Living Beyond Belief: Embracing Discipleship and Purpose

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves grappling with the concept of belief and its connection to real life. The theme "Beyond Belief" challenges us to move from mere intellectual assent to a lived experience of the Kingdom of God. This journey is about mastering real life through confidence in Jesus Christ, where belief is not just a mental exercise but a pathway to an eternal kind of life. Our culture often separates being a Christian from being a disciple, leading to a disconnect between faith and daily living. However, the knowledge of God is meant to permeate every aspect of our lives, transforming us from the inside out.

Understanding our basic nature as spiritual beings is crucial. We are created with a purpose, and our existence is not limited to the physical realm. The struggle between the flesh and the spirit is a common human experience, but through discipleship and spiritual disciplines, we can align our lives with the teachings of Jesus. Discipleship is the greatest opportunity we have, as it allows us to become students of Jesus, learning to live in the Kingdom of God.

The teachings of Jesus are often perceived as difficult, but in reality, they offer an easy yoke. The challenge lies not in following His teachings but in living contrary to them. Jesus invites us to rest in Him, promising that those who have confidence in Him will never experience death. This confidence, or faith, is not just a belief but a trust that leads to action. It is about resting in the assurance that Jesus is the master of human history and that His way is the best way.

As spiritual beings, we are endowed with creative will, reflecting the image of God within us. This creative will is meant to be exercised in union with God, allowing us to fulfill our purpose of ruling and living with Him forever. Our spiritual nature is central to our identity, and understanding this helps us navigate the challenges of life with a perspective that transcends the material world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Belief and Real Life Connection: True belief in Jesus Christ is not just intellectual but a lived experience that transforms our daily lives. It bridges the gap between faith and reality, allowing us to experience the Kingdom of God here and now. [00:32]

2. Discipleship as a Life Opportunity: Being a disciple of Jesus is the greatest opportunity we have. It involves learning from Him and integrating His teachings into every aspect of our lives, leading to a life of purpose and fulfillment. [03:25]

3. The Easy Yoke of Jesus: Contrary to popular belief, following Jesus is not burdensome. His teachings offer an easy yoke, providing rest for our souls and a way of living that aligns with our true nature as spiritual beings. [06:12]

4. Eternal Perspective on Life: Understanding that we are spiritual beings with an eternal destiny changes how we view life and death. Confidence in Jesus assures us that we will never truly experience death, as our life continues in God's presence. [13:44]

5. Creative Will and God's Image: Our creative will is a reflection of God's image in us. It is meant to be exercised in partnership with God, allowing us to fulfill our purpose and make a positive impact in the world. [21:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Theme: Beyond Belief
- [00:46] - Real Life and the Kingdom of God
- [01:10] - Belief vs. Discipleship
- [02:15] - Our Spiritual Nature
- [02:42] - Understanding the Gospel
- [03:25] - The Opportunity of Discipleship
- [03:49] - Spiritual Disciplines
- [04:13] - Living a Day with Jesus
- [05:14] - The Easy Yoke of Jesus
- [06:40] - The Best Information for Life
- [08:20] - Who You Are and Why You're Here
- [10:14] - Confidence in Jesus
- [13:44] - Eternal Perspective
- [21:09] - Creative Will and God's Image

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 8:51 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."
2. 2 Timothy 1:10 - "But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
3. Genesis 1:26-28 - The creation of humanity in God's image and the mandate to rule over the earth.

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Observation Questions:

1. According to John 8:51, what promise does Jesus make to those who keep His word? How does this relate to the concept of never experiencing death? [09:58]

2. In the sermon, what does the speaker suggest is the common misunderstanding about belief and its connection to real life? [01:10]

3. How does the speaker describe the nature of Jesus' teachings in terms of difficulty and ease? What metaphor does he use to explain this? [06:12]

4. What does the speaker identify as the primary struggle in our lives, and how does he suggest we address it? [02:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the promise in John 8:51 challenge the common perception of life and death? What implications does this have for a believer's daily life? [10:14]

2. The sermon mentions that discipleship is the greatest opportunity we have. What does this mean in the context of integrating Jesus' teachings into our lives? [03:25]

3. How does the speaker's use of the term "confidence" instead of "faith" affect our understanding of what it means to trust in Jesus? [11:00]

4. In what ways does understanding our spiritual nature, as described in Genesis 1:26-28, influence our purpose and actions in the world? [21:09]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of belief. How can you move from intellectual assent to a lived experience of the Kingdom of God in your daily life? [00:32]

2. Consider the areas of your life where you feel a disconnect between your faith and daily living. What steps can you take to bridge this gap and align more closely with Jesus' teachings? [01:23]

3. The sermon suggests that Jesus' teachings offer an "easy yoke." Identify a specific teaching of Jesus that you find challenging. How can you approach it in a way that brings rest to your soul? [06:12]

4. How does the assurance of never experiencing death, as promised in John 8:51, change your perspective on life's challenges and your eternal destiny? [10:14]

5. Reflect on your creative will as a reflection of God's image. What is one way you can exercise this creative will in partnership with God to make a positive impact in your community? [21:09]

6. Identify a spiritual discipline that you can incorporate into your life to help align your actions with the teachings of Jesus. How will you implement this discipline in the coming week? [03:49]

7. Think about a person in your life who may not understand the connection between belief and real life. How can you share your journey of faith with them in a meaningful way? [01:10]

Devotional

Day 1: Belief as a Transformative Experience
True belief in Jesus Christ is not merely an intellectual agreement but a transformative experience that impacts every aspect of our lives. It bridges the gap between faith and reality, allowing us to live in the Kingdom of God here and now. This kind of belief requires us to move beyond just knowing about Jesus to truly experiencing His presence and power in our daily lives. It challenges us to let our faith permeate our actions, decisions, and interactions with others, leading to a life that reflects the values and principles of the Kingdom. [00:32]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where your actions do not align with your belief in Jesus. What practical steps can you take today to bring your actions in line with your faith?


