Embracing True Discipleship in God's Kingdom

 

Summary

In our exploration of the Kingdom of God, we delve into the profound parallels between the narratives of scripture and our own lives. Movies often serve as a mirror, reflecting characters and situations that resonate with us, and similarly, the scriptures offer stories that are not just historical accounts but living parables that speak to our current spiritual journey. In Mark 12, we encounter Jesus being questioned by the religious elite about His authority. This passage is a powerful illustration of how God has consistently reached out to humanity through prophets and ultimately through His Son, only to be met with resistance and rejection by those who were supposed to be His people.

The parable of the tenants in the vineyard is a stark reminder of the consequences of hard-heartedness and unfaithfulness. The religious leaders of Jesus' time were so focused on their expectations of a Messiah who would bring political liberation that they missed the spiritual liberation Jesus offered. This is a cautionary tale for us today, as we can become so entrenched in our own expectations and desires that we fail to recognize God's work in our lives. The Kingdom of God is not about a physical reign but a spiritual one, where we are called to be ambassadors, living out the values and principles of God's Kingdom.

Understanding the Kingdom requires us to examine our own hearts and identify whether we are producing the fruit of the Spirit. True discipleship is not about merely looking the part but being transformed by the Spirit, producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is about moving beyond cultural Christianity to a life of intentional transformation and devotion to Jesus. We are called to be more than fans of Jesus; we are called to be followers, actively participating in His mission and allowing His Spirit to lead us.

Key Takeaways:

- The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reign, not a physical one. It calls us to be ambassadors who live out the values and principles of God's Kingdom, transcending our own expectations and desires. [08:50]

- Hard-heartedness and unfaithfulness lead to spiritual blindness. Just as the religious leaders missed Jesus' true identity, we too can miss God's work in our lives if we are not open and receptive to His Spirit. [15:25]

- Producing fruit is a metaphor for living a life that reflects God's Kingdom. It involves obedience, righteousness, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit's work in us, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit. [21:40]

- True discipleship requires ongoing and intentional transformation. It is not about perfection but about being perfectly surrendered, allowing the Spirit to lead us and transform us into the likeness of Christ. [30:15]

- There is a distinction between being a Christian and being a disciple. While all disciples are Christians, not all Christians are true disciples. Discipleship involves a deeper commitment and devotion to following Jesus. [33:38]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Relating to Characters and Parallels
[02:12] - Jesus' Authority Questioned
[03:48] - The Parable of the Tenants
[05:53] - Consequences of Rejection
[08:50] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
[12:35] - The Promise of the Covenant
[15:25] - Identifying Hard-Heartedness
[17:25] - Spiritual Discernment
[21:40] - Producing Fruit of the Spirit
[24:04] - Works as Evidence of Faith
[25:04] - Consequences of Unfaithfulness
[27:54] - The Appearance of Religion
[30:15] - Christian vs. Disciple
[33:38] - Following Jesus
[34:30] - Call to Action and Discipleship

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 12:1-12
- Matthew 21:43
- Galatians 5:22-23

Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 12, what actions did the tenants take against the servants and the son sent by the landowner? How does this reflect the response of the religious leaders to Jesus? [05:53]
2. According to Matthew 21:43, what consequence does Jesus say will happen to those who do not produce the proper fruit of the Kingdom?
3. What are the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22-23? How do these characteristics contrast with the behaviors of the tenants in the parable?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the parable of the tenants illustrate the concept of spiritual blindness and hard-heartedness? What might this look like in a modern context? [15:25]
2. What does it mean to be an ambassador of the Kingdom of God, and how does this role challenge our personal expectations and desires? [08:50]
3. How does the distinction between being a Christian and being a disciple challenge our understanding of faith and commitment? [30:15]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you might have been resistant to God's work in your life. What steps can you take to be more open and receptive to His Spirit? [15:25]
2. Identify one area in your life where you can actively live out the values and principles of God's Kingdom. What specific actions will you take this week to be an ambassador of the Kingdom? [08:50]
3. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it as part of your interactions with your family? [21:40]
4. Consider the difference between being a fan of Jesus and a follower. What is one tangible way you can move from being a fan to a follower in your daily life? [33:38]
5. Think of a person who tests your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person? [21:40]
6. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. Are there any expectations or desires that might be hindering your ability to recognize God's work in your life? How can you surrender these to God? [08:50]
7. Identify one person in your life who is curious about faith. How can you engage them in a spiritual conversation this week? [33:38]

Devotional

Day 1: The Spiritual Reign of God's Kingdom
The Kingdom of God is not about a physical dominion but a spiritual reign that calls us to be ambassadors of His values and principles. This spiritual kingdom transcends our personal expectations and desires, inviting us to align our lives with God's will. In Mark 12, Jesus challenges the religious leaders' understanding of the Messiah, emphasizing that His mission is not about political liberation but spiritual transformation. As followers of Christ, we are called to live out the values of this Kingdom, embodying love, justice, and mercy in our daily lives. [08:50]

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively represent the values of God's Kingdom in your community today?


