Living in the Presence: The Call to Discipleship
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound call to discipleship as outlined by Jesus. The essence of this call is not merely to convert individuals into Christians or members of a particular denomination but to immerse them in the life and presence of the Triune God. This immersion is not about physical rituals but about living in the reality of God's presence, where Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are actively involved in our lives. When we gather in His name, whether in small or large numbers, we are reminded of His promise to be with us, emphasizing the importance of discipleship over mere religious affiliation.
Discipleship is a deep commitment that requires us to learn to live our lives as Jesus would if He were in our place. This involves a transformation of our daily habits and thoughts, aligning them with the kingdom of God. It is about living in God's care and provision, trusting Him in all circumstances, and expecting His presence to manifest in our lives. This journey is not about willpower but about learning and habituation, much like learning to ride a bicycle or sing beautifully. As we practice living in the kingdom, certain aspects become second nature, allowing us to interact with God more deeply.
The Great Commission calls us to teach others to do everything Jesus commanded, which includes practical aspects of life, such as overcoming negative emotions and behaviors. Unfortunately, many churches lack a structured plan to guide individuals in this transformative journey. The challenge is to develop a supportive community and practical steps that help individuals grow in their discipleship, freeing them from things like contempt and teaching them to live in the freedom and love of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
1. Immersion in the Trinitarian Presence: Discipleship involves submerging ourselves in the presence of the Triune God, beyond mere rituals, to experience His active involvement in our lives. This immersion transforms our gatherings, whether small or large, into spaces where God's presence is felt and His kingdom is lived out. [10:59]
2. Living as Jesus Would: The call to discipleship is about learning to live our lives as Jesus would if He were in our place. This requires a shift in focus from His life to ours, understanding that His presence empowers us to live in the kingdom of God, facing every circumstance with His guidance and strength. [17:08]
3. Trust and Expectation: Trusting in God's presence and expecting His involvement in our lives is crucial. This trust is cultivated by keeping our minds fixed on Him, as exemplified in scriptures like Isaiah 26:3 and Proverbs 3:5-6, which remind us of the peace and guidance that come from acknowledging Him in all our ways. [21:05]
4. Learning Through Habituation: Discipleship is a learning process akin to mastering a skill. It involves practices that become second nature, allowing us to live interactively with God. This process is not about willpower but about engaging with the reality of God's kingdom and letting it transform us from within. [25:07]
5. Practical Discipleship in Community: Churches should be equipped to guide individuals in practical discipleship, addressing real-life issues like overcoming contempt. This requires a supportive community and structured plans that help individuals grow in their faith, embodying the teachings of Jesus in everyday life. [28:45]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[10:38] - Understanding Discipleship
[11:12] - The Trinitarian Presence
[11:59] - The Call to Make Disciples
[12:46] - Historical Success of Discipleship
[14:17] - The Role of a Disciple
[16:00] - Jesus' Presence with Us
[17:08] - Living in the Kingdom of God
[19:08] - Trust and Expectation
[21:05] - Learning to Trust God
[22:29] - Experiencing God's Kingdom
[23:42] - The Path of Discipleship
[24:12] - Learning Through Habituation
[26:44] - Teaching Practical Discipleship
[28:45] - The Need for Structured Discipleship Plans
[30:04] - Overcoming Contempt in Community
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 26:3 - "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you."
2. 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."
