Empowering Generations Through Intentional Discipleship and Mission
Summary
### Summary
This morning, we focused on the importance of being healthy and impactful Christians, particularly in the realm of financial health. Drawing from Psalms 145:4, we emphasized the need for each generation to share stories of God's mighty acts and power with the next generation. This summer, our church has been deeply involved in the Summer Leadership Project (SLP), a discipleship and leadership intensive that began in 2018 under Pastor Brian's guidance. This year, 82 participants engaged in SLP across various locations, including Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Tucson, and Texas.
The SLP experience is more than just a month of activities; it teaches participants to live intentionally and share the gospel as part of their daily lives. In Texas, Caleb and Rachel led a team to reach students at the University of Texas and Texas State. The program included "grow times" for personal development and "go times" for mission work, where participants shared their testimonies and engaged with people in various public spaces.
We celebrated the impact of SLP, noting that 3,056 new connections were made, 1,278 people showed interest in our movement, 95 gospel appointments were conducted, and 26 individuals surrendered their lives to Jesus. We honored those who participated in SLP for their commitment and godly risks. As we prepare for the new school year, we encouraged everyone to register for Survivor Weekend, a crucial event for connecting new students to our community.
### Key Takeaways
1. Generational Storytelling of God's Acts: Psalms 145:4 reminds us of the importance of sharing stories of God's power and goodness with the next generation. This practice not only strengthens our faith but also ensures that God's mighty acts are remembered and celebrated across generations. [49:27]
2. Intentional Living and Discipleship: The Summer Leadership Project (SLP) teaches us to live intentionally with others and integrate the gospel into our daily lives. This approach transforms ordinary interactions into opportunities for sharing God's love and truth. [50:42]
3. Balancing Growth and Mission: SLP's structure of "grow times" and "go times" highlights the balance between personal spiritual growth and active mission work. This dual focus ensures that we are not only learning but also applying our faith in real-world contexts. [52:12]
4. Impact Through Personal Testimonies: Sharing personal testimonies is a powerful way to connect with others and share the gospel. By being authentic and vulnerable, we can create meaningful relationships and open doors for spiritual conversations. [53:01]
5. Preparation for New Opportunities: As we approach the new school year, it's crucial to prepare our hearts and minds for the mission ahead. Events like Survivor Weekend provide strategic opportunities to connect with new students and integrate them into our faith community. [01:21:06]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[49:27] - Introduction to Summer Leadership Project
[50:42] - SLP Impact and Locations
[52:12] - Grow Times and Go Times
[53:01] - Gospel Appointments
[54:28] - Prayer and Testimonies
[01:19:20] - SLP Achievements and Statistics
[01:21:06] - Honoring SLP Participants
[01:23:51] - Preparing for the New School Year
[01:25:00] - Registering for Survivor Weekend
[01:27:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Psalms 145:4 (NIV): "One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalms 145:4, what is the responsibility of each generation regarding God's mighty acts?
2. What are the two main components of the Summer Leadership Project (SLP) as described in the sermon? ([52:12])
3. How many new connections were made during the SLP, and how many people surrendered their lives to Jesus? ([01:19:20])
4. What is the purpose of "grow times" and "go times" in the SLP? ([52:12])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for each generation to share stories of God's power and goodness with the next generation, as mentioned in Psalms 145:4?
2. How does living intentionally and integrating the gospel into daily life, as taught in the SLP, transform ordinary interactions? ([50:42])
3. What impact do personal testimonies have on others, and why are they a powerful tool for sharing the gospel? ([53:01])
4. How can events like Survivor Weekend help in preparing for new opportunities to connect with students and integrate them into the faith community? ([01:21:06])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a story of God's power and goodness in your life. How can you share this story with the next generation to encourage their faith? ([49:27])
2. Think about your daily interactions. How can you live more intentionally to share the gospel in your everyday life, similar to the approach taught in the SLP? ([50:42])
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to balance personal spiritual growth and active mission work. What steps can you take to achieve this balance? ([52:12])
4. Consider a time when you shared your personal testimony. How did it impact the person you shared it with? How can you be more authentic and vulnerable in sharing your story in the future? ([53:01])
5. As the new school year approaches, what practical steps can you take to prepare your heart and mind for the mission ahead? How can you get involved in events like Survivor Weekend to connect with new students? ([01:21:06])
6. Reflect on the godly risks you have taken in your faith journey. How can you continue to take risks for God's kingdom, and what support do you need from your faith community to do so? ([01:19:20])
7. How can you encourage and support others in your small group to share their testimonies and live intentionally for the gospel? What specific actions can you take to foster a culture of storytelling and discipleship in your group? ([53:01])
Devotional
Day 1: Generational Storytelling of God's Acts
Description: Psalms 145:4 reminds us of the importance of sharing stories of God's power and goodness with the next generation. This practice not only strengthens our faith but also ensures that God's mighty acts are remembered and celebrated across generations. By recounting these stories, we create a legacy of faith that can inspire and guide those who come after us. It is a way to keep the memory of God's faithfulness alive and to encourage others to trust in Him.
In our daily lives, we can make it a habit to share testimonies of God's work in our lives with our children, friends, and community. This can be done through conversations, family devotions, or even social media. The key is to be intentional about it, recognizing that our stories have the power to impact others and draw them closer to God. [49:27]
Psalm 78:4 (ESV): "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done."
