Living Our Mission: Making Disciples Through Love
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church. As we reflect on the year so far and look ahead, it's crucial to remember our mission: to go and make disciples. This isn't just a church activity; it's the very mission Jesus called us to. Too often, we get caught up in our own desires and forget that our primary purpose is to glorify God and expand His kingdom. We need to repent of our disobedience and self-absorption. Making disciples isn't about proselytizing or convincing others; it's about living out the love of Christ in our daily interactions. Whether we introduce someone to Jesus, help them grow in their faith, or encourage them to be more like Christ, we are fulfilling our mission.
Many of us feel overwhelmed or ill-equipped to make disciples. That's why we've introduced practical tools like the sticky notes, which provide daily, actionable steps to live out our faith. Our church framework is built on 12 pillars that reflect the early church's practices, such as teaching truth, leading others, and praying in faith. These pillars guide us in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Christianity is a team sport, and we all have different roles to play. Our training sessions, held throughout the year, help us build a strong biblical foundation and apply these pillars in our everyday lives. This training is designed to be practical and integrated into our daily routines, not an additional burden.
Hearing from fellow church members like Jim, Sherry, and Ron, we see how transformative this training can be. It helps us frame our discipleship within the context of relationships, making it a dynamic and evolving journey. Discipleship is not about creating insulated church life but about walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives.
As we continue our training and prepare for the next cycle, let's pray and think about which pillars the Holy Spirit is drawing us toward. Even if you can't join a pillar this fall, remember that our mission to make disciples is ongoing. Let's go and make disciples, trusting God to lead us every step of the way.
### Key Takeaways
1. Mission Clarity and Repentance: Our mission to make disciples is clear and non-negotiable. We must repent of our self-absorption and disobedience, recognizing that our primary purpose is to glorify God and expand His kingdom. This mission isn't about proselytizing but about living out the love of Christ in our daily interactions. [01:28]
2. Practical Discipleship Tools: Feeling overwhelmed or ill-equipped to make disciples is common, but practical tools like the sticky notes can help. These provide daily, actionable steps to integrate our faith into our everyday lives, making discipleship a natural part of who we are. [04:27]
3. Framework of 12 Pillars: Our church's framework is built on 12 pillars that reflect the early church's practices. These pillars guide us in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus, covering aspects like teaching truth, leading others, and praying in faith. This holistic approach ensures we grow in all areas of our faith. [05:50]
4. Team Sport of Christianity: Christianity is a team sport, and we all have different roles to play. Our training sessions help us build a strong biblical foundation and apply these pillars in our everyday lives. This training is designed to be practical and integrated into our daily routines, not an additional burden. [07:16]
5. Transformative Power of Training: Hearing from fellow church members, we see how transformative this training can be. It helps us frame our discipleship within the context of relationships, making it a dynamic and evolving journey. Discipleship is about walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives. [15:24]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:28] - Mission Clarity and Repentance
[03:00] - Practical Discipleship Tools
[04:27] - Introduction to Sticky Notes
[05:50] - Framework of 12 Pillars
[07:16] - Training Sessions Overview
[10:37] - Testimonies from Church Members
[12:07] - Importance of Relationships in Discipleship
[15:24] - Dynamic and Evolving Journey
[20:14] - God's Master Plan
[21:13] - Upcoming Training Sessions
[22:01] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV): "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."
2. Ephesians 6:16 (NIV): "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."
3. Acts 2:42 (NIV): "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
#### Observation Questions
1. What is the primary mission Jesus gave to His followers according to Matthew 28:19-20?
2. How does Ephesians 6:16 describe the role of faith in our spiritual lives?
3. What practices did the early church devote themselves to according to Acts 2:42?
4. According to the sermon, what are some common misconceptions about making disciples? ([01:28])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to understand that making disciples is not about proselytizing but about living out the love of Christ? ([01:28])
2. How can practical tools like the sticky notes help integrate faith into daily life? ([04:27])
3. What does it mean to frame discipleship within the context of relationships, and why is this significant? ([15:24])
4. How does the concept of Christianity being a "team sport" influence our approach to discipleship and church life? ([07:16])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily interactions. How can you more intentionally live out the love of Christ in these moments? ([01:28])
2. Have you ever felt overwhelmed or ill-equipped to make disciples? What practical steps can you take to overcome these feelings? ([04:27])
3. Which of the 12 pillars do you feel the Holy Spirit is drawing you toward, and how can you start incorporating it into your life? ([05:50])
4. Think about a time when you felt like you didn't know enough to share your faith. How can you use that experience to grow and help others? ([10:37])
5. How can you support and encourage others in your church community to play their unique roles in the mission of making disciples? ([07:16])
6. Identify one person in your life who you can help grow in their relationship with Jesus. What specific actions can you take this week to support them? ([03:00])
7. How can you ensure that your discipleship efforts are dynamic and evolving, rather than becoming insulated church activities? ([15:24])
Devotional
Day 1: Mission Clarity and Repentance
Our mission to make disciples is clear and non-negotiable. We must repent of our self-absorption and disobedience, recognizing that our primary purpose is to glorify God and expand His kingdom. This mission isn't about proselytizing but about living out the love of Christ in our daily interactions. Too often, we get caught up in our own desires and forget that our primary purpose is to glorify God and expand His kingdom. We need to repent of our disobedience and self-absorption. Making disciples isn't about proselytizing or convincing others; it's about living out the love of Christ in our daily interactions. Whether we introduce someone to Jesus, help them grow in their faith, or encourage them to be more like Christ, we are fulfilling our mission. [01:28]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: What are some ways you can live out the love of Christ in your daily interactions today? How can you make a conscious effort to glorify God in your actions and words?
