Embracing Christ's Lordship: The Journey of Discipleship
Summary
In reflecting on the journey of discipleship, the essence of our walk with Christ is not just about acknowledging Him as Savior but embracing Him as Lord. This distinction is crucial because while we may find comfort in the salvation He offers, the true transformation comes when we surrender to His lordship. This surrender is not passive but an active choice to cease resisting His work in our lives. It requires us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him wholeheartedly.
The journey of discipleship is about deepening our relationship with Christ, which involves a willingness to let go of our own desires and align our lives with His will. This means allowing Him to be the authority in our lives, not out of obligation, but out of love. To know Christ is to love Him, and as we grow in our knowledge of Him, our love deepens, compelling us to surrender more of ourselves to Him.
The challenge lies in moving beyond a superficial relationship with Christ, where we honor Him with our lips but keep our hearts distant. True discipleship calls us to crown Him as Lord, which transforms our attitudes, actions, and priorities. It is a process of continual surrender, where we choose to love Jesus more than the sins and distractions that vie for our attention.
In this journey, we are reminded that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. We have the choice to do so willingly in this life, experiencing His grace and mercy, or face judgment in the next. The call is to make Him Lord now, allowing His peace, hope, and power to permeate our lives. This requires intentional time with Him, pushing aside excuses and distractions, and passionately seeking His heart.
Ultimately, the journey of discipleship is about laying down our traditions and self-reliance, surrendering all to Him because He is worthy. It is about choosing to love Jesus more than anything else, allowing His lordship to shape every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing Jesus as Lord requires active surrender, where we cease resisting His work in our lives and align our desires with His will. This surrender is a daily choice to deny ourselves and follow Him wholeheartedly. [13:11]
- To know Christ is to love Him, and as we deepen our relationship with Him, our love compels us to surrender more of ourselves. This love transforms our attitudes, actions, and priorities, aligning them with His heart. [22:08]
- True discipleship moves beyond superficial acknowledgment of Christ, calling us to crown Him as Lord. This involves a transformation that changes our DNA, shaping us into His image and impacting every area of our lives. [15:36]
- We have the choice to bow to Jesus as Lord willingly in this life, experiencing His grace and mercy, or face judgment in the next. Making Him Lord now allows His peace, hope, and power to permeate our lives. [35:45]
- Intentional time with Jesus is crucial for deepening our relationship with Him. By pushing aside excuses and distractions, we can passionately seek His heart, allowing His lordship to shape every aspect of our lives. [24:52]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:30] - Reflections from Colorado
[04:00] - The Journey of Discipleship
[06:30] - Paul's Example of Faithfulness
[08:45] - Is Jesus Lord of Your Life?
[11:00] - The Call to Surrender
[13:11] - Understanding True Lordship
[15:36] - Transformation Through Surrender
[17:30] - The Consequences of Not Surrendering
[19:04] - The Surface Relationship Trap
[20:17] - Avoiding Distraction and Frustration
[22:08] - Knowing and Loving Christ
[24:52] - The Importance of Intentional Time
[26:17] - Passionately Seeking Jesus
[28:17] - Personal Story of Love and Pursuit
[31:06] - Choosing to Love Jesus More
[32:54] - Submitting to His Authority
[34:52] - Experiencing His Power and Peace
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Timothy 4:6-7
2. Luke 9:18-25
3. Philippians 2:9-11
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Observation Questions:
1. In 2 Timothy 4:6-7, what does Paul mean when he says his life has been "poured out as an offering to God"? How does this relate to the concept of faithfulness? [02:30]
2. According to Luke 9:23, what are the three actions Jesus says are necessary for someone to be His disciple? How do these actions reflect the idea of surrender? [13:11]
3. In Philippians 2:9-11, what is the significance of every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that Jesus is Lord? How does this passage emphasize the lordship of Christ? [15:36]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between acknowledging Jesus as Savior and embracing Him as Lord? [08:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "deny oneself" and "take up one's cross daily" as described in Luke 9:23? How might this look in a believer's daily life? [13:11]
2. How does the sermon explain the transformation that occurs when we crown Jesus as Lord of our lives? What changes might one expect in their attitudes and actions? [15:36]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that a superficial relationship with Christ can be identified? How does this relate to the warning in Matthew 15:8 about honoring God with lips but not with the heart? [13:11]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of intentional time with Jesus for deepening our relationship with Him? What are some practical ways to prioritize this time? [24:52]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. Are there areas where you find yourself resisting His lordship? What steps can you take to surrender these areas to Him? [08:45]
2. Consider the distractions in your life that may be hindering your relationship with Christ. What specific changes can you make this week to minimize these distractions and focus more on Jesus? [20:17]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of loving Jesus more than the sins and distractions in our lives. Identify one sin or distraction that you struggle with. How can you actively choose to love Jesus more in this area? [31:06]
4. How can you intentionally create time in your schedule to spend with Jesus this week? What specific activities or commitments might you need to adjust to prioritize this time? [24:52]
5. Think about a person in your life who exemplifies a deep relationship with Christ. What qualities or habits do they have that you admire? How can you incorporate similar practices into your own life? [17:30]
6. The sermon mentions the transformation that occurs when we make Jesus Lord of our lives. What is one specific area in your life where you desire transformation? How can you invite Jesus into this process? [15:36]
7. Reflect on the idea of surrendering traditions and self-reliance to embrace Jesus' lordship. What traditions or self-reliant behaviors might you need to let go of to fully follow Christ? [35:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Active Surrender to Christ's Lordship
Embracing Jesus as Lord requires an active surrender, where individuals cease resisting His transformative work in their lives and align their desires with His will. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily choice to deny oneself and follow Him wholeheartedly. It involves a conscious decision to let go of personal ambitions and allow Christ to lead, trusting that His plans are greater than our own. This process of surrender is a journey of faith, where believers learn to rely on His strength and wisdom rather than their own understanding. [13:11]
"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Love Compels Deeper Surrender
To know Christ is to love Him, and as believers deepen their relationship with Him, their love compels them to surrender more of themselves. This love is transformative, reshaping attitudes, actions, and priorities to align with His heart. As individuals grow in their knowledge of Christ, they are drawn to a deeper commitment, where love becomes the driving force behind their surrender. This transformation is not out of obligation but a natural response to the love they have experienced in Christ. [22:08]
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ." (Philippians 1:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How has your understanding of Christ's love influenced your willingness to surrender different areas of your life to Him?
