Discipleship: Transforming Lives Through Relationship and Service

 

Summary

In today's gathering, I emphasized the importance of discipleship and the role each of us plays in this divine mission. We are not merely inviting people to church; we are inviting them into a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. This process begins with us building genuine relationships that lead to discipleship, which in turn leads to more people knowing the Lord and creating more groups and churches. It's a significant cycle that starts with our individual commitment.

I urged us to pray together, to surrender our distractions and to seek a clear vision of God's majesty. Recognizing God as the creator and sustainer of all things should compel us to share the good news with those who are separated from Him. I prayed for us to receive a burden for our neighbors, co-workers, and families who do not know the Lord, and for the boldness to view them not as projects but as people in need of God's love.

We discussed the importance of Easter and Good Friday as opportunities to reach out to the community. We are planning an Easter egg hunt, not as a mere event, but as a means to serve and bless those who are often overlooked, such as refugees, the unhoused, and foster families. This act of service is a reflection of Jesus' ultimate service and sacrifice on the cross.

I reminded us that our labor is in vain without the Lord's blessing. While we work hard in preparation for Easter, it is ultimately God who changes hearts. We can provide opportunities, but we must submit all our efforts to God and trust in His work.

I encouraged everyone to take action by distributing door hangers and invitation cards, ensuring that no one feels excluded from our Easter celebrations. We are called to work, but we must remember that it is God who builds the house.

Finally, I prayed for softened hearts in our city and for us to be alert to the opportunities God places before us. We must not become so entrenched in our routines that we miss these divine appointments.

Key Takeaways:

- Discipleship is a relational journey that begins with a personal commitment to share the love of Christ with others. It's not about filling seats in a church but about filling hearts with the gospel. This requires us to be intentional in our relationships and to see every interaction as a potential discipleship opportunity. [37:23]

- Prayer is the foundation of our ministry efforts. As we prepare for significant events like Easter, we must devote ourselves to prayer, seeking God's guidance and submitting our plans to His will. It is through prayer that we align our hearts with God's purposes and receive the boldness to act upon the opportunities He provides. [31:59]

- Service is a powerful expression of the gospel. By serving others, especially those who are marginalized, we demonstrate the sacrificial love of Christ. Our service should be a tangible representation of the grace that is freely given to us but cost Jesus everything. [33:47]

- Our labor for the Lord must be coupled with a reliance on His power. While we are called to work diligently, we must recognize that any success comes from God. Our efforts are meaningful only when they are blessed and used by Him to change lives. [35:23]

- Evangelism is not a one-time event but a lifestyle. We should be prepared to invite people into a relationship with Jesus at any time, not just during special occasions. By living out our faith authentically and being ready to share it, we can impact lives every day. [38:55]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 127:1 - "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain."
2. Acts 4:29-31 - "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 127:1 say about the importance of God's role in our efforts? How does this relate to our preparations for Easter? [31:33]
2. According to Acts 4:29-31, what did the early church pray for, and what was the result of their prayer? [36:07]
3. In the sermon, what groups of people are we specifically encouraged to reach out to during the Easter egg hunt? [33:05]
4. What are some of the practical steps mentioned in the sermon for inviting people to Easter celebrations? [35:01]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does recognizing God as the creator and sustainer of all things (Psalm 127:1) influence our approach to ministry and evangelism? [31:33]
2. What does the boldness prayed for in Acts 4:29-31 look like in our context today? How can we apply this to our efforts in inviting people to Easter? [36:07]
3. Why is it important to view people as individuals in need of God's love rather than as projects? How does this perspective change our approach to discipleship? [38:19]
4. How can serving marginalized groups during events like the Easter egg hunt reflect the sacrificial love of Christ? [33:35]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationships. How can you be more intentional in building genuine connections that lead to discipleship? [37:05]
2. What distractions in your life might be hindering you from fully committing to God's mission? How can you surrender these distractions in prayer? [37:21]
3. Think of a neighbor, co-worker, or family member who does not know the Lord. What specific steps can you take this week to share God's love with them? [38:05]
4. How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to seek God's guidance and boldness for evangelism? [36:01]
5. What are some practical ways you can serve marginalized groups in your community, reflecting the love and sacrifice of Jesus? [33:35]
6. How can you ensure that your efforts in ministry are coupled with a reliance on God's power rather than your own strength? [31:33]
7. Identify one person you can invite to the Easter celebrations. What specific actions will you take to extend this invitation and make them feel included? [35:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Relational Discipleship
Discipleship is not a passive experience but an active journey of building relationships that reflect the love of Christ. It begins with a personal commitment to engage with others, not as a means to an end, but as an end in itself. This journey requires intentionality in every interaction, seeing each person as a potential disciple who can experience the transformative power of the gospel. It's about creating a community where individuals are not just attending a service but are becoming part of a family, growing together in faith and understanding. The goal is to fill hearts with the gospel, which then naturally leads to a desire to share that same love with others, perpetuating a cycle of discipleship that can transform communities and the world. [37:23]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: Who in your life could you intentionally invest more time in to foster a deeper spiritual relationship, and what first step can you take this week to initiate that process?

