Embracing Love: The Heart of Discipleship
Summary
The sermon series "Disciple Shift" focuses on reorienting followers of Jesus to not only believe in Him but also to understand what it means to follow Him and become like Him in love and life. The pastor emphasizes the command given by Jesus in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The pastor clarifies that the command is not just to make believers or church members, but to make disciples of Jesus who are learners of His life and love. The most foundational part of being a disciple, according to the pastor, is the longing to be known and loved, which only Jesus can fulfill.
The pastor discusses the innate desire within every person to be known and loved, a desire that stems from the fact that we are created in the image of God. This longing for love is deeply relational and is meant to be fulfilled in a relationship with God. However, before encountering Jesus, this longing is often shaped and influenced by our early relationships, particularly with our caregivers and parents. If these relationships fail to meet our needs for love and security, our longing for love can become distorted and misdirected. The pastor highlights that many people end up seeking to fulfill this longing outside of themselves, in harmful relationships or addictive behaviors such as pornography, extramarital affairs, or substance abuse.
The pastor emphasizes the deep love of Christ and the importance of knowing and experiencing this love. The pastor highlights the significance of understanding the reason behind Paul's words in the passage. The reason is revealed in the previous verses, where Paul explains the mystery that through the gospel, the Gentiles are now included as heirs and members of the body of Christ alongside Israel. This was a secret that was hidden until Jesus Christ came. The pastor emphasizes that the gospel is radically inclusive, and God's intention is for all people to be invited and included in the Kingdom of God.
The pastor shares a personal anecdote about a child on their kid's sports team who consistently displayed disruptive behavior. Initially, the pastor's reaction was to judge and criticize the child, but later they learned that the child's home life was extremely difficult. This humbling experience serves as a reminder that we often don't know the stories and struggles that people carry, emphasizing the importance of not judging others. The pastor concludes by quoting Bob Goff, who suggests that fear of the unknown often prevents us from loving our neighbors, but the greater fear should be the consequences of not loving them.
The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the importance of loving one another as Jesus commanded, stating that love is how the world will know that we are disciples of Christ. The pastor acknowledges that love can feel messy and confusing, but encourages the congregation to seek the definition of love based on what they have learned in the sermon. The pastor also shares the testimony of a woman named Ann Lont, who lived a colorful and troubled life. Despite her resistance and fear of what others would think, Ann felt Jesus watching her with patience and love. In the days that followed, she felt his presence like a cat following her, but she tried to push it away.
Key Takeaways:
- The longing to be known and loved is a fundamental part of being a disciple of Jesus. This longing is deeply relational and is meant to be fulfilled in a relationship with God. However, if early relationships fail to meet our needs for love and security, this longing can become distorted and misdirected, leading to harmful relationships or addictive behaviors. ([12:45])
- The gospel is radically inclusive, and God's intention is for all people to be invited and included in the Kingdom of God. This was a secret that was hidden until Jesus Christ came, and it is through the church that the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the Heavenly Realms. ([24:30])
- It is important not to judge others as we often don't know the stories and struggles that people carry. The pastor shares a personal anecdote about a child on their kid's sports team who consistently displayed disruptive behavior. The pastor initially judged and criticized the child, but later learned that the child's home life was extremely difficult. ([36:15])
- Love is how the world will know that we are disciples of Christ. Love can feel messy and confusing, but the congregation is encouraged to seek the definition of love based on what they have learned in the sermon. ([48:20])
- The pastor shares the testimony of a woman named Ann Lont, who lived a colorful and troubled life. Despite her resistance and fear of what others would think, Ann felt Jesus watching her with patience and love. This story serves as a reminder that Jesus' love is patient and understanding, even in our darkest moments. ([59:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 28:18-20: "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
2. Ephesians 3:14-19: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
3. Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16: "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely... For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."
Observation Questions:
1. What command does Jesus give in Matthew 28:18-20 and what does it entail?
2. In Ephesians 3:14-19, what does Paul pray for and why?
3. What does Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16 reveal about God's knowledge and involvement in our lives?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the command given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 redefine the concept of discipleship?
2. How does Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-19 reflect the depth and breadth of Christ's love?
3. How does the knowledge and involvement of God in our lives, as described in Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16, relate to our longing to be known and loved?
