Growing Together: Our Path to Discipleship
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church family. It's always a joy to gather and worship together. Let's begin our time with a prayer, setting our hearts on God, the source of our salvation, life, peace, and joy. We are here to celebrate Him, the one who has transformed our lives through the power of the gospel. We were once dead, but now we are alive in Christ. Let's stand and sing together, giving Him all our affections and our lives. As we continue in worship, let's also take up our offering, recognizing that everything we do is in response to what God has done for us. We surrender to Him because we believe His way is best and He will provide for all our needs.
Today, I want to remind us of our purpose and path as a church. We'll start with Ephesians 4:7-16, where Paul outlines the goal of the church and the importance of staying on the right path. The church receives gifts from Christ, and these gifts are meant to equip the saints for the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ. Our goal is to attain maturity, growing into the fullness of Christ. Maturity guards us against being tossed around by false doctrines and helps us grow in love and unity.
Our church's purpose is to make mature, multiplying disciples of Jesus in our community, country, and world for the glory of God. This purpose is rooted in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands us to make disciples of all nations. A disciple is a follower of Christ, and we aim to make disciples who are both mature and multiplying. This means they look like Jesus and are actively making more disciples.
To achieve this, we have a clear path with four steps: Celebrate, Connect, Grow, and Go. The first step is Celebrate, which involves our Sunday corporate worship gatherings. This is where we come together to worship God, build one another up, and evangelize the lost. The early church gathered on the Lord's day to remember Christ and worship Him as the risen Lord. Celebrating together is a spiritual discipline that helps us grow in maturity.
The second step is Connect, which involves smaller groups of community called Connect Groups. These groups meet regularly to study the Word of God, pray together, and support one another. Genuine fellowship isn't practical in a large crowd, so Connect Groups provide the opportunity to build deeper relationships and practice the "one another" commands in Scripture.
The third step is Grow, which involves Grow Groups. These are small, gender-specific groups that meet for 12 to 36 months to mature in their faith and learn how to make disciples. Grow Groups teach basic spiritual disciplines, such as reading and studying God's Word, sharing the gospel, and praying for one another. They provide the tools needed to mature in Christ and become disciple-makers.
The final step is Go, which involves making disciples wherever God sends us. This could be in our local community, on a mission trip, or even in another country. Grow Groups naturally lead to Go, as mature disciples are equipped to make more disciples. There are many ways to go, such as leading groups, serving in ministry, or planting churches.
As we close today, I want to encourage you to consider where you are on this path. Are you ready to take the next step? If you have questions or want to learn more, please talk to me or visit the tables set up in the fellowship hall. Let's pray together, asking God to help us follow Him with all our lives and build up one another in love.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Worship and Surrender: Worship is not just about singing songs; it's about surrendering our lives to God in response to His grace and provision. When we gather to worship, we are reminded that everything we do is for His glory. This act of worship helps us to realign our priorities and focus on what truly matters—our relationship with God and our obedience to His will. [54:16]
2. The Church's Purpose and Path: Our church exists to make mature, multiplying disciples of Jesus in our community, country, and world for the glory of God. This purpose is rooted in the Great Commission and involves a clear path: Celebrate, Connect, Grow, and Go. Each step is designed to help us grow in our faith and fulfill our mission as followers of Christ. [01:13:54]
3. The Role of Spiritual Gifts: Every believer has been given spiritual gifts by Christ, and these gifts are meant to equip the church for ministry. Leaders are called to equip the saints, and the saints are called to do the work of ministry. This collaborative effort builds up the body of Christ and helps us grow into maturity, reflecting the fullness of Christ in our lives. [01:06:39]
4. The Power of Community: Genuine fellowship and community are essential for spiritual growth. Connect Groups provide a space for believers to build deeper relationships, support one another, and practice the "one another" commands in Scripture. These smaller groups help us to grow in our faith and become more like Christ. [01:27:41]
5. The Call to Make Disciples: Mature disciples are called to make more disciples. Grow Groups are designed to equip believers with the tools they need to mature in their faith and become disciple-makers. This process involves learning basic spiritual disciplines, such as reading and studying God's Word, sharing the gospel, and praying for one another. As we grow in maturity, we are called to go and make disciples wherever God sends us. [01:37:04]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [35:13] - Opening Prayer and Worship
3. [54:16] - Offering and Worship as Surrender
4. [58:28] - Introduction to Church Purpose and Path
5. [59:30] - Ephesians 4:7-16 Reading
6. [01:04:00] - The Church Receives Gifts
7. [01:06:39] - The Church is Equipped for Ministry
8. [01:09:15] - The Church Pursues Maturity in Christ
9. [01:13:54] - Church Purpose: Make Mature, Multiplying Disciples
10. [01:17:27] - Community, Country, and World for God's Glory
11. [01:19:44] - The Path: Celebrate, Connect, Grow, Go
12. [01:21:36] - Celebrate: Corporate Worship
13. [01:25:00] - The Discipline of Gathering
14. [01:27:41] - Connect: Smaller Groups of Community
15. [01:30:08] - The Importance of Genuine Fellowship
16. [01:32:15] - Grow: Grow Groups
17. [01:33:09] - Grow Groups: Deep Accountability
18. [01:37:04] - Go: Making Disciples Everywhere
19. [01:39:18] - Where Are You on the Path?
