Building a Legacy: Embracing Gospel Conversations and Preparation
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of legacy, particularly in the context of our church's future and our individual spiritual journeys. As we look forward to the next 100 years, we are committed to building a foundation that ensures our church not only survives but thrives. This involves inspiring and empowering our community to engage in over 20,280 gospel conversations, fostering a culture where sharing the gospel becomes second nature. Our vision is to develop a robust discipleship process that nurtures mature Christians who intimately know Jesus and are eager to share His love with others.
We delved into the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness as a pivotal moment that set the stage for His earthly ministry. This period of temptation was not just a test but a preparation for the mission ahead. Jesus' victory over temptation exemplified perfect obedience to God and highlighted His empathy for human struggles. His rejection of worldly power and affirmation of His divine mission foreshadowed the nature of His kingdom and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
As we enter the season of Lent, we are called to prepare our hearts for the joy of Resurrection Sunday by embracing the sorrow and pain that precede it. Lent is a time for fasting, prayer, and reflection, allowing us to empty ourselves of lesser things to be filled with the greater things of the gospel. Fasting is not merely a physical act but a spiritual discipline that draws us closer to God, seeking His guidance and expressing repentance.
We introduced a Lent guide to aid in this journey, providing daily readings, prayers, and reflections to deepen our relationship with God. This guide is designed to help us focus on spiritual growth and prepare for the mission God has set before us. As we embark on this journey, let us be intentional in our preparation, following Jesus' example and dedicating ourselves to the mission of sharing His love with the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Legacy and Gospel Conversations: Our church's vision for the next 100 years is to create a culture where sharing the gospel is ingrained in our DNA. This involves intentional and relational steps to inspire and empower our community to engage in gospel conversations, ensuring our legacy is one of love, truth, and impact. [02:00]
- Jesus' Temptation as Preparation: The 40 days of temptation in the wilderness were crucial in preparing Jesus for His ministry. This period demonstrated His readiness to fulfill His mission, setting an example of perfect obedience and reliance on God's word, which we are called to emulate in our spiritual journeys. [08:43]
- Empathy and Identification with Humanity: Jesus' experience of temptation highlights His empathy and ability to intercede for humanity. As both fully God and fully man, He understands our struggles and offers a model for overcoming temptation through faith and reliance on God. [13:00]
- Lent as a Season of Preparation: Lent invites us to prepare our hearts for Easter by embracing the sorrow and pain of the crucifixion. Through fasting, prayer, and reflection, we draw closer to God, emptying ourselves of lesser things to be filled with the greater things of the gospel. [19:40]
- Fasting and Spiritual Growth: Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves abstaining from physical needs to focus on God. It is a means of seeking God's guidance, expressing repentance, and deepening our relationship with Him, emphasizing the importance of spiritual over physical nourishment. [26:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to Life Groups
- [04:00] - Vision for the Next 100 Years
- [06:01] - The Temptation of Jesus
- [08:43] - Jesus' Obedience and Example
- [13:00] - Empathy and Humanity
- [15:06] - Understanding Lent
- [19:40] - Preparing for Easter
- [22:29] - The Purpose of Fasting
- [26:05] - Spiritual Discipline and Growth
- [28:56] - The Role of Prayer
- [31:40] - Thanksgiving and Supplication
- [33:54] - Intercessory Prayer
- [38:13] - Introduction to the Lent Guide
- [41:58] - Corporate Fasting and Prayer
- [44:12] - Upcoming Series: Encounter
- [46:14] - Closing and Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 4:1-11: The Temptation of Jesus
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the three temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness, and how did He respond to each one? [06:01]
2. How does the sermon describe the significance of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness in relation to His ministry? [13:00]
3. What is the church's vision for the next 100 years, and how does it relate to the concept of legacy? [04:00]
4. How is Lent described in the sermon, and what practices are encouraged during this season? [19:40]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' response to temptation serve as a model for Christians in dealing with their own temptations? [08:43]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Jesus' temptation in the wilderness prepared Him for His ministry? [13:00]
3. How does the concept of legacy in the sermon challenge the church to think about its long-term impact and mission? [04:00]
