Embracing the Call: Discipleship for Everyone

Devotional

Day 1: The Inclusive Call of Jesus

Jesus' invitation to follow Him is extended to everyone, regardless of their past or present circumstances. This inclusivity reflects the boundless grace and mercy of God, who desires a relationship with every individual. As disciples, we are called to be hospitable and approachable, sharing the gospel with everyone we encounter. This means breaking down barriers and prejudices that may exist in our hearts and communities, and actively seeking to include those who may feel marginalized or unworthy. Jesus' call is a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's love and that we are all invited to partake in His Kingdom.

In our daily lives, this inclusive call challenges us to look beyond our comfort zones and engage with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. It encourages us to be intentional in our relationships, showing kindness and compassion to all. By doing so, we reflect the heart of Jesus and create opportunities for others to experience His transformative love. [50:28]

Matthew 9:10-13 (ESV): "And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' But when he heard it, he said, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'"

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may feel excluded or marginalized. How can you extend Jesus' inclusive love to them today?

Day 2: Relational Nature of Following Jesus

Following Jesus is not about adhering to a set of religious rules but about entering into a personal, relational journey with Him. Jesus calls us to come after Him, emphasizing a close, intimate walk where He knows us fully and loves us deeply. This relational aspect is crucial for authentic discipleship. It means spending time with Jesus in prayer, reading His Word, and allowing His presence to shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.

In a world that often values performance and outward appearances, Jesus invites us into a relationship where we are known and loved for who we are. This relationship transforms us from the inside out, enabling us to live out our faith authentically. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we become more attuned to His voice and more willing to follow His leading in every aspect of our lives. [54:29]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: How can you deepen your personal relationship with Jesus today? What specific steps can you take to spend more time with Him?

Day 3: Denying Ourselves and Taking Up Our Cross

True discipleship involves denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. This means prioritizing God's will over our own desires and living a life of sacrificial love. Jesus set the ultimate example by denying Himself and going to the cross, and we are called to follow in His footsteps. This call to self-denial is not about self-punishment but about aligning our lives with God's purposes and finding true fulfillment in serving Him and others.

In practical terms, self-denial may involve giving up certain comforts, ambitions, or habits that hinder our walk with Jesus. It requires a willingness to embrace challenges and hardships for the sake of the gospel. By taking up our cross, we participate in the redemptive work of Christ, bringing hope and healing to a broken world. [56:59]

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV): "And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to practice self-denial? How can you take up your cross and follow Jesus more closely today?

Day 4: Practical Aspects of Discipleship

Discipleship is lived out in our everyday lives through our time, talents, and treasures. We are called to invest our time in building relationships, using our talents to serve others, and sharing our resources generously. This practical outworking of faith demonstrates the transformative power of the gospel. It shows that following Jesus is not just a spiritual exercise but a way of life that impacts every area of our existence.

By prioritizing God's Kingdom in our daily activities, we become conduits of His love and grace. Whether it's through acts of kindness, volunteering, or financial giving, our practical expressions of faith make a tangible difference in the lives of others. As we steward our time, talents, and treasures for God's glory, we experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from living a purpose-driven life. [59:34]

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 use your time, talents, and treasures to serve others and advance God's Kingdom today? What specific actions can you take?

Day 5: Engaging the World with the Gospel

The church is not a retreat from the world but a mission base to engage the world with the gospel. We are called to be light in the darkness, bringing hope and transformation to our communities. By living out our faith authentically and relationally, we can make a significant impact for the Kingdom of God. This means being intentional about sharing the good news of Jesus through our words and actions, and being a source of encouragement and support to those around us.

Engaging the world with the gospel requires us to be bold and courageous, stepping out of our comfort zones to reach those who are lost and hurting. It involves building genuine relationships, listening to people's stories, and offering the hope that only Jesus can provide. As we engage the world with the gospel, we become agents of change, bringing God's love and truth to a world in desperate need. [01:04:07]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Who in your community needs to hear the gospel? How can you be a light in their life today, sharing the hope and love of Jesus with them?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound call to discipleship as outlined in Matthew 16:24. Jesus invites us to follow Him by denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and walking in His ways. This call is not just for the religious elite but extends to everyone, regardless of their background or past. Jesus' invitation is deeply relational, emphasizing a personal relationship with Him rather than mere adherence to religious rituals.

We reflected on the importance of understanding what it means to follow Jesus in our daily lives. Discipleship involves a conscious decision to prioritize our time, talents, and treasures for the Kingdom of God. It requires us to live out our faith in practical ways, whether in our neighborhoods, workplaces, or schools. The path of discipleship is not always easy, but it is a journey that Jesus Himself has walked before us, demonstrating the ultimate act of self-denial and sacrifice.

We also discussed the significance of community and the role of the church in supporting one another on this journey. The church is not just a refuge from the world but a launching pad to engage the world with the gospel. By living out our faith authentically and relationally, we can be a light in the darkness, bringing hope and transformation to those around us.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Denial and Sacrifice**: True discipleship involves denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily. This means prioritizing God's will over our own desires and living a life of sacrificial love. Jesus set the ultimate example by denying Himself and going to the cross, and we are called to follow in His footsteps. [56:59]
4. Practical Outworking of Faith: Discipleship is lived out in our everyday lives through our time, talents, and treasures. We are called to invest our time in building relationships, using our talents to serve others, and sharing our resources generously. This practical outworking of faith demonstrates the transformative power of the gospel.

5. Engaging the World with the Gospel: The church is not a retreat from the world but a mission base to engage the world with the gospel. We are called to be light in the darkness, bringing hope and transformation to our communities. By living out our faith authentically and relationally, we can make a significant impact for the Kingdom of God.

