine perspectives? [55:39]
In what ways does the concept of self-denial and cross-carrying challenge modern cultural values of self-fulfillment and personal success? How can this tension be navigated in a believer's life? [58:20]
How does the sermon’s emphasis on communal discernment and prayer align with the biblical call to follow Jesus through self-denial and cross-carrying? [01:08:25]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you had to deny yourself for the sake of following Jesus. How did that experience shape your faith and understanding of discipleship? [58:20]
The sermon mentioned the importance of financial stewardship as an act of worship. How can you evaluate and adjust your financial priorities to better align with the mission of advancing God's Kingdom? [42:11]
Consider the legacy of faithfulness and generosity in your own life or in the life of someone you admire. How can you contribute to building a similar legacy for future generations? [01:00:26]
The sermon highlighted the need for communal discernment and prayer. How can you actively participate in your church's prayer initiatives and support others in their spiritual journeys? [01:08:25]
Think about the resources, talents, and time that God has placed in your hands. What specific steps can you take to steward these gifts for the advancement of His Kingdom? [01:09:00]
Reflect on the vision of church renewal, church planting, and launching new campus ministries. How can you personally support or get involved in these initiatives within your church community? [01:11:34]
The sermon emphasized the importance of aligning our hearts with God's will. What practical steps can you take this week to seek God's direction and align your actions with His purposes? [01:12:46]

Sermon Clips

- "Advance is an opportunity to follow Jesus by denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following Jesus for the sake of the world." [01:06:50] ( | | )

- "All we are asking you to do is go before God and ask him how should I participate... Lord, you've put these things in my hands, how do you want me to use them to advance your purposes?" [01:08:25] ( | | )

- "I want God to squeeze every part of my life dry in order to get every drop of usefulness out of my life." [01:03:22] ( | | )

- "I believe in faith the greatest days in the history of this church are all ahead of us." [01:04:07] ( | | )

- "Advance is all about submitting ourselves to the Lord, putting ourselves before him and just saying, 'Lord, use me however you want to use me.'" [01:12:46] ( | | )

- "Our top priority is missions so for three years we want to fund missions for $600,000 and that's our commitment to do that." [42:11] ( | | )

- "We covet your questions, we covet your feedback, and we covet your engagement as we make plans for improving this facility based on the resources that we have available." [51:34] ( | | )

- "It's self-denial and cross-carrying for the sake of others that's what it means to follow Jesus." [59:02] ( | | )

- "This is a season of prayer but it's also a season of communal discernment, one of the ways that I believe the Holy Spirit moves is by us speaking into one another." [01:10:18] ( | | )

- "I trust God and I trust you, whatever the Holy Spirit prompts you to do will be exactly what we need." [01:10:59] ( | | )

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