20. [01:41:00] - Path Party and Fellowship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 4:7-16
2. Matthew 28:19-20
3. Hebrews 10:24-25
### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 4:7-16, what are the purposes of the gifts given to the church by Christ?
2. What are the four steps outlined in the sermon for achieving the church's purpose? [01:19:44]
3. How does the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 relate to the church's purpose as described in the sermon? [01:14:23]
4. What does Hebrews 10:24-25 say about the importance of gathering together as believers?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How do the spiritual gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:7-16 equip the church for ministry and maturity? [01:06:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that corporate worship (Celebrate) contributes to spiritual growth and maturity? [01:25:58]
3. How does the concept of "speaking the truth in love" from Ephesians 4:15 apply to the relationships within Connect Groups? [01:10:54]
4. What does it mean to be a "mature, multiplying disciple" as described in the sermon, and how does this align with the Great Commission? [01:15:34]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current involvement in corporate worship. How can you make "Celebrate" a more integral part of your spiritual discipline? [01:25:58]
2. Are you currently part of a Connect Group? If not, what steps can you take to join one and build deeper relationships with other believers? [01:30:46]
3. Think about your spiritual maturity. What specific areas do you need to grow in to become more like Christ? How can a Grow Group help you in this process? [01:33:48]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of making disciples. Identify one person in your life who you can begin to disciple. What practical steps will you take to start this journey? [01:37:04]
5. How can you contribute to the church's mission of making mature, multiplying disciples in your community, country, and world? What specific actions can you take this week? [01:17:27]
6. Reflect on the idea of surrendering your life to God in worship. What areas of your life do you need to surrender more fully to Him? [54:16]
7. How can you encourage and support others in your Connect Group or Grow Group to stay on the path of becoming mature, multiplying disciples? [01:30:46]
Devotional
### Day 1: Worship as Surrender
Worship is not just about singing songs; it's about surrendering our lives to God in response to His grace and provision. When we gather to worship, we are reminded that everything we do is for His glory. This act of worship helps us to realign our priorities and focus on what truly matters—our relationship with God and our obedience to His will.
In our corporate worship gatherings, we come together to celebrate God, the source of our salvation, life, peace, and joy. We were once dead, but now we are alive in Christ. As we sing and give our offerings, we recognize that everything we do is in response to what God has done for us. We surrender to Him because we believe His way is best and He will provide for all our needs. [54:16]
Bible Passage: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV)
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 2: The Church's Purpose and Path
Our church exists to make mature, multiplying disciples of Jesus in our community, country, and world for the glory of God. This purpose is rooted in the Great Commission and involves a clear path: Celebrate, Connect, Grow, and Go. Each step is designed to help us grow in our faith and fulfill our mission as followers of Christ.
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) commands us to make disciples of all nations. A disciple is a follower of Christ, and we aim to make disciples who are both mature and multiplying. This means they look like Jesus and are actively making more disciples. Our path includes celebrating together in worship, connecting in smaller groups, growing in our faith through discipleship, and going out to make more disciples. [01:13:54]
Bible Passage: "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: Where are you on the path of Celebrate, Connect, Grow, and Go? What is the next step you need to take to grow in your faith and fulfill your mission as a follower of Christ?
### Day 3: The Role of Spiritual Gifts
Every believer has been given spiritual gifts by Christ, and these gifts are meant to equip the church for ministry. Leaders are called to equip the saints, and the saints are called to do the work of ministry. This collaborative effort builds up the body of Christ and helps us grow into maturity, reflecting the fullness of Christ in our lives.
Spiritual gifts are not just for personal edification but for the building up of the church. When each member uses their gifts, the church grows in love and unity. This maturity guards us against being tossed around by false doctrines and helps us grow in love and unity. [01:06:39]
Bible Passage: "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:7, ESV)
Reflection: What spiritual gifts has God given you? How can you use these gifts to serve and build up the body of Christ in your local church?
### Day 4: The Power of Community
Genuine fellowship and community are essential for spiritual growth. Connect Groups provide a space for believers to build deeper relationships, support one another, and practice the "one another" commands in Scripture. These smaller groups help us to grow in our faith and become more like Christ.