Day 2: Prayer as Our Ministry's Cornerstone
The foundation of any ministry must be prayer. As believers prepare for significant events and outreach opportunities, it is crucial to devote time to seeking God's guidance and submitting plans to His will. Through prayer, hearts and minds are aligned with God's purposes, and believers receive the boldness to act upon the opportunities He provides. It is in these moments of communion with God that the vision for ministry becomes clear, and the strength to carry out His work is renewed. Prayer is not just preparation for the work; it is the work itself, as it positions believers to be effective instruments in God's hands. [31:59]

Colossians 4:2-3 (ESV)
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison."

Reflection: What distractions do you need to surrender in order to deepen your prayer life, and how can you incorporate a dedicated time of prayer for your community's needs into your daily routine?

Day 3: Service Reflecting Christ's Sacrifice
Service is a tangible expression of the gospel, demonstrating the sacrificial love of Christ to others, especially those who are marginalized. By serving, believers embody the grace and mercy that were freely given to them, reflecting Jesus' ultimate sacrifice on the cross. This act of service is not just about meeting physical needs but also about conveying a message of hope and love to those who feel forgotten. It is a powerful tool in the hands of believers, used to show the world the depth of God's love and the transformative power of the gospel in action. [33:47]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: How can you serve someone in your community this week in a way that goes beyond your comfort zone and requires a sacrifice of your time or resources?

Day 4: Reliance on God's Power in Our Labor
While believers are called to work diligently for the Lord, they must recognize that any success in ministry comes from God. It is essential to couple hard work with a deep reliance on His power and blessing. Efforts are meaningful only when they are in line with God's will and used by Him to change lives. This understanding fosters humility and trust in God's sovereignty, ensuring that the glory for any fruit produced through ministry is rightly attributed to Him. Believers must submit their endeavors to God, trusting that He will accomplish His purposes through their labor. [35:23]

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)
"Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself daily that the success of your endeavors is not by your strength but by the Spirit of the Lord?

Day 5: Evangelism as a Lifestyle
Evangelism is not confined to special events or church services; it is a lifestyle of being prepared to invite people into a relationship with Jesus at any time. Living out faith authentically and being ready to share it allows believers to impact lives every day. This approach to evangelism encourages a readiness to speak about one's faith and to extend an invitation to others to experience the love of Christ. It is about being alert to the divine appointments that God places in everyday life and seizing those opportunities to share the hope found in Jesus. [38:55]

1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)
"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."

Reflection: What is one step you can take today to be more alert to the opportunities God places before you to share your faith with others?

Quotes

"We are not inviting people to the church. Because Jesus tells us to go and make disciples. And one way, one way, out of millions of ways we can do that. Is by just inviting people to the church. So we want to invite people. Because we want to build relationships that lead to ongoing discipleship. That leads to them coming to know the Lord. Which leads to them taking more disciples. Which leads to more groups with more churches. You see, it's a really big deal. And it starts with you." [37:23]( | | )

"Because Father, when we catch a glimpse of you like that. How could we not tell? How could we not tell? How could we not tell? As people who are dying separated from you. That there is a way. That there is a way to return to the garden. There is a way to return to where we can have a perfect union with you. Where we can have relationship with you. And the only way to do that is through Jesus." [37:55]( | | )

"So what we're asking you to do is grab some of these today. They're on the back table by the door. Just ask them around at your office. Just put door hangers on everybody's office door. If they have door hangers, I don't know what your office looks like. Or take some of these cards, pass them out to your neighbors, friends, and family. Because we want people to know that we are having Easter impact. Or with impact. We want them to know that they are invited." [35:23]( | | )

"We are intentionally reaching out to refugees. We're intentionally reaching out to our unhoused friends and populations. We're intentionally reaching out to foster families. We're intentionally reaching out to people who are underserved. And because we want to do that, this is a way for us to bless and to serve. Not that you would dispel us with boldness. But Father, I don't want to take for granted that everybody here knows you." [33:47]( | | )

"To invite them to know you. Father, give us boldness today. Lord, Acts tells us that the church gathered. And they prayed for boldness in their prayer. And the whole room was shaken. So Father, may we be shaken, Lord. May we be shaken up. Out of our complacency. Out of comfortability. And out of lukewarmness. But instead, Father, may we be shaken up to do what you called us to do. Which is to go and make disciples." [38:55]( | | )

"We don't take anything for granted. Thinking that any other person knows you. We don't want to take that for granted. Because we know that we are surrounded by 8 million people. And I can guarantee that they are not all in the church this morning. Nor are they in relationship with you. So Father, we pray for them. God, give them softened hearts. Or that they would hear you. Or that is a work of your spirit." [39:27]( | | )

"Because by being served, we give people, especially in this culture, an opportunity to recognize that grace is free to you. But it costs someone very much. It costs Jesus a lot. The next thing is we want to invite people to Easter. And so we have a couple of things in the back for us today. We're going to ask everybody to take them. Or a few of them. But we have some door hangers, which are super cool." [33:47]( | | )

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Transcript
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