Intentional Discipleship: Living Out Christ's Teachings
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to integrate the teachings of Jesus into our lives, not as mere external rules, but as expressions of our transformed selves. This transformation is rooted in the redemptive work God has initiated within us. As disciples of Jesus, our aim is to live our lives as He would if He were in our place. This requires a conscious and intentional effort to align our daily actions with His teachings on blessedness and righteousness. Intention is crucial; it moves us from merely wishing or wanting to actively deciding to embody these teachings in our lives.
Spiritual formation is a process that involves both divine grace and human effort. It is not a passive experience but an active engagement with God’s word and the Holy Spirit. As we add virtues like faith, knowledge, and love to our lives, we become more like Christ. This progression is beautifully illustrated in scriptures like 2 Peter 1:4-7, where love is the ultimate goal, binding all virtues together in perfect unity.
Our work, whether in the home, arts, sciences, or any field, is an integral part of our discipleship. We are called to perform our jobs as Jesus would, refusing to cooperate with evil and seeking God’s miraculous hand in our endeavors. This approach transforms our work into a platform for witnessing God’s kingdom.
Sanctification is a sustained relationship with God that enables us to do what is right naturally and routinely. It is not a one-time experience but a continuous journey of growth and character formation through action. Spiritual formation, therefore, is about developing our inner selves so that the righteousness of Christ permeates every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Intention in Discipleship: Moving from wishing to wanting, and finally to intending, is crucial in our spiritual journey. Intention involves a conscious decision to align our lives with Jesus' teachings, making them a reality in our daily actions. This intentionality is the foundation of true discipleship. [02:18]
- The Role of Love in Spiritual Growth: Love, particularly agape love, is the capstone of spiritual virtues. It binds all other virtues together, creating a unified and complete life in Christ. This love is the ultimate expression of our spiritual maturity and the goal of our formation. [03:49]
- Active Participation in Spiritual Formation: Spiritual growth involves both divine grace and human effort. We must actively engage in practices that foster our spiritual development, such as adding virtues to our faith and living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. [05:49]
- Integrating Work into Discipleship: Our jobs are not separate from our spiritual lives but are opportunities to live out our discipleship. By performing our work as Jesus would, we witness to God’s kingdom and refuse to cooperate with evil, transforming our workplaces into arenas of divine activity. [09:19]
- Action as a Means of Character Formation: True spiritual formation occurs through action. Just as Jesus often asked those He healed to do what seemed impossible, we too must step out in faith, allowing our actions to shape our character and deepen our relationship with God. [27:15]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Integrating Jesus' Teachings
[01:00] - The Importance of Intention
[02:30] - Spiritual Formation Explained
[03:20] - The Role of Love
[04:34] - Activity and Passivity in Growth
[06:01] - Wanting and Intending Spiritual Growth
[07:33] - Stepping into Discipleship
[08:51] - Work as Discipleship
[10:06] - Refusing to Cooperate with Evil
[11:20] - Witnessing God's Miraculous Hand
[12:40] - Expecting God's Intervention
[14:47] - Making Work a Place for God's Hand
[16:22] - Understanding Sanctification
[19:17] - Approaches to Spiritual Formation
[21:21] - Legalism and Spiritual Growth
[23:43] - Action and Character Formation
[27:15] - Creative Will and Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Peter 1:4-7
2. Colossians 3:14
3. John 8:31-32
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#### Observation Questions
1. According to 2 Peter 1:4-7, what virtues are we encouraged to add to our faith, and how do they culminate in love?
2. How does Colossians 3:14 describe the role of love in our spiritual lives?
3. In John 8:31-32, what does Jesus say will happen if we continue in His word?
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate how our work can be integrated into our discipleship? [09:19]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the progression of virtues in 2 Peter 1:4-7 reflect the process of spiritual formation described in the sermon? [03:06]
2. What does it mean for love to be the "bond of perfection" as mentioned in Colossians 3:14, and how does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on love as the capstone of spiritual virtues? [04:18]
3. How does the concept of continuing in Jesus' word, as described in John 8:31-32, align with the sermon’s call to active participation in spiritual formation? [24:09]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our intention plays a crucial role in our spiritual growth and discipleship? [02:18]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current intentions in your spiritual journey. Are there areas where you need to move from wishing or wanting to truly intending to follow Jesus' teachings? How can you make this shift? [02:18]
2. Consider the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1:4-7. Which virtue do you feel most challenged to develop, and what practical steps can you take to cultivate it in your daily life? [03:06]
3. How can you integrate your work or daily activities into your discipleship? Identify one specific way you can perform your job as Jesus would this week. [09:19]
4. Think about a situation where you might be tempted to cooperate with evil in your workplace or community. How can you stand firm in your faith and refuse to participate in such actions? [10:19]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of action in character formation. What is one action you can take this week to align your behavior more closely with the teachings of Jesus? [27:15]
6. How can you actively seek God's miraculous hand in your daily endeavors, as suggested in the sermon? Share a specific area where you hope to see God's intervention. [11:20]
7. Reflect on the role of love in your spiritual growth. How can you make agape love more central in your interactions with others this week? [04:18]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Intention as the Foundation of Discipleship
In the journey of discipleship, intention is the bridge between desire and action. It is not enough to merely wish to follow Jesus; one must make a conscious decision to align their life with His teachings. This intentionality transforms abstract desires into concrete actions, allowing the teachings of Jesus to become a living reality in daily life. By moving from wishing to wanting, and finally to intending, individuals can truly embody the principles of blessedness and righteousness that Jesus taught. This process requires a deliberate effort to integrate His teachings into every aspect of life, making them the foundation of true discipleship. [02:18]
2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you can move from wishing to intending to follow Jesus' teachings today? How can you make a conscious decision to act on this intention?
