Finding True Rest and Discipleship in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus as Our Ultimate Rest

True rest for our souls is found in Jesus Christ, who fulfills all the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. This rest is not just a future hope but a present reality available to us now. We must strive to enter this rest by trusting in Jesus and following His example of obedience. Jesus offers a peace that surpasses any earthly comfort or achievement, inviting us to lay down our burdens and find solace in Him. This rest is a gift that transforms our daily lives, providing a foundation of peace and assurance in the midst of life's challenges. [05:53]

Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today that you need to lay down at the feet of Jesus? How can you actively seek His rest in your daily routine?

Day 2: Generational Discipleship

It is crucial to pass on our faith to the next generation. Deuteronomy 6 emphasizes the importance of impressing God's commandments on our children and integrating our faith into every aspect of our daily lives. This involves intentional practices such as family prayers, shared meals, and regular scripture reading. By embedding these practices into our daily routines, we create a living testimony of faith that our children can observe and emulate. This generational discipleship ensures that the faith is not just taught but caught, becoming a natural part of our children's lives. [46:27]

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Reflection: What are some specific ways you can integrate faith practices into your family's daily routine? How can you make these practices engaging and meaningful for your children?

Day 3: Addressing the Departure of Young Adults from the Church

Many young adults are leaving the church due to a superficial faith that lacks depth and personal connection with God. To counter this, we must cultivate a faith that permeates all areas of life, demonstrating its relevance and importance through consistent, intentional practices. This involves moving beyond "therapeutic moral deism" to a vibrant, personal relationship with God that impacts every aspect of our lives. By living out an authentic faith, we can show young adults the true value and transformative power of a life devoted to Christ. [50:51]

James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: How can you demonstrate the relevance of your faith in your daily interactions and decisions? What steps can you take to deepen your personal connection with God?

Day 4: Intentional Faith Practices

Our faith should be evident in all aspects of our lives, not just in church activities. This includes daily habits and practices that reflect our devotion to God, such as morning prayers, bedtime prayers, and shared meals. These practices help to form our hearts and minds towards God, creating a rhythm of life that keeps us connected to Him. By being intentional in our faith practices, we can ensure that our relationship with God remains central to our daily lives, influencing our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. [55:06]

Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: What daily habits can you incorporate to keep your focus on God throughout the day? How can these practices help you stay connected to Him in the midst of your busy schedule?

Day 5: Balancing Grace and Discipline

In our efforts to disciple and raise the next generation, we must find a balance between grace and discipline. While we should empower and encourage our children, we must also provide structure and guidance based on the truth of God's word. This balance helps to foster emotional and spiritual well-being, creating an environment where children can grow in their faith with both love and accountability. By modeling this balance in our own lives, we can teach our children the importance of both grace and discipline in their walk with God. [01:03:37]

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV): "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Reflection: How can you balance grace and discipline in your interactions with your children or those you mentor? What steps can you take to ensure that both love and accountability are present in your discipleship efforts?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the profound message of finding true rest in Jesus Christ, as highlighted in the book of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews encourages us to recognize that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. He is the ultimate rest for our souls, surpassing any earthly promised land or life situation we might yearn for. This rest is not just a future hope but a present reality available to us now through Jesus.

We also explored the importance of generational discipleship, emphasizing the need to pass on our faith to the next generation. Drawing from Deuteronomy 6, we discussed how we should impress God's commandments on our children and integrate our faith into every aspect of our daily lives. This involves intentional practices and habits that reflect our devotion to God, such as family prayers, shared meals, and regular scripture reading.

Moreover, we examined the alarming trend of young adults leaving the church and the potential reasons behind it. The concept of "therapeutic moral deism" was introduced, highlighting a superficial faith that lacks depth and personal connection with God. To counter this, we must cultivate a faith that permeates all areas of life, demonstrating its relevance and importance through consistent, intentional practices.

In conclusion, we are called to be intentional in our faith, not just for ourselves but for those around us. Whether in family units or smaller community groups, we must strive to live out our faith in tangible ways, ensuring that it is passed on to future generations.

###

Key Takeaways

1. being. [01:03:37]
### [63:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:19] - Introduction to Hebrews
[05:06] - Jesus as the Fulfillment
[05:53] - True Rest in Jesus
[06:36] - Prayer and Worship
[09:13] - Announcements
[27:01] - General Assembly Recap
[30:02] - Prayer for Identity in Christ
[31:35] - Encouragement and Prayer
[32:37] - Comfort and Peace
[33:51] - Power of the Holy Spirit
[35:05] - Faith and Trust in God
[36:09] - Preparing for Service
[36:54] - Introduction to Pastor Bree
[37:32] - Family Story: Moose Hunt
[42:34] - Practices and Intentional Living
[44:15] - Reading from Deuteronomy
[45:03] - Importance of Obedience
[46:27] - Generational Discipleship
[47:20] - Challenges of Passing on Faith
[50:06] - Therapeutic Moral Deism
[50:51] - Cultivating a Deep Faith
[55:06] - Intentional Faith Practices
[63:37] - Balancing Grace and Discipline
[74:02] - Community Sharing
[78:02] - Encouragement to Try New Practices
[78:50] - Closing Prayer
[79:30] - Communion Preparation
[80:59] - Communion Liturgy
[82:12] - Reflection on Jesus' Sacrifice
[83:19] - Communion of the Blood
[84:36] - Invitation to the Table
[96:46] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Hebrews 4:8-11 say about the nature of the rest that God offers? How is it different from the rest that Joshua provided? ([05:06])
According to Deuteronomy 6:1-9, what are the specific instructions given to the Israelites regarding God's commandments and their children? ([44:15])
What are some of the intentional practices mentioned in the sermon that can help integrate faith into daily life? ([55:06])
What reasons were given in the sermon for the departure of young adults from the church? ([50:51])

