Choosing Discipleship: Responding to Jesus' Living Water
Summary
Embarking on a year-long journey of discipleship, we are reminded that becoming a disciple of Jesus is not an automatic process. It requires intentional decisions, much like the decision to accept salvation. This journey is about making daily choices to follow Jesus, and our first decision is to respond to His invitation to come and drink of the living water. In John 7, Jesus invites those who thirst to come to Him, promising that out of their hearts will flow rivers of living water, symbolizing the Holy Spirit. This invitation is universal, extended to all who recognize their spiritual thirst.
The Feast of Tabernacles, a Jewish celebration of God's provision in the wilderness, serves as a backdrop for understanding Jesus' offer. Just as God provided manna and water in the desert, Jesus offers Himself as the living water to quench our spiritual thirst. This invitation is not limited to a select few but is open to everyone, regardless of status or background. However, it requires a decision to accept and follow Him.
The story of J.K. Rowling's perseverance with her Harry Potter manuscript illustrates the importance of recognizing and seizing opportunities. Similarly, we must recognize the opportunity in Jesus' invitation and respond to it. The decision to follow Jesus is not without cost; it involves surrendering our own ways and embracing the transformation He brings. Yet, the yoke of Christ is lighter than the burdens of sin and self-reliance.
Spiritual thirst manifests in various ways, such as anxiety, lack of fulfillment, and the pursuit of worldly pleasures that ultimately leave us empty. True satisfaction comes only from Jesus, the source of living water. As believers, our souls should thirst for God, seeking Him earnestly. The decision to follow Jesus is a daily commitment, requiring us to prioritize Him above all else and to trust in His provision and guidance.
Key Takeaways:
1. Discipleship Requires Intentional Decisions: Becoming a disciple of Jesus involves daily choices to follow Him. Salvation is a decision, and so is discipleship. We must actively choose to align our lives with His teachings and example. [02:16]
2. Jesus' Invitation is Universal: The call to come and drink of the living water is extended to everyone, regardless of background or status. This universal invitation requires a personal response, highlighting the importance of recognizing our spiritual thirst. [15:13]
3. Spiritual Thirst and Fulfillment: Spiritual thirst is often expressed through anxiety and a lack of fulfillment. True satisfaction comes only from Jesus, the living water. We must seek Him earnestly, recognizing that worldly pursuits cannot quench our spiritual thirst. [23:30]
4. The Cost of Following Jesus: Accepting Jesus' invitation involves surrendering our own ways and embracing transformation. While there is a cost, the yoke of Christ is lighter than the burdens of sin and self-reliance. [17:30]
5. The Danger of Religion Without Relationship: Merely getting religious without truly drinking from Jesus can lead to spiritual pride and emptiness. True discipleship involves a relationship with Jesus, drawing from His teachings, power, and Spirit. [32:22]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:16] - Decisions Make Disciples
[04:29] - The Story of J.K. Rowling
[06:38] - Invitation to Living Water
[08:09] - The Feast of Tabernacles
[10:00] - God's Provision in the Wilderness
[12:23] - Living Water from the Rock
[14:28] - Universal Invitation
[15:13] - Who is Invited?
[17:30] - The Yoke of Christ
[19:47] - The Decision to Follow
[20:41] - Few Will Respond
[21:44] - Recognizing Spiritual Thirst
[23:30] - The Futility of Worldly Pursuits
[26:46] - Thirsting for God
[29:48] - The Cost of Discipleship
[32:22] - The Danger of Empty Religion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 7:37-39
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Isaiah 55:1-3
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 7:37-39, what does Jesus promise to those who come to Him and drink?
