Living Discipleship: Worship, Growth, and Legacy in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the essence of discipleship and the multifaceted journey it entails. Discipleship at Faith Church encompasses worship, growth, connection, impact, and legacy. Worship is not confined to Sunday services but extends to every aspect of our lives, from work to leisure. Growth involves deepening our understanding and faith in Jesus, recognizing that new revelations come with each day. Connection emphasizes the importance of community and fellowship, as our faith is meant to be lived out in communion with others. Impact is about serving both within and outside the church, meeting the needs of our community through various initiatives. Lastly, building a legacy focuses on nurturing the next generation to live for Jesus and become pillars of the church.
We also delved into John chapters 5 through 10, where Jesus repeatedly challenges the religious leaders and the people to recognize Him as the Messiah. Through a series of signs, teachings, and controversies, Jesus establishes a pattern of evidence to compel us to make a decision about His identity. He performs miracles, teaches during significant feasts, and makes bold claims about His divinity, all to force a reckoning: Is He the Christ or not?
Jesus' actions and words are designed to provoke thought and decision. He heals on the Sabbath, claims equality with God, and declares Himself the bread of life and the light of the world. These actions create controversy but also reveal His true nature. The question remains: Do we see Him as a blasphemer or as the Messiah? This decision is crucial, as it determines how we live our lives and our eternal destiny.
### Key Takeaways
1. Worship as a Lifestyle: Worship extends beyond Sunday services; it permeates every aspect of our lives. Whether at work, with family, or during leisure, our actions should reflect our reverence for God. True worship is a daily commitment to live in a way that honors Him. [32:06]
2. Growth in Faith: Growing in faith involves continually seeking a deeper understanding of Jesus. Scripture reveals new insights every day, and our journey with God is one of constant learning and revelation. This growth is a crucial part of discipleship, helping us to become more like Christ. [32:43]
3. Community and Connection: Fellowship is an essential aspect of discipleship. Our faith is meant to be lived out in community, where we support and encourage one another. Building lifelong friendships within the church strengthens our faith and helps us grow together. [33:28]
4. Impact Through Service: Discipleship involves making an impact both within and outside the church. Serving others, whether through community outreach or congregational care, reflects Jesus' love and compassion. Our actions can meet physical needs and also open doors for sharing the gospel. [34:15]
5. Legacy of Faith: Building a legacy means investing in the next generation, ensuring they grow up knowing and loving Jesus. We aim to inspire young people to become future leaders in the church, carrying forward the mission of Christ. This legacy is a testament to our commitment to discipleship. [36:55]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[32:06] - Worship as a Lifestyle
[32:43] - Growing in Faith
[33:28] - Community and Connection
[34:15] - Impact Through Service
[36:09] - Engage and Evangelism
[36:55] - Building a Legacy
[46:04] - Invitation to Connect
[48:08] - Children's Ministry and Offering
[49:31] - Assurance of Salvation
[51:28] - Jesus' Identity and Controversy
[55:16] - Jesus' Claims and Evidence
[01:00:06] - Greater Than the Greats
[01:12:52] - Feast of Dedication
[01:17:18] - Jesus' Deity and Assurance
[01:28:34] - Communion and Apostles' Creed
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 10:22-33
2. John 5:16-18
3. John 6:32-35
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus claim about His relationship with the Father in John 10:30? How do the Jews react to this claim? [52:41]
2. In John 5:16-18, why do the Jews begin to persecute Jesus, and what is His response to their accusations? [58:21]
3. According to John 6:32-35, what does Jesus say about the true bread from heaven, and how does He compare Himself to Moses? [01:02:12]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is Jesus' claim of being one with the Father so controversial to the Jewish leaders? How does this claim challenge their understanding of God? [52:41]
2. In what ways does Jesus' healing on the Sabbath in John 5:16-18 serve as a sign of His divinity and mission? How does this act force people to make a decision about His identity? [58:21]
3. How does Jesus' declaration of being the bread of life in John 6:32-35 redefine the concept of spiritual nourishment for His followers? What implications does this have for their faith journey? [01:02:12]
### Application Questions
1. Worship as a Lifestyle: Reflect on your daily activities. How can you incorporate worship into your work, family time, and leisure activities to honor God consistently? [32:06]
2. Growth in Faith: What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of Jesus? Consider setting aside specific times for Bible study or prayer. [32:43]
3. Community and Connection: Think about your current involvement in the church community. How can you strengthen your connections with fellow believers and build lifelong friendships? [33:28]
4. Impact Through Service: Identify a need within your community or church. How can you serve others this week to reflect Jesus' love and compassion? [34:15]
5. Legacy of Faith: Consider the younger generation in your church or family. What actions can you take to inspire and mentor them to grow in their faith and become future leaders? [36:55]
6. Decision About Jesus: Reflect on the evidence presented in John chapters 5 through 10. How do Jesus' actions and claims influence your understanding of His identity as the Messiah? [55:16]
7. Living Out Your Faith: Jesus challenges us to make a decision about who He is. How does your belief in Jesus as the Messiah influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? [01:00:35]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as a Lifestyle
Worship is not just an event but a continuous act of reverence that permeates every aspect of our lives. It extends beyond Sunday services and into our daily routines, whether at work, with family, or during leisure activities. True worship is a daily commitment to live in a way that honors God, reflecting His presence in all we do. This holistic approach to worship transforms mundane tasks into sacred acts, making every moment an opportunity to glorify God. [32:06]
Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: How can you transform a routine task today into an act of worship that honors God?