3. Hebrews 13:5-6 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?'"
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Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what does it mean to be immersed in the Trinitarian presence of God? How does this differ from traditional religious rituals? [10:49]
2. What is the significance of Jesus' promise to be present when two or three are gathered in His name? How does this relate to the concept of discipleship? [11:12]
3. How does the sermon describe the process of learning to live as Jesus would in our place? What are some examples given of this transformation? [17:08]
4. What role does trust play in experiencing God's presence, according to the sermon? How is this trust cultivated? [21:05]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of living in the kingdom of God as described in the sermon challenge traditional views of discipleship? What implications does this have for daily life? [18:19]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that discipleship is similar to learning a skill? How does this analogy help in understanding the process of spiritual growth? [25:07]
3. The sermon mentions the need for a supportive community in discipleship. How does this community contribute to overcoming negative emotions and behaviors like contempt? [28:45]
4. How does the sermon interpret the Great Commission in terms of practical discipleship? What are the key elements that churches should focus on according to the message? [26:44]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of discipleship. How does the idea of being immersed in the Trinitarian presence change your perspective on your spiritual journey? [10:59]
2. Consider a situation in your life where you need to trust in God's presence. How can you apply the principles from Isaiah 26:3 and Proverbs 3:5-6 to cultivate trust in that situation? [21:05]
3. Identify a habit or behavior in your life that you would like to transform to align more closely with living as Jesus would. What practical steps can you take to begin this transformation? [17:08]
4. Think about a time when you felt God's presence in a gathering, whether small or large. How did that experience impact your understanding of community and discipleship? [11:12]
5. The sermon emphasizes learning through habituation. What is one spiritual practice you can commit to this week to help make living in God's kingdom more second nature to you? [25:07]
6. How can you contribute to creating a supportive community within your church that helps others grow in their discipleship journey? What specific actions can you take to foster this environment? [28:45]
7. Reflect on a negative emotion or behavior you struggle with, such as contempt. How can you seek support from your community to overcome this and live more fully in the freedom and love of Christ? [28:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Immersion in the Trinitarian Presence
Discipleship is about immersing oneself in the presence of the Triune God, moving beyond mere rituals to experience His active involvement in our lives. This immersion transforms our gatherings, whether small or large, into spaces where God's presence is felt and His kingdom is lived out. It is not about physical rituals but about living in the reality of God's presence, where Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are actively involved in our lives. When we gather in His name, we are reminded of His promise to be with us, emphasizing the importance of discipleship over mere religious affiliation. This immersion is a profound call to live in the presence of God, allowing His presence to transform our lives and communities. [10:59]
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create a space in your daily routine to consciously invite the presence of the Triune God into your life today?
Day 2: Living as Jesus Would
The call to discipleship is about learning to live our lives as Jesus would if He were in our place. This requires a shift in focus from His life to ours, understanding that His presence empowers us to live in the kingdom of God, facing every circumstance with His guidance and strength. It involves a transformation of our daily habits and thoughts, aligning them with the kingdom of God. This journey is not about willpower but about learning and habituation, much like learning to ride a bicycle or sing beautifully. As we practice living in the kingdom, certain aspects become second nature, allowing us to interact with God more deeply. [17:08]
"Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." (1 John 2:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one habit or thought pattern you can change today to align more closely with how Jesus would live in your place?
Day 3: Trust and Expectation
Trusting in God's presence and expecting His involvement in our lives is crucial. This trust is cultivated by keeping our minds fixed on Him, as exemplified in scriptures like Isaiah 26:3 and Proverbs 3:5-6, which remind us of the peace and guidance that come from acknowledging Him in all our ways. Trust is not just a passive state but an active expectation of God's presence and involvement in our lives. It is about living in God's care and provision, trusting Him in all circumstances, and expecting His presence to manifest in our lives. This trust transforms our perspective, allowing us to face life's challenges with confidence and peace. [21:05]
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific situation today can you actively choose to trust and expect God's presence and guidance?
Day 4: Learning Through Habituation
Discipleship is a learning process akin to mastering a skill. It involves practices that become second nature, allowing us to live interactively with God. This process is not about willpower but about engaging with the reality of God's kingdom and letting it transform us from within. Just as learning to ride a bicycle or sing beautifully requires practice and habituation, so does living in the kingdom of God. As we engage in this process, certain aspects of discipleship become second nature, enabling us to interact with God more deeply and naturally. [25:07]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one spiritual practice you can commit to today that will help you habituate living in God's kingdom?