2. How does the Feast of Tabernacles provide context for Jesus' invitation in John 7? [08:09]
3. What does Jesus mean by "living water" in the context of John 7:37-39?
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the yoke mentioned in Matthew 11:28-30? [17:30]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean for Jesus' invitation to be universal, and how does this impact our understanding of discipleship? [15:13]
2. How does the story of J.K. Rowling's perseverance relate to recognizing and responding to Jesus' invitation? [04:29]
3. What are the implications of spiritual thirst as described in the sermon, and how can it manifest in our lives? [23:30]
4. How does the concept of the yoke of Christ being lighter than the burdens of sin and self-reliance challenge our daily decisions? [17:30]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually thirsty. How did you respond, and what steps can you take to seek Jesus as the source of living water? [21:44]
2. Jesus' invitation is open to everyone. How can you extend this invitation to someone in your life who might be spiritually thirsty? [15:13]
3. Consider the cost of following Jesus. What personal sacrifices might you need to make to embrace the transformation He offers? [29:48]
4. How can you identify and address areas in your life where you might be relying on worldly pursuits to fulfill spiritual thirst? [23:30]
5. In what ways can you make intentional daily decisions to align your life with Jesus' teachings and example? [02:16]
6. How can you ensure that your relationship with Jesus is genuine and not just a religious routine? [32:22]
7. Think about the yoke of Christ. What burdens are you currently carrying that you need to surrender to Him for a lighter load? [17:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Intentional Choices in Discipleship
Becoming a disciple of Jesus is not a passive process; it requires intentional and daily decisions to follow Him. Just as the decision to accept salvation is a conscious choice, so is the journey of discipleship. This journey involves aligning one's life with the teachings and example of Jesus, making choices that reflect His values and priorities. Each day presents opportunities to choose Jesus over worldly desires, to prioritize His will over personal ambitions. Discipleship is a commitment to a lifestyle that mirrors the life of Christ, requiring active participation and dedication. [02:16]
"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." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific decision you can make today to align your actions more closely with the teachings of Jesus?
Day 2: The Universal Call to Living Water
Jesus extends an invitation to all who recognize their spiritual thirst to come and drink of the living water He offers. This invitation is not limited by background, status, or past mistakes; it is a universal call to everyone who seeks true fulfillment. In John 7, Jesus promises that those who come to Him will experience rivers of living water flowing from their hearts, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's presence and work in their lives. Recognizing one's spiritual thirst is the first step in responding to this invitation, acknowledging the need for something greater than what the world can offer. [15:13]
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel a spiritual thirst, and how can you respond to Jesus' invitation to quench it today?
Day 3: True Fulfillment in Christ
Spiritual thirst often manifests as anxiety, lack of fulfillment, and the pursuit of worldly pleasures that ultimately leave us empty. True satisfaction and fulfillment come only from Jesus, the source of living water. As believers, it is essential to seek Him earnestly, recognizing that worldly pursuits cannot quench our spiritual thirst. This involves prioritizing a relationship with Jesus above all else, trusting in His provision and guidance to meet our deepest needs. By turning to Christ, we find peace and contentment that the world cannot offer. [23:30]
"For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:13, ESV)
Reflection: What worldly pursuit are you currently engaged in that leaves you feeling empty, and how can you turn to Jesus for true fulfillment?
Day 4: The Cost and Reward of Following Jesus
Accepting Jesus' invitation to follow Him involves surrendering personal ways and embracing the transformation He brings. While there is a cost to discipleship, such as giving up self-reliance and sinful habits, the yoke of Christ is lighter than the burdens of sin. Embracing this transformation leads to a life of purpose and peace, as Jesus guides and sustains His followers. The decision to follow Jesus is a daily commitment, requiring trust in His plan and willingness to let go of personal control. [17:30]
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus, and what would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 5: Relationship Over Religion
Merely engaging in religious activities without truly drinking from Jesus can lead to spiritual pride and emptiness. True discipleship involves a personal relationship with Jesus, drawing from His teachings, power, and Spirit. It is not about following rituals or traditions for their own sake but about cultivating a deep, transformative connection with Christ. This relationship is marked by love, obedience, and a desire to grow closer to Him, allowing His presence to fill and guide every aspect of life. [32:22]
"For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6b, ESV)
Reflection: How can you deepen your personal relationship with Jesus today, moving beyond mere religious practices to a genuine connection with Him?