### [56:59]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:03] - Introduction and Scripture Reading
[35:02] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
[36:25] - Personal Story: Fitness Journey
[37:56] - The Spartan Race Experience
[39:26] - The Path of Discipleship
[40:27] - The Importance of Discipleship
[41:28] - Questions About Following Jesus
[42:28] - The Challenge of Living Out Faith
[43:58] - Jesus' Call to Discipleship
[45:26] - Context of Matthew 16:24
[47:26] - Peter's Confession and Jesus' Response
[49:27] - Baptism and Public Confession of Faith
[50:28] - The Inclusive Call of Jesus
[54:29] - Relational Nature of Following Jesus
[56:59] - Denying Ourselves and Taking Up Our Cross
[59:34] - Practical Aspects of Discipleship
[64:07] - Engaging the World with the Gospel
[68:12] - Closing and Community Opportunities

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus mean when He says, "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me"? (Matthew 16:24)
How does Galatians 2:20 describe the life of a believer in relation to Christ?
According to John 6:44, who enables a person to come to Jesus?

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to deny oneself in the context of following Jesus? How does this concept challenge our modern lifestyle? [56:59]
How does the relational nature of discipleship, as described in the sermon, differ from merely following religious rules? [54:29]
In what ways does the church act as a "launching pad" to engage the world with the gospel, according to the sermon? [01:04:07]

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily life. What are some specific ways you can deny yourself and take up your cross to follow Jesus more closely? [56:59]
How can you cultivate a more relational and intimate walk with Jesus, rather than just adhering to religious rituals? [54:29]
Think about your time, talents, and treasures. How can you prioritize these for the Kingdom of God in practical ways this week? [59:34]
Identify one person in your community who might feel excluded or overlooked. How can you extend Jesus' inclusive call to them? [50:28]
What steps can you take to be more hospitable and approachable, sharing the gospel with those you encounter in your daily life? [52:29]
How can you engage your neighborhood or workplace with the gospel in a way that brings hope and transformation? [01:04:07]
Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled to live out your faith authentically. What can you learn from that experience, and how can you improve? [42:28]

Sermon Clips

1. "I will tell you west over there are all kinds of things that we may disagree on in all kinds of manners, different political persuasions, different ways of looking at the world different ways of how we interact with one another but I will tell you west over there is one thing that we have to get and we have to nail and stick in its discipleship how we follow after Jesus." [40:27] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus invites us into a relationship with him and I can say that maybe you think well that's a little salty on his behalf, to compare us to Jesus even though we are little Christ and walking with him but I can tell you that often the world will know us by our love for one another and the way that we walk out our life in real time." [42:58] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Our Lord is so good he is so faithful that he has given us and revealed the Father to us like it says in John 1 8 and here in his passage I believe that he pinpoints what it means to follow after Jesus so what does it mean for Westover to follow after Jesus as we think about what a pathway looks to follow after Jesus well here's the first thing I want you to know from this passage is this is that disciples, those who follow after Jesus Westover we gotta stick this we gotta know what we're doing in people's lives disciples who follow after Jesus disciples answer the call of Christ." [43:58] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus said to his disciples if anyone wants to come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me okay so Matthew 16 24 that's this picture so what does that mean these words put together what does it mean not just see this and we be called isa Jesus putting this verse all by itself there is some context to this so what's the context." [44:58] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "When disciples answer this call just like you saw a picture of someone answering the call of Christ this call is extended to all that's amazing it's absolutely amazing to think about that because in one way or another maybe it slipped from your knowledge base today it slips from mine is that Jesus Christ calls normal broken sinful irritable people to himself isn't that amazing that he puts up with me and you in all of our ways." [49:59] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Jesus says to anyone who would come may he come now theologians have disagreed upon this for centuries and actually in the scriptures it says in John 6 44 unless the spirit or unless the father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day and I love what C.H. Spurgeon says C.H. Spurgeon says if I knew the elect by a stripe running down their back I would spend my whole entire life pulling up short shirt tails but since they don't I preach the gospel." [51:29] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We must be the most hospitable people in the world we must be the most approachable people in the world and we should have the gospel on our lips forming relationships and friendships that are gospel saturated and we should speak a language that is gospel fluent to where we can take this word and break it down to the next generation and to our neighbors so they can understand the beauty that we possess which is a disciples walk Jesus says anyone can come come this way." [52:29] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "When the devil brings up something about your past maybe even the hidden past maybe something on your internet browser today and you are a saint of God you repent of those things but Jesus' blood covers those things even if some of you have been a little bit irritable with your dear family today confess those things repent of them fall on the mercy of Jesus he's relational he loves you see we get to know him his teachings his way of life his rhythms he was relational he had a way of looking at the world he sacrificed he met needs he was compassionate he was humble in nature." [55:29] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "We can't rule our lives and he rule our life at the same time now that's hard and that's what it means to deny ourselves so you're going to see this call and he's going to say if anyone wants to come after me I'm a gentle shepherd I'm a gentle savior but what is that pathway you walk through it means that you deny yourselves now listen this denial is not a form of asceticism meaning that we beat ourselves on the back and punish ourselves or we become desert monks and we run away from the world no that's not the denying that we're talking about what it means is that you live a new life you deny your old life so that you can live a brand new life." [56:59] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We do not run a church from a refuge from the world we are the church that runs to the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope of all mankind we watch to see where God is working and we join him in the work we follow him to our neighborhoods we open up our garage doors we have people over for coffee or a dinner or a block party with a purpose we start with doing that listen God has given us an amazing facility right I will tell you we don't have a room we don't have a need for space right we've got it and as the gospel goes out to the neighborhoods we have such an opportunity to bring people with the gospel of Jesus Christ on our lips in our neighborhood." [01:04:07] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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