Living Faith: Action Over Words in Discipleship

 

Summary

In the teachings of Jesus, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, we are presented with a profound choice: to live in the Kingdom of Heaven by doing the will of God or to remain outside of it by merely professing faith without action. Jesus emphasizes that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the Kingdom, but only those who do the will of the Father. This is not about accumulating righteous deeds to earn a place in heaven; rather, it is about aligning our lives with God's will, living in the sphere where what God desires is done. The Kingdom of Heaven is where God's effective will is realized, and to live in it is to live in perfect harmony with His desires.

George McDonald, a Scottish writer and preacher, offers a compelling perspective on this topic. He argues that true faith in Christ is not about believing in theories or doctrines but about trusting and obeying the living Christ. This obedience is not a mindless following of rules but a heartfelt, creative, and loving response to Jesus' teachings. It involves leaving behind our own ways and desires and embracing His. McDonald even suggests that it is better to be an atheist who does the will of God than a so-called Christian who does not.

The essence of discipleship is not in professing belief but in doing what Jesus commands. This means actively seeking to love God and others, serving the poor, and living with humility. It is about making conscious decisions to act or refrain from acting based on Jesus' teachings. This obedience is the soil in which faith grows, and without it, we cannot truly know or trust Christ.

To begin this journey of discipleship, we must start with small acts of obedience, doing the next right thing that Jesus would have us do. This could be dismissing anxious thoughts, serving others in need, forgiving enemies, or showing kindness. It is through these acts that we come to trust Jesus and grow in our faith. The call to action is clear: what is the next right thing you will do because Jesus said to do it?

Key Takeaways:

- True faith in Christ is not about professing belief but about doing the will of God. It involves aligning our lives with God's desires and living in the Kingdom of Heaven, where His will is done. This requires a heartfelt, creative, and loving response to Jesus' teachings. [01:36]

- George McDonald emphasizes that obedience to Christ is not about following rules mindlessly but about making conscious decisions to act based on Jesus' teachings. This obedience is the foundation of true discipleship and the soil in which faith grows. [04:07]

- It is better to be an atheist who does the will of God than a so-called Christian who does not. This highlights the importance of action over mere profession of faith. True discipleship involves doing what Jesus commands, not just believing in Him. [04:57]

- Discipleship begins with small acts of obedience, doing the next right thing that Jesus would have us do. This could be serving others, forgiving enemies, or showing kindness. Through these acts, we come to trust Jesus and grow in our faith. [07:47]

- The call to action is clear: what is the next right thing you will do because Jesus said to do it? This question challenges us to live out our faith in practical ways, making it a golden rule day because it is His command. [11:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - The Crossroads of Faith
- [00:52] - The Kingdom of Heaven
- [01:21] - Doing the Will of the Father
- [02:02] - Authentic Relationship with Christ
- [02:48] - Insights from George McDonald
- [03:20] - Faith in the Living Christ
- [04:07] - Obedience and Creativity
- [04:38] - The Heresy of Faith Without Works
- [05:12] - Becoming a Disciple
- [06:01] - Conscious Acts of Obedience
- [07:18] - Starting the Journey of Discipleship
- [08:18] - Practical Possibilities for Obedience
- [09:00] - Acts of Love and Kindness
- [10:38] - Trusting Through Obedience
- [11:07] - The Next Right Thing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 7:21-23

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 7:21, Jesus mentions that not everyone who calls Him "Lord" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What specific condition does He give for entering the Kingdom? [00:52]

2. According to the sermon, what does the "Kingdom of Heaven" represent in terms of God's will? [01:36]

3. How does George McDonald describe true faith in Christ, and what does he emphasize as essential for discipleship? [03:20]

4. What examples of actions did the pastor mention that align with doing the will of God? [08:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does it mean to "do the will of the Father" as described in Matthew 7:21-23, and how does this relate to the concept of living in the Kingdom of Heaven? [00:52]

2. How does the sermon challenge the traditional understanding of faith as merely belief, and what implications does this have for how one lives out their faith? [04:38]