Application Questions:
1. How can you actively participate in the command of Jesus to make disciples in your everyday life?
2. What is one way you can remind yourself of the depth and breadth of Christ's love when you feel unloved or unimportant?
3. Reflect on a time when you felt unknown or unloved. How does Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16 speak into that experience?
4. Can you think of someone in your life who might be struggling with feeling known and loved? How can you demonstrate Christ's love to them this week?
5. Reflect on a time when you judged someone without knowing their full story. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future?
Devotional
Day 1: The Longing for Love and Relationship
Every individual has a deep-seated desire to be known and loved, a desire that is meant to be fulfilled in a relationship with God. This longing is a fundamental part of being a disciple of Jesus. However, if early relationships fail to meet our needs for love and security, this longing can become distorted and misdirected, leading to harmful relationships or addictive behaviors. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEhKNyHjBq0&t=750s))
Psalm 139:1-3 - "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways."
Reflection: Reflect on your own longing to be known and loved. How has this longing been fulfilled or distorted in your life? What steps can you take today to seek fulfillment in a relationship with God?
Day 2: The Inclusive Gospel
The gospel is radically inclusive, and God's intention is for all people to be invited and included in the Kingdom of God. This was a secret that was hidden until Jesus Christ came, and it is through the church that the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the Heavenly Realms. ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEhKNyHjBq0&t=1455s))
Ephesians 3:6 - "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the inclusivity of the gospel in your daily life? Can you think of one specific action you can take today to invite someone into the Kingdom of God?
Day 3: The Importance of Not Judging Others
We often don't know the stories and struggles that people carry. It is important not to judge others, as illustrated by a personal anecdote about a child who consistently displayed disruptive behavior due to a difficult home life. ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEhKNyHjBq0&t=2160s))
James 4:12 - "There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you may have judged someone without knowing their full story. How can you approach similar situations with more understanding and less judgment in the future?
Day 4: Love as the Mark of Discipleship
Love is how the world will know that we are disciples of Christ. Love can feel messy and confusing, but we are encouraged to seek the definition of love based on what we have learned from Jesus. ([48:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEhKNyHjBq0&t=2885s))
John 13:35 - "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate love to those around you today in a way that reflects your discipleship to Christ? Can you think of a specific person or situation where you can show this love?
Day 5: The Patience and Understanding of Jesus' Love
Jesus' love is patient and understanding, even in our darkest moments. This is illustrated by the testimony of a woman named Ann Lont, who lived a colorful and troubled life. Despite her resistance and fear of what others would think, Ann felt Jesus watching her with patience and love. ([59:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEhKNyHjBq0&t=3555s))
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt the patience and understanding of Jesus' love. How can you extend this same patience and understanding to others in your life today?
Quotes
"The deepest longing of your soul, the deepest longing of my soul and every single human being is a longing is the deepest longing is not to be whole or even good but to be known and to be loved."
"Paul's prayer is still for you too, that you would grow in the knowledge of the love of Christ, a love that you can never fully know, and ultimately that propels us to love others well because that is what Jesus commanded."
"Every single man, woman, and child is born with this desire to be wholly known and wholly loved, not because we are worthy or not because we are good, but simply because we are."
"When we are not met in that, when we don't feel safe and secure, when we don't feel attuned to, when our needs are not met and our need to be loved, that longing is malformed, it is underdeveloped, it is misdirected, it's distorted."
"Every man or woman who turns to pornography, every man or woman who is having an extramarital affair, every man or woman who turns to alcohol to numb the pain, ultimately is longing for the God who knows and loves you regardless."
"What does it mean to follow him, to learn at his feet, to become like him in love and in his life, and ultimately how we draw others into following, how we go and make disciples?"
"The command in baptism isn't just to make Believers and it's certainly not just to make church members... the command is to go and make disciples of Jesus, and literally the disciple of Jesus is one who is a learner of his life and his love."
"There was a mystery that was kept hidden until Jesus Christ came, and the secret is that the gospel is radically inclusive."
"His intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the Heavenly Realms."
"The invitation was come and see...come and meet the one who knows everything you've ever done and loves you. So what does this mean for us? Maybe you're new to the whole following Jesus and you're just here checking it out...my prayer is that you would grow in the knowledge of the love of Christ that you can never fully comprehend."
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