Day 2: The Danger of Spiritual Blindness
Hard-heartedness and unfaithfulness can lead to spiritual blindness, preventing us from recognizing God's work in our lives. The religious leaders in Jesus' time were so focused on their own expectations that they missed the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah. This serves as a cautionary tale for us, reminding us to remain open and receptive to the Holy Spirit. By cultivating a heart of humility and faithfulness, we can avoid the pitfalls of spiritual blindness and be attuned to God's presence and guidance. [15:25]

"Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: ‘You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.’" (Matthew 13:14, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you might be resisting God's guidance? How can you open your heart to His leading today?


Day 3: Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit
Producing fruit is a metaphor for living a life that reflects God's Kingdom. It involves obedience, righteousness, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit's work in us, evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit. True discipleship is not about merely looking the part but being transformed by the Spirit, producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This transformation is a lifelong journey, requiring intentionality and devotion to Jesus. [21:40]

"By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." (John 15:8, ESV)

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to cultivate? What steps can you take to nurture this fruit in your life?


Day 4: The Journey of True Discipleship
True discipleship requires ongoing and intentional transformation. It is not about perfection but about being perfectly surrendered, allowing the Spirit to lead us and transform us into the likeness of Christ. This journey involves moving beyond cultural Christianity to a life of intentional transformation and devotion to Jesus. As disciples, we are called to be more than fans of Jesus; we are called to be followers, actively participating in His mission and allowing His Spirit to lead us. [30:15]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, 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 5: The Call to Deep Commitment
There is a distinction between being a Christian and being a disciple. While all disciples are Christians, not all Christians are true disciples. Discipleship involves a deeper commitment and devotion to following Jesus. It requires us to examine our own hearts and identify whether we are producing the fruit of the Spirit. This call to deep commitment challenges us to move beyond superficial faith and embrace a life of intentional transformation and devotion to Jesus. [33:38]

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:27, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current level of commitment to following Jesus. What steps can you take to deepen your devotion and become a true disciple?

Quotes

"Jesus is describing the Old Testament prophets that God was constantly sending to the nation of Israel to help course-correct their waywardness. He would send them prophets. He would send them men and women of God with the voice of God in their mouth to bring discipline, to bring order, to bring structure. But these in the Old Testament were religious and hard-hearted and unyielding to what God wanted to do." [00:06:33]

"Understand the kingdom of God. It refers to God's sovereign rule and God's sovereign reign. And the context of the ministry of Jesus signifies a spiritual reign. Watch. But everyone in that day and age were anticipating a physical reign to come in. The religious elite, all of Israel is anticipating this figure called Messiah to show up and be the savior that they need and be the deliverer that they need and bring them freedom." [00:09:08]

"Meaning that the benefits of the covenant now fall to you and I. The favor of the covenant now falls to you and I. The blessing of the covenant now falls to you and I who are not necessarily part of the Israeli state and the Jewish state. But we have been engrafted and we have been adopted because of the work of Christ. We now are heirs and joint heirs so we can be the head and not the tail above and not beneath." [00:13:25]

"You want the Messiah, but you want him to show up how you want him. You want him in your pretty, perfect little box. You want him how you anticipate he's going to. You want to be healed on the timeline that you want to be healed. You want provision. On the timeline that you need your bills paid. You want your spouse set free on your timeline that matches up with your prayers." [00:15:25]

"Darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God due to the hardness of their... There's some weight to this statement that if I am unyielding to what he wants to do and I stay rigid in what I want to do, he will absolutely remove the benefits and the blessing of the kingdom upon my life. That's what he's conveying in this moment." [00:16:58]

"We have to define what produce fruit means it's a metaphor that Jesus is is using it's it's it's an analogy it's allegory it's it's it's the life that is living a life that reflects the values and the principles of God's kingdom that is what this produce fruit means produce fruit implies obedience righteousness and the manifestation of the holy spirit's work in the believers." [00:19:45]

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is the fruit that's produced when the Spirit of God is living on the inside of me. Watch, and the law is not against such things. The problem is, is I think we have a lot of people in this modern North American church that are not exhibiting that kind of fruit." [00:21:40]

"True faith in Christ is evidenced by fruit produced in our lives. There's gotta be some action attached to it. I was gonna quote who said it, but don't worry about it. This individual, you know, Grammy award-winning, whatever, you know, don't be about it, or don't talk about it. Be about it. Be about it. We got a bunch of folk that talk about fruit, but they're not about their fruit." [00:22:59]

"All disciples are Christians, but not all Christians are true disciples. Many people identify as Christians culturally and traditionally, but discipleship requires an ongoing and intentional transformation. That's what discipleship calls for. It's not a one-time prayer, and it's not perfection. It's being perfectly surrendered." [00:30:21]

"In essence, Christianity is about belief, but discipleship is about transformation. Do I look less like Nathan now, even at 11.33, than I did three minutes ago at 11.30? Ongoing, continual transformation. Here's what we have. We have a bunch of fans of Jesus, but do we have followers of Jesus?" [00:33:06]

"That's what we are looking at and working on all year long is this. This advocating for discipleship, this advocating that he has a plan for my life and I have to follow him. He's not necessarily trying to follow me with what I want to do, where I want to go." [00:33:59]

"I want us to put, I don't want to just talk about it. I want to be about it right now because he's not looking for the religious elite. He's looking for those that are surrendered." [00:34:32]

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Transcript
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