3. George McDonald suggests that it is better to be an atheist who does the will of God than a Christian who does not. What does this statement reveal about the importance of actions over mere profession of faith? [04:57]

4. How does the sermon suggest that small acts of obedience can lead to a deeper trust in Jesus and growth in faith? [07:47]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily life: Are there areas where you might be using spiritual language without aligning your actions with God's will? How can you begin to change this? [01:08]

2. Consider a specific teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to follow. What practical steps can you take this week to begin obeying that teaching? [06:15]

3. Think about a recent situation where you had the opportunity to serve someone in need. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time to align with Jesus' teachings? [08:18]

4. Identify a personal desire or habit that conflicts with God's will. What is one small act of obedience you can take to begin aligning with His desires? [03:52]

5. Reflect on a relationship where forgiveness is needed. How can you take a step towards forgiving that person this week, as Jesus commands? [09:00]

6. What is one anxious thought you can dismiss this week by trusting in God's provision, as encouraged in the sermon? [08:31]

7. The sermon challenges us to do the "next right thing" because Jesus said to do it. What is one specific action you can take today to live out this challenge? [11:07]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith in Action
True faith in Christ is not about professing belief but about doing the will of God. It involves aligning our lives with God's desires and living in the Kingdom of Heaven, where His will is done. This requires a heartfelt, creative, and loving response to Jesus' teachings. [01:36]

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you can align your actions more closely with God's will today? How can you take a step towards living out your faith in a practical way?


Day 2: Obedience as a Creative Response
George McDonald emphasizes that obedience to Christ is not about following rules mindlessly but about making conscious decisions to act based on Jesus' teachings. This obedience is the foundation of true discipleship and the soil in which faith grows. [04:07]

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you creatively respond to Jesus' teachings today? Consider a specific command of Jesus and think about how you can obey it in a way that reflects your unique gifts and circumstances.


Day 3: The Priority of Action Over Profession
It is better to be an atheist who does the will of God than a so-called Christian who does not. This highlights the importance of action over mere profession of faith. True discipleship involves doing what Jesus commands, not just believing in Him. [04:57]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror." (James 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you professed faith but did not act on it. How can you ensure that your actions align with your beliefs in future situations?


Day 4: Small Acts of Obedience
Discipleship begins with small acts of obedience, doing the next right thing that Jesus would have us do. This could be serving others, forgiving enemies, or showing kindness. Through these acts, we come to trust Jesus and grow in our faith. [07:47]

"Whoever is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one small act of obedience you can commit to today. How can this act help you grow in your trust and faith in Jesus?


Day 5: The Next Right Thing
The call to action is clear: what is the next right thing you will do because Jesus said to do it? This question challenges us to live out our faith in practical ways, making it a golden rule day because it is His command. [11:07]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: What is the next right thing you feel Jesus is calling you to do today? How can you take a step towards doing it, trusting that it aligns with His will for your life?

Quotes


Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but only the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven, um when he uses that language not everybody who says Lord Lord that double use of the name that's like it's possible for someone to get really good at using spiritual language and sound really Pious and maybe even convince myself oh man I love him lord lord lord lord lord um but if they do not do the will of my father they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. [00:00:47]

What is the Kingdom of Heaven that is the range of God's effective will that is the sphere in which what God want done is done and so it's really saying the same thing to live in the Kingdom of Heaven is to live in the perfect will of God imagine praying your kingdom come but I'd kind of rather not have your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven at least in my life it's just two ways of saying the same thing. [00:01:29]

We can never come to know Jesus as he is by believing any theory about him what I would Point people to is a faith in the living loving ruling helping Christ it is not that Christ did this or that his work wrought that which will save us rather it is faith in the man himself who did and is doing everything for us do you ask what is faith in him I answer the leaving of your way your objects yourself and The Taking of his in him. [00:03:13]