Day 3: Beyond Superficial Acknowledgment
True discipleship moves beyond a superficial acknowledgment of Christ, calling believers to crown Him as Lord. This involves a transformation that changes their very being, shaping them into His image and impacting every area of their lives. It is a call to authenticity, where faith is not just professed with words but demonstrated through actions and choices. This transformation is a continual process, where believers are molded and refined to reflect Christ more fully. [15:36]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you move beyond a superficial relationship with Christ and allow His lordship to transform your daily life?
Day 4: Choosing to Bow Willingly
Believers have the choice to bow to Jesus as Lord willingly in this life, experiencing His grace and mercy, or face judgment in the next. Making Him Lord now allows His peace, hope, and power to permeate their lives. This choice is an invitation to experience the fullness of life that Christ offers, where His presence brings comfort and strength in every circumstance. It is a call to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing what truly matters in light of eternity. [35:45]
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth." (Philippians 2:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally choose to acknowledge Jesus as Lord in your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Day 5: Intentional Time with Jesus
Intentional time with Jesus is crucial for deepening one's relationship with Him. By pushing aside excuses and distractions, believers can passionately seek His heart, allowing His lordship to shape every aspect of their lives. This intentionality requires setting aside dedicated time for prayer, reflection, and studying His Word, creating space for His voice to be heard. It is in these moments of intimacy that believers are renewed and strengthened, equipped to live out their faith with purpose and conviction. [24:52]
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to prioritize intentional time with Jesus, and how might this impact your relationship with Him?
Quotes
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have remained faithful. Church, I don't know about you, but that's my heart's cry right there. I want to fight that good fight. [00:04:35]
The question that we have to ask ourselves is, is Jesus actually Lord of our lives? We're okay with Jesus as our Savior, right? He saves us, forgives us. But are we okay with Jesus as the Lord of our life? Because that changes the relationship a little bit, right? [00:12:19]
Whoever wants to be my disciples must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world and yet lose their very self? [00:15:36]
Why do you keep calling me Lord, Lord, when you don't do what I say? Think about that. Why do you call me Lord, Lord, when you don't do what I say? So if you show, I will show you what it's like with someone coming to you and you're not doing what I say. [00:13:11]
Therefore God elevated him, talking about Jesus, to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth. Every tongue will declare that Jesus Christ is Lord. [00:14:35]
When we do choose to follow him and we choose to surrender, it's going to change who we are. It's going to change our DNA. It's going to change us from the inside out. It's going to change who we are. It's going to change what we do. It's going to change how we act. [00:15:36]
We have a choice whether you can make Jesus your Lord or you make yourself Lord. When you make it yourself, you decide. But when he's Lord, man, we're going to go by what he says. We're going to listen to him. He has to be the authority in our lives. [00:31:06]
To know Christ is to love Christ. Because once you get to know Jesus, once you get to know him on a personal level, that intimate side, we get to draw in close to him. And yeah, I want you to know for me, he saved me. Amen, right? [00:22:08]
We need to make time for him. We need to push away the excuses. I'm so busy. No, you're busy for the things you're busy for. I don't know about you. Jesus deserves my time. Right? He deserves my time. And let me tell you, in him, we find everything we need. [00:31:06]
I want to lay all down all my traditions, everything that I've ever counted on. I want to lay those down. I want to lay those down. And God, I just want, I surrender all to you. I want to give you everything that I am because you are worthy of that. [00:35:45]
I want to know Christ and experience that mighty power. I don't know about you. I want that mighty power working in my life. Amen. You see, I want that peace which surpasses all understanding. Amen. Because I live in a world and I don't know about your world. [00:35:45]
I'm going to tell you right now, those moments that I need to experience hope in my life, things are going wrong. I'm going to tell you, I have hope because I know the one and his name is Jesus. Are you following me today? [00:35:45]
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