Beyond Convenience: Embracing True Discipleship and Sacrifice

Summary

Today’s focus is on the subtle but dangerous drift toward “convenience store Christianity”—a faith that seeks comfort, speed, and minimal cost, rather than the deep, sacrificial, and covenantal relationship God calls us to. Just as a convenience store offers quick, easy access to limited goods, many have begun to treat their faith as something to be grabbed when needed, with little commitment or cost. This mindset leads to a shallow, consumer-driven spirituality, where we pick and choose the parts of God’s Word and Christian living that suit us, avoiding the discomfort and inconvenience that true discipleship requires.

Scripture is clear: the heroes of faith—Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph—did not follow God because it was easy or convenient. They endured ridicule, uncertainty, and long seasons of waiting, but their obedience and perseverance produced character and brought about God’s purposes. In contrast, our culture’s obsession with comfort has crowded out consecration and kingdom calling. We want drive-through discipleship, instant blessings, and a Savior we can take off the shelf, but not One we will follow into the wilderness.

True faith is not a snack to tide us over until the next crisis; it is daily bread that sustains and transforms us. Discipleship is not a religious pit stop, but a lifestyle of surrender, accountability, and growth. We must be willing to be inconvenienced—whether in our time, resources, relationships, or finances—because it is in the process of inconvenience that God matures us, prunes us, and prepares us for greater fruitfulness.

God’s timing is not our timing. He is not a vending machine, and His blessings are not microwaved. The process may be long and the cost may be high, but the reward is greater than the resistance. We are called to embrace the full counsel of God’s Word, not just the parts that make us comfortable. Revival, transformation, and true spiritual growth require a willingness to be inconvenienced for the sake of the gospel. Let us refuse to settle for a faith of convenience, and instead pursue a life of covenant, consecration, and kingdom purpose.

Key Takeaways

- Convenience vs. Covenant: Comfort and convenience can easily become substitutes for true covenant with God. When faith is reduced to what is easy or immediately accessible, we miss the depth and transformation that come from daily surrender and obedience. The heroes of faith endured inconvenience because they understood that God’s promises are realized through perseverance, not shortcuts. [37:55]

- Accountability and Authenticity: True discipleship requires us to be open and accountable, not hiding parts of ourselves or living as “secret agents” in the faith. Growth happens when we allow others to ask us hard questions and when we are honest about our struggles. Accountability is not a threat, but a gift that helps us press toward the high calling in Christ. [43:36]

- Embracing the Full Counsel of God: Selective Christianity—picking and choosing which parts of God’s Word to obey—leads to spiritual immaturity. Like a shopping spree where we only grab what we like, we can miss the refining and pruning that God wants to do in us. Embracing the whole counsel of Scripture, including the hard and uncomfortable parts, is essential for bearing lasting fruit. [51:51]

- Sacrifice in Every Area: Following Jesus will cost us something—our time, our resources, our comfort, and sometimes our relationships. Whether it’s giving sacrificially, prioritizing worship over convenience, or being willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of others, true faith is marked by costly obedience. God honors and rewards those who are willing to give Him what costs them dearly. [55:24]

- God’s Process and Timing: God’s blessings and breakthroughs are often “slow-cooked,” not instant. The process of waiting, enduring, and being inconvenienced is not wasted; it is where God shapes our character and prepares us for greater things. Trusting God’s timing, even when it feels long or difficult, is an act of faith that leads to deeper intimacy and greater reward. [01:08:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:50] - The Problem of Convenience Store Christianity
[37:55] - Inconvenience Builds Character
[39:10] - Consecration Over Convenience
[41:06] - The Cost of True Discipleship
[42:57] - Hiding from Accountability
[44:43] - God’s Process in Inconvenience
[47:01] - Biblical Examples: Noah, Moses, Saul, Joseph
[50:35] - Selective Christianity and Spiritual Supermarkets
[52:56] - The Necessity of Pruning
[54:52] - Sacrifice in Worship and Priorities
[56:45] - Heaven-Focused Living
[58:40] - Revival Requires Inconvenience
[59:40] - Sacrificial Giving and God’s Provision
[01:08:13] - God is Not a Vending Machine
[01:14:57] - Only Covenant Will Carry You
[01:16:07] - Embracing Inconvenience for the Gospel
[01:17:32] - The Reward of Costly Faith
[01:18:24] - Invitation and Prayer
[01:23:00] - Communion: Remembering the Covenant
[01:38:52] - Blessing and Sending Sheldon
[01:40:21] - Backpack Drive and Community Outreach
[01:42:55] - Honoring Service and Commitment
[01:45:18] - Closing Announcements and Thanks

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Convenience Store Christianity”

---

### Bible Reading

1. Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
> Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

2. Luke 9:23 (ESV)
> And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

3. James 1:2-4 (ESV)
> Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

---

### Observation Questions

1. According to Colossians 2:6-7, what does it mean to “walk in Christ” after receiving Him? How does this compare to the idea of “convenience store Christianity”? ([39:10])
2. In Luke 9:23, what are the three things Jesus says are required to follow Him? How does this challenge a faith based on comfort and convenience? ([41:06])
3. The sermon mentioned several heroes of faith (Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph). What did they have in common regarding their obedience to God? ([45:53])
4. According to James 1:2-4, what is the purpose of trials and inconvenience in the Christian life? ([44:43])