Day 5: Practical Discipleship in Community
Churches should be equipped to guide individuals in practical discipleship, addressing real-life issues like overcoming contempt. This requires a supportive community and structured plans that help individuals grow in their faith, embodying the teachings of Jesus in everyday life. The Great Commission calls us to teach others to do everything Jesus commanded, which includes practical aspects of life, such as overcoming negative emotions and behaviors. Unfortunately, many churches lack a structured plan to guide individuals in this transformative journey. The challenge is to develop a supportive community and practical steps that help individuals grow in their discipleship, freeing them from things like contempt and teaching them to live in the freedom and love of Christ. [28:45]
"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." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a supportive community in your church that encourages practical discipleship and growth in faith?
Quotes
bring them into the presence of god the trinitarian reality submerge them in that you can get them wet if you want to but that's not what this is talking about not talking about getting people wet in various and sundry ways it's talking about submerging them in the trinitarian presence see jesus said when two or three are gathered in my name i'm in their midst and he brings the other people he brings the father and the holy spirit they all come together [00:10:29]
now it's a deep decision for those of us who lead and teach and pastor and administer and all of that as whether or not we're going to do that or we're going to do something else you didn't say go make christians sure didn't say go make baptists that would be okay if they were disciples nothing wrong with being a baptist or a christian but you want to be a disciple and then everything else will take care of itself [00:12:04]
who were the disciples of jesus in his day well there were people who we're with him they were with him someone in this group has been talking about the dust of the rabbi which is a wonderful picture and helps us get a new impression of what that was like because we really don't know much about how that worked but the idea of the dust of the rabbi is you walked with the rabbi and got covered with the dust he kicked up as he walked down the road [00:14:46]
and what are we learning we're learning to live our lives in the kingdom of god as he would lead my life if he were i now see try that on just work it through see what you can get out of it a big point in my wording it that way is to help us understand that the focus is our life not his life our life i am learning to lead my life in the kingdom of god as jesus would lead my life if he were i [00:17:00]
where i'm in the kingdom of god i'm living in his care and provision and his power is working with me and everything that i confront good or bad i confront as standing in the kingdom of god and that of course itself is a large part of what we're then learning more of as we lead our apprenticeship time with jesus so now i am with him in all of my circumstances learning to be like him [00:18:16]
you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you now trust there is expectation i expect him to be with me how do i do i keep my mind fixed on him and we'll talk a little bit tomorrow about frank laubach's game of minutes and other ways that people have learned to do this i always have my mind fixed on him [00:19:21]
trust in the lord with all your heart and do not lean to your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will smooth your paths proverbs 3 5 and 6 i think that's close anyway see how that just comes up over and over did that we we learned to do that we learn to do that we have to want to do it and we have to decide to do it and then we learn to do it [00:21:00]
you are interacting with the reality of the bicycle and the road and all of that that's a learning process and of course what happens is that your body actually learns and what you tried to handle by thinking about it when you started you get it soaks into your bones and you couldn't learn it you hardly could manage it by thinking about it anyway but now then you just get on the bicycle and go right you don't think about it [00:24:35]
living in the kingdom of god is like that the same sort of thing you're learning and as you learn you have certain practices that help you and some things become automatic and then you are able to live interactive with god in the kingdom as christ teaches you okay so that's that's the first part now that shows up in the great commission doesn't it teach them to do everything i said [00:26:22]
now see any church or church group should be prepared for someone to come in and say i want to learn how not to be disgusted with my colleagues and the response should be sure we do that let's make an appointment here's where we start and here's how we knew move next and if you do these things interactively with god you'll be helped and all of that and within six weeks you'll stop being disgusted with your colleagues [00:27:04]
i'm looking for people who will say oh yes we do that someone comes to our place and says i want to be able to learn how not to have contempt for my colleagues we have a program that we can take them right into and a fellowship that will support them and within a short while they will no longer have contempt for their colleagues or maybe someone who just wants to get rid of contempt [00:28:43]
could you teach someone to be free of contempt teach them in such a way that they would be free of contempt but not just saying no no you should not be contemptuous i mean you might teach them that but the question is how can you teach them in such a way that they are free of contempt that's the path of discipleship [00:29:39]
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