Day 2: Growth in Faith
Growing in faith is a lifelong journey of deepening our understanding and relationship with Jesus. Each day offers new revelations and insights through Scripture, helping us to become more like Christ. This growth is essential for discipleship, as it equips us to navigate life's challenges with a Christ-centered perspective. By continually seeking a deeper understanding of Jesus, we allow His teachings to shape our thoughts, actions, and character. [32:43]
Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: What new insight or revelation from Scripture can you apply to your life today to grow in your faith?
Day 3: Community and Connection
Fellowship is a vital component of discipleship, emphasizing the importance of living out our faith in community. Building lifelong friendships within the church provides support, encouragement, and accountability, helping us to grow together in our spiritual journey. Our faith is strengthened through communal worship, shared experiences, and mutual edification. By investing in relationships within the church, we create a network of support that fosters spiritual growth and resilience. [33:28]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to today to offer support or encouragement?
Day 4: Impact Through Service
Discipleship involves making a tangible impact both within and outside the church through acts of service. Serving others reflects Jesus' love and compassion, meeting physical needs and opening doors for sharing the gospel. Whether through community outreach or congregational care, our actions demonstrate the transformative power of Christ's love. By actively seeking opportunities to serve, we embody the heart of discipleship and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. [34:15]
Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Reflection: What specific act of service can you perform today to reflect Jesus' love to someone in need?
Day 5: Legacy of Faith
Building a legacy of faith involves investing in the next generation, ensuring they grow up knowing and loving Jesus. This commitment to discipleship inspires young people to become future leaders in the church, carrying forward the mission of Christ. By nurturing and mentoring the next generation, we create a lasting impact that extends beyond our lifetime. This legacy is a testament to our dedication to discipleship and our desire to see the gospel flourish in future generations. [36:55]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): "And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
Reflection: How can you invest in the spiritual growth of a young person in your life today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Worship is really something that we do every day of our life. We worship God with how we work, how we live, how we raise our family, how we even do leisure. All of those are aspects of worship. But also when we gather here today on a Sunday and we worship the creator, that is another form of worship." [32:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Christian faith is meant to be done in community. Today we're going to do communion. And the base word of that is commune. It's community. And so we are a faith that does community. Anytime two or three are gathered together, that's an opportunity for connection and relationship. And so we want to develop lifelong friendships here in the community." [33:28] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We want to see our young people living for Jesus when they leave here, when they go off to college and get a career. We want to see them being the pillars of their church. We want to see them come back to our church and minister to our family as well. And so we want to have a church that resonates with our young people and gets them excited about living a life for Jesus." [36:55] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus wants to shock his audience in a way that creates controversy, which forces people to make a decision about who he is. The question is, is he the Messiah, or is he not? And so when we look through the book of John, we see a pattern that begins to flow in each of these five chapters." [55:16] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus claims to be the substance of the feast. When Jesus is doing all these feasts, what he's doing is he's trying to point out that these feasts are great and we should celebrate. You know, I love that about Jesus. He likes to party, right? When I was growing up at the Pentecostal church, that's how he knew who was going to hell if they were partying, right?" [01:24:18] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Growing in our understanding. Growing in our faith. Growing in our knowledge of who Jesus is. There is a lot of depth and layers to knowing who Jesus is. I'm sure you experience that in your own life. How as you continue in your walk with God that there are new things that are revealed. Scripture says revealed every morning. And so that is part of growing. And that's part of growing. And that's part of discipleship as well." [32:43] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus is pointing out that he is greater than the greats. Who are the greats to the Israelites? Well, you've got Moses, and you've got Solomon. Both of these are mentioned in these passages of Scripture. He's greater than Moses. In Hebrews chapter 3, one through six it says, or Hebrews 3, three through six says, for Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses." [01:22:19] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus claims to be the divine path, the eternal life. John 10, 30, he said, I and my Father are one. He's saying something very controversial, but he wants us to know that he is the God, the God of all, the great Creator. He is one with the Father. He claims to be divine. He is the divine path. Later on, we're going to read in John 14, in a few months, that Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." [01:26:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "John writes his gospel in a certain way because he's trying to convince, first of all, he's trying to convince the Jews of who Jesus is. But then also, the Gentiles, which is us. He wants to convince us, also, of who Jesus is. And he's trying to get us into a place where we have to make a decision of what we think about who Jesus is." [01:27:24] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus called the Pharisees truly blind. Remember when Jesus is saying to the man, hey, look, you're blind and I can give you sight. There are some who have sight, yet they are blind. And the Pharisees said, what, are you calling us blind? And Jesus did just that. He said, yes, you are blind. You do not see the true light, which is me. You do not have true sight. You are the truly blind." [01:11:39] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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