Growing in Faith: Love, Serve, and Discipleship
Summary
In this sermon series titled "This is Us," the pastor discusses the church's vision of love, serve, and invite, and the discipleship process consisting of five words: come, connect, give, grow, and go. The pastor emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and encourages the congregation to assess their spiritual journey and seek progress in their relationship with Christ. The pastor also highlights the importance of discipleship and the replication of what they have learned and experienced through discipleship by going out and discipling others.
The pastor acknowledges the challenges of measuring spiritual maturity and emphasizes that age does not determine one's level of maturity. He encourages the congregation to not just stay stagnant in their faith, but to actively seek growth and progress in their walk with Christ. The pastor also emphasizes the importance of being missions-focused Christians and striving for excellence in all endeavors.
The pastor expresses frustration with the congregation leaving during the gospel invitation, which he considers to be the most important part of the service. He invites those who are still present to stay and emphasizes the importance of being engaged and connected with others in the church community. The pastor also emphasizes the importance of attending church regularly and warns against the mindset of feeling better about missing church and relying solely on online services.
The pastor acknowledges that no one in the room is perfect and that everyone has their own set of problems. However, he emphasizes that despite our imperfections, we serve a perfect Jesus and preach a perfect gospel. The pastor urges the congregation not to settle for just being saved, but to actively do something with the life that God has given them for His glory.
In conclusion, the pastor discusses the importance of giving generously in three different ways: time, talent, and treasure. While the focus is often on financial generosity, the pastor emphasizes that the investment of time and talent is equally important for the ministries of the church. The pastor encourages the congregation to consider giving in all three areas and emphasizes the importance of balancing all aspects of generosity.
Key Takeaways:
- The pastor emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth and encourages the congregation to assess their spiritual journey and seek progress in their relationship with Christ. This is a reminder that spiritual growth is a continuous process and requires active participation and commitment from the believer. ([12:45])
- The pastor highlights the importance of discipleship and the replication of what they have learned and experienced through discipleship by going out and discipling others. This emphasizes the role of each believer in spreading the gospel and making disciples of all nations. ([22:30])
- The pastor expresses frustration with the congregation leaving during the gospel invitation, which he considers to be the most important part of the service. This serves as a reminder of the importance of being fully present and engaged during church services, and not just physically present. ([34:15])
- The pastor urges the congregation not to settle for just being saved, but to actively do something with the life that God has given them for His glory. This is a call to action for believers to live out their faith actively and not just passively accept salvation. ([45:50])
- The pastor discusses the importance of giving generously in three different ways: time, talent, and treasure. This emphasizes the holistic approach to giving and the importance of balancing all aspects of generosity. ([58:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 #!!52:26!!#
2. Matthew 28:19-20 #!!01:07:59!!#
3. Colossians 3:23-24 #!!01:12:47!!#
Observation Questions:
1. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, what does Paul mean when he refers to the Corinthians as "babes in Christ"?
2. How does Matthew 28:19-20 relate to the concept of discipleship as discussed in the content?
3. What does Colossians 3:23-24 teach us about our attitude towards our work or mission?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of spiritual maturity relate to the process of discipleship as outlined in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2?
2. How does Matthew 28:19-20 instruct us to carry out the process of discipleship in our daily lives?
3. How can we apply the principles in Colossians 3:23-24 to our approach to serving in the church and in our communities?
Application Questions:
1. How can you identify areas in your spiritual life where you are still a "babe in Christ" and need to mature?
2. What is one specific way you can "make disciples" in your current context, as instructed in Matthew 28:19-20?
3. How can you leverage your talents or your job as a platform for ministry, as suggested by Colossians 3:23-24?
4. Can you think of a specific situation where you can apply the principle of "excellence in all our endeavors" in your service to God and others?
5. How can you ensure that you continue to grow in your faith and not become stagnant or complacent?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Replication
The sermon emphasizes the importance of discipleship and the power of replication in our spiritual growth. As we learn and grow in Christ, we are called to disciple others, replicating the teachings and values we've received. This process not only benefits those we disciple but also accelerates our own growth as we are pushed back to the Word by the questions and challenges that arise ([01:07:59]).
2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey. Who has discipled you and how can you replicate that by discipling others?
Day 2: Generosity with Time and Talent
The sermon encourages us to be generous with our time and talents, starting with things that are eternal and working out from there. Our talents, which are gifts from God, should be leveraged for His glory ([01:05:19]).
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: How can you be more generous with your time and talents for God's glory?
Day 3: The Importance of Growth
The sermon underscores the importance of continual growth in our walk with Christ. The moment we stop growing, we start declining. We are encouraged to assess where we are and not to settle there but to strive for growth ([01:10:57]).
Colossians 1:10 - "So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure continual growth in your walk with Christ?
Day 4: Love, Serve, Invite
The sermon presents a simple yet profound formula for our Christian walk: love, serve, invite. We are called to love God and others, serve in the church and community, and invite others to church and to know Christ ([51:13]).
Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."
Reflection: How can you better embody the principles of love, serve, and invite in your daily life?
Day 5: The Discipleship Process
The sermon outlines a discipleship process encapsulated in five words: come, connect, give, grow, go. This process is a journey we are invited to join, a journey that involves coming to Christ, connecting with others, giving of ourselves, growing in Christ, and going out to serve ([51:13]).
Matthew 28:19 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on your own discipleship journey. Where are you in this process and what is your next step?
Quotes
"Our vision is to love God, love others, serve in the church, serve our community, and invite others to come to know Christ." [51:13]
"Age does not determine spiritual maturity. We developed this process to give you a tool to track your progress and understand how to grow in your journey with the Lord." [53:08]
"So what we're asking, inviting you to do is a part of this church is to find a way to be generous with your time. How about start with the things that are Eternal and work out what a novel thought." [01:05:56]
"The talent in which God's blessed you with, which, by the way, if you have talent that's a gift from God, leverage it for him. But I don't, it doesn't matter what it is, you're all talented. I'm just asking you, just leverage it for his glory, whatever it is, leverage it for his glory." [01:06:34]
"Don't just be settled to say, 'Oh, I'm saved,' and so I'm getting in. How about you do something now with the life He's given you for His glory?" [01:14:06]
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