4. What role does fasting play in spiritual growth according to the sermon, and how is it connected to the season of Lent? [26:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant temptation. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Jesus' example in Matthew 4:1-11? [06:01]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of gospel conversations. Identify one person in your life with whom you can share the gospel this week. What steps will you take to initiate that conversation? [04:00]
3. As the church prepares for the next 100 years, what personal legacy do you want to leave in your spiritual community? How can you start building that legacy today? [04:00]
4. Lent is a time for fasting, prayer, and reflection. What specific practice will you adopt during this season to draw closer to God? [19:40]
5. Consider the distractions in your life that may be hindering your spiritual growth. What is one specific change you can make this week to minimize those distractions? [22:29]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of fasting into your spiritual routine, and what specific purpose will you focus on during your fast? [26:05]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of preparing for the mission God has given us. What steps can you take this week to better prepare yourself for the mission of sharing Jesus' love with others? [19:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Building a Legacy of Gospel Conversations
Our church envisions a future where sharing the gospel is a natural part of our lives, ingrained in our community's culture. This vision involves inspiring and empowering each member to engage in over 20,280 gospel conversations, ensuring that our legacy is one of love, truth, and impact. By fostering a culture where sharing the gospel becomes second nature, we lay a foundation for the church to not only survive but thrive in the next 100 years. This intentional and relational approach to evangelism is crucial for creating a lasting impact on our community and beyond. [02:00]
"Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!" (1 Chronicles 16:24, ESV)
Reflection: Who is one person in your life with whom you can share the gospel this week, and what steps will you take to initiate that conversation?
Day 2: Jesus' Temptation as a Model for Obedience
The 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness were not just a test but a preparation for His ministry. This period demonstrated His readiness to fulfill His mission, setting an example of perfect obedience and reliance on God's word. Jesus' victory over temptation exemplified His commitment to His divine mission and His rejection of worldly power. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His obedience and reliance on God in our spiritual journeys, recognizing that our own periods of testing can prepare us for the mission God has set before us. [08:43]
"And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.'" (Matthew 4:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What temptations are you currently facing, and how can you rely on God's word to overcome them as Jesus did?
Day 3: Empathy and Identification with Humanity
Jesus' experience of temptation in the wilderness highlights His empathy and ability to intercede for humanity. As both fully God and fully man, He understands our struggles and offers a model for overcoming temptation through faith and reliance on God. His victory over temptation not only demonstrated His perfect obedience but also His deep empathy for human struggles. This empathy allows Him to intercede on our behalf, offering us strength and guidance in our own battles with temptation. [13:00]
"For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:18, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you draw on Jesus' empathy and intercession to find strength in your current struggles?
Day 4: Lent as a Season of Preparation
Lent invites us to prepare our hearts for Easter by embracing the sorrow and pain of the crucifixion. Through fasting, prayer, and reflection, we draw closer to God, emptying ourselves of lesser things to be filled with the greater things of the gospel. This season of preparation allows us to reflect on our spiritual growth and align our hearts with God's mission. By intentionally engaging in these spiritual disciplines, we prepare ourselves to fully experience the joy of Resurrection Sunday. [19:40]
"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can prepare your heart for Easter during this season of Lent?
Day 5: Fasting and Spiritual Growth
Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves abstaining from physical needs to focus on God. It is a means of seeking God's guidance, expressing repentance, and deepening our relationship with Him. Fasting emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment over physical sustenance, allowing us to draw closer to God and align our hearts with His will. As we engage in fasting, we open ourselves to spiritual growth and transformation, seeking to be filled with the greater things of the gospel. [26:05]
"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate fasting into your spiritual practice this week, and what specific guidance or transformation are you seeking from God through this discipline?
