Living a Jesus-Centered Life: Prioritizing Faith Over Activity
Summary
In the discourse by Tyrone Rinta, the central theme revolves around the concept of living a Jesus-centered life, which is characterized by the aim to glorify Jesus in every aspect of one's existence. The message begins with a reflection on the nature of a Jesus movement and the desire to see such a movement manifest in the lives of individuals, the church, and the city. The speaker emphasizes the importance of following Jesus, citing Peter's declaration of faith in Jesus as the Holy One of God who holds the words of eternal life.
The speaker, Tyrone Rinta, shares his personal journey, revealing that he has spent a significant portion of his life focused on improving church practices rather than on his personal relationship with Jesus. He admits to being more of a "professional Christian" than a genuine follower of Christ. This realization leads him to a conviction: to prioritize being a follower of Jesus over merely doing church-related activities. He expresses a desire to train and equip Christians to live out their faith daily, led by the Holy Spirit.
The message addresses the cultural context in which many people will not attend church, regardless of the quality or size of the events or buildings. In light of this, the speaker challenges the congregation to become disciplemakers who are equipped and empowered to share their faith outside the church walls. He introduces the concept of "go groups," small gatherings where individuals read and discuss the Bible, as a simple yet powerful tool for discipleship.
The speaker also touches on the issue of consumerism within the church, cautioning against making church services about production value or personal satisfaction rather than about Jesus. He recounts a story from the 1990s where a church felt convicted about their focus on production and chose to simplify their worship to refocus on Jesus, leading to the creation of the well-known worship song "The Heart of Worship."
Throughout the message, Tyrone Rinta emphasizes the importance of love as the foundation for a Jesus-centered life. He explains that Jesus should be in control of one's life, a concept he refers to as lordship. By seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, individuals can trust that their needs will be met without worrying about the material aspects of life.
The speaker encourages the congregation to put Jesus first in every area of life, including decisions, finances, family, and career. He warns against treating Jesus as a mere supplement to life, instead advocating for making Him the center. The message concludes with a call to worship Jesus out of love and to become worshippers who seek to glorify Him in all things.
Key Takeaways:
- A Jesus-centered life is not about adding Jesus as a supplement to one's daily routine but about making Him the central focus and allowing every decision and action to flow from a relationship with Him. This approach transforms how one lives, prioritizing Jesus' lordship over personal desires and plans. [06:01]
- The concept of lordship is pivotal in a Jesus-centered life, where Jesus is acknowledged as the leader and one surrenders control to Him. This surrender leads to a life that, while not always easy, is ultimately more fulfilling and aligned with God's better plans. [09:35]
- The speaker's personal admission of focusing more on church activities than on following Jesus serves as a powerful reminder that even those in leadership can lose sight of the true essence of their faith. This transparency challenges believers to examine their own lives and ensure that their actions are rooted in a genuine love for Jesus. [25:15]
- The cultural reality that many people will not come to church necessitates a shift in how Christians approach evangelism. Instead of relying on church attendance, believers are encouraged to engage in personal discipleship and create opportunities for spiritual conversations in everyday settings. [35:46]
- Worship is an expression of love and devotion, and the speaker's desire is for the congregation to become true worshippers of Jesus, not just attendees of church services. This transformation from attendee to worshipper is often marked by a personal encounter with Jesus that changes one's perspective on church and faith. [32:54]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 6:66-69: "At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the twelve and asked, 'Are you also going to leave?' Simon Peter replied, 'Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.'"
2. Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. Colossians 1:15-18: "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Peter's response to Jesus when asked if the disciples would leave Him as others did? (John 6:66-69)
