Embracing the Call to Discipleship and Unity
Summary
In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound significance of the Lord's Supper, a practice established by Jesus over 2,000 years ago. This sacred tradition serves as a reminder of the immense sacrifice Christ made for our salvation, a gift we must never take for granted. As we partake in the bread and the cup, we are called to remember the price paid for our redemption and to reflect on our spiritual journey—where we've been, where we are, and where we are headed. This act of remembrance is not just a ritual but a call to live a life that honors the sacrifice of Christ by striving to grow in our faith and discipleship.
We also explored the concept of daily discipleship, emphasizing the importance of growing up in our salvation. This growth is a lifelong process, requiring us to continually seek to be more like Christ. We are reminded that our spiritual journey is not about reaching a state of perfection but about daily striving to reflect the image of God in our lives. This involves a commitment to studying God's word, allowing it to transform us, and living out its truths in our daily interactions.
Furthermore, we discussed the importance of unity within the body of Christ. Each of us has unique gifts, and together, we are called to build up the church and support one another in our spiritual growth. This unity is essential as we pass the torch to the next generation, ensuring they are equipped to carry on the mission of sharing the good news and transforming lives.
Finally, we were challenged to examine our standards of behavior and to live lives that are distinct from the world. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peculiar people, set apart by our commitment to living according to God's standards. This involves a daily commitment to discipleship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us into the likeness of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The Lord's Supper is a sacred tradition that calls us to remember Christ's sacrifice and reflect on our spiritual journey. It is a time to honor the price paid for our salvation and to commit to living a life that reflects the love and grace of Christ. [24:25]
- Daily discipleship is a lifelong process of growing in our salvation and striving to be more like Christ. It requires a commitment to studying God's word and allowing it to transform us, not just intellectually but in our daily actions and interactions. [52:21]
- Unity within the body of Christ is essential for spiritual growth and the continuation of our mission. Each of us has unique gifts, and together, we are called to build up the church and support one another in our spiritual journey. [52:51]
- As followers of Christ, we are called to live lives that are distinct from the world. This involves examining our standards of behavior and striving to live according to God's standards, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ. [54:18]
- The struggle with sin is evidence of the Holy Spirit working in us. As we fight against sin, we are reminded of the power of God's grace and the importance of daily discipleship in transforming us into the image of Christ. [07:44]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[21:05] - Calling on God
[21:36] - The Lord's Supper
[22:29] - Taking Things for Granted
[23:13] - Salvation as a Gate
[24:25] - Communion and Reflection
[25:12] - Remembering Christ's Sacrifice
[28:17] - The New Covenant
[33:20] - The Gift of Forgiveness
[34:05] - The Joy of Giving
[41:27] - Living Hope
[44:09] - The Enduring Word of God
[45:22] - Sharing the Good News
[47:28] - Passing the Torch
[48:12] - Daily Discipleship
[52:21] - Growing in Salvation
[54:18] - Speaking the Truth in Love
[56:45] - Transformation into Christ's Image
[59:14] - Living the Word
[01:07:44] - The Struggle with Sin
[01:12:23] - The Power of God's Love
[01:14:16] - A Call to Discipleship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Peter 1:22-2:3
2. Ephesians 4:12-15
3. Hebrews 9:22
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the three reasons mentioned in the sermon for participating in the Lord's Supper? [24:56]
2. According to 1 Peter 1:22-2:3, what are believers encouraged to crave, and why is this important for their spiritual growth?
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our struggle with sin? [01:07:44]
4. What does Ephesians 4:12-15 say about the purpose of spiritual gifts within the church?
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the Lord's Supper serve as a time of reflection on our spiritual journey, according to the sermon? [24:25]
2. How does the concept of "growing up in our salvation" challenge the idea of reaching spiritual perfection? [50:22]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of unity within the body of Christ, and how does this relate to the continuation of the church's mission? [47:28]
4. How does the sermon interpret the struggle with sin as evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in us? [01:07:44]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your participation in the Lord's Supper. How can you make this practice more meaningful in your spiritual journey? [24:25]
2. What specific steps can you take to grow in your salvation and become more like Christ in your daily life? Consider practical actions you can implement this week. [50:22]
3. How can you contribute to the unity of your church community? Identify one way you can use your unique gifts to support others in their spiritual growth. [47:28]
4. Examine your standards of behavior. Are there areas in your life where you need to align more closely with God's standards? What changes can you make this week to live a life set apart? [54:18]
5. Think about a recent struggle with sin. How can you view this struggle as an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in you? What steps can you take to resist temptation and grow in your faith? [01:07:44]
6. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from hearing the good news. How can you engage them in a spiritual conversation this week? [45:22]
7. Consider the distractions in your life that prevent you from focusing on Jesus. What is one specific distraction you can minimize this week to enhance your daily discipleship? [54:18]
Devotional
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Quotes
We've come to a time in our service this morning that we participate in what we call the Lord's Supper, something Jesus established over 2,000 years ago. You know, we take a lot for granted as adults that when we go to bed at night that we're going to wake up the next morning. Sometimes we even take our mates for granted. [00:22:09]
The Bible describes our Salvation kindly as a gate, a gate that Christ died to establish. Christ is that gate. You know, it was a free gift and was made available to all mankind. The Apostle Paul spoke a lot about his struggles, his life. He told us that we must drive to attain the goal. [00:23:26]
We participate in the Lord's Supper really for three reasons. God wanted us to remember what he did for us just like he wanted the Israelites to remember that he Freedom From Slavery in Egypt and two is because the Lord asked us to do it and three it keeps us focused on the cross. [00:24:49]
The cup, the fruit of the vine reminds us that Jesus shed his blood For All Mankind when God made his New Covenant with us and the last Covenant that God will make. Jesus became our sacrificial lamb and through that gained victory over death. Hebrews 9:22 says and according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood. [00:28:01]
We've just partaken of the Lord's Supper, which reminds us of the precious gift of forgiveness that Christ died for, a gift that we could never match, a gift that we could never repay. But we are asked to give not only over money but also over time and her talents. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says so let each one give as he proposes in his heart. [00:33:28]
Now that you purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply from the heart for you've been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God for all people are like grass and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. [00:44:30]
Our mission is to share the good news and transform lives. And again, we don't do the transforming as we just read it's God's word that does that but it's the seed that we plant. It's us living in this world in a way that not just tells the good news but lives the good news and is always showing that in the places that we go. [00:45:30]
This idea of growing up in our Salvation is a lifelong process. We don't just experience milk and meat then all of a sudden we're these great adult Christians who never do anything wrong. And so we've got to think about this continual idea of growing up in the Lord. [00:50:49]
Before you were made in that image we were all made in the image of God and that's the image we need to be recreating in our lives every day overcoming all of those DNA things that we say hold us back that we can't be. We're God's kids, we're God's children and we need to start growing up in our salvation. [00:52:00]
We are called to become more and more like Christ transformed into his likeness as we dig into his word and as we think about how we are to live in this world as his ambassadors and that requires a Daily Commitment from us to dig into the word of God and allow ourselves to be continually filled with those things. [00:54:12]
The fact that you struggle with sin is evidence of the Holy Spirit motivating you to resist. The world has no struggle they just simply indulge but you have a fight because the spirit of God is still working on you so when you are fighting those things don't let it get you down as much as it builds you up. [01:07:44]
Daily discipleship is about us being in a place where we are being transformed daily changed. We are allowing things in our lives that are not right to go away to bring in the good things that God has for us and if we really believe in the grace of God in the letter to Titus the grace of God it teaches us to say no to ungodliness. [01:12:23]
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