Day 2: Love as the Capstone of Spiritual Virtues
Love, particularly agape love, is the ultimate expression of spiritual maturity and the goal of spiritual formation. It is the virtue that binds all other virtues together, creating a unified and complete life in Christ. As individuals grow in their spiritual journey, love becomes the capstone that holds everything together, reflecting the character of Christ in their lives. This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice to act in ways that reflect the love of God to others. It is through this love that believers can truly embody the teachings of Jesus and live a life that is pleasing to God. [03:49]
Colossians 3:14 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the agape love of Christ through you today? How can you intentionally show them this love in a practical way?
Day 3: Active Participation in Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth is a dynamic process that involves both divine grace and human effort. It is not a passive experience but requires active engagement with God's word and the Holy Spirit. By adding virtues like faith, knowledge, and love to their lives, believers become more like Christ. This active participation in spiritual formation is essential for developing a character that reflects the righteousness of Christ. It involves a commitment to practices that foster spiritual development and a willingness to live out the teachings of Jesus in everyday life. [05:49]
James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
Reflection: What is one spiritual practice you can commit to this week to actively engage in your spiritual growth? How can you ensure that this practice becomes a regular part of your life?
Day 4: Integrating Work into Discipleship
Work is not separate from spiritual life but is an integral part of discipleship. By performing their jobs as Jesus would, believers can witness to God's kingdom and refuse to cooperate with evil. This approach transforms workplaces into arenas of divine activity, where God's miraculous hand can be seen. By integrating work into their spiritual journey, individuals can live out their discipleship in every aspect of life, making their work a platform for witnessing God's kingdom. [09:19]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: How can you approach your work today as an act of discipleship? What specific actions can you take to ensure that your work reflects the values and teachings of Jesus?
Day 5: Action as a Means of Character Formation
True spiritual formation occurs through action. Just as Jesus often asked those He healed to do what seemed impossible, believers must step out in faith, allowing their actions to shape their character and deepen their relationship with God. This process of sanctification is a sustained relationship with God that enables individuals to do what is right naturally and routinely. By engaging in actions that reflect the teachings of Jesus, believers can develop their inner selves and allow the righteousness of Christ to permeate every aspect of their lives. [27:15]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: What is one action you can take today that requires stepping out in faith? How can this action help shape your character and deepen your relationship with God?
Quotes
In our journey of faith, we are called to integrate the teachings of Jesus into our lives, not as mere external rules, but as expressions of our transformed selves. This transformation is rooted in the redemptive work God has initiated within us. As disciples of Jesus, our aim is to live our lives as He would if He were in our place. [00:00:10]
Intention comes at the point of where we decide that we are going to bring this into reality. Now the language that is often used today is spiritual formation. I have included since I found I was going to be able to hand out copies I thought I'd give you something a little thicker than the transparencies. [00:02:17]
Agape love is presented as the capstone. That's true in Matthew 5. We didn't have time to do all that work there but if you study that you'll see agape love is the capstone. You start out with not being angry and killing people and you wind up with the gothy love. [00:03:49]
Activity and passivity see in a personal relationship you never have just activity and passivity you have activity and passivity on both sides. That's the way it works doesn't matter what it is any personal relationship you have and anytime you reduce it to all activity on one side and all passivity on the other you destroy the personal relationship. [00:04:54]
If we want it God will give it to us, it's there for us and the next step then is to intend it. Do we intend to do that and intention is comes in degrees, comes more or less wavering and fixed and we have to come to the place where we stably intended. [00:06:45]
If we're not able to bring our job into our discipleship we are automatically excluding a major portion of our life, perhaps the major portion of our life from learning to live in the kingdom of God. So whatever my job may be I have to see that as something Jesus could be doing. [00:09:02]
I simply don't cooperate with evil and I just hear story after story from people and I know from my own work in the University of Southern California you are constantly called on to cooperate with evil and you just learn how not to do it you don't make a big fuss about it necessarily. [00:10:17]
We ought to see the hand of God making a difference miraculously in what we're accomplishing at our work. See it is our life is not just avoiding sin and as we grow in more and more is not just avoiding sin and when we start it often seems like that's a lot of it. [00:11:16]
The commands of Jesus in the sermon on the mount are invitations to be a certain type of person, a person who through faith and discipleship in him has become inwardly transformed so that his behaviors flow naturally, supernaturally of course from those from who they now are as his mature brothers and sisters under the present rule of God. [00:15:19]
Sanctification is a consciously chosen and sustained relationship with God in Christ in which one is able to do and routinely does what they know to be right before God. Okay now where have we gotten remember we started last night talking about the problem of not being able to do the things that you intend to do. [00:16:22]
Character can only be formed by action. Suppose you had a friend who walked up and said my neighbor is learning Spanish for me what would you say to them? Would you say hmm I expect you soon to be able to speak Spanish well, see you the development of your soul and speaking Spanish or English is soul stuff. [00:23:43]
He rarely ever heals people without asking them to do what they cannot do. The man with a withered hand stretch forth your hand well don't you see it's withered. The man on the palate take up your bed and walk why do you think they carried me in here tin lepers go to the priest and tell them that you're healed. [00:27:15]
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