Eternal Hope: Living for Christ's Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Living Hope in Christ

Description: The living, resurrected Christ is our eternal hope, transforming our lives and giving us a new purpose. Through baptism, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection, enabling us to live a new life free from sin. This hope is not just for us but is meant to be shared with others, making disciples of all nations. This transformation is not merely a personal experience but a communal mission that calls us to spread the good news and bring others into this living hope. [20:04]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How can you share the living hope of Christ with someone in your life today? Think of a specific person and a practical way to share this hope with them.

Day 2: Wisdom from the Elderly

Description: Those who have lived long lives often reflect on what they would do differently. They advise risking more, slowing down, and doing something that lasts beyond their lifetime. This wisdom aligns with God's call for us to participate in eternal things, making a difference that transcends our earthly existence. By heeding this advice, we can focus on what truly matters and invest our time and energy in pursuits that have eternal significance. [32:39]

Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."

Reflection: What is one risk you can take today that aligns with God's eternal mission? How can you slow down and focus on what truly matters?

Day 3: Getting Attached to Jesus

Description: To make an eternal impact, we must get intimately attached to Jesus, understanding His life, teachings, and mission. This involves more than just knowing about Him; it requires a deep, personal relationship that transforms our priorities and actions. By spending time in prayer, studying the Scriptures, and seeking to know Jesus more deeply, we can align our lives with His purpose and mission. [35:48]

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: What specific steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Jesus? Consider setting aside dedicated time for prayer or Bible study.

Day 4: Surrendering to His Will

Description: Radical surrender to Jesus' will is essential for participating in His eternal mission. This means being willing to leave behind our own plans and desires, just as the first disciples left their nets and family to follow Him. True surrender involves being trained and equipped to live as His followers, moving from spiritual milk to solid food. By surrendering to Jesus, we allow Him to guide our lives and use us for His purposes. [41:19]

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 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: Accepting His Mission

Description: Jesus' mission is to seek and save the lost, and He invites us to join Him in this eternal work. Accepting His mission means prioritizing people over possessions and making a lasting impact on their lives. This mission is not just a task but a lifelong commitment that brings ultimate satisfaction and purpose. By embracing this mission, we can make a difference that transcends our earthly existence and contributes to God's eternal kingdom. [50:40]

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in Jesus' mission today? Think of a specific way you can prioritize people over possessions and make a lasting impact on someone's life.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truth that the living, resurrected Christ is our eternal hope and how this hope transforms lives. Jesus gave the church a mission: to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in His name. This mission is not just a task but a life-changing journey that invites us to participate in something eternal. We reflected on Romans 6, which reminds us that through baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, enabling us to live a new life.

We also considered the wisdom of those who have lived long lives, who, when asked what they would do differently, said they would risk more, slow down, and do something that lasts beyond their lifetime. This aligns with God's outrageous claim that we can make a difference that is eternal. To do so, we must meet certain prerequisites: getting attached to Jesus, surrendering to His will, and accepting His mission.

In Matthew 4, we see Jesus calling His first disciples, inviting them to follow Him and become fishers of men. This call requires us to get intimately attached to Jesus, understanding who He is and what He stands for. It also demands a radical surrender to His will, as exemplified by the disciples who left everything to follow Him. Finally, it involves accepting His mission to seek and save the lost, making an eternal impact.

We concluded with the inspiring story of William Borden, who lived a life of "No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret," dedicating himself to God's mission despite the cost. This serves as a powerful reminder that our lives should be marked by a commitment to eternal things, making a lasting difference through Jesus Christ.

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Key Takeaways

1. Living Hope in Christ: The living, resurrected Christ is our eternal hope, transforming our lives and giving us a new purpose. Through baptism, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection, enabling us to live a new life free from sin. This hope is not just for us but is meant to be shared with others, making disciples of all nations. [20:04]
2. Wisdom from the Elderly: Those who have lived long lives often reflect on what they would do differently. They advise risking more, slowing down, and doing something that lasts beyond their lifetime. This wisdom aligns with God's call for us to participate in eternal things, making a difference that transcends our earthly existence. [32:39]
3. Getting Attached to Jesus: To make an eternal impact, we must get intimately attached to Jesus, understanding His life, teachings, and mission. This involves more than just knowing about Him; it requires a deep, personal relationship that transforms our priorities and actions. [35:48]
4. Surrendering to His Will: Radical surrender to Jesus' will is essential for participating in His eternal mission. This means being willing to leave behind our own plans and desires, just as the first disciples left their nets and family to follow Him. True surrender involves being trained and equipped to live as His followers, moving from spiritual milk to solid food. [41:19]
5. Accepting His Mission: Jesus' mission is to seek and save the lost, and He invites us to join Him in this eternal work. Accepting His mission means prioritizing people over possessions and making a lasting impact on their lives. This mission is not just a task but a lifelong commitment that brings ultimate satisfaction and purpose. [50:40]
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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to Living Hope
[02:15] - The Mission of the Church
[04:00] - Romans 6: Baptism and New Life
[06:30] - Wisdom from the Elderly
[08:00] - God's Outrageous Claims
[10:00] - Matthew 4: Jesus Calls His Disciples
[12:00] - Getting Attached to Jesus
[14:00] - The Importance of Surrender
[16:00] - Being Trained as Followers
[18:00] - Loving People Better
[20:00] - Accepting Jesus' Mission
[22:00] - The Story of William Borden
[24:00] - No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret
[26:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 6:1-4, what is the significance of baptism in the life of a believer?
In Matthew 4:18-22, what was the immediate response of the first disciples when Jesus called them to follow Him?
What were the three pieces of advice given by the elderly when asked what they would do differently in life? [31:57]
How did William Borden's life exemplify the principles of "No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret"? [56:05]