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon contrasts “convenience” with “covenant.” Why is it dangerous to treat faith as something to be picked up only when needed? How does this mindset affect spiritual growth? ([36:50])
2. Why is accountability described as a “gift” in the sermon, and how does hiding parts of ourselves hinder true discipleship? ([43:36])
3. The pastor warns against “selective Christianity”—picking and choosing which parts of God’s Word to obey. What are the long-term effects of this approach on a believer’s life and the church community? ([51:51])
4. The sermon says, “God is not a vending machine.” What does this mean about God’s timing and the process of spiritual growth? ([01:08:13])

---

### Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to move beyond “drive-through discipleship.” In what areas of your life have you settled for convenience over commitment to God? What is one step you can take this week to deepen your walk? ([36:50])
2. Think about a time when you avoided accountability or hid a struggle from others. What would it look like to invite someone you trust to ask you hard questions about your faith journey? ([43:36])
3. Are there parts of the Bible or aspects of Christian living that you tend to “skip over” because they are uncomfortable or inconvenient? What is one “hard” teaching you feel God is asking you to embrace more fully? ([51:51])
4. The heroes of faith endured long seasons of waiting and inconvenience. Is there an area in your life right now where you are waiting on God? How can you trust His timing and remain faithful in the process? ([01:08:13])
5. The sermon talks about costly obedience—giving God what costs us something. Is there a specific area (time, resources, relationships, finances) where God is calling you to make a sacrifice? What might that look like for you this month? ([55:24])
6. The pastor shared about prioritizing worship and spiritual growth over other commitments. What is one practical way you can put God first in your schedule this week, even if it means being inconvenienced? ([54:52])
7. Revival and transformation require a willingness to be inconvenienced for the sake of the gospel. What is one way your small group can serve or reach out to others that might stretch you beyond your comfort zone? ([01:16:07])

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you move beyond a faith of convenience, to embrace the full counsel of His Word, and to be willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of His kingdom. Invite the Holy Spirit to show you specific areas where He wants to grow your character and deepen your commitment.

Devotional

Day 1: True Discipleship Requires Daily Surrender, Not Convenience
Following Jesus is not about picking and choosing what is easy or comfortable; it is a daily commitment to deny oneself, take up the cross, and follow Him, even when it is inconvenient or challenging. True discipleship is a lifestyle of surrender, sacrifice, and accountability, not a religious pit stop or a drive-through experience. It means being willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of Christ, allowing Him to shape your character and deepen your faith through every season. [42:07]

Luke 9:23 (ESV)
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have chosen convenience over commitment to Christ? How can you intentionally surrender that area to Him today, even if it costs you comfort?


Day 2: Embracing the Full Counsel of God’s Word
The Christian life is not a spiritual supermarket where we pick and choose the parts of God’s Word that suit us; instead, we are called to embrace the full counsel of Scripture, even the parts that challenge or prune us. Sound doctrine may not always be what our itching ears want to hear, but it is necessary for growth, maturity, and fruitfulness. Allowing God to prune and shape us, even through discomfort, leads to richer and finer fruit in our lives. [51:51]

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Reflection: Is there a teaching or command in Scripture you tend to avoid because it feels uncomfortable? What would it look like to embrace and obey it fully this week?


Day 3: Sacrificial Giving Reflects Trust and Covenant with God
Giving is not just about the amount or the surplus, but about the heart and the willingness to sacrifice for God’s kingdom. The widow’s offering teaches that true generosity often costs us something, and that God honors and provides for those who give out of faith and obedience, not just convenience. When we trust God with our resources, even when it feels inconvenient or risky, we experience His faithfulness and provision in unexpected ways. [01:01:04]

Luke 21:1-4 (ESV)
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Reflection: What is one way you can give sacrificially this week—of your time, resources, or talents—trusting God to provide for your needs?


Day 4: God’s Process and Timing Are Perfect, Not Instant
God is not a vending machine who dispenses blessings on demand; His timing and methods are often slow-cooked, requiring patience, perseverance, and trust in the process. Even when we feel inconvenienced or delayed, God is working all things together for our good, shaping us for greater purposes. Like those who waited on Jesus for days, or the saints who endured long seasons of waiting, we are called to trust that God’s timing is perfect and that the journey is as important as the destination. [01:09:00]

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Reflection: Where in your life are you impatient for God to move? How can you choose to trust His timing and embrace the process He has you in right now?


Day 5: Consecration and Covenant Over Convenience
Convenience may bring comfort, but only consecration and covenant with Jesus will carry you through life’s challenges and into God’s purposes. The call to follow Christ is a call to embrace inconvenience for the sake of the gospel, to pick up your cross, and to live a life that costs you something. The reward of intimacy with God, transformation, and eternal life far outweighs the resistance and sacrifice required. Let us refuse to settle for convenience store Christianity and instead pursue a life fully devoted to God’s kingdom. [01:16:07]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take this week to move from comfortable Christianity to a deeper, consecrated commitment to Christ and His mission?

Quotes

So we have to allow Jesus to...And we have to allow the Holy Spirit to prune us. It goes on in verse 5 to tell us that, yes, I am the vine. And this is Jesus here speaking. He says, you are the branches. Those who remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing.As it shows us that in that level of inconvenience that we feel, we have to understand that there is a process that allows us to produce even greater fruit.So there will be only inconvenience for a time and for a season. [00:54:07] (43 seconds)  #PrunedToProduce Edit Clip

There's a level of sacrifice that goes into giving.We have come to a place where it is we give in a comfortable state.So if I can give $5 and that's what I have, then that's okay. We have become like these who were given out of the excess that they have.So if we have 20 extra, we give. If we don't have that 20 extra, then it is we don't give any.But she, even though all she had was those two coins, she still gave it because she understand the principle of giving and God being able to provide for her. [01:01:14] (41 seconds)  #SacrificialGiving Edit Clip