Living as Authentic Disciples in Christ's Name
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound call to discipleship and the transformative power of living in the name of Jesus. The essence of our journey as followers of Christ is not merely about identifying as Christians but embracing the role of disciples, or apprentices, who actively engage in the life and teachings of Jesus. This involves a deep commitment to living out the principles of the kingdom of God in every aspect of our lives, from our personal relationships to our professional endeavors.
We began by acknowledging that the issue is not the number of people in the church but the kind of people we are. Jesus taught that a city on a hill cannot be hidden, and similarly, our lives should naturally reflect His light without the need for self-promotion. This is the essence of true discipleship—living authentically in the power and authority of Jesus' name, much like a police officer acts with the authority of the state.
The call to make disciples is a call to immerse others in the reality of the Trinity, where the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is active and transformative. This immersion is not just a ritual but a way of life that manifests the kingdom of God in our communities. We are reminded that the church's mission is not self-preservation but the extension of God's kingdom, establishing "beachheads" of His reign in the world.
Furthermore, we discussed the importance of integrating our faith into every area of life, recognizing that our work and daily interactions are primary places of discipleship. This holistic approach challenges the secular-sacred divide, urging us to see all of life as sacred and an opportunity to act in God's power.
Finally, we emphasized the need for a vibrant, living faith that is grounded in the knowledge of Christ and His kingdom. This faith empowers us to engage with the world confidently, offering the hope and life found in Jesus to a world in desperate need.
Key Takeaways:
1. Authentic Discipleship: True discipleship involves living authentically in the power and authority of Jesus' name, reflecting His light naturally in our lives without the need for self-promotion. This is akin to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. [12:49]
2. Trinitarian Immersion: Making disciples means immersing others in the active presence of the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit transform lives and communities. This immersion is not just a ritual but a way of life that manifests God's kingdom. [17:26]
3. Holistic Faith Integration: Our faith should permeate every area of life, including work and daily interactions, challenging the secular-sacred divide. All of life is sacred, and we are called to act in God's power in every context. [32:05]
4. Empowered Prayer: Prayer is a training ground for living in God's power, teaching us to engage with the real world and act in His authority. It is a conversation with God about what we are doing together, leading to transformation and empowerment. [37:15]
5. Mission of the Church: The church's mission is to extend God's kingdom, not merely to preserve itself. This involves establishing "beachheads" of His reign in the world and living out the Great Commission in our communities. [45:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [12:22] - The Kind of People We Are
- [13:03] - Living Authentically
- [13:45] - Making Disciples
- [14:28] - Trinitarian Reality
- [15:16] - Acting in His Name
- [16:57] - Presence of the Trinity
- [18:29] - Community in the Trinity
- [19:23] - Mission of Discipleship
- [20:07] - Building a Holy Temple
- [21:16] - Christian vs. Disciple
- [22:18] - Evangelism in the Church
- [23:11] - Spiritual vs. Churchy
- [24:07] - Establishing Beachheads
- [26:25] - Extending the Kingdom
- [29:24] - Discipleship in Daily Life
- [32:05] - Faith in the Workplace
- [37:15] - Power of Prayer
- [45:14] - Great Commission
- [50:12] - Future in Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:14-16 - "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."
2. Matthew 28:18-20 - "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."
3. Ephesians 2:21-22 - "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean for a city on a hill to not be hidden, and how does this relate to the life of a disciple? [12:49]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "acting in the name" of Jesus, and what analogy is used to explain this? [15:58]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the presence of the Trinity in the life of a disciple? [17:26]
4. What role does prayer play in learning to act in God's power, as discussed in the sermon? [37:15]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of a city on a hill challenge believers to live out their faith in everyday life? [12:49]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that discipleship involves more than just following religious rituals? [14:28]
3. How does the sermon interpret the Great Commission in terms of establishing "beachheads" of God's kingdom? [24:07]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between secular work and sacred faith? How should believers integrate the two? [32:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. In what ways can you be a "city on a hill" that reflects the light of Christ without self-promotion? [12:49]
2. Consider your current relationships and professional life. How can you immerse others in the reality of the Trinity through your actions and words? [17:26]
3. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to integrate your faith. What steps can you take to see this area as sacred and act in God's power? [32:05]
4. Think about your prayer life. How can you use prayer as a training ground to engage with the world and act in God's authority? [37:15]
5. The sermon emphasizes the mission of the church as extending God's kingdom. How can you contribute to this mission in your community? [45:14]
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt the secular-sacred divide. How can you bridge this gap and see all aspects of your life as opportunities for discipleship? [32:05]
7. Consider someone in your life who might be open to spiritual conversations. How can you engage them in a discussion about faith this week? [22:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Authentic Living in Christ's Authority
True discipleship involves living authentically in the power and authority of Jesus' name, reflecting His light naturally in our lives without the need for self-promotion. This is akin to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. As followers of Christ, we are called to embody His teachings and character in every aspect of our lives. This means that our actions, words, and attitudes should naturally reflect the light of Christ, much like a city on a hill that shines brightly for all to see. Our lives should be a testament to the transformative power of Jesus, not through self-promotion, but through genuine and humble living.
In this way, we act with the authority of Jesus' name, much like a police officer acts with the authority of the state. Our identity as disciples is not just a label but a call to live out the principles of the kingdom of God in every area of our lives. This authentic living is a powerful witness to the world, drawing others to the hope and life found in Jesus. [12:49]
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you reflect the light of Christ in your daily interactions without seeking recognition or praise?
