Embracing the Lifelong Journey of Discipleship

Devotional

Day 1: The Pathway of Discipleship—Following, Being Changed, and Joining Jesus’ Mission

Every person is invited by Jesus to embark on a journey of discipleship, regardless of their background, status, or past. This pathway is not just about believing certain truths or performing religious duties, but about following Jesus, being transformed by His love, and joining in His mission to bring heaven to earth. At every crossroads in life, Jesus offers a direction—an invitation to follow Him, to be changed by Him, and to participate in His redemptive work in the world. This journey is ongoing, marked by continual discovery, deepening, and displaying of God’s love, and it is the true north for every question and decision we face. [43:05]

Matthew 4:18-20 (ESV)
While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense Jesus inviting you to follow Him more closely today, and what practical step can you take to respond to that invitation?

Day 2: God’s Love Is the Foundation—Prioritizing His Love Above All

God’s love is not just one value among many; it is the foundation and the first priority for every disciple. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to let His sacrificial, covenantal, and steadfast love become the anchor for our identity and the guide for every decision. When we prioritize God’s love, everything else in our lives finds its proper place, and we are empowered to live with purpose and direction, even in a world full of competing definitions of love. [01:04:46]

1 John 4:7-10 (ESV)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally put God’s love first in your priorities this week, especially when other things compete for your attention?

Day 3: Receiving God’s Love—Abiding in Christ for Transformation

To truly discover God’s love, we must not only prioritize it but also continually receive it, allowing ourselves to be filled and transformed by His presence. Jesus calls us to abide in Him, to remain connected like branches to the vine, so that His love becomes the source of our fruitfulness and identity. Each person has a unique way of best receiving God’s love, and as we intentionally seek and embrace these ways, we are changed from the inside out and equipped to live out our purpose. [01:14:17]

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: Ask God to show you how you best receive His love—what is one practice you can do today to intentionally abide in Christ and open yourself to His transforming love?

Day 4: Giving God’s Love—Extending His Love to Others

The natural overflow of prioritizing and receiving God’s love is to give it away, extending His sacrificial and self-giving love to those around us. We are not called to keep God’s love to ourselves, but to join in Jesus’ mission by loving others as He has loved us, creating an ecosystem of others-focused, self-giving love that brings heaven to earth. As we ask God how we best give His love and put it into practice, we discover new depths of His love and participate in His redemptive work in the world. [01:22:53]

John 13:34-35 (ESV)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally show God’s love to today, and what specific action can you take to bless or serve them?

Day 5: Living in the Fullness of God’s Love—Rooted, Grounded, and Empowered

When we prioritize, receive, and give God’s love, we are rooted and grounded in a love that surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God. This love is not based on our performance but on God’s unchanging character and His delight in us as His beloved children. As we live from this place, we are strengthened, empowered, and able to grasp the vastness of Christ’s love, experiencing transformation and purpose in every season of life. [01:41:44]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV)
That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to be reminded that you are God’s beloved, and how can you let that truth shape your thoughts, actions, and relationships today?

Sermon Summary

The journey of following Jesus is not a static decision but a dynamic, lifelong pathway of transformation. Every person, regardless of background or current situation, is invited by Jesus to walk this path of discipleship—a journey marked by following Him, being changed by Him, and joining in His mission to bring heaven to earth. This pathway is not about checking off religious boxes or simply securing a future in heaven; it is about experiencing the fullness of God’s love here and now, and allowing that love to shape every aspect of our lives.

At Commission Church, the discipleship pathway is summed up in three words: discover, deepen, and display. First, we are called to discover God’s love for us—a love that is not earned by our efforts but freely given, as seen in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This love is the foundation of our identity and purpose. Second, we are invited to deepen our love for others, allowing God’s love to transform our relationships and perspectives. Third, we are challenged to display God’s love to the world, becoming conduits of His grace, mercy, and truth in every sphere of influence.

This process is ongoing. God’s love is not something we master or exhaust; it is a well that never runs dry. We must continually prioritize God’s love above all else, receive it in the unique ways He has designed us to, and then give it away generously. In a world filled with competing definitions of love and shifting priorities, God’s sacrificial, covenantal, and self-giving love stands as our true north. When we anchor our lives in this love, everything else finds its proper place.

The call is clear: don’t settle for a shallow or compartmentalized faith. Don’t reduce following Jesus to a one-time prayer or a set of beliefs disconnected from daily life. Instead, embrace the invitation to abide in Christ, to let His love fill and transform you, and to pour that love out to others. In doing so, you will find direction at every crossroads, experience true purpose, and participate in God’s mission to renew all things. This is the pathway of discipleship—an adventure of discovering, deepening, and displaying the love of God.