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "true rest" in Hebrews 4:8-11 apply to our current life situations? What does it mean to enter God's rest today? ([05:53])
In Deuteronomy 6:1-9, why is it important to impress God's commandments on children and integrate faith into daily life? How might this look in a modern context? ([46:27])
The sermon mentioned "therapeutic moral deism" as a reason for young adults leaving the church. What is this concept, and how does it contrast with a deep, personal faith? ([50:06])
How can balancing grace and discipline in our faith practices foster emotional and spiritual well-being, according to the sermon? ([01:03:37])

Application Questions

Reflect on your current life situation. Are you experiencing the "true rest" that Hebrews 4:8-11 talks about? If not, what steps can you take to enter that rest? ([05:53])
How can you intentionally integrate faith into your daily routines, as suggested in Deuteronomy 6:1-9? What specific practices can you start this week to impress God's commandments on your family or community? ([46:27])
Have you noticed any signs of "therapeutic moral deism" in your own faith or the faith of those around you? What changes can you make to cultivate a deeper, more personal connection with God? ([50:06])
Think about the young adults in your life. How can you support them in developing a faith that permeates all areas of life? What intentional practices can you introduce to help them see the relevance and importance of faith? ([50:51])
In what ways can you balance grace and discipline in your own faith journey and in your interactions with others? How can this balance help foster emotional and spiritual well-being? ([01:03:37])
Identify one specific habit or practice from the sermon that you are not currently doing but would like to try. How will you implement this practice in your daily life? ([55:06])
How can you create a supportive environment in your family or small group that encourages the sharing of faith and intentional living? What steps can you take to foster this environment starting this week? ([46:27])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "This passage has been a reminder to me that for Jesus to become the worship this morning, the true rest for our souls can be found only when we can use it. I think we're all in a soul of prayer service. There may be a promised land or a so-called out there. Whether that's on a life situation we're hoping for, whether that's a day, that we hope would come where we would finally have rest, come out on a new rest from the things that's great, that the only reason to get to that promised land, whether it's existed today, I'll tell you, that promised land is Jesus." [05:06] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Lord, we thank you for this time to come together. We thank you. For your mercies are new every morning. We thank you for all you call us into. You call us into so much. And you equip us. You give us encouragement. You give us the gifts, the tools. And you give us those pushups to encourage us to keep on towards the month of the year that you've laid out for us." [43:22] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We don't have to sit in places of discouragement, of that we've lost our chances. Every new day is worse. Taxes are new. It's got to be a good chance. So I'm going to talk about different practices. And actually, more than not, I don't actually do myself. But I am in church. So I'm spurred on for just more ways to be living intentionally in community, in my culture and that community. And I hope that and pray that you guys can also be encouraged and not sit in the place of my chances are gone. I have done. Too much wrong." [42:34] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We come to testify not that we are perfect, but that we sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ and desire him. We come to testify that we are perfect, but that we sincerely love our Lord Jesus Christ and desire him. We come to do his true evangelism. We come not because we are strong, but because we are weak, not because we have any claim on heaven's rewards. But because in all the frailty we stand in God's plainly of heaven's mercy and the help." [01:20:59] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Thank you so much for your grace. We thank you so much for your work when we are messing up. You are so good, and you do good even when we're not enough. Thank you. Thank you so much for your grace. You are so good, and you do good even when we're not enough." [01:36:46] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "So we have, I think, a generation that supposedly loved the Lord. Maybe, hopefully, was faithful. But somehow, it didn't get passed on to their generation. The next generation could come. And I think, as a Christian by saying that, that a lot of us are thinking about, are known people who are living in church. The statistics are, are kind of varied. It's a hard thing to really cast finger on. But from 59% to 80% of our young adults in these recent decades are leaving the church. So those who have been brought up in the church are leaving the church." [47:20] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So, you know, one of the ways that we can take these habits and help move them towards one another, like these are taught us more and more so. steward the habits of our families and our close-knit groups is to steward our habits. Now, a lot of times, habits are not easy to incorporate. You know, probably all of us have tried it, and we all have had a hard time with And it's so hard. The older we get, the harder it gets, right? But in his book, Justin really encouraged us over and over again that it's just that even if we're going to thunder a little bit, if we're going to stumble, let's try these habits to be intentional and put them back in a place that we need to try to pursue them and go after them." [55:06] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We don't want to be in a space of legalism, but we also do not want to be a place of whimsical, a whimsical faith, a whimsical discipling. We need to find that middle space that is graceful. So, absolutely, our lives are 100% about grace, but as we respond to God's gift, as we respond to him, our desire is holiness and it calls us to holiness." [01:03:37] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Are we willing to be transformed? Are we willing to be intentional, to give it our all in terms of practicing progress to form us towards the Lord? Not just getting done. Not just saying, I'm going to do this. Not just having a nice gospel. I want to concur to follow Jesus with all of our hearts." [01:13:20] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We thank you for your work, your grace, your amazing grace, and so has the Lord, we thank you that we are involved, and for life shared with you, for you, in our families, in our close communities. We thank you for that, thank you. Lord, draw us more into faithfulness. Of having our hearts set on you. Of living lives that matter for you. That it is all about you, Lord. That the model that helps us to do that in all of our spaces. We ask for courage. We ask for intentionality." [01:18:50] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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