Day 2: Practical Discipleship Tools
Feeling overwhelmed or ill-equipped to make disciples is common, but practical tools like the sticky notes can help. These provide daily, actionable steps to integrate our faith into our everyday lives, making discipleship a natural part of who we are. Many of us feel overwhelmed or ill-equipped to make disciples. That's why we've introduced practical tools like the sticky notes, which provide daily, actionable steps to live out our faith. Our church framework is built on 12 pillars that reflect the early church's practices, such as teaching truth, leading others, and praying in faith. These pillars guide us in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus. [04:27]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to integrate your faith into your daily routine? How can you use a simple tool like a sticky note to remind yourself of this step?
Day 3: Framework of 12 Pillars
Our church's framework is built on 12 pillars that reflect the early church's practices. These pillars guide us in becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus, covering aspects like teaching truth, leading others, and praying in faith. This holistic approach ensures we grow in all areas of our faith. Christianity is a team sport, and we all have different roles to play. Our training sessions help us build a strong biblical foundation and apply these pillars in our everyday lives. This training is designed to be practical and integrated into our daily routines, not an additional burden. [05:50]
Acts 2:42 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."
Reflection: Which of the 12 pillars do you feel the Holy Spirit is drawing you toward? How can you begin to incorporate this pillar into your daily life?
Day 4: Team Sport of Christianity
Christianity is a team sport, and we all have different roles to play. Our training sessions help us build a strong biblical foundation and apply these pillars in our everyday lives. This training is designed to be practical and integrated into our daily routines, not an additional burden. Hearing from fellow church members like Jim, Sherry, and Ron, we see how transformative this training can be. It helps us frame our discipleship within the context of relationships, making it a dynamic and evolving journey. Discipleship is not about creating insulated church life but about walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives. [07:16]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."
Reflection: What role do you feel God has given you in the body of Christ? How can you better support and work with others in your church community?
Day 5: Transformative Power of Training
Hearing from fellow church members, we see how transformative this training can be. It helps us frame our discipleship within the context of relationships, making it a dynamic and evolving journey. Discipleship is about walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit in all aspects of our lives. As we continue our training and prepare for the next cycle, let's pray and think about which pillars the Holy Spirit is drawing us toward. Even if you can't join a pillar this fall, remember that our mission to make disciples is ongoing. Let's go and make disciples, trusting God to lead us every step of the way. [15:24]
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV): "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
Reflection: How has your understanding of discipleship changed through your training? What is one relationship in which you can be more intentional about walking hand in hand with the Holy Spirit?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "Making disciples simply means that no matter who we may cross paths with every day, we treat them with the love of Christ. With our words and our actions, we either introduce them to Jesus, we help them grow in their relationship with Jesus, or we help them become more like Jesus or some combination of the three." [02:30] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God has commanded us and he promises to be with us. So when we go, in other words, when we obey our commission, we can trust that every single time we reflect and share the love of Christ, we are planting or watering seeds that the Holy Spirit uses to help all of us grow." [03:00] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Ultimately, church, if we even take a, if we take an even bigger step back to try to capture the essence of what we do, it's this framework that defines how we function here at Four Mile Church. When we take a close look at the New Testament, these 12 things that you see up there under part A are what we see the early church doing." [04:27] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Making disciples is simply to become part of who we are and how we live all day, every day. You know, Ron is right. It's important, it's critical in our journey with Christ to learn and walk alongside other Christians. And pillars afford us the opportunity to do just that." [12:07] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Church, we know from our study in Ephesians. God's master plan set in place before the foundation of the world was to unite all things in Christ. And he's doing that through the church. That is his plan A and there is no plan B." [20:14] (126 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "So church, honestly, we need to grieve our disobedience and self-absorption, and we need to repent. The fact is, our mission as Christ followers isn't complicated, and it's quite clear. All day, every day, we are to be about making disciples in all the places we live, work, and play." [01:28] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Well, what we've learned over the months is that most of you really, you want to, but you kind of feel like you're on information overload or you already have way too much to do already and so you're kind of exhausted and defeated before you even start. Or maybe you simply just don't know how. I get it. We all need knowledge and information to be able to do it. But we also need tangible and practical next steps." [03:50] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Church, we long to equip every single person who considers Four Mile their home church with all the tools we need to go about our everyday ordinary lives, ready to make disciples, no matter who we meet, what we're doing or where we are." [09:50] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "That's what we mean when we say that discipleship has to be framed within the context of relationship. And did you notice, I love it, how Jim went from thinking he didn't know enough biblically to eventually becoming one of the pillar leads, like, hello, don't worry, we're not going to expect that from all of you, not at all. And it's not that he became an expert, none of us are, but it just goes to show how easily we can become our own biggest obstacles, right?" [15:24] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "No matter who we are, our calling is to take our holiest of all sandwiches and go and make disciples right here, wherever we're planted in this tri-state region and church. I can't say it any better than Sherry and what we always say here together, let's go." [22:01] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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