Key Takeaways

1. Discipleship is a Lifelong Pathway, Not a One-Time Event Following Jesus means continually responding to His invitation at every crossroads in life. It’s not about a single decision or prayer, but about ongoing transformation—being changed by Jesus and joining in His mission. This journey requires us to leave behind old priorities and embrace a new way of living, anchored in God’s love. [43:05]
2. God’s Love is the Foundation and True North of Our Lives The love of God is not just an abstract idea or fleeting emotion; it is the very definition of love itself, revealed in Jesus’ sacrificial life and death. Prioritizing God’s love above all else reorders our affections, decisions, and identity, giving us clarity and direction when life is confusing or overwhelming. When God’s love is first, everything else finds its rightful place or falls away. [64:46]
3. Receiving God’s Love is Essential for Transformation We cannot give what we have not received. Each of us is uniquely designed to receive God’s love in different ways—through prayer, worship, creation, study, or community. By intentionally discovering and practicing the ways we best receive His love, we open ourselves to ongoing transformation and become more like Christ, bearing fruit that lasts. [74:17]
4. Giving God’s Love is the Natural Overflow of Abiding in Christ The journey does not end with receiving; it must overflow into giving. True discipleship means loving others with the same sacrificial, covenantal love we have received from God. In a world obsessed with self-interest, we are called to be conduits of God’s love, bringing healing, hope, and restoration to those around us, and participating in God’s mission to renew all things. [82:53]
5. At Every Crossroad, Jesus is the Way Forward Life is filled with moments of uncertainty and decision. In those moments, the invitation of Jesus is to follow Him, to be changed by His love, and to join in His mission. When we prioritize, receive, and give God’s love, we find a clear pathway forward, rooted in the eternal presence and purpose of God, no matter what challenges we face. [50:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[42:00] - Introduction to the Pathway Series
[43:05] - The Invitation to Discipleship
[47:27] - Discipleship: Not a Checklist
[48:39] - The Discipleship Crisis in Our Culture
[50:14] - Jesus as Our True North
[52:26] - Discovering God’s Love: John 3
[56:08] - Eternal Life: More Than a Ticket to Heaven
[57:23] - Abiding in God’s Presence
[64:46] - Prioritizing God’s Love
[67:46] - Remembering Our First Love
[69:06] - The Father’s Delight: Our Identity
[70:27] - Continually Receiving God’s Love
[72:57] - Abiding and Bearing Fruit
[74:17] - Discovering Your Unique Love Language
[80:30] - Transformation Through Receiving
[82:53] - Giving God’s Love to Others
[84:26] - The Mission: Bringing Heaven to Earth
[86:53] - How to Best Give God’s Love
[89:15] - God’s Love Changes Everything
[91:00] - Invitation to Respond
[92:52] - Prayer of Commitment
[101:44] - Benediction and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 3:16-21 — > “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

Observation Questions

According to John 3:16-21, what is the main reason God sent Jesus into the world?
In the sermon, what three words sum up the discipleship pathway at Commission Church? ([43:05])
What does Jesus promise will happen to those who follow him, according to the story of Peter and Andrew in Matthew 4? ([43:05])
What does the sermon say is the difference between “eternal life” as Jesus defines it and the way many Christians think about it? ([56:08])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that God’s love is the “foundation and true north” of our lives. What does it mean for God’s love to be our “true north” in practical terms? ([50:14])
The message describes discipleship as a “lifelong pathway, not a one-time event.” Why is it important to see following Jesus as an ongoing journey rather than a single decision? ([43:05])
The sermon talks about “receiving God’s love” as essential for transformation. Why can’t we give what we haven’t received? ([01:10:27])
The pastor says that when we prioritize God’s love, “everything else finds its proper place or falls away.” What are some things that might fall away when God’s love is first? ([01:04:46])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us not to settle for a “shallow or compartmentalized faith.” Are there areas of your life where you have kept your faith separate from your daily decisions or relationships? What would it look like to invite Jesus into those areas? ([56:08])
The discipleship pathway starts with “discovering God’s love.” How do you personally best receive God’s love—through prayer, worship, nature, study, or community? What is one step you can take this week to intentionally receive God’s love in that way? ([01:14:17])
The message says, “We cannot give what we have not received.” Is there a relationship or situation where you are trying to love others but feel empty or dry? What would it look like to pause and receive God’s love first? ([01:10:27])
The sermon encourages us to “display God’s love to the world.” Who is one person or group in your life that needs to experience God’s love through you? What is a specific way you can show them sacrificial or self-giving love this week? ([01:22:53])
The pastor talks about “prioritizing God’s love above all else.” Are there competing priorities, distractions, or definitions of love in your life that are pulling you away from God’s love? What is one thing you can do to re-center on God’s love this week? ([01:04:46])
The sermon says that at every crossroad, Jesus is the way forward. Is there a decision or area of uncertainty in your life right now? How can you seek Jesus’ direction and let his love guide your next step? ([50:14])
The message describes God’s love as a “well that never runs dry.” When was the last time you felt spiritually dry or empty? What helped you reconnect with God’s love, or what could you try next time? ([01:14:17])

Sermon Clips

Do you want you want to know the definition of love it's God do you want to know the definition of what love looks like it looks like Jesus dying for our sin and being risen from the grave to give us life this is love and this love is not defined by the ever changing emotions and perspectives and definitions and passions of this world it is held steadfast by the one who never changes beloved. [01:03:22] (27 seconds) Edit Clip

If you ever hear that your call is just to simply receive God's love and stop there, that is anti -Christian thought.It is anti -Christ to believe that we are just supposed to be holy huddles in and of ourselves, soaking reclusive away from the world. We are called to be blessed to be a blessing.God provides for us so we can provide for others. We are forgiven so that we can forgive. We are loved so that we can love others with the sacrificial, covenantal, seeking the best for other type of people kind of love. [01:23:50] (30 seconds) Edit Clip

When we just simply receive God's love and sit away from others, we will never discover the fullness of God's love.But when we give God's love, you will find that there is a never -ending, limitless horizon to God's love, but you will find more than you ever could just by trying to receive it yourself. [01:26:45] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

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