From Consumerism to Servanthood: A Call to Discipleship
Summary
### Summary
In today's reflection, we delved into the troubling trend of consumerism within the American church. This consumer mindset has led to a distortion of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Instead of creating servants who give their lives for others, we have inadvertently fostered a culture of self-serving individuals. This is a form of pastoral malpractice, as it goes against the core teachings of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
To address this, we must return to Scripture and ask ourselves fundamental questions: What does God love most? What does He hate most? What does He command and demand of the church? By focusing on these questions, we can realign our practices with God's will. True success in the church is not measured by the number of programs or the grandeur of our services but by the depth of our love for Jesus and for one another. We should be a community that loves so profoundly that the world takes notice.
Our goal is to cultivate devoted worshipers of God who do not rely on external stimuli to engage in worship, prayer, or Bible study. We aim to create loving families within the church, where members care for each other as deeply as Jesus commanded. This love should be so evident that it becomes a testimony to the world.
Furthermore, we need godly leadership that matures and strengthens the body of Christ, making disciples who, in turn, make more disciples. This natural flow of discipleship should lead to the formation of new leaders and new churches, perpetuating a cycle of growth and mission.
We also discussed the importance of organic fellowship and evangelism. Unlike the old model, where programs were necessary to prompt action, we now see a community where sharing faith and caring for one another happens naturally. This is driven by a genuine love for Jesus and a hope in the promise of heaven. Ordinary people, deeply in love with Jesus, are the most powerful testimonies, as their lives reflect a true commitment to the gospel.
### Key Takeaways
1. Consumerism vs. Servanthood: The church must shift from a consumer mindset to one of servanthood. Jesus came to serve, not to be served, and we are called to follow His example. This shift requires a fundamental change in how we view success in the church, focusing on creating servants rather than consumers. [01:48]
2. Scriptural Realignment: To correct our course, we must return to Scripture and ask what God loves, hates, and commands. This realignment will help us focus on what truly matters, leading to a church that loves Jesus deeply and loves one another profoundly. [04:46]
3. Organic Discipleship: True discipleship should be a natural flow within the church, where new believers are nurtured by those further along in their faith journey. This organic process leads to the formation of new leaders and new churches, perpetuating growth and mission. [08:46]
4. Natural Fellowship and Evangelism: Unlike the old model that relied on programs, the new approach sees fellowship and evangelism happening naturally. This is driven by a genuine love for Jesus and a hope in the promise of heaven, making these actions a natural outflow of our faith. [15:23]
5. Power of Ordinary Believers: The most powerful testimonies come from ordinary believers who are deeply in love with Jesus. Their lives, marked by genuine faith and commitment, serve as a compelling witness to the transformative power of the gospel. [19:21]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:48] - Consumerism vs. Servanthood
[04:46] - Scriptural Realignment
[08:46] - Organic Discipleship
[15:23] - Natural Fellowship and Evangelism
[19:21] - Power of Ordinary Believers
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. John 13:34-35 - "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."
3. Matthew 28:19-20 - "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."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Mark 10:45, what was Jesus' primary mission on earth?
2. In John 13:34-35, what is the new commandment Jesus gives, and how will people recognize His disciples?
3. What are the key actions Jesus commands in Matthew 28:19-20 for making disciples?
4. How does the sermon describe the shift from a consumer mindset to one of servanthood in the church? [01:48]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' example of servanthood in Mark 10:45 challenge the consumer mindset prevalent in many churches today?
2. What does it mean to love one another as Jesus loved us, according to John 13:34-35, and how can this love be a testimony to the world? [04:46]
3. How can the process of making disciples, as described in Matthew 28:19-20, lead to the formation of new leaders and churches? [08:46]
4. The sermon mentions that true fellowship and evangelism should happen naturally. How does this compare to the old model that relied on programs? [15:23]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have adopted a consumer mindset in your faith? How can you shift towards a mindset of servanthood? [01:48]
2. Think about your church community: How can you contribute to creating a loving family within the church where members care for each other deeply? [04:46]
3. Identify one person in your church who is newer in their faith. How can you help nurture their growth and encourage them to become a disciple-maker? [08:46]
4. Consider your daily interactions: How can you naturally share your faith and care for others without relying on church programs? [15:23]
5. Reflect on the ordinary believers mentioned in the sermon who are deeply in love with Jesus. What steps can you take to deepen your own love for Jesus and let it overflow into your actions and conversations? [19:21]
6. How can you cultivate a genuine hope in the promise of heaven that influences your daily life and interactions with others? [15:23]
7. Think about a specific way you can demonstrate sacrificial love to someone in your church or community this week. What will you do, and how will you ensure it reflects Jesus' love? [04:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Shifting from Consumerism to Servanthood
The church must shift from a consumer mindset to one of servanthood. Jesus came to serve, not to be served, and we are called to follow His example. This shift requires a fundamental change in how we view success in the church, focusing on creating servants rather than consumers. The current trend of consumerism within the church has led to a distortion of what it means to follow Jesus Christ. Instead of fostering a community of selfless servants, we have inadvertently created a culture of self-serving individuals. This goes against the core teachings of Jesus, who emphasized servanthood and sacrifice. To realign with His teachings, we must prioritize servanthood over consumerism, measuring success not by the number of programs or the grandeur of our services but by the depth of our love and service to one another.