Day 2: Discipleship as a Path to Fulfillment
Discipleship is the greatest opportunity we have as followers of Jesus. It involves becoming students of Jesus, learning from Him, and integrating His teachings into every aspect of our lives. This journey of discipleship leads to a life of purpose and fulfillment, as we align our lives with the teachings of Jesus and experience the fullness of life in the Kingdom of God. Discipleship is not just about following rules but about cultivating a relationship with Jesus that transforms us from the inside out. [03:25]

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:29, ESV)

Reflection: Consider one teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to live out. How can you begin to incorporate this teaching into your daily life as a disciple of Jesus?


Day 3: The Restful Yoke of Jesus
Contrary to popular belief, following Jesus is not burdensome. His teachings offer an easy yoke, providing rest for our souls and a way of living that aligns with our true nature as spiritual beings. The challenge lies not in following His teachings but in living contrary to them. Jesus invites us to rest in Him, promising that those who have confidence in Him will never experience death. This confidence, or faith, is not just a belief but a trust that leads to action. [06:12]

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30, ESV)

Reflection: What burdens are you carrying today that you need to lay down at the feet of Jesus? How can you embrace His easy yoke and find rest for your soul?


Day 4: Embracing an Eternal Perspective
Understanding that we are spiritual beings with an eternal destiny changes how we view life and death. Confidence in Jesus assures us that we will never truly experience death, as our life continues in God's presence. This eternal perspective helps us navigate the challenges of life with hope and assurance, knowing that our ultimate destiny is secure in Christ. It encourages us to live with purpose and intentionality, focusing on what truly matters in light of eternity. [13:44]

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16, ESV)

Reflection: How does your understanding of eternity influence your daily decisions and priorities? What changes can you make to live with a more eternal perspective?


Day 5: Exercising Creative Will in Partnership with God
Our creative will is a reflection of God's image in us. It is meant to be exercised in partnership with God, allowing us to fulfill our purpose and make a positive impact in the world. As spiritual beings, we are endowed with the ability to create, innovate, and bring about change. This creative will should be aligned with God's purposes, enabling us to contribute to His Kingdom and reflect His glory in all that we do. [21:09]

"And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:28, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you use your creative abilities to serve God and others? How can you partner with God to fulfill your purpose and make a positive impact in the world today?

Quotes


The knowledge of God is supposed to come and permeate our whole life and it can do that, and that's really all that I will talk to you about is how that is possible. I will cover a lot of topics which may initially seem a little distant from that. [00:01:55]

Discipleship to Jesus Christ is the greatest opportunity any human being will ever have on earth, that everything else else pales beside it, and the Jesus Christ is right now in Maryland and in California and in everywhere between and around the world he's taking students. [00:03:23]

Now we need to come to the place to where the teachings of Jesus are the simple expression of what we become inwardly. Jesus said a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit, it's impossible, and his way is to renew the inside of the person. [00:05:09]

The big lie about Jesus's teachings is that they're hard. What's hard is the other way. Think it's hard to love your enemies, look at what happens when you hate them, and Jesus brings us an easy yoke, and we learn to step into that easy yoke and learn of him. [00:05:45]

Truly truly I say unto you if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death they shall never see death. Now nearly everyone is planning on seeing death, and in fact that looms large in their minds and they keep thinking about that, but Jesus says you'll never see death. [00:09:58]

He destroyed death he abolished death see those who walk with him will never experience death. Now why is that important well of course it's important in its own right, but it's most important because it reveals who we are now, it reveals who we are now. [00:13:29]

You are a spiritual being and that you are never going to cease existing. Now your first sheet on your handout deals with what is spirit because we are in a world that is set against the spirit we're in a world that is obsessed with the material. [00:16:23]

God is spirit, the ultimate nature of reality the source of everything is spirit. Now you all know the ten commandments I hope and you'll remember that the second commandment is designed precisely to keep people from thinking about God as if he were physical. [00:17:08]

Spirit is creative will and God gave you creative will God's image in you is creative will that's why a little child you have a little child and you send them off to day school or something and what do they want what do they do they make things right. [00:20:04]

We were meant to exercise that creative will in union with God and that's still God's offer and God's call to us and indeed that's what learning to live in the kingdom of God amounts to us going back to that relationship which God gave us in the covenant creation. [00:21:05]

You are a never-ceasing spiritual being a never-ceasing spiritual being you are never going to go out of existence there's nothing you can do about it and see the world has got it the other way around you are going to go out of existence. [00:32:50]

You are an unceasing spiritual being you're not going to go out of existence because God has plans for you and he has invested in you and he loves you so your only option is to not love him and then you can avoid him perhaps for eternity but you will never stop existing. [00:33:31]

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Transcript
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