Interpretation Questions

How does being united with Christ in His death and resurrection through baptism enable us to live a new life, according to Romans 6:1-4?
What does it mean to "fish for people" as Jesus described in Matthew 4:19, and how does this relate to the mission of the church? [34:19]
Reflect on the advice from the elderly to risk more, slow down, and do something that lasts beyond their lifetime. How does this wisdom align with the call to participate in eternal things? [32:39]
What does it mean to get intimately attached to Jesus, and why is this a prerequisite for making an eternal impact? [35:48]

Application Questions

Romans 6:1-4 speaks about living a new life free from sin. What specific changes can you make in your daily life to reflect this new life in Christ?
The first disciples left everything to follow Jesus immediately. What are some things in your life that you might need to leave behind to follow Jesus more closely? [34:19]
The elderly advised risking more and slowing down. What is one area of your life where you can take a godly risk or slow down to focus on eternal things? [32:39]
William Borden lived by the principles of "No Reserve, No Retreat, No Regret." How can you apply these principles in your own life to ensure you are making a lasting impact for Christ? [56:05]
Jesus' mission is to seek and save the lost. Identify one person in your life who is far from God. What steps can you take this week to share the hope of Christ with them? [50:40]
Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. What practical steps can you take to deepen your attachment to Him and understand His will better? [35:48]
The sermon emphasized the importance of loving people better as a mark of spiritual maturity. Think of a person who is difficult for you to love. What specific actions can you take to show them Christ-like love this week? [48:02]

Sermon Clips

1. "That declaration, this declaration that we have discovered that the living resurrected Christ is our hope, that's significant, that is eternal, that's life changing. Jesus gave the church a mission, and the mission was to go and make disciples. Disciples, followers, students, learners of him. He said go into all nations, all ethnic groups, and you make disciples. And when you've made a disciple, someone that discovers the living hope of Christ and trusts that hope, that you baptize them. And that's why we're here today, to do that." [20:04] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "One of the most significant things parents can do is to pass on their living hope so that their children can choose it and discover that, become disciples of Christ. So today in this service, that's what you're here to bear witness to, that a family lived their faith, the living hope of Christ, and now their children are choosing in a very personal way their own hope. Let's do that. Let's celebrate that." [31:57] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The goal, the objective of a follower of Jesus is not just to be a different kind of person in this world. The objective is to live differently in such a way that you are making a difference. And when you participate with Jesus, the difference isn't just for a week or a month or a year. It is for all eternity." [35:10] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "To be a part of what's eternal, first of all, is we have to get attached to his person. We have to get attached to the person of Jesus Christ in a very significant and a very intimate way. Notice the invitation. Jesus said to these men, you come and follow me. Come and get after me. Get attached to me. Get familiar with me. Get next to me. Discover what matters to Jesus so that we participate in what matters to him." [35:48] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You can't overestimate the impact of this one person. It is beyond understanding in any realm for any human. Because normally when someone dies, their impact diminishes with time. They just kind of fade into the sunset. Not so with Jesus Christ. 500 years after his death, his legacy was growing. 1,000 years after his death, it was growing even more. 2,000 years. 2,000 years since he was on this planet, and he has more followers now than ever. He is without question the most polarizing figure that ever walked this earth." [38:40] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If you want to be a part of something that goes far beyond the grave, if you want to get at the end of your life and you look back and say, you know what, it wasn't what I should have done, it's what I did do, and I participated in eternal things, then you need to get attached to Jesus Christ. It is a prerequisite, folks, to make an eternal difference." [40:46] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The second prerequisite from the gospel is that we have to surrender to his will. Once we get familiar with him, then we have to surrender to him. And I can't help but be impressed by the radical response of these young men. These men are maybe 18, 19 years of age. And when Jesus invites them, the text says that immediately they left their boats and they left their father and they followed Jesus. They left both their occupation and their family to follow Jesus." [41:19] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The language of Scripture isn't just try hard. The language of Scripture is to be trained and to be equipped. And some of you are saying, hey, this following Jesus thing, this is difficult. It is difficult. But it's not just about you saying, tomorrow I'm going to try harder. It's about you saying, I want to be trained to live the life that Jesus has called us to." [45:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The call of Scripture is not just to try hard. The call of Scripture is to be trained. Ephesians 4 says that the role of the church leadership is to equip the body for maturity. Move from milk to meat. Over the next several weekends, you'll be hearing us present to you opportunities to be trained as a follower of Jesus and to be equipped. How to read the Bible correctly, how to know God intimately, how to lead others diligently, how to make disciples personally." [46:56] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The mission of Jesus Christ is much bigger than just gathering together in a room every seven days. The mission of Jesus Christ is participating in the routine of life where you make his son known. The appeal of God is don't settle for the world. The appeal of God is this world will disappoint you again and again and again. For don't settle for this. Don't do like so many do and just settle for an okay job or a so-so life. Pursue what's eternal." [53:29] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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