[01:48]
Mark 10:45 (ESV): "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your mindset from being a consumer to being a servant within your church community? How can you serve others selflessly this week?
Day 2: Realigning with Scripture
To correct our course, we must return to Scripture and ask what God loves, hates, and commands. This realignment will help us focus on what truly matters, leading to a church that loves Jesus deeply and loves one another profoundly. By focusing on these fundamental questions, we can realign our practices with God's will. True success in the church is not measured by external factors but by the depth of our love for Jesus and for one another. We should strive to be a community that loves so profoundly that the world takes notice, reflecting the love of Christ in all that we do.
[04:46]
Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: What specific steps can you take to realign your life with what God loves, hates, and commands? How can you deepen your love for Jesus and for others today?
Day 3: Embracing Organic Discipleship
True discipleship should be a natural flow within the church, where new believers are nurtured by those further along in their faith journey. This organic process leads to the formation of new leaders and new churches, perpetuating growth and mission. Instead of relying on structured programs, discipleship should happen naturally as believers share their lives and faith with one another. This approach fosters genuine relationships and spiritual growth, creating a cycle of discipleship that leads to the development of new leaders and the expansion of the church.
[08:46]
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally invest in and disciple? How can you create opportunities for organic discipleship within your church community?
Day 4: Natural Fellowship and Evangelism
Unlike the old model that relied on programs, the new approach sees fellowship and evangelism happening naturally. This is driven by a genuine love for Jesus and a hope in the promise of heaven, making these actions a natural outflow of our faith. When believers are deeply in love with Jesus, their lives naturally reflect His love and message to others. This organic approach to fellowship and evangelism creates a vibrant and authentic community where faith is shared and lived out in everyday interactions.
[15:23]
Acts 2:46-47 (ESV): "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: How can you cultivate natural fellowship and evangelism in your daily life? What steps can you take to share your faith more authentically with those around you?
Day 5: The Power of Ordinary Believers
The most powerful testimonies come from ordinary believers who are deeply in love with Jesus. Their lives, marked by genuine faith and commitment, serve as a compelling witness to the transformative power of the gospel. Ordinary people, deeply in love with Jesus, are the most powerful testimonies, as their lives reflect a true commitment to the gospel. This genuine faith and love for Jesus can inspire and draw others to Him, demonstrating the impact of a life fully devoted to Christ.
[19:21]
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (ESV): "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything."
Reflection: How can your life serve as a testimony to the transformative power of the gospel? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate your genuine love for Jesus to those around you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Most people know that in America, Christianity has become this consumer thing. If they're not finding that in the church, we have to go back to Scripture and go, why not? What are we doing wrong? One of our elders calls it pastoral malpractice. Like, you're actually ruining people by making them consumers, because you're supposed to be turning them into servants. We don't come to be served. We serve and give our lives as a ransom for many. It's at the core of what we understand it means to follow Jesus Christ." (84 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Like, this is success to us when our people love, really love Jesus. Like, they don't need all of the bells and whistles, you know, in order to sing, or in order to pray, or in order to get in the Word. We want them to be devoted worshipers of God. We wanted these loving families. Like, are we looking around and seeing, like, these groups of people that really adore one another? I mean, love to the point that Jesus wanted, where the world would look on and go, I've never seen love like this." (169 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It's just this fellowship is going on and I'm not pushing it. And I felt like with the old model, people aren't going to reach out unless you create a program for them to do it. People aren't going to fellowship with each other unless you create some program for that. People aren't going to get together and pray unless you schedule it for them. People won't take communion unless you get all the elements and everything figured out. And now it's just this thing where people are sharing their faith every day. It's just happening. It's natural. They can't help it. They don't need my permission." (281 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "It's these ordinary people that are so deeply in love with Jesus. That they can't help but go and talk about Him when they're going door to door in their neighborhoods. Not prompted by anyone else, just prompted by a love for their neighbors and a love of Jesus and belief in the gospel. Those have been the most powerful stories to me because it gets rid of all the excuses. know, it's like, well, if that guy's doing it and he's a doctor and that guy's doing it and he's a thug, what's my excuse why I'm not?" (36 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Church, in my mind, and the best I can understand scripture, was supposed to be a group of people that loved Jesus. They loved each other deeply because that was His command. This is our true family now. More than a family, we are a body, like one. You are my arm, and so I will protect you, and any hurt to you is a hurt to me. And for there to be this godly leadership that matures this body and strengthens them, disciples them, and sends them out on mission so that we get serious about getting to the rest of the world and making disciples of them." (134 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Let's say someone comes to my gathering, and they're just understanding Jesus. Then I find someone that's further along and encourage them to help that newer believer. And so there's just this natural flow of these people who show up, that become disciple makers, then become pastors, and then become elders. And then once we got a few elders, it's like, okay, let's even branch that off, and you three elders take those churches, you three elders take those churches, and let's just keep it going." (134 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Are they people who sacrifice and suffer because they so believe in the hope of heaven? Do they see themselves as just travelers on this earth? Or are they building a home for themselves? Are they these suffering sojourners that just can't wait for the return of Christ? You know, if I say I get up at 5 in the morning and spend time with the Lord, they go, oh, that's great, you know, but you're Francis Chan, you know? And when Marcus is doing it at 3.30 in the morning before he goes to work, you know, picking up needles off the street and cleaning off the grossest part of the city and speaking to homeless and caring for them." (43 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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