Day 2: Immersed in the Trinity's Presence
Making disciples means immersing others in the active presence of the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit transform lives and communities. This immersion is not just a ritual but a way of life that manifests God's kingdom. The call to discipleship is a call to invite others into the dynamic and transformative relationship with the Triune God.
This immersion involves living in the reality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, allowing their presence to shape and guide every aspect of our lives. It is through this relationship that we experience true transformation, as the Trinity works in and through us to bring about God's kingdom on earth. This is not a passive experience but an active engagement with the divine, where we are continually being shaped and molded into the image of Christ. [17:26]
"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." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively engage with the presence of the Trinity in your daily life, allowing it to transform you and those around you?
Day 3: Integrating Faith into Every Aspect of Life
Our faith should permeate every area of life, including work and daily interactions, challenging the secular-sacred divide. All of life is sacred, and we are called to act in God's power in every context. The call to discipleship is not limited to Sunday worship or church activities but extends to every aspect of our lives.
This holistic approach challenges the notion of separating the sacred from the secular, urging us to see all of life as an opportunity to live out our faith. Whether in our workplaces, homes, or communities, we are called to act in God's power, bringing His love, justice, and truth into every situation. This integration of faith into daily life is a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating the reality of God's kingdom in tangible ways. [32:05]
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you struggle to integrate your faith. What steps can you take to bring God's presence into that area today?
Day 4: Empowered Prayer as a Training Ground
Prayer is a training ground for living in God's power, teaching us to engage with the real world and act in His authority. It is a conversation with God about what we are doing together, leading to transformation and empowerment. Through prayer, we learn to align our hearts and minds with God's will, seeking His guidance and strength in all that we do.
Prayer is not just a ritual or a list of requests but a dynamic interaction with the living God. It is through this ongoing conversation that we are empowered to live out our faith in practical ways, engaging with the world around us in the authority of Jesus' name. As we pray, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our call to partner with Him in His work in the world. [37:15]
"Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine, allowing it to empower and guide your actions?
Day 5: The Church's Mission to Extend God's Kingdom
The church's mission is to extend God's kingdom, not merely to preserve itself. This involves establishing "beachheads" of His reign in the world and living out the Great Commission in our communities. The church is called to be a transformative presence in the world, actively working to bring about God's kingdom on earth.
This mission is not about self-preservation or maintaining the status quo but about stepping out in faith to establish "beachheads" of God's reign in every corner of society. As we live out the Great Commission, we are called to be agents of change, bringing the hope and life of Jesus to a world in desperate need. This requires courage, creativity, and a deep commitment to the mission of God. [45:14]
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can contribute to the mission of extending God's kingdom in your community this week?
Quotes
The kind of people that stepped forward in the way of Christ were the kind of people that did not need a publicly relations department to make them visible. That's what Jesus said. He said, you know, a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid, and it also doesn't talk about itself much. It's just there. [00:12:35]
We submerge them in the Trinitarian reality. Now I want to recall to you that Jesus said whether two or two or three are gathered, so two is enough, two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst. That's what it means to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. [00:14:01]
We are given the opportunity of living and acting in the name of Jesus and that draws the resources of the kingdom to bear. See when you go down the street and you see a policeman at an intersection, that policeman is acting in the name and that means the authority and the power. [00:15:48]
We make disciples and then we don't just leave them lying on the sidewalk. We bring them into a fellowship maybe small, 2 is pretty small, it may be small but we bring them into a fellowship in which what is going on is the presence of the Trinity. [00:17:10]
The primary field of evangelism today is the Christian church. The primary field of evangelism today is the Christian church and what we're evangelizing for is discipleship. Now see that's not really strange if you look back you'll remember that the first place that Jesus went the first place that Paul went was the synagogue. [00:22:02]
He sent them out to establish beach heads of the kingdom of God. He sent them out to establish beachheads. You know what a beach head is, you know it's like well uh the beach head is like if you're if you're an army and you're coming on shore, a beach head is a piece of the beach that you capture to establish a basis of operation. [00:24:07]
Work is the most important part of our discipleship because that's where we spend most of our time. See I don't know what your work may be but whatever it is, that's the primary place of your discipleship, and your home is right in there with it so that's where we learn it's important to have the concept of place right. [00:31:34]
The main function of prayer is teaching us how to act in his power. See, when you pray, you are living in a relationship to God in which he acts with you and he accomplishes things through your action. See praying is actually acting. Praying isn't like putting in your order, you know, it isn't like that. [00:37:16]
Prayer is talking about see the person who doesn't know what to say in prayer is probably not doing anything with God or hasn't heard that that's what it's about you're talking about what we're doing together and we're we're working on what should be done we're listening and we're learning and that's a major part of what goes into our discipleship. [00:41:41]
The mission of Christ people on earth is to carry through with the great commission and the way we might do that is simply put it into practice in our church policies in our local congregational policies. That's a challenge, and we need to recognize that most of our churches are not here for that purpose. [00:45:14]
The center of attraction is the life that is in Christ and now in our time, I want to really hammer the one of the main themes of the discussion see in our time, the church has been set aside. We talk about mainline churches, there's nothing really like that now, the main line doesn't run through the churches in our culture. [00:47:32]
We will live in a different way, and we live on the basis of knowledge we will be stable, we will be consistent but not unstable because instead of mere commitment we will be have belief that is grounded in knowledge, and that will enable us without any kind of of faking or bullying or anything of the sort to just be the people of Christ in the world where we stand. [00:49:37]
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