Quotes
"And the reason why this began to captivate my heart is because disciples are not automatic. You do not automatically become a disciple just by getting saved. Jesus, he is the one who saves people, right? It's the Holy Spirit who does the miracle of a new birth. We cry out to God. We ask him for forgiveness. And he graciously responds with a miracle. He gives us a miracle of salvation." [00:01:58] (32 seconds)
"On the last day of the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scriptures has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this he spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." [00:06:39] (32 seconds)
"And Jesus, he is making a statement in our scripture to be the living water. Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. He's specifically speaking about the Holy Spirit. But Jesus, his invitation is this. Come to me and drink. And if you do this, out of you, not that you'll be thirsty, but out of you will flow rivers of living water." [00:08:46] (30 seconds)
"Jesus is now speaking to a Jewish audience, and he says, remember how God provided for his people in the wilderness by giving them water. And now he is connecting that idea. He's saying, if you come to me, I will be your living water. And so what this is this morning is an invitation. An invitation to all. So who is invited to drink of the living water?" [00:14:28] (35 seconds)
"But the invitation to salvation is a universal invitation. And that is miraculous. This invitation is not for the high and mighty. It's not for the super powerful. It's not for. It's not. Let me let me specify. It's not only for the super powerful. It's not only for those in high places. It's not only for those of prominence. And it's not only for those at the height of heights or the depth of the of the earth. the bottom of society. It is for everybody and all who are in between." [00:15:53] (36 seconds)
"Jesus is not saying that, you know, serving God is a breeze, but compared to the yoke of sin, compared to the burden of our bitterness, compared to the punishment for our evil deeds, the yoke of Christ is far better and far easier than the yoke of sin. That's what Jesus is saying. But again, the invitation is to who? Everyone." [00:18:25] (27 seconds)
"There are people who live life and discover that there are no answers in this world to fulfill and satisfy your soul. How many, that's when you got saved, when you were labored and heavy laden. You didn't get saved when you were riding high on the horse. You didn't get saved when you had thousands of dollars in the bank just waiting for you. You didn't get saved, right? We, oftentimes, people, we come to Jesus, we answer his invitation when we are feeling the labor, the heaviness, and the burden of our sin." [00:18:57] (32 seconds)
"Anxiety is a plague in our generation. People are fearful. All of these things. And I think that people don't even recognize what that truly is. People feel the feelings of anxiety. People feel that fear. They feel unstable. But they don't connect. Many people do not connect that this is spiritual thirst. And this is why so many people are trying to fulfill that thirst with things that don't fit. Drugs and alcohol. With popularity. With entertainment." [00:22:49] (36 seconds)
"so the psalm of david he said my soul thirsts for you can i ask you this morning does that reflect your heart does your soul thirst for god enough that early i will seek you does your flesh long for god in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water that's that should reflect your heart as a believer like before we talk about all the blessings all the fruits of the spirit all of the the good things that god has for us this is where we begin notice jesus didn't say those who thirst after church services or those who thirst after a good sermon or those who thirst after the best youtube preacher or those who thirst after the best youtube preacher or those who thirst after spiritual activities no it's jesus is the object of our thirst and when we come to him that's when the rivers of living water can begin to flow" [00:27:32] (62 seconds)
"There's a price to pay. And we're going to do a deep dive in these Sunday school about what decisions Jesus is asking us to make. So we're going to go really deep into those things. But yes, there are expectations. We can't just come to Jesus and our lives not change. We are going to be born again. Old things will pass away. Everything will become new. And some people are afraid of that. Some people are afraid that Jesus is going to be born again. They're going to change their life in a way that they don't like." [00:29:44] (32 seconds)
"Yeah, that's why religion can actually be dangerous. Right? Paul says that the letter kills, but the spirit brings life. And the reason that's important here is because some people think that just getting religious is the same as drinking of the living water, but it's not. Right? Right? If we just try to get religious, it'll actually get worse, not better." [00:32:58] (25 seconds)
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