The leaving of your trust in other people and money and opinion and character and religious doctrines and opinions and then doing as Christ tells you I can find no word strong enough to serve for the weight of this necessity this obedience and as we've talked about before this is not rote mindless robotic Conformity rule following it is full of initiative and creativity and heart and love uh it's following what Jesus said to love God above all to die to yourself rightly understood to become the servant of everybody to care for the poor freely you have received freely you have given will you do this or not. [00:03:42]

It is better McDonald writes to be an atheist who does the will of God than a so-called Christian who does not say that again it is better to be an atheist who does the will of God than a so-called Christian who does not this is exactly what Jesus is talking about why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I say do you want to live by faith do you want to know Christ right do you want to awake and arise and live but do not know how I will tell you get up and do something the master tells you the moment you do you instantly make make yourself a disciple. [00:04:44]

Instead of asking yourself whether you believe or not we can so easily go down that kind of Rabbit Trail got all kinds of questions all kinds of doubts those are worth considering but they will not get me to life instead of asking yourself whether you believe or not ask yourself whether you have this day done one single thing because he said do it or abstained because he said do not do it. [00:05:32]

It is simply absurd to say you believe or even want to believe in him if you do not do anything he tells you if you can think of nothing he ever said as having consciously influenced your doing or not doing you have no ground to consider yourself his disciple to such he says why did you not do the things I told you depart from me I do not know you and yet you can at once begin to be a disciple of the living one you can no matter what you know never been to church never memorize word of the Bible you can begin to become his disciple right now how by obeying obing him in the first thing you can think of in which you are not obeying him. [00:06:18]

We must learn to obey him in everything and so must begin somewhere let's begin at once now if you're wondering where do I start I think of a book by George weol that has been so powerful in my own life a novel called George wingfold curate about this pastor who wakes up and realizes he has no idea what he believes and then it occurs to him this question from Jesus say why do you call me Lord Lord and not do what I say that he had never done anything just because Jesus said to do it and he goes out to visit a grieving old woman because he knows that that would be something that Jesus would wanted to do it is an act of love and he begins to be a disciple and that puts him on the road. [00:07:04]

There is no way to be on the road of discipleship without doing as this man says not mechanically not legalistically from the heart he knew what he was talking about but will'll never know it if we don't do what he says how can you be made capable of trusting him neglecting the things he says there is no soil in which your F uh faith can grow so now here's some real practical possibilities for you you listen for God to speak to and then just say okay I'm going to go do the next thing if you or I today dismissed even once an anxious thought for tomorrow because Jesus told us to just say to that thought from the will God will take care of me. [00:07:49]

Have you ministered to any needy Soul or body and kept your right hand from knowing what your left hand did telling nobody of Your Action have you this day begun to leave all and follow him did you set yourself not to criticize talk against or judge others did you bring fair and righteous judgment to your decision you can do that right now are you weary of covetousness did you forgive your enemy and do him good or show him kindness have you this day given of money of time of possessions of skill or of compassion to someone who asked of you have you shown consideration done good returned kindness for a wrong extended patience been a servant rejoiced in adversity taken the role of humility before others prayed for someone you don't like trusted God to supply a pressing need have you done any of these things suppressing your natural tendency to the contrary and done them with rejoicing because Jesus said to do them. [00:08:36]

Tell me something you have done are doing or are trying to do because he told you if you cannot it is no wonder you have difficulty trusting him of course I know no man or woman can yet do what Christ tells them or right but are you trying obedience is not Perfection it's making an effort this is the great Crossroads the great decision that Jesus presses upon us which for some reason gets fuzzed up and lost in our day will you do what I say how do we come to trust anybody in our life a doctor or a financial advisor or a coach or a mentor there's only what you got to do what they say and then you find out did they know what they were talking about do they understand reality and it is supremely true with him. [00:09:57]

And so that cry comes across the centuries now today to me and to you what's the next right thing right now I'm going to go do it for me it will be calling a friend what's the next right thing that you will do because Jesus said to do it make it a golden rule day cuz it's his. [00:11:01]

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Transcript
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