Living as Missionaries: Personal Discipleship in Daily Life
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of personal missions and discipleship. He challenges the congregation to see themselves as missionaries in their everyday lives and to identify one person they can share the gospel with. The pastor quotes Robert Coleman, stating that preaching to the masses and occasional prayer meetings and training classes are not enough to prepare leaders for evangelism. Instead, individual men and women are God's method for discipleship.
The pastor then reflects on the importance of following Jesus and being willing to give up worldly attachments. He uses the example of the disciples in Matthew chapter 4, who immediately left their ship and their family to follow Jesus. The pastor acknowledges that these are not easy decisions to make, but encourages the congregation to hold their careers, jobs, and entire lives with open hands, ready to obey God's calling.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of being a witness for God in every aspect of our lives, not just in traditional ministry roles. He reminds the congregation that God has called each person into their specific career field and surrounded them with family for a purpose - to be a witness to those around them. The pastor encourages the congregation to share the gospel and let others know about Jesus as they go about their daily lives.
The pastor shares a personal experience of a conflict at a baseball game. He admits that his initial reaction was to handle the situation in his own way, but he realized that God had a different method for handling conflicts. The pastor emphasizes the importance of choosing to submit to God's way, even when it goes against our pride and desires. He explains that when we choose to live for Jesus in a way that He didn't call us to, we not only harm ourselves but also the cause of Christ.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of personal relationships in spreading the message of Jesus. The pastor reminds the congregation that God will never leave or forsake them, and it is through personal connections that people are reached for Jesus, not through organizations or events. The pastor challenges the congregation to choose whether they will complain about the state of the world or actively live out their faith, leading others to Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- Personal missions are crucial in spreading the gospel. Each believer is called to identify someone they can share the gospel with and be a part of their journey towards knowing Jesus. ([12:45])
- Discipleship is not a program or an event, but rather someone - each individual believer. By living their lives according to God's design, believers will experience fruitfulness, fulfillment, and Kingdom advancement. ([22:30])
- God calls each person into their specific career field and surrounds them with family for a purpose - to be a witness to those around them. Sharing the gospel and letting others know about Jesus should be a part of our daily lives. ([34:15])
- Submitting to God's way, even when it goes against our pride and desires, is crucial. When we choose to live for Jesus in a way that He didn't call us to, we not only harm ourselves but also the cause of Christ. ([45:50])
- Personal relationships are key in spreading the message of Jesus. It is through personal connections that people are reached for Jesus, not through organizations or events. Believers are challenged to actively live out their faith, leading others to Jesus. ([58:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 17:20-21: "He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.'"
2. Matthew 4:18-22: "As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."
3. Matthew 28:19-20: "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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 17:20-21 tell us about the power of faith and prayer?
2. In Matthew 4:18-22, what immediate actions did the disciples take when Jesus called them?
3. What command does Jesus give in Matthew 28:19-20, and what promise does He make?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the faith as small as a mustard seed relate to personal missions and discipleship?
2. What does the immediate response of the disciples in Matthew 4:18-22 suggest about the importance of giving up worldly attachments to follow Jesus?
3. How does the command in Matthew 28:19-20 to make disciples of all nations relate to the idea of being a witness in every aspect of our lives?
Application Questions:
1. Can you identify one person in your life with whom you can share the gospel this week? How can you approach this conversation?
2. Reflect on your career or job. How can you use your position to be a witness for God? Can you think of a specific action you can take this week?
3. Recall a recent conflict or difficult situation. How could you have submitted to God's way in handling it? What can you do differently next time?
4. Who is one person in your life that you can build a deeper relationship with to spread the message of Jesus? What is one step you can take this week to strengthen that relationship?
5. Reflect on your daily life. Are there areas where you are living for Jesus in a way that He didn't call you to? How can you align your life more closely with God's calling?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Personal Missions
Each believer is called to a personal mission, a divine assignment to share the gospel with at least one person in their sphere of influence. This is not a task to be taken lightly, but a crucial part of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. It is through these personal missions that individuals are led towards knowing Jesus. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYydjJgk4fM&t=750s))
Bible Passage: Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can share the gospel with? How can you start that conversation today?
Day 2: Living as Disciples
Discipleship is not a program or an event, but a lifestyle. Each believer is called to live their life according to God's design, experiencing fruitfulness, fulfillment, and Kingdom advancement. ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYydjJgk4fM&t=1335s))
Bible Passage: Luke 9:23 - "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"
Reflection: What does it mean for you to take up your cross daily? How can you live out your discipleship in your everyday life?
Day 3: Witnessing in Everyday Life
God has placed each of us in our specific career fields and surrounded us with family for a purpose - to be a witness to those around us. Sharing the gospel and letting others know about Jesus should be a part of our daily lives. ([34:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYydjJgk4fM&t=2040s))
Bible Passage: Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."
Reflection: How can you be a witness for Jesus in your workplace or at home? What opportunities do you have to share the gospel in your everyday life?
Day 4: Submitting to God's Way
Submitting to God's way, even when it goes against our pride and desires, is crucial. When we choose to live for Jesus in a way that He didn't call us to, we not only harm ourselves but also the cause of Christ. ([45:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYydjJgk4fM&t=2735s))
Bible Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you struggle to submit to God's way? How can you surrender this area to Him today?
Day 5: Building Personal Relationships
Personal relationships are key in spreading the message of Jesus. It is through personal connections that people are reached for Jesus, not through organizations or events. Believers are challenged to actively live out their faith, leading others to Jesus. ([58:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYydjJgk4fM&t=3485s))
Bible Passage: 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 are the people in your life that you have a personal relationship with who do not know Jesus? How can you share your faith with them in a gentle and respectful way?
Quotes
"When will the church learn this lesson: preaching to the masses, although necessary, will never suffice in the work of preparing leaders for evangelism. Individual women and men are God's method for discipleship." [51:39]
"Look what the disciples gave up in Matthew chapter 4 verse 22. When Jesus said 'follow me,' they immediately left their ship. That was their livelihood, their careers, their jobs. That might have been where they found some of their identity." [43:53]
"We need to be willing to hold our careers, our jobs, and our entire lives with Open Hands to Jesus. So if he says, 'Hey, drop it,' we drop it. My life will be difficult, but in this life, you shall have trials and tribulations. But be overcome with joy because I have overcome the world." [45:04]
"God has called you and maybe into your particular career field to be his witness in that career field. He has your family around you so you could be a witness to that family. Who you are in Christ is who God wants to use to reach people for him." [46:16]
"When we choose to go at it a way God doesn't call us to, we end up not only harming ourselves, we can harm the cause of Christ." [32:54]
"People reach people for Jesus, not organizations, not programs, not events. They're great methods, they're good ideas, but they should be the outpouring of what's taking place in the individual lives of the Believers involved in them. For if they are not, they are worthless." [54:36]
"Do we utilize God's methodology of my own individual life as I've been created to lead others to Jesus and help others follow Jesus? Or do I seek to complain about everything going on and wonder why nothing is getting better and wonder why other people are sad and depressed and all this stuff's happening when we have the answer?" [55:08]
"Who is the one person that you could share the gospel with this month? Who is the one person in your life you could share your testimony with so that they would know Jesus more?" [17:17]
"God's plan for discipleship is not something but someone, and you are that someone. When we decide to stop trying to live our lives for God with some methodology and in some way that he did not design us for, we'll find fruitfulness and fulfillment in what God's called us to." [52:12]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?