In a large crowd, genuine fellowship isn't practical, so Connect Groups provide the opportunity to build deeper relationships and practice the "one another" commands in Scripture. These groups meet regularly to study the Word of God, pray together, and support one another. [01:27:41]
Bible Passage: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: Are you part of a Connect Group or similar community? If not, what steps can you take to join one and build deeper relationships with fellow believers?
### Day 5: The Call to Make Disciples
Mature disciples are called to make more disciples. Grow Groups are designed to equip believers with the tools they need to mature in their faith and become disciple-makers. This process involves learning basic spiritual disciplines, such as reading and studying God's Word, sharing the gospel, and praying for one another. As we grow in maturity, we are called to go and make disciples wherever God sends us.
Grow Groups meet for 12 to 36 months to mature in their faith and learn how to make disciples. They provide the tools needed to mature in Christ and become disciple-makers. This could be in our local community, on a mission trip, or even in another country. [01:37:04]
Bible Passage: "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." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can begin to disciple? What steps can you take this week to start investing in their spiritual growth?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We were buried, we were dead, but you called our name and came alive. His alone, He alone satisfies. Our heart belongs to Him. We want Him to have all of our affections, our life, everything. Let's continue in worship this morning as we take up our offering. I encourage you to let this continue to be a time of worship. Worship, let this continue to be a time responding to Him. All that we do in response to what God has done for us is worship to Him. Everything that we do for His glory, we want to bring Him glory. That is our desire." [54:16]
2. "If we came to Him for salvation, and we need Him for everything, because salvation is our greatest need, everything else, we need Him as well. All the more. In 11 Romans, that reminder raises that God graciously has given us His Son. How will He not, along with Him, graciously give us all things? God will take care of us. He's given us Jesus. He's given us salvation. And surely, through Him, we have all that we need. So we surrender to Him. Because we believe His way is best. And we believe He will give us all we need." [56:19]
3. "We exist to make mature, multiplying disciples of Jesus in our community, country, and world for the glory of God. This purpose is rooted in the Great Commission and involves a clear path: Celebrate, Connect, Grow, and Go. Each step is designed to help us grow in our faith and fulfill our mission as followers of Christ." [01:13:54]
4. "We want to be a body that is building and growing and doing what you've called us to do. So help us and show us that today. We ask in the name of Jesus. Amen." [01:06:03]
5. "We desire to see every single person here making disciples so that one day we can walk up to you and say, 'Hey, who are you discipling?' And you'd be able to list off the people that you're discipling that you're pouring into. We want to see that because we want to, we want to see Jesus made known in our community, country, and world for the glory of God." [01:36:23]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Maturity guards us against wavering in circumstances and wallowing in false doctrines. If you look at verse 14, the way that Paul, the illustration he gives, we may no longer be children tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, human cunning and craftiness and deceitfulness. It brings to mind like a ship or a person maybe afloat on a piece of shipwreck going back and forth and being tossed around by everything, right? And so that's what can happen to us." [01:11:37]
2. "We believe everyone needs to be involved in a connect group. Whether you are young or old, single or married, wherever you're at in life. Everyone needs these kinds of relationships because God uses the closeness of that relationship powerfully in the lives of those involved. I mean, we all understand this simple principle, right? Genuine fellowship isn't practical in a crowd this size, right? Who in here knows everyone else in this room 100%? Okay. I didn't think so. Cool." [01:30:08]
3. "Grow groups intentionally teach a person to become a multiplying disciple, a multiplying disciple, right? That's a disciple maker and the grow group consists of three to five people who faithfully meet for roughly 12 to 36 months to mature in their faith and learn how to make disciples at the end of a grow group because they have an end date. Then those people multiply each member goes and finds three to five other people to invite into a new group." [01:33:09]
4. "We believe disciples of Jesus need to connect with smaller groups of believers to grow in maturity and learn how to become a multiplying disciple. And so that leads to our next step, the second step on our path, which is connect. Connect. Connect. What is connect? Connect is connecting in smaller groups of community, which we call connect groups." [01:27:41]
5. "We want to be fully grown in our relationship with God. And fully grown, but what does that maturity look like? What does that fully grown look like? The awesome thing is he lays it out, right? What is the standard of maturity? What's the measure of maturity? It's the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, right? Have you ever been to a theme park? It says you must be this tall to ride. And then you weren't able to ride maybe, right? If you've ever been there, it's all right. You've got scars. Well, Jesus is our measure. Jesus is our standard. And all of us, our goal is to grow into, to be like Jesus, the fullness of Christ. To be like him in every way, right? A mature person ought to look like Jesus." [01:09:52]
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