2. According to Matthew 6:33, what should be our primary focus in life?
3. In Colossians 1:15-18, how is Jesus described in relation to creation and the church?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Peter declared that Jesus has the words of eternal life and is the Holy One of God? How does this declaration reflect a Jesus-centered life? [01:50]
2. What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in practical terms? How might this look in daily life? [10:07]
3. How does the description of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-18 emphasize His centrality and supremacy in all things? How should this influence our view of Jesus in our personal lives and church activities? [11:41]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. Is Jesus a supplement to your life or the center of it? What specific changes can you make to ensure Jesus is at the center? [06:01]
2. Tyrone Rinta shared his struggle with being more focused on church activities than on following Jesus. Have you experienced something similar? How can you prioritize your personal relationship with Jesus over church-related activities? [25:15]
3. The sermon mentioned the concept of "go groups" for discipleship. How can you start or participate in a small group that focuses on reading and discussing the Bible? What steps will you take this week to initiate or join such a group? [36:55]
4. Consumerism in church was highlighted as a potential distraction from focusing on Jesus. In what ways might you have contributed to a consumeristic mindset in church? How can you shift your focus to worshipping Jesus rather than evaluating church services? [18:16]
5. Jesus said to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. Identify one area of your life (e.g., decisions, finances, family, career) where you need to put Jesus first. What specific action will you take this week to make Jesus the priority in that area? [10:07]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of love as the foundation for a Jesus-centered life. How can you demonstrate Jesus' love in your interactions with others this week? Think of one person you can show love to and describe how you will do it. [07:46]
7. Consider the cultural reality that many people will not attend church. How can you engage in personal discipleship and create opportunities for spiritual conversations in your everyday settings? Identify one person you will reach out to this week and how you will approach the conversation. [35:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Christ as Life's Cornerstone
Embracing a Jesus-centered life means allowing Him to be the cornerstone of every decision and action. This transformative approach shifts priorities, placing Jesus' lordship above personal desires and plans, ensuring that life is built on a solid foundation of faith and obedience. [!!06:01!!]
Matthew 7:24-25 - "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."
Reflection: What is one decision you are currently facing where you can allow Jesus to be your cornerstone?
Day 2: Surrendering to Divine Leadership
Acknowledging Jesus as the leader of our lives involves a surrender of control, embracing His lordship in every area. This act of surrender, while challenging, leads to a more fulfilling life that aligns with God's greater plans for us. [!!09:35!!]
James 4:7-8a - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you."
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 3: Authentic Faith Beyond Church Walls
True faith is not confined to church activities but is lived out in daily life through genuine love for Jesus. This authenticity challenges believers to examine their lives, ensuring that their actions stem from a heartfelt relationship with Christ. [!!25:15!!]
1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate your faith in a tangible way outside of church activities this week?
Day 4: Discipleship in Everyday Life
The call to discipleship extends beyond the church building, requiring believers to engage in spiritual conversations and share their faith in everyday settings. This shift reflects a commitment to personal evangelism and the making of disciples in all walks of life. [!!35:46!!]
1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: Who in your daily life could benefit from hearing about your faith, and how can you initiate that conversation?
Day 5: Worship as a Lifestyle of Devotion
Worship is not merely a service to attend but a lifestyle of devotion and love for Jesus. True worshippers seek to glorify Him in all things, allowing their encounter with Christ to transform their perspective on faith and life. [!!32:54!!]
Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Reflection: In what ways can you make worship a more integral part of your daily routine, beyond Sunday services?
Quotes
1) "A Jesus-centered life aims to glorify Jesus with their entire life. With everything that I do, with everything that I am, I aim to glorify Jesus with everything." [04:18]
2) "Jesus-centered life is surrendered to the lordship of Christ. He's the Lord, he's my leader, I follow him, and I trust his ways because what I've learned is that his ways are way better than my ways." [09:35]
3) "My prayer is that you and I would make Jesus the center. I don't want Jesus to be just the supplement in my life; I want him to be the center of my life and your life." [07:11]
4) "We want to put him first in every area of our life. You know, that's really the meaning of life. It's all about Jesus, and the hope is that you and I just live a life in relationship with Jesus and everything in our life flows out of that relationship with Jesus." [11:05]
5) "I want to be a better follower of Jesus than I am at doing church. That's what I want. Again, doing Church, we're doing it well, super important, but it's not all about this moment." [26:28]
6) "I just want to spin my life training and equipping as many Christians as I possibly can to follow Jesus every day of their life and to let the spirit lead them and empower them." [27:06]
7) "I pray that Jesus would be first in this church, that this church would be all about Jesus. After all, we just read something pretty important: Jesus is the head of the church, which is his body." [14:43]
8) "I believe we need to elevate Jesus and our christology over our ecclesiology and not make an idol of church, but Jesus is Lord, he's who I'm after, he's who I'm living for, he is first." [24:07]
9) "I believe that all of you are able to do that because Jesus believes that, and that's the type of church we want to be: Jesus-centered so much so that we just take Jesus everywhere we go." [39:03]
10) "We worship what we love, and we're all worshippers. My prayer for you and me is that we just worship Jesus because we love him so much." [32:54]
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