Reflection: Think of a specific instance where you experienced God's power or goodness. How can you share this story with someone from the next generation today?
Day 2: Intentional Living and Discipleship
Description: The Summer Leadership Project (SLP) teaches us to live intentionally with others and integrate the gospel into our daily lives. This approach transforms ordinary interactions into opportunities for sharing God's love and truth. By being intentional, we can make every moment count for the Kingdom of God, whether we are at work, school, or in our neighborhoods.
Intentional living means being aware of the opportunities around us to share the gospel and disciple others. It involves being proactive in building relationships, serving others, and speaking about our faith. This kind of living requires us to be prayerful and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, always ready to give an answer for the hope that we have. [50:42]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: Identify one person in your daily life with whom you can be more intentional about sharing the gospel. What steps can you take to build a deeper relationship with them?
Day 3: Balancing Growth and Mission
Description: SLP's structure of "grow times" and "go times" highlights the balance between personal spiritual growth and active mission work. This dual focus ensures that we are not only learning but also applying our faith in real-world contexts. "Grow times" are dedicated to personal development through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, while "go times" are focused on outreach and evangelism.
Balancing growth and mission is crucial for a healthy Christian life. Without growth, our mission efforts can become shallow and ineffective. Without mission, our growth can become self-centered and stagnant. By maintaining this balance, we ensure that we are continually being filled and poured out, growing in our relationship with God and making an impact in the world. [52:12]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are you balancing your personal growth with active mission work? What changes can you make to ensure a healthy balance?
Day 4: Impact Through Personal Testimonies
Description: Sharing personal testimonies is a powerful way to connect with others and share the gospel. By being authentic and vulnerable, we can create meaningful relationships and open doors for spiritual conversations. Our testimonies are unique stories of how God has worked in our lives, and they can resonate with others in ways that abstract teachings cannot.
When we share our testimonies, we demonstrate the reality of God's power and love in a tangible way. It encourages others to see that God is active and involved in our lives today. Being open about our struggles and victories can also provide hope and encouragement to those who are facing similar challenges. [53:01]
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Think of a recent experience where you saw God's hand at work in your life. How can you share this testimony with someone who might need encouragement today?
Day 5: Preparation for New Opportunities
Description: As we approach the new school year, it's crucial to prepare our hearts and minds for the mission ahead. Events like Survivor Weekend provide strategic opportunities to connect with new students and integrate them into our faith community. Preparation involves prayer, planning, and being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Preparing for new opportunities means being ready to step out in faith and take godly risks. It involves being proactive in seeking out ways to serve and share the gospel. By preparing ourselves spiritually and practically, we can make the most of the opportunities that God places before us and have a greater impact for His Kingdom. [01:21:06]
Joshua 1:9 (ESV): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Reflection: As you think about the upcoming school year or a new season in your life, what specific steps can you take to prepare yourself for the opportunities God may bring your way? How can you be intentional about seeking and embracing these opportunities?
Quotes
1. "So the summer leadership project is a discipleship. Leadership intensive, where teams live together, they learn together and they serve together. And it's an incredible experience of life on life missional living. And actually SLP began back in 2018 when Pastor Brian led a team of 34 people to San Diego. And since then, SLP has had such a big impact on those who have attended. They began doing SLP trips in cities that we have churches and where we'll be planting future churches." [49:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So during our grow times, we would focus on growing and getting healthy, but we didn't just want to learn good content. We wanted to activate what we were learning. And so during these, we would also have what we'd call go times, which was a focused time on reaching others and living on mission. And so equipped with our testimonies, we'd look for creative ways to reach people in the campuses and also in the nearby cities." [52:12] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so as we connected with people who were interested in learning more about Christianity, we also set up gospel. We set up gospel appointments, which we also call GAs. And this is where we'd simply hear someone's story, we'd tell them our story, and then we'd share the gospel story. So for the next few minutes, we're going to hear some stories. And so first we're going to see stories from members in our church who were impacted during the series on finances." [53:01] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So across our movement, we connected with 3,056 new people. 1,278 were interested in our movement. Getting connected. We led 95 gospel appointments and 26 people prayed to surrender their lives to Jesus. So in fact, we actually, we want to take a moment to honor all the people who were there. On SLP on, on any of the trips. So you guys are worthy of honor. So if you guys, uh, went on the trip, um, you guys gave up a month of your summer to live for the next generation." [01:19:20] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Each of you committed to growing personally into becoming healthy and high impact leaders and everyone took godly risks to overcome fear. And so you guys learned how to be authentic with the church family. And I'm really excited to see how God uses all that faith this fall. So guys, let's give the whole team. One big happy welcome. Come on, let's give it up for them." [01:19:20] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "And so like you guys heard last week, um, as a church movement, we're now getting ready for the new school year because it's in 12 days. Ooh, kind of crazy. So hundreds of thousands of students are going to begin arriving on campus on, on the campuses that we're going to be reaching as a movement. And God wants to use us. He wants to use us to be friends to them, to serve them and to come alongside them." [01:21:06] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "So we've heard Pastor Brian talk about how crucial it is to win the battle to belong, especially in the first few weeks that students are on the college campus. And the greatest way to do this is through Survivor Weekend. And so last year, 2,000 people attended and there have been so many stories of those students getting connected and how they got plugged into community. And we believe this trip is so important that we actually don't do church on that Sunday because we'll all be at Survivor." [01:21:06] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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