All In for Jesus: Embracing Our True Identity

This morning, we gathered to remember the incredible invitation we have from God: to come to Him with everything—our hurts, our brokenness, our hopes, and our failures. Through the cross, we are not just talking about God; we are invited to know Him, to experience Him as our good Father, and to be transformed by His presence. As we wrapped up our journey through 1 Timothy, we focused on Paul’s final charge to Timothy, which is just as relevant for us today: to be all in for Jesus, to flee the empty promises of the world, and to pursue the things that truly matter—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.

We are reminded that the Christian life is not about balancing God as one slice of our lives, but about making Jesus Lord over every part. Whether it’s our family, our work, our friendships, or our personal time, every area is to be submitted to Christ. This is not just a matter of time management, but of heart surrender. The call is to be “all in”—to say yes to Jesus in every circumstance, trusting that true life and glory are found in Him alone.

Paul’s words also urge us not to forget who we are. We are people who have been called out of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s Son. Our identity is secure: we are adopted, forgiven, and enlisted as soldiers in God’s army. This means we don’t get entangled in the pursuits of the world, but keep our eyes on our King, seeking to please Him above all else.

We are also entrusted with a precious deposit—the gospel and the Word of God. Our lives are to guard this truth, keeping it unstained and passing it on to others. This is a lifelong calling, to be people of the Word, letting it shape us and flow through us into every sphere of influence.

Finally, we are called to remember whose we are. Our hope and confidence rest in the sovereign, immortal King of kings and Lord of lords. No matter what we face, we belong to Him, and His grace is sufficient for every trial. As we meditate on His greatness, the allure of the world fades, and we are strengthened to live all in for Jesus, trusting Him with every part of our lives.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Flee the empty promises of the world and pursue what truly matters. The world offers a kind of glory that is fleeting and often leads to disappointment or even destruction. Instead, we are called to run from these temptations and to actively pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness—qualities that reflect the character of Christ and lead to true life. [36:47]
• 2. Being “all in” for Jesus means making Him Lord over every area of life, not just giving Him a slice of our time or attention. True balance is not about equal time for everything, but about surrendering every part—family, work, friendships, and personal pursuits—to the authority and direction of Christ. This kind of surrender brings real freedom and purpose, even in seasons that feel unbalanced. [46:34]
• 3. Remembering who you are in Christ is essential for standing firm. We are not just people trying to do better; we are adopted children of God, transferred from darkness to light, and enlisted as soldiers in His service. This identity shapes our priorities and gives us strength to resist the pull of the world, keeping our focus on pleasing our King. [55:57]
• 4. Guard the deposit of faith and the Word entrusted to you. We are stewards of the gospel and the teachings of Christ, called to keep them pure and to pass them on to others. This requires vigilance against distractions, false teachings, and the temptation to compromise, so that the truth remains powerful and transformative in every generation. [65:26]
• 5. Our confidence and hope rest in the sovereign, immortal King. Meditating on the greatness of Jesus—His authority, His unapproachable light, His eternal dominion—puts all of life in perspective. When we remember whose we are, we find courage to trust Him in every circumstance, knowing that His grace is sufficient and His glory far surpasses anything the world can offer. [70:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:30] - Opening Worship & Invitation to the Altar
• [07:20] - Experiencing God as Our Good Father
• [14:08] - Prayer and Announcements
• [24:51] - Kairos Prison Ministry & Prayer Chain
• [29:48] - Kids Dismissal and Note-Taking
• [31:03] - Overview of 1 Timothy and Its Purpose
• [33:36] - Warnings Against Worldly Pursuits
• [35:06] - Paul’s Charge: Flee and Pursue
• [39:34] - The Subaru Story: The Danger of Chasing Worldly Glory
• [42:09] - Pursuing Righteousness, Godliness, and Faith
• [45:38] - What It Means to Be All In for Jesus
• [51:06] - Submitting Every Area to Christ’s Lordship
• [53:37] - Taking Hold of Eternal Life and Confession
• [55:57] - Remembering Who You Are in Christ
• [61:15] - Keeping the Commandment Unstained
• [65:26] - Guarding the Deposit and Living the Word
• [67:03] - Don’t Forget Whose You Are
• [70:14] - Meditating on the Sovereignty of Christ
• [76:56] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 6:11-16, 20-21 (ESV) —
> 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
> 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
> 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,
> 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
> 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
> 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

> 20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”
> 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

Observation Questions

1. What specific things does Paul tell Timothy to flee from, and what does he tell him to pursue instead? (see 1 Timothy 6:11; [36:47])
2. According to the passage, what is the “good confession” that Timothy made, and why is it significant? (1 Timothy 6:12-13; [53:37])
3. What does Paul mean when he charges Timothy to “keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ”? (1 Timothy 6:14; [01:01:15])
4. In the sermon, what illustration did the pastor use to describe the danger of chasing after worldly glory? ([39:34])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes both fleeing from certain things and actively pursuing others? How does this shape our understanding of the Christian life? ([36:47])
2. The sermon talked about being “all in” for Jesus, not just giving Him a slice of our lives. What does it look like practically to make Jesus Lord over every area, rather than just prioritizing Him among other things? ([46:34])
3. How does remembering our identity as adopted children and soldiers in God’s army help us resist the pull of the world? ([55:57])
4. What does it mean to “guard the deposit” of faith and the Word entrusted to us? Why is this so important for every generation of believers? ([01:05:26])

Application Questions

1. The world offers many “glories” that seem attractive but often lead to disappointment. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you’ve been tempted to chase after something the world promises? What would it look like to “flee” from that and pursue what truly matters instead? ([39:34])
2. Think about your weekly schedule. Are there areas of your life (family, work, friendships, personal time) where Jesus is not truly Lord? What is one practical step you can take this week to surrender that area to Him? ([46:34])
3. The sermon said, “Don’t forget who you are.” When you face temptation or discouragement, what helps you remember your identity in Christ? Is there a specific truth or practice that grounds you? ([55:57])
4. “Guarding the deposit” means keeping the gospel and God’s Word pure and passing it on. Who in your life could you intentionally share God’s truth with this month? What might that look like? ([01:05:26])
5. The pastor described meditating on the greatness of Jesus as a way to put life in perspective. What is one way you can intentionally focus on Christ’s sovereignty and glory this week, especially when you feel overwhelmed? ([01:10:14])
6. Is there a “slice” of your life that you tend to keep separate from God? What would it look like to invite Jesus into that area and trust Him with it? ([46:34])
7. When was the last time you felt God’s grace was sufficient for you in a trial? How did that experience shape your trust in Him? ([01:16:56])