Quotes
So, Church, before we get started, I have one announcement, just kind of a teaser. So, we have been working in the background for quite some time, and we are going to launch life groups this month, and so we have multiple life groups, and I'll just say this, they're going to be all over the place, so no matter where you live, you'll be able to find one. We're going to have more details, how to sign up for them, and all that coming up, but I just want to say this, my experience with life groups personally has been transformational. It's a time where you can get with other Christians, you can share your faith, and talk about the sermon, and learn, and all these different aspects, and it's just a great, great environment. [00:00:10] (53 seconds)
And we're doing that because people need to hear the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They need to have hope. They need to be inspired. They need to know truth. There's so many reasons for that. And so we are determined to be that church, so much so that this sermon is on legacy, that we want to start thinking about. If we're a church for the next 100 years, then we need to start thinking in the terms of legacy. And so let me give you a definition of legacy. [00:02:46] (33 seconds)
So in other words, when you think, fast forward 100 years from now, and then you look back, and people are saying, well, what did they do 100 years ago that made this church stand out? And we can say things like, well, they shared the gospel, and they taught from the Bible, and they really cared about people, and they were so loving and genuine, and they had an impact in the community. Right? That's a legacy. Those are things that we want to leave, but we can't leave that if we're not intentional about it. So we're focused on that. [00:03:28] (38 seconds)
The temptation in the wilderness marked the beginning of Jesus's public ministry. It served as a time of preparation for the challenges and opposition he would face. By resisting temptation, Jesus demonstrated his readiness to fulfill his mission on earth. So he's also an example of obedience. Jesus's victory over temptation set a powerful example of perfect obedience to God. [00:08:23] (31 seconds)
His responses to Satan, in each response there's a quotation back to scripture, he's quoting scripture, showed Jesus's unwavering commitment to God's will and demonstrated how humans can resist temptation through reliance on God's word. So Jesus is making a point here. He's setting an example for us on what to follow. It is an identification with humanity. Jesus, though divine, was fully human. His experience of temptation allowed him to identify with human struggles. [00:08:54] (41 seconds)
But if he's also fully man and he was tempted and he was able to navigate those temptations, he can have empathy with you and I. With the struggles that we face, we worship a God who is not blind to what we have to deal with on this earth. We worship a God who can sympathize and empathize with our struggles because he too was tempted, but he was without sin. [00:10:23] (31 seconds)
Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus' crucifixion and celebrating Jesus' resurrection. So think about this, that we're spending time drawing closer to Christ in this season. [00:17:41] (36 seconds)
Rather than skipping over the ministry and crucifixion of Christ, Lent is a season to prepare ourselves for the joy of Resurrection Sunday as we enter the sorrow and pain which preceded it. We walk through the season of Lent by fasting, prayer, reading, and reflecting. So I want to stress this because sometimes people might be a little bit down. Like Pastor Michael, sometimes the messages approaching Easter, they're sad, they're difficult, right? Especially when we get to Good Friday. Like that's brutal. [00:20:02] (36 seconds)
Biblical fasting refers to the voluntary act of abstaining from food and other physical needs for a spiritual purpose, often as a way to draw closer to God, seek his guidance, or express repentance. In the Bible, fasting is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. It is often associated with prayer, humility, and seeking God's will. Fasting in the biblical context is not simply about abstaining from food. It involves a heart of devotion, a desire for spiritual growth, or a response to specific circumstances such as grief, sin, or a need for divine intervention. [00:21:56] (45 seconds)
Fasting is about doing something like, yeah, I'm not going to eat at this time, because I'm going to use that time to pray. And oh, by the way, when my stomach gets hungry, and it starts speaking loud enough that Joyce can hear it in her office, that I pray to God that he'll sustain me. See, this is about developing a relationship. It's about doing things like, here's another way to fast. How about we turn off social media? [00:23:30] (33 seconds)
Fasting is a way to humble ourselves before God, often combined with prayer for strength, wisdom, or intervention. Biblical fasting, can vary in intensity and form with examples ranging from partial fast, like Daniel abstaining from certain foods, to complete fast, like Jesus fasting for 40 days in the wilderness. The essential aspect is the focus on God's presence and the spiritual benefits gained from the practice. [00:27:20] (33 seconds)
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